Deep in the mountains where the Star Dou Great Forest, the Ancient Thunder Kingdom, and the Star-Shine Dukedom meet, a huge caravan was slowly winding its way through the pass between two great peaks.
In the center of the caravan, several prison wagons held many children who happened to be of Spirit Awakening age; a few of them bore clear signs of abuse.
Among the travelers Yu Yan spotted quite a few familiar faces from the bounty posters—the Blood-Blade Society's boss, the Black-Dog Gang's chief, the Blue-Bird Stockade's creditor, and others.
Quite the show of force, and those carriages in the middle—I can't see through them. The materials are extraordinary.
Perched on a high peak, Yu Yan's eyes shimmered gold. He could see almost everything below, yet the three central carriages were built of some unknown substance he could not pierce.
Anyone who could craft carriages from such rare material and command the mountain's powerful faction heads must be a true high-ranking figure within the two Empires.
So do we still strike?
Do your best; if it turns ugly, we run. Dark Snow, stay on the flank—make sure none of them escape.
Just as he had suspected, Yu Yan sensed something off about the caravan and had wondered if it was a trap aimed at him and Xiao Wu, yet he had still come.
He possessed a perfectly compatible Martial Soul Fusion Skill, and Xiao Wu had the Lunar Dignity Domain; together they could challenge even a Spirit Emperor.
After a brief exchange, golden-eyed Yu Yan activated his Ice and Fire Twin Fish Martial Soul and neared the caravan. His First Fire Fish Skill, Blazing Breath, shot out repeatedly at the weaker guards.
Flames verging on ultimate fire clung to their victims like maggots on bone, dealing constant damage.
The attacked Spirit Elders hastily activated Martial Soul Possession and circulated spirit power to expel the flames, only to discover how domineering the fire truly was—it fed on their very spirit power to keep burning.
The commotion drew the attention of every guard, everyone in the central carriages, and every hidden observer.
A balding, Mediterranean old man stepped out from the central carriage; his sharp eyes quickly traced the burning men and fixed on Yu Yan's approximate location.
The one who ambushed the caravan is over there—go!
Having pinpointed the spot, the Bald Old Man pointed and issued orders to the caravan guards.
The instant the order rang out, three Spirit Ancestors displaying their spirit rings charged in that direction; they were mercenary Spirit Masters hired by the caravan and had to obey the Bald Old Man.
Under the lead of those three Spirit Ancestors, the mountain faction heads also revealed their spirit rings and rushed toward Yu Yan, spurred by the promise that whoever killed the attacker could ask a favor of the youth who had gathered them.
An old man who called himself the Soul-Reaping Ghost took a vantage point, curious to see what the brute who outdid him looked like.
Besides the Soul-Reaping Ghost, a brawny man gripping a black staff stood in the caravan, showing no intention of joining the fray—many others held back as well.
Good—they're all coming.
With Martial Soul Possession active, Yu Yan watched the Spirit Ancestors dash toward him exactly as planned; he feared no equal-rank fight.
Drawing them away had been his intention—fighting near the caravan might harm the kidnapped children, a consequence he wanted to avoid.
How do we split them?
Xiao Wu felt no fear either; she was already discussing how to divide the opponents.
With this many, as long as we don't get in each other's way, anything goes.
Seeing more than a dozen men running over, Yu Yan figured assigning targets was pointless—hit as many as you could.
Fine—but don't blame me for stealing your kills.
Lunar Profound Rabbit Martial Soul Possession active, Xiao Wu cast her Second Spirit Ability, Moon God Possession, then used Teleportation to plunge into the crowd, lashing everyone with Moonlight Energy chains tipped in spikes.
Seeing Xiao Wu charge in, Yu Yan stayed back and activated his Third Ice Fish Skill: Moon Eclipse – Thousand Frost Return to Silence.
The Ice Fish soared skyward and became an ice-blue moon hanging above Xiao Wu and the dozen Spirit Ancestors, showering them in frost that affected everyone except her.
The sudden chill slowed the affected Spirit Ancestors and even hampered the flow of spirit power within them.
Damn—this ice moon is freakish.
The Blood-Blade Society boss, standing at the edge of the fight, felt his condition plummeting as he stared at the ice-blue crescent.
Condition-lowering skills were nothing new, but one that could debuff so many people at once was unheard-of for him.
Sensing danger, the boss quietly edged backward, placing the others between himself and the front.
Under the full buff that raised her stats by eighty percent, Xiao Wu stood amid the Spirit Ancestors, whipping her moonlight chains in every direction.
Her supple body bent in impossible ways to dodge incoming strikes, and any attacks she could not avoid were blocked by the Moonlight Energy swirling around her.
One minute into the fight, Moon Eclipse – Thousand Frost Return to Silence had reduced the overall condition of the affected Spirit Ancestors by a quarter; seizing the moment, Xiao Wu teleported behind one of them and drilled a spiraling beam of moonlight through his body, ending his vile life.
That girl's combat strength is incredible, and the boy's support skill is intriguing—both look quite young. Elder Corpse, try to keep them alive; selling them should recoup a good part of our losses.
The youth seated in the central carriage lifted a small curtain and watched Yu Yan and Xiao Wu with the same interest he might show two prized goods.
I'll do what I can.
The Bald Old Man called Elder Corpse paid the youth little heed; he studied Xiao Wu's fighting style, planning the tactics he would use when he stepped in.
Old age bred caution and a desire for a peaceful life—no appetite for risk.