Chapter 46: Their Target is the Young Master!

Long before Cheng Xiao spied on the two titled Douluos, Snake Spear Douluo and Porcupinefish Douluo had already noticed something. As titled Douluos, their senses were far superior to most others.

At first, they thought it was just a passing soul beast. After all, this was the Star Dou Forest, where soul beasts frequently roamed, so they didn't pay much attention.

However, as time passed, when that prying gaze returned, they immediately sensed something was wrong. In response, Snake Spear Douluo hurled his spear with immense force, directly targeting a shadowy corner of the forest.

Meanwhile, Cheng Xiao wasn't idle either. The moment the spear was thrown, shadow soldiers appeared in front of him. Led by Nether Tiger, they swiftly ran in the opposite direction, aiming to distract the two titled Douluos.

The commotion caused by the dozen or so shadow soldiers was impossible to ignore. Unable to pinpoint Cheng Xiao's exact location, Snake Spear Douluo noticed the movement of the shadow soldiers in the forest. To him, however, they merely looked like a group of fleeing soul beasts.

"Why are there so many soul beasts here? Could it be that they've sensed the young master's aura and have come to cause trouble?" Porcupinefish Douluo, Bloodstinger, glanced at Qian Renxue, who was in the process of absorbing her sixth spirit ring, and cautioned Snake Spear Douluo beside him.

"We can't allow these beasts to disrupt her during such a critical moment." Snake Spear Douluo, Yu Long, frowned as he observed the retreating soul beasts. With a flick of his hand, the spear he had thrown moments earlier swiftly returned to his grip.

"What should we do?" Porcupinefish Douluo, Bloodstinger, asked.

"Just hold our ground." Snake Spear Douluo, Yu Long, gripped his spear tightly and replied, "These soul beasts are low-level. As long as we stay here, they won't be able to get anywhere near the young master."

Hearing this, Porcupinefish Douluo nodded, his gaze turning sharp as he scanned the surroundings, ready to prevent any disturbance that might affect Qian Renxue.

Seeing that the two titled Douluos remained in place, Cheng Xiao issued another command to the Man-faced Demon Spider. Suddenly, a purple orb shot out from the forest. Under the surprised gazes of the two old men, the orb unfolded into a massive web that descended from the sky.

The web came so unexpectedly that neither Snake Spear Douluo nor Porcupinefish Douluo had time to react. In their minds, low-level soul beasts should instinctively flee far away when they sensed the aura of high-level spirit masters.

But what was happening now? Were even thousand-year-old soul beasts bold enough to attack titled Douluos? "Beast, you're courting death!" Snake Spear Douluo, Yu Long, pointed his spear at the web and roared.

Golden lightning crackled from the tip of his spear, and with a flash of light, the web was cleaved in two. Without hesitation, Snake Spear Douluo charged forward, spear in hand.

As a titled Douluo, he recognized the web immediately. The Man-faced Demon Spider, a creature of sinister cruelty, could consume both soul beasts and spirit masters to enhance its own power. Now that it had set its sights on the young master, it would be a major problem if not dealt with swiftly.

Realizing Snake Spear Douluo was coming after it, the Man-faced Demon Spider turned and fled, not pausing for a moment. Communication between the shadow soldiers and their commander was simple—when the commander had a thought, the soldiers would act on it immediately. Cheng Xiao had just ordered the Man-faced Demon Spider to lure Snake Spear Douluo away.

However, it was unrealistic to have the spider face Snake Spear Douluo alone. Therefore, Cheng Xiao dispatched seven shadow soldiers to hinder Snake Spear Douluo's progress. Though they couldn't defeat him, they could at least delay him for a while.

After Snake Spear Douluo disappeared in pursuit of the Man-faced Demon Spider, Cheng Xiao shifted his gaze to Porcupinefish Douluo. Compared to Snake Spear Douluo, Porcupinefish Douluo was slower, and since he was now guarding Qian Renxue alone, there was little chance of drawing him away.

Thus, Cheng Xiao decided to take the initiative. He sent eight shadow soldiers with thousand-year cultivation to disrupt Qian Renxue's spirit ring absorption. Although the shadow soldiers would be easily defeated by a titled Douluo, they could resurrect quickly. As long as they still had shadow energy, they could revive infinitely! "Nether Tiger, Fangs, go!" Cheng Xiao commanded, and Ghost Tiger and Fang shot forward like arrows from a bow, racing toward Qian Renxue, who was absorbing her spirit ring.

Behind them, the other six shadow soldiers rushed out, though their target was not Qian Renxue but the vicious-looking Porcupinefish Douluo.

"Damn it! Their target is indeed the young master!" Porcupinefish Douluo immediately entered his martial soul transformation. His body expanded like a balloon, covered in countless sharp purple spikes that sprouted from his skin and completely enveloped him.

At that moment, he looked far more menacing. Even his hands had turned into spiked weapons, resembling maces, with his entire body cloaked in a special purple hue.

The porcupinefish, a creature from the sea, uses its spikes to defend itself when in danger. This species possesses numerous troublesome abilities such as venom, unbreakable defense, and external toxin discharge.

As he saw the approaching soul beasts, Porcupinefish Douluo grew anxious. At over level 90, he immediately activated his martial soul true body, unleashing a massive wave of soul power. The sheer force of his aura froze the advancing shadow soldiers in place, including Ghost Tiger and Fang.

In a panic, Porcupinefish Douluo swiftly slaughtered the six soul beasts before him, then raised his hand, firing a barrage of purple spikes that instantly pierced and killed Nether Tiger and Fangs, without the slightest hesitation.

Watching from behind a tree, Cheng Xiao raised his hand. Black mist surged forth once again, forming new shadow soldiers. As usual, they charged forward without hesitation, completely ignoring the stunned expression on Porcupinefish Douluo's face.

"What's going on? Why are there so many soul beasts again?" Porcupinefish Douluo was bewildered. Hadn't he just killed these beasts? How had they reappeared? And why were the same two soul beasts still leading them?

Though puzzled, Porcupinefish Douluo wasted no time eliminating the new wave of soul beasts. He couldn't believe that a few thousand-year-old soul beasts could cause any real trouble. However, in his distraction, he failed to notice that Qian Renxue, who was absorbing her sixth spirit ring, was sweating profusely. The previously stable process was beginning to falter, and her spirit ring flickered ominously—she was clearly affected.