While Ming Cheng and the others were still in discussion, the experts of the Hall of Souls standing outside gazed coldly at the figures hidden within the mountain range. Their eyes carried no warmth—only cruelty and an icy intent that seemed to freeze the very air.
At the very forefront stood a man clad in a plain black robe. His appearance was unremarkable, his hands clasped behind his back with the calloused roughness of a laborer. Yet anyone who set eyes upon him would feel their breath stifle, their hearts constrict, and their expressions turn grave with fear.
This was the man who once forced Xiao Hua into a wretched state, leaving him to recuperate within Burning Flame Valley—the chief of the Hall of Souls, Hun Mie Sheng!
At this moment, his expression was solemn, his sharp gaze fixed on the formation shrouding the Brightmoon Mountain Range. Even through its barrier, he could sense the dreadful power hidden within. A faint scent of danger lingered there, one that even he could not ignore.
Drawing a steady breath, Hun Mie Sheng spoke, his tone heavy.
"It is truly astonishing that this fledgling faction can possess a formation of such dreadful formation. One cannot help but wonder… how did they come to own this?"
"Terrifying though it may be, it is not unbreakable," the gray-clothed old man beside him murmured, stroking his long black brows as his beard trembled faintly. "So long as we combine our strength, we can tear it apart."
"There are… other means to dismantle it," the stick-wielding elder spoke calmly, his voice steady. "But to use them now would be unwise. Should we reveal such methods too early, the other ancient clans might join hands against us."
As he spoke, his gaze briefly shifted toward an empty space behind their ranks before calmly returning to the formation. The movement was subtle, so swift and discreet that none noticed—save for the two people at his side.
Naturally, the three understood one another without further words. Each carried their own hidden trump card, but none would risk exposing them without necessity. With silent agreement, they turned their focus back to the matter before them.
Breaking the silence, Hun Mie Sheng's eyes narrowed, his voice low and hushed so none but the two could hear.
"Regardless… is it true that Xiao Hua possesses the 'key'?"
"Xiao Hua is by far the most outstanding figure within the current Xiao Clan. Although the clan head refuses to admit it—even if beaten to half an inch of death—it is clear who safeguards that item. Moreover, they have upheld their clan's ancient rule to this very day, which means the one holding the key can only be him."
The elderly figure with the walking stick gave a deep nod, conviction flashing in his eyes. To him, there was no doubt that what they sought was in Xiao Hua's possession.
"Yet… that brat isn't here." The gray-robed old man's gaze pierced the formation, sweeping across the gathered figures within, but Xiao Hua was nowhere to be seen.
Hun Mie Sheng's brows knitted as he sank into thought. After a moment, his voice emerged low and steady. "From what I know of him, he is no coward. If he is absent, then he must be elsewhere—planning something."
His eyes darkened as he recalled how Xiao Hua had once chosen to remain behind, diverting the Hall's vice-chief to secure his allies' retreat. A chilling smile curved on his lips, his words laced with killing intent.
"Regardless, we can simply force him out. With his nature, he will never stand idly by while his mansion is destroyed."
"Then let us settle this swiftly, before that Gu girl stirs the Gu Clan to intervene on Moonlit Chaos Mansion's behalf," the gray-robed old man said, impatience threading his tone.
Hun Mie Sheng nodded. "Indeed. Old Mo, Old Qian Mo—I will trouble the two of you for assistance. That Gu lass has obstructed us more than once. It grows tiresome. This matter must be resolved before she interferes again."
Both elders inclined their heads in silent agreement. Just as they prepared to move, however, ripples spread across the formation, an opening slowly revealing itself before their eyes.
"Well, it seems they intend to make things easier for us." Hun Mie Sheng's lips curved into a frigid smile as the barrier began to scatter. His gaze pierced through the space, locking upon the thin figure that stood proudly atop the mountain peak.
Then, his voice erupted, deep and chilling, echoing across the heavens like the toll of death:
"Moonlit Chaos Mansion… This time, let this chief see who dares save you! None shall prevent me from bathing this place in blood!"
…
A short distance away from the Brightmoon Mountain Range, countless experts from various factions watched with solemn expressions.
These Central Plains forces had gathered not merely to spectate, but also out of curiosity—to witness firsthand who would prove superior in this clash: the ancient powerhouse, the Hall of Souls, or the rising Moonlit Chaos Mansion.
Yet when their eyes fell upon the Hall of Souls' lineup, even the most seasoned among them felt a tremor in their hearts. To see Hun Mie Sheng appear was already daunting enough. But the arrival of the two elderly figures beside him shook them even further.
"Hun Mo… I never thought he would reveal himself again…"
"And not just him—Hun Qian Mo as well… Who would have imagined this old man still lived? It seems the Hall of Souls is truly determined to turn Moonlit Chaos Mansion upside down."
Among the gathered onlookers, many were elders whose experience spanned centuries; such figures were not rare around the mountain. The younger generation might have heard vague tales of Hun Mo, yet knew little of the other. But to these elders—who had personally witnessed the shadows of that bygone era—the weight of these names alone was enough to stir fear.
"Even so, why would Moonlit Chaos Mansion open their formation? Would it not be wiser to let Hun Qian Mo and the others waste some of their strength before engaging them?" One of the observers raised his brow, clearly puzzled by the decision.
"It is useless," an elderly man replied with a sigh, lightly shaking his head. "Such tactics might trouble ordinary Dou Sheng elites, but it is meaningless against Hun Mie Sheng and those beside him. If they join forces, not even a fraction of their strength will be lost. Moreover, once their defensive formation shatters, it would open the way for other factions to infiltrate their realm."
Another elder nodded in agreement. "Indeed. It is better to open the barrier selectively—allowing some in while preventing others from sneaking through. That way, no opportunists can slip inside and strike at their disciples."
Hearing this exchange, many came to understand that Moonlit Chaos Mansion's choice was not reckless, but wise.
Naturally, this was the true reasoning behind Ming Cheng and the others' decision to open the protective formation. They were well aware of the countless treasures within their mansion—treasures that would stir the greed of countless forces.
By opening the barrier themselves, they ensured that only the Hall of Souls could enter directly, while denying all others the chance to sneak in under chaos.
As for Xin Yu, her reasoning went deeper. Though she too understood the logic behind this choice, her true intent was different. The Lunar Radiance Myriad-Star Formation was Xue Yue's creation. To her, allowing it to be shattered was unacceptable. Though she acted with reason, her heart could not deny the weight of sentiment—she would never allow Xue Yue's masterpiece to be destroyed by the Hall of Soul in brute force manner.
"Nonetheless, with the opening of the formation, the battle shall begin…"
…
Ming Cheng and the others moved swiftly, their hands weaving countless profound and mysterious seals. As the final handprints fell into place, majestic auras erupted from their bodies, their strength surging skyward in terrifying waves. One after another, their voices thundered across the battlefield:
"Celestial Frostlight Goddess Manifestation! Third Manifestation—Celestial Frostlight Goddess Descent!" Li Mei's cold cry rang out, her elegant figure shrouded in frost and lightning.
"Demon Lightning Transformation—Demon God Ascension!" Ming Cheng roared, his voice shaking the heavens as thunder and lightning burst forth.
"Blue Profound Heaven Three Divine Shifts! Third Divine Shift—Celestial Ocean Shift!" Xin Yu's serene call spread like the endless tide, vast and boundless as the sea itself.
"Primordial Phoenix Flame Ascension! Primordial Flame Goddess Descent!" Mei Ling's clear voice resonated like the cry of a phoenix, blazing with the majesty of a fiery goddess.
"Heavenly Dragon Flame Manifestation—Primordial Dragon Flame Avatar!" Wei Jie's scorching roar tore through the air, raising the temperature of the world as flames surged skyward.
Li Mei's form ascended into a divine manifestation, her figure clad in crystalline frostlight armor that shimmered like an ancient celestial gown, flowing with both icy purity and heavenly thunder. Her eyes blazed like twin stars, sapphire and white intertwining as arcs of lightning pulsed in rhythm with her heartbeat, while her silver-blue hair drifted like starlight caught in a cosmic storm.
A boundless storm of snow and thunder swirled around her, freezing the void beneath her feet, yet within that storm lay a serene majesty—cold, radiant, and untouchable, like the descent of a true goddess.
Ming Cheng's eyes blazed with golden-black lightning, divine yet bestial, their scorching gaze able to sear the very soul. His hair flowed like a river of lightning, crackling arcs weaving around him as though he embodied a living storm.
Veins of radiant thunder streaked across his skin, dense with ancient markings that glowed like runes of power, each pulse brimming with celestial might. His aura struck a perfect balance between destructive ferocity and regal divinity, a presence that made even the void tremble.
Xin Yu's figure shone with the grace of a celestial goddess. Her silver and midnight-blue hair shimmered like the starry night, cascading in waves as if the ocean itself flowed beneath the moonlight. Her eyes became vast pools of moonlit radiance, deep and infinite as the cosmos.
Bathed in ethereal glow, her skin gleamed like moonlight incarnate, while a faint celestial halo crowned her form. Starry patterns flickered across her being as her presence emanated serene divinity, awe-inspiring yet gentle beyond mortal grasp.
Mei Ling's eyes blazed like twin suns, golden-red brilliance piercing through all darkness. Her irises burned with swirling flame patterns, embodying both rebirth and destruction. Her hair ignited fully into a river of fire, cascading in radiant waves like a living crown of the sun's corona.
Cloaked in phoenix flame armor that rippled like liquid fire, her form radiated divine brilliance. Flaming feathers adorned her armor, exuding the regal might and primal majesty of the undying phoenix.
Wei Jie's body was encased in flawless scales of molten gold and crimson flame, each scale alive, shifting like a sea of fire. His eyes turned wholly draconic, burning as miniature suns with pupils of molten flame.
Vast wings of pure fire unfurled from his back, radiating destruction, while a blazing dragon tail lashed the void with devastating might. His human form was gone, replaced by divine draconic armor forged of scales and flame, etched with primordial runes and symbols of the ancient dragon tribe.
When their transformations completed, the void quaked beneath their presence. Their auras soared with unstoppable momentum, vast and terrifying.
From mere 1-Star Dou Shengs, Wei Jie and Mei Ling had ascended to the terrifying realm of advanced 3-Star Dou Sheng, while Ming Cheng, Li Mei, and Xin Yu had leapt into the heavens, reaching the unbelievable height of advanced 5-Star Dou Sheng!
The instant those terrifying auras erupted, commotion swept through the experts watching the scene. None of them could believe what they were witnessing—the Hall Masters actually possessed a Secret Technique capable of forcefully elevating their strength even at the realm of Dou Sheng!
It was well-known that most Secret Techniques could indeed raise one's power temporarily, yet their effectiveness diminished sharply the higher one's cultivation rose. By the time one stepped into the Dou Sheng class, such techniques became little more than embellishments, incapable of altering the outcome of a true battle.
But before their eyes was something that shattered common sense—a Secret Technique that elevated a mere 1-Star Dou Sheng to the level of an advanced 3-Star, and even propelled others directly to 5-Star Dou Sheng! And not just one technique, but five distinct variations of the same origin!
How could anyone remain calm before such a spectacle? Shock was carved into every face present. This was a sight that defied all understanding.
Even Hun Mie Sheng, Hun Mo, and Hun Qian Mo halted mid-step, their expressions darkening with disbelief. With all their vast experience, they had never once encountered such a terrifying method.
Though they themselves possessed and experienced the Clan Tattoo's ability, even those were far inferior to what they now witnessed. Their battle plan had already been thrown into disarray. Yet, as seasoned veterans, their deep experience quickly steadied their hearts, allowing them to glimpse the hidden truths behind this mysterious Secret Technique.
Clearly, the price of such a technique was exceedingly high. None of them believed Ming Cheng and the others could endure for long in a drawn-out battle.
Bang!
Even as that thought crossed their minds, Ming Cheng's foot slammed against the void. Space collapsed with a thunderous roar as jagged black cracks tore outward into the distance. His figure shot forth at an astounding speed, turning into a streak of black-golden lightning, carrying an unmatched tyrannical might.
In the blink of an eye, Ming Cheng appeared before an elderly figure leaning on a walking stick. To everyone's shock, his target was none other than Hun Qian Mo!
A cold gleam flashed across his eyes as his hand clenched tightly. In an instant, a long black spear materialized within his grip, its tip glinting with a murderous sharpness. His aura surged—dense killing intent and destructive force radiated from his very being, making him resemble a god of slaughter descending upon the world.
Without hesitation, Ming Cheng brandished the spear and thrust it forward, fearlessly aiming straight for Hun Qian Mo's life!
Boom!
Hun Qian Mo's pupils contracted as an intense sense of danger welled up within him. With a cold snort, he swung his sleeve and clenched his hand into a claw-like seal, slamming against the incoming strike. The clash erupted with a deafening shockwave that shook the void.
"Hah! You undying old relic," Ming Cheng sneered, his grin cold and cruel. "Don't you feel you've lived long enough? Allow me to end it for you."
"You think you can take this old man's life with just that much?" Hun Qian Mo's dark laughter rumbled. "Keep dreaming!"
Ming Cheng's eyes narrowed slightly, his voice low and sharp. "This place is far too cramped…"
As he spoke, black-golden lightning frenziedly surged, condensing upon his spear. Terrifying strength gathered, radiating a blinding brilliance that tore at the surrounding void.
"Let's fight elsewhere!"
Boom!
With another devastating stomp, space shattered beneath his feet. The overwhelming might behind his strike forced Hun Qian Mo backward, driving him into the distance.
Caught off guard by Ming Cheng's sudden eruption of strength, Hun Qian Mo's response came too late. His body was pushed away like a storm-tossed leaf before he managed to stabilize himself—yet when he did, he was already several hundred meters from where he had originally stood.
Hun Qian Mo could hardly believe the astonishing speed and tyrannical might Ming Cheng now displayed. Even he, with all his cultivation, could scarcely keep pace. If he were to close his eyes for even an instant, Ming Cheng's merciless strike would surely pierce him through.
His expression darkened, and his glare turned razor-sharp as his voice resounded, dripping with chilling intent.
"Brat… do you truly think a mere forceful raise of strength can place you on equal footing with me? You are reaching far too high!"
"Equal or not, the battlefield will decide, old dog!"
Ming Cheng's roar shook the heavens as he charged once more, his advance like rolling thunder, like a stampede of untamed beasts surging to trample everything in their path.
Hun Qian Mo's eyes narrowed, but his response came without hesitation. He met the terrifying charge head-on, unleashing the boundless might of a Six-Star Dou Sheng, unwilling to concede even half a step before Ming Cheng's overwhelming force.
Boom!
Their collision was instant and cataclysmic. Both sides struck with their full power, neither yielding an inch, their killing intent saturating the heavens. Mountains crumbled to dust, and the void itself collapsed under the clash of their dominion.
The gathered experts watching the scene felt their scalps go numb. None of them had expected a young man like Ming Cheng to contend with Hun Qian Mo, even if he had forcefully raised his strength through a Secret Technique.
What left them even more shaken was Ming Cheng's sheer dominance. To think that someone who had only stepped into the realm of Dou Sheng a mere two years ago could unleash such overwhelming might—it was simply beyond belief.
"What an unbelievable brat…! Just how have these youngsters tempered themselves to attain such a terrifying physique…?" Hun Mo muttered in disbelief, his eyes narrowing as he witnessed the clash between Hun Qian Mo and Ming Cheng.
But in the next breath, his gaze sharpened. His eyes locked ahead, where countless streaks of frosted lightning illuminated the void. From within that radiance, a figure walked forward with calm steps.
Her bearing was like the bright moon in a gentle breeze—pure, noble, and transcendent. Every movement brimmed with elegance. Her fluttering garments and flowing hair seemed to dance with the wind, while her eyes glimmered with a mesmerizing, unfathomable light.
"Old thing," Li Mei's voice rang out, calm yet dripping with sarcasm. Beneath that mocking tone, however, lurked a chilling murderous intent sharp enough to pierce bone. "Have you lived long enough to finally decide to step into the underworld? Good. It will be my pleasure to send you there with my own hands."
"Heh, heh… such bold words," Hun Mo sneered, his killing intent flaring violently. "This old man has never learned how to be gentle with a beautiful flower."
"This flower's thorns are sharp, old dog—and they show no mercy to those who can do nothing but bark." At that, Li Mei's lips curved into a cold smile, disdain lacing her voice.
After speaking, Li Mei stepped forward with a gentle, almost delicate grace. Yet beneath that soft movement, the void trembled violently. Streaks of frosty-white lightning crackled beneath her feet as she suddenly burst forth, murderous intent surging as she charged straight at Hun Mo.
Chi!
With a flick of her jade-like hand, a sword of pure white appeared within her grasp. Its blade exuded sharpness, yet carried an aura of purity and transcendent grace. Without the slightest hesitation, she swung it down, her strike merciless and direct.
"Hmph! The younger generation truly knows no restraint. Since none have taught you manners, this old man shall take this task for your parent!" Hun Mo snorted coldly as his gaze locked onto her incoming figure.
Having witnessed Hun Qian Mo's earlier misstep, Hun Mo dared not clash with Li Mei head-on. He feared her physical strength might rival even Ming Cheng's. With a flick of his sleeve, more than a dozen white bones shot forth, spewing black fog that wove itself into a dense, ghastly spiderweb before him.
Li Mei's eyes narrowed, but her steps did not falter. The jade-white sword in her hands flashed as she hacked down at the spiderweb without hesitation.
"Ke ke… how laughable. You do not even know your limits, little girl." Hun Mo sneered with disdain, his confidence brimming. He was certain this spiderweb could easily halt her blade.
Yet his expression froze in the next instant. The white spiderweb shredded apart like fragile paper beneath her strike, unable to hinder the jade-white sword for even a heartbeat as it tore unrelentingly toward his throat.
Startled by the sudden reversal, Hun Mo's pupils contracted sharply. Still, he did not panic. His bone-like hand curved into a strange arc, pressing against the incoming blade before he abruptly struck it aside with a forceful slap.
Clang!
Taking advantage of the momentum, Hun Mo twisted his body and narrowly evaded. Even so, the sword's edge was too keen—though it missed his throat, it sliced across his neck, leaving a faint bloody mark as a lock of his hair drifted into the void.
"Damn woman!"
Hun Mo's expression turned ashen, his arrogance costing him dearly in the opening exchange. His face grew dark and cold—clearly, these five Hall Masters could not be underestimated. Their strength was far more monstrous than he had imagined.
His hand seals shifted, and the vast black cloud above him—which had long blotted out the sun—suddenly trembled. From within came countless sharp, miserable screeches, chilling to the bone. One could faintly discern innumerable distorted figures writhing and struggling within the dark mass.
"Sky Demon Blood Insect!"
At his chilling cry, the black cloud churned violently. A moment later, a fierce aura—one that bore no trace of humanity—erupted forth. With a piercing shriek, a streak of blood-colored light burst from the cloud, tearing through the sky like a bolt of lightning. Under countless shocked gazes, it shot straight toward Li Mei at a speed that defied reaction.
"What a filthy technique, old thing." Li Mei's cold snort rang out as she stepped forward. Her flowing skirt shifted lightly, briefly revealing her delicate porcelain-like legs, drawing the stunned attention of all around.
Bang!
Her foot descended with indifference. In that instant, frosty-white lightning erupted from the void beneath her, crackling outward in a devastating surge. The thunderous arcs streaked toward the black cloud, colliding against it with a force like divine judgment, their speed as swift and merciless as the heavens' wrath.
Puchi! Puchi! Puchi!
The blood light was ruthlessly blasted tens of thousands of feet back by the frosty lightning. A shrill, miserable cry echoed through the heavens as several mountains crumbled into dust beneath the backlash. If one looked carefully, one could see the bloody light being corroded and purified by the streaks of frost-white lightning entwined around it.
When it finally managed to stabilize itself, its radiance had dimmed greatly, and its true form was revealed. Gasps of horror swept through the crowd as countless sharp intakes of breath echoed across the battlefield.
The so-called blood light was in fact a monstrous, toad-like abomination. Its entire body was a revolting dark red, covered in countless bulging clusters of flesh. Upon closer inspection, each cluster bore a twisted, ferocious human face—screaming, grimacing, and wailing in eternal agony.
"It is actually the Soul Curse Toad. I take it back. You are quite a disgusting old dog that even a filth seems more cleaner than you…"
Li Mei's beautiful eyes scanned this ferocious and frightening blood toad with deep frown from a short distance away as a recognition flashed deep in her eyes. Her brows knit tightly and spoke with a somewhat ugly expression.
Soul Curse Toad was rumored to be formed by gathering many souls together before forcing all the souls to kill each other. After which, some other ingredients would be gathered, and the Soul Curse Toad would be refined.
This thing was similar to a puppet, but due to it being forcefully formed by gathering many souls together, it also ended up gaining an intelligence. However, this intelligence was accompanied by a violent nature. Once this thing was released, it would go on a wild killing spree. In the end, it would even attack its owner. Normally, only an extremely ruthless person would refine it.
"Ke ke, I would have never expected someone as young as you to know about this child of mine." Hun Mo laughed in a strange, cold manner. He said, "But now that I think about it, your mansion does possess three alchemist grandmasters, so it is not surprising, I guess."
Li Mei ignored his words, though her disgust and hatred could no longer be hidden. The fire in her eyes spoke of a resolve carved in steel. She knew well enough—among the countless souls bound within that creature, perhaps a few had been vile. But the majority… they had been innocent lives, desecrated and twisted into fuel for this monstrosity.
While she knew that some of them must be evil and guilty, but she knew that most of them is definitely an innocent soul that was being used to create this Soul Curse Toad.
Her lips curved into a cold line, her voice sharp as a blade.
"You truly know how to disgust me. From this day forward, I will see every last soul-harvesting dog of the Hall of Souls destroyed."
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