In the mist, a burly, golden-red figure flashed past beside the rift. As an angry roar rang out, the Crimson Gold Lion, wounded by a sword strike, suddenly sprang out of the gray fog—only to be met by Qian Yuhan, who had blocked its inevitable path, and pierced through with a single thrust.
"Hahahaha! Let's see where you're going to run now!"
The corners of Qian Yuhan's mouth lifted slightly. The Angel Holy Sword in his hand immediately blazed with searing holy fire.
Within those flames of holiness, the beast spirits—which, in theory, should have been immune to most Soul Power attacks and physical damage—couldn't even manage the most basic struggle. They could only watch helplessly as patches of brown smoke billowed from their illusory bodies, scorched and scattered by the flames.
At last, the vicious Crimson Gold Lion let out two cries filled with fury, unwillingness, and fear before it was utterly reduced to ash.
"No!"
With his natal beast spirit reduced to ash, Zhongli Tian suffered a grievous blow as well. His features twisted, blood poured from his seven orifices, and he uncontrollably spat out a mouthful of blood. He collapsed to his knees with a thump and began to convulse.
At that moment, his yellow eyes were filled with fear. He looked at Qian Yuhan as though he were staring at a terrifying demon.
Yes, he now knew what the power that had destroyed his natal beast spirit was.
The second brother had been absolutely right. That power was the legendary holiness—a holy attribute that completely countered Evil Soul Masters like them.
It was just a pity they'd realized it far too late. No, they were simply far too unlucky...
"Big brother, run! This kid's Martial Soul is holy—it has a holy attribute! Leave now and report back to the Cult Master! We absolutely can't let him grow stronger!"
In agony, Zhongli Di struggled to turn his head and crawl backward, seemingly intent on taking this disastrous news back to his people. But when he finally turned around, what came into view was—
Not something else, but a pitch-black figure, radiating such oppressive force that even his Martial Soul trembled.
The terrifying figure was shrouded in purple-black smoke. It was looking at him while greedily devouring the other beast spirits.
"Kyahahaha! Evil Soul Masters are wonderful. They knew I was hungry and brought me so many snacks." The Rakshasa Phantom used Sound Transmission, sending its words directly into Zhongli Di's ears.
"!"
Zhongli Di felt a chill run through his whole body. Then, large streams of purple-black energy were forcibly drawn out of his continuously bleeding seven orifices by the Rakshasa Divine Sense.
Under the terrifying phantom pain—comparable to having every bone in his body smashed to pieces one by one with a hammer, then having his nerves ground to pulp—Zhongli Di let out a wail of unbearable agony. He struggled to look toward Qian Yuhan and pleaded in a trembling voice:
"Please, kill me! Hurry, do it! I'm begging you!"
"..."
But Qian Yuhan didn't respond to Zhongli Di's plea. He didn't even spare him a glance.
In the end, the Rakshasa Phantom was the one kind enough to bend down and dig its five fingers firmly into Zhongli Di's crown. With a cackling laugh, it said, "Kyahahaha, don't expect him to put you out of your misery. He and I have an agreement."
"When it comes to dealing with Evil Soul Masters, every means is fair game, and every act of brutality earns merit."
"I can do whatever I want with the souls of Evil Soul Masters like you, too."
"What... did you say?" Zhongli Di let out a disbelieving whimper, seemingly unable to imagine that holiness could reach an understanding with that legendary embodiment of ultimate evil over anything.
And that the ones they had joined forces to target were him and the other Evil Soul Masters.
"Come on, don't make such a fuss!"
Seeing Zhongli Di trembling so badly that a foul stench seeped from his underwear, the Rakshasa Phantom felt its mischievous delight immensely satisfied. It gently patted Zhongli Di's cheek with the back of its hand and said slowly:
"If you dare to become an Evil Soul Master, you'd better be ready for the day someone comes to settle the score."
"I heard... you Evil Soul Masters especially enjoy tormenting other people's souls to make vengeful spirits. So I want to find out what it's like to torture you Evil Soul Masters into vengeful spirits while you're still alive, then eat you bit by bit." The Rakshasa Phantom lowered its head and whispered by Zhongli Di's ear in a demonic murmur:
"Your third brother tasted great. Soon I'll eat your soul, and then your big brother's. Don't worry, I promise I'll eat every last bit. I won't leave anything behind."
"Tsk, not wasting food. I really am too kind."
As it spoke, the Rakshasa Phantom swallowed another clump of beast spirit, ready to start on the main course.
"Stop!"
Suddenly, a furious shout came from Zhongli Di. His voice was loud, but everyone could see how hollow his bluster was: Xu Yan, Xu Yu, and their companions, who were watching the show; Qian Yuhan, who was turning Zhongli Tian into a human stick; and the Rakshasa Phantom, which was getting ready for a feast. Under the double pressure of ultimate evil and holiness, Zhongli Di was so badly wounded he couldn't even bring out his Martial Soul.
"Oh?" The Rakshasa Phantom tilted its head and spread its hands in front of itself, taunting him. "What would you like to say?"
"Are we 'Saint' Soul Masters not people, too? Why are you treating us so cruelly?"
"Pfft—"
Hearing Zhongli Di's tearful accusation, Qian Yuhan, who was holding Zhongli Tian—now a human stick—nearly cracked. Suppressing his laughter, he stepped forward and sneered:
"You reap what you sow! If you choose to become an Evil Soul Master, then when someone comes to settle the score, don't question it. Just take it like a good boy!"
At that, Zhongli Di flew into a rage. His eyes bloodshot, he stared hysterically at the triplet elder brother, now hacked into a human stick in Qian Yuhan's hands, and roared:
"Raising the so-called sword of justice, you treat us 'Saint' Soul Masters so cruelly. Strip it all away, and all you want is to fight violence with violence! You're the villain inflicting brutality, yet you shamelessly claim you're rooting out evil to the very last! Hypocrite!"
"Hmph! I can't be bothered to explain the truth to you. You're not fit to hear it!"
"Once an Evil Soul Master, always an Evil Soul Master!"
"Yapping like a dog is so damn annoying! Take this Angel Holy Sword first!"
Before Zhongli Di could finish, Qian Yuhan had already plunged the Angel Holy Sword straight into his chest.
"No, no, no! Don't!"
Using the Angel Holy Sword as a medium, golden holy fire quickly engulfed Zhongli Di, turning him into a giant man of flames.
Qian Yuhan withdrew the Angel Holy Sword from Zhongli Di's chest and kicked him, now cosplaying as a human torch, onto the ground. He let him burn alive in holy fire, unable to escape the agony, until he became a pile of ash.
After that, it was the turn of Zhongli Tian, who was drawing his last breath and looked ready to croak at any moment.
Qian Yuhan casually tossed Zhongli Tian onto the ground, then let out a long breath. He gathered the searing holy fire at the tip of the Angel Holy Sword and drove it fiercely into Zhongli Tian's chest.
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