The black mist in the Demon Abyss had grown thinner than before. The Life Origin Power that clung like an ulcer to the bone was still there, but it was now as feeble as a candle guttering in the wind, barely stirring a faint prickling across his skin.
Dragging Zhang Xiu along, Qin He found a natural cavern deep in the Demon Abyss.
Several demon crystals emitting a dim glow were embedded in the cavern ceiling. Layers of ink-black ice crystals coated the rock walls, offering better protection against outside divine soul probes, if there were any.
He threw Zhang Xiu into the center of the cavern. Demonic essence surged at his fingertips as he first carved three concentric foundation formations into the ground.
The outermost ring was a Demon-Attracting Rune, which drew in the surrounding demonic essence; the middle ring was a Soul-Locking Rune, etched with fine, barbed patterns specifically designed to bind divine souls; the innermost ring was a Spirit-Gathering Rune, used to stabilize the energy at the formation's nexus.
Qin He took out the Tier-Four Soul-Seizing Core he had obtained earlier and pressed it into the recess in the central Spirit-Gathering Rune.
The moment the core touched the demonic runes, a black halo spread from it, and the soul shadows swimming inside began flowing along the patterns.
He then placed a grudge soul flower at each of the left and right nexuses of the Soul-Locking Rune. The resentful soul energy on their petals merged with the demonic runes, forming two pale-black ribbons of energy.
One flower would actually have been enough, but to be safer, Qin He used both outright. Heaven knew whether the Divine Court had placed any restrictions on this front.
Finally, he crushed the nether marrow jade and scattered it along the edge of