For soul masters, the sixtieth level was a major threshold.
After breaking through level sixty, the speed of soul power improvement would significantly slow down.
This was due to several factors, such as the increased difficulty of leveling up, limitations in cultivation resources and methods, the need for battles and experience, and individual talent and potential.
Yan knew of a method that could accelerate cultivation speed soul core condensation.
It involved gathering all the soul power in the body toward the dantian in the abdomen and continuously compressing it, transforming soul power from gaseous form into liquid, and even into solid form.
While training in the City of Slaughter, Yan had already started experimenting with soul core condensation and had achieved some results.
However, a soul master needed to reach a certain level of soul power accumulation when the total soul power reached level sixty, the amount within the body would be sufficient to begin attempting condensation of a soul core.
A group of six sat in the carriage, continuing their journey westward.
Yan said to everyone.
"Bing'er has already broken through level sixty, and the rest of you are close. Today, I will teach you a method that can help improve your cultivation speed. Bing'er will practice first. The rest of you can observe for now and begin practicing after reaching level sixty."
"Okay."
Everyone was looking forward to it.
Then, Yan began teaching the method of soul core condensation to Shui Bing'er and the others.
Under Yan's guidance, Shui Bing'er started practicing.
Time passed quickly.
Unknowingly, nearly a month had gone by since they left Sky Water City.
The farther west they went, the fewer people there were.
Occasionally, they passed by abandoned villages along the way.
Yan told the coachman to return first and left the carriage behind.
They would walk the next stretch themselves.
Feng Xiaotian and Huo Wushuang took the initiative to drive the carriage.
That day, they searched until dusk but still hadn't found a suitable place to rest.
After the carriage came to a stop, Yan sensed a dangerous aura lingering in the air.
"You all rest here for a bit. I'll go ahead to check things out."
"Brother Yan, I'll come with you."
"Bing'er, don't worry. I'll be back soon."
"Okay, be careful."
Yan nodded, then spread his wings. A red figure shot into the dim sky.
From the air, Yan's gaze was drawn to a scene of devastation below it was a village in ruins.
The outline of the village could still be discerned, but most of the houses had collapsed, with traces of firelight faintly visible among the wreckage.
Several burned granaries were reduced to charred frameworks, grains scattered across the ground, scorched and mixed with dirt, forming shocking black patches.
The ground was covered with chaotic footprints and drag marks. The air still reeked of burning and blood.
Clearly, this village had just been pillaged.
Yan carefully inspected the area. The blood on the ground had not yet dried. There wasn't a single living person or animal, not even a corpse left behind.
Only the Wolf Bandits would be so cruel.
Not far from the village stood several densely forested mountains.
Yan suspected that the Wolf Bandits had already entered the mountains.
Having just raided this village, they likely hadn't gone far yet.
Without wasting time, Yan hurried back and told his companions what he had seen.
Feng Xiaotian, upon hearing it, was furious.
"It must have been the Wolf Bandits. I'm going after them and killing every last one!"
Huo Wu gently squeezed Feng Xiaotian's hand and comforted him:
"Tian-ge, don't be rash. We need to think this through carefully."
Shui Bing'er asked worriedly:
"Yan-ge, if the Wolf Bandits have already left and really gone into the mountains, how will we find them?"
"Don't worry, I have a way."
As he spoke, Yan retrieved the Aromatic Silk Beauty Immortal Herb from the Myriad Spirit Treasure Vault.
It was a large pale pink flower, each petal crystal clear like water, and the flower core was a faint purple, resembling purple diamonds embedded within.
Everyone was astonished at the sight of this strange, leafless flower.
"Yan-ge, this is also an immortal herb, right?"
"That's right. This is the Aromatic Silk Beauty Immortal Herb, known as the nemesis of all poisons. While it can't cure poisons, it can neutralize them."
"Yan-ge, can this herb deal with the Wolf Bandits?"
Yan nodded.
"The Aromatic Silk Beauty Immortal Herb has a unique fragrance that can attract soul beasts. All we need to do is enter the mountains and use ourselves and this immortal herb as bait. That will lure the Wolf Bandits out, and we'll wipe them out in one fell swoop."
"Great. Yan-ge, let's do as you say."
With a way to lure the Wolf Bandits out, Feng Xiaotian was overjoyed.
After settling the carriage, the group followed Yan into the deep mountains.
At that time, night had already fallen.
The group sat around together and lit a campfire.
Everyone was fully prepared for battle.
Yan took out the Aromatic Silk Beauty Immortal Herb.
That special fragrance instantly spread, drifting off into the distance.
The group of six waited for the Wolf Bandits to take the bait.
As the irresistible scent of the Aromatic Silk Beauty Immortal Herb grew thicker in the night air, the surrounding silence was gradually broken by faint, chaotic sounds.
Amid the shadows of the trees, pairs of eyes flickering with greed quietly drew near.
The group of Wolf Bandits had been deeply drawn in by the strange fragrance, completely ignoring the potential danger lurking nearby.
Yan's sharp eyes were like an eagle's, locking onto the surroundings.
He quickly sensed the presence of the Wolf Bandits.
"They're here."
Yan gave a quiet reminder, his nerves tightening.
The other five also held their breath, ready to face the battle that was about to erupt.
A pack of Wolf Bandits surged in from all directions. Under the moonlight, their figures looked especially fierce and terrifying.
Among them, a few particularly large Wolf Bandits stood out. They seemed to be the leaders of the bandits, their eyes locked directly onto the three young and beautiful girls by the campfire.
They could sense that these people weren't ordinary humans, but soul masters.
But even soul masters, in the eyes of the Wolf Bandits, were nothing more than lambs to be slaughtered.
The Wolf Bandits didn't rush in immediately but slowly approached, surrounding the six people in a tight circle.
Clearly, they wanted to capture the three young and beautiful female soul masters alive.
As they drew closer and closer, Yan's group finally got a clear look at them.
There were roughly three hundred Wolf Bandits in total. All of them had extremely burly builds, each over two meters tall.
Their hair was gray, and thick fur covered their bodies, making them look like wild men. Their mouths protruded outward, revealing two sharp fangs.
Yan warned:
"There are a lot of them. We need to end this quickly. Lingling will stay with me everyone else, fight with everything you've got and wipe them all out!"
"Understood."
When it came to the brutal Wolf Bandits, no one would show mercy.
Feng Xiaotian was the first to move. A blue figure shot into the air.
A blue wind blade shot out from Feng Xiaotian's hand, hitting a nearby Wolf Bandit dead-on and killing it instantly.
Seeing one of their own slain, the Wolf Bandit pack grew restless.
With a deafening roar, all three hundred Wolf Bandits charged at the six of them with full force.