In terms of actual combat experience, Youxiang and Xiaozǐ were actually quite well-stocked. After all, in this era where demons ran rampant, weak yokai couldn't survive without growing stronger. The fact that the two of them managed to claw their way up from the very bottom, distinguishing themselves from countless other young yokai, spoke volumes of their dedication and capability.

Moreover, earlier, upon sensing the presence of a powerful yokai, they had immediately chosen to hide. When discovered, they didn't hesitate to flee. And when escape proved impossible, they fearlessly charged forward to attack first… While this might not seem like much, it was sufficient proof of their shrewdness, decisiveness, and courage.

Such excellent psychological fortitude and combat instincts were things even some adult yokai lacked.

However, temperament did not equate to strength. Although they were invincible among the young yokai, they were still leagues away from adult yokai. And when compared to the top three among the werewolf ranks, the difference was astronomical.

If combat power were calculated using numerical values, their current rating might be a mere 10. A typical adult yokai rated 50. A standard werewolf would clock in at least at 80 or higher, and the werewolf currently facing them was absolutely considered a powerhouse among their kind… with a combat rating easily breaking the three-digit mark.

Faced with such a chasm of disparity, any inherent quality became meaningless fluff!

"What's the matter? Not attacking?" The werewolf watched the two girls with an expression of leisurely satisfaction, beckoning them with a flick of his finger, his eyes brimming with mockery.

Youxiang and Xiaozǐ exchanged a glance. While they weren't entirely ignorant of werewolf habits—when facing a strong opponent, they preferred to strike decisively and obliterate them instantly; when facing the weak, they enjoyed playing with their prey like a cat with a mouse, wearing them down mentally before the kill—they knew they were undoubtedly the latter in this werewolf's eyes.

Yet, even knowing this, they had to fight. Because not fighting meant certain death, and fighting also likely meant death. But at least by fighting, there remained a sliver of hope, however minuscule. Even if they died in the end, they would have no regrets.

"Then I'll let you have a good look... Aaaah!!!"

Youxiang roared, charging forward first. Her speed was as swift as lightning, her momentum like a raging gale. The sheer power of her initial burst was evident, and in that flash, she was behind the werewolf. Leaping into the air, she aimed a kick at the back of his neck.

No matter the yokai, the neck remained the most vulnerable and fatal spot for defense.

Although Youxiang's attack was fast, to the werewolf, it was no different from a slow tortoise. He merely glanced sideways, making no move, allowing Youxiang’s kick to land squarely on his body.

Bang!

A deafening crash followed. The powerful kick struck the werewolf solidly, but he remained utterly unmoved. Instead, Youxiang's own ankle let out a sickening crack… it was broken!

"Ugh!" Youxiang couldn't help but suppress a muffled groan, pain clouding her face. But she gritted her teeth, enduring the agony. She used her injured foot to push off the werewolf's shoulder, propelling herself higher into the air again. Her other foot then darted down like a bayonet, aimed squarely at the werewolf's eye.

It was at this moment the werewolf finally moved. His fist clenched tightly, and he brought it down savagely toward the girl.

Although werewolves occasionally indulged in self-abuse—which was only during their berserk rampages where they exchanged pain for power—he clearly had no need for such frenzy against a small girl. Even if kicked, he might not be injured, but it would certainly sting.

"Youxiang, watch out!"

Having witnessed the bloody slaughter earlier, Xiaozǐ deeply understood the terrifying strength of this werewolf. Seeing him initiate an attack, her expression instantly shifted. With a startled cry of warning, she swiftly unleashed the dozen or so beams of light she had condensed, shooting them toward the werewolf.

The werewolf caught sight of the beams in his peripheral vision but merely chuckled dismissively. He ignored Xiaozǐ's attack coming from behind, letting the beams detonate harmlessly against his body. Simultaneously, his massive fist slammed brutally onto Youxiang's shoulder.

Boom!

The power of this single punch was incomparable to anything Youxiang had launched. The moment it connected, Youxiang spat out a mouthful of blood, her shoulder bone instantly shattering. She was blasted away like a cannonball, slamming violently into a large tree over ten meters away. The tree cracked audibly and broke in half. The recoil flung her back toward the ground, where she coughed up another spray of blood, her body trembling uncontrollably.

In truth, the werewolf had held back significantly. Had he not wanted to prolong the amusement, that single punch would have instantly vaporized Youxiang.

"Youxiang!" Seeing her comrade utterly devastated by just one move, Xiaozǐ’s face contorted in horror. Her gaze upon the werewolf was filled with pure fury. Without thinking, she fired several more beams of light, which then began to split and transform into countless tiny rays resembling swarming insects, peppering the werewolf in a sustained barrage.

She and Youxiang—one specializing in long-range energy attacks, the other in close-quarters melee—their combined offense, close and far, complemented each other perfectly. Originally, among the young yokai, this duo was the very symbol of invincibility. But!

Even when Xiaozǐ deployed this secret technique, the werewolf paid it no mind. Instead, seeing the anger flaring on Xiaozǐ's face, a spark of cunning glinted in his eyes.

Then, the countless light-insects were effortlessly dispersed with a single point of his finger. However, he did not attack Xiaozǐ. Instead, he began walking toward the injured and fallen Youxiang in front of him.

"What are you trying to do?!" Xiaozǐ's face changed dramatically, and she rushed forward to block the werewolf. Youxiang couldn't even manage to stand; if she endured another blow from the werewolf, she would certainly die!

"Heh heh." The werewolf grinned, "Of course, I'm playing a game. I never stop a fun game midway; I always see things through to the end."

"You!" Xiaozǐ was enraged. Though she knew of the werewolf's detestable nature, facing it firsthand was a hundred times more hateful than the rumors suggested.

Before Xiaozǐ could say anything more, the werewolf waved his hand, summoning a gust of fierce wind that swept her aside. He then continued his measured approach toward Youxiang.

By now, Youxiang had managed to painfully pull herself up from the ground. But just as she regained her balance, a towering shadow loomed over her. Instinctively, Youxiang looked up, and a massive fist instantly filled her vision.

Boom!

Another earth-shattering sound. Youxiang was sent flying again, this time the blow landing on her other shoulder. Judging by the crisp sound of bone fracturing, both her shoulders were now broken. For a melee-focused yokai, broken arms meant the loss of ninety percent of her fighting capability.

Yet, this was not enough to halt the werewolf. He strode forward, and as Xiaozǐ rushed him from behind, he merely waved his arm, swatting her away with a wave of compressed air.

"Oh? Still standing? Looks like the game isn't over yet." The werewolf approached Youxiang and, seeing the girl manage to prop herself up again, showed a flicker of surprise, his eyes growing more intensely excited. He relished this stubborn resistance; if it ended too quickly, it would be dull.

"Hmph… hmph!" Though swaying severely, Youxiang managed to maintain a stubborn, cold sneer. She spat out a mouthful of bloody phlegm and scoffed, "Injuries like this… I don't even know how many times I've suffered them… How could I possibly fall here!"

"Then perhaps I wasn't putting enough effort in," the werewolf conceded, nodding. "How about this then?"

As he spoke, the werewolf extended his claws and slashed upwards, conjuring a sharp vortex of wind that snatched Youxiang's small frame and tossed her into the air. He then launched a finger-flick—a seemingly gentle strike, yet one imbued with terrifying destructive force. His fingertip struck Youxiang's left foot. Bang! She was flung away once more, collapsing heavily to the ground, her entire body shuddering.

By now, both of Youxiang's shoulders and both of her ankles were completely shattered. Her four limbs were utterly disabled.

"Youxiang!!" Seeing her companion in such a pitiful state, tears streamed down Xiaozǐ’s face. Her immense sorrow fueled an even greater rage, yet no matter how she attacked, the werewolf continued to ignore her.

By this point, Youxiang was disabled and covered in wounds, while the werewolf hadn't lost a single hair. Yet, watching her friend suffer caused Xiaozǐ more pain than any physical injury could inflict. She wished it were her taking the blows, just to share half the suffering. She couldn't understand why the werewolf targeted only Youxiang and not her.

Xiaozǐ couldn't grasp this because her experience with human nature was shallow. Despite her exceptional talent, she hadn't been in the world long enough to understand the complexities of the heart.

But Xiaozǐ didn't know that Youxiang did understand.

The complete opposite of Xiaozǐ, Youxiang, having scrambled through the lowest rungs of society for a long time, saw human nature with stark clarity. She knew exactly what the werewolf was scheming.

Besides deriving pleasure from physically torturing enemies, werewolves particularly enjoyed crushing their spirits. Upon learning of the girls' deep friendship, he had deliberately chosen to focus on one at a time. This way, he could simultaneously destroy one’s body while dismantling the other’s mind.

The person continuously beaten might, as their pain deepened, begin to foster resentment: It's a fight between two people, why am I the only one getting hurt? It's not fair, it’s not fair!

Watching her friend remain unscathed while she herself faced imminent death, such thoughts would grow stronger, eventually fracturing their bond… destroying their spirits with simple psychological torment.

However, this werewolf had underestimated the strength of their spirits, and greatly underestimated the bond between Youxiang and Xiaozǐ.

Although watching Youxiang endure repeated injury caused Xiaozǐ great pain, it wasn't enough to shatter her spirit; rather, it only stoked her fury. As for Youxiang?

Never mind that she was fully aware of the werewolf’s plan—even if she hadn't known, it wouldn't have burdened her spirit. In fact, precisely because she knew, she had even more reason not to fall!

As a flower demon of humble origins, low aptitude, and utter loneliness—a being as weak as a roadside weed—no yokai had ever wanted to associate with her. From the very beginning, every yokai had rejected her, despised her, or simply refused to look her in the eye.

Xiaozǐ was the only friend she had ever made, the only one who genuinely cared for her.

Therefore, no matter how severely injured she became, Youxiang would never harbor resentment. If these injuries were suffered for her friend, she wouldn't mind tenfold more… Pure physical agony was far easier to endure than the loneliness of the soul!

So, she had to stand up!

She couldn't let Xiaozǐ worry, and she absolutely couldn't let this werewolf turn his attention to Xiaozǐ!

She must stand!

Holding onto this conviction, despite her legs being completely useless and the piercing pain eating into her core, Youxiang forced her body upright, standing straight and tall!

"Oh?!" Seeing her stand again, her posture erect and unyielding despite her whole body trembling, even the werewolf showed shock. "I hadn't expected you could still stand. I underestimated you. Although you are as weak as an ant, possessing this kind of willpower, you might just be comparable to the Flower Lord of the Azure Meadow."

The Flower Lord of the Azure Meadow was one of the recognized strong entities of this age. Though a flower demon, her formidable power was such that even some wolf clans dared not provoke her; she ranked among the top one hundred yokai leaders.

Yet, upon hearing his words, Youxiang burst into laughter. "Hahahaha! The Flower Lord of the Azure Meadow? What is that!"

"What did you say?" The werewolf paused, stunned that this little demon dared to look down upon the Flower Lord. He thought he must have misheard.

But the reality proved him right. Youxiang spoke another arrogant declaration: "Forget the Flower Lord of the Azure Meadow! Even your werewolf clan, or the Vampires, or the Oni—none of them matter! Though you all far surpass me now, I am not afraid! I have diligence. If you have one measure of effort, I have ten. If you have ten, I have a hundred, a thousand! And I have resolve: no matter what setback I face, I will never retreat; no matter the enemy, I will never bow my head. Because I believe… one day I will surpass you all, and I will stand at the very pinnacle of all yokai!"

The werewolf frowned. "You truly believe that?"

"Of course!" Youxiang replied without hesitation. "As long as I don't die, whether it takes a hundred or a thousand years, I will eventually grind every single one of you under my heel! So, be afraid! Kill me now while I am still growing, or I swear I will eradicate your entire werewolf race!"

Despite her swaying frame, despite her small stature, the aura she exuded was overwhelmingly powerful. In that moment… the werewolf was genuinely afraid!

He feared not Youxiang now, but her soul.

Aptitude and innate structure—were these important for a yokai's growth? Yes, indeed. But to become a peak-level yokai, an even more crucial element was required: the soul!

Without a sufficiently tenacious soul to support it, even the best aptitude was useless. Conversely, even with mediocre aptitude, if the soul was strong enough, one could potentially ascend to the throne of the strongest.

And in that instant, the werewolf saw it: the powerful soul possessed by Youxiang.

The strength of this soul was in direct inverse proportion to her current power. Her strength was as insignificant as a weed, yet her soul burned as fiercely as the sun… A soul like that, even he didn't possess. The Flower Lord didn't have it. Even the Wolf King, the Oni King, the Vampire King—the mightiest yokai sovereigns—did not possess it!

A unique, immense soul resided within this tiny flower demon!

How could she stand after suffering injuries that would kill an ordinary yokai? Why hadn't she given up when facing an opponent she couldn't possibly defeat? Why did she possess such courage when facing certain death?

It was all because of her powerful soul!

No! This flower demon must be eliminated!

Now!

At this thought, the werewolf felt not just fear, but sheer terror. He knew that if he didn't kill Youxiang right now, the werewolf clan would truly be wiped out by her when she matured.

However, one thing the werewolf didn't realize was that as Youxiang delivered those powerful words, she subtly signaled Xiaozǐ with her eyes… This method of communication was a technique they had developed through long, (tacit) cooperation.

And what Youxiang signaled was: Hold him off while I can; you need to run now.

Xiaozǐ received her signal and gasped internally: What did you say? Let me go?!

Youxiang: Yes. We can’t beat him. If we both stay, we both die. I can’t escape anymore, but you can. You still have the Gap-Crevice ability. Even if opening it is troublesome, I will distract him for long enough for you to activate it, and then you can flee.

Xiaozǐ: What about you?

Youxiang: Don’t worry about me. Just remember to avenge me later.

No, I won’t agree! Seeing Youxiang’s signal, Xiaozǐ shook her head desperately.

Youxiang: Stop dawdling! If we waste any more time, we both die. It’s a simple choice: die alone or die together. Don’t tell me you can't make it! I’ve already decided. Now it’s up to you!

With these words, Youxiang completely ended her "conversation" with Xiaozǐ. Her dialogue with the werewolf ended at the exact same moment. Then…

"Aaaaaaahhhhhh...!!!"

Youxiang threw her head back and roared, a fierce, raging fire suddenly erupting across her body.

"How is this possible?!" Seeing this sight, the werewolf's expression dramatically changed, and he instinctively retreated a few steps. "Burning the soul? How can you possibly do that?!"

Burning the soul was a technique every yokai learned instinctively, but actual usage required reaching a certain level of power. Even he could only manage it with effort. Yet, Youxiang had clearly not reached that level.

But she had used it!

"Youxiang! No!!" Xiaozǐ also realized Youxiang was burning her soul. Tears immediately streamed down her face as she cried out and rushed forward.

Although burning the soul could instantly double or triple combat power—even multiplying it tenfold if the soul was exceptionally strong—once ignited, it could absolutely not be stopped. When the soul was completely consumed, there was only one outcome… Death!

Clearly, Youxiang was resolute in her intention to die; she was proving her resolve with action. To buy Xiaozǐ enough time to activate the Gap-Crevice, she was using soul-burning to expend her own life force.

To become the strongest, she might resort to any means—theft, deceit, coercion. But to protect her only friend, she was willing to abandon both supremacy and her very life!