Chapter 43: Double Kill

The human soul master's dying scream echoed through the forest. His two companions, still engaged in battle with the Purple Flame Owl Beast, immediately sensed that something was wrong.

Old Seven frowned deeply, quickly retreating several paces to hide behind a large boulder.

The Purple Flame Owl Beast, relentless as ever, fired a few more purple fireballs at him. They exploded against his body, causing him to grit his teeth in pain.

Once Old Seven was safely behind the boulder, the beast surprisingly ceased its pursuit. Instead, it circled in the air a few times before landing on an outcropping halfway up a nearby cliff.

"Seventh Brother, you don't think Liu Neng… something happened to him, do you?" The auxiliary-type soul master hiding with Old Seven stammered, fear creeping back into his voice as memories of entering the Star Dou Forest resurfaced.

Old Seven remained silent. He wanted to reassure his companion, but any words of comfort now would ring hollow, almost like a cruel joke.

Liu Neng's scream had been loud and clear. It hadn't been long since he had left, and the sound had come from close by.

Everything pointed to a terrible truth: something fearsome was nearby, watching them.

"Do you think Sixth Brother could be…" The auxiliary soul master's voice wavered further, his panic mounting as he saw Old Seven's nervous demeanor.

"He won't…" Old Seven started, but then hesitated. "At least, I hope not."

Among their group, Old Six was the strongest and most experienced. If even he had fallen, then their chances of survival were slim.

Meanwhile, Fang Chang had returned to the hill he had hidden on earlier. He observed the scene in the river valley below.

The Purple Flame Owl Beast, likely exhausted after prolonged flight and continuous use of its fireball ability, was now resting on the cliff outcropping.

The outcropping was shaped like an inverted triangle, narrow at the base and wide at the top, providing just enough space for the owl beast to perch on. From Fang Chang's angle, he could also make out a cave behind the cliff wall.

The owl beast seemed to treasure the cave, as it had spent much of the battle circling near it and now rested by its entrance, never letting it out of its sight.

This behavior explained why the beast had stopped chasing its opponents when they retreated behind a distant boulder.

As for the two remaining human soul masters, they crouched behind the boulder, visibly anxious.

The scream of their teammate, combined with Old Six's prolonged absence, deepened their unease.

After some deliberation, the two appeared to come to an agreement. Together, they darted into the forest, running in a direction opposite to where Liu Neng had gone earlier.

"Smart move," Fang Chang thought to himself, impressed by their decision to split up.

He glanced at the resting owl beast on the cliff and then at the fleeing humans. After a moment's consideration, he left his vantage point and began pursuing the soul masters.

In the Star Dou Forest, soul beasts were plentiful, but human soul masters at the Soul Elder level were much rarer. Fang Chang didn't want to let this opportunity slip away, as it might be a long time before he could find replacements.

As he chased after them, Fang Chang carefully assessed the situation.

Facing two combat-capable Soul Elders simultaneously would be risky, especially if they coordinated well. However, one of these humans was an auxiliary-type soul master—a potential liability in a high-stakes chase.

The forest terrain was varied and unpredictable, alternating between grasslands, rocky ground, and tall shrubs.

Even though the humans were running at full speed, their progress was slow compared to Fang Chang's efficient movements.

Fang Chang maintained a steady distance, ensuring he neither lost them nor closed in too quickly. It was a hunter's patience: wait until the prey tires, then strike.

After about ten minutes of running, the auxiliary soul master was already panting heavily.

"Seventh Brother… wait for me… I can't… run anymore," he gasped, reaching out to grab Old Seven's sleeve.

Old Seven slapped his hand away. Since the chase began, he had sensed the menacing presence of Fang Chang behind them.

The aura of bloodlust emanating from the spider was suffocating, and the bloodstained legs only confirmed that Liu Neng had likely been its victim.

"Seventh Brother!" the auxiliary soul master tripped over a rock and stumbled forward. Though he managed to steady himself, the distance between him and Old Seven widened considerably.

He reached out in desperation, shouting, as if trying to grasp the last thread of hope.

For Old Seven, the choice was clear. Taking the auxiliary soul master along would only slow him down.

The two had no real bond, having only formed their team upon entering the forest. There was no reason for Old Seven to risk his life for someone he barely knew.

And if leaving his companion behind could distract the pursuing spider, it might increase his own chances of survival.

A scream suddenly echoed behind him. Old Seven flinched, his heart skipping a beat as he instinctively turned to look.

Fang Chang had taken advantage of the auxiliary soul master's stumble, using his "Leap" skill to close the distance in an instant. His legs pierced the man's back, ending his life in one swift motion.

Blood pooled on the ground as the auxiliary soul master convulsed, coughing up blood as his life ebbed away.

Without sparing him another glance, Fang Chang resumed his pursuit of Old Seven.

Old Seven shuddered as he saw the spider closing in. A cold chill ran from his heels to the top of his head, and his limbs turned ice-cold.

He forced himself to keep running but soon came to an abrupt halt.

Ahead of him was a low mountain, its rocky terrain blocking his path. With no way to escape and the spider blocking his retreat, he had no choice but to fight.

Gritting his teeth, Old Seven activated his martial soul. His body transformed, sprouting the pink antlers and tail..

The absurdity of his appearance did little to lessen the gravity of the situation.

Fang Chang, already prepared, activated his "Leap" skill. Soaring high into the air, he descended upon Old Seven, his eight legs striking simultaneously.

The battle ended swiftly. Despite being a 46th-level Soul Elder, Old Seven's combat abilities were mediocre at best. He lasted less than half a minute before succumbing to Fang Chang's relentless assault.

The text on Fang Chang's evolution interface updated: "Humans Killed: 4/10 (Soul Elder Level or Above)."

Fang Chang couldn't help but smile.

For so long, humans had hunted him. Now, the tables had turned.

"Thirty years of river east, thirty years of river west. Let's see if Spirit Hall sends more soul masters next time…"