26: First encounter with robbery and soul shock

The caravan left Wutan City and proceeded eastward along the wide official road. The team, consisting of dozens of carriages, was mighty and vast, with rolling wheels kicking up clouds of dust. The guards rode tall horses, vigilantly patrolling the surroundings, creating a tense atmosphere.

Xiao Chen sat in the carriage, closing his eyes to rest, but his Soul Perception spread out like mercury, covering a radius of fifty meters. This was a new ability he gained after breaking through to the Spirit Movement Late-stage, allowing him to detect most potential dangers in advance.

On both sides of the official road were rolling hills and dense forests, with occasional villages and fields visible. The further they moved from Wutan City, the sparser the population became, and the air was filled with a wild, untamed scent.

The first day passed without incident. The caravan rested overnight at a post station.

The second day was still calm. However, in Xiao Chen's Soul Perception, he faintly detected several malicious auras, following the caravan from a distance like maggots clinging to bone.

“As expected, we’ve been targeted,” Xiao Chen sneered inwardly, but he didn’t make a sound. He wanted to see what these people intended to do.

On the third day, the caravan entered a rugged mountain range known as “Black Wind Ridge.” Here, the mountains were high, the forests dense, and the roads treacherous, making it a frequent haunt for bandits. The guards were noticeably more nervous, and Captain Mu Li personally led the way, his eyes sharp as an eagle’s.

Around noon, the caravan reached a canyon. Steep cliffs rose on both sides, with only a narrow path in the middle, making the terrain extremely perilous.

“Everyone, be on guard!” Captain Mu Li commanded. The guards drew their weapons, Dou Qi surged, and they formed a protective circle around the carriages.

Xiao Chen also opened his eyes, pushing his Soul Perception to its limit. He sensed dozens of auras hidden in the dense forests on both sides of the canyon, several of which had reached the Fighting Master level! Moreover, the chilling aura that had been following them also appeared at the front of the canyon!

“An ambush!” Xiao Chen’s heart tightened. This setup was definitely not the work of ordinary mountain bandits!

Sure enough, just as the caravan fully entered the canyon!

“Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!”

Countless arrows rained down from the cliffs on both sides like a swarm of locusts, accompanied by piercing whistling sounds, covering the entire caravan!

“Enemy attack! Shields up!” Captain Mu Li roared, a strong earthy-yellow Dou Qi erupting from his body, forming a huge Dou Qi shield that blocked most of the arrows. Other guards also brandished their weapons to parry, but several guards and coachmen were still struck by arrows and fell to the ground, screaming.

“Form up! Protect the goods!” Mu Li remained calm in the face of danger, directing the guards to tighten their defensive line.

After the arrow rain, shouts of battle shook the dense forests on both sides. Dozens of masked men in black rushed out like ghosts, holding sharp blades, and menacingly charged towards the caravan! The three leaders had powerful auras, all of them Fighting Masters! One of them was precisely the chilling aura Xiao Chen had sensed!

“Kill! Leave no one alive!” The chilling Fighting Master’s voice was hoarse, with a cruel smile, his target directly at the center of the caravan!

“Protect Young Master Xiao Chen!” Mu Li’s expression changed, realizing that the opponent’s target seemed to be the mysterious young man. He immediately rushed towards Xiao Chen’s carriage with several elite guards.

The battle erupted instantly! The sounds of clashing Dou Qi, weapons striking, and screams filled the air! Although the caravan guards were well-trained, they were at a disadvantage in terms of numbers and high-level combat power, and quickly fell into a defensive position.

A black-clad man of Fighting Master level broke through the defense line, grinning ferociously as he charged towards Xiao Chen’s carriage, his long saber carrying fierce Dou Qi, striking down with great force!

“Young Master, be careful!” The coachman’s face turned pale with fright.

Inside the carriage, Xiao Chen’s eyes were cold. He had already locked onto this Fighting Master with his Soul Perception. The opponent’s strength was roughly that of a One-star Fighting Master, and his Dou Qi attribute leaned towards cold and sinister.

A head-on clash? No chance of winning!

However, he was not without a way to fight back!

Just as the long saber was about to smash the carriage, a cold light flashed in Xiao Chen’s eyes. The vast Soul Power in his Sea of Consciousness instantly condensed, forming an invisible sharp cone, which fiercely pierced towards the Fighting Master’s glabella!

Soul Impact! A basic Soul application technique recorded in the Spirit Nurturing Art!

“Ugh ah!”

The Fighting Master’s charging figure suddenly stiffened, his face showing extreme pain and disbelief, as if he had been brutally struck in the head by an invisible heavy hammer! His surrounding Dou Qi instantly became chaotic, and the long saber he was bringing down also lost its force, slashing crookedly at the edge of the carriage, leaving a deep saber mark.

Soul Impact directly attacks consciousness! For a Fighter who had not specifically cultivated Soul defense, it was impossible to guard against!

Although Xiao Chen’s Soul Power at the Spirit Movement Late-stage was not enough to severely injure a Fighting Master, this sudden mental blow was enough to make the opponent instantly lose his composure, revealing a huge vulnerability!

“Now!”

Xiao Chen was waiting for this opportunity! He violently kicked open the carriage door, his body sliding out like a fish. His Iron Bone Fist, which had been accumulating power, was unleashed with full force, directly targeting the opponent’s chest, which was slightly exposed due to his pain!

“Bang!”

A muffled sound rang out! Xiao Chen’s fist landed squarely on the Fighting Master’s chest! Although there was no Dou Qi enhancement, the power of the perfected Iron Bone Fist, combined with his precise control over his muscles due to his Spirit Movement Late-stage Soul Power, unleashed a considerable amount of force!

“Pfft!”

The Fighting Master was caught off guard, his chest in excruciating pain. He spat out a mouthful of fresh blood and flew backward, falling heavily to the ground, unable to get up for a moment!

The whole scene fell silent!

Everyone was stunned by this sudden turn of events! A young man with no Dou Qi fluctuations actually repelled a Fighting Master with one punch?! How was this possible?!

Even Mu Li and the other black-clad Fighting Masters, who were in fierce combat, couldn’t help but stop their hands, looking over with disbelief.

“Soul Power?! You are an Alchemist?!” The chilling Fighting Master stared fixedly at Xiao Chen, his voice full of shock and uncertainty. To be able to interfere with a Fighting Master with mental power was something no ordinary person could do! Only Alchemists or special professionals with powerful Soul Power could possibly achieve it!

Xiao Chen didn’t answer, merely looking at him coldly, secretly adjusting his breathing. That last strike had consumed nearly thirty percent of his Soul Power, and he needed to recover quickly. He quietly held a qi recovery powder and a power storing pill in his hand, in case of need.

Mu Li seized the opportunity and rushed over with the guards, protecting Xiao Chen in the center, his gaze filled with shock and gratitude: “Young Master Xiao Chen, are you alright?”

“I’m fine.” Xiao Chen shook his head, his gaze sweeping across the battlefield. Many caravan guards had died or were injured, and the situation was still not optimistic.

The chilling Fighting Master’s eyes flickered, seemingly weighing the pros and cons. Killing an Alchemist apprentice who was suspected to have a background was too risky. Moreover, the strange ability displayed by the target also made him wary.

“Retreat!” Finally, he gritted his teeth and gave the order. If they continued to entangle, even if they could kill all the caravan members, they would inevitably suffer heavy losses, making it not worth the effort.

The black-clad men retreated like a tide, quickly disappearing into the dense forest, leaving behind only chaos and groaning injured people.

Having survived the ordeal, the caravan members were still shaken. Mu Li directed the survivors to treat the injured and tally the losses, his face grim. In this attack, nearly ten guards had died, many were severely injured, and some goods were also lost.

He walked up to Xiao Chen and bowed solemnly: “Mu Li thanks Young Master for your assistance! If not for Young Master frightening away that Fighting Master, the consequences would have been unimaginable!”

He had now completely shed his contempt for Xiao Chen. This seemingly ordinary young man actually possessed such strange and powerful abilities! No wonder Miss Ya Fei valued him so much!

Xiao Chen waved his hand: “Captain Mu Li, you’re too polite. I was just saving myself. Do you know the origin of these people?”

Mu Li shook his head with a somber expression: “They are all unfamiliar faces, ruthless in their methods, not like ordinary mountain bandits. It’s more like… they came specifically for us.” He glanced at Xiao Chen, implying something.

Xiao Chen understood. These black-clad men were most likely sent by the Nalan family or the Yunlan Sect! Their purpose was to intercept and kill him, or at least give him a warning!

“It seems the road ahead will not be peaceful.” Xiao Chen looked eastward, his eyes deep. After this practical combat, he had a new understanding of the application of his Soul Power and a clearer assessment of future dangers.

He must improve his strength faster! Spirit Movement Late-stage is far from enough!

After a brief rest, the caravan set off again. Only this time, the atmosphere was even more solemn, and everyone’s face carried vigilance and unease.

Xiao Chen returned to the carriage, swallowed a qi recovery powder (though it was useless to him, he did it for show), and began to circulate the Spirit Nurturing Art to restore his Soul Power. In his heart, the desire to become stronger had never been so intense!

Black Flame City, and the even more distant Black-Corner Region, here I come!