Join my Patreon to be 30 chapters ahead of the webnovel releases:
patreon.com/ZeroMoney
I would appreciate your help if you could join my Patreon and support me because it would keep me motivated.
******
"Yes, Fourth Worship."
She Long and Ci Xue—better known as Serpent Spear Douluo and Porcupinefish Douluo—answered respectfully.
Both were Title Douluo from the Elder Hall, their spirit power hovering around rank ninety-two to ninety-three.
Before a powerhouse like Lion Douluo, a rank ninety-seven enshrined in the Worship Hall, they dared not show the slightest defiance.
In moments, the two of them rushed toward the location where the spirit power fluctuations had been sensed.
Meanwhile, Lan Minghua, who was searching for the Mirror Shadow Beast, also caught wind of the movements of those three auras.
"So, the plan is to send two weaker Title Douluo to exhaust my strength, then let the stronger one swoop in to finish the job? Laughable. Pathetic tricks."
Lan Minghua had initially been worried about Oscar and the others, but now he could set his mind at ease.
Without sparing them another thought, he resumed his pursuit of the Mirror Shadow Beast.
At that same time, Oscar's group of four remained unaware that an even greater crisis was bearing down on them.
They darted swiftly through the pine forest, the howls of the Cold Howling Moon Wolves echoing behind them like the whispers of death itself.
While running, Oscar pulled several sausages—created from his first spirit skill—out of his storage pouch and quickly handed them to Zhu Zhuqing, Meng Yiran, and Dugu Yan.
"Eat these. They'll restore your spirit power and stamina," Oscar whispered tensely.
Zhu Zhuqing took one without hesitation, biting into it. A warm current surged through her body, swiftly replenishing her strength and spirit power.
Dugu Yan and Meng Yiran followed suit, swallowing the sausages in preparation for battle.
"Ready?" Oscar asked quietly, sweeping his gaze over the group.
"Anytime!" the three answered in unison.
"Then go!" Oscar barked, and all four launched their assault together.
Zhu Zhuqing darted forward first, her figure gliding like a ghost through the wolves. Her razor-sharp claws traced arcs of icy light.
A Cold Howling Moon Wolf leapt up, only to have its throat torn open mid-air. Blood sprayed across the snow, instantly freezing into scarlet crystals.
Meng Yiran followed closely, her snake staff slicing through the air. Spirit power condensed into a massive serpent phantom that lunged into the wolf pack.
Where the phantom passed, wolves were thrown aside with anguished howls.
From the rear, Dugu Yan unleashed the venom of her Jade Phosphor Serpent Emperor. Pale, toxic mist spread across the battlefield.
Even though the frigid environment weakened the effect, the venom of the Serpent Emperor was so potent that even a trace was enough to paralyze or kill.
Oscar remained in support, handing out recovery sausages to ensure no one ran dry of spirit power.
He also slipped each of them several speed-boosting sausages for emergencies.
"Left side—watch out!" Oscar suddenly shouted. A wolf lunged toward Zhu Zhuqing from her flank.
Her reaction was lightning quick—she twisted aside and raked her claws through its belly.
With a wet rip, the beast was eviscerated, collapsing with a chilling wail before twitching once, twice, and lying still.
The four avoided prolonged clashes, choosing instead to fight while retreating.
"There! A cave ahead!" Oscar called out, pointing to a hidden opening in the rock.
Without hesitation, the group rushed inside.
Once within, Oscar spread his golden light outward, sealing the entrance and holding back the pursuing wolves.
The narrow mouth prevented the wolves from forcing their way through; they prowled outside instead, growling lowly.
"We need to wipe them out, otherwise they'll never stop hounding us," Zhu Zhuqing said coldly, shaking blood from her claws.
Everyone nodded—they knew dragging this out would only drain them further.
Dugu Yan spoke softly: "When Oscar clears us a path, I'll unleash the densest poison fog I can muster. I'll try to blanket the entire pack."
She handed each of them an antidote pill. Without hesitation, the others swallowed them down.
"Three… two… one!"
At the final count, Oscar dispelled the golden barrier.
"Third Spirit Skill—Jade Phosphor Violet Venom!"
Dugu Yan's eyes turned wholly violet as she spat out a dense, roiling cloud of poison mist.
The wolves instantly lost vision, their howls breaking into frenzied screams. Chaos rippled through the entire pack.
"Now!"
Oscar shot forward like a golden arrow, bursting through the poison cloud and leading the three women into the deeper forest.
The Jade Phosphor Violet Venom carried a nauseating stench so strong it could make humans dizzy. For wolves, creatures of keen scent, it was unbearable.
The weaker ones melted into festering puddles within seconds, their bodies dissolving into nothing.
Even the stronger wolves, though they staggered away from the mist, lost mobility and collapsed in twitching heaps.
Oscar's group, sensing no pursuit, finally let out a collective sigh of relief.
"Damn… the spirit beasts here are far more vicious than those in Star Dou Forest. Thank heavens that was only a pack of thousand-year Cold Howling Moon Wolves."
Even on the forest's outskirts, they could already feel the bloodthirst of Icebound Forest's beasts far exceeding that of Star Dou.
But they didn't dare slow down, continuing their search for a safe haven.
Yet just as they pushed on, two figures suddenly materialized in the snowy sky ahead, blocking their path.
"Well, well… resourceful little brats, aren't you?" A cold, mocking voice rang out, carrying with it a biting chill.
The four halted abruptly, raising their guard.
Serpent Spear Douluo stood tall and lean, his star-like eyes glinting as the spear in his hand shimmered with lethal frost.
Beside him loomed Porcupinefish Douluo, his rotund frame bristling with quills that shivered in the wind, emanating a suffocating presence.
Recognition flashed in Dugu Yan's eyes, and she gasped: "It's Serpent Spear Douluo and Porcupinefish Douluo of Spirit Hall!"
The two exchanged a glance, brows lifting in surprise—they hadn't expected to be identified so quickly.
But when their eyes settled on the speaker, understanding dawned.
"The stench of Jade Phosphor Poison… so, you must be the granddaughter of that Old Poison, Dugu Bo. What luck—searched the world in vain, only for fate to hand you over."
Porcupinefish Douluo knew Dugu Bo well. Both had long contended over whose poison reigned supreme.
But ultimately, Dugu Bo bore the title of "Poison" Douluo, a fact Porcupinefish Douluo could never deny.
In the original chronicles, his downfall came precisely from inhaling too much of Dugu Bo's venom—dying from the very poison he claimed to master.
Were it not for the exceptional defense of his Porcupinefish spirit, even in single combat he could not guarantee victory over Dugu Bo.
"The old snake's granddaughter is also among our targets? Hah, it seems Dugu Bo really has thrown in his lot with this so-called Heavenly Dragon Sect," Serpent Spear Douluo sneered.
He glanced at his partner and said with a mocking smile: "Ci Xue, do we kill them here, or bring them in alive?"
"Alive, of course. I'll butcher the girl right in front of that Old Poison—let him watch his family line end with his own eyes!"
Cruelty gleamed in Porcupinefish Douluo's words. To him, making Dugu Bo regret standing against Spirit Hall would be the sweetest revenge.
Serpent Spear Douluo chuckled lightly. "Very well. Alive it is. After all, their master is not someone we can handle.
"With hostages in hand, that man will have no choice but to yield."
Oscar's heart dropped like a stone. He knew these men meant only death and captivity.
"Run!" he roared.
Even before the word left his lips, the four had swallowed their speed-boosting sausages and bolted in the opposite direction.
"Run?" The two Title Douluo exchanged a look, amusement glinting in their eyes.
"If we let you escape, we'd be a disgrace to Spirit Hall."
Without another word, the pair shot forward, their speed eclipsing that of the fleeing youths.
Lan Minghua, watching the scene unfold from afar, made no move to intervene.
"This game of hunter and prey has only just begun. Don't disappoint me…"
(End of Chapter)