The golden-eyed youth was, of course, Xu Zihuang, who had just arrived. With a push off another dark-red crystal forming beneath his right foot in midair, he landed steadily on the cliff's edge while carrying Juzi, his cold gaze fixed on the group trapped within the dark-red crystals.
Crack, crack, crack…
A series of crisp shattering sounds rang out as the crystals surrounding the group suddenly crumbled into dust, scattering with the wind.
Only Leng Jun and the squad leader managed to survive, barely escaping thanks to their martial souls and soul skills.
Behind the squad leader of the Xingluo Empire's Western Army, a massive phantom of an earth-yellow bear appeared, letting out a low growl. His already burly body swelled further, granite-like muscles bulging. His arms and chest, exposed as his clothes tore apart, were covered in thick yellow fur.
It was one of the common bear-type martial souls on the continent: the Earth Bear. Immensely strong and possessing terrifying defense, it was considered a mid-to-upper-ranked martial soul among soul beasts.
Two yellow and three purple rings—five in total. Not the optimal combination, but still far stronger than the likes of Bei Laoliu and the other subordinates who had already perished.
Even so, he had been forced to activate his first two amplification-type soul skills in succession just to escape Xu Zihuang's second soul skill, Mirror of Shattering, before the second strike landed.
Years on battlefields riddled with danger had honed his instincts. He had a strong premonition: if he took the second strike head-on, his body would suffer irreversible damage.
That was why, despite the great gap in cultivation between him and Xu Zihuang, he had not hesitated to spend soul power on two skills.
Leng Jun's martial soul was even stronger than the squad leader's Earth Bear. Though only a Soul Ancestor, he had broken free of the crystal prison even faster.
His first and third soul rings shone as countless golden wind blades spread outward from his body.
In his martial soul possession state, a pair of black eagle wings sprouted from his back, covered in hardened feathers, and his eyes sharpened like those of an eagle. Yet his hands had transformed into a pair of lion claws.
"A griffin?"
Seeing the changes in Leng Jun's body, Xu Zihuang raised an eyebrow, though his eyes remained cold.
Griffin martial souls were rare on the continent, but undeniably powerful. Lion-type souls and eagle-type souls were already among the strongest beast souls—what then of one combining both?
At merely fifteen or sixteen years of age, Leng Jun had already reached over rank forty. Combined with his unique martial soul, he could very well have earned a place in Shrek Academy's inner court. Within the Xingluo Empire, he was undoubtedly considered a genius.
But on this continent, geniuses who fell before reaching their potential were countless.
"Kill them. Leave no survivors." Xu Zihuang's voice wasn't loud, but on the silent cliff it carried clearly.
Leng Jun suddenly realized something. His eyes shifted away from Xu Zihuang and lifted with difficulty. At that moment, he no longer cared about Xu Zihuang's strange and powerful soul skill.
What froze him completely were the figures floating in the air behind Xu Zihuang, all supported by flying soul tools. His heart plummeted into an abyss, his whole body turning cold.
The squad leader beside him didn't look any better. His lips trembled dryly as he counted the exhaust nozzles of those soul tools, despair flooding his eyes.
The number of nozzles revealed their level. Most were level-six flying soul tools. And since such tools couldn't be used beyond one's rank, this meant almost all of those people were at least Soul Emperors.
Clenching his fists, trying to steady himself, the squad leader knew there was little hope of survival. After a moment of hesitation, he suddenly shoved Leng Jun away. As his fifth soul ring lit up, he shouted loudly:
"Run into the Mingdou Great Forest! If by some chance you survive, look after my family!"
"I will." Leng Jun's reply was firm, his movements swift.
He rushed to the cliff's edge, spread the great wings at his back, and leapt. His body became a blurred shadow as he sped toward the faint outline of the Mingdou Great Forest in the distance. His survival instinct drove his speed to the utmost limit.
Seeing Leng Jun escape, the squad leader charged directly at Xu Zihuang, who was still holding Juzi. Though he had chosen to help Leng Jun flee, that didn't mean he had given up on living himself.
No one wanted to die—least of all someone like him, who had clawed his way up from the bottom to his current strength and status. He wasn't willing to throw it away so easily.
From Xu Zihuang's earlier command, it was clear he held the highest position among the group. If the squad leader could seize Xu Zihuang, he might still find a sliver of hope.
Dense, earth-yellow light radiated from his body, distorting the very air. Rocks and trees along the cliff trembled as the aura spread outward. He had just unleashed his fifth soul skill—Gravity Amplification.
But before the yellow glow could envelop Xu Zihuang, a deafening roar mixed with a shrill scream tore through the sky.
As the dust settled, there was no trace of the squad leader's humanity. His body had been slammed deep into the rock, the ground around him cracked into shards within a five-meter radius. His thick arms had been ripped clean off, and Meng Cang, his face dark with malice, ground the man's ear into pulp beneath his foot.
"Such outrageous nerve."
The others descended behind Xu Zihuang, anger flashing in their eyes, though tinged with sorrow.
If His Highness the Prince were still alive, how could the Xingluo dogs have run rampant within their Empire's borders? Back then, King Zihuang had suppressed the current White Tiger Duke for decades, not letting him step even half a foot into the Sun Moon Empire.
Even Elder Cheng, usually so merciful, couldn't muster sympathy for Xingluo soldiers who invaded their homeland. But when it came to Juzi, a fellow citizen of the Sun Moon Empire, it was different.
"Young Master."
"Mm." Xu Zihuang responded lightly, knowingly handing the unconscious Juzi to Elder Cheng.
Silently gazing at her delicate, gentle face, countless thoughts swirled in his mind.
He was almost certain that this girl was none other than Juzi, the future Empress and God of War of the Sun Moon Empire. Only, the trajectory of events seemed to have shifted because of him. By the original path, Juzi surely wouldn't have suffered such danger.
That realization stirred a trace of unease within him.