17: Mutation, Soul Fusion

Swish!

Immediately after Su Ye landed on the big tree.

The Blood煞 Doom Markings swarmed around him like a maggot attached to bone. It used its four legs to exert force and began climbing up the big tree.

Su Ye immediately moved to another thinner tree and put Zhu Zhuqing down.

"Find an opportunity to leave!"

Giving her a stern look, Su Ye flew into the air, drew his bow, nocked an arrow, and shot towards the Blood煞 Doom Markings.

Whoosh—!

The long arrow broke through the air, emitting a tremor.

Having just landed on the ground, the Blood煞 Doom Markings couldn't easily dodge. The sharp metal arrowhead directly sank into its thigh.

Roar—

The injured Blood煞 Doom Markings became even more savage. It roared with bared fangs, and incredibly, it grabbed the arrow.

With a tearing sound, large chunks of flesh were brutally ripped off along with the arrow.

The flowing fresh blood turned into a bloody mist that lingered, as if forming a blood energy Domain around its body.

"..."

Such brutal behavior made Su Ye's soul tremble. It was the first time he had seen a Soul Beast that wasn't afraid of pain and maliciously used its injuries to enhance its strength.

Good, good, good—!

Today, I'd like to see just how much blood this body of yours can shed!

Su Ye drew his bow to full again, aiming directly at the Blood煞 Doom Markings's other eye.

Whoosh—!

This arrow didn't miss, but it only grazed a bit of the Blood煞 Doom Markings's skin and flesh.

That bloody mist was not simple; it not only had strong resistance but could also deflect attacks.

"Beast! Come on!"

Su Ye shot another arrow to provoke, drawing the Blood煞 Doom Markings's hatred, and then flew towards the distance.

The Blood煞 Doom Markings's ferocious eyes revealed a hint of intelligence. It had originally been hesitating which prey to toy with and torture.

But after being provoked by Su Ye repeatedly, its ferocity completely overwhelmed its reason. It roared, and chased after Su Ye recklessly.

Su Ye did not fly away at extreme speed, but instead moved around on the big trees, making full use of the terrain's advantage...

As long as the Blood煞 Doom Markings climbed a tree, its speed would plummet, and he would immediately fly to another tree.

On one hand, his meridians had not yet recovered, and the circulation of his Soul Power was not smooth, so it was impossible for him to use a Soul Skill again. He had to conserve Soul Power as much as possible.

Secondly, Su Ye also wanted to use this to wear down the Blood煞 Doom Markings's physical strength. Even if it chose to destroy the big trees, it would consume physical strength, making it easier for him to escape.

Just like this...

One person and one beast began a tug-of-war in the forest, seeing who would collapse first.

Hearing the commotion getting further and further away, Zhu Zhuqing finally jumped down from the tree. Her slender, beautiful legs bent slightly to absorb the force, landing steadily.

She cast a deep gaze towards the distance. After walking a few steps back, a feeling of worry flooded her heart like seawater...

Leave?

Would she really leave him behind?

Her high heels seemed to have rooted to the ground, unable to move.

Standing frozen in place, Zhu Zhuqing's heart was complex and worried. Her beautiful, clear, and decisive eyes were now so lost and helpless.

In a daze, she seemed to recall the scene of the young man holding her and flying away from Zhu Zhuyun.

Those unwavering starry eyes, sharp yet warm, were so charismatic and unforgettable.

One time... he saved him.

One time... he detoxified her and took care of her inside and out.

Thinking of Su Ye's comical Sausage mouth, Zhu Zhuqing let out a chuckle. Her cold face seemed like melting ice and snow in winter, revealing a hint of warm sunshine.

"That guy is rude, and a bit lecherous, but at least his heart isn't bad."

"And this time, he still didn't abandon me."

Thinking of this, Zhu Zhuqing clenched her small fists.

That's right.

This time, if he had abandoned her to attract the Blood煞 Doom Markings's hatred, he could have definitely escaped safely.

But in the end, he still chose to bear all the danger alone.

That coward Dai Mubai, who shrinks back when things happen, can't even compare to one of his fingers.

"Now, only he hasn't given up on me..."

With a half-sweet, half-bitter smile on her face, Zhu Zhuqing suddenly let out a long breath. Her eyes became exceptionally clear and bright, as if she had made a decision.

Swish—

Without hesitation, Zhu Zhuqing turned and sprinted towards the direction where the person and the beast had gone.

Her slender and graceful figure weaved through the forest, like a goddess of the night, determined and beautiful.

He had already saved her three times. No matter what, she couldn't let anything happen to him!

Even if she had to die, she would die first!

Anyway, if she failed to compete for the throne, she couldn't escape death. It would be better to trade her life for his.

She... wouldn't lose out!!

Here, Su Ye was still toying with the Blood煞 Doom Markings.

"Come on~ Little Leopard~"

"Hey, you can't hit me, you just can't hit me, aren't you angry~"

"Oh, you're getting anxious, already? Come on, come on, this tree is thick, if you have the guts, keep hitting it!"

"..."

Knowing that the Blood煞 Doom Markings didn't understand human language, Su Ye didn't expect it to. He just needed to satisfy his urge to talk.

The immense palm force caused the green leaves on the tree to rustle and fall.

Bang, one claw, the tree trunk collapsed.

As Su Ye flew away, a large pile of green leaves in his hand was shaken off with him, covering the Blood煞 Doom Markings. He had picked these from the tree.

Yes, the leaf attack was useless.

Su Ye didn't expect the attack to be useful either.

With a flick of his strong finger, a metal long arrow was placed in front of the bowstring.

Charging power, the bowstring vibrated.

The falling green leaves blocked the view between the person and the beast. Knowing that the ball of bloody energy would deflect the arrow, Su Ye shot this last arrow based on feeling.

Target: the eye!

As long as the Blood煞 Doom Markings's eye was blinded, he could completely escape.

Pfft, a sharp object pierced flesh, and the Blood煞 Doom Markings's roar followed.

Hit??

Su Ye's Spirit was lifted, but when the green leaves fell, he found that the arrow only hit the Blood煞 Doom Markings's back, and only penetrated two centimeters.

(ーー゛)..

"...Alright, let's keep wearing each other down."

His arrows were exhausted, so Su Ye had no choice but to continue jumping and changing positions between the big trees.

The completely enraged Blood煞 Doom Markings no longer climbed trees. It became extremely wild and brutal, shooting dark red energy light balls from its mouth.

It looked dangerous, but it wasn't safe at all. Su Ye dodged with ease.

Boom!

Rumble!

The forest seemed to have been bombed, with explosions and rumbling sounds rising and falling.

Listening to the sounds of the explosions, Su Ye, while dodging, was actually a little happy. He had very little Soul Power left, but he still had the Nine Rank Qingling Grass.

When the Blood煞 Doom Markings's Soul Power was exhausted, it would be very easy for him to leave.

But Su Ye never expected that someone would suddenly turn back.

The moment his gaze fell upon Zhu Zhuqing, Su Ye nearly fainted from anger, his heart turning utterly cold.

It really proved the saying, 'Don't fear a god-like opponent, only a pig-like teammate.'

Su Ye was so angry that he immediately cursed, "Are you out of your damn mind?!"

"I told you to leave quickly, what are you doing running back here?!"

Her face was as firm as iron, Zhu Zhuqing remained indifferent, only her voice was a little more urgent.

"You go, I'll hold it off, consider it returning your life!"

Su Ye was speechless and turned his head away, his features squeezed together. People are truly speechless when they are speechless.

Swish!

Both of Zhu Zhuqing's Soul Rings under her feet pulsed simultaneously. The Netherworld Spirit Cat's speed was pushed to the extreme as she launched an attack on the Blood煞 Doom Markings.

However, her tickle-like attack was completely useless against the Blood煞 Doom Markings's blood energy defense shield.

In just the blink of an eye, before Su Ye could react, Zhu Zhuqing was slapped away by the leopard's paw, spitting blood and severely injured.

"I told you to go!!"

Looking at the young man who suddenly blocked her path, Zhu Zhuqing, lying on the ground, glared and gritted her teeth, as if angry at him for not striving. Anyway, no one cared about her life or death.

"..."

Su Ye's face was exceptionally calm, without sarcasm or anger, only a deeply helpless shallow smile remained.

"Little Cat, you win~"

As his voice fell, as if some shackles had been suddenly opened, the thousand-year Soul Ring under Su Ye's feet disappeared.

Boom!

Overbearing and powerful energy roared within the Martial Soul Golden Flame Eagle's body.

The air twisted and boiled, and large patches of flames spread and expanded.

The young man's figure bathed in the flames, like an apostle of the fire god arriving in the human world, with raging flames surrounding him.

At this moment, the naturally ferocious Blood煞 Doom Markings couldn't help but retreat.