"Understood, my lord!" Dian Wei never hesitated to follow Nan Feihuang's orders, his loyalty as firm as iron.
"Second Soul Skill: Whirlwind Dragon!"
As Dian Wei swung his twin axes, a powerful tornado formed, the swirling winds carrying sharp, cutting energy capable of slicing anything in its path.
The Diamond-Scaled Beast's outer defenses were nearly impenetrable; even the Whirlwind Dragon couldn't leave a mark on its scales.
However, its internal organs were as vulnerable as any other creature's.
The tornado tore through the wound Nan Feihuang had created, unleashing a storm of wind blades within the beast's body. The devastating attack shredded its organs and severed its meridians.
The beast trembled, its mighty legs buckling as it fell to its knees.
Dian Wei, unyielding on the battlefield, granted it no mercy. To him, delivering a swift death to a dying foe was the greatest act of compassion.
With a mighty leap, he brought down one of his axes like a hammer, smashing it into the creature's head with brute force.
Against such overwhelming power, even the Diamond-Scaled Beast's famed resilience crumbled. Its massive body collapsed, life fading from its eyes. Within moments, its breathing ceased entirely.
A vibrant purple soul ring emerged from the beast's body. Without delay, Dian Wei sat cross-legged to begin absorbing it.
Although his exceptional constitution allowed him to surpass the limits of most soul masters, the process of integrating an overage soul ring still demanded great focus and effort.
---
Nan Tianchen approached Xu Rong and spoke gravely, "Sir Xu, once Dian Wei finishes absorbing his soul ring, I'll leave the children in your care. Take them back immediately. Where we're heading next—the forest's inner depths—is far too dangerous for them."
"Understood, Your Majesty. Protecting the Crown Prince is my sworn duty. By the honor of my clan's Glory Shield, I vow to ensure their safety," Xu Rong replied, his tone firm and resolute.
But at that very moment, Lan Xue, who had been silently watching over the group, felt an unnatural chill creep over her.
"What… what is this presence?!" she muttered, her voice tinged with disbelief. Her instincts, honed over years as a powerful soul master, screamed of imminent danger.
A cold sweat broke out across her skin as an overwhelming sense of dread washed over her.
"Something is coming—something terrifying," Lan Xue said, her voice trembling slightly. The suffocating killing intent felt like standing atop a mountain of corpses, a sea of blood stretching endlessly.
"Nan Tianchen, take Feihuang and leave now!" Lan Xue commanded. Her maternal instincts surged, knowing full well that the coming battle would be unlike anything they'd faced before.
"Too late," Nan Feihuang interjected, his expression grim. His keen senses, sharpened by his unique physique, mirrored Lan Xue's reaction. He too had felt the approaching danger even before she spoke.
Before anyone could react, three figures crashed through the forest canopy, their bodies battered and scorched.
It was Qian Renxue, She Long, and Ci Xue.
"Snake Lance Douluo! Porcupinefish Douluo!" Nan Tianchen gasped, his heart sinking. What manner of monster could leave two titled Douluo in such a state?
The two men were heavily injured, their bodies riddled with burns. Even Qian Renxue, the least injured of the trio, bore visible wounds—a testament to the desperate fight they had endured.
"Xuan Bing Douluo! Please, help us!" Qian Renxue called out, her voice laced with urgency and desperation. Her usual pride was absent, replaced by the sobering reality of survival.
But before her plea could be answered, a massive fireball roared through the air, hurtling toward her.
"Ninth Soul Skill: Thunderous Lightning Strike!" She Long unleashed his most powerful ability in a bid to protect her.
His electrified spear clashed with the fireball in a violent explosion, sending shockwaves rippling outward. Yet even the aftershocks were enough to throw Qian Renxue to the ground, her golden wings fading as her strength gave out.
"Ahhh!" she cried out in pain as her scorched body plummeted from the sky.
Nan Feihuang leaped forward without hesitation, catching her mid-fall.
"Qian Renxue, are you alright?" he asked, infusing soul power into her burned and weakened body.
Her back, exposed from the destruction of her clothing, was a horrifying sight—charred and blackened from the fireball's residual energy.
She opened her eyes weakly and, seeing Nan Feihuang's familiar face, murmured, "Feihuang… take me away… quickly."
Her words, spoken in a daze, betrayed her usual composure. She had forgotten entirely that she was supposed to be maintaining her disguise as Xue Qinghe.
Nan Feihuang stared at her for a moment, realization dawning. He now understood the "death omen" he had seen hovering over her earlier.
---
Lan Xue, clutching her ice-forged halberd, turned to She Long and Ci Xue. "What kind of creature did you provoke to end up like this?"
"Thank you, Xuan Bing Douluo, for saving us. We don't know exactly what it was. We were helping the young miss hunt a Heavenly Spirit Horse when a red entity appeared. It destroyed us with a single strike," She Long explained, his voice trembling. "Please, lend us your strength. If we three titled Douluo join forces, we might be able to hold it off long enough for these children to escape."
Lan Xue frowned, anger flashing in her icy gaze. "You lured that thing here on purpose, didn't you? Hoping I'd fight your battle for you?"
Her accusation struck true. She Long's actions were calculated, a desperate bid for survival. But Lan Xue couldn't refuse now—the safety of her son was at stake.
"Nan Tianchen, Xu Rong, Zhang Lao! Take Feihuang and Ling'er and leave at once! The battle ahead isn't something you can involve yourselves in," she ordered.
"But Dian Wei—he's still absorbing the soul ring!" Zhang Lao protested, his kind nature unwilling to abandon the boy.
Lan Xue's expression softened briefly before hardening with resolve. "We can't save everyone. Get my son out of here. If I fall today, tell him never to seek revenge."
The chilling certainty in her tone was unmistakable. She knew what was coming—a terror beyond anything she had ever faced.
Nearby, She Long added, "And take our young miss as well. Spirit Hall will remember this kindness. We'll reward you handsomely."
Even in the face of death, his loyalty to Qian Renxue remained unwavering.
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