"Could it be that Qingyi Duxing has been possessed by a monster?"
"What do we do now?"
"Let's just fall back and keep our distance!"
Everyone watched Qingyi Duxing, bewilderment plain in her eyes, and one by one they couldn't help but retreat, putting considerable distance between themselves. After all, Qingyi Duxing's strength was no joke—she was a hidden Class like the Guardian Knight, and if she got close enough to launch a sneak attack, the consequences would absolutely be the same as with the female Summoner before.
When the people in the back pulled away, Qingyi Duxing slowed as well, regarding them with some confusion.
"What is wrong with you all?"
As Qingyi Duxing asked, the long sword in her hand burst forth with dazzling radiance, causing the surrounding space to faintly distort.
"No! Watch out! That's her Tier 3 inheritance skill—if it hits us, we're dead for sure!"
A Tier 3 expert familiar with Qingyi Duxing couldn't help but shout a warning to the experts from Zhanhun Buluo, then immediately dove into the forest.
Instantly, several top experts from the Crimson Emperor guild also ducked into the forest one after another, leaving the experts of Zhanhun Buluo hesitating—unsure whether to take cover or stand and fight.
On Qingyi Duxing's side, she watched the fleeing Crimson Emperor members with equal bewilderment.
"Mingxiao, what's wrong with all of them? Why are they all staring at me like that?" Qingyi Duxing turned her head to ask the female Summoner beside her—who should have been dead long ago.
"I don't know either." The female Summoner named Mingxiao shook her head with a puzzled look, then said, "Why don't we go take a look? It wouldn't be good if they stray too far from the group."
"Fair point." Qingyi Duxing nodded in agreement.
Ahead of Qingyi Duxing, Huanyu noticed that Qingyi Duxing was about to leave the group on her own and deliberately slowed her pace.
"Qingyi, what exactly are you doing?" Huanyu couldn't help but call out to Qingyi Duxing, bombarding her with confused questions. "And who were you talking to just now?"
"Me?" Qingyi Duxing turned to look at Huanyu, her eyes filled with doubt. "Wasn't I just talking to Mingxiao?"
"Mingxiao?" Huanyu stared at Qingyi Duxing with a strange look. "Isn't Mingxiao up ahead?"
"Up ahead?" Qingyi Duxing turned to look again. The female Summoner Mingxiao, who had been chatting and laughing with her just moments ago, was nowhere to be seen. "Where'd she go?"
"Wait, why have so many of our people gone missing?" Huanyu suddenly asked Qingyi Duxing with a puzzled expression.
"They? I have no idea what happened either. They suddenly pulled back toward the forest." Qingyi Duxing shook her head, just as confused by the situation.
"No! We've been played!" Huanyu's face darkened as she looked at the rear teams that had completely vanished. "That Black Flame never intended to lead us into the Destruction Mountains at all — he was planning to use the mountains' power to wipe out our entire elite squad!"
"This...?" Qingyi Duxing was stunned silent for a moment.
"We've already taken devastating losses. If we keep following him, he'll lead us straight to our deaths. The only option is to take him out while we can!" Huanyu couldn't help but glance toward Shi Feng, who was leading the group far ahead, and lowered her voice. "I'll assist you in a moment. With your strength, even if you can't finish him off in one strike, you should be able to deal a serious blow. Then I'll deliver the killing blow!"
"Damn that Black Flame! I knew he was no good!" Qingyi Duxing nodded in agreement.
With that, Qingyi Duxing quickened her pace and charged straight toward Shi Feng.
In the span of a heartbeat, covering less than a hundred yards, Qingyi Duxing appeared behind Shi Feng without warning. The longsword in her hand erupted in a blinding radiance and slashed down at the completely unprepared Shi Feng without hesitation.
In an instant, wherever the blade passed, countless pitch-black tears in space split open, stretching over a hundred yards outward like a colossal net descending from the heavens — leaving absolutely no way to evade.
"Qingyi, what are you doing?!" Bumie Zhanxin cried out in shock as he watched Qingyi Duxing launch a sudden sneak attack from the side.
However, Qingyi Duxing paid no heed to anything and still slashed down with that all-powerful sword.
But after this single slash landed, Qingyi Duxing was completely stunned.
"Where is he?"
Qingyi Duxing stared at the mountain path ahead, utterly devoid of any figure, her heart filled with astonishment.
By the time Qingyi Duxing recovered her senses, Shi Feng was already standing right beside her, quietly observing her.
At that moment, Bumie Zhanxin acted instantly, seizing Qingyi Duxing's wrist so tightly that she couldn't break free.
"Qingyi, what on earth are you doing?! How dare you attack Guild Master Shi Feng, have you lost your mind?!" Bumie Zhanxin questioned her repeatedly.
"Let go of me, he's the one trying to harm us!" Qingyi Duxing turned her head to look at Shi Feng beside her. "He wants to wipe out our entire elite team by destroying the mountain range! If you don't believe me, look behind us—there's hardly anyone left!"
"Hardly anyone left?" Bumie Zhanxin was also greatly alarmed and couldn't help but turn to look behind them.
She saw that the number of people remaining behind was less than two or three out of ten, and her face instantly turned ashen.
"Guild Leader Black Flame, don't tell me you really are…" Bumie Zhanxin also turned to look at Shi Feng, demanding an answer, "trying to wipe us all out?"
But before Bumie Zhanxin could finish speaking, the Abyssal in Shi Feng's hand was already unsheathed.