Star Dou Forest.
"Be careful, we're approaching the target location."
A middle-aged Soul Master whispered a warning. Behind him followed five individuals—three men and two women—all of them Soul Masters. Their light footsteps barely rustled the leaves as they moved, a testament to their formidable soul power.
Adding to their credibility, they were currently in the inner regions of the Star Dou Forest, further proving the strength of this Soul Master squad.
The leader, the same middle-aged man who had spoken, was a Rank 77 Soul Sage. Among his five companions, two were Soul Saints, while the remaining three were Soul Emperors.
Such a lineup was a force to be reckoned with anywhere.
Roar!
A low growl echoed through the forest. The six immediately halted. The middle-aged man tensed, his soul power surging as he crouched slightly, parting the foliage before him to gaze into the distance.
There, a shadowy figure lurked—a leopard-type Soul Beast. Its jet-black fur bristled like sharp needles, and its glowing eyes scanned the surroundings with piercing vigilance.
As a ten-thousand-year Soul Beast, it had an acute sense of danger, and an invisible threat had clearly unsettled it.
"Boss, it seems like it's noticed something."
A short Soul Master behind the middle-aged man edged closer and murmured.
The leader furrowed his brow. They had just arrived, yet the beast was already on guard. This was problematic.
Their target was a thirty-thousand-year-old leopard-type Soul Beast, known for its speed. They had tracked it from the forest's outer perimeter to this point. If it escaped now, all their efforts would be in vain.
"What do we do, boss? My sixth soul ring depends on this!"
A somewhat chubby young man in the group grew anxious. Having just reached Rank 60, he had set his sights on this Soul Beast for his advancement. Otherwise, they wouldn't have pursued it so relentlessly.
"No need to panic. We move in slowly and strike when we're close enough. End the fight swiftly."
After a brief moment of thought, the middle-aged man nodded and instructed his team. Having spent years hunting in the Star Dou Forest, they all understood the dangers of its inner regions.
If they failed to finish the battle quickly and attracted other Soul Beasts, things could spiral out of control.
He gathered his soul power but refrained from releasing it outward, inching closer to the Soul Beast while waiting for the perfect moment to strike—a decisive, lethal blow.
Behind him, a black-clad woman held a unique cyan flower in her hands, exuding a faint fragrance.
The aroma spread, masking the presence of the group.
Roar... Roar...
As the middle-aged man and his team drew nearer, the leopard grew increasingly uneasy, its eyes darting around warily. Yet, it detected nothing out of place.
Still, as a Soul Beast, its instinct for danger was sharper than any human's.
Whoosh!
The moment the group closed within fifty meters, the leopard abruptly tensed. In a flash, it transformed into a streak of lightning, bolting away.
"Now!"
At the instant the beast attempted to flee, the seasoned middle-aged man sprang into action. His voice, infused with soul power, transmitted clearly to his team.
Leading the charge, his figure shot forward as his soul power exploded. A small iron hammer materialized in his right hand—its handle only thirty centimeters long, with a head barely over ten centimeters. A seemingly insignificant weapon.
Two yellow, three purple, and two black soul rings rose from beneath his feet. His sixth soul ring shone brilliantly—a pitch-black ten-thousand-year ring merging into the iron hammer.
"Sixth Soul Skill—Soaring Hammer!"
In an instant, the iron hammer hurtled forward, emitting a deep, eerie glow and a sharp, whistling sound as it tore through the air.
Whoosh!
A streak of light shot forth from behind, rapidly merging with the hammer, further amplifying its power. The black-clad woman who had remained stationary now activated her fifth soul ring, sending four streams of violet light surging toward her teammates.
Meanwhile, the fleeing leopard felt a chill creeping up its spine. It refused to stop, instead unleashing a burst of soul power. Its black fur shimmered, and two identical silhouettes emerged beside it.
The leopard's innate skill—Phantom Mirage.
Three identical figures darted in different directions. Though this split weakened its energy, it vastly improved its chances of survival.
"Hmph, trying to escape?"
The middle-aged man sneered, surging forward with another burst of power as a violet glow merged into him. With a light tap of his foot, he accelerated in pursuit.
Whoosh! Whoosh!
The two Soul Saints in the group intercepted the two illusions from the sides, while the middle-aged man closed in on the central figure—the real body.
Boom!
Sensing the impending crisis, the leopard twisted around and unleashed a blinding energy sphere. However, the iron hammer shattered it instantly.
The small hammer, glowing ominously, slammed into the beast's right leg.
A sickening crack echoed as bones snapped. Blood dripped from the leopard's maw, but it gritted its teeth, using the impact to propel itself forward in a desperate attempt to escape.
"Bind it!"
A female Soul Emperor, who had remained inactive until now, activated her sixth soul skill. A black ten-thousand-year soul ring shone as a mass of vines surged upward from the ground, entwining the beast.
Under normal circumstances, the leopard could have easily dodged. But with its injured leg, its speed had plummeted—it was powerless to evade.
Within moments, the leopard was thoroughly ensnared. Bound by a Soul Emperor's sixth soul skill, even a formidable Soul Beast like this one stood no chance.
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh...
The group swiftly surrounded their captive, grinning in satisfaction. Not wanting to waste time, the chubby Soul Emperor stepped forward, blade in hand, ready to deliver the final blow.
The leopard struggled frantically, but it was futile. As the cold blade descended, despair filled its eyes. Memories flashed through its mind—among them, the image of a great tree.
Just as the blade was about to strike, a chilling voice rang out from behind the hunters, as cold as the abyss of the Nine Hells.
"Are you trying to kill him?"
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