"Sister Xue, are you alright?" Nan Feihuang rushed to Qian Renxue's side, gripping his long halberd tightly as he stood guard, shielding them both.
"I'm fine, Feihuang. Thank you for saving me." Qian Renxue let out a breath, the glowing sword in her hand dissipating completely. Her gaze fell upon Nan Feihuang's halberd, and a thought stirred within her.
Just moments ago, when Nan Feihuang's Divine General Domain activated, it hadn't just suppressed the Radiant Spirit Wolf—it had affected her as well. But instead of harming her, it had bolstered her strength.
His domain was a rare one, possessing both offensive and supportive capabilities. However, his soul power was still too weak to fully harness its true potential. There was so much room for growth, so much untapped power waiting to be explored.
"Feihuang, I have an idea to take that thing down. Give me your hand," Qian Renxue said.
Though puzzled, Nan Feihuang extended his hand without hesitation. Qian Renxue reached out, her slender fingers grasping his firmly. In that moment, her six-winged angel martial spirit reached forward and pulled the long halberd from Nan Feihuang's grip into her own.
"Sister Xue, what are you trying to do?" he asked, still unsure.
"Feihuang, your domain has only just awakened, so you haven't realized its true nature yet. It belongs to the category of commander-type domains—it has the power to direct battles and channel soul energy. Try transmitting your soul power to me through your left hand," she explained.
Before he could ask further, the Radiant Spirit Wolf lunged at them again. There was no time to think. Without hesitation, Nan Feihuang followed her instructions.
As his soul power flowed through their joined hands, the long halberd in Qian Renxue's grasp erupted with a dazzling light.
The six-winged angel radiated divine might, and with a powerful swing, Qian Renxue sent the wolf flying backward. Yet, she hesitated—she was unfamiliar with halberd techniques and missed the perfect opportunity to finish it off.
"If this domain can command and support battle formations, then its potential isn't limited to just soul power transmission…" Nan Feihuang mused. He thought back to the halberd techniques he had practiced, particularly the Single-Handed Eighteen Strikes.
Sensing his thoughts, Qian Renxue instinctively mimicked the halberd techniques he envisioned.
"Incredible! This is true battlefield command! Feihuang's domain makes him a born warrior," she exclaimed in admiration.
With the combination of their soul powers and the synchronization of their god-tier martial spirits—the six-winged angel and the Wufang Tianji—Qian Renxue felt an unshakable confidence surge within her.
She swung the halberd fluidly, executing the Eighteen Strikes with precision. No matter how fiercely the Radiant Spirit Wolf attacked, she deflected each blow effortlessly.
Realizing that Nan Feihuang was the true core of the fight, the beast shifted its focus toward him.
Its claws slashed forward, but Qian Renxue reacted instantly. With a calculated pull, she yanked Nan Feihuang out of harm's way. The wolf's attack barely missed him, its claws grazing the empty air where he had stood moments before.
Nan Feihuang didn't let the opportunity slip by. His free hand clenched into a fist, striking a heavy blow against the beast's abdomen.
Qian Renxue pulled him away again, seamlessly switching their positions. With a sweeping motion, she brought the halberd down in a graceful arc, severing the beast's forelimbs in one decisive strike.
At this moment, the two moved in perfect harmony—advancing, retreating, and striking as one. Their connection was effortless, neither hindering the other. Every attack and defense was timed flawlessly, creating an unbreakable rhythm between them.
The Radiant Spirit Wolf, now gravely injured, let out a frenzied roar. Its once-holy aura twisted into something far more sinister, its face contorted in rage.
But rage alone was not enough to change its fate.
Its attack patterns had already been thoroughly analyzed by Qian Renxue and Nan Feihuang. This time, when it pounced, Qian Renxue spun the halberd above her head in a circular motion, dispersing the incoming strike and countering immediately.
This technique—Cloud Sword—was a swordsmanship move, but with her keen adaptability, she had seamlessly integrated it into her halberd technique.
"Now, Feihuang! Finish it off!" Qian Renxue commanded.
"Understood! I'm ready!" Nan Feihuang had anticipated her call. The moment she spoke, his first soul ring ignited, and the halberd in Qian Renxue's hands glowed with golden brilliance.
A faint smile touched Qian Renxue's lips. She was thoroughly impressed by his combat intuition.
Then, with a swift downward slash, she brought the halberd down on the wolf's head.
The Radiant Spirit Wolf let out a piercing roar, attempting to disrupt the attack with its sound waves once again.
And indeed, the shockwave did weaken Qian Renxue's strike.
However, unlike before, this time the Half-Moon Slash was imbued with true penetrating force—bypassing all defenses.
Even with its diminished strength, the halberd's golden edge remained unstoppable.
With a sharp swish, the halberd blade cleaved through the wolf's neck.
Its severed head soared into the air as its lifeless body collapsed to the ground.
The battle was over.
"We did it!" Nan Feihuang let out a relieved breath. But the exhaustion from battle finally caught up with him. His body slackened, and he fell forward.
Qian Renxue caught him in her arms, gently brushing his hair aside. "Rest now. You've done enough today."
Nan Feihuang drifted into sleep against her shoulder. He had pushed himself to the limit—two days and nights without rest, constant travel, and intense combat had drained both his soul power and mental strength completely.
As he slept, a black soul ring emerged from the Radiant Spirit Wolf's corpse.
It was a rare sight—this soul ring was infused with sacred energy and had a lifespan exceeding 20,000 years. Both of them were qualified to absorb it, but it was unclear who truly delivered the killing blow.
Nan Feihuang had used his Fang Tian Ji and Half-Moon Slash to strike, yet Qian Renxue had been the one wielding the weapon.
Qian Renxue was tempted to claim it. A sacred-attribute soul ring of this level was a perfect fit for her.
But she couldn't.
Nan Feihuang was defenseless right now. If she chose to absorb the soul ring, they would both be vulnerable in the treacherous Star Dou Forest.
He had protected her throughout this ordeal—she couldn't be selfish now and put them both at risk.
Instead, she carefully carried Nan Feihuang over to a sturdy tree and sat down beside him. As she gazed at his peaceful sleeping face, a soft smile graced her lips. She closed her eyes and began meditating, using her angel clan's breathing technique to restore her soul power.
They would hunt for another soul ring later. For now, their safety took priority.
Time passed. Nearly an hour had gone by, and the black soul ring began to fade. If it wasn't absorbed soon, it would dissipate completely.
Qian Renxue sighed inwardly. It was a shame, but she wouldn't disturb Nan Feihuang's rest.
Just then, a voice echoed through the air.
"Xiaoxue, the soul ring is about to vanish. Why aren't you absorbing it?"
Her eyes flew open in surprise. She looked up, and her expression brightened.
"Grandfather! Grandfather Guangling!"
Descending before them were two figures—Qian Daoliu and Guangling Douluo.
They had followed her trail deep into the forest, moving far faster than Lan Xue and Ci Xue. It seemed they had arrived just in time.