Chapter 301 Hunting

Despair washed over Andy's face as he suddenly came to a halt, gasping for air, his lungs burning, his eyes locked onto the fire warlock closing in.

With his injuries, running would only worsen his wounds, likely finishing him off before the enemy could strike. Better to catch his breath and fight like a cornered animal. Even if he died, he’d at least take a piece of his enemy with him.

The fire warlock skidded to a halt. He was in far better shape than Andy, but his chest heaved slightly, his breath ragged. "Damn it, you’ve had me chasing you all night! Run, why don’t you? Keep running!"

Andy ignored him, focusing on catching his breath and desperately mustering the last remnants of his soul power.

The fire warlock spat, a fireball flaring to life in his palm. "I’ll—"

Before he could finish, a lazy voice drifted out of the shadows.

"Hey."

Both the fire warlock and Andy froze, startled, not expecting anyone nearby. They turned their heads toward the source of the voice.

Out of the darkness, a figure sauntered into view.

In the moonlight, they saw a man with a weed dangling from his lips, hands in his pockets, and the legendary sword at his waist hung as carelessly as a stick.

He squinted, scratched his ear, and lazily eyed the War Academy disciple. "Who’s making all this racket? You’re ruining my nap!"

The fire warlock’s jaw dropped. The guy radiated no soul power, yet his arrogance was off the charts. His look, stance, and aura screamed Hei Wu Kai of the Night Yaksha tribe!

The menacing fireball in his hand fizzled out, vanishing as if it had never been. The atmosphere instantly froze.

'Gulp.'

The fire warlock swallowed, beads of sweat instantly covering his forehead. He was so nervous his body quivered, his heart hammering in his chest.

"Ah... s-s-sorry!"

He instinctively responded, feeling a sudden, intense urge to urinate, causing him to clench his legs tightly.

Old Wang shot him a look of pure disdain. "What’s your rank?"

"Th-three... three ninety-one," he stammered, his voice shaking.

"Trash!" Old Wang spat. "Get out of here!"

The fire warlock was stunned. Instead of feeling insulted, he felt an overwhelming sense of relief.

Thank goodness... thank goodness it was Hei Wu Kai! The proud and eccentric Night Yaksha of the Eight Tribes was known for his disdain for weaker opponents. It was normal for him to ignore someone like him.

He had actually ranked 320, but instinctively lowered it. If he had been honest, he might have seemed more valuable...

The fire warlock clenched his fists, opened his mouth to speak, then thought better of it. He had heard that Hei Wu Kai’s sword rarely left its sheath, and when it did, it always drew blood. He didn’t want to risk changing his mind. He turned and fled, running even faster than when he had been chasing Andy.

The threat of death vanished in an instant. Andy, who had been prepared to die, now felt immense gratitude for his narrow escape. He was about to approach Hei Wu Kai to thank him, but Hei Wu Kai didn’t even glance at him, turning and walking away.

Andy realized it was probably just a casual act for him.

He had seen Hei Wu Kai before, a member of Rose. He remembered when Rose first arrived at Fort Edge, he and Captain Ashoka had given them trouble. Now, Hei Wu Kai had saved his life. Andy’s face flushed slightly, his emotions mixed.

Summoning his courage, he called out in the direction Hei Wu Kai had left, "Th-thank you!"

But there was no response.

Feeling a bit ashamed, Andy took out a potion from his pocket and drank it, resting for a while.

His injuries were pretty bad, but with the help of the magic potion, he got them under control. Worried the fire wizard might come back, he first thought about heading after Hei Wukai, but after some consideration, he was too embarrassed and turned around, quickly taking off in another direction.

Old Wang didn’t come out of the shadows until the guy was gone.

He took off his mask, patted his chest, and darted back into the tree hollow to redo his disguise.

This trick’s a winner—Old Hei’s the real deal!

Old Wang took out the mask, unable to stop admiring it.

Man, Old Hei’s rep is no joke. A little scare was all it took to send the enemy running, no need to even fight. It was a total rush—now that’s how a main character rolls in.

Old Wang was stoked. It proved that this trick works, of course, as long as the other guy’s not too high up the ranks... and as long as you don’t encounter a hothead like Aota!

Dodge those two, and this trick’s golden anywhere!

Old Wang fiddled with the mask for a bit, then put it away and refocused his attention on the ice bees’ vision.

The night was getting darker, and by the time, it should be close to midnight. The two full moons above were shifting slightly.

They looked a bit dimmer, not as bright as before, and the air was getting colder by the minute. The whole place was covered in a light haze. The few ghostly lights on the ground now appeared more prominent in the ice bees’ vision, seeming to have increased in number.

Old Wang ducked his head, pulled the blanket tighter, and checked the disguise of the tree hollow again.

Even though I’m a hardcore atheist, still...

Crap, I really hope nothing freaky goes down!

...

In the swamp, water vapor rose from the leaves, forming spiderweb-like mist lines that swayed in the air, emitting a strange fragrance. This was the swamp mist.

A butterfly, following the scent, wandered in and aimlessly bumped into a cluster of mist lines. In an instant, the web-like mist lines solidified and contracted, trapping the butterfly within the swamp.

Xiao Bang watched this strange scene as his soul power transformed into a gentle breeze, softly pushing aside the swamp mist, and quickly passed through.

"Ah!"

A scream came, and Xiao Bang’s figure slightly paused. The soul power breeze changed direction slightly and rushed towards the sound.

Passing through a large cluster of swamp trees, the view suddenly opened up. A spring flowed into a stream, and the mist lines of the swamp’s hunting did not cross the stream.

His target, being chased, was on the other side of the stream. Perhaps due to a moment of carelessness, he failed to notice the hidden danger in the stream. A peak-level water wolf bit his throat.

The timely activation of soul power prevented his throat from being immediately severed, but before he could resist, the water wolf’s sharp claws tore through the soft armor on his chest like paper, deeply penetrating his chest...

Huff, the water wolf alertly turned its head, its icy blue eyes glaring fiercely at Xiao Bang, the gills behind its ears threateningly wide open, emitting a warning sound like panting.

Xiao Bang stopped, his eyes meeting the dangerous gaze of the water wolf. Wildness clashed, and the atmosphere between them was like lightning colliding.

After a long while, the water wolf conceded. It was a smart soul beast, knowing when to attack and when to retreat.

Its mouth released the target’s neck, and it submerged into the stream again. Its unique talent made it nearly invisible in the water.

Xiao Bang crossed the stream and searched the lifeless target for the nameplate.

This opponent was not weak; being able to safely and quickly pass through the swamp forest, his strength was undeniable.

Unfortunately, even such a master, with just a moment of carelessness, lost his life. Years of hard training and grand ambitions were all reduced to ashes in an instant.

Xiao Bang didn’t bother to collect the corpse; the water wolf lurking beneath the surface would turn its prey into part of the soul illusion realm.

As he walked along the stream, an open valley lay ahead, grass that reached over his ankles swayed gently, and a breeze brushed against his face. The scent of grass mixed with moisture felt particularly refreshing.

Abruptly, Xiao Bang came to a halt. The resilient grass swayed in the breeze, and a few insects stubbornly fluttered at the grass tips, as if claiming their territory.

Everything was serene and untouched.

Xiao Bang stood still, his gaze fixed ahead.

Minutes ticked by. The wind ceased, and the insects wearily burrowed into the grass. Yet Xiao Bang stood his ground.

A thunderous boom!!!

The ground abruptly shattered, mud flying in all directions. A violent force burst from the ground without warning. Clumps of earth, grass, and insects were instantly obliterated by the sheer force!

As the force collided with Xiao Bang, his left hand shot downward. A grating sound, like teeth grinding, echoed. The invisible force was forced into visibility by his grip—a semi-transparent claw of soul power quivered in Xiao Bang’s grasp. As his fingers clenched, the semi-transparent soul power dissipated into nothingness.

Another boom...

Almost at the same moment, a figure materialized out of nowhere, streaking like lightning to Xiao Bang’s left flank. His left hand still gripped the semi-transparent soul power, leaving his left flank now his most exposed position.

In an instant, Xiao Bang twisted his waist, spun around, and his right fist agilely collided with the figure that had suddenly attacked!

Thud!

Xiao Bang’s breathing quickened. The punch he had thrown clearly hit the target, but the feedback felt oddly unsatisfying, like scratching an itch through a boot.

The attacker used all four limbs, flipped backward to retreat, then stood upright. His figure grew taller and taller, his burly frame radiating explosive pressure.

The orc prince, Oburo!

Clad in complex orc armor, completely different from human armor, with only key pieces of bone armor at crucial parts. Though made of bone, its toughness rivaled any metal. Lighter and with sound-absorbing effects, these bone armors were connected by a fabric that was both silk-like and hemp-like. His fur and exposed skin were smeared with ink-like black oil, masking his body odor.

Moreover, what impressed Xiao Bang the most were the claw blades that popped out from Oburo’s arms—not quite metal, not quite bone. Currently about half an arm’s length, they could adjust freely in length, a pair of cunning, deadly weapons.

A breeze swept over the grass. Oburo leaped forward with the breeze, ghostly flashing to Xiao Bang’s front, his claw blades crossed, cutting in a cross.

Xiao Bang moved with the situation, meeting Oburo’s pounce like lightning. In an instant, the two seemed to disappear simultaneously, only to see two afterimages constantly appearing in the air.

Thud thud thud thud thud...

The muffled sound of punches densely exploded in the air.

Fast against fast, move against move!

Until the wind stopped again, the figures of the two suddenly crossed on the ground, flashing to both sides.

Only when the two stood still did the ground between them, under the force of their crossed punches, suddenly shatter with a loud boom, exploding into a huge crater.

Blood oozed from the corner of Oburo’s mouth, barely noticeable against the black oil. The bone armor on his chest was noticeably duller in color compared to the other pieces, a scorched black punch mark glowing on it.

Oburo wiped the punch mark with his hand. It took some effort for the violent soul power to dissipate the mark from the bone armor. “Rumors say the third prince of Longyue gained strength from misfortune. Indeed interesting, but unfortunately, you’re still not my match!”

Oburo licked the blood from the corner of his mouth. The sweet and salty taste made his eyes flash with increasingly savage light. If different camps were the reason for his hunting, this trace of blood was the reason he enjoyed it. Only strong prey could bring out the true pleasure of the hunt.

On the other side, Xiao Bang’s arms bore several cuts. He tore off the hem of his clothes, crossed his arms to tightly wrap the wounds, and without a word, just quietly stared at Oburo, perfectly embodying the saying of being ruthless with few words.

The breeze rose again. Oburo leaped forward. Xiao Bang’s steps slightly moved but then instantly stopped. The pouncing Oburo suddenly became transparent. Light passed through him; first, his shadow disappeared, then his entire body seemed to merge into the wind, completely vanishing from Xiao Bang’s sight.

Complete invisibility, no presence, no killing intent—the orc prince had completely concealed his existence.

But in an instant, Xiao Bang whirled around, his soul power surging like boiling water, and he unleashed a devastating punch!

CRASH...

The punch’s shockwave revealed a faintly visible figure!

Bang!

The orc prince, caught off guard, leaped back, the light bathing him once more as his distorted shadow reappeared on the ground.

Soul power breaking invisibility wasn’t surprising, but Xiao Bang’s punch was clearly aimed at his exact location—dispelling the invisibility was just a bonus.

Oblolo licked his lips, savoring the metallic tang of blood, as the black oil masking his scent began to fade. Red soul power, blazing like wildfire, erupted from his pores.

If possible, the orc prince would prefer to strike like a lion—swift, unexpected, and deadly. But if the opponent was strong enough...

The red soul power raged like an inferno across the orc prince’s body!

Then, he’d gladly make his prey feel the crushing despair of facing the beast king!

Xiao Bang stood unyielding, his eyes narrowing as he locked onto the red soul power. If the invisible orc prince was a deadly blade, the one now wreathed in red soul power was a volcanic eruption—escalating from danger to certain death!

KABOOM...

The burning red soul power suddenly retracted!

But suddenly, two Oblolos materialized, both lunging at Xiao Bang.

For the first time, Xiao Bang frowned. Both Oblolos seemed... real, their murderous intent pinning him from both sides.

In a split second, Xiao Bang picked the Oblolo on the left and launched a counterattack!

WHOOSH—Xiao Bang’s attack passed through nothing but air—an illusion!

At that moment, the other Oblolo’s attack was already at his back, sharp as a dagger...

THUD—Xiao Bang’s fist met nothing but air, the second Oblolo dissolving into an illusion!

On the ground, a faint shadow flickered...

Xiao Bang snapped his gaze upward—the translucent orc prince was plummeting from above, his razor-sharp claws inches from his eyes!

The corner of Oblolo’s translucent mouth curled into a smile—not of triumph or cruelty, but of pride as his prey neared its fated end.

He was Oblolo, the orc prince, the future hero of his people, the king destined to command the allegiance of all orcs. In his hunts, no target escaped death—unless he allowed it.

The real orc prince had turned invisible the moment the red soul power vanished, using two illusions to bait Xiao Bang. Only after Xiao Bang’s attacks missed did he silently spring into the air, delivering the killing blow.

A fist away, then three fingers, then one...

The claw’s tip was already at Xiao Bang’s throat!

DIE!

The skin touching the orc prince’s claw blade slightly indented, and at the same time, Xiao Bang tilted his neck, shoulder leading to waist, waist to hips, hips to legs, legs to feet—pale golden soul power erupted from his body, transforming into a spinning soul power storm in a fraction of a second!

The claw blade about to pierce Xiao Bang’s throat was forcefully deflected by the spinning soul power, and the orc prince’s figure was also thrown off course.

With a thunderous boom...

The ground beneath Xiao Bang's feet exploded instantly, mud and debris scattering everywhere as the orc prince's soul power left three bottomless claw marks on the ground.

A flicker of surprise crossed Oblolo's face as he steadied himself, his pair of sharp claws crossing before lunging at Xiao Bang once more...

The moment his attack met the soul power storm, whoosh, Oblolo felt all his strength being deflected by the rotation, even his violent soul power was no exception. The more soul power he unleashed, the mightier the storm grew!

But that wasn't all! The orc prince's expression shifted slightly as he sensed the increasingly powerful soul power storm still brewing strength... like a venomous dragon lying in wait, ready to strike.

The tables had turned in the hunt, with Oblolo's fatal strike missing, the initiative had now fallen into Xiao Bang's hands!

Oblolo acted swiftly, turning around abruptly and retreating rapidly...

As the Beast Ancestor taught, when the prey becomes extremely dangerous, patiently waiting for a chance to deliver a fatal blow is the choice a smart hunter would make. Only a foolhardy human would charge headlong into battle.

Despite the setback, Oblolo remained confident. If he continued to fight hard, he would surely break Xiao Bang's neck and take his head, but he would also pay a corresponding price, thereby reducing his subsequent competitiveness...

A true hunter knows, retreating now is only for a better hunt later.

A glint appeared in Xiao Bang's eyes as he felt Oblolo's departure. The soul power on his body retracted, but the soul power storm continued to rotate around him, the energy absorbed from the orc prince still at work. Time passed by seconds until the last wisp of absorbed soul power was exhausted, and the rotating storm finally stopped.

Xiao Bang re-bandaged his wounds... this defensive storm had saved him in life-and-death moments more than once. The only pity was that he was still not skilled enough; it could only be used for defense, always feeling like something was missing.

He waited bit by bit for the storm to exhaust its soul power and calm down automatically. Without the last encounter, that arrogant version of himself would have died here.

He wondered where his master might be at that moment; he still had many questions he wanted to ask...

Deep in the forest, Oblolo was wiping his claw blades, a wicked grin spreading across his face. There was not a hint of displeasure from the failed hunt; instead, he showed a look of exhilaration. It had been a long time since he encountered a prey that consumed all his energy and still ended in failure!

He had already regarded meeting Xiao Bang as the greatest harvest of this event! Moreover, the orc prince had a vague premonition that killing Xiao Bang would surely elevate his long-stagnant strength once again!

"Xiao Bang! You better live well! Your head is mine alone."

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