The King of Hell's Post

"The vertical eye between my brows is a Mental System External Soul Bone called the Magic Spider Compound Eye. Only through it can I guide my Spirit Power outward in advance."

At Yu Xiaogang's words, Flender and Liu Erlong looked even more astonished.

Ordinary Soul Masters would fight tooth and nail over a conventional Soul Bone. Yet here was an exceedingly rare External Soul Bone—and a Mental System one, at that. It could practically guarantee a Soul Master would reach the Soul Douluo Realm.

But as the Golden Iron Triangle, the three had already endured countless trials together. When Yu Xiaogang obtained the External Soul Bone, all they felt was happiness for him.

One was glad for his brother; the other, as his beloved, shared his joy as if it were her own.

"Xiao Gang, you need to devote some of your energy to cultivation from now on. With this Soul Bone and the Immortal Medicine Xiao San gave you, you definitely have a chance of reaching a higher realm," Flender said earnestly.

"I understand. Once we've sent off this batch of students, I'll focus on cultivation."

Yu Xiaogang patted Flender and Liu Erlong on the shoulders, then said, "Our auras are concealed by Spirit Power now. With the boost from the Golden Triangle Formation, even a Soul Douluo would have trouble detecting us. Shi Nian may be a Soul Saint with a Mental System Martial Soul, but there's no way he can track us."

"We'd better catch up, before anything happens to Xiao San."

With that, the three immediately set off after Tang San.

Concealed by Spirit Power, Yu Xiaogang and the others had completely vanished from sight. Even the light passed straight through them, as if they had disappeared from the world.

That was the effect of concealing one's aura with outwardly released Spirit Power. Only someone probing with Spirit Power of the same level could detect them.

Yu Xiaogang and the others followed the two people ahead, crossing the streets of the Inner City and entering the Outer City's commercial district.

After wandering around the district in circles a few times, the two finally left through the city gate.

"That old bastard's pretty cautious. Too bad he's just digging himself into a deeper hole with all that needless cleverness."

Yu Xiaogang grumbled inwardly as the three continued after them, heading out of the city.

After a series of twists and turns, both groups finally stopped in a small grove in a valley outside the city.

In the woods, Shi Nian released Tang San from the restraints of his Martial Soul, freeing him from the Illusion Realm.

Realizing that he'd been lured into the woods, Tang San immediately rebuked Shi Nian for abducting him, while probing for the man's intentions.

Shi Nian gave his signature villainous grin. "You think being near Heaven Dou City will make me hesitate? You're overthinking it, boy. I could kill you here, and no one would ever know."

"Is that so?"

At the sound of a hoarse voice, Yu Xiaogang and the others suddenly dropped from the sky, landing at three corners around Tang San and shielding him.

A look of surprise crossed Shi Nian's face. He stared wide-eyed at the three before him.

"You three again, ruining my plans! You deserve to die," Shi Nian snarled through gritted teeth.

"What, you see your teacher and don't kneel to pay your respects? And now you want to take his life, too? How utterly ungrateful."

Standing at the front, Yu Xiaogang distracted Shi Nian with his words while directing his Spirit Power and Soul Power toward the Magic Spider Compound Eye between his brows.

"Teacher? Yu Xiaogang, you certainly deserve the title of 'Grandmaster.' Back then, even the elders of Spirit Hall couldn't solve the problem with my Martial Soul. I never imagined that you, still in your twenties, could come up with a complete solution."

A distant look came over Shi Nian's face. Then he continued, "You should be able to guess why I made the contestants from Canghui Academy my targets this time. But do you know what my greatest goal has always been?"

Shi Nian laughed loudly, his face twisted with malice. The seventh Soul Ring on his body began to shine with a deep glow.

"My greatest goal is to personally kill all three members of the Golden Iron Triangle and wash away the shame of my defeat in that ruin!"

"Heh heh heh..."

A familiar, eerie laugh echoed from all around. A blinding flash of white light swept past, and Shi Nian's figure disappeared. In the blink of an eye, the scene changed.

Familiar buildings appeared before Yu Xiaogang. He surveyed his surroundings and realized he'd returned to the Blue Electric Tyrant Dragon Clan's grounds, standing in the meeting square on Dragon Head Mountain.

"Yu Xiaogang, you're the Clan Leader's son, yet your talent is abysmal. You've wasted so many of the clan's resources. Do you know your crime?"

"You're the Clan Leader's son, yet not only can you bring no glory to the clan, you insist on studying useless theory. You're a disgrace!"

"The clan's cultivation system has been passed down for centuries. You're a good-for-nothing, and you think you can change it? You're betraying your teachers and ancestors!"

"You're not fit to be a member of the Blue Electric Tyrant Dragon Clan!"

On the meeting square, several clan elders berated Yu Xiaogang below them. The many clan members present also looked his way with contempt.

Yu Xiaogang looked down at himself and saw that he was wearing the Blue Electric Tyrant Dragon Clan's disciple uniform. He then surveyed the square.

The familiar sights filled his eyes. A hint of nostalgia surfaced in his gaze, followed by a note of resolve.

"I'll be back here soon."

Then he turned toward the front of the square. "You Old Guys can shut up now."

As he spoke, a purple vertical eye opened between his brows. The Spirit Shock he'd been building up for some time burst forth.

Boom!

A powerful wave of Spirit Power swept through the illusion before him. The figures and buildings shattered, and then the sky and earth collapsed with a series of thunderous roars.

Another intense flash of white light passed, and everyone returned to the woods.

Pfft!

Shi Nian, his Martial Soul broken, spat out a mouthful of blood. His face twisted with disbelief. "Impossible! Even if the Golden Iron Triangle can use a Martial Soul Fusion Skill, it only boosts your Soul Power. How could it produce Spirit Power this powerful?"

He looked Yu Xiaogang up and down, then noticed the purple vertical eye between his brows.

"A Spirit-type Soul Bone?"

Shi Nian seemed to understand. Then he burst into mad laughter.

"Don't think you've won yet."

A violent Soul Power Fluctuation surged from Shi Nian's body. After his confidence had been shattered, the old bastard was actually trying to blow himself up on the spot.

Just then, a streak of black light traced a graceful arc through the air and struck Shi Nian squarely in the Eye Sockets.

Shi Nian's expression froze. The Soul Power Fluctuation from his body quickly faded, and within moments he turned completely black before dissolving into a puddle of black liquid.

That King of Hell's Post really was vicious!

Even after seeing a Soul Saint turn into a puddle of black liquid after being struck by the King of Hell's Post, Yu Xiaogang couldn't help feeling shaken by the sight.

Tang San slowly stepped out from between the three. After he explained what the Soul-Chasing, Life-Taking King of Hell's Post could do, everyone couldn't help praising it.

Flender suggested they leave at once, in case Shi Nian had left some kind of trap behind. After all, the old bastard had been far too devious.

Yu Xiaogang knew there was no need to worry, so he spoke to his disciple:

"Xiao San, go see if Shi Nian left anything behind."