Yuan Ying

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

Mu Xuanheng, however, truly knew. Whether from the novels and films of his first life or the real experiences of his second, he knew exactly what this Ten Thousand Soul Banner was.

In his second life, he had seen necromancers use the Ten Thousand Soul Banner to summon vengeful spirits and influence living beings. Regardless of the species, all would be transformed into vessels for the spirits, becoming part of an undead army.

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

Following Mu Xuanheng's shout, the other six people in the center of the battlefield immediately assumed defensive stances.

"What's going on? How could another Evil Soul Master appear within the Hand of Death?" Ma Xiaotao asked, confused. But no one could provide her with an answer.

They only saw the vengeful spirits being absorbed by the Ten Thousand Soul Banner, while the Evil Soul Master standing in front of the flag revealed a chilling smile.

"Messenger of Death? In this world, there is only the noble Holy Emperor."

"My lord, spare me! I am willing to serve the Holy Emperor."

"Hehehe, becoming a vengeful spirit under my Holy Spirit Flag is serving the Holy Emperor."

The leader of the Hand of Death was absorbed by the new Evil Soul Master just like that.

Electrolux noticed something amiss: "That is an unfinished Ten Thousand Soul Banner. Rather than a true Ten Thousand Soul Banner, it is more like a Soul Tool from your world."

Is it not a Martial Soul? Mu Xuanheng thought of the elder from the Holy Spirit Cult, whose Martial Soul was indeed a Ten Thousand Soul Banner. If it were truly that elder, they would likely be wiped out, as that elder was a Title Douluo.

"It is not a Martial Soul; it is a Soul Tool. Its grade is roughly similar to the one you have on your hand," Electrolux judged accurately.

The difference between a Martial Soul and a Soul Tool was still discernible. This was because the Evil Soul Master had not displayed any soul rings.

Mu Xuanheng clenched his right hand. The Soul Tool he wore was not his own creation, but a level 7 Soul Tool specifically made for him by Xian Lin'er—the Azure Flame Sharp Claw.

He called out a warning again: "The Ten Thousand Soul Banner in his hand is a level 7 Soul Tool. Everyone, be careful."

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

Without any intelligence, the opponent was highly likely an Evil Soul Master who exceeded their combat limits. Retreating to save their lives was the most effective choice.

But the opponent was no fool; how could he let them retreat?

The flag waved, and a large number of vengeful spirits blocked the passage leading out of the cave, simultaneously trapping the remaining eight people outside.

"Since you've come, don't leave. Become nutrients for my Holy Spirit Flag!" The Evil Soul Master waved the flag again. His soul rings appeared: yellow, purple, purple, black, black, black, black. They exceeded the optimal soul ring configuration, and the seven rings also displayed his cultivation level.

"A seven-ring Soul Saint! Retreat quickly!"

Chen Zifeng and Xixi began hacking at the vengeful spirits with the assistance of Yao Haoxuan.

Mu Xuanheng and the other two intercepted the Soul Saint's attacks.

The gap between a Soul Emperor and a Soul Saint was immense, not to mention that this was a powerful Evil Soul Master equipped with a highly compatible level 7 Soul Tool.

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

The Evil Soul Master sneered: "I told you not to think about leaving." His fifth soul ring shone, and the vengeful spirits let out shrill cries, their combat power greatly enhanced.

"Captain, there are too many spirits; I can't cut through them!" Chen Zifeng was only a Soul King, and those spirits included many Soul Kings; he had already done his best.

Mu Xuanheng felt helpless yet somewhat excited: "Then the only path left is to fight for our lives."

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

The seven of them quickly formed a formation. This was no longer a test; it was a true battle of life and death.

Ma Xiaotao: "Yao Haoxuan, provide support. Chen Zifeng, go clear the path. Ling Luochen, control them. Xixi, provide backup. Dai Yueheng and I will handle the front, and Mu Xuanheng, look for an opportunity to kill him in one strike."

Yao Haoxuan's body grew larger as he hammered his chest, producing a sound like war drums. The morale of the six surged, and their fighting spirit soared.

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

"Second Soul Skill: Bathing Fire Phoenix. Third Soul Skill: Hōyoku Tenshō."

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

Mu Xuanheng stood in the front row: "Second Soul Skill: Phantom Dragon Demon Body!"

Everyone unleashed all their enhancement skills, fighting for a glimmer of survival.

The meteor shower of phoenix flames and white tiger strikes rained down, and all the vengeful spirits that approached them were ruthlessly smashed apart.

"They are being controlled; breaking them apart is a form of release!" Mu Xuanheng shouted, relieving the psychological pressure on everyone.

"Understood. Fifth Soul Skill: Ice Radiance Ring! Ma Xiaotao, watch out."

The fiery red figure flew in mid-air: "We've coordinated so many times; I've already dodged it."

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

"I'll open the path. Sixth Soul Skill: White Tiger Destruction Kill." A massive, black-and-white character for "Kill" immediately tore open a path.

The frozen spirits were scattered by the character, and they arrived in front of the Evil Soul Master.

The Ten Thousand Soul Banner shook, ghosts wailing and wolves howling. "My Holy Spirit Flag contains one Soul Emperor and five Soul Kings. You want to break through my spirits?" His soul rings lit up, and the Evil Soul Master spat out a mouthful of blood. The vengeful spirits were stained blood-red, and their strength increased once more.

"So what!" Ma Xiaotao flew high into the air: "We are true geniuses; not every Soul Emperor can be mentioned in the same breath as us. Fifth Soul Skill: Phoenix Cloud Piercing Strike! Soul Bone Skill: Phoenix Burst Strike!"

With multiple enhancements, she unleashed dual soul skills. She forcibly vaporized a group of vengeful spirits.

There were no more spirits guarding the Soul Saint.

The sound of war drums thundered, and the Soul Saint's aura suddenly weakened.

Yao Haoxuan: "I am not a support-type Soul Master, but a control-support type!"

As the cold air spread before him, Ling Luochen: "Fourth Soul Skill, Ice Mist Ghost Cold."

Hidden within the ice mist was true murderous intent.

No one questioned why Ma Xiaotao let Mu Xuanheng deliver the final blow; it was not just because there was no time, but because they trusted Mu Xuanheng's methods.

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

Both moves were unleashed simultaneously, slamming fiercely into the Evil Soul Master.

Cold energy erupted from his body, the extreme chill piercing through the Soul Saint's body.

The group landed on the ground, gasping for air.

"We won."

"We won."

"Evil Soul Master, so what if he's a Soul Saint? We won."

Ma Xiaotao jumped up in excitement.

"Foolish Shrek Soul Masters."

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

The skull exploded on its own, diffusing a massive amount of resentment.

The group's condition visibly plummeted.

"To be nearly killed by a four-ring Soul Ancestor. Even with special soul rings, this is absolutely intolerable."

The one speaking was not a human, but an infant.

The group immediately understood that this was the Soul Saint's seventh soul skill, the Avatar of the Martial Soul.

"My Martial Soul is Yuan Ying. It is an infant formed from the accumulation of endless resentment." The infant's wailing drowned out the war drums.

This cry did not represent the beginning of life, but the terrifying resentment of despair.

Each cry intensified the resentment within their bodies, preventing their combat power from reaching its peak.

The infant spoke: "Forcing me to use my Avatar of the Martial Soul is enough for you to report back to your academy in the afterlife. Sixth Soul Skill, Soul-Snatching Grudge Crossing."

The resentment accumulated within their bodies turned into a deadly poison, leaving them unable to fight and on the verge of death.

"Why are you unaffected?" At this moment, Mu Xuanheng stood calmly in place, a faint fragrance radiating from his body, causing the approaching vengeful spirits to lose control.

Mu Xuanheng waved his hand: "My fourth soul skill is specifically designed to counter Evil Soul Masters like you."

Disaster-Fortune Reversal turned the resentment into a blessing, restoring him to an almost complete state.

The Ten Thousand Soul Banner was planted in their midst by a vengeful spirit.

Without waiting for the Evil Soul Master to use his tricks, Mu Xuanheng immediately swung his Azure Flame Sharp Claw: "Sky-Ripping Claw!"

A single strike forcibly tore apart half of the seventh-grade Soul Tool banner. A large number of vengeful spirits receded at that moment.

"External Soul Bone?" The infant's voice carried disbelief and irrepressible excitement. The value of an External Soul Bone was simply too high.

"A right arm bone and an External Soul Bone. Following the Great One here has been a massive profit."

The infant's laughter was shrill, but what made them even more desperate than the infant's crying and laughing was the mention of "the Great One," which proved that an even more powerful Evil Soul Master was present.

"You aren't waiting for the Taotie Douluo to arrive, are you? Let me tell you, our Sect Master has personally gone to intercept your Taotie Douluo. Now, no one can save you."

Electrolux: "It is true; I can indeed sense two massive powers clashing outside. One of them is your senior brother Xuan Zi. I must save my strength to ensure your survival." He could not guarantee that if Xuan Zi were defeated, Mu Xuanheng could survive against the other.

"You dare to lose focus while facing me? Fourth Soul Skill, Ghostly Resentful Skull." The same skulls that attacked Ma Xiaotao flew toward the six incapacitated members. This time, it wasn't one, but two. "Let's see how you block this!"

A white spear pierced through the air, impaling one of them.

His sharp claws struck out at the other skull.

Mu Xuanheng crushed the skull: "Who said I was waiting for a Title Douluo to save me? I was waiting for a Soul Ancestor who, like me, can kill you!"

Gu Yuena appeared at the entrance of the passage, her yellow, purple, black, and red soul rings shining brightly.