Noumenon Sect?

His soul power ultimately stopped at level twenty-seven. Compared to the outrageous ten-level leap after his first soul ring, this time he had only risen seven levels. Ye Chenxing could not help but inwardly lament the pity of it.

After all, Evil Eye was a purely spiritual entity. Theoretically, it should not have granted him even a single level of soul power. Those seven levels came from the residual soul power left over from his previous soul ring absorption and the Golden Tree, as well as the boost from absorbing the hundred-thousand-year Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear's palm bone.

Of course, if outsiders heard that, they would probably cough up blood from anger. He had gained seven levels after obtaining his second ring and still thought it was too little? Others would burn incense in gratitude for gaining three levels with their second ring.

This special soul ring, condensed from Evil Eye's remnant soul, had not given him any additional physical enhancement. His body remained at its original level. However, thanks to this soul ring formed purely from spiritual power, his spiritual power had leaped directly from advanced Spirit Emperor to the threshold of Soul Saint.

Evil Eye also possessed a trait that had become part of Ye Chenxing along with the absorption: Twin Unity.

In other words, if Ye Chenxing could kill the Evil Emperor, he could directly absorb the Evil Emperor's soul ring and merge it into his own second soul ring. As for whether the soul rings of this pair of twin Evil Eyes could glimpse the realm of a million years... that was unknown.

But none of that was the point. What he looked forward to most now was something else—after breaking through level thirty, he would be able to conduct his second Heroic Spirit Summoning.

The thought of soon gaining another Servant filled Ye Chenxing with anticipation.

"Is it going to rain?"

Meng Hongchen suddenly looked up at the sky beside him, her brows slightly furrowed. A dense mass of dark clouds drifted over from the horizon. Though it was not moving quickly, it gave off a suffocating sense of oppression.

"We need to leave. Now."

Jing Hongchen looked up, and his expression changed abruptly. Even his usual composure had vanished from his voice.

Meng Hongchen and Xiao Hongchen both froze. They had never seen their grandfather wear such an expression.

Jing Hongchen, a level ninety-four Titled Douluo, swept the area with his spiritual power, only for it to vanish like a clay ox entering the sea. He could detect nothing. Forget a cloud—if an actual mountain were pressing down over his head, it could not possibly block his senses.

Ye Chenxing's brow was tightly furrowed as well. His spiritual power had only just entered the Soul Saint level, and his perception had increased severalfold. For someone to conceal their aura within such a vast expanse of dark clouds, their concealment techniques had to be far beyond his own.

"Heh heh heh—where are you four off to?"

Four figures descended from the clouds. All were cloaked in black robes and wore masks that concealed their faces, revealing not the slightest feature. Even their builds had been deliberately blurred. Clearly, they had come thoroughly prepared.

Without drawing attention to it, Jing Hongchen shielded the three juniors behind him and said coldly,

"Who are you four? I am Jing Hongchen of the Illustrious Virtue Hall. I am here hunting soul beasts with my juniors. What business do you have with us?" He first invoked the Illustrious Virtue Hall's name. Though he already knew they had come with ill intent, he still hoped that declaring his identity would make them back down.

In his perception, the first three were nothing to fear. They were three Soul Douluos.

But the strength of the fourth person at the rear had somehow escaped his senses. One had to understand that there were only a handful on the entire continent who could completely conceal their true strength from a level ninety-four Titled Douluo like him. His expression remained unchanged, but inwardly, his vigilance had risen to its peak.

The three in front stepped forward together. The man in the middle spoke first, his voice hoarse like a broken bellows.

"We have come by order of our sect master."

The man on the left continued, "Please come to our Noumenon Sect for a discussion."

The man on the right said, "Hall Master, please come with us."

Jing Hongchen's brow creased deeply. The Noumenon Sect? Du Bushi's people?

Unable to determine their true origins, he replied, "I am unavailable today. I will certainly pay a visit another day. Please decline your sect master's kind offer on my behalf."

The three suddenly let out strange laughs together. Their tone, rhythm, and volume were completely identical, making it indescribably eerie.

"That is not up to you!"

The three spoke in unison and charged forward together. Twenty-four soul rings lit up simultaneously. Jing Hongchen snorted coldly, releasing his toad martial soul. Golden light blazed as he met them head-on without yielding. The four figures immediately clashed.

Xiao Hongchen and Meng Hongchen stood at the rear, their expressions filled with excitement. In their eyes, their grandfather had more than enough strength to deal with three Soul Douluos. That was indeed the case. Jing Hongchen fought one against three, and though the three Soul Douluos coordinated seamlessly, the difference in cultivation was too great. They could not get near him at all.

But Ye Chenxing's heart had risen to his throat. On the surface, Jing Hongchen was still suppressing the three opponents alone, but he knew the truly fatal danger was still lurking in the shadows, yet to act.

For he had already recognized who these four were. They were not members of the Noumenon Sect at all—they were from the Holy Spirit Cult!

At first, he had not dared to be certain. Although the three had never revealed any traits of their martial souls, judging by their movements in battle, they were definitely not using the methods of body martial souls.

They were the servants of the Holy Spirit Cult's leader—the Zhongli Brothers. And the person who had remained silent at the rear... judging from that fleeting dark-cloud technique earlier, was the legendary figure of the Holy Spirit Cult: the level ninety-four consecrated elder who had once pursued Di Tian and escaped unscathed, Dark Cloud Douluo.

Jing Hongchen was said to be able to survive against Xuan Zi, and might even have a chance of victory if he widened the distance. But looking back at the battles of later years, he was only marginally stronger than a level ninety-five powerhouse. Though he could easily suppress the Zhongli Brothers now, once Dark Cloud Douluo made a move, the situation would likely fall into a stalemate.

Just as Ye Chenxing had anticipated, the silent Dark Cloud Douluo finally moved.

Two yellow, two purple, and five black soul rings rose one after another. The Dark Crow martial soul abruptly possessed him. In that instant, his entire body seemed to turn into a shadow beneath a gloomy sky, and intense darkness pressed outward like a tide. He stepped into the battle, and the atmosphere on the battlefield instantly became heavy and stagnant.

The moment Jing Hongchen saw that martial soul, his pupils contracted sharply. He immediately roared, "You four are definitely not from the Noumenon Sect! Who are you really?!"

Yet even now, he found it difficult to accurately determine their true origins. To conceal their identities as evil soul masters, the Zhongli Brothers had fought solely with soul power and their bodies, revealing not the slightest trace of their martial souls. Dark Cloud Douluo, meanwhile, had only recently become a consecrated elder of the Holy Spirit Cult. He was not an evil soul master himself and merely possessed the darkness attribute.

"What ignorance. Who told you that our Noumenon Sect only has Titled Douluos with body martial souls?"

"Enough nonsense. Once I take you down, I will naturally learn your identity!"

Jing Hongchen calculated furiously. These four were certainly troublesome, but he was confident he could still defeat them. The problem was this—he could not end the battle quickly. This Titled Douluo was simply too difficult to handle. The darkness attribute was unpredictable and bizarre; every strike carried a sinister force of suction and corrosion. Once he became entangled, it would be like sinking into a swamp. The harder he attacked, the harder it would become to break free.

More fatal still, he was not alone.

Behind him were his grandson and granddaughter, as well as future pillars of the Sun Moon Empire.

As if confirming the concern in his heart, the Zhongli Brothers exchanged glances. In a single instant, they understood each other. One of them twisted sharply, turning into an afterimage as he fiercely lunged toward Xiao Hongchen, Meng Hongchen, and Ye Chenxing.

Ye Chenxing's expression darkened.

His worst suspicion had now been confirmed. Their true target was not Jing Hongchen, but him.

Ultimate Light—had it still been exposed?

He had known from the start that such talent could not be hidden forever, but he had not expected it to happen so soon. The Holy Spirit Cult—those evil soul masters lurking in the shadows of the Sun Moon Empire—had accurately latched onto him on the third day after he entered the Jingyang Mountain Range.

The Hall Master and Elder Kong could never have... Then it must have been an issue during the testing... I wonder whether someone among those nobles recognized it, or if it was the examiners...

Before he could think any further, the black-robed figure was already rushing at the three of them like a vulture pouncing on rabbits.

"Run!"

Ye Chenxing shouted decisively. He grabbed Xiao Hongchen's and Meng Hongchen's arms, one in each hand, then turned and sprinted into the depths of the forest.