----Heaven Dou Empire Border, Ghost Soul Forest.
"Roar~"
The setting sun dyed the Soul Devouring Forest blood-red. Thick smoke shrouded a distant village, and the villagers' wails mingled with the roars of beasts in a hellish symphony.
Hundreds upon hundreds of Soul Beasts surged out from the depths of the forest. Their eyes gleamed with greedy red light as their claws tore at wooden houses and their fangs ripped through villagers' throats.
Six or seven young men fought back against the beast tide, but most of them were around the Soul Ancestor level. They were practically ants trying to stop a chariot, their bodies covered in blood.
"Brothers, let's fight them to the death!"
...,
A thousand meters away, a blond man in a golden robe raced through the forest like a streak of light, heading toward the village.
"Hurry up!"
Behind him, six Soul Saints and a Soul Emperor-level Soul Master charged forward at full speed. Their Soul Power stirred ripples in the air, like an invisible storm.
When they reached the village and saw countless Soul Beasts slaughtering its inhabitants, the blond man's expression changed. A golden divine mark flashed between his brows, and a golden longsword appeared in his hand. He leaped into the air and swung the blade, sending sword energy surging forth to slay several Soul Beasts at once.
"Sixth Form: Eternal Myriad Light Lotus!"
Holy flames kindled along the blade as he swept it in a wide arc. Sword energy transformed into a rain of feathered arrows, blooming into a lotus of light that shot straight into the battlefield. A large swath of Soul Beasts fell dead.
This man was Qian Xunji, who had spent two and a half years training. A small scar now marked the corner of his eye, making him look