As dawn began to break, Yi Chen suddenly opened his eyes. He looked at the glove on his left shoulder, stroked it gently, and muttered, "I wonder if this thing can be used as a weapon? Hmm, I've got nothing else to do anyway. Might as well give it a try, hehe."
A strand of pure soul power became a speck of green light and shot into the glove, carrying a tremendous surge of energy with it. Countless fine runes immediately lit up across the glove's surface. Emerald threads of light wound around Yi Chen's left hand, and wisps of green vapor rose from the glove.
The black-clad young man in Yi Chen's grasp suddenly let out an agonized scream. His features began to twist, as though he were suffering some terrible pain. A green image swiftly emerged on his forehead, as if a statue of an ancient god had appeared there.
Wisps of green radiance escaped from the glove and seeped into his body through his pores.
Strands of eerie energy rose from his body. A chill wind swept past, sending goosebumps prickling all over Yi Chen. He watched in astonishment but made no move to stop it.
Wisps of black, smoky haze rose from the black-clad young man. His cheeks grew increasingly pale, and his body gradually withered.
His companions beside him began to wail miserably. Their bodies shriveled inch by inch, and within a few short seconds, they had decayed into something resembling a heap of dead branches.
The black-clad young man's flesh gradually became a sheet of dried human skin. His skull collapsed as well, leaving only a skeleton.
His soul, wrapped in a ball of green light like a seed, hovered before Yi Chen.
Yi Chen held the glove with delight written across his face and examined it closely, murmuring to himself, "What is this thing? What a marvelous power. In all these years, I've never encountered anything so formidable. Even star power couldn't resist it. Hmm, but it seems to have a few flaws."
Low curses came from within the black cocoon of light. "You little bastard, get away from me, or I'll destroy your soul. Damn it, how can such sinister magic exist? It actually corroded my soul. These humans are disgusting, utterly lowborn. How dare they attack me?"
Yi Chen remained dumbstruck for a long while before looking coldly at the black-clad young man. "What are you trying to do?"
The black-clad young man roared furiously, "What am I trying to do? I'm going to finish you off! I'm going to kill you... you devil! You actually dared to attack a Fallen One. You must pay the price, you must..."
Yi Chen snorted coldly. "Is being a Fallen One so impressive? Whatever you are, since you've come to my territory, you can obediently become my slaves and serve me."
Yi Chen pressed his hand against the black-clad young man's forehead. His body shuddered, and his fingers sank deep beneath the skin of the young man's forehead, drawing out a pale yellow bead.
The black-clad young man's eyes widened, and his lips trembled as he shrieked, "Who are you? My soul escaped, so why were you still able to catch it? What sorcery did you use? How could you possibly seize my soul? I'll tell Father and the others that you killed my brothers, killed them... no, no, this is far too serious... you're doomed..."
Without waiting for the black-clad young man to finish, Yi Chen released a cloud of red mist from his fingers, enveloping his entire soul.
The red mist ravenously drained the strength of the black-clad young man's soul. His eyes went blank. He could only instinctively sense everything he possessed, but could no longer control his body.
Yi Chen asked leisurely, "What's your name? Where did you come from?"
The black-clad young man's pupils were utterly hollow as he answered woodenly, "My name is Glens Cartak..."
"What is your occupation?" Yi Chen continued.
Glens answered blankly, "A Fallen One. I specialize in hunting magical beasts and occasionally capture members of the Human Race."
Yi Chen frowned and asked in a low voice, "Then where are all you Fallen Ones? And what is your purpose?"
Glens hesitated for a while before saying with difficulty, "We Fallen Ones send a group into this world only once every ten thousand years. Then... we find an opportunity to have our followers occupy this world, absorb their soul flames, and increase our strength. Ultimately, we will rule this planet."
Yi Chen frowned. "Why don't you establish cities yourselves, or send followers to build your own nation?"
Glens gave a bitter smile. "Because... we aren't strong enough. If we rashly built towns and nations, other countries would surround and exterminate us. We're merely a band of wanderers. We don't want to invite trouble."
Yi Chen breathed a sigh of relief and said with a grin, "So that's how it is. I understand now. That means your targets are humans? Then what are you searching for in the human world? As far as I know, unless there are special circumstances, the human world wouldn't let you set foot there whenever you pleased, would it?"
Two flashes of jade-green light suddenly shone in Glens's eye sockets. His head swayed slightly, and he abruptly shouted, "Shut up! I will never allow anyone to pry into our secrets, you lowborn human..."
Yi Chen's brows twitched several times. He suddenly felt as though some unknown power had fixed its gaze upon him, and a terrifying, icy aura spread through the surroundings.
Yi Chen blinked, and a strand of golden lightning shot violently outward. With a swish, it pierced the barrier of space and stabbed fiercely into the void.
With a tremendous ripping crash, the distant sky suddenly exploded. Countless black clouds appeared out of nowhere, endless thunderbolts rolling within them. Countless bolts of lightning howled toward them, instantly engulfing Yi Chen and the others.
A silver lightning dragon nearly a hundred meters long swiftly took shape and lunged at Yi Chen, baring its fangs and brandishing its claws.
A long black halberd appeared in Yi Chen's hand. With a casual swing, he sent streaks of dark light crashing toward the lightning dragon.
The lightning dragon roared. As hard as a steel bar, it forcibly tore those shadowy streaks of light apart and slammed into the Black Halberd, driving Yi Chen back four or five steps.
Excitement shone in Yi Chen's eyes as he praised it softly. "What powerful energy. Although it's considerably weaker than mine, this is pure thunder elemental law. This is truly something precious. My thunderbolt power can absorb this energy to increase the thunderbolt power within my body. Hahahaha! Heaven itself is helping me, truly helping me!"
Yi Chen raised his right palm. A strand of golden light as fine as gossamer quietly surged from his dantian. After merging with a wisp of faint black mist, it swiftly became a golden bolt of lightning as thick as a thumb and half a foot long, striking lightly against the Thunder Dragon's neck.