The Azure Ghost stood silently behind Gu Chen.
The Azure Ghost stared at Gu Chen before him with a hint of confusion in his eyes. There was something wrong with the Forbidden Release Gu Chen had displayed—not with the Forbidden Release itself, but with the method of release, which differed from that of every Hell Envoy the Azure Ghost had seen.
Forbidden Release was the fusion of a Hell Envoy and their main soul in soul, will, and temperament. Yet Gu Chen's Forbidden Release seemed not to require communication with the Soul Stone. Instead, it removed the seal restraining the main soul's immense power and returned it to its original level.
It seemed that Gu Chen had always been able to remain in Forbidden Release form, but had deliberately suppressed the overwhelmingly powerful force within his body.
This method of activating Forbidden Release, along with Gu Chen's abnormal ability to absorb evil artifacts, made the Azure Ghost extremely interested in Gu Chen's body.
If Gu Chen were regarded as a creature of the Blood Realm, the Azure Ghost would classify him as Blood King level. To kill a Blood King with vitality beyond imagination, even the Azure Ghost would likely need a long time unless he resorted to extraordinary measures.
"Crack, crack, crack!"
The Azure Ghost's ribs spread outward one by one, and azure light spilled from within his body.
It was clear that the Azure Ghost possessed neither human-like organs nor the soul marrow of ghostly beings. Instead, at his center was the source from which all azure light radiated: a tiny Resentment Crystal rooted deep within his body.
Yet the most eye-catching thing was an illusory Sword Body, suspended upside down at the very center of the Azure Ghost's body, its blade branded with unknown runic script.
The