It was near evening as the conversation continued among the few.
The horse carriage was now passing through a dense grove.
Suddenly, dozens of fierce leopards sprang from the woods, each resembling a small calf in size and looking very powerful.
The sight of these leopards caused the faces of Dongfang Yong, Feng Luochen, and Hong Xuan to change abruptly.
Although they were on an official road, they did not anticipate an animal ambush.
The coachmen from the merchant caravan were terrified, their complexions pale as they hastily pulled on the reins, both men and horses trembling violently.
How could there be leopards on the ground of Great Chu, let alone so many wild ones.
Dongfang Yong, the oldest and most experienced mercenary among them, saw the leopards and his expression darkened.
In just a few breaths, the leopards surrounded them, blocking all escape routes. These were no ordinary leopards, but trained beasts, likely tamed by someone.
Feng Luochen noticed a small clay whistle hanging on each leopard's ankle.
Obviously, these were captive-bred leopards.
"We are surrounded. Could someone be planning to rob the caravan?"
Hong Xuan said anxiously.
"The Phoenix Chamber of Commerce is not a big company, and this is the first time we are officially transporting goods. There's no reason why we would be targeted."
Dongfang Yong had just finished speaking when the leopards launched their attack.
Dongfang Yong and Feng Luochen exchanged glances, and almost simultaneously, Gang Qi surged vigorously within them, their brows illuminating as they struck.
Sensing their Gang Qi, the dozens of leopards did not retreat.
When they realized they couldn't overwhelm Feng Luochen and others alone, they simply launched new attacks in groups of three or four.
"How dare these beasts!"
Hong Xuan, the weakest among them, was surrounded by two or three leopards, her clothing torn in several places. Annoyed, she took out a packet of poison, but Dongfang Yong stopped her.
"These leopards are clearly kept by someone. If you harm them, once their master finds out, he may well retaliate against us."
Although they did not yet know the identity of their adversary, anyone capable of raising such a strong group of leopards must be a formidable person.
Dongfang Yong had been in the mercenary world for a long time and knew the consequences of offending such powerful figures.
"Our mission is only to transport goods and ensure their safety. We must leave immediately."
Dongfang Yong had just finished speaking when two or three leopards leaped onto the horse carriage, the coachman's throat bitten through.
Upon seeing this, Feng Luochen was enraged.
"Regardless of who the influential figure is, if they dare to harm our Phoenix Chamber of Commerce's people, I will not let them off easily!"
He leaped into the air, descending from above onto the horse carriage, and swept out with an iron fist, causing one leopard's head to burst open, brains sprawling out.
When the clay whistle came into contact with blood, it immediately emitted a sharp squeal.
The moment the whistle sounded, about ten miles away from the grove, a few people emerged from several tents.
It was a young man in fine clothing, wearing a Jade Crown, handsome in appearance but with a malevolent look in his eyes.
"Qi Shu, your Leopard Servants have been out hunting for food for quite a while now, why haven't they returned?"
Outside the tent, several good-looking young men and women, led by a middle-aged man, chatted and laughed. One of them spoke.
"I thought I heard a whistle. Qi Shu, don't tell me there's been trouble with your Leopard Servants."
The Jade Crowned young man named Qi Shu raised his eyebrows, unconcerned.
"This is Great Chu; aside from that Dugu Wu, no one can rival my Leopard Servants. Besides, even my enhanced Leopard Servants would win against the Beiqi Greedy Wolf Army, known for their Beast Army, let alone a mere merchant caravan."
The group was not from Chu. They had come to Great Chu to participate in the Competition Among Ten Countries.
This Qi Shu was a Beast Master among them, capable of controlling Beast Servants.
After arriving in Great Chu, they relied on hunting with their Beast Servants for supplies, never taking Great Chu seriously.
"If we wait any longer, it will get dark. Let's find Chu City sooner; I don't want to spend another night exposed to the elements."
One of the women said, beautiful and dignified, the most prestigious among them. Qi Shu, who was pursuing her, hurriedly said.
"Don't worry, my Leopard Servant has found a merchant team's caravan with plenty of good things on it. Just give me a quarter of an hour."
With that, he sat down cross-legged. Googlᴇ search novel⦿fire.net
As he took his seat, a "fire" character lit up on his brow.
So, this Qi Shu was also a Wuji Master.
Ten miles away, Feng Luochen and others were about to leave with the caravan.
At that moment, the patterns on the leopards' bodies suddenly changed, and their eyes emitted a chilling light.
"What's happening? The patterns on these leopards changed, and there's Gang Qi inside them."
Feng Luochen became cautious.
"It seems like they understand Arrays."
After the change in their patterns, the leopards divided into three forces, attacking separately.
"Hong Xuan, you go first."
Feng Luochen and Dongfang Yong realized that the leopards had become much more formidable, and even they couldn't easily prevail.
Hong Xuan, not a Wuji Master, was no match for the leopards.
As she took out the poison, before she could use it, several leopards pounced, her beautiful face paling, the bottle falling to the ground.
Swoosh, a snow-white figure descended.
The White Wolf, massive as a small hill, tore open the leopard's throat with its sharp claws and teeth.
Dugu Xiaojin finally burst into action as he saw Hong Xuan being overwhelmed.
As his claws slashed through the throat of one leopard, Dugu Xiaojin tasted blood.
He was shocked to his core.
Almost simultaneously, something burrowed into his mind.
"Fire-level Martial Skills..."