Xu Zhao

At the low shout, a melodious, winding sound drifted from the room. It seemed like the wind, yet also like a sweet-voiced young girl sobbing softly.

The moment Wang Nan heard it, a wave of sorrow surged into his heart. But immediately afterward, golden light flickered faintly within his Spiritual Sea. A golden figure shaped like a Young Lion appeared and vanished above it, while a warm sensation spread from between his brows throughout his body.

Wang Nan came to his senses and turned to look around, only to discover that even Zhang Lexuan had been affected. His heart sank. The other side's Control Type Soul Master must have made a move.

When he looked behind him again, sure enough, aside from Han Ruoruo, whose Soul Power was comparatively high, everyone else's movements had slowed somewhat.

Along with that sound, a tall man rushed out of the room. Four Soul Rings—white, yellow, yellow, and purple—circled around him. Green plumage covered his back, and two long feelers had grown from his face. He had clearly entered Martial Soul Possession.

"Who are you people, barging into the territory of my Qishui Gate?"

The man shouted, but after seeing Zhang Lexuan and Wang Nan's Soul Rings, his expression began changing repeatedly.

These two are quite strong, and their Soul Rings are the optimal combination. They must come from some major sect. But the higher sect sent people to collect the goods today, and they never mentioned anyone else coming here. Could someone have leaked the news? Could another sect be deliberately causing trouble?

This matter likely cannot be settled peacefully. We can only have the higher sect act and strive to defeat them in one blow.

With that thought, the man slowed his steps and softened his tone.

"May I ask which sect the two of you are from, and what guidance you seek at my Qishui Gate?" As he spoke, the man raised a hand and gestured vaguely behind him. "If you have urgent business, why not come inside and sit down? We can discuss it in detail."

Though Zhang Lexuan had been affected by the opponent's Soul Skill, she still retained her basic judgment. Before both sides had even met, the other party's Control Type Soul Master had acted. How could they possibly want a proper discussion? Naturally, Wang Nan would not be fooled by such clumsy words either.

The man continued approaching slowly, as though he truly intended to invite Wang Nan and Zhang Lexuan into the room for a detailed talk.

Just as he came within two meters of Wang Nan, a Yellow Soul Ring suddenly lit up. The man held both hands before him, his fists lashing out rapidly like two small hammers toward Wang Nan.

His Martial Soul was the Peacock Mantis Shrimp.

Though it was called a shrimp, its body was covered in peacock-like green feathers. Its arms resembled a mantis's forelimbs, giving it tremendous explosive power and offensive strength at close range.

As he activated his Second Soul Ring, his hands became like the foreclaws of a Peacock Mantis Shrimp, striking rapidly and repeatedly at Wang Nan.

The Control Type Soul Master's Soul Skill was still in effect. He wanted to seize the chance before Wang Nan and Zhang Lexuan had fully recovered and eliminate the weaker Wang Nan first.

But he had chosen the wrong opponent.

Not only had Wang Nan broken free of the control, he had been prepared for battle from the very beginning.

The man struck several times in quick succession, but every blow landed on a pitch-black staff. A Golden Dragon slowly coiled along the staff, its eyes fixed in his direction.

Before Wang Nan could launch a counterattack, Ma Xiaotao had already arrived at the battlefield. A clear phoenix cry rang out behind Wang Nan, followed by a sheet of flames rushing at the man.

Yet the flames did not harm him.

A disc-shaped object flew out from the room. After reaching the man's side, it emitted black light and devoured all of Ma Xiaotao's flames.

Seeing this, the man took the opportunity to flee back into the room.

"Where do you think you're going?"

Ma Xiaotao was already impatient by nature, and she was still being affected by the opponent's Soul Skill. Seeing the man trying to escape, her third Soul Ring flashed, and a pair of fiery red wings spread behind her as she prepared to fly after him into the room.

"Don't go! It's dangerous!"

Wang Nan reached out to grab Ma Xiaotao, but faster than he was a golden rope. The rope flew through the air, wrapped around Ma Xiaotao's waist, and forcibly yanked her back.

"Xiaotao, where are you going?" Han Ruoruo had caught up, her expression dark.

"That man just tried to lure Senior Sister Zhang and me into the room. There must be an ambush inside," Wang Nan said. Then his third Soul Ring began to flash as well.

As one end of the Coiling Dragon Staff smashed into the ground, it seemed as though a dragon's roar sounded from beneath the earth. The surrounding ground shook as if in an earthquake, and massive cracks spread toward the houses. The several rooms began swaying violently, dust falling constantly from their roofs, while the pillars supporting them creaked loudly.

Wang Nan had not actually used his full strength. His targets were the missing children, who were very likely inside the houses. How could he possibly allow the buildings to collapse?

But the Soul Masters inside did not know that. They assumed Wang Nan intended to bring down the houses and force them out, so they could only flee early to avoid being crushed beneath the collapsing roofs.

As the doors opened, eleven people rushed out from the three rooms.

One of them was also a Soul Emperor, though he possessed only one Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Ring. There were three Soul Ancestors. Aside from the man from earlier, the other two stood beside that Soul Emperor.

The rest were merely Soul Masters with one or two rings. There was not even a single Soul Elder among them.

Zhang Lexuan had watched the series of events unfold from the side. As she looked at Wang Nan's figure, several thoughts flashed through her mind.

"Ye Xiaosheng, use the Soul Tools!" In the midst of battle, Zhang Lexuan suppressed the thoughts in her heart and called out behind her.

Ye Xiaosheng moved at her command, shouldering two Soul Tool Cannons. As Soul Power gathered at their muzzles, two beams of white light shot toward the enemy.

Deafening booms and intense flashes erupted among the opposing group. Taking advantage of the moment, Zhang Lexuan called Xixi to her side.

"Take this chance to search for the children. Be careful once you get inside. The moment you confirm their location, withdraw immediately."

Xixi nodded. Amid the dazzling white light, she turned into an inconspicuous streak of lightning and entered the room.

When the white light faded, the weaker Soul Masters were all weeping and sniveling, clutching their eyes and ears as they knelt or sprawled painfully on the ground. Only the Soul Emperor and the three Soul Ancestors beside him remained unaffected.

Though the Soul Emperor had not been affected by the Soul Tools, his expression turned ugly.

He had originally believed that only one Soul Emperor and one Soul Ancestor had come to cause trouble. With their numbers, they might still have had a chance. But Wang Nan's side had a full nine people, all above three rings in strength, and they had opened with powerful Soul Tools. They now had almost no chance of winning.

"Please show mercy, everyone. I am Xu Zhao, a steward of the Profound Darkness Sect. Might there be some misunderstanding here?"

Profound Darkness Sect? They aren't Evil Soul Masters?

Zhang Lexuan frowned.