Evil Soul Master

The origins of Evil Soul Masters could no longer be traced. The only certainty was that every nation and Sect Force showed zero tolerance toward them, with Spirit Hall leading the charge. Wherever an Evil Soul Master appeared, it could be reported to Spirit Hall, which would spare no expense in hunting them down. It was even possible for Titled Douluo to be deployed.

Unlike ordinary Soul Masters, Evil Soul Masters cultivated in different—and exceptionally cruel—ways. Ordinary Soul Masters advanced their ranks through battle and training their Martial Souls and Soul Power, while Evil Soul Masters mostly improved their cultivation by taking the lives of others.

Their cultivation methods were faster and more efficient than those of ordinary Soul Masters. Among Evil Soul Masters, some had even reached the realm of Titled Douluo through such methods.

However, because their cultivation methods were too cruel, most Evil Soul Masters became walking corpses after cultivating, corrupted by evil energy. After death, their souls might become nourishment for other Evil Soul Masters, while their bodies would become weapons.

Some Evil Soul Masters, upon reaching a certain realm, comprehended the ability to control corpses and make them explode. Their power was no less than that of a high-level Soul Skill such as the Ice Explosion Technique.

Because their cultivation methods were so cruel, and because the actions of Evil Soul Masters were inherently criminal, this profession faced resistance from every nation.

Basically every nation had issued kill orders against Evil Soul Masters. Under the opposition of all these nations, their activities had indeed decreased, yet people still occasionally spotted them. Moreover, their strength was far greater than that of ordinary Soul Masters.

At noon that day, the sunlight was brilliant, so bright that it was hard to keep one's eyes open.

A youth walked slowly down Sunset Ancient Road with steady steps. He wore a black robe, with an Ancient Black Sword hanging at his waist. His glossy black hair fell straight down, his sharp swordlike brows slanted upward, and his long, narrow black eyes held a piercing edge. His thin lips were pressed lightly together, his features sharply defined, and his tall, lean frame was strong without being rough. Like an eagle in the night, he was cold, proud, solitary, and imposing. Standing alone, he radiated an overwhelming presence that looked down upon heaven and earth.

This youth was Qian Xunji in disguise. Because of the unique nature of his Martial Soul, it was unsuitable for him to reveal it in public. Thus, he had asked Qian Daoliu for a Secret Art to alter his appearance, adopted the name Qin Jian, and traveled the continent.

At first, he had not been used to his current appearance, but over time, he had gradually adapted to it.

Over the past year, Qian Xunji had visited many secret realms and dangerous places. He had witnessed the treachery of human hearts and experienced both the warmth and coldness of human relationships. He had also come to understand more clearly what kind of world he lived in: the strong were revered, and the weak were prey to the strong. Tempered by blood and fire, Qian Xunji's bearing had grown increasingly mature and restrained.

By now, he was already a level 78 Soul Saint.

In a secret realm, he had obtained the Ancient Black Sword in his hand, as well as a sword manual called Azure Lotus. Thus, he comprehended sword intent while traveling the continent and fighting Soul Masters of all kinds who possessed great strength. Qian Xunji's power rose rapidly.

"Jiang Family Village."

Looking at the three large words, "Jiang Family Village," written on the plaque at the village entrance, Qian Xunji murmured softly. He then swiftly searched through the information in his mind concerning Jiang Family Village.

It seemed to be nothing more than an obscure little village. However, it appeared to be quite wealthy. Located on the border of the Two Great Empires, its villagers could exchange goods and rent out their homes for income, earning considerable profits.

Qian Xunji crossed through the village gate, occasionally glancing around as he slowly made his way deeper inside. Yet the atmosphere in the village was so quiet that it carried an unsettling hint of strangeness.

Logically, it was noon, and spring as well. At this hour, the villagers should have already been working in the fields. Yet not a single person could be seen on the streets. It was exceedingly strange, and a faint, inexplicable stench drifted through the air.

When Qian Xunji passed around a corner, the Bloody Scent nearly hit him in the face, making him want to vomit. Even with Qian Xunji's powerful will, he nearly failed to suppress the urge.

What entered his sight were corpses scattered everywhere.

One, two. Five, ten. There were at least several dozen!

His legs carried him forward almost of their own accord. Looking closely, he found that every corpse had its eyes wide open, their gazes filled with fear and terror, as though they had suffered an immense fright before death. Their expressions were incomparably twisted and horrifying. Combined with the scene before him, it unconsciously sent chills down one's spine.

Strangely, although every one of them had died miserably, not a single part of their bodies was damaged. There were no visible wounds at all.

Qian Xunji's figure flashed, and he instantly appeared before one corpse. He extended a hand and directly pulled open the corpse's collar. Two bloody fang marks appeared before his eyes.

Seeing this, he understood everything.

Qian Xunji withdrew his hand and slowly rose to his feet. Then, his dark eyes swept over the severed limbs scattered around him, and his gaze turned icy. No wonder he had sensed such dense Death Qi earlier. The villagers of the entire village had all died. With the corpses of an entire village and their resentment after death piled together, how could the Death Qi not be heavy?

Drinking human blood was a highly distinctive and rare method of killing, making it easy to identify. It was practically certain that this had been done by an Evil Soul Master.

"Those damned vermin again!"

Qian Xunji's fury surged. At some point, his pupils had turned golden, and his anger nearly Condensed into Substance. His sharp swordlike brows knitted tightly together as a sense of injustice lodged in his chest. If he did not vent it, his chest felt as though it would explode.

As a transmigrator, he was not like other transmigrators who could turn a blind eye to human lives, let out a sigh of lament, and leave it at that. He was a living, breathing person. His blood still ran hot and boiling through his body. He could not remain indifferent while such a tragedy unfolded before his very eyes.

Suddenly, he seemed to hear something. His Mental Power surged out rapidly, and before long, he discovered something unusual. Beside a collapsed house, beneath layers of dense forest, an abandoned well quietly came into view.

Qian Xunji quickly moved to the abandoned well to see what had happened. At the bottom lay a child of about five or six, curled up against the ground, his body trembling uncontrollably. The small child clenched his fists tightly and covered his mouth to prevent himself from making a sound, while cold sweat trickled down his forehead, drop by drop, onto the ground.

If Qian Xunji's Mental Power had not been so strong, he would never have discovered that someone was still here. Perhaps the Evil Soul Master had left in too much of a hurry to check.

He extended his hands toward the helpless child curled at the bottom of the well. The child slowly raised his head. What did he see? In that moment, Qian Xunji became a ray of light in his darkness, and afterward, the summer that warmed his entire winter.

"Come, child. I'll take you to kill someone." Those were the words Qian Xunji said to the child, and they were also a promise.

For many years afterward, that child never forgot what Qian Xunji had said to him that day.

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