Time often slipped by quietly before anyone even noticed. It had been two years since Bibi Dong and Hals's first mission. After it ended, Hals had honestly told Bibi Dong about his past and why he treated her the way he did. Since then, the two had grown much closer. Hals still habitually put Bibi Dong first, always thinking of her in everything he did, while Bibi Dong had gradually grown used to having Hals help her with everything and to turning to him whenever she needed to discuss something.
There was nothing to do today, so Bibi Dong had a rare lie-in and woke up naturally. After a quick wash, she called out loudly, "Hals, are you there? Get me something to eat. I want chicken cutlet!" Then she settled in and began flipping through a book.
The book's author was a Soul Master who had come to Spirit Hall some time ago. His name was Yu Xiaogang.
At the thought of Yu Xiaogang, a flicker of interest crossed Bibi Dong's eyes. His Martial Soul was a rare Mutated Martial Soul, but unfortunately, it had mutated in an unfavorable direction. She had heard he used to be a member of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Sect.
A hint of regret flashed in Bibi Dong's eyes. Yu Xiaogang's theories were very impressive, and she had gained a great deal from reading his ideas. But most of Spirit Hall's elders regarded him with contempt.
Bibi Dong felt they weren't entirely wrong. Yu Xiaogang's Soul Power was a mere twentieth rank, and he would never be able to enter the world of high-level Soul Masters in his lifetime. Some things could only be understood by experiencing them firsthand.
As she thought about it, Bibi Dong suddenly realized that quite some time had passed, yet Hals still hadn't brought her any food.
Puzzled, she got up and went out. Then she turned and pushed open the door to Hals's room next door.
The room was completely empty. Apart from a bed and a lit lamp, there wasn't a single extra piece of furniture.
The bed was just a wooden frame, with no bedding on it.
"Does Hals sleep on this every day? It can't be comfortable." Bibi Dong walked over and sat beside it, pressing down hard on the wooden boards with both hands. They felt so hard that she winced.
After sitting for a little while, Bibi Dong got up and walked toward the only lamp in the room.
"Wow." Bibi Dong stared at the lamp in curiosity. Inside the "oil lamp," there was nothing but a burning wick, and even the wick floated in midair.
As Bibi Dong examined the lamp closely, she suddenly noticed a faint, pleasant fragrance in the air. She couldn't quite identify it, but if she had to compare it to something, it was somewhat like mint.
Bibi Dong greedily breathed in the wonderful fragrance, feeling her mind grow clear.
"Hals has something this good and never invited me to enjoy it? That's just too much." As she inhaled the scent and pondered, she suddenly felt dizzy. Her legs gave way, and she fell to the floor, two thin streams of bright red blood trickling from her nostrils.
Bibi Dong hurriedly backed away, putting distance between herself and the strange lamp.
She felt like crying. "What is this? Why are all of Hals's things so strange?"
She remembered once asking Hals if she could take a look at his Lantern. He had hesitated for a long time before reluctantly handing it to her. But as soon as Bibi Dong leaned closer, the world spun around her, as if a tremendous force were trying to suck her inside. Hals had been badly frightened, and afterward he had blamed himself over and over.
After resting for a moment, Bibi Dong was surprised to find that once her dizziness passed, all the fatigue in her body and mind had vanished. Her thoughts were also moving unusually quickly.
Bibi Dong's expression turned strange as she recalled the nosebleed. "Could it be that it was too much of a tonic?!"
She shook her head and hurried out of Hals's room, closing the door behind her.
"Never mind. I'll go look for Hals. Once I find him, I'll ask what that thing is."
"What? Hals went to obtain a Soul Ring?" Even though Bibi Dong was extremely surprised, she maintained her ladylike composure in front of others.
"But wasn't he a Spirit Saint just last year...?" Bibi Dong realized a moment later. "A Soul Douluo?! What a monster..."
"Y-yes. Lord Hals told us he was in a hurry and had to leave first. He said that if Holy Maiden, you came looking for him, we should let you know." The young maid Bibi Dong had grabbed to question was so nervous that tears were about to fall from her eyes.
Seeing the girl's flustered expression, Bibi Dong realized she had been grabbing her and firing questions at her, which wasn't very appropriate. She quickly let go, looking apologetic. With her hands clasped together, she said, "Sorry, I just had something urgent to ask him. That's all. Thank you so much."
Bibi Dong thought for a moment, then added, "Oh, right. If possible, could you have some food sent to my room?"
"N-no problem." The girl relaxed and let out a sigh of relief before answering with renewed spirit.
"All right, I'll head back now. See you." Bibi Dong waved with a smile and turned to leave.
"Holy Maiden is so kind!" The girl clasped her hands to her chest, her eyes sparkling with admiration.
The girl didn't notice Bibi Dong walking away with a smile while muttering through gritted teeth, "Damn Hals. He left without inviting me along. Just wait till you get back—I'll show you!"
"Achoo!"
Hidden in the shadows, Hals had been silently watching the gathering of the Soul Master bandits before him when he suddenly sneezed.
"Who's there?!"
The bandits at the gathering warily turned toward the corner where the sound had come from. A few of them had already released their Soul Rings.
Realizing he had been discovered, Hals could only emerge from the shadows in silence.
The bandits eyed the strange man in peculiar clothes, not daring to act rashly. They warily began to surround him.
Hals sighed, and his hoarse voice rang in the ears of the bandits.
"I'd planned to save myself some effort and let you die quietly. But it seems there's no need for that now. Please, go die right now."
Seven dazzling Soul Rings—yellow, purple, purple, black, black, black, and black—appeared behind Hals, slowly revolving. Then his Seventh Soul Ring flashed—Martial Soul Avatar!
A tremendous aura surged into the sky. Hals grew much taller, his figure seeming both solid and insubstantial. Green flames blazed across his robe, which was now adorned with many strange patterns, making him look even more ornate and uncanny. The eyes in his sockets were replaced by two green flames, burning with the boundless greed of a pair of souls.
"What wonderful power. So this is the only way to absorb truly complete, perfect souls." His strange, hoarse voice echoed in layers from every direction, pouring into the ears of every bandit present. Some of the weaker-willed bandits had already gone glassy-eyed. One green figure after another struggled to crawl out of their bodies, trying to rush into Hals's Lantern.
Hals smiled eerily and opened his abyssal mouth, which looked like a black hole. A series of "keh keh keh" sounds came from within.
"Come, come, my followers. Come to me, and you will gain eternal life. Come, join me and become one of my people!"
Gradually, every bandit present, including one at the Soul Emperor level, stood motionless with blank eyes. Green sparks flickered across their bodies, then spread like wildfire until they covered them from head to toe. One after another, souls emerged from their bodies and the flames, wailing, shrieking, and charging furiously at Hals, only to be sucked into the Soul-Guiding Lantern in his hand.
The Soul-Guiding Lantern grew brighter, and the soulfire within it blazed ever more fiercely. By contrast, the flames on the bandits' bodies gradually weakened until they went out.
Whenever the flames on someone's body went out, that person turned pale, frail, and withered. A breeze passed, and the flesh on their bones scattered like dust, leaving behind a white, translucent skeleton that stood where they had been.
One by one, the flames on everyone present went out. Hals also returned from his Martial Soul Avatar state. He took one last look at the scene before him, then turned and disappeared into the shadows.
Dozens, even hundreds, of bodies stood throughout the gathering place. The bonfire still blazed, the food and wine remained warm, and gold, silver, and jewels still lay scattered in piles. But all was changed. A gust of wind swept through the empty gathering place, where more than a hundred gleaming white skeletons now stood. The wind passed through them, and a mournful wail echoed high in the sky, lingering long after.
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