The Yuan Ying

Others might not know what the Ten Thousand Soul Banner was.

But Mu Xuanheng knew exactly what it was. Whether from the novels and films of his first life or his real experiences in his second, he knew what this thing was.

In his second life, he had seen a necromancer use a Ten Thousand Soul Banner to summon resentful spirits and influence living beings. Regardless of their species, they all became vessels for resentful spirits and joined the undead army.

"Everyone, be careful. That's a Ten Thousand Soul Banner. It controls the undead and manipulates the dead. He's definitely an Evil Soul Master."

At Mu Xuanheng's shout, the other six people at the center of the battlefield immediately took defensive stances.

"What's going on? Why is there another Evil Soul Master besides the Hand of Death?" Ma Xiaotao asked in confusion, but no one could answer her.

They saw only the resentful spirits being sucked into the Ten Thousand Soul Banner, while the Evil Soul Master standing before it wore a chilling smile.

"Messenger of Death? There is only the noble Holy Emperor in this world."

"My lord, spare me! I'm willing to serve the Holy Emperor!"

"Kehehehe! Becoming a resentful spirit in my Holy Spirit Flag is how you serve the Holy Emperor."

Just like that, the leader of the Hand of Death was absorbed by the new Evil Soul Master.

Electrolux saw through the situation. "That's an unfinished Ten Thousand Soul Banner. Rather than a true Ten Thousand Soul Banner, it's more like a Soul Tool from your world."

"Isn't it a Martial Soul?" Mu Xuanheng thought of the Holy Spirit Cult elder whose Martial Soul was a Ten Thousand Soul Banner. If this really was that elder, they would likely be wiped out. That elder was a Titled Douluo.

"It's not a Martial Soul. It's a Soul Tool, probably about the same level as the one you're holding." Electrolux made a precise judgment.

The difference between a Martial Soul and a Soul Tool was still apparent. This Evil Soul Master hadn't revealed any Soul Rings.

Mu Xuanheng clenched his right hand. The Soul Tool he wore wasn't his own creation. It was a Level 7 Soul Tool, the Azure Flame Sharp Claw, specially made for him by Xian Lin'er.

He called out another warning. "The Ten Thousand Soul Banner in his hand is a Level 7 Soul Tool. Be careful."

Ma Xiaotao immediately made a decision as well. "Retreat! Dai Yueheng and I will cover the rear."

They had no information, and their opponent could very well be an Evil Soul Master beyond their ability to handle. Retreating to save their lives was the best choice.

But their opponent wasn't stupid. There was no way he'd let them retreat.

The flag waved, and countless resentful spirits blocked the way out of the cavern, trapping the remaining eight people inside.

"Since you're here, you're not leaving. Become nourishment for my Holy Spirit Flag!" The Evil Soul Master waved the flag again. His Soul Rings appeared: yellow, purple, purple, black, black, black, black. The colors exceeded the ideal configuration, and the seven rings revealed his cultivation.

"A Seven-Ring Soul Sage! Fall back!"

With Yao Haoxuan's support, Chen Zifeng and Xixi began hacking at the resentful spirits.

The other three, including Mu Xuanheng, intercepted the Soul Sage's attacks.

The gap between a Soul Emperor and a Soul Sage was enormous, especially against a powerful Evil Soul Master with a highly compatible Level 7 Soul Tool.

If the fight continued, at least four of them would die here.

Evil Soul Master: "I told you not to think about leaving." His fifth Soul Ring lit up. The resentful spirits let out shrill cries, and their fighting strength surged.

"Captain, there are too many resentful spirits. I can't cut through them!" Chen Zifeng was only a Soul King, after all, and there were plenty of Soul Kings among the resentful spirits. He had already done everything he could.

Mu Xuanheng sighed, but couldn't hide his excitement. "Then our only option is to fight for our lives."

Ma Xiaotao turned around. "Then let's fight for our lives!"

The seven quickly formed a formation. This wasn't a test; it was a true battle to the death.

Ma Xiaotao: "Yao Haoxuan, provide support. Chen Zifeng, cut a path through. Ling Luochеn, control them. Xixi, support them. Dai Yueheng and I will handle the front, while Mu Xuanheng looks for a chance to land a killing blow."

Yao Haoxuan's body grew larger. He pounded his chest, producing a drumbeat-like thudding sound. The six others' morale soared, and their fighting spirit blazed.

"First Soul Skill, Ice Staff. Second Soul Skill, Ice Armor Protection."

"Second Soul Skill, Bathing Fire Phoenix. Third Soul Skill, Phoenix Wing Soaring."

"First Soul Skill, White Tiger Protection Barrier. Third Soul Skill, White Tiger Vajra Transformation. Fifth Soul Skill, White Tiger Demon God Transformation."

Mu Xuanheng took the front line. "Second Soul Skill, Phantom Dragon Demon Body!"

Everyone unleashed all their enhancement skills, fighting for a sliver of hope.

Two meteor showers, one phoenix and one white tiger, crashed down. Every resentful spirit that came near them was smashed apart.

"They're being controlled. Breaking them apart is a kind of release!" Mu Xuanheng shouted, freeing the others from their misgivings.

"Got it! Fifth Soul Skill, Ice Radiance Ring! Ma Xiaotao, watch out."

The fiery-red figure flew through the air. "We've fought together so many times. I was already out of the way."

In an instant, all the resentful spirits affected by the Ice Radiance Ring were frozen.

"I'll open the way. Sixth Soul Skill, White Tiger Destruction Kill." A gigantic black-and-white character for "kill" immediately carved a path through.

The attack scattered the frozen resentful spirits, bringing them face-to-face with the Evil Soul Master.

The Ten Thousand Soul Banner shook, unleashing wails and screams. "My Holy Spirit Flag contains one Soul Emperor and five Soul Kings. You think you can break through my resentful spirits?" His Soul Rings lit up. The Evil Soul Master spat out a mouthful of blood, and the resentful spirits turned crimson as their power surged once more.

"So what?" Ma Xiaotao soared into the air. "We're true geniuses. Not just any Soul Emperor can compare to us. Fifth Soul Skill, Phoenix Cloud Piercing Strike! Soul Bone Skill, Phoenix Burst Strike!"

With multiple enhancements, she unleashed two Soul Skills. They vaporized an entire group of resentful spirits.

No resentful spirits remained to protect the Soul Sage.

The drumbeats boomed, and the Soul Sage's aura suddenly weakened.

Yao Haoxuan: "I'm not a support-type Soul Master. I'm a control-support Soul Master!"

A chill spread before them. Ling Luochеn said, "Fourth Soul Skill, Ice Mist Ghost Cold."

Hidden within the icy mist was a true killing intent.

No one questioned why Ma Xiaotao had left the final attack to Mu Xuanheng. They simply didn't have time, and they trusted his methods.

"Ice Emperor's Wrath! Emperor Palm, Great Cold No Snow."

He unleashed both moves at once, slamming them into the Evil Soul Master.

Cold erupted from his body, and the extreme chill pierced through the Soul Sage.

The group landed and drew deep breaths.

"We won."

"We won!"

"So what if he was an Evil Soul Master and a Soul Sage? We won!"

Ma Xiaotao jumped excitedly.

"Foolish Shrek Soul Masters."

Mu Xuanheng immediately flew toward her, his sharp claws grabbing a skull.

The skull exploded on its own, releasing a massive wave of resentment.

The group's spirits visibly sank.

"I almost got killed by a Four-Ring Soul Ancestor. Even with a special Soul Ring, that's absolutely intolerable."

The speaker wasn't human, but a baby.

The group immediately understood. This was the Soul Sage's Seventh Soul Skill, Martial Soul Avatar.

"My Martial Soul is Yuan Ying. I'm a baby formed from an endless accumulation of resentment." The baby's wail drowned out the drumbeats.

This cry didn't herald the start of life. It was a terrifying surge of resentment born from despair.

Each wail intensified the resentment within their bodies, keeping them from reaching their full fighting strength.

The baby spoke. "You forced me to use my Martial Soul Avatar. That's enough for you to explain yourselves to your academy in the afterlife. Sixth Soul Skill, Soul-Snatching Grudge Crossing."

The resentment accumulated within their bodies turned into poison, leaving them unable to fight and close to death.

"Why are you all right?" Mu Xuanheng stood unharmed, a faint fragrance wafting from him and freeing nearby resentful spirits from their control.

Mu Xuanheng waved a hand. "My fourth Soul Skill is specifically designed to counter Evil Soul Masters like you."

Disaster-Fortune Reversal turned resentment into blessings, restoring him almost completely.

A resentful spirit thrust the Ten Thousand Soul Banner into the ground between them.

Before the Evil Soul Master could make a move, Mu Xuanheng swung the Azure Flame Sharp Claw. "Sky-Ripping Claw!"

A single strike cleaved half the Level 7 Soul Tool's flag to pieces. Countless resentful spirits faded away at that moment.

"External Soul Bone?" The baby's voice was filled with disbelief and barely restrained excitement. External Soul Bones were incredibly valuable.

"One right arm bone, and one External Soul Bone. Following my lord here was a real stroke of luck."

The baby's laughter was shrill. But what made them even more despairing than its cries and laughter was the word "lord." It proved that an even more powerful Evil Soul Master was here.

"You weren't waiting for Taotie Douluo, were you? Let me tell you: our sect leader personally went to intercept your Taotie Douluo. No one can save you now."

Electrolux: "That's right. I can sense two immense forces fighting outside. One of them is your senior brother, Xuan Zi. I need to conserve my strength to keep you alive." He couldn't guarantee that Mu Xuanheng would survive at the hands of the other one if Xuan Zi lost.

"You dare let your mind wander while facing me? Fourth Soul Skill, Ghostly Resentful Skull." Just like the one that had attacked Ma Xiaotao, a skull shot toward the six who had lost their fighting strength. This time there were two, not one. "Let's see how you stop me!"

A white spear shot through the air and pierced one of the skulls.

His sharp claws struck the other skull.

Mu Xuanheng crushed the skull in his hand. "Who said I was waiting for a Titled Douluo to save us? I was waiting for a Soul Ancestor like me who can kill you!"

Gu Yuena appeared at the entrance to the passage, her yellow, purple, black, and red Soul Rings shining brightly.