Slap!
Lu Yuan smacked the hut's side with a loud crack.
"Heh… little rabbit, your hiding skills are terrible," he drawled, lifting his flask and taking a lazy gulp of wine. His grin widened as he spotted the figure in the shadows.
"Aunt Xiao Wu, we found you again!"
The round little head of Lu Xiaoyu popped out from behind his father's broad shoulders.
"Ugh, not again! Stop playing, stop playing!"
Xiao Wu puffed her cheeks in frustration. She had been happily playing peekaboo with Lu Xiaoyu earlier, but of course, this drunkard had followed them. Every time she tried to have fun with the little one, Lu Yuan somehow barged in at just the right moment.
Always shameless.
Always taking advantage.
And every time, she lost!
"A big loss again…" she muttered under her breath.
"Come on, Little Feather. Let's head back," Lu Yuan said as he scooped his son into his arms.
They had already been wandering for a while, straying further and further from the core area. It was time to return.
Lying against his father's shoulder, Lu Xiaoyu tilted his head toward Xiao Wu with wide, innocent eyes. "Aunt Xiao Wu, are you tired?" he asked softly.
The warmth in her chest softened her features. Smiling, she brushed his hair back with a gentle hand. "Little Feather is so considerate. I was tired, but hearing that… I don't feel tired anymore."
"If you're tired, just let my dad carry you. Every time I get tired, he carries me and I feel so much better right away!" Lu Xiaoyu said, blinking at her with childlike sincerity.
"Pfft…"
Xiao Wu froze, her face heating instantly. Her expression twisted between embarrassment and annoyance as she caught Lu Yuan's half-amused, half-drunk squint.
This kid… really is his father's son. Exactly the same!
"Little rabbit, want to give it a try?" Lu Yuan slurred, his eyes hazy from drink as his lips curved into a mischievous smile.
"Cut it out!" Xiao Wu huffed, spinning on her heel and storming ahead.
Why would she ever… want that bastard to hug her?!
Just imagining it made her want to throw him over her shoulder eight times in a row! No, twenty times!
Wait—no! What the hell was she thinking?!
Why would she even want that bastard to hug her in the first place?!
She shook her head fiercely, trying to drive out the thought. But just as her face began to cool, a sudden chill pricked across her skin.
Shhhk—!
A flurry of cold light whistled through the trees, streaking straight toward her in deadly arcs.
"Clang! Clang! Clang!"
In an instant, Lu Yuan was there. His sword flashed, splitting into dozens of streams of sword qi, intercepting the incoming barrage one after another. Sparks of light rained around them as he planted his foot on the ground, pushing off to Xiao Wu's side without hesitation.
"What in the—?"
His eyes narrowed.
Emerging from the tangled brush, three massive forms crawled into view. Ants. No, not ordinary ants—each was at least three meters long, chitinous shells gleaming with a dark golden sheen. Their six legs stabbed hungrily into the soil, and atop each grotesque head flickered six eerie, glowing green eyes.
Lu Yuan's jaw tightened. "Qianjun Ant Kings?"
Xiao Wu's face twisted with fury, teeth clenched so tight they nearly cracked. "You three bastards again!"
The massive soul beasts hissed in response, their eyes focused on her.
The memories surged back in her mind—of battles fought long before. She knew these three all too well. Many years ago, the Qianjun Ant Kings had tried to claim the Lake of Life, the sacred core of Star Dou Forest where spiritual energy thrived strongest.
Back then, they had attacked, three against two. But Da Ming and Er Ming had risen in furious defense, fighting back until the three ant kings were beaten bloody and forced to flee.
And now, after all this time, these vermin dared to crawl back?
"Bone Rabbit," one of the ants hissed in a guttural voice, the distorted sounds echoing in her ears, "don't think we can't recognize you in that human form. To actually consort with a human soul master… disgraceful. You're a stain on all soul beasts."
The three ants had returned quietly, still nursing old grudges and greed for the Lake of Life. But stumbling upon Xiao Wu here? Wasn't this the perfect chance?
There was no hesitation. Their instincts screamed: kill.
"You dare call me scum?!" Xiao Wu shouted, fuming. "You're the ones who devoured your own queen and butchered your kind for power—you are the true disgrace of the Qianjun clan!"
Hands planted firmly on her hips, her fury lit her face.
Lu Yuan scratched his cheek, resisting the urge to sigh. He couldn't understand beast-speak anyway. But one glance at these monstrous ants was all it took—their sheer presence rattled even the usually fearless Lu Xiaoyu.
And that was unacceptable.
"What's wrong, little feather?" Lu Yuan whispered gently.
"Dad…" Lu Xiaoyu's voice trembled, his little fingers clutching at his father's cloak.
"Don't be scared. Aunt Xiao Wu's got you." Xiao Wu quickly gathered the boy into her arms, holding him close. "Trust your dad. He'll be fine."
Her heart clenched. Against one ninety-thousand-year-old soul beast, Lu Yuan could already be pressed hard. But three at once…
Still, what choice did she have? She could only shield Xiaoyu and pray. She sent an urgent call into the forest, her soul beast connection ringing out in hopes Da Ming or Er Ming would hear. But could they arrive in time?
A low hum rose, vibrating the air as the Qianjun Ant Kings beat their wings. Their bodies lifted off the ground as one, perfect synchronization forged by their lifetime together.
Lu Yuan's face hardened.
"Seventh Soul Ability—Martial Soul True Body!"
The seventh ring beneath him flared, radiating black light as a colossal phantom erupted behind him, towering nearly eight meters tall.
His aura spiked. All attributes surged by threefold in an instant.
In just over one year, he had reached the level of a Seven-Ringed Soul Saint.
Too much time in Star Dou Forest, nothing to do but drink—and cultivate. And now, his strength showed.
Xiao Wu's breath caught. The black flames dancing across his figure made even the ancient soul beasts flinch. They could feel it—an aura far more sinister than any ordinary spirit power.
Still, the ants pressed forward.
"The third soul skill—Sword Formation!"
Lu Yuan's blade cleaved downward, and in a blink, thousands of black sword blades manifested, raining like a storm upon the three ants.
"Clang, clang, clang!"
Metal shrieked against metal as the ants locked their massive claws together like shields. Tens of thousands of swords crashed against them—yet though their bodies shuddered back, their armor held, only scarred with dents and spots from the relentless barrage.
Qianjun Ant Kings. Defense and raw strength—that was their pride.
The sword storm faded.
Opportunity seized, six gigantic claws swung down in perfect unison.
"Sixth Soul Ability—Gale Sword Dance!" Lu Yuan countered, summoning eighteen sharp, jet-black arcs of sword qi.
The ants moved with uncanny synchronicity, two of them crossing claws to protect the third.
Chichichichich!
Eighteen crescents crashed against their steel-like pincers, sparks igniting the air. For a moment, two faltered under the power, thrown back slightly—
But one claw landed.
BOOM!
The shockwave detonated, blasting Lu Yuan straight back through the trees with bone-jarring force. He slammed into a massive trunk, bark exploding around him.
"Lu Yuan!" Xiao Wu gasped, holding Xiaoyu tight. Her fingers trembled. Where the hell were Da Ming and Er Ming?! Why weren't they here at such a critical moment?
She bit her lip. These Ant Kings were infamous for ambushes and brute dominance. Even with Lu Yuan's terrifying growth, this… this was still three ninety-thousand-year-old titans!
Was this too much, even for him?
Her eyes darted back—
And froze.
Because Lu Yuan… was moving again.
Not rising in haste. Not trembling to stand.
But casually…
Reaching into his cloak.
…and taking another calm, heavy drink from his flask.
Xiao Wu's jaw dropped. "…You're drinking now?!"
The black flame around his body only flared stronger.
And the real battle had just begun.
--
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