Devouring Soul Emperor

"Understood. Keep investigating."

After a cool reply, a pleased expression appeared on Zhao Guang’s face.

It’s begun!

"Haha, this is only the beginning. The pursuits and clashes will only grow more intense from here. It’s a shame, a real shame, that the Assessment Tokens and light screens don’t show whether the Examiners are alive or dead. Otherwise, I would truly love to see the look on Liu Canghai’s face, hahaha..."

The Zhao Family Ancestor couldn’t help but roar with delighted laughter.

"You old fox, you’re really gloating this time."

"He’s been plotting for so many years. Now that it’s time to reap the rewards, how could he not be pleased?"

"Hmph. Careful you don’t celebrate too soon."

For a moment, the other three sighed and shook their heads repeatedly.

Inside the valley, Chu Qingyun felt a bit helpless.

’It seems like my luck took a turn for the worse after meeting Wen Yanlie.’

After fending off Li Tianyou and his group, they walked for about twenty more minutes before running into another wave of enemies. This time, however, these people were clearly after him.

There were three of them as well, but the sight of these three made both Chu Qingyun’s and Wen Yanlie’s hearts sink.

Because all three of them were captains of the Great Xia Dragon Guard!

There was Zhang Yunqiu, Huang Ju, and one other whom Chu Qingyun didn’t recognize, but he also exuded the aura of a Ninth-level Martial Artist.

"Speak of the devil! We were looking all over for you, and here you are. Chu Qingyun, you’re good at running, aren’t you? Let’s see where you can run this time!"

Zhang Yunqiu sneered, wishing he could just attack right now and slap Chu Qingyun to death.

This kid had not only embarrassed him in front of so many people outside, but he had also nearly caused a fight between him and Huang Ju. Zhang Yunqiu hated him so much his teeth itched.

Huang Ju, however, was looking at Wen Yanlie with a thoughtful expression. "Wen Yanlie, the three of us are all Ninth-level Martial Artists. We have two Attack Martial Souls and one Control Martial Soul. All we’re missing is a Defense Martial Soul. You should think carefully about your choice. Don’t make a mistake that you’ll regret!"

Hearing this, a flicker of uncertainty crossed Wen Yanlie’s eyes. He had to admit, he was tempted.

Zhang Yunqiu and Huang Ju’s three-man team was clearly much stronger than Li Tianyou’s had been. Besides, for him, teaming up would be inevitable after joining the Great Xia Dragon Guard. Getting to know some captains ahead of time certainly wouldn’t hurt.

"Wen Yanlie, we happen to need an Examiner to cooperate with. If you join us, we’ll split the Military Merits we get, and you’ll also be able to take first place on the points leaderboard. How about it?"

Seeing Wen Yanlie was swayed, Huang Ju smiled and continued his persuasion. "Besides, that Chu Qingyun is someone Liu Hujun specifically wants dealt with. If you’re with him, you’ll be offending the Lord Guardian."

"Shut up! Say no more! Chu and I hit it off right away, and he just helped me. How could I possibly be swayed by your provocations!" Wen Yanlie’s expression suddenly turned stern as he spoke with righteous indignation.

Instantly, everyone, including Chu Qingyun, stared at Wen Yanlie in surprise.

"Chu, we... Go to hell!"

Wen Yanlie pretended he was about to say something to Chu Qingyun. After taking a step closer, he suddenly struck, his fist wrapped in the immense Primordial Power of a Ninth-level Martial Artist, and smashed it into Chu Qingyun’s stomach.

Ugh...

Chu Qingyun’s body instinctively surged with Primordial Power to defend himself, but the distance between them was simply too close, and Wen Yanlie’s attack was a despicable, shameless sneak attack.

The punch sent Chu Qingyun stumbling back several steps with a muffled grunt, a sweet taste flooding his throat as he spat out a mouthful of blood.

After his sneak attack succeeded, Wen Yanlie didn’t press his advantage. Instead, he quickly retreated to join Huang Ju and the other two, forming a square to surround Chu Qingyun.

He was still very wary of Chu Qingyun’s strength. Even after a successful ambush, he didn’t dare to rush forward alone.

"Wen Yanlie... why!?" Chu Qingyun asked through clenched teeth, his face pale.

He was certain he had done nothing to wrong Wen Yanlie. In fact, he had even helped him fight off Li Tianyou’s pursuit.

And it was for that very reason he hadn’t been sufficiently on guard against Wen Yanlie’s sneak attack.

’From Chu Qingyun’s perspective, even if Huang Ju’s words had moved him, shouldn’t there have been a period of consideration, hesitation, and struggle? Yet Wen Yanlie had acted with such decisiveness. It was truly chilling.’

"Why? Heh, Chu, if you have to blame someone, blame yourself for being too dazzling. I originally thought you just had a bit of strength and luck. I never expected that you could fight a Ninth-level Martial Artist at the mere realm of a Fifth-level Martial Artist. Just thinking about working alongside a genius like you... it’s a lot of pressure. So, it’s better if you just die. That way, everyone will be happy, and the Lord Guardian will be happy too."

Wen Yanlie said with a cold laugh.

"Haha, good! The kid’s ruthless enough. Wen Yanlie, with that kind of vicious streak, your future will be limitless," Huang Ju laughed, his words filled with satisfaction.

But Wen Yanlie shot him a disdainful glance, thinking to himself, ’We’re both Ninth-level Martial Artists. Once we’re out of this valley, I’ll be a captain in the Great Xia Dragon Guard too. Who are you to speak to me in that tone?’

Surrounded by four Ninth-level Martial Artists, Chu Qingyun’s expression was grim. He forcibly suppressed the rage in his heart and made himself calm down to think of a countermeasure.

But he thought of several plans, only to quickly discard them all.

This seemed to be a complete dead end. After all, he was only a Fifth-level Martial Artist, while his opponents were four Ninth-level Martial Artist captains from the Great Xia Dragon Guard!

’If there’s really no other way, I’ll have to use *that*...’

Chu Qingyun’s expression turned utterly dark.

"Kid, hand over what the Lord Guardian wants, and tell us the secret of how you can find Ma Zhiyong. If you satisfy us, we might just spare your pathetic life," Zhang Yunqiu stared at Chu Qingyun and barked coldly.

"You really want to see it?"

Chu Qingyun suddenly broke into a grin. A hint of determination flashed in his eyes, as if he had made some sort of decision.

"Then I’ll show you!"

With a furious roar, Chu Qingyun instantly drew his Longsword, unleashing his Profound Celestial Divine Pattern and Thunderbolt Flash in a vicious slash toward Wen Yanlie. "Wen Yanlie, you dog-bastard, you dare betray me?! Even if I die, I’m taking you with me!"

At this moment, Chu Qingyun’s face was savage, his body radiating a heaven-storming rage. He looked like he was about to perish together with Wen Yanlie.

A Spirit Level Divine Weapon!

Zhang Yunqiu, Huang Ju, and the third man were instantly dumbstruck.

As captains of the Great Xia Dragon Guard, they had seen Spirit Level Divine Weapons many times. But they never imagined that a mere Fifth-level Martial Artist could possess one. Not even Liu Canghai had one!

As for Wen Yanlie, he was now locked on by that sharp, violent aura and heaven-storming rage, and he could actually smell the scent of death.

’I can’t block it! There’s no way I can block it!’

’This guy is insane! He’s trying to take me down with him!’

"Save me! Hurry, save me!"

Wen Yanlie frantically used his Primordial Power to defend himself, screaming to the other three for help.

Zhang Yunqiu and the other two snapped back to their senses. They immediately burst forward with their full power, lunging at Chu Qingyun. Every one of them stared intently at the Longsword in his hand, their eyes burning with feverish greed.