Chapter 89: Crisis of the Bear Soul-Hunting Group

As he watched the Dark Spirit Masters scatter and disappear into the depths of the dense forest, Lin Ye waited until the last of the black-and-blood-robed figures completely vanished from sight. Only then did he cautiously emerge from his hiding spot behind the thick foliage.

"Two separate groups…" Lin Ye muttered, his eyes narrowing as he stared in the direction where the Dark Spirit Masters had vanished. He couldn't help but feel a trace of surprise.

No one in Eternal Night City had realized it yet: the Dark Spirit Masters weren't just hidden in the depths of the Evernight Forest; a group had infiltrated Eternal Night City itself, disguised as nobles.

From their conversation, Lin Ye had pieced together most of their plan. Besides combing the forest to hunt for spirit beasts themselves, the Dark Spirit Masters had sent a team of impostors into the city. Posing as wealthy nobles with a penchant for hunting spirit beasts, they had issued quests for Soul-Hunting Groups to take on, luring them into Evernight Forest under the pretense of a noble's hunt.

Once a group accepted the quest and ventured into the forest under the Dark Spirit Masters' escort, it was as good as a death sentence. However, there was a flaw in their approach.

If the same nobles were repeatedly hiring Soul-Hunting Groups to enter the forest, only for the groups to vanish without a trace, someone would have noticed by now. Yet, no one had caught on. There had to be a reason.

And Lin Ye had deduced it from their conversation: the ringleader among them had a codename—"Thousand Faces." This hinted that the Dark Spirit Master likely had a special talent for disguise. Each time they issued a mission, they assumed a new identity. Every time they led a group to its doom, that persona also "died" along with the group, erasing any suspicion.

"Truly cunning!"

Clenching his fists, Lin Ye's gaze grew resolute. "But you've crossed paths with me. I'll be the one to expose you!"

Casting one last look in the direction the Dark Spirit Masters had disappeared, Lin Ye reached into his robe and pulled out a small, fluffy creature—a snow-white, furball-like spirit beast named Tangyuan. Gently placing it in his palm, he smiled.

"It's safe now. They're gone. You can talk."

"Squeak, squeak?" Tangyuan straightened, tilting its head with a curious squeak as if asking, Really?

Lin Ye chuckled. "Yes, now let's continue. Show me the way."

With a nod, Lin Ye leaped down from the tree, holding Tangyuan in a loose grip before gently setting it on the ground. He stroked its head lightly, encouraging it.

"Squeak!"

In response, Tangyuan perked up, chirping and pointing in a direction with a little squeak, then dashed forward with surprising speed. Lin Ye followed swiftly.

…

Meanwhile, several kilometers away, the Bear Soul-Hunting Group was in the middle of its greatest crisis yet.

"Run! Everyone, move!" Shiyue shouted frantically, his voice nearly drowned out by the rumbling of trees crashing behind him and the furious roars that filled the forest. He sprinted forward, urging his companions to escape as fast as possible.

Behind them, a towering, black-furred demonic ape—over five meters tall—bounded from tree to tree, its crimson eyes locked onto Shiyue and the others, bellowing in anger as it pursued them.

"Damn it! Who the hell set us up?!" Shiyue cursed through gritted teeth as he ran.

Half an hour earlier…

After joining the other elite hunting groups on their journey from Eternal Night City to Evernight Forest, the Bear Soul-Hunting Group, like the rest, had been assigned a section of the forest to search. Under the supervision of a representative from the Martial Soul Hall, they ventured into the forest, maintaining their formation carefully as they patrolled the area.

Everything had been going smoothly; they'd found no trace of the Dark Spirit Masters, nor encountered any unexpected dangers. Suddenly, a dark shape hurtled toward them from the shadows.

Instinctively, Luo An, the team's control-type Soul Master, summoned his Ironvine Wuhun, attempting to ensnare the unknown threat. As the vine wrapped around it, the dark shape exploded, splattering blood across the entire group in a grotesque spray. It wasn't until the shock wore off that they realized the shape had been a barrel filled with blood—and within it was the mangled corpse of a small, black-furred creature.

Before they could fully grasp what had happened, a powerful King Kong Demon Ape, over five thousand years old, had come crashing through the trees toward them.

Upon seeing the tiny corpse in the barrel, the King Kong Demon Ape's eyes had turned blood-red with rage. It pounded its chest wildly, letting out a furious roar before charging after Shiyue and his team in a berserk rampage.

Though the ape was only a five-thousand-year soul beast, King Kong Demon Apes were among the most formidable of all. They possessed incredible strength, nigh-indestructible bodies, and a durability that was second only to the Titan Giant Ape among their kind. In terms of sheer power, this beast could rival even ten-thousand-year soul beasts.

If it had been any other creature at that level, the Bear Soul-Hunting Group might not have been so concerned. Their lineup, complete with defensive and control-type Soul Masters, was well-suited to handling speed-based soul beasts.

But the King Kong Demon Ape shared their strengths in power and endurance, leaving the group at a clear disadvantage. They had no choice but to flee.

"I… I can't keep going. Shiyue, you all should leave me… I don't want to drag you down…"

After running for over half an hour, Shiyue, Xie Lin, and He Feng could still endure, being battle soul masters with beast Wuhuns. But Luo An and Su Ying, both tool soul masters and non-combat specialists, were quickly reaching their limits—especially Su Ying, whose Wuhun was purely supportive.

"First Soul Skill—Vitality Restoration, Red Cherry!"

"Second Soul Skill—Spirit Power Recovery, Purple Cherry!"

Panting heavily, Su Ying summoned her Wuhun, producing as many red and purple cherries as her remaining soul power allowed, stuffing them into a pouch before tossing it to Shiyue.

"This is all I can manage with my remaining soul power. Go on without me, Shiyue. Take it… and avenge me if you make it out."

As the bag left her hand, Su Ying's exhausted form collapsed, the last of her strength spent. She smiled weakly as she hit the ground.

"Su Ying!" cried Xie Lin, her face stricken with panic as she saw her friend fall. She turned, rushing toward Su Ying.

He Feng bit his lip, steeling himself. Despite his usual carefree attitude, he would never abandon a teammate to die alone.

As both He Feng and Xie Lin turned back to rescue Su Ying, the King Kong Demon Ape leaped closer, eyes fixed on the vulnerable soul master lying on the ground. With a furious roar, it raised a fist and prepared to smash her.

"No!" Xie Lin's voice echoed through the forest as she realized how close the beast was, still ten meters away from Su Ying.

"Third Soul Skill—Ironvine Net!"

In a desperate move, Luo An slammed a palm to the ground. His third soul ring activated, and countless black-green vines erupted from the earth, weaving a massive net that ensnared the demonic ape in mid-air.

"Yes! Great job, Luo An!" He Feng cheered, seeing the ape momentarily entangled.

"ROAR!"

But before their relief could settle, the ape's muscles bulged, and with a mighty flex, it tore through the vine net as though it were paper.

"Su Ying!" Xie Lin cried out in despair, seeing the ape break free with Su Ying barely ten meters away.

"ROAR!"

With a frenzied scream, the ape leapt, raising its fist once more, aiming for Su Ying.

"Get away from her!"

At that crucial moment, a dark figure shot out from the trees, slamming into the ape with full force and knocking it to the side.

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