Purifying Light

Lu Xue spoke, and the Clouded Deer's Soul Power within her released a gentle glow. It enveloped everyone, shielding them from the eerie whispers.

Lu Xuan, Jian Chenxin, and Gu Rong struck together. Their Soul Power erupted, forming a powerful aura that collided with the dark figure's evil power.

Lu Xuan's blue-gray Soul Power became a massive chain that coiled toward the dark figure;

Jian Chenxin's golden sword intent condensed into a colossal Sword Dragon that roared toward him;

Gu Rong's Bone Vines slithered like long snakes, closing in on him from every direction.

Facing their combined attack, the dark figure dared not let down his guard. He drove his evil Soul Power to its limit, raising his black energy shield once more. At the same time, countless strands of black Soul-Eroding Corrupt Miasma formed sharp blades to fend off the three attacks.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

A string of thunderous crashes rang out as the three forces slammed into the dark figure's evil power. Golden sword intent, blue-gray Soul Power, bone-white Bone Vines, and black Soul-Eroding Corrupt Miasma tangled together, filling the air with sparks from their collisions.

Strong as the dark figure was, the combined assault of three peak experts gradually pressed him hard. They kept him pinned down, leaving him no chance to break away.

"Now!"

Lu Xuan shouted.

Xiao Shenghe and Lu Yao exchanged a glance and activated the Symbiotic Power within them at the same time. A multicolored current of energy gathered into a massive beam and blasted toward the dark figure.

The beam contained silver-and-jade Symbiotic Power, blue-gold Bamboo Soul Power, and orange-red Flame Power. Laden with potent purifying force, it shot straight for the dark figure's chest.

The dark figure's expression changed. He tried to dodge, but Lu Xuan, Jian Chenxin, and Gu Rong had him pinned fast. He could not move.

He could only hastily channel his Soul Power and form a thick energy shield before him, hoping to withstand the beam.

Bang!

The multicolored beam smashed into the energy shield with an earth-shaking crash.

The shield shattered instantly. Like a blade splitting bamboo, the multicolored beam drove straight into the dark figure's chest.

"Aah!"

The dark figure let out a piercing scream. The beam's purifying force scoured the Soul-Eroding Corrupt Miasma within him. Black mist poured endlessly from his body, only to be forcibly purified by the beam and dissolve into wisps of smoke.

He could feel the Soul-Eroding Corrupt Miasma within him dwindling rapidly, his strength plummeting with it.

Fear and resentment flashed in his eyes. He wanted to flee, but the three held him fast.

Xiao Shenghe and Lu Yao did not let up. They continued pouring out Soul Power with everything they had, sending the multicolored beam steadily into the dark figure's body to purify the Soul-Eroding Corrupt Miasma within him.

As time passed, more and more of the miasma was purified. His aura grew weaker, and the black mist shrouding him gradually dispersed, revealing his true appearance.

He was an old man in a long black robe, with a gaunt face, sinister eyes, and a trace of black blood at the corner of his mouth.

His cultivation had indeed reached the level of a Peak Douluo. But with so much of his Soul-Eroding Corrupt Miasma purified, his strength had fallen drastically. He was now weaker than an ordinary Titled Douluo.

"No! My Soul-Eroding Corrupt Miasma!"

The old man roared in despair,

"I spent a hundred years cultivating miasma this powerful, and you destroyed it! I won't let you get away with this!"

The last of his Soul Power erupted wildly as he struggled to make one final stand.

But Lu Xuan, Jian Chenxin, and Gu Rong gave him no chance. All three unleashed their strongest attacks at once. Golden sword intent, blue-gray Soul Power, and bone-white Bone Vines struck the old man together.

Bang! The old man was hurled backward and slammed into the wall of the Soul-Eroding Cave. He spat a mouthful of black blood, his breath barely lingering.

Xiao Shenghe and Lu Yao withdrew the beam. Both looked pale; sustaining such powerful purification had drained a tremendous amount of their Soul Power.

Lu Xuan walked up to the old man, his gaze icy.

"Talk. Who are you? Why did you create the Soul-Eroding Corrupt Miasma?"

The old man glared at them, his eyes full of hatred and resentment. Instead of answering, he suddenly bit down on his tongue, trying to kill himself.

"Trying to kill yourself? Not so fast!"

Gu Rong snorted. A Bone Vine shot out and wrapped around the old man's neck, stopping him.

At the same time, a faint golden light spread across the vine. It sealed his Soul Power meridians, leaving him unable to resist.

Lu Xue approached the old man and raised a hand. She sent a stream of jade-green Soul Power into him to probe his memories.

A moment later, Lu Xue opened her eyes and said gravely,

"He's Mo Chen, the Corrosive Poison Douluo. A hundred years ago, Spirit Hall hunted him for cultivating evil Soul Skills and slaughtering Soul Beasts and humans. I never expected him to hide in the Netherworld Swamp of the Star Dou Great Forest—or to cultivate the Soul-Eroding Corrupt Miasma here."

"Mo Chen, the Corrosive Poison Douluo?"

Jian Chenxin frowned slightly.

"I've heard that name. They say his Corrosive Poison Soul Skills are exceptionally vile. I never thought he'd still be alive."

"He cultivated the Soul-Eroding Corrupt Miasma to control the Soul Beasts of the Star Dou Great Forest and build an army of them. He planned to take revenge on Spirit Hall, then dominate the Douluo Continent."

Lu Xue continued,

"What's more, he's been secretly colluding with evil factions within Spirit Hall, hoping to use its power to fulfill his ambitions."

"Hmph. What a pipe dream!"

Jian Chenxin snorted.

"Keeping a villain like him alive will only invite disaster. Better to kill him now and end the threat for good!"

Fear flashed in Mo Chen's eyes when he heard that, but he still talked tough.

"Killing me won't help. I've already passed the method for cultivating Soul-Eroding Corrupt Miasma to people in Spirit Hall. Before long, more of it will appear. Then the entire Douluo Continent will descend into chaos!"

"What did you say?"

Everyone's expression changed.

Lu Xuan's gaze grew grave.

"It seems this is worse than we thought. Spirit Hall's ambitions are growing. They're even cultivating this evil power in secret."

Xiao Shenghe said,

"Whatever happens, we should deal with Mo Chen first, then find a way to stop Spirit Hall. At least we've destroyed his source of Soul-Eroding Corrupt Miasma and prevented it from spreading further."

Lu Xuan nodded.

"You're right. Mo Chen's crimes are monstrous. Leaving him alive will only cause more trouble. Sword Douluo, sorry to trouble you, but finish him."

Jian Chenxin nodded and raised a hand. A streak of golden sword energy shot out, piercing Mo Chen's skull in an instant. Mo Chen died before he could even scream.

With Mo Chen dead, the Soul-Eroding Corrupt Miasma lingering in the Soul-Eroding Cave began to dissipate rapidly. The surrounding air gradually grew fresh.

The Netherworld Poison Dragon flew over to them, gratitude filling his eyes.

"Thank you, seniors. By eliminating the menace that was Mo Chen, you've saved the Soul Beast clans of the Netherworld Swamp and the Star Dou Great Forest."