A Battle for the Soul

The Ghost Master gave a shout, and his nearly solid palms whirled like lotus flowers. A black vortex abruptly gathered and shot straight at the Black Dragon Cauldron.

The black vortex flipped open the cauldron lid and lunged at the Taiji Halo. Just as it touched the halo, a bang rang out, and the black vortex instantly crumbled. The Ghost Master's expression changed dramatically. "I can smell an intense, irresistible sorrow—the essence of a state of mind, the meaning of ultimate grief! Heavens, you brat actually comprehended the meaning of ultimate grief and intend to refine it into this Soul-Summoning Banner. The meaning of ultimate grief, aiding a soul attack—could there be a more perfect combination under heaven? Heavens, how favored am I by you? How favored!"

Before his cry had faded, a brilliant blue light suddenly shone from the Ghost Master's heart, like a clump of drenched, ghostly blue flames. It was the karmic fire he had gathered through a thousand years of bitter cultivation.

A fierce look of agony spread across the Ghost Master's face. His entire head suddenly split open, and a streak of ghostly blue light burst from the fissure.

After the blue light burst out, his split head quickly rejoined. The Ghost Master rubbed his hands together, and another vortex of black qi appeared. It swept up the ghostly blue karmic fire and transformed into a black halo, then lunged at the Taiji Halo once more.

With a soft poof, the black halo actually entered the Taiji Halo. Xu Yi's mind shook, and he spat out a mouthful of heart's blood. Two more Soul Splitting Arts shot from him at once, plunging into the Taiji Halo.

Caught between attacks from Xu Yi and the Ghost Master, the Taiji Halo spun violently, turning into a phantom.