Chapter 165

The excitement of successfully seizing the treasure was instantly replaced by the killing intent hot on their heels from behind.

The four-person squad from Guangtan Fortress fled desperately along the predetermined complex route, throwing the ruined town's broken walls far behind them at high speed.

However, the pursuers' strength exceeded expectations, especially the orc chieftain and the draconic hybrid, whose astonishing speed, like a bone‑eating maggot, kept closing the distance.

"We can't outrun them like this!" Huang Rong's voice was urgent; she was on the flank of the team, and thanks to the perception granted by Dark Night Stealth, she could clearly sense the approach of those two savage auras from behind.

"Those two chief‑level guys are too fast!" Li Qingxuan's eyes turned icy, and he instantly made a decision.

He abruptly stopped, turned around, and faced the surging pursuers like a reef about to meet a raging tide.

"Ronger, you take them and go first! Follow the planned route and return to the fortress at full speed! I'll cover the rear!" His voice left no room for doubt, brimming with absolute confidence.

"Qingxuan!" Huang Rong exclaimed, her eyes full of worry.

The enemy consisted of two unfathomably powerful chief‑level experts, plus a horde of lackeys!

"Don't worry, if I want to leave, they can't hold me." Li Qingxuan curled the corner of his mouth into a cold arc, his gaze sweeping over Huang Rong, Chen Xiulan, and Li Jing, "Guard the treasure chest, guard yourselves, and retreat to the fortress immediately! This is an order!"

Huang Rong looked at Li Qingxuan's determined eyes, knowing this was no time to hesitate; she gritted her teeth: "You be careful! We're leaving!"

Having said that, she grabbed the exhausted, pallid Li Jing, and together with Chen Xiulan, they summoned their strength again and sprinted wildly into the distance.

Just as their figures disappeared into the darkness ahead, the orc chieftain's massive form came rushing forward, accompanied by a gale!

"Ants! Die!" The door‑sized giant axe, whistling as it tore the air, came down overhead! The force contained in that blow could split a tank in half!

Li Qingxuan did not dodge or evade, battle intent blazing in his eyes! He drew a deep breath, the immense power within his body surged and gathered in his right fist, then erupted explosively, throwing a punch straight at the massive axe blade!

Boom!!

The fist and axe collided, actually producing a tremendous roar like a great bell!

A visible shockwave spread outward from the two as its center, scraping the surrounding ground down three inches!

The savage grin on the orc chieftain's face froze instantly, turning into utter disbelief!

He felt an unstoppable massive force travel up from the axe haft, a sensation not like striking flesh and blood, but like smashing against an ancient mountain that has existed since time immemorial!

His burly arm groaned under the strain, his massive body actually staggered back five or six steps, each step leaving deep footprints in the ground, the tiger's mouth split, and blood flowed down the axe haft!

Li Qingxuan merely swayed slightly, the ground beneath his feet cracking, yet he remained firmly planted in place!

In the head‑on clash of the orc chieftain's full‑force strike, he actually gained the upper hand!

"How is that possible?!" The draconic hybrid who arrived right after saw this scene, his cold vertical pupils contracting sharply, filled with shock.

"Roar!!" The orc chieftain steadied his stance, letting out a roar mixed with shame and rage, unable to accept the fact that a "skinny" human had overpowered him in strength.

His muscles bulged again all over, and beneath his dark‑red skin it seemed as if magma flowed; obviously he had activated some berserk skill, he hoisted the giant axe once more, intent on crushing Li Qingxuan!

At the same time, the draconic hybrid also moved, knowing that a one‑on‑one fight would probably not be enough to take this person down.

He swung his claws, several streaks of dark‑red claw light carrying a scorching aura tore through the air, blocking Li Qingxuan's evasion space, while he opened his mouth to gather power, a even more scorching dragon breath brewing deep in his throat.

Faced with the pincer attack from front and rear, Li Qingxuan's eyes remained calm. He pushed off with his feet, his body sliding sideways like a ghost, narrowly avoiding the orc chieftain's furious second axe; the massive axe cleaved the air and smashed into the ground, leaving a trench several meters long.

At the same time, he loosely gripped with his left hand, and several refined Soul Arrows instantly formed, shooting precisely at the cores of those several claw streaks.

Puff puff puff! The claw streaks and Soul Arrows mutually annihilated in midair.

Meanwhile, the draconic hybrid's dragon breath was ready, a flame pillar several times thicker than before, like a dragon's exhalation, carrying an aura that would destroy everything, sweeping toward Li Qingxuan!

Where the flame pillar passed, the air twisted, the ground scorched black and melted!

Li Qingxuan's pupils contracted slightly; the power of this dragon breath was not to be underestimated.

He held nothing back, fully activating the Weird Master's ability; black mist swirled around him, as if countless eerie whispers echoed nearby.

He did not choose to meet it head‑on; instead he pushed his speed to the limit, his form trailing afterimages, barely skimming the edge of the dragon‑breath flame pillar!

The scorching heat wave curled the hairs on his forehead, yet his actual body remained unscathed.

"Now it's my turn!" Li Qingxuan shouted low, seizing the moment when the draconic hybrid's old force had just spent and new force not yet arisen, his body appearing before him like an instant teleport, and he threw a straight punch at its chest!

The draconic hybrid started in surprise, crossing his claws to block, and scales all over his body flashed with light!

Bang!

A dull impact sound rang out.

The draconic hybrid felt a mountain‑toppling, sea‑overturning force surge forth; his crossed arms emitted a crisp sound of bones dislocating, his whole body seemed struck by a high‑speed train, he spat blood, flew backward, and crashed heavily into a pile of ruins, kicking up clouds of dust.

"Roar!" The orc chieftain bellowed again and charged, sweeping his massive axe horizontally, immense and heavy.

Li Qingxuan, however, no longer chose to clash head‑on; he retreated in an elusive manner while waving both hands, sending streams of Soul Arrows like a sudden gust and rain toward the orc chieftain's eyes, throat, joints, and other vital points, forcing him to raise his axe in defense, roaring repeatedly, yet unable to get any closer to Li Qingxuan.

Li Qingxuan fought while retreating, his speed far surpassing the orc chieftain's, his attacks fierce beyond compare, firmly pinning the opponent in place, making it impossible for him to break free and pursue Huang Rong and the others.

He was like a highly skilled bullfighter, calmly toying with that raging "bull" before him.

Out of the corner of his eye he caught sight of Huang Rong and the two others' silhouettes already vanished on the distant horizon; Li Qingxuan knew it was time to withdraw.

He suddenly closed in on the orc chieftain, delivering a heavy, powerful whip‑kick that struck the hastily raised axe blade, sending the orc stumbling back several steps again.

Then, he paid no heed to the raging orc chieftain and the draconic hybrid who had just clambered from the ruins, fury and shock mingling; he turned, pushed off with his feet, his form shooting like an arrow released from a bow toward the fortress, so fast that a faint afterimage lingered where he stood before slowly fading.

"Damn it! Don't run!" the orc chieftain roared in pursuit, but his speed could not match Li Qingxuan's full‑burst explosion; he could only watch helplessly as that figure grew ever more distant, finally vanishing into the night.

The draconic hybrid clutched his aching chest, watching the direction Li Qingxuan had disappeared, his eyes filled with dread and venomous hatred.

Single‑handedly battling two chief‑level powerhouses, wounding one, restraining the other, and then departing with composure!

Li Qingxuan, with absolute strength, bought precious time for his companions' retreat, and announced his might to these covetous foes!

"We can't keep chasing like this!" the draconic hybrid rasped, his lungs heaving like bellows, "This guy is a monster!"

The orc chieftain, though his anger burned, also knew the other's words were not false.

He fixed his gaze on the figure ahead that had been leading them, and let out a roar full of anger and resentment: "Retreat! We can't catch this loach!"

The pursuers, though unwilling, were also utterly exhausted, and could only watch Li Qingxuan's figure fade away into the distance.

However, among those pursuers, an inconspicuous human man in a gray cloak, as the group prepared to retreat, silently slipped in at the very rear.

He looked toward the direction Li Qingxuan had vanished, and the corner of his mouth curled into a cold, sinister smile.

He carefully took from his worn‑out skin pouch a nearly transparent, hummingbird‑sized Tracking Bee.

The insect's compound eyes flashed a hint of red light, then it silently vibrated its wings and rose, pursuing the direction Li Qingxuan had left at astonishing speed.

This is an extremely rare tracking bee that can lock onto a specific scent and pursue it over long distances, while emitting almost no energy fluctuations, making it very hard to detect.

Li Qingxuan believed he had completely shaken off all pursuers, made a large loop, confirmed safety, and then returned toward Guangtan Fortress.

Eager to return home, he failed to notice a tiny shadow far behind him, trailing beneath the high clouds.

Several hours later, when Li Qingxuan, dusty but unharmed, returned to Guangtan Fortress and met up with Huang Rong and the others, who had already returned safely and were anxiously waiting, everyone breathed a sigh of relief.

The treasure chest was brought back safely; personnel suffered losses but no casualties, making this operation a great success.

However, behind a small earthen slope some distance from Guangtan Fortress, the tracking bee slowly landed on the fingertip of a man in gray clothing.

The man clearly saw the outline and position of that majestic fortress.

He recorded the coordinates, satisfiedly recalled the tracking bee, and his figure slowly merged into the shadows, as if he had never appeared.

One day later, just as Li Qingxuan and the others thought the crisis had temporarily passed and began studying the gains from the Scarlet Chest, a message sent through a special anonymous channel appeared directly on Li Qingxuan's private communication panel.

"Lord Li Qingxuan, the bearing of the number one on the Personal Strength Ranking is impressive. Guangtan Fortress, (XXX, YYY), is indeed a good place."

The message came with a photo of a huge fog mass!

Li Qingxuan's face changed drastically, a chill rising from his spine.

He immediately realized that not only was he being tracked, but the other party had precisely grasped the fortress's coordinates!

It was not orcs, nor draconic descendants, but a more cunning enemy hidden in the shadows!

Soon after, a second message arrived, its tone calm yet carrying an undeniable threat: "I am very interested in the Scarlet Chest, and I have also heard a little about your fortress's resource reserves. How about we make a deal? Hand over the chest, and promise to provide me with thirty percent of your fortress's monthly resource output. In return, I will keep this secret for you, and can even offer some… minor assistance when necessary. Otherwise, I don't mind selling these coordinates to those interested in you, such as… the Lie Claw Clan? I think the Blood Axe Chieftain would certainly offer a good price."

Inside the fortress hall, the atmosphere that had just been slightly relaxed instantly solidified.

Everyone saw those two messages, and all color drained from their faces.

The coordinates were exposed, meaning the fortress was no longer safe, and the enemy lurking in the shadows was more dangerous than orcs wielding swords and spears openly!

Huang Rong's eyes flashed with killing intent, Chen Xiulan gripped her bow tightly, and Li Feifei and the others showed worried expressions.

Li Qingxuan closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and forced himself to stay calm.

Hand over the chest and resources? Submit to some hidden-headed scoundrel? That would be nothing short of drinking poison to quench thirst!

He flung his eyes open, showing no compromise or fear, only icy resolve. He directly replied to the message, still brief and to the point: "If you want war, then war; if you want talks, show sincerity and come in person. Those who hide their heads and show their tails have no right to negotiate terms."

After replying, he raised his head, his gaze sweeping over everyone in the hall, his voice calm and powerful: "We are being watched by a poisonous snake. He may be more dangerous than the orcs."

"But Guangtan Fortress fears no challenge! From now on, raise vigilance, strengthen defenses! We will make those rats hiding in the dark know that this place is not where they can run wild!"

Unknown enemy, exposed coordinates.

Guangtan Fortress stands in the light, the enemy in the dark.

A more complex and dangerous game unfolds silently.

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