Sealing God Douluo was not familiar with the structure of Dongyang City's underground water prison, nor did he know where the black-clad figure in front of him was taking him. He could only follow her through countless twists and turns. The water in the channels reached his calves, and each step produced a steady "splash, splash" sound.
He had no idea how long they had walked. Finally, after turning a corner, a white light suddenly appeared ahead. The sound of waves crashing against the shore reached his ears, and the air was filled with the salty scent of seawater.
Sealing God Douluo instinctively looked up.
The bright moon hung high in the sky, surrounded by countless stars. When he looked around, he realized he was already outside Dongyang City. Not far away, the ocean stretched endlessly, its waves rolling under the moonlight.
"You may leave."
A clear voice sounded from beneath the black robe. Sealing God Douluo's gaze fell on the figure before him. The robe did not completely conceal her face. By the moonlight, he could see strange blue-purple patterns covering her exposed jaw.
"You're letting me go?"
The figure did not answer. Instead, she took out a string of keys from beneath her robe.
"There are no Soul Guidance Devices here that detect spirit power. I'll help you open it."
As a Rank Nine Soul Master, Sealing God Douluo immediately understood her meaning. A Soul Guidance Device capable of suppressing spirit power would naturally conceal fluctuations in aura. Not removing it earlier had been to avoid triggering detection.
Could it be that this person had also been bribed by the Star Luo Empire?
Just as the restraints on his hands were about to be unlocked, another voice suddenly rang out from the side.
"Holy Maiden, you cannot let this person go yet."
At these words, Sealing God Douluo sharply raised his head. From the shadows, another black-robed figure slowly approached.
When the hood was lifted, the somewhat aged face of Myriad Souls Douluo was revealed.
He stepped forward, bowed respectfully, and took the keys from the Holy Maiden's hand.
"Holy Maiden, these people were originally prepared for your mother. You may release insignificant sacrifices, but this person's cultivation is far from ordinary. Your mother personally ordered that he be kept. I cannot turn a blind eye as I usually do."
"Let him go. I will explain it to Mother."
Myriad Souls Douluo did not respond directly. He merely smiled faintly and shook his head. Although he addressed her respectfully, there was little genuine deference in his eyes. If not for the person behind her, he would never have taken her seriously.
"Holy Maiden, please come back with me."
As he spoke, Myriad Souls Douluo reached out to grab her arm.
In the next instant, his vision spun violently.
While he was momentarily disoriented, a Julang had already struck his back.
Caught completely off guard, Myriad Souls Douluo spat out a mouthful of blood. His black robe billowed, and before he could turn around, a pitch-black banner was already in his grasp. With a forceful wave, a translucent figure drifted out from it.
Only after releasing his Spirit to protect himself did Myriad Souls Douluo turn around.
Three figures had appeared behind him.
One of them glanced at Sealing God Douluo briefly, then nodded.
"It's him."
"Hehe." A particularly tall and sturdy man stepped forward. He raised his hand, and the Julang that had just struck Myriad Souls Douluo flew back into his grasp.
"How should I put it? This was effortless." He grinned. "I didn't expect that after searching the city, the person we wanted would walk right out on his own."
As he spoke, the man gave a thumbs-up to the person beside him.
"Yuhao, your ability is truly useful. Otherwise, even if we searched everywhere, we would never have imagined encountering him here."
"Julang, finish this quickly."
The three who had arrived were naturally the rescuers sent by the Star Luo Empire. Besides Titan Warhammer Douluo and Huo Yuhao, the third was Shattered Star Douluo.
Unlike Titan Warhammer Douluo, Shattered Star Douluo remained cautious. This was, after all, Sun Moon Empire territory.
Evil Soul Masters possessed many bizarre abilities. If this dragged on, they would inevitably attract the attention of the Soul Guidance Device army.
As he spoke, Shattered Star Douluo clasped his hands before his chest. A purple vortex, no more than a dozen centimeters wide, quietly emerged.
Myriad Souls Douluo's expression shifted. Several translucent figures poured out from the banner in his hand and surged toward the purple vortex.
As multiple souls were annihilated, Shattered Star Douluo's attack was forcibly blocked.
"What a disgraceful method."
"Teacher!"
While Huo Yuhao was assisting Suixing and Julang with his mental detection, an aged voice suddenly echoed within his spiritual sea.
"Do you still remember the necromancy I taught you?"
"Yes." Huo Yuhao answered silently in his heart.
"If I'm not mistaken, this Evil Soul Master's Spirit specializes in binding and controlling souls. All his techniques rely on them. However, his control is crude. If you use necromancy to seize command of those souls, his methods will collapse on their own."
"I understand, Teacher."
Titan Warhammer Douluo was locked in combat with a translucent mermaid-like figure. With Huo Yuhao's mental detection guiding him, every strike landed precisely. Just as victory seemed near, Huo Yuhao's mental sharing abruptly vanished.
Thinking Huo Yuhao was in danger, Titan Warhammer Douluo turned around.
He saw Huo Yuhao's eyes turn completely gray.
The next instant, the mermaid figure froze. A spark of vitality appeared in her eyes, and with a flick of her tail, she flew toward Myriad Souls Douluo.
Myriad Souls Douluo possessed only Rank Ninety-Three cultivation and was already struggling against Shattered Star Douluo. Still, he desperately waved the banner, summoning soul after soul to interfere, preventing a swift defeat.
Shattered Star Douluo grew increasingly impatient.
Then, in the very next moment, Myriad Souls Douluo's movements suddenly stopped.
The souls emerging from the banner did not attack Shattered Star Douluo. Instead, they turned and rushed toward Myriad Souls Douluo himself.
What felt like a long exchange was, in truth, only a matter of a few breaths.
Sealing God Douluo, still reeling from the sudden turn of events, watched as Myriad Souls Douluo let out a piercing scream and collapsed to the ground.
Behind Huo Yuhao, a Soul Guidance Device lit up faintly. He picked up the keys from the ground and stepped in front of Sealing God Douluo.
"Senior, you must be Sealing God Douluo. We were sent by the Star Luo Empire to rescue you."
He unlocked the restraints on Sealing God Douluo's body, then glanced to the side.
"And she is…?"
"She—"
Before Sealing God Douluo could finish his sentence, the ground beneath them suddenly shook violently.