Outside the Dilong Mountains, after days of hurried travel, Guangling Douluo finally arrived with the Angel Legion.
Waiting at the edge of the dense forest, a Soul Saint-level bishop stepped forward respectfully and greeted him with a bow.
"Your Excellency, Elder Mo Xiong is currently stationed in Dilong Mountain City. Among the evil soul masters, there is indeed one titled Douluo. Elder Mo Xiong has fought him several times — the battles ended in stalemates."
"According to Elder Mo Xiong's judgment, the enemy's strength is likely between Rank 92 and Rank 94."
"Our scouts are currently hiding in the mountains. None dared venture deeper for fear of detection."
"You did well not to go further." Guangling Douluo nodded calmly. "Tell Elder Mo Xiong to remain stationed at the city. I'll handle it from here."
Though the enemy had only one titled Douluo, even Guangling Douluo couldn't guarantee his spiritual perception would go unnoticed. As for the Soul Saints and Soul Emperors? Sending them deeper would be no different than feeding them to the wolves.
"Yes, sir."
The Soul Saint bowed again and swiftly departed.
Guangling Douluo turned to the dozen Angel Legion members behind him. "You handle the four subordinates. I'll take care of the title " Douluo."
"Understood!"
"Then let's move."
He spread out his spiritual perception, leading the dozen Soul Saints into the heart of the Dilong Mountains.
Evil soul masters all had one fatal flaw — they couldn't completely suppress the foul, bloodthirsty aura clinging to them. As long as they entered Guangling Douluo's perception range, even if they had fled, as long as traces remained, he would find them.
Perhaps the enemy's Titled Douluo could hide it, but the Soul Saints and Soul Douluo among them likely couldn't.
Meanwhile, at the southern exit of the Dilong Mountains, five dark figures rushed forward at high speed. Each radiated a terrifying evil aura — especially the one leading them.
"Boss," one of them finally asked, panting, "why are we heading south instead of north?"
His tone held confusion. After all, escaping north through the mountains seemed safer. Yet the leader insisted on the southern route.
But south of the Dilong Mountains lay endless wasteland and desert. No people. No towns. How could they survive? Especially after fleeing from the Capital of Slaughter — their cravings for Bloody Mary were unbearable.
"Why head to a desert where there's no one to harvest it from?"
Shura's blood-red pupils turned, locking on his subordinate. His voice was cold, murderous.
"Are you questioning me?"
The man immediately lowered his head, body trembling. "I wouldn't dare…"
"You'd better not." Shura sneered.
"We failed to capture Dilong Mountain City. The Martial Soul Hall's reinforcements will come eventually. If we go north, we'll likely run into that damned Angel Legion."
At the mention of the Martial Soul Hall, the others' eyes darkened with hatred.
"Hmph! The damn Martial Soul Hall. If not for them, where couldn't we go in this world?"
"They're the real evil ones! Restricting our freedom, hunting us down like dogs…"
"All we did was kill a few peasants — and they send their forces to the ends of the continent!"
Righteous fury surged in their voices. If not for the Martial Soul Hall, they could have broken through to Title Douluo by now, basking in blood and pleasure.
Shura's lips curled into a cruel smile.
"Just ahead is our exit. Once we're out of the mountains, we head east along the coastline. When we reach Zhenqi City, we'll be free."
"In that backwater city, there's no strong cultivator. We can do whatever we want. Drink Bloody Mary till we're drunk! Hahaha!"
"Hahahaha!"
Their laughter echoed across the wastelands. Thoughts of carnage and slaughter lit their eyes with madness.
Within the mountains, Guangling Douluo suddenly stopped.
"What's wrong, sir?" asked the captain of the Angel Legion.
"…Something's off."
Guangling knelt down and picked up some dark red soil between his fingers. "Didn't you notice? We've been circling for a while. They've been bleeding intentionally, leaving a trail behind — trying to lead us in the wrong direction."
That blood carried faint traces of evil qi. Guangling had been following it northeast through the mountains — sometimes even forced to change direction.
But now he realized: it was a trap.
"They're trying to mislead us."
He soared into the air, releasing the mental power of a Rank 96 powerhouse.
In an instant, he caught traces — evil qi scattered like faint threads along the Damus River to the east, looping back toward their origin point.
But… there was also a faint trail leading south.
Someone had tried very hard to hide it.
Withdrawing his mental power, Guangling landed. His snowy-white eyes dimmed slightly from the effort.
"What now, sir?" the Angel Legion captain asked. "Do we inform Elder Mo Xiong?"
Guangling shook his head.
He spread open a map and pointed at the southern exit.
"If they're trying to lure us away, we mustn't move Mo Xiong. He stays put. We go south and intercept them."
At that same moment, outside the Dilong Mountains, Shura laid out an old, tattered map.
He looked at the two weakest in the group — Zara and Soba. Their soul power was only around Rank 73–74. The evil aura on them was too obvious to conceal.
"Zara. Soba. I have a very important task for you."
The two glanced at each other. They already sensed what was coming.
It was likely… a death sentence.
Still, they dared not object. Shura could kill them on the spot.
Zara's face twitched. "Boss, what's the task?"
Shura ignored their resistance. Whether they agreed or not, they were pawns.
He pointed at the southern plains on the map. "We're here now."
Then his finger slid across the parchment.
"You two will head across the plains, go through the Drake Mountains, then south to the Shasa Hills. After crossing the hills, follow the coast east. The rest of us will head to Zhenqi City from another direction."
"Hey friends! If you're enjoying the story, consider joining my Patreon
patreon.com/Free_Firefly
— you'll get up to 20 chapters ahead and help me keep writing more for you!