Where Is Xuan Zi?! Where Did Xuan Zi Go?

Where Is Xuan Zi?! Where Did Xuan Zi Go?

Meanwhile, in a hidden cave in the central region of Sunset Forest.

A sinister-looking man in a black robe radiated a chilling aura of malice. One glance was enough to tell that wickedness had taken root deep within him.

"Hehehe, once This Messenger finishes this job in Sunset Forest, I'll refine a few more Corpse Slaves."

The Black-Robed Man's voice was hoarse. "Then it'll be time to cultivate in seclusion for a while, improve my control over the Corpse Explosion Technique, and begin preparing to break through to Soul King."

His cultivation had already reached the peak of Soul Ancestor. In the depths of his heart, he sensed that fortune was smiling upon him this year, as though he was about to stumble upon some great opportunity. Breaking through to Soul King was practically guaranteed.

The Black-Robed Man looked at the dozens of corpses around him and not far away, all ready to be detonated, and curled his lips into a smile. These were all his gains from the past few days, useful for ambushes or covering his escape.

"In just about a year, the Star Luo Empire will be holding the next Soul Master Competition."

The Black-Robed Man's eyes darkened, and he could not help but sneer. "By then, This Messenger will have successfully broken through to Soul King. I'll head to the region of the Ming Dou Mountain Range near Star Luo and make a big move."

He had always felt that, although he was an Evil Soul Master, his luck was extraordinary, as though some earth-shattering event was waiting for him to accomplish it.

"When the time comes, any blind fools who dare come knocking will receive a grand Corpse Explosion gift. This Messenger will make sure none of them return alive!"

As for the Corpse Explosion Technique he was so proud of—

He had obtained it long ago while searching the Ming Dou Mountain Range for targets to refine into Corpse Slaves. The Star Luo Military had dispatched a large number of soldiers to hunt him down. Fortunately, his life had been tough enough; after falling off a cliff with grave injuries, he had survived by sheer luck and found a strange scroll by chance.

It was the Corpse Explosion Technique.

In Death God Messenger's eyes, as long as there were enough corpses and they had been strong enough while alive, this technique was comparable to a divine skill, with limitless power.

He might only be at the peak of Soul Ancestor now, but if he prepared enough corpses in advance for detonation—

Even a few Soul Kings would be nothing more than a pack of insects in his eyes.

As Death God Messenger pondered his plans for the coming year, he suddenly sensed something. His lips split into a sinister grin.

Through the corpses he had planted around the area, he sensed a team cautiously approaching from the left side of the mixed zone.

At the same time, on the right side of the mixed zone, he sensed a jade-eyed woman wearing a veil.

"She actually possesses the Jade Phosphorous Serpent Martial Soul, one of the most poisonous Martial Souls. If I refine her into a Corpse Slave, she'll surely become one of This Messenger's greatest weapons."

Death God Messenger knew a fair bit about this top-tier poisonous Martial Soul that had once been renowned throughout the world.

It might not offer much advantage in one-on-one combat.

But when it came to large-scale destructive power, such as poisoning an entire town or village, it was incomparably terrifying. Corpses could litter the ground in an instant.

And that was exactly the effect Death God Messenger wanted. Combined with the Corpse Explosion Technique, he felt that his rise to power was at hand.

Death God Messenger slowly walked out of the cave. His eyes beneath the black robe glinted faintly as he gloomily looked toward the forest in the distance to his left.

"The Shrek Supervision Corps? Once This Messenger refines that Jade Phosphorous Serpent Soul Master into a Corpse Slave, I'll make you taste Corpse Explosion too. Hehehe."

Death God Messenger turned into a wisp of gray smoke and flew toward the jade-eyed girl on the right.

At that moment, Dugu Luo held a family-inherited map of the "Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well." Her jade-green eyes carried traces of sorrow, along with a hint of unwillingness.

Dugu Luo's eyes stung, and tears welled up in them. "If the poison in my body weren't getting worse and worse, who would care about your Xuan Ming Sect? Sob..."

After learning about the Xuan Ming Sect's ritual, she had chosen to refuse.

She placed her final hope on her inherited map.

The forest was dense, and a gentle breeze brushed past. Dugu Luo wiped her eyes and regained her resolve. To survive, she had to use the inherited map to find the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well and obtain herbs that could suppress the poison in her body.

On a forest path at the outskirts of Sunset Forest.

After Huo Yuhao ate several Grilled Fish to fill his stomach, he was about to use Exploding Step and head toward Heaven Dou City when three options appeared before him.

Option One: Travel three thousand meters forward to the right, and you will encounter Death God Messenger at the peak of Soul Ancestor. This Evil Soul Master has harmed the surrounding villages and committed countless sins. Please punish him severely. Completion reward: Flight Dou Technique—Purple Cloud Wings (Earth Tier High)

Option Two: Ignore him and leave Sunset Forest. Completion reward: one third-tier wind-element magic core.

Option Three: Join Death God Messenger and build a great cause together. Completion reward: one Soul Hall Earth Tier Dou Technique manual. (Obtained by Flame Emperor in his mid-stage from an enemy's Ring of Holding)

Huo Yuhao was somewhat surprised. He had not expected Death God Messenger to be in Sunset Forest at this time. Could he be preparing to cooperate from within and without with some Elder who wished to remain unnamed again?

As for the three Option Quests, Huo Yuhao chose Option One without the slightest hesitation.

Any Soul Master with proper values and sound thinking, when encountering an Evil Soul Master committing atrocities within their ability to stop, should punish them—whether out of humanitarian concern or for the stability and lasting peace of society.

Huo Yuhao spoke to Sky Dream Ice Silkworm. "Brother Sky Dream, I'm about to meet an Evil Soul Master known as the strongest Soul King, Death God Messenger."

"Except his cultivation is currently only at the peak of Soul Ancestor. Brother Sky Dream, what do you think?"

Sky Dream Ice Silkworm immediately said excitedly, "Yuhao, I'll teach you a move."

"Oh? What move?" Huo Yuhao had only casually mentioned Death God Messenger to Sky Dream Ice Silkworm. He had not expected it to actually have a tactic.

"Yuhao, start kneading that Buddha's Wrath Fire Lotus while you're on the way there."

"Once you arrive, seize the right moment and throw it straight into that Evil Soul Master's face."

Sky Dream Ice Silkworm manifested outside Huo Yuhao's body through Spiritual Projection, wiggling its brows as it spoke. It was eagerly anticipating how badly two-ring Huo Yuhao's Buddha's Wrath Fire Lotus could injure a peak Soul Ancestor.

Huo Yuhao gave Sky Dream Ice Silkworm another look. "Not bad, Brother Sky Dream. Great minds think alike."

"Of course. Did you think my hundreds of thousands of years of experience were all spent sleeping?" Sky Dream Ice Silkworm felt that its awareness had improved.

Thus, Huo Yuhao began kneading a Buddha's Wrath Fire Lotus while walking toward the front right.

At the same time, he released his Spirit Eyes Martial Soul and used Mental Detection. Two gleaming white Soul Rings circled his body.

He used the Simulation Soul Skill to change his second ring to yellow. His goal on this trip was to punish an Evil Soul Master. One white and one yellow Soul Ring would make the opponent lower his guard more easily, allowing him to find an opening to throw the Buddha's Wrath Fire Lotus.

Of course, after entering the academy, he could simulate his first two Soul Rings as yellow and purple, or even purple and purple.

After all, this was no longer an era where he needed to play the pig to eat the tiger at school. He should display his outstanding talent directly, gain the academy's preferential resources, and shorten his growth period.

As Huo Yuhao ventured deeper into Sunset Forest, the white-and-purple flaming Lotus Seat in his hand was complete.

"Let's hide the Buddha's Wrath Fire Lotus with Simulation."

After forming the Buddha's Wrath Fire Lotus by hand, Huo Yuhao used the Simulation Soul Skill to make it transparent.

The Simulation Soul Skill could not only simulate an object's outer appearance, but also its internal aura. The originally scorching aura of the Buddha's Wrath Fire Lotus vanished completely.

In the next instant, the Buddha's Wrath Fire Lotus blended into the surrounding space. To outsiders, Huo Yuhao's palm appeared completely empty.

Huo Yuhao continued forward with Exploding Step. Before long, two rather conspicuous figures appeared on the Detection Map, along with several corpses that Death God Messenger had likely prepared himself.

The two were already fighting.

"That black-robed man should be Death God Messenger."

Through the Detection Map in his mind, Huo Yuhao confirmed Death God Messenger's identity. Carrying the transparent Buddha's Wrath Fire Lotus that no one else could see, he headed toward the place where they were fighting.

At that moment, Death God Messenger clenched his hand through the air and detonated a corpse.

Boom!

A not particularly loud explosion rang out. A figure in a green dress was blasted away by the power of the Corpse Explosion and crashed onto the ground.

Death God Messenger's low, strange laughter drifted over.

"Hehehe, if This Messenger didn't want to refine you into a perfect Corpse Slave, you would have been blown into pieces already. Stop struggling stubbornly and obediently become This Messenger's Corpse Slave."

Dugu Luo struggled to lift her head and noticed Huo Yuhao entering the battlefield. But when she saw that he had only two Soul Rings, she immediately endured the pain and shouted loudly.

"Run, little brother! He's an Evil Soul Master!"

Huo Yuhao used Exploding Step to rush forward, helped her up, and casually handed her a pill.

A trace of crimson blood seeped from the girl's lips. Her naturally jade-colored eyes and delicate face were especially pale, with a little dust smeared across it.

She hurriedly swallowed the pill. Before she could say anything, she grabbed Huo Yuhao and tried to flee.

A wisp of gray smoke flashed less than a hundred meters ahead. Death God Messenger appeared before them, scattering the corpses he carried across various areas around them.

Of course, most of those corpses had only been one-ring or two-ring Soul Masters while alive, so their detonations were not especially powerful.

"A two-ring Soul Master with a Mental Attribute. That's not a bad sample for refining a Corpse Slave."

Death God Messenger was very satisfied with his luck today.

Huo Yuhao was looking for an opportunity to throw the Buddha's Wrath Fire Lotus.

Dugu Luo gritted her teeth and glared furiously at Death God Messenger, yet she could do nothing. Knowing how ruthless Evil Soul Masters were, she gave a miserable smile. "Little brother, it seems neither of us will survive today."

But when she looked at Huo Yuhao, she discovered that this handsome little brother did not have the slightest trace of fear on his face.

Of course, Huo Yuhao could not be blamed for that.

Acting arrogant was easy; acting cowardly was hard.

Facing Death God Messenger, Huo Yuhao truly could not be afraid in the slightest.

Not to mention that he was holding a completed Buddha's Wrath Fire Lotus. Even if he were like Huo Gua in the Original Work and lacked the ability to contend with Death God Messenger as a two-ring Soul Master, Old Yi could possess him and kill Death God Messenger in minutes.

With a thought, Huo Yuhao quietly pulled Dugu Luo into Mental Detection Sharing.

Although Dugu Luo was surprised by the change in her mind, she did not show it.

Through the three-dimensional Detection Map in her mind, she saw a Lotus Seat pattern floating beside Huo Yuhao's hand.

Dugu Luo spoke to distract Death God Messenger.

"Didn't you say you didn't want to turn me into a mindless Corpse Slave, that you wanted me to retain consciousness and form a soul contract with you? Let this little brother go, and we can discuss things."

Death God Messenger laughed strangely. "Since This Messenger has caught both of you, why can't I refine you together?"

While he was speaking, Huo Yuhao seized the opportunity and directly treated him to a Buddha's Wrath Fire Lotus.

An invisible arc of heat cut through the air.

Once the Buddha's Wrath Fire Lotus flew beyond the range of Simulation, it revealed its true form: a white-and-purple flaming Lotus Seat.

Death God Messenger's expression instantly changed. He was utterly horrified and had no time to wonder why a two-ring Soul Master could unleash such a terrifying move. He hurriedly began chanting.

"Rise, my Corpse Slaves..."

Several puppet-like bodies rose from the ground without warning and blocked Death God Messenger from the attack.

Sensing an enormous threat to his life, the cautious Death God Messenger turned into a wisp of gray smoke and fled backward like a man running for his life.

Boom—

A tremendous explosion thundered out. Gorgeous white-and-purple flames spread through the air in rippling waves, rising into a huge lotus-shaped blaze.

Some of the Corpse Slaves summoned by Death God Messenger were instantly vaporized. Layer after layer of lotus-shaped fire ripples surged through the air, their edges engulfing the gray smoke that was Death God Messenger.

Even at the edge of the blast, the Fire Lotus's explosive power could not be underestimated.

A piercing scream soon rang out.

Death God Messenger's gray smoke form could clearly be seen spraying blood through the air. As he suffered heavy injuries, a cloud of blood mist emerged.

Using the Simulation Soul Skill, Huo Yuhao simulated another Buddha's Wrath Fire Lotus in his palm.

"Big sister, chase him!"

"Huh?" Dugu Luo froze. Chase him?

She felt as if the natural order had been turned upside down.

The simulated Buddha's Wrath Fire Lotus floated in his palm. Huo Yuhao stepped forward with Exploding Step and chased after him without hesitation.

When Death God Messenger saw the Lotus Seat in Huo Yuhao's palm, he was nearly scared out of his wits. He hastily detonated the corpses he had scattered across the ground earlier.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Explosions erupted one after another all around them.

Huo Yuhao had been watching those corpses from the start. He reacted in advance through the Detection Map and released Strange Fire to protect his body.

With Mental Detection Sharing, Dugu Luo did not need Huo Yuhao's warning. The second Soul Ring of her Jade Phosphorous Serpent Martial Soul lit up, and she quickly darted backward to the area least affected by the explosions.

After this clash with Death God Messenger, Huo Yuhao could feel that Buddha's Wrath Fire Lotus posed quite a great threat to Soul Ancestors. Of course, it was also possible that Death God Messenger's defense was simply poor.

The only pity was that he had merely blasted Death God Messenger into a severely injured state instead of killing him outright.

Option Quest completed. Reward: Flight Dou Technique—Purple Cloud Wings (Earth Tier High)

Outside a cave several thousand meters away, the bloodied and mangled Death God Messenger braced himself against the wall and vomited several more mouthfuls of blood.

"Why was that two-ring Soul Master so strange? Could he be the personal disciple of some reclusive great expert? It seems that after breaking through to Soul King, I'll need to make even more thorough preparations for my plan before the Soul Master Competition. Let the Corpse Explosions become even fiercer..."

"My name is Dugu Luo. Yuhao, you can just call me Sister Dugu." Huo Yuhao and Dugu Luo introduced themselves to each other.

Dugu Luo looked at the deep crater blasted out by the Buddha's Wrath Fire Lotus and asked in disbelief, "Yuhao, was that—was that lotus really released by you?"

"It's one of my trump cards. I won't use it unless absolutely necessary." Huo Yuhao chuckled.

"Sister Dugu, then why did you come here alone?"

"I told you about my Martial Soul problem earlier. I wanted to use my inherited map to find herbs that could suppress the poison in my body."

"A map?" Huo Yuhao thought of a possibility.

"Yes, a map to the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well." Dugu Luo tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, hope shining in her jade-green eyes.

Huo Yuhao immediately became interested. As he chatted with Dugu Luo, he followed her deeper into Sunset Forest.

The two chatted with great interest and had no idea how far they had walked when they suddenly heard a woman's clear shout.

"Everyone, be careful! Protect yourselves with everything you have!"

"A mantis-type Soul Beast, the Three Soul Ghost Mantis! Its cultivation is close to a hundred thousand years! It can split into three souls and control three Soul Beasts below ten thousand years!"

Huo Yuhao froze. What Tang? Through the Detection Map—

Oh, it was a mantis.

Some disciples were terrified. "Eldest Sister, how could such a powerful Soul Beast appear in Sunset Forest?!"

The moment the Three Soul Ghost Mantis appeared, it raised its sickle-like, serrated forelimbs. Amid a piercing sonic boom, it lashed viciously at the waist of a man in the group.

The man flew backward like a cannonball, smashing through several thick trees. His body was nearly cut in half at the waist, blood spraying everywhere as his life force was about to fade completely.

"Wang Chen! You can't die like this!!"

Someone screamed as if coughing blood. "Eldest Sister, where is Xuan Zi? Where did Xuan Zi go? Why hasn't he come out yet?!"