It was the transition between late autumn and early winter, and the cold wind of the deep night howled like blades of ice. An elite cavalry unit was galloping at breakneck speed.
"Giddyup, giddyup!"
Albert, clad in simple armor, rode at the forefront, charging along the desolate highway outside the city. Dozens of cavalrymen followed close behind. Riding alongside Albert was a middle-aged man — the only ninth-level powerhouse under his command.
Lan Dan and her five companions wore the standard armor of ordinary knights, helmets pulled low over their faces. To all outward appearances, there was nothing to distinguish the six of them from the rest of the riders.
"Remember," Lan Dan whispered to the five beside her. "When we catch up to Lin Lei and Albert gives the order to attack, follow the others and surround him. While Lin Lei isn't paying attention, set up the Angel Battle Formation. Whatever you do, don't rush to attack first — wait for my signal."
"Yes, ma'am."
The other five all nodded.
A faint smile touched Lan Dan's lips. "Hyah!"
The thunder of hooves never ceased, leaving a trail of dust along the highway. In the blink of an eye, they had covered the distance… Lin Lei had deliberately slowed his pace to wait for this group, and it wasn't long before Albert and his men caught sight of his silhouette.
"Right up ahead!" Albert cried in delight, bellowing, "Faster, faster!"
The knights shouted and spurred their mounts to greater speeds. Amid the thunderous pounding of hooves, the group quickly overtook Lin Lei.
"Remember — hold tight to Heilu's neck. Heilu will take you to my place first." Lin Lei murmured to Jenner.
Jenner looked at Lin Lei with worry. "Brother Lei, what about you?"
"Don't worry. It's just a few annoying flies to deal with." Lin Lei glanced at the black-striped cloud leopard, Heilu, and sent a soul transmission: "Heilu, go. Remember — protect Jenner."
"Roar~~"
Heilu let out a proud roar, then gradually built up speed until it became a black afterimage, vanishing into the far distance at a speed Albert and his men could never hope to match.
"Rumble~~~" The knights had completely cut off Lin Lei's path. As for the cloud leopard's departure — they hadn't blocked it, and couldn't have even if they'd tried. As for Lan Dan's group, who could have stopped it? They were only too happy to see the black leopard go.
After all, their target was Lin Lei!
"Jenner!" Albert cried upon seeing this, unable to suppress his rage.
He immediately turned a furious glare on Lin Lei and sneered, "You brat — you let your magical beast take Jenner away? Hmph, let me tell you, Jenner belongs to me. As for you… I'll send you straight to the Underworld. Haha… Attack! All of you!" Albert jabbed an angry finger at Lin Lei.
The hooves suddenly quickened as dozens of knights closed in and surrounded Lin Lei.
Lin Lei, standing in the middle of the road, didn't seem the least bit concerned. Bei Bei perched proudly on his shoulder, its pair of bright little black eyes surveying the knights with disdain.
"You think you can touch my cousin Jenner? You'd better know your place!" Albert declared arrogantly, already believing everything was under his control.
Lin Lei merely cast an indifferent glance at the knights around him.
"I was planning to deal with the Church of Light's people. I didn't expect to draw out this bunch of useless nothings." Lin Lei shook his head calmly, but just then —
"Boss." Bei Bei suddenly fixed its gaze on one of them. "That light blue one is in there."
"Light blue?" Lin Lei felt as though a bucket of cold water had been dumped over him, and a shiver ran through him. "One of the Church of Light's people is in there?" He immediately grew more cautious.
"I can smell her scent," Bei Bei said confidently. "Does she really think wearing a helmet, mask, and armor means I, Bei Bei, won't be able to find her?"
At that moment, Lin Lei had no weapon in hand.
No need to rush for one.
Pulling one out at the most critical moment from his spatial ring and using it immediately could catch the enemy off guard. Lin Lei ignored Albert's blustering and carefully observed the knights around him.
"Get him! Kill him!"
Albert gave the order with a flourish.
But a colder, more ruthless voice rang out: "Kill!" Six dazzling beams of white light linked together almost instantly — nearly identical to the last time Lin Lei had been ambushed by six Special-class Deacons.
That combined offensive formation was, in fact, the Angel Battle Formation.
However, when it came to sheer power, it was far more devastating when wielded by an actual angel.
"Ssssss—" As those six beams of white light linked together, any knight caught in their path was pierced straight through. Three knights died on the spot; eight more were gravely wounded.
"Aagh!"
A knight's chest had been bored clean through, leaving a gaping hole. He toppled from his horse, let out two pained cries, and then went quiet.
"Haha — nearly nine years have passed, and the Church of Light's methods still haven't changed." Lin Lei laughed out loud.
"What's going on?!" Albert was alarmed.
The middle-aged man beside Albert was more knowledgeable. His expression changed, and he immediately shouted, "We have to go — now! Those six aren't Hedersen's disciples — they're from the Church of Light, all ninth-level powerhouses! Go, or we won't make it out alive!!!"
Albert might not have been much, but when it came to fleeing, his reflexes were sharp.
"Giddyup, giddyup!" Albert abandoned any thought of killing Lin Lei and spurred his horse after the middle-aged man, fleeing as fast as he could.
Some of the knights had been inside the Angel Battle Formation's range. Panicking, they tried to flee, but the moment they touched the white light, their bodies were seared as if by flames of extreme heat — burned to ash on the spot.
"Hmm? Much more powerful than those six Special-class Deacons." Lin Lei let out an appreciative comment.
"Run!"
Those knights who could flee scattered at full speed. Those who couldn't were cut down by Lan Dan's six without mercy. In the blink of an eye, only Lin Lei, Bei Bei, and Lan Dan's group of six remained alive in the desolate wilderness.
"Crack!"
The armor on Lan Dan and her five companions shattered and fell away, and all six reverted to their true appearances — one woman and five men. They all regarded Lin Lei with supreme confidence.
"Lin Lei — keeping your composure in the face of chaos?" Lan Dan regarded Lin Lei with a cold smile.