On a path overgrown with weeds, people were desperately running.
"Don't stop! Run!" the middle-aged man at the front shouted back. "Those beasts are catching up!"
The man's name was Zhu Hai. He was a genius powerhouse of the Body Sect. He possessed dual leg martial souls and, according to legend, was on the verge of achieving a second silver-level awakening, holding infinite potential for the future.
The people following behind him were of all ages, the youngest being teenagers. Their faces were pale, but they gritted their teeth and ran desperately forward.
Because they knew what awaited them if they were caught.
At that moment, a maniacal laugh and a dragon's roar echoed from behind, reverberating through the valley like a death knell.
"Hahahaha! Lowly commoners actually dare to flee! You really want to die!"
The laughter was powerful, shaking the leaves from the roots like a dragon's might.
Zhu Hai's expression turned grim. He glanced back at the twenty-odd terrified faces behind him, then at the figures rapidly approaching from the distant mountain path. In an instant, he made a decision.
"Stop!" he shouted, then said in a low voice to the disciples beside him, "I will hold them back. You take the others and escape first."
A sturdy man immediately stepped forward. "Senior, I will go with you!"
"Me too!" Another thin-faced middle-aged man stepped forward.
"I will join too!"
In just a few breaths, five people stepped forward and stood shoulder to shoulder with Zhu Hai.
Zhu Hai looked at his disciples. Complex emotions flashed in his eyes, but there was no time to say more. He took a deep breath and said in a low voice to the remaining dozen or so people:
"We will cover the retreat. Everyone, withdraw immediately! Do not look back!"
"Uncle Zhu!" A seventeen- or eighteen-year-old boy cried out with red eyes. "We won't leave! We will die together!"
"Nonsense!" Zhu Hai cursed angrily. "If you die, who will inform the sect? Get out of here, all of you!"
When the youth tried to say something, he was pulled back by the pale-faced young woman beside him.
The woman was in her early twenties, with beautiful features, but her face was covered in tears. She said in a choked voice, "Teacher… this matter started because of me. So… I must resolve it."
"I will go with you, then…"
"Fool!" Zhu Hai sharply cut her off, cold light in his eyes. "Now that things have come to this, do you think those from the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan will let it go? Hurry up and get out of here!"
The woman trembled, tears overflowing from her eyes. She opened her mouth but could not utter a word.
"Go!" Zhu Hai roared. Soul power exploded, six soul rings flashed, his legs instantly swelled, and a powerful aura spread.
The younger generation no longer had the courage to stay. Gritting their teeth with tears in their eyes, they turned and ran frantically deeper into the valley.
When the young figures disappeared into the depths of the dense forest, Zhu Hai slowly turned around, stood side by side with his five disciples, and stared at the path they had come from.
Moments later, figures burst out of the dense forest and surrounded Zhu Hai and the others.
The leader was an old man wearing the attire of an elder from the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan. He had graying hair and beard and an eerie face.
Behind him followed more than twenty disciples of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan. The weakest among them were Soul Kings, and there were even several Soul Emperors.
"Oh?" The old man looked at Zhu Hai and his group blocking his path and revealed a playful smile.
"So there are still a few rats who didn't run away?"
Zhu Hai glared at him with eyes full of killing intent. This old bastard! He was the one who led his subordinates to chase and kill more than a dozen brothers. Those vibrant lives vanished into a sea of blood!
"Run?" Zhu Hai said coldly. His voice seemed squeezed out from between his teeth.
"Today, I won't run. I will kill all you beasts!"
"Hahahaha!" The old man laughed loudly upon hearing this, contempt in his laughter.
The Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan disciples behind him also laughed.
"Kill us?" The old man's laughter stopped, and his eyes suddenly turned cold. With a low growl, his body suddenly swelled.
Blinding lightning burst from his body. His form grew taller and twisted, his skin covered in dense dragon scales, his hands turning into dragon claws, and a thick dragon tail dragging behind him.
Seven soul rings appeared around him—two yellow, two purple, three black!
Seven-ring Soul Saint!
The old man was Yu Kun, an elder of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, a Level 73 Soul Saint!
Terrifying pressure pressed down like tangible force. The five disciples behind Zhu Hai all changed color, feeling as if breathing had become difficult.
Yu Kun looked down at Zhu Hai like an ant. "A mere Soul Emperor dares to provoke a Soul Saint? What, have you already forgotten what a martial soul true body is in such a short time?"
Zhu Hai remained silent, staring at him intently.
Yu Kun coldly looked away, glanced in the direction the young disciples had fled, and said indifferently, "Hand over that woman."
The "woman" he referred to was the young woman who had caused this disaster.
That day, Yu Kun had been strolling in a small border town of the Heaven Dou Empire when he accidentally saw a passing woman.
The woman was at most twenty years old. She wore coarse clothes but had beautiful features.
More importantly, Yu Kun sensed faint fluctuations of a dragon-attribute martial soul from her, igniting burning passion in him, a master of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon soul.
For the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon, a dragon-attribute martial soul holder was the best vessel.
How could he miss such a good opportunity?
So Yu Kun followed her.
She was just an ordinary civilian soul master. If she was robbed, it couldn't be helped. Who would dare offend the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan?
However, ten years ago, after the old sect master was publicly killed by the old scoundrel Golden Crocodile Douluo, they had to restrain their arrogant and tyrannical behavior.
So this time, Yu Kun was especially cautious.
He secretly followed the woman to a small village outside the town. There, he learned that she was already married and seemed to come from a small sect he had never heard of.
Without hesitation, he led his subordinates into the village and tried to take the woman by force.
But he never expected those "lowly people" to actually resist!
Especially that Soul Emperor named Zhu Hai, who was clearly much weaker than him. He protected the woman like a madman, led his disciple brothers in a desperate fight, covered their retreat, and successfully allowed the elderly, weak, women, and children to escape deep into the mountains.
If I hadn't been "fighting" all night in the town before coming here and my legs were still a bit weak, how could I have let those rats escape so far?
Thinking of this, Yu Kun's killing intent grew stronger.
Hearing Yu Kun's words, Zhu Hai suddenly let out a contemptuous laugh.
"You beast, where did you crawl out from? Spring has arrived. Even an old beast like you is in heat and wants to come out to breed!"
Yu Kun's smile instantly froze. The next moment, his expression turned extremely ferocious.
"Good, good. I will slowly tear your mouth apart. Let me see if you can still be stubborn!"
Before he finished speaking, his seventh soul ring suddenly shone!
"Seventh Soul Skill—Martial Soul True Body!"
Boom!
Blinding lightning enveloped Yu Kun completely and rapidly expanded! When the lightning dissipated, a terrifying thunder dragon appeared before everyone!
"Roar—!"
After activating his martial soul true form, Yu Kun's power instantly skyrocketed. He looked down at the ant-like Zhu Hai below, cruelty in his eyes.
"I'll check whether your bones are as tough as your mouth!"
Zhu Hai took a deep breath. His six soul rings shone simultaneously—two yellow, two purple, two black! His legs swelled again, muscles bulged, veins protruded, as if about to burst through his trouser legs!
The next moment, he suddenly kicked off the ground with both feet!
"Bang!"
A deep crater formed in the ground! Zhu Hai shot out like a cannonball, charging madly toward the giant thunder dragon, leaving afterimages!
Behind Zhu Hai, the five disciples also rose at the same time and charged toward the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan disciples!
However, the difference in strength was too great.
On the Body Sect side, except for Zhu Hai the Soul Emperor, the other five were all Soul Kings. On the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan side, besides Yu Kun the Soul Saint, there were three Soul Emperors and more than ten Soul Kings!
They were outnumbered but overwhelmingly superior in strength!
The battle was a massacre from the start.
A Body Sect Soul King was surrounded and attacked by three Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan Soul Kings. In an instant, seven or eight wounds appeared on his body. He roared in counterattack, but received even fiercer attacks in return. Lightning fell. Finally, lightning pierced his chest, and he fell slowly to the ground with wide-open eyes.
Another Body Sect Soul King was targeted by a Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan Soul Emperor. The Soul King could only scream before his head was crushed by a single blow from the Soul Emperor.
Third, fourth…
In the short time it took for an incense stick to burn, all five disciples behind Zhu Hai were killed!
Meanwhile, Zhu Hai himself was struggling against Yu Kun's martial soul true form.
He was merely a Soul Emperor, while his opponent was a Soul Saint who had activated his martial soul true body. This was inherently an unfair fight. Zhu Hai's only advantage was his speed.
He dodged the thunder dragon's attacks at astonishing speed again and again, narrowly escaping its huge claws.
But when he caught a glimpse of his fallen disciple brothers from the corner of his eye, his eyes nearly bled.
"Ah—!"
Zhu Hai let out a grief-stricken cry, but it was useless.
After killing the five Body Sect Soul Kings, the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan disciples tried to continue chasing the fleeing disciples.
Seeing this, Zhu Hai desperately weaved between them, using his body and speed to block their path again and again, slowing their advance.
But in the end, he was only a Soul Emperor.
Stopping a Soul Saint who had activated his martial soul true body was already his limit. Distracting himself to stop the others was even harder.
Finally, when Zhu Hai tried to stop a Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan Soul Emperor, the latter shot out like lightning and fiercely grabbed Zhu Hai's left leg!
"Snap—!"
A sharp sound of breaking bone rang out! Zhu Hai's left leg was twisted at a gruesome angle under the giant dragon claw!
"Ah—!" Zhu Hai lost his balance and slammed heavily to the ground, screaming.
He desperately tried to stand up again, wanting to continue fighting.
But a huge foot was already stomping hard on his chest.
"Crack, crack…"
The terrifying stomping sounds of ribs breaking and shattering rang out again.
Yu Kun sealed his martial soul true form and returned to human shape. He stomped on Zhu Hai's chest, trampling mercilessly, a cruel smile on his face.
"You can run quite fast, huh?"
Zhu Hai coughed up blood, staining Yu Kun's shoe red. His face was pale, but his eyes were sharp as he stared fixedly at the ferocious face above him.
Yu Kun looked down at the bloodstain on his shoe and deepened his smile. He leaned down and whispered into Zhu Hai's ear. His voice was like a venomous snake hissing.
"How far do you think they can run in such a short time?
"Once I catch them, I will make them all kneel and beg for mercy. Then I will make them wish they were dead!"
"You…!" Zhu Hai's eyes widened in rage. He struggled but could not move under the pressure.
Yu Kun's gaze fell on the severed left leg. Cruel excitement flashed in his eyes. He slowly extended his right hand. His five fingers transformed into dragon claws, emitting cold light.
"Since you can run so fast…"
The dragon claw fiercely slashed at Zhu Hai's left groin!
"Ahhh!!!"
A sharp scream echoed through the valley!
Blood splattered across Zhu Hai's left leg. The leg had been severed at the root!
That leg was not merely a limb but part of his martial soul. Losing his left leg meant his martial soul's foundation had suffered a devastating blow, completely crippling him!
Zhu Hai convulsed, spitting large amounts of blood from his mouth, his consciousness fading. Yet he still stared at Yu Kun with eyes full of hatred and resentment.
Yu Kun looked at the bloodied severed leg in his hand and laughed madly. He clenched his five fingers tightly, crushing the severed leg into pieces. Blood, flesh, and bone fragments scattered across the ground!
"Hahahaha! Trash! This is the consequence of defying my Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan!"
He threw away the crumbs in his hand and looked again at Zhu Hai's remaining right leg, licking his lips.
"Don't worry, there's still one more…"
The dragon claw slowly extended again.
"Beast!!"
At this critical moment, a roar filled with overwhelming killing intent thundered like lightning!
The immense soul power contained in that roar made even a Soul Saint like Yu Kun instantly stand on end, a chill running from the soles of his feet to the top of his head!
This person's strength… was definitely no less than Second Elder Yu Luonian!
The next moment, a dazzling streak of light crossed the sky, and a tall, sturdy man appeared before everyone.
The moment Chu Shanhe's gaze fell on Zhu Hai's miserable state and the corpses of his fellow disciples scattered on the ground, his eyes instantly turned bloodshot.
"Die—!"
Chu Shanhe roared and threw a punch!
"Boom—!"
Wherever the gale passed, the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan disciples were blown away wrapped in blood mist without even having time to scream!
With one strike, all those scum were wiped out!
Chu Shanhe paid no attention to the blood mist. He stepped to Zhu Hai's side and knelt down trembling.
"Eighth Brother… Eighth Brother!"
His voice shook, and his eyes reddened. Where had the god of war who had been majestic just moments ago gone?
Zhu Hai barely opened his eyes and saw the familiar face before him. He couldn't help but twitch the corners of his mouth slightly, as if trying to smile.
"Second… Second Brother…"
His voice was as weak as a candle flame flickering in the wind, almost inaudible.
"Second Brother has come!" Chu Shanhe gripped his hand tightly. "Don't speak. Second Brother will take you for treatment!"
He carefully lifted Zhu Hai, then waved his hand, gathering all the remains of the disciples scattered around.
After finishing all this, he let out a long roar. His figure turned into a streak of light and rushed toward the nearest major city.
Only bloodstains remained in the valley. The wind blowing through the valley carried a sweet, stimulating scent.
Zhu Hai, once a promising genius with the potential to achieve silver-level awakening, had now become disabled.
His left leg was lost.
His martial spirit was shattered.
His future had also been completely crushed by that claw.
…