Chapter 25: Killing and Backstabbing, Then Checking the Corpses

The destructive power of three enraged five-thousand-year soul beasts was exceptionally terrifying. As they stormed into the midst of the group, a single sweep caused the surrounding trees to snap in half at the waist, and the earth itself couldn't bear the impact, cracking open like a spider's web.

"Damn it! Defense, defense!" roared Dai Chong.

Instantly, everyone activated their martial souls to resist the attacks of the three five-thousand-year soul beasts. However, Cheng Xiao, the one responsible for all this, had long disappeared.

Despite their quick defensive response, after a few rounds, some among them were still injured.

Five-thousand-year soul beasts were not like three-thousand-year ones. Even Soul Masters had to be on high alert. Dealing with one of them would require the coordination and tacit understanding of the seven, enabling them to kill the soul beast.

But now, with three of them attacking simultaneously, it became challenging for the group. If they weren't careful, improper coordination could lead to injuries.

"Don't hold back! Swift and decisive!"

Seeing the dire situation, Dai Chong finally became cautious, revealing his true strength as he fought desperately against the three soul beasts.

"Boom!"

With the fall of the last soul beast, the seven finally killed all three. However, they paid a significant price – everyone was injured, covered in blood. The most severe injury was a severed arm.

"Can everyone hold on?" Dai Chong's face was full of resentment as he scanned the heavily wounded group.

"We won't die," said Old Seven, clutching his severed arm, enduring the pain.

"That damn brat!" Old Six gritted his teeth and said fiercely, "We have to kill him, we must kill him!"

"Yes, we can't let him off!"

"You rascal!"

For a moment, the group was filled with indignation.

"Hey! Are you all still alive?"

Suddenly, that familiar childish voice echoed again, like a charm that sent chills down their spines. The angry curses of the group ceased abruptly, replaced by an ominous feeling.

"Young man, we admit defeat this time," Dai Chong said with a serious expression, taking out two purple cards from his pocket. "This is the commission for hiring us. Consider it an apology and compensation for the trouble we caused you. How about it? As long as you let us go, we promise not to trouble you in the future."

Their team was in bad shape now. After killing three soul beasts, they were exhausted, and with several injuries, engaging in another conflict with Cheng Xiao, whose strength was unknown, could have dire consequences.

However, Cheng Xiao was not fooled. He wasn't a three-year-old child, easily deceived. If he let them go for a small amount of soul coins, they might come back for revenge once they recovered. Besides, killing them would also yield golden soul coins.

"Not one will be spared!" Cheng Xiao wasn't someone with a soft heart. His mouth curled into a mocking smile, lightly saying words filled with a chilling murderous intent, "Kill!"

In the next moment, Cheng Xiao's shadow moved as if coming to life. Numerous tendrils extended, connecting with the surrounding trees, forming a crisscrossing giant web. Thirteen shadowy soul beasts emerged from that abyssal shadow, roaring angrily, surrounding the seven so tightly that there was no way out.

"You, you, you..."

The seven were shocked and terrified, staring at six of those soul beasts. They were the ones they had helped hunt before!

No wonder! No wonder this kid asked them to hunt soul beasts for him and didn't let them watch!

Everything made sense now!

This kid actually had such a mysterious ability!

"Fight to the death!" Old Six roared, being the first to charge forward.

"Everyone, attack together!" Dai Chong took a deep breath, waving his hand with a serious expression. "Protect Old Six, rush over and grab that kid."

Since there was no other option, they could only go all out. Fortunately, the thirteen soul beasts were all under three thousand years old. If they rushed desperately towards Cheng Xiao and kidnapped him, there might be a chance of survival.

Bang! Boom! 

The seven fought through injuries, successfully killing the weakest Tiger Demon Cat and attempting to break through the soul beast formation, heading straight for Cheng Xiao.

However, when two soul beasts closed in for an ambush, the seven were horrified to discover that the Tiger Demon Cat they had killed behind them had, under the shroud of shadows, resurrected!

"What in the world is this thing!?" The seven felt their souls shivering.

They had never seen such an eerie technique. Those specters emitted an aura of death, yet they could continuously resurrect...

This was by no means a normal Soul Master's method!

It seemed more like... those fallen ones hunted by the Hall of Martial Souls! Fallen Soul Masters! The moment these words crossed their minds, the seven felt a chill.

"It's over, all over!" One person knelt in despair.

If they could kill these soul beasts, they might have a chance to escape, but since these soul beasts could endlessly resurrect, no matter how well they coordinated, they couldn't escape their fate of being killed.

"It's all because of you! You let your greed take over!" Someone shoved Old Six.

"I don't want to die; I still have children at home. Boss, think of a way!"

Cheng Xiao looked at their miserable state, his heart as cold as steel, showing no emotion. With a casual wave of his hand, seven soul beasts pounced, while five remained on the outskirts, exploiting their infinite recovery ability to drain the opponents' soul power and kill them when they couldn't hold on any longer.

Only when all seven were down did Cheng Xiao retract the shadow domain, draw out a dagger, and meticulously finish off each body. Killing and backstabbing, then checking the corpses - a good habit cultivated from a young age, Cheng Xiao understood it well.

Old Six's limbs had been gnawed clean by the soul beasts, leaving only a breath, yet he watched Cheng Xiao's precise actions with stiffening and chilling disbelief. How did this kid grow up, understanding even the art of checking corpses!?

Cheng Xiao's still-small body cast a shadow, blocking out the sunlight, akin to the shadow of death.

As death approached, regret filled Old Six's heart endlessly. If he hadn't been so greedy, perhaps he wouldn't have ended up in this situation.

"You... you won't live much longer either..." Suddenly, Old Six widened his eyes. The lifeless gaze exploded into a burst of light, gasping for breath, he laughed heartily while spitting blood.

"Hahaha, join us in hell..."

"Pfft!" Cheng Xiao chuckled, thinking it was just a dying gasp, spitefully cursing.

He crouched down, preparing to stab the dagger into Old Six's heart, ending his life.

However, in the next instant, Cheng Xiao's face changed drastically. A fierce aura tightly enveloped him.

Cheng Xiao's eyelids twitched; the pressure approached from behind. The sunlight was blocked by an enormous figure, and the terrifying aura made Cheng Xiao's heart beat like a drum.

Stiffening, he turned his head only to find a massive Dark Gold Fear Claw Bear had silently arrived behind him!

Cheng Xiao's breath hitched, "A Dark Gold Fear Claw Bear!?"