The group retraced their steps through the dense forest, and after three hours of travel, they finally emerged from the deep woods and arrived at a clearing in the forest.
The area was lush with vegetation and bathed in sunshine. The cold, decaying air had completely dissipated, leaving only the fresh scent of grass and trees. After days of tension, the nerves that had been on edge finally relaxed completely once they were free from the dangerous place where evil spirit masters roamed.
Everyone was recovering from serious injuries and was exhausted from the long journey. Upon seeing this, Wang Yan immediately ordered them to rest on the spot for half an hour to regain their strength before continuing their journey.
The reserve team members collapsed to the ground, taking out their water bags and dry rations to replenish their strength. Some leaned against tree trunks and closed their eyes to rest, too exhausted to even speak.
Dai Yueheng settled Ma Xiaotao under the shade of a tree and continuously channeled his soul power to help stabilize her injuries, not daring to slacken his efforts in the slightest. Jiang Nannan stayed by Huo Yuhao's side, watching his peaceful sleeping face, her heart, which had been hanging in suspense, eased slightly, and her tense body gradually relaxed.
Xiao Xiao curled up beside Ning Tian, the look of shock fading, leaving only exhaustion on her face, and she completely let down her guard.
Ning Tian put away the Seven Treasures Glazed Pagoda, leaned against a tree trunk, and closed her eyes to regulate her breathing. The previous fierce battle and the constant vigilance had greatly depleted her soul power.
Even though unease lingered in their hearts, everyone was exhausted, both physically and mentally, and no one could maintain a high level of vigilance. Everyone was immersed in the relaxation of having escaped death, believing that the danger had passed and there was no more crisis.
Wang Yan stood at the edge of the open space, briefly surveyed the surrounding environment, and found no soul power fluctuations or signs of danger. He was completely relieved, turned around and returned to the group to check on Huo Yuhao and Ma Xiaotao's injuries.
Just when the atmosphere was most relaxed and everyone was least on guard.
Without warning, a barely perceptible ripple appeared in the void.
A pitch-black figure emerged from the void like a ghost, without leaking any soul power or aura. It was incredibly fast and eerily still.
The man was dressed in a black, close-fitting outfit. He stood tall and straight like a pine tree, with a cold and stern face. His eyes and brows were filled with a chilling aura. Although no soul rings were rising around him, he exuded a sense of oppressive power that made people's hearts tremble.
It was Jiang Li.
He appeared at a position less than three meters to Huo Yuhao's side.
No one in the room noticed.
Jiang Li slowly raised his hand from his side, revealing a short sword in his palm. The sword was completely black, with a blade that gleamed with a cold, sharp light. There was no soul power flowing through the blade, yet it exuded a sharpness capable of shattering everything.
His gaze was indifferent, devoid of any emotion, fixed on the unconscious Huo Yuhao on the ground, without any hesitation or warning.
His figure suddenly lunged forward.
It moved so fast that it left afterimages and didn't even stir up a gust of wind.
Wang Dong was looking down at Huo Yuhao's condition, completely relaxed and unguarded. By the time she noticed the unusual movement beside her, it was already too late.
A jet-black blade of light flashed through the air, so fast that it was difficult to see with the naked eye.
Jiang Li, holding a short knife, suddenly exerted force in his arm, and the blade pierced straight into Huo Yuhao's forehead. Without any hesitation, his attack was ruthless to the extreme, with a clear objective—to kill with a single blow, piercing through the brain.
"don't want!"
Wang Dong's pupils constricted sharply, and he cried out in alarm. He instinctively reached out to block, but the speed difference was too great, and he couldn't stop him in time.
Dai Yueheng, Ning Tian, Wang Yan, Xiao Xiao, and the others only snapped back to reality when they heard the exclamation. By the time they turned around, it was too late.
The pitch-black blade pierced Huo Yuhao's forehead without any resistance, the tip protruding from the back of his head, and blood gushed out instantly, staining the ground red.
Huo Yuhao, who was in a coma, did not even struggle. His body suddenly trembled and then went completely limp, with no trace of life.
The wisp of golden divine power within his body that had not yet been fully absorbed was instantly crushed by the strange power of the blade and vanished without a trace.
The entire room fell silent.
Everyone froze on the spot, their eyes glazed over, their faces filled with disbelief, their minds blank.
No one expected that, having just escaped the clutches of the evil spirit masters and with the protection of a mysterious master, they would be met with such a sudden and unexpected death at the moment when they were most relaxed and unprepared.
No one expected that the newcomer would be so ruthless and have such a clear target, aiming to deliver a fatal blow to Huo Yuhao without leaving him any chance of survival.
"Who are you!"
Dai Yueheng was the first to react. His eyes were bloodshot, and his white tiger soul power erupted instantly. His soul rings rose one by one. Ignoring his own injuries, he pounced on Jiang Li. His white tiger claws, carrying violent power, struck Jiang Li's back.
Ma Xiaotao also woke up instantly and shouted sharply, "On alert! Everyone on alert!"
Xiao Xiao was so frightened that she trembled all over, her face as pale as paper. She sat paralyzed on the ground, unable to move, and looked at the blood gushing from Huo Yuhao's forehead, her whole body shaking uncontrollably.
Wang Dong stood frozen in place, staring at the lifeless Huo Yuhao before him. Tears welled up instantly, his body stiffened, his mind went blank, and he completely lost the ability to react.
Wang Yan's face turned deathly pale, his eyes filled with horror as he stared intently at Jiang Li's retreating figure, a storm raging within him.
This person's aura was extremely concealed, and his strength was unfathomable. He could get close to Huo Yuhao without anyone noticing, and he could kill him with a single blow. This strength far surpassed that of the previous Death Messenger.
Jiang Li pulled out the short knife that had pierced Huo Yuhao's brain. The blade was not stained with blood, and its black edge remained cold and sharp.
He slowly turned around, facing Dai Yueheng who was rushing towards him. His eyes remained indifferent, without the slightest ripple. He didn't even release his martial soul or soul rings. He simply raised his left hand and gently blocked.
A muffled thud.
Dai Yueheng's attack, which used all his soul power, landed on Jiang Li's arm, but it was as if he had hit a copper wall and an iron wall. Instead, he was blasted away by an incomparably violent force. His body flew back several meters and crashed heavily to the ground. He spat out a mouthful of blood, and his already unhealed injury was completely aggravated. He was no longer able to get up.
Jiang Li did not move his feet or sway his body. There was still no fluctuation of soul power around him. He easily defeated Dai Yueheng with only his physical strength.
"How dare you touch Shrek Academy members! What kind of force are you?!" Wang Yan suppressed his fear and shouted angrily, but he also knew that the difference in strength between the two sides was like an insurmountable chasm. His group of defeated soldiers were no match for the person in front of him.
Jiang Li ignored Wang Yan's questioning, his indifferent gaze sweeping over all the Shrek Academy members. There was no killing intent or emotion in his eyes, only a cold indifference, as if killing Huo Yuhao was just a trivial matter.
He killed Huo Yuhao without any unnecessary movements or words. His goal was pure and his actions were ruthless, solely aimed at delivering a fatal blow. He didn't even bother to touch the others.
Ning Tian clenched the Seven Treasures Glazed Pagoda tightly in her palm, her whole body tense. She never thought she would see Jiang Li here again.
Moreover, he had no intention of targeting anyone else. From the moment he appeared until the moment he left, his only target was Huo Yuhao.
But it is precisely this purity that makes it all the more terrifying.
He can precisely seize the moment when they are most relaxed, he can approach silently, and he can kill Huo Yuhao in one blow.
This is enough to show that Jiang Li had been lying in wait here for a long time, observing them and knowing their condition and whereabouts very well.
Wang Dong finally came to his senses, staggered to Huo Yuhao's side, squatted down, and tremblingly reached out to touch Huo Yuhao's neck. There was no pulse there, the wound on his forehead was still bleeding, his pupils were completely dilated, his life force had completely disappeared, and even his soul fluctuations were gone.
"Yuhao... Huo Yuhao..."
Wang Dong's voice trembled, tears streamed down his face, and his whole body felt ice-cold.
That seemingly gentle yet exceptionally resilient boy was killed right before his eyes with a single blow, dying unexpectedly and without any chance to fight back.
The trainees in the reserve team were all pale with fright, trembling, and their eyes were filled with extreme fear as they looked at Jiang Li.
This person's ruthlessness, cunning, and power far surpassed any enemy they had encountered before.
Jiang Li withdrew his gaze, no longer looking at the people present, and turned to leave. His steps were calm, and he still did not reveal the slightest bit of his aura.
"Stop right there! You kill him, and you're not leaving!"
Wang Dong suddenly stood up, his Light Goddess Butterfly Martial Soul instantly possessing him. His red eyes were bloodshot, and disregarding his own injuries, he unleashed his soul power and leaped towards Jiang Li, wanting to avenge Huo Yuhao.
He was incredibly fast and agile, unleashing his full soul skill as his blade pierced straight into Jiang Li's back.
But it still didn't work.
Jiang Li didn't even turn around; he simply picked up the Heavenly Inverse Plough to block it.
The attack landed on Tian Nimu and was instantly deflected. Wang Dong staggered backward, his wounds reopened, and blood seeped out. He was no longer able to launch an attack.
Jiang Li didn't stop. He took a step, picked up Huo Yuhao's body, and left without leaving any trace, as if he had never appeared at all.
Throughout the entire process, he only uttered a single word and did only one thing—kill Huo Yuhao.
Clean, efficient, ruthless, and unexpected.
Even after Jiang Li completely disappeared, the entire place remained deathly silent, save for heavy breathing and Jiang Nannan's suppressed sobs.
Everyone stood frozen in place, staring at the ground already stained red, their hearts still filled with disbelief.
Just moments before, they were celebrating their narrow escape from death, relaxing and resting, hoping to reach Xingluo City, and clinging to the hope of being rescued by the mysterious master.
However, in the blink of an eye, Huo Yuhao was killed instantly by a mysterious person who appeared out of nowhere.
Wang Yan slumped to his feet, his eyes dim, his voice hoarse: "It's ruined, everything is ruined..."
In short, the outcome was finalized.
Dai Yueheng struggled to sit up, his face filled with dejection and regret.
If they hadn't insisted on carrying out their surveillance mission, and if they hadn't let their guard down, such a tragedy would never have happened.
Ning Tian stood there, the Seven Treasures Glazed Pagoda in his palm trembling slightly, his heart filled with coldness and powerlessness.
She had always been wary of the traitor and the evil spirit masters, but she never expected that Jiang Li would suddenly appear here, heading straight for Huo Yuhao, catching them completely off guard.
Xiao Xiao covered her face, tears streaming down her face, her heart filled with fear and grief.
She watched Huo Yuhao being killed with her own eyes, yet she could do nothing about it; that sense of powerlessness was deeply etched into her heart.
The clearing in the woods was deathly silent.
The sun was still shining brightly, and the grass and trees were still fragrant, but the relief of escaping death had long been swept away by the sudden and fatal blow.
Wang Yan took a deep breath, suppressing the grief and fear in his heart, and said in a deep voice, "We cannot stay here any longer. We must leave immediately and get to Xingluo City as soon as possible!"
He knew that since the mysterious person could appear and return silently, staying here would only lead to more danger.
The group acted in silence, no one spoke, and everyone felt a huge weight pressing on their hearts.
The identity of the mysterious man, his purpose in killing Huo Yuhao, how he was able to precisely time their moments of relaxation, and why he possessed such terrifying strength...
A series of questions lingered in everyone's mind, but no one could answer them.
Without further delay, filled with endless grief and fear, the group hurriedly left the forest clearing and continued their journey towards Xingluo City.
However, this already depleted Shrek team has now lost another member, making the atmosphere even more oppressive and deathly silent than before.
The sudden, dark glint of light from the blade enveloped everyone's hearts.
That ruthless and elusive mysterious man, and Huo Yuhao's death, have become an indelible shadow in everyone's hearts.
The Star City ahead, seemingly the end, is more like the beginning of another storm. No one knows what kind of crisis and conspiracy awaits them.
They sped along, silent and oppressive, a deathly stillness enveloping the entire group.
Wang Dong walked dejectedly through the group, her eyes red and dry, her tears long since dried. The image of Huo Yuhao's murder and Jiang Li's indifferent, cold gaze kept replaying in her mind. Her Light Goddess Butterfly Martial Soul remained dim, her soul power chaotic and disordered, and the grief and helplessness in her heart almost consumed her.
She never imagined that the boy she had spent every day with and trained alongside would die in such a tragic way before her eyes, without even leaving a last word, and his body would be taken away by the murderer, leaving her unable to even be properly buried.
Dai Yueheng supported the still weak Ma Xiaotao, his face terribly grim. As a senior member of the team, he not only failed to complete his surveillance mission but also suffered repeated ambushes, ultimately leading to Huo Yuhao's death. He was undeniably responsible for this.
Ma Xiaotao remained silent, exuding a chilling aura, her heart churning with anger and self-reproach. If she hadn't insisted on continuing the mission, if everyone hadn't let their guard down, she would never have ended up in this situation. Jiang Li's sudden attack was like a thorn, piercing deep into her heart.
Ning Tian walked at the back of the group, her brows furrowed, her mind churning with thoughts. She had interacted with Jiang Li before and knew him well; he was ruthless and unpredictable in his actions. The fact that he had gone to such lengths to ambush and kill Huo Yuhao must have a hidden purpose behind it, and it was no coincidence.
This matter cannot be left unresolved. With their current strength, they are powerless to seek revenge against Jiang Li. The only way is to reach Xingluo City as soon as possible, send the message back to Shrek Academy, and seek a solution.
Half a day later, the group finally entered the territory of Xingluo City.
The bustling city and noisy crowds, far from alleviating the grief in everyone's hearts, only seemed more out of place. Everyone wore a solemn expression, radiating a heavy atmosphere that drew the attention of passersby.
Wang Yan dared not delay and led everyone directly to Shrek Academy's temporary base in Xingluo City.
The academy disciples stationed at the stronghold saw that everyone was covered in wounds and looked grief-stricken, so they rushed forward to greet them. Just as they were about to ask something, Wang Yan's heavy expression stopped them in their tracks.
"Immediately activate the academy's secret communication lines and send a message back to headquarters!" Wang Yan's voice was hoarse and his tone urgent. "The Mingdou Mountain Range surveillance team was ambushed by evil soul masters. Fortunately, they were rescued by a mysterious expert, but were then attacked by an unknown powerhouse. Student Huo Yuhao died on the spot, and his body was taken away by the murderer. Elder Xuan's whereabouts are unknown. We request that the academy immediately dispatch powerful experts to provide support and thoroughly investigate this matter!"
Upon hearing this, the disciples at the stronghold turned pale instantly, their faces filled with shock. Without daring to delay, they immediately went to deliver the message.
The fact that Huo Yuhao, a genius student whom Shrek Academy was focusing on cultivating, was killed while on a mission would inevitably cause a huge uproar once the news reached the academy.
The group entered the base's main hall and took their seats, but no one spoke.
Wang Dong clenched his fist tightly, his nails digging deep into his palms until they bled, and said, word by word, "I will definitely find him and avenge Yuhao."
His tone was resolute, and his eyes were filled with unwavering hatred.
Ning Tian raised his eyes and said in a deep voice, "Jiang Li's strength far surpasses ours. Acting rashly will only lead to our deaths. We should wait for the academy's experts to arrive before making further plans."
Dai Yueheng sighed deeply, his face full of dejection: "It's all my fault. If I had listened to the advice earlier and given up the mission, this disaster wouldn't have happened."
Ma Xiaotao closed her eyes, and when she opened them again, only coldness remained in them: "This is not your fault. It's because the murderer was too strange, and we were too careless. Shrek Academy will not let Huo Yuhao's revenge go unpunished."
Inside the hall, grief, anger, and helplessness were intertwined.
No one knows what Jiang Li's purpose was in taking Huo Yuhao's body away, nor what kind of power he had behind him, or what kind of conspiracy he might have in the future.
Meanwhile, at Shrek Academy, thousands of miles away, an urgent secret letter is being rapidly transmitted, and a storm surrounding Huo Yuhao's death and Jiang Li's identity is about to sweep across the entire continent.
Having survived countless life-or-death ordeals, the Shrek Academy team could only wait for the academy's response at their Star Luo City stronghold, recuperating from their injuries while sowing the seeds of revenge in their hearts, awaiting the day the truth would be revealed.