The Great Purge

Niya sat upright at the table, unable to calm her nerves. She was both terrified and excited. She feared that her scheme would be exposed and that she would suffer terribly if she fell into Hals's hands. But she was excited because, if she succeeded, she would soon sit upon the throne countless people yearned for, become the Holy Maiden admired by so many, and advance further along the path of cultivation.

In the brief half-hour that passed, Niya glanced toward the door countless times. She hoped that someone would knock any moment and tell her that the former Holy Maiden's mission had failed and she had died, and that the Elder Hall had ordered her to carry it out. Then she could retrieve the lost Soul Tool and return to enjoy the adoration of countless people. But alas, things didn't go as she wished.

"Boom!"

With a deafening crash, the door was violently kicked open from outside. Several Spirit Hall enforcers rushed in, releasing their Soul Rings as they surrounded her with cold expressions.

Terrified, Niya nevertheless put on a brave front and snapped, "What do you think you're doing? I'm one of the outstanding members of the Spirit Hall Golden Generation. What gives you the right to barge into my room?"

No one answered her. The enforcers continued to surround her in silence, showing neither fear nor the slightest relaxation.

Just as Niya feigned outrage at the insult and prepared to go out and seek justice from the elders, a young voice rang out, barely concealing its delight:

"Lady Niya—oh, no, criminal Niya, you are charged with plotting to murder the Spirit Hall's Holy Maiden, Lady Bibi Dong, and the charge has been confirmed. By order of His Holiness the Pope, the Enforcement Hall is to arrest you immediately. Do not fail." Shi Jisheng emerged from behind the enforcers with a beaming smile. He looked at the woman who had once seemed so far beyond his reach. Now she was about to become a prisoner. This was the reward for making the right choice and picking the right side in time. When Shi Jisheng had seen Lord Hals return through the main gate, hand in hand with the Holy Maiden, he'd known that he had bet correctly. And sure enough, in no time at all, he'd gone from a lowly guard to the leader of a squad of enforcers.

At last, Niya could no longer keep her body from trembling. Her legs gave way, and she collapsed into the chair, staring blankly ahead.

W-what should I do? What can I do? Niya kept asking herself. The dim candlelight flickered over her curvaceous figure, accentuating her vulnerability.

Seeing Niya tremble, Shi Jisheng grew even more pleased with himself. His lips curled into an unconcealed smirk. He raised his right hand and gave a small wave. "Go. Seize her and take her to Lord Hals. Let him deal with her."

Hals.

At the name, Niya jolted. Her eyes focused again. No, she absolutely couldn't fall into Hals's hands. She remembered all the stories she'd heard from the elders about Hals and his fearsome reputation. Gritting her teeth, Niya clenched her fists in secret.

I have to escape. Yes, get out of here. Once I'm free, I can join the Star Luo Empire. I know so many of the Spirit Hall's secrets. The Star Luo Empire will surely treat me well.

Niya lowered her head slightly, surveying the enforcers around her from the corner of her eye. Most were Soul Ancestors and Soul Kings. She recognized their leader, too: a guard from the Side Hall. His strength was probably somewhere between Soul Elder and Soul Ancestor. With her own power, which was just short of a Soul Emperor's, she should be able to break through their encirclement with ease. As for what to do once she got out, she'd figure it out later. There was always a way forward.

With that thought, Niya slammed both hands against the ground and used the momentum to hurl herself at a nearby Soul Ancestor. At the same time, she summoned her martial soul and revealed her Soul Rings.

A gaudy flower with a gaping maw burst forth. The third Soul Ring behind Niya flashed, and something was visibly gathering in the flower's mouth, ready to erupt.

Though Shi Jisheng was quite pleased with himself, he had remained on guard. The moment he sensed something was wrong, he darted outside, shouting as he went:

"Quick, get out of the way! Watch out for whatever she's about to spray! Find cover!"

The Spirit Hall enforcers were seasoned fighters who had seen their share of battles, large and small. The instant danger struck, each of them used their own abilities to respond. Some summoned sturdy, door-sized shields and planted themselves in front of their comrades, while the support-type Soul Masters took cover behind the shields and summoned their martial souls to bolster their allies with one buff after another.

"Pfft!"

The huge mouth on the flower turned and sprayed corrosive acid in every direction. But the enforcers' excellent combat discipline meant that not a single one of them was harmed.

Once the flower had finished spraying and withered away, the enforcers quickly emerged from behind their shields and prepared for battle. Shi Jisheng walked in from outside, his expression cold as he looked at the window Niya had smashed.

"Sir, should we go after her?" one of the enforcers asked, nervously stepping forward.

Shi Jisheng shook his head, a disdainful smile appearing on his face. "Heh, I knew she wouldn't surrender without a fight. She was bound to try to escape. I've already stationed another squad of enforcers outside to ambush her. Besides, a certain lord who once owed Lord Hals a favor has agreed to help us. She has no chance of getting away."

As he spoke, Shi Jisheng frowned at the furniture and walls in the room, badly corroded by the acid. The stench made him cover his nose and mouth. Then he turned and strode out of the room at the head of the group.

"Come on. We're joining the other squad to surround criminal Niya. Hmph. No criminal has ever escaped from us."

"Yes, sir!"

Niya was secretly delighted that she'd escaped the encirclement so easily. At the same time, she swore to herself that one day she'd make Bibi Dong and Hals pay.

As she thought about it, Niya raced toward the forest surrounding Spirit Hall. Then she abruptly heard a sigh beside her ear. She stumbled in fright and warily looked toward the sound, only to see a man she'd never expected to find there.

"I never thought they'd send you to arrest me, Jiabulin." Niya's expression was complicated. Looking at the young man before her, she couldn't help feeling a pang of hurt.

"Stop running, Niya. Come back with me. I'll plead with Lord Hals to spare you this once." Jiabulin looked at the girl, a generation below him, with regret. He had once been her mentor, guiding her along the path that led to the Golden Generation.

"Do you really think that's possible? Don't tell me you haven't heard what Hals has done." Niya sneered.

"..."

Jiabulin fell silent. He parted his lips, but ultimately chose to say nothing. He couldn't bring himself to lie to Niya. In fact, he had not only heard of Hals's exploits; he had also seen the souls of the people Hals had killed.

Looking at the young man's conflicted expression, Niya's face gradually softened. She gazed tenderly at Jiabulin.

"Do you know, Senior? I've liked you for a long time. I started falling for you when you led me through the Golden Generation selection trials, one step at a time." Niya's gaze grew distant, as if she were remembering those wonderful days.

Jiabulin said nothing. He'd long since realized that the girl had feelings for him. That was exactly why he'd chosen to leave: he already had someone he loved.

"I already have someone I love," Jiabulin finally managed to say after a long pause.

"I know, Senior. Is it Senior Xiong Yiyi?" Niya turned away, unable to look at Jiabulin.

"...Yes."

A tear slipped from the corner of the girl's eye, ran down her cheek, and fell heavily to the ground, kicking up a tiny puff of dust.

"Why? Why?" the girl murmured. "Why can't I have the status I want? Why can't I even have the love I want?" At last, she began to choke on her sobs.

The forest was utterly still. Not even an insect made a sound.

Jiabulin sighed. "Come back with me. I'll personally ask the Holy Maiden to show mercy. She'll do me that favor. If she agrees, Lord Hals will agree, too."

Niya sniffed hard, her nose congested from crying, then wiped her tears and stared stubbornly at Jiabulin. "You want me to come back with you? Fine."

As she spoke, the fifth Soul Ring behind Niya blazed with light. Vines surged from the ground and coiled around her, forming a massive cocoon. Her muffled voice came from within. "If you can break this cage, I'll come back with you."

"Do you mean it?" Jiabulin asked eagerly.

"I do."

"Good." Delighted by her answer, Jiabulin summoned his martial soul. The third Soul Ring behind him blazed, and an enormous gauntlet appeared around his arm. A flash of green light passed over it as he slowly gathered strength. As he did, he continued, "You promised, Niya. If I break this cocoon, you'll come back with me. Don't throw another tantrum."

"Mm." Jiabulin didn't see that Niya had already dissolved into tears inside the cocoon, her pretty face streaked with them.

Jiabulin slowly exhaled, then moved and punched the cocoon, holding back half his strength at the last moment.

But the powerful resistance he had expected never came. The plant cocoon, which looked so sturdy, was pierced as easily as a sheet of paper.

Jiabulin's arm trembled. He looked up at the giant cocoon as the plants forming its shell rapidly withered and disintegrated into ashes.

Jiabulin's arm had pierced the girl's lower abdomen.

With a trace of blood at the corner of her mouth, Niya looked at Jiabulin and smiled, unable to hide the tenderness on her face.

"Why?" Jiabulin's voice trembled, tinged with confusion and anger...