Chapter 616 - 173: Counter-kill in the Desolate Land, the Possessing Ancestor’s Soul Shattered by the Ten Thousand Souls Banner

Chapter 616: Chapter 173: Counter-kill in the Desolate Land, the Possessing Ancestor’s Soul Shattered by the Ten Thousand Souls Banner

"Ugh..."

Tang Yu’s eyes were wide, her body rigid. She didn’t dare to move a muscle.

With her cultivation at the First Heaven of the Bright Heart Realm, combined with years of life-and-death combat experience honed by constantly walking the edge of mortality, she shouldn’t have been subdued so easily—not even if her opponent was far stronger than her!

And yet...

Everything this man before her, Chu Fan, had done completely shattered the limits of her understanding!

His body could withstand a High-Grade Profound Weapon without a scratch, a single swipe of his claws could tear through a Spirit Soldier’s breastplate, and he possessed such terrifying speed without even circulating his Primordial Qi...

For the first time, deep despair and unconcealable fear appeared in Tang Yu’s eyes.

BOOM!

Just then, five dull, thunderous roars echoed from the sky as five enormous copper cauldrons, inscribed with ancient runes, came crashing down.

They sealed off the area where Chu Fan and Tang Yu stood!

The next moment, the Ten Thousand Souls Banner—an artifact that struck terror into the hearts of countless creatures and radiated a monstrous, Fierce Evil Qi—materialized out of thin air!

WAAAAIL—

Shrill, ghostly wails instantly filled the space within the Five Elements Cauldrons.

A sinister, evil aura that could make one’s very soul tremble poured forth unceasingly from the Ten Thousand Souls Banner!

In that instant, the very heavens and earth seemed to lose their color. Clumps of black fog, as thick as ink and seemingly alive, immediately enveloped Chu Fan and Tang Yu, plunging them into a darkness so complete they couldn’t see their own hands in front of their faces!

Just as Tang Yu, horrified, began to think Chu Fan was about to refine her along with all the other resentful souls, his bone-chilling voice pierced through the thick black fog and exploded by her ear:

"Two choices."

"Submit, or become another soul in the Ten Thousand Souls Banner."

His voice was flat, without the slightest fluctuation, yet it was also cold to the extreme, devoid of any and all emotion.

Tang Yu endured the sharp pain of her broken bones and struggled to lift her head.

Their eyes met. In Chu Fan’s gaze, as deep as an endless abyss, she saw not a single shred of pity or compassion.

She knew with absolute certainty that if she chose the latter option, or even hesitated for a moment, he would sever her head without a second thought.

Then, he would use that bizarre Ten Thousand Souls Banner to capture her soul, damning it to an eternity of suffering, never to find peace, enduring the endless torment of Soul Refining!

Tang Yu didn’t want to suffer a fate so miserable that she couldn’t even exist as a ghost after death...

"I... I am willing... to submit!"

She gritted her teeth and forced her head down, her voice trembling almost imperceptibly.

Chu Fan nodded slightly. Without any further unnecessary words, he immediately began to chant the ancient incantation he had learned from Mo Yunzi.

As a series of obscure, incomprehensible syllables left his lips, an incredibly complex Blood Array slowly materialized at their feet. An eerie, domineering light emanated from the Array, enveloping them both...

A moment later, after Tang Yu endured the pain of offering a wisp of her soul-blood to be integrated into the contract, the unparalleled, domineering master-servant pact was officially sealed.

Tang Yu felt as if an invisible shackle had been placed deep within her soul.

With a single thought from Chu Fan, her soul would instantly scatter, and her existence would be utterly extinguished.

Seeing the contract was complete, Chu Fan casually took a Healing Elixir that radiated a rich medicinal fragrance from his robes, tossed it to Tang Yu, and said coolly, "Take this Elixir. It will help you heal and recover."

Tang Yu caught the Elixir, her heart a whirlwind of complicated emotions.

There was humiliation, fear, and also a sliver of relief at having survived the ordeal...

She didn’t dare to delay for even a second and immediately swallowed the Elixir.

The Elixir dissolved the moment it entered her mouth. A gentle but potent medicinal energy quickly spread through her, instantly easing much of her pain.

Tang Yu hurriedly struggled to her feet and asked respectfully, "Master, what are our next steps?"

"What’s the situation with Zhang Ling’Er?" Chu Fan asked.

"The young miss..." Tang Yu began slowly. "Zhang Ling’Er’s hatred for you has accumulated over time, twisting her mind. Now, she has completely undergone a Demonic Transformation and fallen into madness..."

"After seeking help from the Zhang Family Ancestor, she received his guidance and came to this Flame Fire Forbidden Land specifically to cultivate the Zhang Family’s Forbidden Technique, the ’Condensing Evil and Burning Heart Technique.’ She’s been frantically absorbing the Flame Fire Evil Qi here to increase her strength, all for the sake of taking revenge on you."

Chu Fan frowned, a sharp glint in his eyes as he pressed, "I’m not asking about that. I’m asking about that strange, hidden power inside her. What is it?"

"The power inside her?"

Tang Yu froze, a look of confusion on her face. "Isn’t that just the corrupting power from her Demonic Transformation?" she asked, puzzled.

"It’s similar, but that’s not it," Chu Fan said coldly, his tone certain. "There is something hidden inside her, something extremely dangerous. It’s definitely not a simple corruption from Evil Qi... As her personal Shadow Guard, following her day and night, how could you know nothing?"

Tang Yu focused, searching her memory for a moment, but ultimately just shook her head in confusion.

Her face was filled with bewilderment. "This subordinate truly never noticed anything. Besides her aura growing more ferocious from cultivating the Forbidden Technique, the young miss showed no other abnormalities."

’That thing might be troublesome...’ A murderous glint flashed in Chu Fan’s eyes. He said in a low voice, "No matter what kind of demonic entity it is, it must be destroyed today! You will assist me!"

"As you command!" Although Tang Yu was heavily injured, she didn’t dare to show the slightest defiance.

She struggled to her feet.

With a wave of his sleeve, Chu Fan put away the Five Elements Cauldrons and the Ten Thousand Souls Banner. Then, he led Tang Yu into the Mirror Image Space created by the All-Seeing Mirror.