chapter 6 The mantis stalks the cicada, the oriole follows behind

Seeing the Black-armored Giant Python appear, Ethan gasped. A third-level Bloodmark Wolf had already scared him badly, and now there was another third-level Black-armored Giant Python.
These two third-level Soul Beasts were formidable creatures to him, so Ethan's first thought was to run away. When the gods fight, the weak mankind suffers; in the eyes of these two third-level Soul Beasts, he is weaker than weak.
Roar!
As he turned to flee, the Black-armored Giant Python and the Bloodmark Wolf were already entangled in combat. The Bloodmark Wolf was no match to the Black-armored Giant Python, but its speed and attack were not to be underestimated compared to the Black-armored Giant Python.
Moreover, it was evident that both Soul Beasts were vying for the Dragon Saliva Grass and intentionally avoided the area where it was located.
Ethan had initially planned to escape, but seeing this situation, he felt a surge of joy. The two Soul Beasts were fighting further and further away. Wasn't this an opportunity for him?
He was also well aware of the value of the fourth-level Dragon Saliva Grass, containing tens of thousands of low-grade soul stones.
As the grandson of the Grand Master of the Sigeweard family, Ethan received ten low-grade soul stones a month. Ten low-grade soul stones were enough for an ordinary family of three to live comfortably for a month. It could be imagined just how precious the Dragon Saliva Grass was.
"Whoops!" However, before Ethan could take action, a series of rustling sounds erupted in the distance. Ethan quickly shrank his neck, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes.
He had never expected that there were others interested in the Dragon Saliva Grass, and there seemed to be quite a few of them, at least four or five people.
He was extremely nervous, holding his breath and concentrating, not daring to even take a breath. It was obvious that the others also wanted to reap the final fruits of victory.
Boom! A violent wave swept through, and Ethan, lying on the ground, could clearly feel the ground shaking. This was followed by the roar of the Bloodmark Wolf.
In the distance, the Black-armored Giant Python's scales were shedding, dripping with blood. Its body was tightly entangled with the Bloodmark Wolf, and the sound of bones fracturing could be heard.
While the Black-armored Giant Python wasn't as fast as the Bloodmark Wolf, its restraining power was terrifying. Even peak third-level Soul Beasts would think twice before engaging with it.
Once entangled, there was basically only one way out: death. However, the Bloodmark Wolf still had some fight left in it. Its ferocious fangs and claws tore off large chunks of flesh from the Black-armored Giant Python, finally sinking its teeth into the Python's head.
Meanwhile, the Black-armored Giant Python continued to restrain the Bloodmark Wolf, rolling in the air with all its might. The two beasts were locked in a stalemate, each determined not to give an inch.
Time passed, and in the blink of an eye, a stick of incense had burned down. Yet, the two beasts showed no sign of relenting, completely committed to their struggle.
At that moment, the flower bud of the Dragon Saliva Grass suddenly began to slowly bloom. Its purple petals were vibrant and exuded a purple halo, resembling a small dragon.
"Is it ready for harvest?" Ethan's eyes lit up, almost tempted to rush forward, but ultimately, he restrained himself.
Ethan could hold back, but others might not. Seeing the petals of Dragon Saliva Grass blooming, five figures rushed out from the distant bushes, heading straight for the Dragon Saliva Grass.
"Roar!" The Bloodmark Wolf and the Black-armored Giant Python simultaneously roared, releasing each other and pouncing towards the five figures.
"Samuel, Matthew, stop them!" A loud shout erupted as two men charged out, aiming for the two Third-ranked Soul Beasts with fierce intent.
A white-clad boy of about ten years old stood before the Dragon Saliva Grass, bending down to pluck it. Two middle-aged men stood guard beside him, ready to act at any moment.
"Bang!" The Black-armored Giant Python's tail swept out, leaving a lingering trail in the air. One man was suddenly swept away by the tail, crashing hard into a stone, his head shattered.
Another was bitten directly on the neck by the Bloodmark Wolf, blood spraying out violently. Their deaths were simple yet brutal.
Ethan now had a clear understanding of the strength of the two Third-ranked Soul Beasts. Even if they were heavily injured, they could easily kill a Peak-stage Warrior, explaining why William had fled without hesitation.
"Young Master, hurry and leave!" The other two servants, pale with fear, witnessed the scene. They had never imagined these two Third-ranked Soul Beasts could be so powerful.
However, before they could finish speaking, the white-clad boy's face turned resolute. He pushed the two servants and snatched the Dragon Saliva Grass before swiftly fleeing.
"This kid is even more shameless than William. Judging by his strength, he's probably only in the late Battle Warrior stage. Without his lackeys, he would've died long ago." Ethan disdainfully watched the white-clad boy vanish into the jungle.
The two men he pushed were only able to hold off for a few breaths before meeting their demise.
The two soul beasts roared furiously, charging towards the white-clad boy. Wherever they passed, earth and rocks flew, trees collapsed, and the two beasts seemed completely berserk.
"Although Third-ranked Soul Beasts are powerful, they shouldn't be this terrifying." Ethan frowned, sensing something amiss. It seemed the two beasts were consuming their last traces of life force.
In an instant, Ethan realized something, a hint of joy flashing in his eyes. "These two beasts were obviously injured earlier, greatly reducing their strength. They must have exhausted their vitality in battle. They definitely won't last long in this state."
With that thought, Ethan chased after them without hesitation. As expected, after a quick moment, the Bloodmark Wolf fell, lifeless.
As for the Black-armored Giant Python, it was nowhere to be seen. It was obviously chasing after the white-clad boy.
"Third-level Soul Crystals seem to be worth several thousand lower-grade soul stones." Ethan retrieved his Refined Steel Sword, cutting open the Bloodmark Wolf's head and extracting a crystal clear blood-colored Soul Crystal. An excited smile spread across his face. "It seems I'm the one who has the final laugh!"
Before he could finish speaking, Ethan suddenly felt goosebumps all over his body. Acting on instinct, he utilized the Phantom Steps to retreat five meters away in an instant.
The next moment, a huge head appeared above the Bloodmark Wolf's body, opening its bloody mouth and swallowing the wolf's massive corpse in one gulp. Who else could it be but the Black-armored Giant Python.
Ethan's scalp tingled. He never expected the Black-armored Giant Python to return. However, he could sense that its vitality was very weak, posing no immediate threat to his life.
"Big Brother, the Bloodmark Wolf fell ahead. The Black-armored Giant Python is also heavily injured and can't escape." Suddenly, an excited voice and hurried footsteps came from the distant jungle.
"Brother, you've made a great contribution this time. With two third-level Soul Crystals, both of us can break through to Battle Master." Another hearty laughter echoed.
Immediately after, a dozen figures entered Ethan's sight, led by two men. One of them was the white-clad boy who fled with the Dragon Saliva Grass.
The other was a burly young man clad in black armor, carrying a massive axe on his shoulder, his footsteps heavy and powerful.
Seeing the attire of the few individuals and recalling the white-clad boy's address to his subordinates, Ethan narrowed his eyes. "Why are people from the Longstaff Family from Longstaff City here?"