Chapter 7: Escape

"Don't let him escape."

A calm yet firm voice echoed, not particularly loud but infused with soul power, making it clear within the surrounding range.

"Sixth Soul Skill, Luminous Slash!"

The aged Soul Saint in pursuit activated his fifth soul ring beneath his feet, a deep black ten-thousand-year soul ring shimmering brightly.

A dazzling white light flashed on the Shattered Star Blade in his hand, slashing toward Chen Xiaoming's true body.

"Fourth Soul Skill, Evilbreaker!"

A crisp voice rang out behind him as a purple glow flickered, merging into the brilliant blade light, causing a layer of purple hue to permeate the slash.

The Soul King, a female Soul Master, spun the Heavenly Fragrance Cauldron in her hand, with the light of her fourth soul ring radiating brightly.

Among the pursuers, two Soul Emperors followed closely. One protected the young Soul Ancestor, while the other, a Wolf Martial Soul Soul Emperor, had his martial soul fully possessed. His third soul ring glimmered, greatly enhancing his speed as he flanked Chen Xiaoming for an encircling attack.

Desperately sprinting ahead, Chen Xiaoming once again sensed the soul power fluctuations behind him. A glance from the corner of his eye made his heart sink as a sense of danger surged from the incoming blade light.

"Boom."

At the brink of life and death, his survival instincts flared. Chen Xiaoming's trunk quivered, shaking off the leaves from his branches.

"Swish, swish, swish..."

Like a reflex, the falling leaves became flying blades under his control, slicing toward the Soul Saint and the others.

The sheer volume of leaves caught the Soul Saint off guard, forcing him to pause.

"Sixth Soul Skill, Wolf Howl!"

The Wolf Martial Soul Soul Emperor flickered into place, shielding his companions. His sixth soul ring slowly rose, the black ten-thousand-year soul ring glowing brilliantly. A powerful sonic wave erupted from his mouth.

The shockwave trembled through the air, halting the flying leaves before scattering them.

With his attack thwarted, Chen Xiaoming had no time to think. The Soul Saint's blade strike, laced with purple energy, was already upon him. The branches he raised to block were effortlessly severed.

A single exchange was enough for Chen Xiaoming to grasp the auxiliary Soul King's fourth soul skill—Armor Break! His hardened branches crumbled like tofu before the purple light.

"Damn it, block it!"

He roared in fury, thrashing his branches wildly. His weakness lay in his canopy—he couldn't let the blade strike it.

With only one thought in his mind, Chen Xiaoming threw everything into the fray, knowing even a moment's delay could make all the difference.

Like a storm of destruction, his branches clashed against the blade light. But in a flash, the blade closed in on his vulnerable canopy.

"Dodge!"

With the blade looming, Chen Xiaoming shifted his canopy slightly while a particularly thick branch swung out from the side.

The branch lashed out with tremendous force, generating a howling wind. Rather than meeting the slash head-on, it struck from the side.

"Boom!"

A thunderous explosion erupted as the blade's power detonated. The shockwave spread outward, forcing the pursuers to pause and summon their soul power to defend.

The Soul Saint's eyes filled with urgency. Chasing prey into the core of the Star Dou Great Forest was already a desperate measure. He had used his sixth soul skill to end the fight quickly, but he'd underestimated this ten-thousand-year Azurewood Tree Soul Beast.

Facing death, it had fought back with astonishing tenacity, causing a commotion that could draw even greater threats.

Vigilantly scanning the surroundings, the Soul Saint edged closer to his companions.

"Whoosh."

A figure darted from the dust cloud, not stopping as wind-fire wheels spun beneath its feet, racing deeper into the forest.

It was Chen Xiaoming, having narrowly escaped death. But the price was steep.

The Soul Saint's strike, combined with the Soul King's Armor Break effect, had severed countless branches. His trunk was stripped bare, with deep gashes bleeding azure sap.

The Soul Saint glanced at the still-mobile Azurewood Tree Soul Beast, stunned. Hesitation flickered in his eyes.

"The commotion is too large. Pursuing further is dangerous."

The young Soul Ancestor's eyes flashed with unwillingness, but seeing the Soul Saint's decision, he relented.

The inner circle of the Star Dou Great Forest held perils beyond his ability to handle.

The accompanying Soul Emperor and Soul King remained silent but clearly agreed. Pursuing further could draw other ten-thousand-year soul beasts, jeopardizing their survival.

"Teacher, let's—huh? That Azurewood Tree Soul Beast stopped!"

Just as the young Soul Ancestor prepared to give up, he noticed the soul beast halt in the distance, seemingly unable to continue.

A glimmer of joy crossed his face as he pointed toward the beast.

The Soul Saint turned, seeing the wounded Azurewood Tree Soul Beast standing motionless.

But before he could celebrate, the beast's remaining branch slowly extended, pointing toward the group.

Then, with deliberate slowness, the branch traced across its own canopy—like a human gesture of slicing a throat.

"Uh..."

The eerie display left the Soul Saint and his companions dumbfounded. The young Soul Ancestor stared in disbelief.

Did ten-thousand-year soul beasts possess such intelligence?

Chen Xiaoming cast a deep gaze at his pursuers, memorizing their faces before turning and vanishing into the depths of the forest.

In the silent core of the Star Dou Great Forest, the Soul Saint and his group watched the fleeing soul beast without giving chase.

The intelligence it displayed was enough to lure them into the territory of even more fearsome beasts.

"Withdraw."

After a brief thought, the Soul Saint issued the command, leading his group toward the forest's outskirts.

Even as they left, the Soul Saint couldn't shake a sense of foreboding.

Letting this Azurewood Tree Soul Beast escape today would one day bring profound regret.

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