Night blanketed the wilderness as the convoy advanced along the dirt road. Tall grass swayed gently on both sides, broken only by scattered trees and low shrubs. The land was quiet—too quiet.
Then, a sudden pressure descended.
The air grew heavy, pressing down on every breath. Before the convoy could react, seven figures emerged from the darkness, stepping onto the road and surrounding the shipment from multiple directions.
In the same moment, soul power surged.
One after another, six soul rings rose beneath each of the seven attackers. All of them, Soul Emperors.
Their auras spread outward, raw and oppressive. The pressure alone was enough to make the weaker members of the convoy stiffen. From that aura, the difference between them became clear—most carried the presence of early-stage Soul Emperors, but three were far stronger. Their pressure was sharper, denser, clearly standing above the rest.
Levels sixty-five, sixty-seven, and sixty-eight.
The grass flattened under their combined aura. The lantern flames flickered violently, struggling to remain lit.
This was no coincidence. No careless encounter.
The seven Soul Emperors stood calmly, confident, their killing intent restrained but unmistakable—like hunters who had already cornered their prey.
Wang Yan moved his expression remained calm, but his eyes sharpened like a drawn blade. Without wasting a single breath, his voice cut through the night—low, firm, carrying unquestionable authority.
The Iron Guards reacted instantly.
Formations shifted. The elites moved without panic, years of discipline showing in every step. The shipment was tightened into a defensive core as Wang Yan's gaze locked onto the strongest aura among the seven—the one whose pressure towered above the rest.
The level sixty-eight Soul Emperor.
Wang Yan pointed forward.
That was all it took.
Liu Ming turned at the same time, already understanding. His eyes fixed on the Soul Emperor radiating a level sixty-five aura. Chen Yu and Zhao Qing shifted together, targeting the one whose pressure sat at sixty-seven.
The remaining four Soul Emperors were immediately engaged.
Four Soul Kings from the Iron Guards stepped forward, each supported by two Soul Ancestors, forming tight three-man units. One Soul King, two Soul Ancestors—each group locking onto a single enemy.
Then—
The battle exploded.
Soul power erupted, Wang Yan surged forward first, his figure blurring as he met the Soul Emperor with the highest aura head-on.
Above that enemy's head, a Golden Eagle martial soul spread its wings, radiating dominance and ferocity. Its cry ripped through the battlefield, sharp and piercing.
Wang Yan did not retreat.
Their first clash sent a shockwave rolling across the road, cracking the earth beneath their feet. The fight between them instantly became the center of the battlefield—power against power, pressure colliding violently.
Otherside, Liu Ming engaged his opponent with precise, controlled movements, while Chen Yu and Zhao Qing pressed their enemy together, forcing him back step by step. The Iron Guard elites fought grimly, formations holding as they faced enemies far stronger than any ordinary Soul Master.
This was no chaotic brawl.
It was a calculated battle.
And at its heart, Wang Yan fought with a single goal— End the strongest first. Then break the rest.
Wang Yan quickly realized something was wrong.
No matter how hard he attacked, his opponent did not fall. Each time Wang Yan injured him, golden light flowed over the man's body, and the wounds healed almost immediately. Broken skin closed. Blood stopped flowing. Strength returned.
The problem was clear.
This Soul Emperor could heal while fighting.
As long as Wang Yan kept attacking him like this, nothing would change. The fight would only drag on, wasting time. And time was something Wang Yan did not have.
Behind him, the situation was worse.
His friends were facing other Soul Emperors whose levels were higher than theirs. Even with teamwork, they were under heavy pressure. If this continued, someone would get seriously injured—or worse.
Wang Yan understood then: He could not stay locked in this fight.
But killing this opponent quickly was impossible. Every serious injury was healed before it could become fatal.
So Wang Yan changed his plan.
If he could not kill him, then he would injure him deeply—injuries that would take at least a few seconds to recover. Those few seconds were enough.
Wang Yan began striking with full power, Golden light still appeared, but now it slowed. The enemy had to pause to heal.
The moment Wang Yan saw that pause, he moved.
He rushed to Liu Ming's side. Together, they attacked the Soul Emperor Liu Ming was fighting and killed him quickly.
With that enemy gone, Liu Ming could move to help the others.
Wang Yan turned back, ready to face the Golden Eagle Soul Emperor again—
But the man was gone.
There was no trace of him left on the battlefield.
When Wang Yan found no trace of the Golden Eagle Soul Emperor, he did not waste time searching.
He turned back to the battlefield.
At that moment, Liu Ming had already rejoined Zhao Qing and the elites. The remaining Soul Emperors were still fighting fiercely, but the balance had begun to shift.
Wang Yan entered the battle without hesitation.
With his arrival, the pressure on the Iron Guards dropped instantly. His attacks were sharp and decisive, forcing one Soul Emperor into a defensive position. Almost at the same time, Liu Ming struck from the other side.
The two worked together smoothly.
Within moments, one Soul Emperor fell.
They did not stop.
Wang Yan shifted targets again, joining another group. With his support, a second Soul Emperor was killed. The battlefield changed rapidly, the Iron Guards gaining full control.
Now, only three Soul Emperors remained.
Just as victory seemed close—
A sudden burst of violent energy erupted from the shipment area.
Everyone felt it.
Wang Yan's expression changed.
"That's the shipment," he said immediately.
His eyes snapped toward the wagons, a figure surged forward in a flash of golden light.
The Golden Eagle Soul Emperor.
In his hands was a box taken from the shipment whose seal was broken.
The truth became clear in an instant. The attack was for this box, there is something very important in that box.
Without hesitation, Wang Yan made his decision.
"Chen Yu, with me."
The two broke away at once, chasing after the escaping figure, while Liu Ming, Zhao Qing, and the remaining elites moved to finish the remaining soul emperors and protect the shipment.
End of chapter.