Chapter 522 - 249: Combat Record Shocks Grandmaster Wu Wei, Special Promotion to True Inheritor Candidate

"Just yesterday, their Lifebound Soul Tokens... shattered."

"Dead?!" the black-cloaked man said in shock. "No wonder... No wonder the Sect’s Law Enforcement Hall has started to strictly investigate for spies..."

"The letter they were carrying must have been taken!"

Hearing this, the two hunters’ expressions changed drastically.

"Then our plan..."

"Halt everything!"

The black-cloaked man ordered decisively, "The assassination operation originally targeting those few direct-line geniuses is to be canceled immediately! All undercover personnel are to go silent, sever all contact, and wait for this to blow over!"

"But..." one of the hunters said, unwilling to let it go. "We’re just going to let it slide? What about revenge for Third and Fourth Brother..."

"Idiot!"

The black-cloaked man rebuked him harshly, "To act now is suicide! Revenge, of course we’ll get it! But not now!"

He paused, his voice turning icy as he said:

"I will find out exactly who entered and exited the Black Mist Wood during that time yesterday!"

"The person who could kill Third and Fourth Brother and still take what was on them is no nameless nobody!"

"Once I’ve locked onto this person..."

A surge of killing intent radiated from the black-cloaked man’s voice:

"When this blows over, I will personally lay a trap and make him... wish he was dead!"

"Yes, sir!"

The two hunters replied in unison, a vicious gleam in their eyes as well.

"Go! Scatter and hide immediately. We can’t stay here!"

The black-cloaked man flicked his sleeve, and his entire body instantly dissolved into a cloud of black mist, vanishing on the spot.

The two hunters didn’t dare to hesitate either. With a flicker, they dashed into the dense forest in different directions, disappearing in the blink of an eye.

...

Halfway up Spirit Void Peak.

The Spirit Hall.

Unlike the ethereal, celestial aura of the other halls, the Spirit Hall was constructed entirely from a special material called "Soul-Stabilizing Obsidian."

Its walls were carved with countless strange, ferocious, and terrifying reliefs of Exotic Beasts.

These reliefs were so lifelike they looked as if they might break free from the walls and devour someone at any moment.

"We’re here."

Song Yuan brought Jiang Che before the hall, his expression growing more solemn.

"This is not only the place for the Spirit Attachment ritual, but also a repository for suppressing and storing masterless Beast Souls. A grand Array operates within the hall year-round. Although it’s safe, the baleful energy can put pressure on one’s Divine Soul. Junior Brother, you must guard your mind."

Jiang Che nodded slightly and circulated the Spirit Void Technique. His Sea of Consciousness became clear, and the feeling of discomfort immediately vanished.

The two of them stepped into the hall.

The space inside was extremely vast. The high ceiling was inlaid with hundreds of Luminous Pearls, which cast a faint, cold light.

In the very center of the great hall stood a circular altar, about one hundred feet in diameter.

Nine Black Banners were planted around the edge of the altar, and its surface was covered in complex, esoteric, blood-colored array patterns that pulsed faintly with a mysterious power.

"Junior Brother, go on up."

Song Yuan pointed to the prayer mat in the center of the altar. "Sit cross-legged, sink your qi into your Dantian, and no matter what happens, maintain a sliver of clarity in your mind."

Jiang Che did as he was told, walking onto the altar and sitting cross-legged.

Song Yuan, meanwhile, stood at the edge of the altar with a serious expression.

He took a Command Flag from his sleeve and waved it.

BZZZZ—

The nine Black Banners around them began to flutter and snap as if in a strong wind, though there was no breeze.

The blood-colored array patterns on the ground lit up instantly, forming a dark red curtain of light that enveloped Jiang Che.

"Give me the Jade Talisman," Song Yuan said in a low voice.

Jiang Che tossed out the Jade Talisman that sealed the Purple Spot Blood Scythe Demon Mantis.

Song Yuan caught the Jade Talisman, took a deep breath, and violently poured his True Qi into it from his palm!

"Vile beast! Show yourself!"

CRACK!

The Jade Talisman shattered.

SKREEE!!!

A mournful shriek filled with venomous hatred and cruelty instantly echoed throughout the entire hall!

Immediately after, a purple-red phantom shot out from the shattered Jade Talisman!

It was a miniature version of the Purple Spot Blood Scythe Demon Mantis.

Although it was only a Soul Body, its overwhelmingly ferocious baleful energy was not the least bit diminished. In fact, it had become even more violent due to the resentment it held after death!

The moment it appeared, its scarlet compound eyes locked onto Jiang Che in the center of the Array.

When enemies cross paths, their eyes blaze with hatred.

It recognized the human who had killed it!

"Suppress!"

But Song Yuan quickly formed a hand seal for a Technique.

At the same time, the Array Light Curtain contracted violently, transforming into countless blood-colored chains that tightly bound the Demon Mantis Beast Soul and began to forcibly drag it into Jiang Che’s body!

"Junior Brother! Open your body and mind and accept the Beast Soul! Use your Divine Soul to suppress it and refine it!" Song Yuan shouted urgently.

Jiang Che’s gaze was calm, without a trace of fear.

He dropped his mental and physical defenses, allowing the ferocious Beast Soul to be forcefully pressed into the space between his eyebrows by the Array!

BOOM!

The moment it entered his Sea of Consciousness, the Demon Mantis Beast Soul went berserk, brandishing its two giant soul-scythes, trying to tear Jiang Che’s consciousness to shreds!

However,

it looked up and was horrified to discover a colossal golden giant, whose head touched the heavens and feet stood on the earth, looking down on it with indifference.

’I could crush you when you were alive. You think you can cause an uproar now that you’re dead?’

’Kneel... for me!’

the golden giant spoke.

RUMBLE!

A majestic Divine Soul Power crashed down like Mount Tai!

There was no suspense.

Before this irresistible will, the once incomparably ferocious Demon Mantis Beast Soul instantly let out a mournful cry.

Then, its defiant consciousness was brutally crushed, and it was transformed into a stream of pure energy that merged into every inch of Jiang Che’s body!

Outside.

Song Yuan nervously watched Jiang Che on the altar.

Although it was said that if you could kill it yourself, you could generally suppress it with your Divine Thought.

But this was, after all, a Beast Soul from the Seventh Layer of the True Master Realm!

Its Realm was too high!

’Can Jiang Che really suppress it?’

’If he can’t, I’ll have to step in and stop it immediately!’