Invincible Soul Emperor

Chapter 395: Chapter 395: There is Another Golden Star Lion King

From now on, no matter what enemy I face, I must be on full alert. It was a momentary lapse in attention that put me in such a passive situation and nearly got me killed.

Nevertheless, Ye Qingchen breathed a sigh of relief. The body of the Golden Star Lion King was a treasure trove. If he could refine its inner core, he could not only recover his spent energy but also enhance his strength. Other parts of its body could also be dismantled and exchanged for Spirit Stones.

Just as Ye Qingchen was contemplating how to dissect the Lion King’s body, a deafening lion’s roar suddenly shook the earth.

”Damn it! There’s another one!”

Without a second glance, Ye Qingchen shot up and darted into the distance. He knew that Golden Star Lion Kings usually lived in prides. This one was a lioness, which meant it was highly likely a male Lion King was nearby. The roar just now was probably from him. Ye Qingchen was already exhausted; another attack from the male Lion King would mean certain death. That was why he fled frantically at the mere sound of the roar.

Before long, a male Lion King the same size as the lioness appeared at the spot Ye Qingchen had just vacated.

The male Lion King gazed at the fallen lioness, his eyes filled with endless sorrow as he let out a heart-wrenching, mournful howl. Then, he keenly picked up on Ye Qingchen’s scent lingering on the lioness. Following the scent, the male Lion King tore off like a mad beast in the direction Ye Qingchen had fled.

Ye Qingchen understood that in his current condition, the Lion King would soon catch up. As he fled, he randomly threw out items bearing his scent to confuse his pursuer. Moreover, he activated the Array Plates he had prepared, laying down one Formation after another on his escape path to impede the Lion King’s advance.

At the same time, Ye Qingchen’s mind grew increasingly heavy. The previous battle had consumed a tremendous amount of his energy, and he had no chance to rest and recuperate. Compounded by his frantic sprint now, he could clearly feel that he could not hold out for much longer.

However, the desire to survive compelled him to push through, forcing himself to keep running. His methods proved effective. Disoriented by the various items and ambushed by the Formations, the male Lion King began to fall behind, and the distance between them grew. The chase between man and beast—one pursuing, the other fleeing—continued for a full day before Ye Qingchen could hold on no longer. He collapsed heavily to the ground, unconscious.

***

Dozens of Green Spirit Horses, a rare sight, were pulling with all their might at the front of a massive carriage.

Green Spirit Horses were Spirit Beasts, possessing not only incredible endurance but also astonishing speed, making them a highly sought-after means of transport for major merchant caravans. These dozens of Green Spirit Horses, however, were now drenched in sweat, looking utterly exhausted. They were tasked with pulling the corpse of a Golden Star Lion King—a beast dozens of meters tall and over a hundred meters long.

”Everyone, pick up the pace! Our luck is incredible this time. Finding this Golden Star Lion King’s corpse means we can sell it for a great price in Northern Barrier City!” Wang Tianlin urged the team on, a hint of excitement in his voice. I wonder how many Spirit Stones I can pocket from this sale. The rest of the caravan was abuzz with excitement, as everyone would get a share of the profits.

Only a young woman in a pale green dress at the very front of the team remained cold and detached, out of sync with the cheerful atmosphere. This young woman was named Liu Wan’er. At eighteen, she had a well-developed figure and a delicate face that made anyone who saw her take a second glance. However, Liu Wan’er was always aloof, giving off an aura that kept others at a distance.

This was a small merchant caravan of about a dozen people belonging to the Liu Family Commerce Guild. Wang Tianlin was the caravan’s leader, but he was merely a servant of the Liu Family. The one who truly called the shots was the Liu Family’s young mistress, Liu Wan’er.

This time, the Liu Family Commerce Guild was headed to Northern Barrier City to seek an audience and trade with Xia Chengkai, the Pill King. As Liu Wan’er was still young, the experienced Wang Tianlin had been assigned to lead the team. The journey had been smooth until they unexpectedly stumbled upon a windfall. As they traveled through a mountain range, they discovered signs of a recent battle.

Seeing the ravaged landscape, riddled with scars, Liu Wan’er was hesitant to get involved. But Wang Tianlin had insisted, saying it was common for beasts in the forest to kill each other. If they could profit from the conflict, why not? At Wang Tianlin’s persistence, the caravan followed the trail of destruction. They were overjoyed to find the corpse of the Golden Star Lion King that Ye Qingchen had slain—it was a fortune from the heavens.

There was a reason for Liu Wan’er’s stern expression, however. The body of the Golden Star Lion King was enormous, and the route was crawling with bandits. With such a treasure in tow, it was inevitable that they would be targeted. Although the caravan had a Martial Spirit Realm expert as a guard and the Liu Family Commerce Guild had some connections along the way, there was no guarantee that someone would not be overcome by greed and decide to act.

”Miss, there seems to be someone up ahead!” Qin Meng’s sudden shout from within the group broke Liu Wan’er from her worries.

Liu Wan’er followed his pointed finger and indeed saw a person covered in blood, unconscious by the side of the road. She gave Qin Meng a look, signaling him to check on the person.

As Qin Meng went over, Wang Tianlin pursed his lips and spoke up, ”Miss, we’re far from home. It’s better to be cautious. Sometimes, a kind heart isn’t rewarded.”

Liu Wan’er shot him a sideways glance but said nothing, nor did she call Qin Meng back. Wang Tianlin could only shrug helplessly and hold his tongue.

Qin Meng walked closer. Although the man on the ground was covered in blood, it could not hide his handsome features. Qin Meng leaned in for a better look and suddenly cried out in shock, ”Old Liu! Old Liu, come over here, quick!”

Old Liu, another caravan guard, heard Qin Meng’s call and assumed he was in danger, so he rushed over immediately.

Qin Meng excitedly grabbed Old Liu’s arm. ”Old Liu, look! Isn’t this our benefactor?”

Old Liu frowned in confusion and looked down at the man on the ground. A moment later, his expression turned to one of startled excitement. ”You’re right! I’ve never forgotten our benefactor’s face. This is the man who saved us!”

The person lying unconscious on the ground was, of course, Ye Qingchen.

Qin Meng and Old Liu had been mine slaves, trafficked to Dragon Tiger Mountain. There, their Cultivation had been sealed, and they had endured endless torment. Ye Qingchen had once stormed Dragon Tiger Mountain to rescue the slaves, and during that time, the two of them had memorized his face, always hoping for an opportunity to repay his kindness.