In a single instant, the short dagger—manifested from his spirit bone—sank deep into Old Third's chest. Lin Xiao felt a wave of warmth spread from his palm as five spirit rings rose around him.
The first ring flared, and the blood within Old Third's body turned into countless crimson seeds that burst outward. His flesh was riddled with holes in a heartbeat. The remaining three attackers froze, stunned by the sudden ferocity.
Only then did Lin Xiao slowly lift his gaze toward them.
Their coordination had been impressive. One behind to draw attention, two striking his arms and legs to limit movement—if one more had targeted his head or throat, even someone stronger might have been injured before reacting.
Had their blades been coated with poison, the outcome could have been worse.
No wonder they had dared to strike first. Their attack pattern was clean and lethal; against an unprepared opponent, it might have worked.
But since Nightmare Douluo had slain their "Fifth Brother," they'd never had a chance to adjust their formation. And without that final link, Lin Xiao—who had seen through their ploy—reacted before they even realized their mistake.
They hadn't expected him to kill without hesitation. In a blink, one of their own—someone who had eaten and slept beside them—lay dead. Shock rooted the others in place.
"You guessed right," Lin Xiao said quietly. "I am an Evil Spirit Master."
His tone was calm, almost conversational. "So I recognize that stench clinging to you. It's not the scent of beasts—it's human blood. I'm curious… hunters who help others obtain spirit rings shouldn't reek of murdered people."
The burly man didn't answer. His eyes darted sideways, then fixed on Lin Xiao. "Enough talking. Whether we run or stay, we die either way. Better to take him with us!"
He charged first.
Lin Xiao stepped lightly back. He knew his left arm bone had compensated for his close-range weakness, but distance still favored him. The further his enemies were, the deadlier he became.
The forest blurred around him as he moved. With a flick of his wrist, a wisp of soul essence rose from Old Third's corpse—his remnant spirit drawn into Lin Xiao's grasp.
A spirit ring lit up. The Seeds of the Soul tore through the air toward the remaining three—then Lin Xiao froze.
Visions flooded his mind—strange memories not his own. Flashes of joy, grief, rage, and despair swirled within him, scenes vivid as if he had lived them himself.
A moment later, he understood. These were their memories.
The Seeds had devoured their souls, consuming not only their life essence but the recollections tied to them.
Every hidden regret, every wound of conscience—laid bare.
Since breaking Nightmare Douluo's seal, this was Lin Xiao's first time fully using the soul aspect of his Other Shore Flower martial spirit. He had meant to test its changes, not to drown in its depth.
Now unrestrained, his spiritual power was far sharper—its bond to the martial spirit far deeper. He was about to continue the experiment when his expression shifted.
Faint presences were approaching—the auras of other Spirit Masters, drawn by the sounds of battle.
Thinking fast, Lin Xiao raised his arm. A blinding white light shot from his soul cannon, punching clean holes through the bodies of the three dazed men. They fell without a sound.
He stepped forward, crouched beside Old Third's corpse, and reached out—then stopped.
Something above caught his attention.
This was the outer region of the Star Dou Forest. The trees here were thinner, their branches allowing moonlight to spill through in scattered ribbons.
And beneath that moonlight, someone stood upon a treetop.
A slim figure balanced at the tip of a branch, the wood bending slightly under her weight. Behind her hung a perfect full moon, its cold glow cascading down like a waterfall, outlining her form in silver.
The light made it hard for Lin Xiao to see her face clearly, but he saw the long hair tied loosely behind her head, a few strands drifting freely in the night breeze.
She moved. A gentle tap of her toes sent the branch swaying, and in the next instant, she landed silently before him. The moon seemed to shine brighter at her arrival.
"We meet again."
Lin Xiao rose, his lips curving faintly. "So we do. What a coincidence."
His expression was light, but soul power flowed beneath his calm exterior, ready to erupt.
At such close range, he could now see her clearly—Zhang Lexuan. They had crossed paths before. Familiar, yet not someone he wished to see now.
He knew Shrek Academy's stance toward Evil Spirit Masters all too well. He didn't know how much she had seen, or what she had overheard, but he was prepared to strike the moment she made a move.
Yet Zhang Lexuan only cast him a glance before kneeling down beside the corpses. Without hesitation, she turned over the bodies with bare hands, letting blood stain her fingers.
"I was hunting these men," she said softly after confirming their faces.
"They were a group that helped others hunt spirit rings."
"I heard as much from them earlier," Lin Xiao replied, stepping closer, watching her exposed back.
"Did you know," she continued without looking up, "that they charged far less than others?"
"Hm?"
Lin Xiao blinked, then understood.
Helping others acquire spirit rings was never safe. One fought alongside clients against wild beasts, risking one's life for pay. In the Star Dou Forest, danger lurked in every shadow—any hunt could be one's last.
Naturally, such services were costly.
If this group charged so cheaply, there could only be one explanation.
Zhang Lexuan rose, eyes scanning the clearing before settling on him. "Those who hired them were mostly solitary Spirit Masters with no backing—no team, no influence."
"And the ones drawn by low prices," she said quietly, "were often those from poor families. People who could vanish in this forest without anyone ever noticing."
(End of Chapter)