Eight Supreme Dark Evils

Meng Xuanji stood still and took a deep breath, then boldly stepped into the forbidden zone with a dim oil lamp in hand.

"Brr... so cold."

The forbidden books section was thick with yin energy. Even the wind here was chilling, brushing against the back of Meng Xuanji's neck as though someone were caressing him from behind.

Anyone without enough courage would never dare set foot in this place.

Even Meng Xuanji had entered prepared to die at any moment.

"The sensation is stronger. It should be nearby."

The Dark Blue Silver Emperor within Meng Xuanji led him to an abandoned desk.

The solid wooden desk was covered in messy files, with traces of unknown murky liquid still clinging to them. The sight filled Meng Xuanji with disgust.

"What filthy stuff."

Suppressing his nausea, Meng Xuanji raised the oil lamp and approached the rotting desk. By its dim light, he began examining the files scattered across it.

"The Eight Supreme Dark Evils: the Symbiotic Blood Lotus."

"Those who possess the Blood Lotus may use their essence blood to form symbiotic contracts with others, drawing upon their servants' strength and life force to continuously strengthen themselves. Its methods are ruthless and sinister."

"Once, an evil soul master used the lives of an entire city's inhabitants to forcefully break through to the rank of Titled Douluo, causing a horrific massacre. Spirit Hall was enraged from top to bottom. The Grand Priest personally pursued him for three months before finally executing him on the spot in a barren wasteland."

"The Symbiotic Blood Lotus was brought back to Spirit Hall by the Grand Priest and sealed deep within the forbidden books section, lest evildoers use it to harm the continent."

Meng Xuanji murmured to himself.

"Qian Daoliu again. That Grand Priest's record is absurdly impressive. If Spirit Hall hadn't fallen, the Holy Spirit Cult probably never could have been established. The cleansing judgment power of an angel martial soul alone would have suppressed them so thoroughly that they'd never be able to lift their heads for the rest of their lives."

Meng Xuanji looked toward another stack of files, stained with a foul-smelling reddish liquid.

Driven by intense curiosity, Meng Xuanji risked his life to approach with the oil lamp, keeping his distance from the pool of red liquid all the while.

"Following an investigation by Spirit Hall's highest academic council, it was discovered that the Symbiotic Blood Lotus was, in a sense, also a plant-type soul beast and could be absorbed by soul masters to become a soul ring."

"Major tragedy! A Spirit Hall elder who absorbed the Symbiotic Blood Lotus lost control of his consciousness! He slew eight Soul Douluos in an instant! He was forcibly suppressed by the Grand Priest!"

"The martial soul absorption plan was declared a failure. The Grand Priest revoked the highest academic council's authority and permanently sealed the Symbiotic Blood Lotus within the forbidden books section. No one was permitted to take it from this place."

There were also photographs of failed experiments attached to the files. The out-of-control experimental subjects in those pictures had crimson eyes and sharp teeth, looking just like living monsters.

It was impossible to tell whether they controlled their martial souls, or whether their martial souls controlled them. Ordinary soul masters were likely incapable of wielding such a treasure.

"As expected of one of the Eight Supreme Dark Evils. So it has such an unknown history behind it. Coming to the forbidden books section this time was truly worthwhile."

The only thing Meng Xuanji was curious about now was where exactly Qian Daoliu had sealed the Symbiotic Blood Lotus.

And why was the back of his neck so cold? He kept feeling as though something were watching him.

Meng Xuanji cautiously brought the oil lamp closer to the pool of red liquid. Using the reflection on its surface, he finally saw what was behind him.

It was a strange lotus growing from the ceiling. Its red petals were brighter than blood itself, while several bizarre crimson tentacles slowly extended from its lush, blood-colored seedpod and hovered silently above Meng Xuanji's head.

Gulp.

Meng Xuanji swallowed hard, forcing down the fear in his heart.

What was he supposed to do? He felt like he was already half dead.

Did anyone know how he could get out of here alive? Waiting online, urgent!

"Stay calm, Meng Xuanji. Don't panic. Just pretend you didn't see it and quietly leave. Yes, whatever happens, don't look at it."

Meng Xuanji tried to comfort himself.

Just as Meng Xuanji was about to turn and leave, a tentacle suddenly knocked the oil lamp from his hand! The fallen lamp scattered sparks across the floor, illuminating Meng Xuanji's terrified face.

"Damn it! You're not even pretending anymore!"

Seeing that the Symbiotic Blood Lotus had laid its cards on the table, Meng Xuanji stopped pretending as well and turned to run for the forbidden books section's exit.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

Thick blood-colored tentacles rushed toward Meng Xuanji. Before he could run a hundred meters, the lightning-fast tentacles dragged him back and bound his limbs tightly like prey. No matter how he struggled, it was useless.

"Let me go! Bastard, didn't they say this thing was sealed?! Why is it growing on the ceiling?!"

Meng Xuanji cursed the intelligence officers' incompetence in his heart. This thing had clearly escaped, hadn't it?! Qian Daoliu ought to find time to come deal with it!

"Human."

The tentacles dragged Meng Xuanji before the Symbiotic Blood Lotus. Then, the Blood Lotus sent an ethereal voice into Meng Xuanji's mind through spiritual power.

"Form a symbiotic contract with me. I am willing to grant you boundless power and help you obtain everything you desire. Now, relax your mind and offer me a drop of your essence blood. Then I shall enter into this agreement with you."

"Get lost! Who said I wanted to make a contract with you?! I'm not ready yet, you know?!"

Meng Xuanji would rather die than submit. He had no desire to become one of those monsters in the photographs, stripped of their consciousness by the Blood Lotus.

The Symbiotic Blood Lotus seemed to have anticipated this.

"It matters not. Your choice is unimportant."

"Then why did you ask all that nonsense?!"

Meng Xuanji watched as drops of scarlet liquid began secreting from the blood-colored tentacles, identical to the liquid on the desk.

The only difference was that this freshly secreted liquid carried an intense fragrance. It smelled like perfume blended from hundreds of flowers, refreshing his mind and invigorating his senses.

"No, this fragrance is poisonous!"

Meng Xuanji felt his mind growing hazy. This was clearly a sign of poisoning.

"Give up resisting. This is your only choice."

The Symbiotic Blood Lotus's assault was not over. Fine lotus filaments shot from its seedpod, and thorn-covered suckers flew onto Meng Xuanji's arms, effortlessly piercing his skin and burrowing into his body.

Splat!

Before Meng Xuanji could react, the lotus filaments had latched tightly onto his brain and heart almost simultaneously, and a mouthful of blood burst from his lips.

The tentacles drenched in blood became even thicker and stronger, each one greedily seeming eager to devour Meng Xuanji's body.

Had the Symbiotic Blood Lotus not suppressed its instincts, Meng Xuanji would already have been sucked dry into a skeleton.

"I shall accept your essence blood."

Meng Xuanji's consciousness gradually faded. At the very end, he even felt a trace of regret.

If he had known, he would not have come to the forbidden books section alone. This truly was a forbidden land for soul masters.

As Meng Xuanji's consciousness fell completely asleep, the Symbiotic Blood Lotus smugly began extracting his essence blood. But just as it lowered its guard, Meng Xuanji suddenly opened his bewitching eyes.

His originally dark-purple irises had turned a deep, mysterious black. Like an arrogant emperor, he stared directly at the Symbiotic Blood Lotus, with even a trace of disdain visible in his gaze.

"A mere Blood Lotus dares attempt to seize this emperor's body?"

"Criminal subjects, retreat at once!"