Soul Guidance Array

Jing Hongchen, who was setting up Soul Guidance Cannons and a Soul Guidance Defense Array, suddenly sensed fluctuations of soul power not far away.

Rift Realm Creations did not use soul power, but other forms of cosmic energy. Soul power fluctuations appearing within the Rift Realm meant that other soul masters or soul beasts were fighting.

Jing Hongchen took out a detection soul guidance device and launched it. Only after the device had flown a great distance did it transmit back an image.

On the screen, Shangguan Weier was protecting Ye Guyi after having just slain several Soul Sage-level Rift Realm Creations.

Shangguan Weier also noticed the detection soul guidance device.

Joy appeared on her face. She recognized it as a military detection soul guidance device of the Sun Moon Empire and thus knew that Sun Moon Empire soul engineers were here.

She immediately brought Ye Guyi toward Jing Hongchen and the others.

A Titled Douluo was extremely fast. With the aid of a Ninth-Rank Flying Soul Guidance Device, Shangguan Weier quickly arrived beside Xu Tianming and the others with Ye Guyi.

The Ninth-Rank Flying Soul Guidance Device she used was a compact, silver-white twin-winged aircraft. It was small and nimble, its surface covered in dense soul guidance formation patterns. While flying, it formed a stable silver curtain of light around itself, protecting her as she swiftly traveled through the Rift Realm.

"So it's the Master of the Hall of Virtue."

The silver-white flying soul guidance device landed upon a patch of crystallized rock.

Shangguan Weier folded away the wings, and her wine-red hair slipped down over her shoulders. Turquoise tassels in her hair swayed gently. Upon seeing Jing Hongchen, her tense expression relaxed slightly.

Meeting an acquaintance in the Rift Realm—especially a ninety-fourth-rank Titled Douluo—was more delightful than seeing a lavish feast.

The Ordinary Alliance was backed by Sun Moon Empire nobles, while the Hongchen Clan was also one of the Sun Moon Empire's oldest noble families.

Shangguan Weier and Jing Hongchen did not have a particularly close relationship, but they were not complete strangers either. Here, neither side had any need to be wary of the other.

After setting down the Soul Guidance Array Disc in his hand, Jing Hongchen's icy blue eyes first fell upon Shangguan Weier, then shifted to Ye Guyi beside her.

"Alliance Leader Shangguan, why are you here as well?"

"Don't even mention it."

Shangguan Weier rubbed her forehead, her voice full of helplessness.

"I originally brought this child to Jingyang Mountain to hunt for her second Soul Ring. The moment she finished absorbing it, the Rift Realm dropped right on our heads."

She glanced up at the dark-purple sky.

"With luck like this, I should've checked the almanac before leaving home."

Ye Guyi said nothing at the side.

She held a short sword condensed from holy light in her hand. Her pale golden hair hung to her waist, and several dark-purple crystal fragments clung to the hem of her dress. Though she was only a child, she stood firm and steady, her emerald eyes constantly watching the surroundings.

Meng Hongchen's little face immediately fell after hearing that.

"Us too."

"Grandpa brought us here to hunt soul beasts. I'd only just finished absorbing my second Soul Ring when the Rift Realm came."

She raised a hand and pointed upward.

"It fell from the sky too."

Xiao Hongchen nodded beside her in strong agreement.

"There wasn't even anywhere to hide."

Shangguan Weier looked at the siblings, then at Xu Tianming.

"Looks like no one here has had much luck today."

Xu Tianming maintained his composure, but he still felt a little awkward inside. Their luck really was awful.

If he had not made that wish, these people would still be happily hunting Soul Rings on Jingyang Mountain instead of suffering in the Rift Realm.

He could not say that. No one would believe him if he did, and even if someone did, he could not explain it. He could hardly tell everyone that the Rift Realm had suddenly descended because he wanted a suitable first Soul Ring.

That would be far too ridiculous.

Jing Hongchen raised his hand, and a silver screen of light appeared over the Soul Guidance Array Disc. Countless points of light were densely arranged across it.

"This is a Newborn Medium Rift Realm."

"The Rift Realm has completed its spatial closure. The outside world cannot intervene for the time being. If we want to leave, we can only find the Rift Realm Lord and destroy its core."

Shangguan Weier's expression grew somewhat more serious.

"My detection soul guidance device has also locked onto the core's direction."

She took out the diamond-shaped soul guidance device.

The dark-purple crystal at its center glowed, and crimson lines extended toward the depths of the Rift Realm, matching the location displayed on Jing Hongchen's array disc exactly.

"Looks like the lord is over there."

Jing Hongchen glanced at the detection results.

"The lord of a Newborn Medium Rift Realm is at the Titled Douluo level. The space here is still unstable, so the amount of Rift Realm power it can draw upon is limited."

"The two of us will join forces and end this quickly."

Shangguan Weier nodded.

"Just what I wanted."

The longer one remained in the Rift Realm, the more apparent its suppression of outsiders became. For Titled Douluos, that suppression was still bearable.

For the four younger children, however, it was a genuine threat.

Meng Hongchen hugged her arms and shivered.

"It's unnaturally cold here. It feels strange."

"Even soul power has become difficult to control."

Xiao Hongchen frowned. He could feel that the free metal elements around them had been contaminated by some strange force. They were much harder to control than usual, and even the soul power within his body no longer responded as smoothly as before.

Jing Hongchen looked at Shangguan Weier.

"The children will remain here."

"I have already set up the Soul Guidance Array. Its defensive barrier can withstand attacks below the Titled Douluo level, and twelve automatically locking Soul Guidance Cannons are stationed around the perimeter. Ordinary Rift Realm Creations will not be able to get close."

Shangguan Weier followed his gaze.

Not far away, silver-black metal pillars had been embedded into the ground. Blue-white patterns covered the pillars, and a translucent protective dome had descended over them, enveloping a large open area.

Twelve small Soul Guidance Cannons floated along the edge of the barrier. Their dark muzzles slowly rotated, always aimed outward.

The array had been set up swiftly and completely. Such was the efficiency of a Ninth-Rank Soul Engineer.

Shangguan Weier walked to the protective barrier and gently touched it. Pale-purple soul power landed upon the shield, causing only a ripple of silver light before quickly fading away.

She withdrew her hand.

"The defense is indeed strong."

"I can rest easy leaving Guyi here."

Ye Guyi raised her head.

"Aunt Weier, I can go with you too."

"No."

Shangguan Weier's voice was gentle, but it left no room for negotiation.

"You have only just absorbed your Soul Ring, and your soul power has not stabilized yet. A battle against the lord is not something you should take part in."

"But I have the holy attribute. It should have some restraining effect on Rift Realm Creations."

"When you grow up, there will naturally be a time for you to contribute."

Shangguan Weier reached out and brushed the crystal fragments from her shoulder.

"For now, stay obediently inside the protective barrier."

Ye Guyi pursed her lips, but in the end, she nodded.

"I understand."