Xu Yi ignored the three men. A radiant palm swept through the air, reaching straight for Hall Master Meng. The Three Dragon Guests struck at once, their three beams of light gathering into a colossal fist that smashed toward the radiant palm.
The palm twisted in midair and expanded several times over, then seized the incoming fist with pinpoint precision.
A flicker of delight crossed Xun Kuang's eyes. But just then, the radiant palm vanished without a trace. The next instant, it appeared before Hall Master Meng and slammed into him with a thunderous crash.
Hall Master Meng didn't move after being struck. The palm seemed to have little power, all appearance and no substance.
In the next instant, Hall Master Meng began spewing blood, and fluids of every color seeped from the pores all over his body.
In the blink of an eye, he grew thin as a cicada's wing. A gust of wind blew, and all that remained was his skin.
Xu Yi put away the Soul-Summoning Banner and beckoned with one hand. Hall Master Meng's feeble Primal Soul entered his radiant cage.
The soul-refining ordeal—so agonizing it made one's teeth ache, heart hurt, and skin crawl—began anew.
Everyone present turned deathly pale. Those who had clamored to kill the old devil were especially shaken. It was as if blocks of thousand-year-old black ice had been stuffed into their steaming chests, chilling them to the bone.
Qi Huai was on edge too. He had already sent word for someone to summon the family head and the Great Elder back as quickly as possible.
Their opponent was stronger than anyone had expected.
Even so, he was confident he could hold out until the family head and the Great Elder returned.
"Let me repeat my rule. Unless I tell you