The Skeleton Kings' Ambush

The behavior of the three skeletons took Xiao Chen completely by surprise. Qin Guangwang, Yanluowang, and Lunhuiwang had all lain down flat in the swamp, scattered bones around them like any ordinary corpse. Xiao Chen stared blankly. These three were far more intelligent than he had imagined—he could even sense a hint of craftiness about them.

Beyond the swamp, Zhao Lin'er stood with skin like snow, her figure graceful and her beauty peerless. She was truly a woman of icy flesh and jade bones, as fresh as a flowering tree heaped with snow—a city-toppling, kingdom-ruining beauty who seemed ethereal and otherworldly in the midst of the wild jungle.

The brown-haired man, Gu Luo, waved his hand silently. The dozens of men behind him immediately spread out and advanced cautiously into the swamp. He and Zhao Lin'er followed behind.

The death-chilled swamp sent shivers through the intruders. A grim aura permeated the woods, making them feel that this was no friendly ground.

Bleached-white bones lay scattered everywhere—a true land of the dead.

The thirty experts had already spread deep into the swamp. Gu Luo's lips curled into a cold smile. All signs indicated Xiao Chen was within. Today, at this moment, he would eliminate his enemy.

The setting sun was blood-red. Suddenly, a feeling of unease crept into Gu Luo's heart. He sensed danger, but could not pinpoint its source.

Then—whit light erupted!

A skeleton at his feet leaped up, its sinister bone claw thrusting straight for his chest and abdomen!

The change was utterly unexpected.

An enemy with no life aura at all, lying right at his feet—impossible to guard against.

Gu Luo swung his fists in haste, barely blocking the pair of bone claws. He tried to shift his footing to respond, but was shocked to find his feet locked tight by another skeleton!

As he frantically parried the skeleton in front, a searing pain tore through his back—a bone claw had driven deep into his flesh.

There was a third skeleton behind him!

"Ah—"

From the moment Qin Guangwang, Yanluowang, and Lunhuiwang launched their ambush to Gu Luo's piercing scream, only an instant had passed.

The Royal Celestial Maiden Zhao Lin'er, whose peerless grace could topple cities, paled at the sight. She had never seen skeletons kill a man before. But she was no ordinary woman—gripping her long sword, she charged forward.

"Undead!"

"They are undead beings who have achieved immortality through an unnatural path!"

The men in the distance shouted.

"Protect the young master!"

The swamp erupted into chaos. All the dispersed experts rushed back at full speed.

Knowing that danger was closing in, Qin Guangwang, Yanluowang, and Lunhuiwang retreated without hesitation—but not before plunging their claws into Gu Luo one more time. Four bloody holes now gaped in his chest and abdomen. Blood gushed forth, and the pungent smell of gore filled the air.

Zhao Lin'er caught Gu Luo as he was about to collapse into the pool of blood. Seven or eight experts immediately formed a protective circle around them, while the others roared and charged at the three skeletons.

Hidden atop a giant tree, Xiao Chen was utterly stunned.

In his perception, the brown-haired man was a terrifying opponent. But the three skeletons had given him an unexpected gift—those three kings had ambushed him with such cunning, taking him down so cleanly. It was a victory beyond imagination.

Without a moment's delay, Xiao Chen leaped from the tree. He stomped down hard—crack, crack—and two men who rushed past him had their chests caved in. Blood poured from their mouths as they toppled over.

Xiao Chen left afterimages in the swamp as he flashed among the panicked crowd, beginning a merciless slaughter.

At the same time, the three skeletons displayed fearsome combat power. Qin Guangwang, Yanluowang, and Lunhuiwang were terrifyingly fast—like three beams of white light darting among the crowd. Three or four men already had their chests pierced through; a single claw strike was fatal.

After the initial chaos, the group quickly organized an effective counterattack.

"Holy Flame of Light, burn all evil!"

A brown-haired cultivator chanted rapidly, then flung out a scroll that unfurled into a painting. Boundless fire erupted in the air, turning the sky blazing red. Like a torrent of meteors, the flames descended upon Xiao Chen and the three skeletons.

Xiao Chen shifted and dodged continuously, barely evading the terrible flames. The trees beside him were instantly reduced to ash.

Dreadful sacred flames—it seemed they could truly consume everything.

The three skeletons scrambled to flee, deeply wary of this fire. They pushed their speed to the limit, leaving trails of white light across the swamp, but for a brief moment, the fire engulfed them.

Xiao Chen's heart sank.

But then the three kings surprised him once again. Though their bones had blackened, they had not been destroyed by the sacred flames! They burst out intact. Looking closely, one could see a faint sheen of light retreat from their bodies back into their skulls—a surge of pure energy had protected them.

Xiao Chen quickly regrouped with the three skeletons, facing off against Zhao Lin'er's forces. In the chaos, they had killed eight of the enemy—no small victory.

A brief stillness fell. Neither side made a move.

The peerless Royal Celestial Maiden now radiated boundless killing intent. To be ambushed when she had the advantage and suffer such heavy losses—the humiliation burned in her heart. The appearance of three undead creatures had taken her by surprise, and for now, she dared not act rashly.

Xiao Chen and the three skeletons stood their ground as well. The enemy still outnumbered them, and that scroll in their hands was a threat.

At that moment, a pained groan broke the brief calm.

Gu Luo, whose chest and abdomen bore four bloody holes, had miraculously regained consciousness. But the bandaged wounds oozed blood again, and his attendants frantically tried to rewrap them.

Gu Luo stopped them. Leaning against an attendant, he pulled a scroll from his sleeve and chanted with difficulty: "Light of Life, shine upon me forever!"

The scroll unfurled into a painting in an instant. A blindingly brilliant light erupted, and the aura of life surged forth. Endless holy radiance enveloped Gu Luo.

Cheers rose from Gu Luo's side. Everyone was elated, knowing that their master's life was no longer in danger.

In the moment of their exultation, Xiao Chen and the three skeletons launched a sudden attack. The instant he sensed the powerful life-force波动, Xiao Chen guessed that Gu Luo was saving himself—he could not give the enemy a chance.

Qin Guangwang, Yanluowang, and Lunhuiwang were truly formidable. The three skeletons joined forces to briefly hold off Zhao Lin'er, creating a perfect opening for Xiao Chen. His body shrouded in a faint radiance, he charged into the crowd, desperately trying to kill Gu Luo while he healed.

The nearby experts fought to protect their master, blocking Xiao Chen's assault. The brief clash was brutal and bloodthirsty.

Xiao Chen's palms blazed with divine light, shattering seven or eight long swords and sending blades of light slashing out, cutting open several men's abdomens. Blood sprayed everywhere. Yet in this process, a strange thing happened—under the resplendent Light of Life, all the wounds of the severely injured men healed rapidly, and none of them were in mortal danger.

And Xiao Chen himself, bathed in that holy radiance, felt his own wounded body swiftly restoring itself.