After more than ten days of travel, Lord Zhao Yun and his group finally emerged from the Dark Forest and stepped onto a vast and boundless Wasteland.
A chilling aura rushed towards them. The ground beneath their feet was cracked, dotted with jagged rocks. A fierce wind howled past, kicking up clouds of yellow sand that stung their faces.
"This place looks dangerous just by looking at it."
Aleia vigilantly scanned her surroundings, her ears constantly twitching, trying to catch any potential danger signals, her tail involuntarily tensing up.
"Sister, I'm a little scared."
Nia tightly clutched the corner of Aleia's clothes, her voice trembling slightly.
"Don't be afraid, I'm here, and Lord Zhao Yun is here too."
Aleia comforted her sister, but her gaze drifted towards Zhao Yun.
Zhao Yun gently patted Nia's head and said softly, "Nia, don't be afraid, we will all protect you."
His response made Nia feel very secure.
After traveling for dozens of miles, Zhao Yun suddenly stopped. His gaze was sharp as he looked into the distance, where a few Bonfires flickered faintly in the dim Twilight. Coarse laughter and curses from Mercenaries drifted over with the wind, breaking the silence of the Wasteland.
"That's the flag of the 'Bloodfang' Mercenary Group."
Leah's Ice-blue Long Hair danced wildly in the wind, the strands lightly brushing the saddle. Her tone was full of disdain.
"A bunch of vulgar men."
She frowned slightly, disgust flickering in her eyes. She subconsciously gripped the hilt of her Long Sword; the Frost pattern on the hilt sensed its owner's Killing Intent and faintly shimmered with a faint blue light.
Aleia's tail instantly bristled, all the fur on her body standing on end. She snarled, "If they dare come closer, I'll tear their throats out!"
Nia hid behind her sister, her small hands tightly gripping the corner of Aleia's clothes. The Silver Bell Earring made faint, crisp sounds as her body trembled slightly. Although her heart was filled with fear, she forced herself to remain calm, trying hard not to look too scared.
As the group gradually approached the Bonfire, they saw dozens of Mercenaries gathered around it, drinking and eating meat.
One Bald Stout Man with a face full of coarse flesh was particularly noticeable. His chest armor was branded with an emblem of a dripping Fangs, his left eye was covered by a Beast Hide eye patch, and the end of the Chains wrapped around his right arm was tied to the head of a dried Dark Elf. His ferocious appearance was intimidating.
"That little woman is hot!"
"I really want to strip off her Frost Armor."
The Bald Stout Man, reeking of alcohol, laughed loudly while pointing at Leah. His mouth, fitted with gold teeth, stretched to his ears, revealing a set of disgusting yellow teeth.
"Vice Commander, that group doesn't look easy to mess with."
A member of the group reminded him cautiously.
"Nonsense!"
The Bald Stout Man violently kicked over the member who reminded him, sending Sparks flying from the Chains he wore. A fierce light flashed in his eyes.
"I've slaughtered enough Magisters to fill the Emerald City Moat!"
His voice was filled with arrogance, echoing across the empty Wasteland.
The temperature around Leah suddenly dropped, and her sword sheath instantly became covered in Ice Crystals. Her eyes flashed with Cold Light.
"This bastard wants to die!"
Saying that, she was about to draw her sword and charge forward.
Zhao Yun raised his hand and pressed down on her sword-wielding wrist: "I'll handle it."
With that, he walked towards the Bald Stout Man. The Starlight trailing from the tip of his Star Shattering Spear drew a brilliant trajectory in the Twilight, resembling the Milky Way falling to earth.
"Yo, pretty boy coming to deliver..."
The Bald Stout Man's words stopped abruptly mid-sentence.
Zhao Yun moved with the Dragon-like steps, his figure flashing behind him like a Ghostly apparition. The Spear Butt accurately struck the back of his knee.
This strike contained immense Strength. The Bald Stout Man only felt his knee go weak, his legs bending uncontrollably, and he crashed down onto his knees.
The arrogance on the Bald Stout Man's face was instantly replaced by astonishment, his eyes wide open. Before he could react, the Spear Shaft was pressed against his throat like lightning. The icy touch made him shiver involuntarily, and his breathing became rapid.
"Apologize!"
Zhao Yun's voice was colder than the Wasteland night wind, carrying an invisible pressure that made the Bald Stout Man struggle to breathe.
"Apologize, you..."
The Bald Stout Man roared, reaching for the Poison-Tipped Dagger at his waist. As the Cold Light flashed, it was instantly frozen by Leah's Sword Qi.
Leah snorted, a hint of disdain flashing in her eyes. Her voice was as cold as Frost.
"If you dare move again, I'll chop off your hand!"
The tip of Zhao Yun's Star Shattering Spear suddenly shifted forward, the Starlight piercing the Bald Stout Man's skin and drawing out wisps of Fresh Blood.
"One last chance."
Zhao Yun's gaze was icy, and the Bald Stout Man dared not meet it directly for a moment.
Seeing this, the more than forty Mercenaries present from the Bloodfang Mercenary Group stood up, holding heavy crossbows and Battle Axes, and charged towards Zhao Yun's group.
"Kill them all!"
The Bald Stout Man roared hoarsely. Despite his throat being held, he refused to yield.
Aleia roared, transforming into a Golden Light Shadow, and charged into the Mercenary crowd first.
"Come on, taste how formidable I am!"
Her movements were agile, like a swift leopard, weaving freely among the Mercenaries. Wherever she went, the Mercenaries let out painful screams, and Fresh Blood splattered.
Nia was not to be outdone, quickly pulling out Poison Darts and throwing them towards the Mercenaries.
The Poison Darts flew out like a swarm of bees, tracing black arcs in the air, accurately embedding themselves in the enemies' bodies.
Ross stood at a distance, calmly drawing his bow and nocking an Arrow. The Emerald Arrow shimmered with a faint green light.
"Emerald Shadow Flowing Light, Arrow Shattering Void!"
He muttered an incantation in a low voice, and the Arrows shot towards the enemies like meteors, each carrying powerful Magic Power, hitting their targets precisely.
On the wounds of the struck Mercenaries, green clusters of light appeared. After flickering a few times, tender green branches grew from the wounds.
Leah swung her Long Sword, and the Frost Power within her surged out.
"Ice Prism Piercing!"
Countless sharp Ice Shards shot towards the Mercenaries like blue lightning. Wherever they passed, the Mercenaries' bodies were instantly Freeze, and then shattered with a 'crack' sound.
"How dare you be rude to us, we'll turn you into ice shards!"
Her voice was cold and filled with Killing Intent, her Ice-blue Long Hair flying in the wind.
Zhao Yun, amidst the battle, moved as if walking through an uninhabited area. He unleashed the "Hundred Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix" Spear Technique. The Star Shattering Spear danced rapidly in his hands, the Spear Shadow transforming into countless Azure Luan Phantoms, weaving and flying through the air. Every Spear Shadow contained immense Strength, accurately striking the most vulnerable joints of the Mercenaries' weapons.
The heavy crossbow mechanisms shattered under the Spear Shadows with a 'crack' sound, metal fragments scattering everywhere; the edges of the Battle Axes curled, as if they were soft iron melted by high heat; the Chains snapped inch by inch, falling to the ground like dead snakes with a dull thud.
"What kind of Spear Technique is this!"
A Mercenary shouted in terror, his eyes filled with fear, his weapon trembling involuntarily.
"He's not human!"
Another Mercenary said with a trembling voice, his legs weak, almost unable to stand steady, nearly dropping his weapon.
Under Zhao Yun's crushing attacks, the Mercenaries gradually fell into a panic. Their previous arrogance was completely extinguished, replaced by endless fear.
However, the Bald Stout Man was still unwilling to give up. He swung his Battle Axe and charged towards Zhao Yun again.
"I'll fight you to the death!"
His eyes were bloodshot, filled with madness.
Zhao Yun's eyes sharpened, the Dragon Mark on his left arm shone brightly, and the Starlight bursting from the tip of the Star Shattering Spear exploded like the scorching sun.
"Dragon Roar Over Mountains and Rivers!"
A golden Dragon Form Sword Qi shot out from the spear tip, like a roaring giant dragon, charging towards the Bald Stout Man with a World-Destroying Aura. The Dragon Form Sword Qi was lifelike, coiling and roaring in the air, tearing apart everything in its path.
The Bald Stout Man felt an overwhelming force rush towards him, making it almost impossible to breathe. He tried to block with his Battle Axe, but the power of the Dragon Form Sword Qi far exceeded his imagination.
The Battle Axe shattered instantly under the impact of the Sword Qi, breaking into countless fragments that scattered like fireworks. He himself was sent flying by this force, falling heavily to the ground like a broken kite, kicking up a cloud of dust.
The Bald Stout Man rolled a few times on the ground before finally stopping. He spat out a mouthful of Fresh Blood and died, filled with terror and unwillingness.
"Scram!"
Zhao Yun stood majestically on the battlefield holding the Star Shattering Spear, his gaze sweeping over the remaining dozen or so Mercenaries. His voice boomed across the Wasteland like a great bell.
His white robe fluttered in the wind, the Dragon Mark shimmering with a mysterious light, and his entire being exuded an awe-inspiring aura.
The Mercenaries looked at the fallen Bald Stout Man, then at Zhao Yun, their hearts filled with fear. Their previous arrogance was gone, and they all turned to flee.
"Run! He's a monster!"
"We are no match for him!"
The cries of the remaining soldiers echoed across the Wasteland, gradually fading into the night.
Aleia shook off the drops of blood from her claws, her tail proudly wrapping around Zhao Yun's wrist.
"Lord, that Spear Technique just now was so beautiful!"
Her eyes were full of adoration, and her cheeks were slightly flushed with excitement.
Nia hopped around, picking up the money bags dropped by the Mercenaries. The Silver Bells jingled cheerfully with her movements. Her face was beaming with a pure smile.
"So many Gold Coins! Now we can buy lots of delicious food!"
Leah returned her Long Sword to its sheath, her posture still elegant, but a turbulent undercurrent flowed in her Ice-blue pupils. She looked at Zhao Yun's profile as he wiped the spear tip and suddenly said softly, "You could have killed them all just now."
Zhao Yun looked towards the brightening Morning Star in the east, where Changban Slope should be. A trace of nostalgia flashed in his eyes.
"Killing brings no benefit on the journey home."
He said slowly, his voice carrying a hint of emotion.
"Let them spread our fame instead, so fewer petty villains block our path in the future."
"Let's go, keep moving!"
With that, he led the group forward.
Behind them, only half of the Bloodfang battle flag remained, crackling in the embers of the Bonfire. On the Wasteland, silence returned as usual, with only the sound of the wind still howling.