Under the gaze of those eyes, the thumb-sized iron ball in Ai Qing's hand silently collapsed. Or rather, as if melting, it spread in an instant, turning into a gray-black torrent that filled the entire room.
Miserable shrieks rang out from within the torrent.
To Ascenders, that void-like gray-black mist was like a deadly poison that dissolved souls.
Soul Dissolving Gold.
An uncanny metal that could, in the literal sense, devour souls and Source Matter.
No one was extravagant enough to use it as a weapon, nor was it strong enough to serve as one. But to alchemists, it was an indispensable precious material.
Often, just one gram was enough to raise the safety and stability of a massive Alchemy Matrix by another level.
All leaking and dissipating power would be completely devoured by that metal.
But now, as it swept forth beneath Ai Qing's will, it became a fog that devoured souls, endlessly corroding every soul within its reach.
"White Beast!!!"
The Ascender clutched his rotting face and screamed.
The violently activated soul suddenly swelled. That bizarre beast unleashed a storm, broke through the gray mist's obstruction, and lunged at Ai Qing, dozens of claws already reaching for her body.
Then, beneath the scrutiny of those eyes, it froze in place.
Trembling convulsively.
Howling in agony.
"Ah, you're made of Source Matter too—"
Ai Qing sighed, as though she had discovered a new toy. "Are you ready to embrace freedom?"
In that instant, the power of the Eye of Liberation descended upon the White Beast!
The crazed giant beast instantly contracted into a mass of dazzling silver-white substance. Then it erupted with a roar, spreading like a tide of mercury as countless blades emerged within it.
In an instant, it swallowed every Ascender who had rushed into the room.