Chapter 378: Emperor Graveyard

The Demon Race’s attempts to assassinate Li Yang clearly hadn’t stopped, but he wasn’t the least bit afraid.

’With Soul Ink around, any Alien Race members who want to try something can’t hide. I’ll kill as many as they send.’ At this moment, Li Yang actually found himself hoping for more assassins.

’It would be best if a few more Tri-System Deities came!’

An assassin at the Emperor Level was simply an impossibility.

Emperors were considered part of the middle-to-upper echelons within a Peak Race of the Cosmos, such as the Human Race. The same was true for the Demon Race.

Even if the Demon Race had Emperors hiding among the Human Race, they would never risk exposing them.

Forget Emperors; the Demon Race would almost certainly never send even Four-Element Deities.

Therefore, the strongest assassins the Demon Race would typically dispatch were Tri-System Deities!

’If I kill a few more, the Demon Race’s hidden network within the Human Race will be significantly weakened.’

Putting the matter aside, Li Yang sat inside the spaceship, studying a black bead he held in his hand.

He had obtained this black bead from Lan Ruo of the Lanling Clan, and it had even caused a stir from the mysterious small sword in his mind.

’What is this black bead?’ Li Yang wondered. He sent out his soul, but it couldn’t penetrate the black bead at all.

A thin membrane seemed to be blocking it.

"Li Yang, I told you that black bead was useless, but you wouldn’t believe me. You just had to trade a Star Moon Fruit for it."

Seeing Li Yang continuously studying the black bead, Soul Ink couldn’t help but speak up.

Hearing Soul Ink’s teasing, Li Yang just smiled. "I think there’s something special about it."

’He had to be kidding. How could something that caused the mysterious small sword to react possibly be useless?’

Still, he definitely wouldn’t tell Soul Ink about the mysterious small sword.

’What exactly is its secret?’ Li Yang wondered.

He sent out a trace of his soul, probing every inch of the black bead and trying to see if it could get inside.

"Huh?"

During his meticulous probing, a look of surprise suddenly appeared on Li Yang’s face.

He had found something unusual. While the rest of the bead completely blocked his soul, one tiny spot on it seemed to accept it.

The spot was minuscule. It was like a person’s body having countless cells invisible to the naked eye; all of them are healthy, but just one has a tiny crack.

One can only imagine how difficult it would be to find that one cracked cell.

That special spot on the black bead felt exactly like that—the fissure was just too small.

In truth, this was only possible because Li Yang possessed a soul at the perfection level. If his soul were any weaker, he would never have discovered that unique spot on the bead.

’So there is something strange about it!’

Having discovered the tiny fissure, Li Yang’s face lit up with excitement. He sent out his soul, trying to enter the bead for a closer look.

But after a few seconds, he frowned slightly.

’A membrane?’

As he continuously pushed against the tiny fissure, Li Yang gradually sensed a strange membrane on the black bead’s surface that completely blocked his probing.

He tried several times but couldn’t break through.

After a moment’s thought, Li Yang asked, "Soul Ink, I can feel a membrane on this black bead that’s blocking my soul’s probe. How do I break it?"

"A membrane?"

Hearing Li Yang’s words, a look of clear surprise appeared on Soul Ink’s face. "The black bead really is strange?"

He was in a unique situation, trapped within the Soul Crystal. Apart from being able to sense his immediate surroundings, he had virtually no other abilities. Therefore, he couldn’t possibly discover the bead’s special properties, let alone sense the membrane.

Though surprised that the black bead was indeed special, Soul Ink explained, "Li Yang, since your soul is what sensed the membrane, it must be a soul membrane. You can cultivate a Soul Type attack art. Once you’ve mastered it, you can forcefully break through."

"A soul attack art?" Li Yang’s interest was piqued.

"Li Yang, the soul is a person’s essence. A powerful soul is truly terrifying. Things like soul enslavement and soul annihilation are enough to make anyone’s blood run cold. For example, even with your World Tree avatar and its infinite revivals, if your soul is annihilated, your avatar will die at the exact same moment with no chance of resurrection. That’s why, if you ever face an opponent you can’t possibly defeat, killing yourself is the wisest choice."

Li Yang nodded. He remembered Soul Ink mentioning before that he himself had been killed by soul annihilation, which left him in this strange state—neither truly alive nor truly dead.

"However, you need to determine the strength of that soul membrane," Soul Ink added. "If it’s too strong, it will be very difficult to break through, even if you cultivate a soul attack art."

Li Yang focused his senses. The soul membrane didn’t seem particularly strong; it trembled slightly under the impact of his soul.

"I think a slightly stronger soul should be able to break through," Li Yang replied.

"Then there should be no problem. You can redeem a soul attack art and give it a try."

Nodding, Li Yang waved his right hand, and a virtual screen materialized before him.

"Master, what would you like to search for?" As the screen appeared, Virtual Assistant No. 6 materialized and promptly addressed Li Yang.

This virtual assistant would permanently accompany Li Yang, helping him with transactions with the Human Race’s Eternal Saint Hall and other matters.

"No. 6, help me search for soul attack arts," Li Yang ordered.

"Of course, Master. Please wait a moment."

Just a second later, a list of manuals appeared before Li Yang’s eyes.

""Seal of the Soul": Created by Huwang Emperor, divided into nine forms... The fifth form can soul-annihilate a cultivator at the Peak of Star Lord Realm, the sixth can annihilate one at the Peak of World Realm, the seventh can annihilate ordinary Deities, and the eighth can annihilate Dual Pantheon Deities... Total price: 10,000,000 contribution points. Can be redeemed in parts..."

""Soul Sword": Created by Guchuan Emperor..."

...

A list of Soul Type attack manuals appeared one after another.

’So expensive.’

Li Yang glanced at the prices. These manuals were clearly far more expensive than the ones that explained laws!

This was his first exposure to them. Previously, even though the Blade Slaughter Sect Master knew his soul was powerful, he had never suggested that Li Yang study these Soul Type manuals.

This was because comprehending the profundities of laws was fundamental. Only by reaching a certain level of understanding in the laws could one break through to the Divine Realm and achieve eternal life.

Therefore, cultivation before the Divine Realm had to prioritize the profundities of laws, while everything else was secondary.

After a quick look, Li Yang chose to redeem "Seal of the Soul".

The complete set of "Seal of the Soul" cost a staggering 10 million contribution points. Li Yang currently had over 80 million contribution points, so while he could afford the whole thing, he certainly wasn’t going to buy it all. He redeemed the first seven volumes, spending two million contribution points.

After the exchange, Li Yang wasted no time and immediately entered the Virtual World to begin his studies.

In the Virtual World, the sensations were identical to the real world. With the exception of being unable to comprehend the profundities of laws, everything else, such as practicing attacks, was possible.

Li Yang often entered the Virtual World to receive guidance from the Blade Slaughter Sect Master, so of course he could also learn "Seal of the Soul" there.

After learning the cultivation method in the Virtual World, Li Yang began to practice in the spaceship.

His soul was currently very powerful, so he learned "Seal of the Soul" at an incredible speed. In just ten minutes, he had mastered the first form.

Half an hour later, he mastered the second form.

Two hours later, he mastered the third form.

Ten hours later, he mastered the fourth form.

And after a full day, he had mastered the fifth form as well.

’I can cultivate soul attacks this quickly?’ Li Yang was both surprised and excited.

"Li Yang, your current strength is already on par with the Peak of World Realm, and your soul is likely at the absolute apex for your level. The stronger you are, the stronger your soul, so of course you’ll learn soul attacks quickly," Soul Ink said, looking at the excited Li Yang and taking his customary jab at him.

Li Yang paid no mind to Soul Ink’s jab, his heart filled with joy.

’Now, let’s see if I can break through the black bead’s soul membrane.’

Before, he didn’t know how to apply his soul’s power. It was like a strongman who had immense raw strength but, when asked to punch a force meter, couldn’t generate much power.

But once that strongman learned proper technique, he could unleash much greater force.

The same principle now applied to Li Yang’s use of his soul.

BUZZ...

Li Yang sent out his soul, trying to break through the opening. The entire black bead pulsed faintly, and the membrane trembled much more violently, but he still couldn’t get in.

’Still not enough?’ Li Yang thought.

He didn’t try again immediately.

’Time to continue cultivating!’

He resumed his cultivation of "Seal of the Soul". In the blink of an eye, another day had passed.

’It’s just as Soul Ink said. With my strength, cultivating "Seal of the Soul" is simple, but only the earlier parts.’

Li Yang was now practicing the sixth form of "Seal of the Soul". Mastering this form would allow him to soul-annihilate someone at the Peak of World Realm. However, since Li Yang was only at the Star Lord Realm, cultivating this form was clearly difficult.

After getting more than halfway through, he found it difficult to proceed. He had no idea how long it would take to master it completely.

’Let’s try again!’

While cultivating, Li Yang would periodically attempt to break through the black bead’s soul membrane.

The soul membrane was incredibly subtle. Even with his perfection-level soul, Li Yang had to probe it over and over just to detect the slight abnormality. Without a soul of that caliber, it was likely that even Deities couldn’t perceive the black bead’s secrets.

Therefore, Li Yang was filled with anticipation for the bead’s secrets!

’There might be a huge opportunity inside!’

Li Yang’s consciousness entered the black bead.

’Seal of the Soul!’

His soul condensed, forming into something like a steel needle that stabbed directly at the tiny fissure.

BUZZ...

As it bore the brunt of Li Yang’s soul attack, the membrane began to tremble violently.

’Break!’

Li Yang fully mobilized his soul. His soul attack wouldn’t improve any further in the short term, so if he couldn’t break through now, he had no idea how long it would take to get another chance.

He kept up the constant assault for thirty seconds.

CRACK!

A crisp sound seemed to ring out as the membrane blocking his soul shattered completely.

’Success!’

Sensing this, Li Yang’s eyes lit up with excitement.

’This black bead made the mysterious small sword react. It has to be extraordinary; there must be some secret inside!’

With the membrane broken, Li Yang’s soul finally entered the black bead.

But the moment it entered, the excitement on his face froze, replaced by a look of utter shock.

’This is...’

The instant his soul entered, a terrifying wave of Evil Qi erupted, and his soul was the first to feel it.

What appeared before his perception were gigantic beasts—five of them in total.

The smallest of these beasts was over ten thousand meters long, its body seemingly forged from steel.

Their bodies emitted no aura, yet their flesh showed no signs of decay. Instead, they radiated an astonishing Evil Qi!

The Evil Qi was so intense that even Li Yang felt a sense of discomfort.

’This aura...’

Li Yang tried to gauge it. ’Even Deities can’t compare to this, can they?’

He had just witnessed Tri-System and Four-Element Deities in action. While he was utterly powerless before such experts, he had gained a general understanding of their strength.

Yet, the pressure emanating from these beasts felt even more terrifying than that of the Tri-System or Four-Element Deities!

’Their lingering aura in death surpasses that of Deities... Are these beasts at the Emperor Level?’ Li Yang was stunned.

’The five beast corpses before me... were they all Emperors when they were alive?’

(Large Chapter. Thank you to Zang Wang Zhaya for the 2,500-point reward, Bansheng Liangliangliang dao Shang for the 1,500-point reward, and 08a and 201709 Wuxian Keneng for the 100-point rewards. Thank you all.)