"Just call me Ye Guyi. Being called an angel and all still makes me feel kind of embarrassed..."
Ye Guyi muttered, then grabbed the helping hand Xu Qing offered and used it to get back to her feet.
She looked around at everything, still shaken to the core.
She asked hesitantly, "Isn't your Martial Soul an ice block?"
And that Soul Ring Configuration... it was so unheard-of.
If not for the holy aura around you, I'd have been scared into wondering if you were from the Holy Spirit Cult, too.
"Obviously, I have Twin Martial Souls."
"Mm-hmm..."
Even if you had Twin Martial Souls, your Soul Power Levels were about the same. So how were you so strong...
A stretcher Martial Soul had no special tricks. You could only stack up the stats.
Xu Qing naturally took on the role of a temporary crutch, supporting Ye Guyi as they walked up to the Great Holy Spirit.
The charred body could no longer struggle. The Soul Fire in its eye sockets flickered like a candle in the wind.
"Use Holy Spirit Slash on him!"
Ye Guyi didn't hesitate.
She raised her long sword, golden holy light gathering along the blade, and swung it down.
The skeletal frame disintegrated inch by inch in the holy light, and the last trace of Soul Fire went out completely.
At the same time, an incredibly pure energy surged through the sword and into Ye Guyi's body.
It was even more massive and surging than the Soul Power she'd absorbed from the Evil Soul Masters she'd slain before!
Her delicate body shuddered. Before she could say a word, she sat cross-legged and closed her eyes.
Her Soul Power began to steadily climb.
Forty-seven, forty-eight...
Xu Qing stood to one side, watching the holy light roil around Ye Guyi. He spoke to Elder Yi in his mind:
"Elder Yi, could you study this and find a way for me to gain this amazing ability too?"
"Can't be done."
Elder Yi answered casually:
"I'm no Angel God. Where am I supposed to get you an Angel Martial Soul?"
As he spoke, Elder Yi sent out a wisp of divine consciousness that took the form of a shadow and drifted above the two broken pieces of the Holy Spirit Flag.
He looked down at the flag, still seeping black mist, and his voice turned cold:
"The Ten Thousand Soul Banner. I never imagined such an evil creation existed in this world, too..."
He gave a cold snort, and the flag turned to flying ash, vanishing completely.
"Wicked, unorthodox nonsense."
Xu Qing put his hands on his hips and looked around the hall at the mindless resentful spirits still wandering about. He asked casually:
"Elder Yi, can you purify these?"
"Heh heh heh... As I've said, it's as easy as turning over my hand."
Elder Yi's shadow swept out with a broad wave of his hand.
A golden glow spread from his palm, sweeping across the entire hall like ripples.
The moment the golden light touched the anguished faces of the resentful spirits, their expressions softened, the pain giving way to peace.
Then they disappeared, one after another.
Ye Guyi had just finished absorbing the surge of Soul Power and opened her eyes when she saw this scene.
Xu Qing stood in the middle of the hall. Everywhere he looked, resentful spirits were being purified in droves.
"That's amazing..."
Ye Guyi walked over to Xu Qing.
She felt the Soul Power surging inside her. After killing an Evil Soul Saint, she'd gone straight from level forty-six to level fifty, becoming a Soul King!
That rate of advancement made Little Angel resolve to charge fearlessly down the path of punishing evil and promoting good!
"Xu Qing, your other Martial Soul must be some kind of light-attribute Martial Soul, right? Was it that Golden Crocodile from before?"
"No."
Xu Qing noticed that Ye Guyi seemed unable to see Elder Yi, but he didn't think much of it and answered offhandedly:
"Just a few insignificant tricks with my legs."
"Plus the effect of the Soul Skill boost you gave me."
Ye Guyi: Stare...
I know how strong I am. How could one boosting skill let you beat an Evil Soul Saint in just a few punches and kicks?
Did he use some kind of special Soul Tool?
Or was he hiding his Soul Power Level?
I don't get it. I'm going to faint...
"All right, don't overthink it. We've destroyed the Holy Spirit Cult in Ming Capital, and you've accomplished your goal,"
Xu Qing said casually, waving a hand at Ye Guyi, whose head was about to start smoking:
"It's time to part ways, Ye Guyi."
With that, he glanced around at the ruined hall,
wondering whether to punch straight through the ceiling or take the stairs.
Better keep a low profile and take the stairs. Who knew how the imperial family would react...
Xu Qing narrowed his eyes and slowly stepped onto the stairs.
"Xu Qing, wait for me!"
Ye Guyi quickly caught up, tilting her head to look at the side of the young man's face, her lashes fluttering softly.
"You saved me this time, so that makes twice you've saved me."
"And you deliberately didn't kill that Evil Soul Saint, letting me do it instead. You boosted my Soul Power by four whole levels! That's a year's worth of hard cultivation for me!"
"But I didn't get to help you at all, and that won't do. The Holy Angel is the most grateful of them all."
"How about this!"
She moved closer to Xu Qing, her golden hair brushing his wrist as her warm breath fell against his neck:
"What do you say I add you on my Soul Tool communicator? If you ever need anything, just ask!"
"As many times as you want. I'll come whenever you call!"
"From now on, I'm your ace fighter!"
Xu Qing kept walking, but quietly shifted aside. The girl's delicate fragrance was honestly a little hard to resist.
"Really?"
"Of course!!"
The two of them had left the alley and returned to the street.
The midday sun was especially scorching, making Xu Qing narrow his eyes without thinking.
Ye Guyi's attention, meanwhile, was caught by a roadside herbal tea stall.
"You must be exhausted. Let me buy you something to drink!"
She hurried over and gestured to the shopkeeper a couple of times, then her smile froze on her face.
She patted her pocket... then patted it again...
"You treat, I'll pay."
Xu Qing came over and took out two Silver Soul Coins to hand to the shopkeeper.
"Did you spend all your money on punishing evil and promoting good?"
"Hehe..."
Ye Guyi gave an awkward smile, her eyes curving into crescent moons.
She took the herbal tea and sipped it. Her expression immediately relaxed.
"Special circumstances, you know..."
So embarrassing... Waaah, I forgot my little stash had already been emptied...
"Actually, I was really rich a few days ago. I had enough to buy a house in Ming Capital, you know?"
The fallen rich lady of an angel tried to defend herself.
"But because of certain circumstances beyond my control, well, now things are what they are, and I'm out of money..."
"Actually, I went after that Evil Soul Master because I could exchange his bounty for money at the Aodu Chamber of Commerce in the city. Someone had put a price on him, after all."
"Ah, my fault. I should've left him alive for you."
"No, no... How could that be your fault? I can't thank you enough..."
Should I tell him...
Ye Guyi agonized, Ye Guyi pondered, and Ye Guyi decided to tell the truth.
"I'm going to tell you a secret..."
She looked like a guilty thief, glancing all around. When she saw no one paying attention to them,
she tugged at Xu Qing's sleeve and whispered:
Before you continue