"Invisible Body? Just the name sounds extraordinary! Tell us—what kind of skill is it exactly?"
Xie Yue exclaimed, his eyes shining with pride for his sister.
Hu Liena smiled and began to explain:
"When I activate this soul skill, my body temporarily enters a state of intangibility—as if I've vanished entirely. I can even alter my form and blend perfectly with the surroundings within a three-meter radius. Unless the opponent's level exceeds mine by more than ten ranks, or their spiritual power is far superior, this disguise is impossible to detect."
To give Xie Yue and Yan a clearer sense of her new ability, Hu Liena stood up and released her martial soul along with her soul rings.
As her second and fourth soul rings lit up one after another, a gentle pink mist drifted outward—and before their eyes, Hu Liena's figure faded and disappeared.
In the spot where she had been standing now appeared a massive boulder, seemingly out of thin air.
Just as Xie Yue stared in astonishment, Hu Liena reappeared suddenly in front of them, as though she had never moved at all.
Witnessing this, Xie Yue could not hide his amazement.
"Liena, this soul skill of yours is incredible! In real combat or covert operations, it's practically unbeatable. You can evade pursuit, avoid enemy attacks, and strike without warning. It's almost impossible to guard against!"
Hu Liena nodded happily, but added,
"However, this skill does have its limitations. As you both saw, it must be linked with another soul ability—it can only be activated while my Charm skill is in effect. That means it consumes a great deal of both soul power and spiritual energy. With my current strength, I can only use it once a day, and even then it lasts just a few minutes."
Xie Yue sighed in admiration.
"That's a small flaw, but everything has two sides. As your power grows, you'll definitely be able to control this skill more freely in the future."
"I will," she said softly, determination flashing in her eyes.
Then, almost unconsciously, Hu Liena stole another glance at Yan.
Throughout her entire soul-ring absorption and demonstration, Yan had remained silent. He merely gave a small nod of acknowledgment—calm, steady, approving.
For the first time, Hu Liena truly felt it—Yan had changed.
He seemed more mature now: calm, composed, no longer impulsive or brash.
This change made Hu Liena's heart tighten slightly. She wasn't sure why, but she found this new Yan even more compelling.
After eating and resting, the trio prepared to leave the canyon's core region.
Bibi Dong had given them three months for this mission; they had finished everything in just two. Completing it ahead of schedule was no small feat.
They set out on their return journey, weaving through the dense forest.
By then, dusk had fallen. The last rays of the setting sun filtered through the treetops, scattering dappled gold across the path and lending the ancient forest an aura of quiet mystery.
Just as they were chatting idly, a sudden rustling came from ahead.
"Careful—soul beasts," Yan warned, his gaze sharp as an eagle's, fixed on the disturbance in the woods.
Several figures moved in the shadows. The beasts had sensed them as well and were stealthily approaching.
Hu Liena leapt lightly onto a large tree branch to gain a better view.
Her eyes narrowed. "Gale Demon Wolves."
Their eyes gleamed viciously, fangs bared—clearly no ordinary creatures.
"Just a few Gale Demon Wolves," she said eagerly. "Let's kill them."
Yan shook his head.
"Our mission's already complete. There's no need to invite trouble. We should take a detour—avoid unnecessary conflict."
In the past, no matter what Hu Liena decided, Yan would have supported her without question.
But this time, he stood his ground.
Hu Liena smirked, a hint of mischief in her eyes.
"Yan, when did you become so timid? We've all broken through level 40 now and gained our fourth soul skills. This is the perfect chance to test our new strength against a few vicious beasts."
Xie Yue spoke up before Yan could reply.
"Liena, I think Yan's right. Gale Demon Wolves usually move in packs. If we're seeing a few here, the rest of the pack can't be far. Unless they attack first, we shouldn't provoke them. If we run into the whole pack, we'll be in serious trouble."
"Brother, you're just like Yan—hesitant and overcautious! What are you two so afraid of?"
Frustration flashed across her face; she was eager to prove her newfound power as a Soul Sect.
Before either of them could stop her, she darted forward toward the wolves in a blur of motion.
"Liena—!" Xie Yue called out anxiously and rushed after her.
Yan sighed helplessly and followed.
The Gale Demon Wolves sensed the threat and responded with furious howls, launching into a frenzied assault.
These beasts were infamous for their speed and strength; swift, coordinated, and deadly, they ranked among the more troublesome opponents of their level.
Fortunately, the few before them were all under five thousand years in cultivation.
The three quickly formed up, entering combat.
Hu Liena didn't use her mysterious Invisible Body; instead, she combined her Fox Charm and Foxfire Command skills to take down one of the wolves.
Xie Yue unleashed his Moonlit Dance, slicing through another.
Yan summoned his Flame Lord martial soul. Without even relying on his soul rings, he invoked his newly created killing move—Blazing Sand Prison.
With a surge of energy, flames erupted around him; sand and fire merged into a blazing vortex that swallowed one of the wolves whole.
Inside, the wolf struggled desperately as searing heat devoured it. Though it eventually broke free, its body was charred and trembling, barely clinging to life.
The last surviving Gale Demon Wolf, sensing danger, seized the chance to flee into the forest's depths.
For Xie Yue and Hu Liena, it was their first time witnessing Yan's Blazing Sand Prison—and they were stunned.
"Yan," Xie Yue asked, eyes wide, "is this the restraining technique you told me about before?"
Yan nodded.
"Yes. I call it Blazing Sand Prison."
"Amazing," Xie Yue said with genuine admiration. "It perfectly fuses your fire and earth attributes."
He offered his praise freely, though deep inside he also felt a flicker of pressure.
A serious, determined Yan was turning into a formidable rival indeed.
"Blazing Sand Prison..." Hu Liena murmured softly, her expression complex.
She hadn't expected that in just two short months, Yan would grow this powerful—and that new, commanding aura he carried...
The boy she once thought of as childish had already become a true warrior.
Night was falling.
Scanning their surroundings, Yan felt a sudden unease.
"We should move quickly," he said in a low voice. "There's a high chance a full wolf pack is nearby."
"Agreed," Xie Yue responded.
Just as they were about to leave, Yan felt a powerful tr
emor beneath his feet—an intense surge of energy from below.
Xie Yue and Hu Liena exchanged grave looks.
Something was very, very wrong.
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