More Powerstones pls
....
The soul master glared coldly at the empty tree branch, then shot a mocking glance at Xu Lai and sneered.
"Hmph, consider yourself lucky."
With that, he turned away with a grim expression, no longer bothering to look at Xu Lai.
Xu Lai hadn't come here for that spirit beast anyway, so he said nothing. Still, he glanced at the empty spot a few times.
He hadn't sensed anything unusual, but something about the sudden disappearance of that spirit beast didn't sit right with him. There had to be more to it.
This little incident didn't delay the group for long. With the spirit beast retreating on its own, they didn't need to take a detour. The steward occasionally called out directions as they pressed deeper into the forest.
Despite its name, the Icebound Forest had neither ice nor snow within.
Beneath the dense, sky-shrouding canopy and heavy rain, visibility was extremely poor. The entire forest was blanketed in a curtain of rain and mist, gloomy and oppressive. Just being there was enough to weigh on the heart.
BOOM—!
A deafening clap of thunder shook the sky as lightning split the heavens.
"We've been walking for quite a while now, haven't we?"
"Yeah, we must be close to the forest's core. Wasn't the target just a two- or three-thousand-year spirit beast?"
"Hey, steward, are you sure you're not leading us the wrong way? Where the hell are we?"
The heavy atmosphere and growing sense of danger sparked murmurs of discontent from the group.
"We're almost there. Just up ahead," the steward replied curtly, head down beneath his umbrella.
"You've been saying that for ages! What exactly are you trying to pull?"
The soul master at the front of the group, a forty-sixth-ranked cultivator, raised his hand, signaling everyone to stop.
"Hunting spirit rings, of course. What else would we be doing?"
The steward stepped forward with a frown, clearly annoyed.
"Heh—don't treat us like a bunch of fools."
The soul master stormed up to the steward, grabbed him by the collar, and snarled:
"Since we entered the forest, we haven't seen a single spirit beast! We've probably reached the center already, and still nothing? Care to explain that?"
"Heh. Only now you realize? Too late."
The steward grinned, grabbed the man's hand, surged his soul power, and kicked him away in one smooth motion.
The rest of the group immediately activated their martial souls and closed in on the steward.
"What's your game? You trying to give up the bounty?" someone demanded.
The steward's mouth curled into a mocking smile.
"Who the hell are you? Why bring us here?"
Before he could answer, a raspy, bone-chilling voice echoed through the trees.
"To bring you here… of course, there's a reason."
"Who's there?!"
"Quit playing games! Show yourself!"
The group scanned their surroundings, but the thick fog obscured everything. They couldn't locate the speaker.
"Husband? Is that you?"
The woman beside the steward suddenly looked frantic. She stared in one direction and shouted.
"Tch, this dog is at least a little useful."
From the mist emerged a figure cloaked in black robes, slowly stepping into view. He ignored the woman and steward, instead sweeping his bloodshot eyes over the group, licking his lips with a scarlet tongue. His gaze radiated a chilling bloodlust.
"Husband, do these people suit your taste?"
The woman, unfazed by being called a dog, was excited as she asked and ran toward him.
"Out of my sight!"
The black-robed man snapped, his raspy voice filled with fury. He backhanded her without hesitation, slapping her to the ground.
The group had already noticed him. Alarmed by his presence, they bunched together, watching him warily.
"This flesh looks decent. Next time, bring something more refined. Otherwise…"
The man finished his inspection and turned to the steward and the woman, who was now clutching her cheek on the ground.
"I will. Anything you want—just stay safe…"
Tears welled in the woman's eyes, but she didn't seem to mind his abuse at all.
"Enough. You can leave. Don't interrupt me while I enjoy my feast."
He stared at the group like a predator sizing up prey.
"..."
In Aether's arms, Paimon had already tried several times to speak, but he quickly covered her mouth, and they communicated silently with their eyes.
"Feast? Where's the food?"
Paimon blinked up at him.
"…There is no food," Aether replied with a slight shake of his head.
Paimon furrowed her brow. "But he just said there was food! You're lying again, aren't you?"
"Maybe… just maybe… we are the so-called food."
Aether winced as he whispered back.
"..."
Paimon instantly stopped struggling. Instead, she curled up tightly in Aether's arms, trembling as she cautiously peeked at the black-robed man.
A monster who wants to eat her?
How is that exactly like the Traveler's jokes? Terrifying!
Aether, meanwhile, had been observing the boy named Xu Lai. Ever since the black-robed man appeared, Xu Lai had become visibly agitated.
Could this whole mission be connected to him?
That possibility crossed Aether's mind.
Counting the soul master's earlier provocation, this was the second time Xu Lai had shown any strong emotion.
While the black-robed man held everyone's attention, Aether subtly moved closer to Xu Lai.
"Damn it! I knew there was something off about the Dawnbreak Bounty Squad's disappearance! So it was you bastards!"
A soul master In the group, ranked above level 40, pointed accusingly at the black-robed man, the steward, and the woman.
The others also snapped to realization. Most had heard of that missing bounty squad—the one that took on a mission and vanished without a trace, never to be seen again.
Now, seeing their current situation, even an idiot could deduce the truth.
It had all been a trap set by the so-called client.
And the purpose of the trap? To lure them here.
The black-robed man casually knocked the forty-sixth-ranked soul master unconscious, showing just how formidable he was.
Though many in the group grumbled, no one dared to be the first to act.
"Heh… Fourth Soul Skill: Demonic Frenzy!"
The black-robed man didn't bother answering their naïve questions. Instead, he activated his martial soul.
A ghostly apparition rose behind him, and he unleashed his fourth soul skill. Instantly, thick black fog erupted around him and surged toward the group.
Those with weaker soul power, or who had let down their guard, inhaled just a few breaths—and immediately felt the world spinning. Their limbs stopped obeying them. Dazed, they collapsed unconscious.
_
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