Chapter 36: Liu Erlong

Tracking criminals wasn't a glamorous job, but it was necessary. For weeks, I had followed this group of scum through cities and forests, piecing together their trail from the stories of terrified villagers and the few survivors they left behind. Now, at last, I had them in my sights. Witnesses in Suotuo City claimed to have seen them heading into the forest nearby. I wasn't going to let them slip away this time.

I pushed my body to its limits, running through the dense undergrowth at full speed. My spirit power flowed freely, enhancing my agility and senses. The forest blurred around me, but my focus was razor-sharp. Every snapped twig and crushed leaf brought me closer to them.

When I finally caught up, the sight that greeted me chilled me to the core. The criminals were encircling a child, his clothes soaked in blood. My heart clenched. They must have already harmed him, perhaps worse. Rage bubbled up within me, threatening to spill over.

"Get away from that kid, you scumbags!" I roared, stepping into the clearing. My spirit rings flared to life around me, six brilliant halos of yellow, yellow, purple, purple, black, and black. The sight of a rank 69 Spirit Emperor had the effect I intended: their movements faltered, hesitation creeping into their faces.

But hesitation wasn't fear. One of the men, the leader by the looks of him, grinned. "A Spirit Emperor?" he sneered. "We outnumber you, lady. You might be strong, but numbers have their own power."

I smiled coldly. "You'll regret that decision."

The leader raised his hand, signaling his men to attack. They charged, their spirit rings activating one by one. The strongest among them was a rank 59 Spirit King, but the rest were significantly weaker. It was an insult that they thought they stood a chance against me.

As the first robber lunged, I unleashed my first spirit ability, Dragon's Fury. A wave of crimson fire erupted from my hands, engulfing the frontmost attackers. They screamed as the flames consumed them, their bodies crumpling to the ground. My second ring lit up as I activated Crimson Scales, boosting my defense and strength. The leader, seeing his men fall, roared in frustration and joined the fray himself.

He came at me with a powerful strike, his martial soul, a steel mace, glinting menacingly. I met his blow head-on, countering with my third ability, Dragon's Roar. The shockwave sent him staggering backward, and I pressed the advantage, striking with precision and force. We clashed, sending sparks flying, but he couldn't match my power. I drove him back, step by step, until he stumbled, leaving an opening. I didn't hesitate, delivering a crushing blow that sent him sprawling to the ground.

Around me, the other criminals hesitated. Their leader's fall had shaken their confidence, but desperation drove them forward. Two of them activated their spirit abilities simultaneously, aiming to flank me. I spun on my heel, using my fourth ability, Infernal Whirlwind. A vortex of fire erupted around me, incinerating their attacks and forcing them to retreat. They didn't get far. I pursued them with relentless precision, cutting them down before they could regroup.

One of the remaining men, a wiry figure with a snake-like martial soul, attempted to ensnare me with venomous tendrils. I sidestepped his attack, grabbing one of the tendrils and yanking him off balance. With a single, decisive strike, I ended his life. The others tried to swarm me, but their coordination was sloppy, and their fear was palpable. It was almost too easy.

As I struck down the ninth man, silence fell over the clearing. I took a deep breath, the adrenaline still coursing through my veins. It was over. Or so I thought.

A soft sound behind me made my blood run cold. Spinning around, I saw the last robber, the one I had somehow missed. He moved behind the kid, a dagger, his martial soul, pressed against the child's throat. The kid stood eerily still, his expression unreadable.

"Stay back," the man snarled, his voice trembling but desperate. "One more step, and I'll kill him!"

I froze, my mind racing. This wasn't just about strength anymore; it was about strategy. One wrong move, and that boy… I couldn't let it happen. My eyes locked onto the criminal, and I prepared to make my next move. However, I didn't have the chance to do anything. Three minutes later, I was standing in the same place in shock at what I had just witnessed.