Chapter 24

The battlefield was in chaos, but the hearing of a Heart Cloud Awakened individual was at least three times that of an ordinary person. The third leader's cry of alarm was still heard by the other two leaders of the Mang Mountain Bandits, as well as Hong Zhongwei and Liang Xiong.

They all took a moment to glance over during the intense battle, their gazes directly focusing on Bu Ye's navel area. The order of Heart Cloud Blood Star awakenings was roughly the same for most people. If it was the eighth star, it would generally be the one in the liver area.

Thus, they all witnessed with their own eyes that Bu Ye had suddenly gained an additional star!

In recent days, among the six Heart Cloud experts on both sides, the one whose strength had fluctuated the most was actually Hong Zhongwei. He had been injured from the start, and his condition had worsened over time. Now, Bu Ye, on the Dongmang Village side, had suddenly gained an additional star, which undoubtedly boosted the morale of the Dongmang Village side and dealt a blow to the Mang Mountain Bandits!

The balance of power could not be significantly altered by this, but at least the disadvantage of Dongmang Village was somewhat mitigated.

The battle continued, and both the first and second leaders of the Mang Mountain Bandits intensified their attacks. They wanted complete suppression and would not allow the slightest resistance from the Dongmang Village side!

In contrast, Hong Zhongwei and Liang Xiong did not fight as fiercely. They were well aware that Bu Ye had only awakened his Heart Cloud Blood Star three days and two nights ago! To activate another Blood Star in just three days and two nights, this speed and talent were astonishing! If they could hold out for a few more days, Bu Ye might grow into a nine-star Heart Cloud expert, surpassing Liang Xiong by one star!

If they could hold out for a few more days, the situation would become increasingly favorable for Dongmang Village!

The battle continued, but an unexpected change occurred!

Hong Zhongwei was actively retreating, but what he didn't expect was that this retreat would make it impossible to stabilize the situation, and it was on the verge of collapse!

He clearly underestimated the impact of his injuries, while the first leader of the Mang Mountain Bandits seized this opportunity!

If Hong Zhongwei were killed, Dongmang Village would surely collapse, and the Mang Mountain Bandits would have free rein!

The first leader's heavy black iron wolf-tooth club, which was not suitable for prolonged battles, was now becoming more and more fierce, with the clear intention of killing Hong Zhongwei!

Finally, Liang Xiong and Bu Ye both noticed something was wrong and moved to support Hong Zhongwei.

Soon, the one-on-one battles turned into a three-on-three melee. Hong Zhongwei's dire situation was somewhat alleviated, avoiding being killed on the spot, but the situation for him, Liang Xiong, and Bu Ye was still far from optimistic!

In the past, they could at least hold out until evening, and once it got dark, the Mang Mountain Bandits would retreat. But today, they might not be able to hold out that long.

The situation was indeed developing in that direction. No one dared to face the first leader's black iron wolf-tooth club head-on. Under his leadership, the Mang Mountain Bandits became increasingly fierce, while Hong Zhongwei and his companions were forced to retreat step by step!

At this moment, everyone realized that this chase might come to a definitive end today!

This was definitely an unexpected turn of events, but no one could stop it.

Although Bu Ye's potential was astonishing, he no longer had the time to grow at his own pace.

"Ah!"

In the midst of the melee, Bu Ye suddenly heard a cry of alarm from a distance.

It turned out that, without realizing it, they had already retreated and caught up with the main force of Dongmang Village. The cries of alarm came from the panicked villagers.

Seeing the villagers, the three leaders of the Mang Mountain Bandits became even more fierce. The first leader even shouted loudly, "Hand over the constellation secret, and we'll spare your lives!!"

The first leader's voice spread like a thunderclap, and some of the villagers immediately broke down.

"Who has that damn secret? Give it to them! Are you going to get us all killed?!"

"We really don't know! Why are you killing innocent people?!"

The scene was chaotic. Some were crying and shouting, some were so scared they fell to the ground, some were running faster to the distance, and some were even running out of the main force...

At this moment, the first leader of the Mang Mountain Bandits roared, "Kill them!!"

The Mang Mountain Bandits, following his order, no longer tangled with the village defense team. They quickly broke through the already weak defense and rushed towards the villagers!

The third leader then said, "Big brother, second brother, I'll go!"

The third leader immediately broke away from the six-person battle, pointed his halberd forward, and led a few Mang Mountain Bandits towards the crowd! With him leading, even if they were charging into the village defense team, it would be like a tiger entering a sheepfold, let alone charging into ordinary villagers!

In a moment, the third leader led his men into the crowd, killing anyone in his path, but his feet did not stop, and he continued to search among the people.

After killing another villager with his halberd, the third leader's eyes suddenly lit up, for he had finally found the person he was looking for, Luo Xiu!

The third leader's eyes glowed like a wolf's, and without even a word, he charged directly towards Luo Xiu!

Hong Zhongwei and the others, fighting three against two, finally managed to stabilize the situation, but when they looked back, the villagers were already scattered everywhere, driven by the third leader and the Mang Mountain Bandits, in complete chaos.

If they didn't stop this, Dongmang Village would be completely destroyed.

"Bu Ye, go stop that third leader!" Hong Zhongwei urged.

"You two?!"

"Go quickly!" Hong Zhongwei shouted, truly desperate.

Bu Ye knew that if he left, Hong Zhongwei and Liang Xiong would likely not be able to hold out, but if Dongmang Village collapsed, what was the point of staying to resist the first and second leaders?

Finally, Bu Ye rolled awkwardly but efficiently to avoid the first leader's attack and rushed towards the third leader!

At this moment, he was already over a hundred meters away from the third leader, and the path ahead was all mountain road. Even with his current speed, it would take a few seconds to reach him. As he rushed forward, Bu Ye quickly calmed his mind and once again focused on the nine poles of the Blood Star.

Without the constellation secret, ordinary Heart Cloud experts could not even sense the points and poles on the Blood Star.

But at this moment, Bu Ye had a feeling that such a mad dash might align with the third constellation secret, allowing him to quickly find the nine poles!

As he ran, Bu Ye rapidly recited the limited secret phrases taught by Du Sanhui.

"Right kidney star pivot pole to right lung lower star adjacent pole!"

Found it!

"Connect and bridge!"

Success!

The two isolated stars in the kidney and lung were now connected for the first time through the magical "nine poles," as if they were linked despite the distance!

"Right lung lower star constant pole to left lung lower star shock pole!"

Found it!

"Resonate and bridge!"

Success!

The three isolated stars were now connected, no longer isolated!

At the same time, a chilling scene was unfolding a hundred meters to Bu Ye's right.

The thin and emaciated Lu Kun grabbed Luo Xiu's arm and shouted, "Come with me quickly! It's too late if we wait any longer!"

Luo Xiu struggled fiercely but could not break free. She used her left hand to protect her son, who was clinging to her leg, and cried out, "Let go! Who will save us?"

But at this moment, everyone was fighting for their own survival, and no one could help the mother and child.

Lu Kun suddenly turned around, raised his hand to strike Luo Xiu, but his arm stopped in mid-air. Looking at Luo Xiu's beautiful face, he couldn't bring himself to hit her.

However, the next moment, a fierce light flashed in Lu Kun's eyes. He bent down and picked up the child, ready to leave!

He didn't want the child to be a burden, but only by carrying the child would Luo Xiu follow him.

"Mom!" The child cried out in fear as he was roughly picked up.

Luo Xiu, a healthy woman used to farm work, was closer to the child and, despite the suddenness, managed to grab the child's arms.

"Let go! I'm doing this for your own good! You can't run fast with the child! Let go and come with me!" Lu Kun shouted.

"Let go of Sheng'er! Please, let him go!" Luo Xiu was in tears, refusing to let go but afraid to pull too hard and hurt the child.

She wasn't a foolish woman and knew from the moment Lu Kun approached what he intended.

But she genuinely despised Lu Kun's character and even his appearance. Even if she remarried, or chose not to, she would never choose someone like Lu Kun!

She also knew that if she followed Lu Kun now, her and her son's future would be ruined, if they even had a future.

"Let go! Foolish woman! Come with me!" Lu Kun shouted, truly wanting to hit Luo Xiu but hesitating because he was holding the child.

"No, let go of Sheng'er! I'd rather die than go with you!" Luo Xiu shouted, speaking her true thoughts.

Lu Kun was clearly stunned, then his body began to tremble with anger. Suddenly, he roared and raised the child to throw him to the ground!

"No!!!" Luo Xiu screamed, throwing herself to the ground to catch the child.

But at that moment, a cold flash of light shot through the air, piercing Lu Kun's body with a "thud"!

The bloodied tip of the halberd flashed past Lu Kun's chest, and the third leader took a quick step forward, lifted the halberd in his right hand, took the child in his left, kicked Lu Kun's body away, and placed the child on the ground.

"Mom!" The child immediately ran to Luo Xiu, his face covered in tears.

Luo Xiu didn't see who had saved her, but as she hugged the child and stood up, she thanked, "Thank you..."

"Wife, no need to thank me! Just come back to the mountain and be my wife!" The third leader said with a lecherous look, not hiding his lust for Luo Xiu.

"Ah!"

Luo Xiu finally saw who had come and instinctively stepped back, but she tripped on a stone and was about to fall.

The third leader, quick to react, took a step forward, extended his left arm, and caught Luo Xiu from behind, even caressing her waist with his hand.

"Wife, don't struggle anymore. If you anger me, your child will suffer. If you listen to me, I'll treat you well when we return to the mountain." The third leader leaned in and sniffed Luo Xiu's neck, then said shamelessly.

But the next moment, he saw Luo Xiu's expression change, though she tried to hide it, it didn't escape his notice.