The Human Emperor Banner Appears!

[Ice Jade Emperor Scorpion: What are you talking about? Why can't I understand a word of it?]

[Emperor Armor Incarnation: Heh, little Bing, it's not something I can explain to you in a short while. You just need to watch.]

[Ice Jade Emperor Scorpion (crossing her arms and turning her head away): Hmph! As if I'm dying to know, anyway.]

[Emperor Armor Incarnation: Jiang Yang, these Evil Soul Masters are excellent nourishment for you. It's best not to let those ladies beside you intervene.]

[Jiang Yang: I understand, Teacher.]

[Ice Jade Emperor Scorpion: Hey? Wait! How did we get back to talking about nourishment again?]

"It seems we have guests."

Jiang Yang spoke up suddenly.

Since his teacher couldn't be bothered to explain it to the Ice Emperor, he was even less inclined to do so.

"Huh?"

"What guests? Are they your friends?"

Ma Xiaotao asked instinctively.

Ever since she tasted Jiang Yang's cooking, Ma Xiaotao had been completely won over by him.

Even her voice had subconsciously softened and turned sweet.

There was no trace left of the "Flame Maniac."

She was every bit the picture of a delicate, beautiful maiden.

It's no wonder people always say there is no such thing as an absolutely cold or hot-tempered woman, only women who don't take you seriously.

"Hmm? No, wait!"

"Jiang Yang, are you saying that there are Soul Masters rushing toward us?"

"Could it be Evil Soul Masters?!"

As an eight-ring Soul Douluo who possessed a hundred-thousand-year soul ring as her eighth, Zhang Lexuan's combat sensitivity was far beyond that of an ordinary Soul Douluo.

Although she did not possess spiritual power as formidable as Jiang Yang's, her combat intuition told her that something was very wrong.

"Yes."

Jiang Yang's voice remained calm and ripple-free, yet it felt like a massive boulder crashing into a tranquil pool.

The warm atmosphere around the campfire instantly froze.

The satisfaction and smiles on the faces of Zhang Lexuan, Ma Xiaotao, and Ling Luochen were instantly replaced by gravity. Almost simultaneously, they set down their roasted meat, their soul power surging instinctively.

"What?! Where?"

As she spoke, Zhang Lexuan instantly arrived at the tree trunk where Jiang Yang was standing, her gaze sweeping toward the depths of the dark forest Jiang Yang had been watching.

"I'll handle it. Don't follow me."

Jiang Yang leaped lightly from the branch, landing without a sound.

His gaze remained locked on that direction, as if it could pierce through the layers of shadows.

"Absolutely not!"

Zhang Lexuan jumped down as well, refusing firmly. She stepped in front of Jiang Yang, her expression incredibly serious. "Jiang Yang, this is no time to be reckless! The opponent is an Evil Soul Master; their methods are bizarre and vicious! We must join forces to ensure there are no mistakes!"

"Jiang Yang, have you lost your mind? Those are Evil Soul Masters! Do you have any idea how dangerous they are?"

"Even if you're strong, facing them alone is too risky! We'll go together!"

Ma Xiaotao was also anxious.

Although Ling Luochen didn't speak, ice crystals were already condensing in her palms, and the worry and determination in her eyes made her stance clear.

Whether as members of the Shrek Inspectorate or as seniors accompanying Jiang Yang on his training, they would never allow Jiang Yang to face Evil Soul Masters alone.

However, just as Ma Xiaotao's voice faded, a violent wave of air exploded outward with Jiang Yang at its center.

The hard rock on the ground shattered inch by inch, dust billowed, and even the surrounding campfire was instantly suppressed to the point of near-extinction.

Seeing this, the three women instinctively raised their hands to shield their eyes.

"Hmm?!"

"Where is Jiang Yang?!"

"Oh no!!"

When the three women reacted and dispersed the dust, only to find Jiang Yang's figure missing, their faces were filled with shock.

"How did Jiang Yang disappear?"

"Could it be... his speed..."

Ling Luochen exclaimed, her ice-blue eyes filled with astonishment.

"This is impossible! He is only a three-ring Soul Elder!!"

Ma Xiaotao was also stunned.

"Stop worrying about that for now, let's deal with those Evil Soul Masters first!"

The eldest senior sister, Zhang Lexuan, made the decision immediately.

"Right!"

"Understood, Senior Sister, we are heading over now!"

Just as the three women were shaken to their cores by the explosive speed Jiang Yang had displayed, he had already appeared like a ghost in front of that group of Evil Soul Masters.

Although this Evil Soul Master squad consisted of only eight people, the weakest among them was at the level of a Soul Ancestor.

They wore identical dark red cloaks, and their bodies exuded a thick, bloody stench along with nauseating, cold fluctuations of soul power.

Leading them was an old man with a gaunt frame, deep-set eye sockets, and a cruel smile on his face. Powerful soul power surged around him; he was clearly a seven-ring Soul Saint.

"Bishop Li, for this mission, are we really letting that little guy take charge? His strength..."

"Hm?!"

"Who?!!"

Before that person could finish speaking, they suddenly saw a youth with an indifferent expression standing before them.

They were so startled that they immediately shut their mouths.

Jiang Yang's sudden appearance caused the squad, which had been moving at a steady pace, to falter for a moment.

The leading Soul Saint old man first scanned his surroundings vigilantly, and the others quickly prepared for battle.

When he discovered that it was only Jiang Yang, and clearly sensed the soul power fluctuations on him belonging merely to a three-ring Soul Elder, the vigilance on his face instantly turned into undisguised contempt and cruelty.

"Hehehe..."

A dry, grating laugh rang out as the Soul Saint old man looked Jiang Yang up and down, as if looking at prey that had walked right into a trap. "Where did this ignorant brat come from? A mere Soul Elder dares to block our path? Tired of living?"

A Soul Emperor with a scar on his face behind him licked his lips and sneered, "Bishop Li, this kid's vitality is incredibly strong, much better than those ordinary villagers. He's perfect to be captured as nourishment for your Blood Soul Banner!"

"Hehe, he's so tender-skinned, it would be a waste to just drain him dry. Why not let the brothers have some fun first?"

Another Evil Soul Master laughed lewdly.

They didn't take Jiang Yang seriously at all.

A three-ring Soul Elder was no different from an ant in front of their squad led by a Soul Saint.

They didn't even bother to wonder why Jiang Yang had appeared here, assuming he was just some reckless greenhorn who didn't know the immensity of heaven and earth.

Jiang Yang remained expressionless, turning a deaf ear to their filthy language.

His gaze swept calmly over this group of Evil Soul Masters, as if looking at a pile of dead objects.

"Kid, scared stupid? You don't even dare to release your Martial Soul?"

The Soul Saint old man scoffed, his tone playful like a cat toying with a mouse. "Then just obediently..."

Before his words could fade, a soft shout echoed from the Emperor Armor within Jiang Yang's spiritual world: [Xiao Yang, the time has come. Draw upon the power of your bloodline and receive the banner!]

[Jiang Yang: Understood.]

Jiang Yang's eyes flashed, and like a cloud of black mist, it traversed his eye sockets in an instant, looking extremely eerie.

He slowly raised his right hand, fingers spread, palm facing downward toward the ground.

"Human Emperor Banner—"