The Death Spider Empress, exuding a sinister aura, lunged forward to strike at the Dark Blue Silver Grass that was rapidly devouring and growing. The wildly sprouting grass blocked everyone's view, and some of the stronger Dark Blue Silver Grass even gained a form of consciousness, actively attacking and devouring the nearby members of the Martial Soul Hall.
Youhua Mo hadn't expected Bibi Dong to be so insane—she was even willing to burn her own soul power just to stop her.
Watching Bibi Dong close in, Youhua Mo shouted, "For the Martial Soul Hall, you'd risk your own life? Is this organization more important to you than your very existence?"
"Hahaha, I, Bibi Dong, have never been selfless. If I kill you, I'll break through the level ninety barrier. You carry something I want. Just tell me how your devouring power works, and maybe I'll spare your life," Bibi Dong said, lowering her voice so only the two could hear.
Youhua Mo understood immediately and laughed. "So that's it. You're just an ambitious wolf in sheep's clothing. And you covet the devouring power? What a delusion!"
"Then I'll kill you today and take my time studying your devouring ability!"
Bibi Dong's hands transformed into long scythe blades as she charged at Youhua Mo. At this point, Youhua Mo's soul power had reached level eighty-nine—almost evenly matched, both fighting with their absolute best!
"Blue Silver Devouring Abyss, Ten Thousand Souls Crusade!"
Youhua Mo yelled, forming a vortex of soul power around herself. The swirling blue-black energy devoured nearby soul power, pulling out latent martial souls which she controlled. They unleashed their original soul skills like a soul army, all charging toward Bibi Dong.
Suddenly, a purple lattice-like pattern lit up on Bibi Dong's forehead, resembling a throne. A strange aura wrapped around her, shielding her from attacks.
"This… this is a Divine Rank? You've actually obtained the legacy of a Divine Rank!?" Youhua Mo cried out in shock. She had never expected Bibi Dong's true trump card to be a Divine Rank!
With the protection of the Divine Rank, it would be much harder for Youhua Mo to kill Bibi Dong now.
Could it be that this couple would truly perish here together today? No! They couldn't die like this—they still had their children, Mingtian and Mingxue.
Taking advantage of Bibi Dong and the Martial Soul Hall members being distracted, two dark blue silver grass tendrils burrowed silently into the ground, searching for Mingtian and Mingxue.
Even if she died, she had to pass on their abilities—that was Youhua Mo's final fallback for her children.
Having ensured their inheritance, Youhua Mo pushed forward her soul power, preparing to take Bibi Dong down with her.
"Not good! Dong'er is in trouble! Father! We have to save her!" Qian Xunji shouted anxiously.
"No, their mutual destruction is the best outcome. Xunji, you can't control her. Sooner or later, she will be the strongest woman of this era," Qian Daoliu ordered coldly.
"Now, wipe out the remaining cultists of the Holy Spirit Sect in the last village. No mercy, not even the children! Root them out!"
At his command, the Martial Soul Hall soldiers responded and moved out to slaughter. Meanwhile, the fight between Bibi Dong and Youhua Mo drifted farther from the village, disappearing into the distance.
A terrifying massacre swept through the village. Even defenseless evil soul cultivators were killed, leaving only a handful of Soul Kings—far too weak to oppose the Martial Soul Hall's might.
Mingtian and Mingxue hadn't grasped what was happening. They were still focused on awakening their martial souls at the designated spot, afraid of being scolded by their parents for being late. But the dreadful aura earlier and the current chaos made them realize something terrible was going down.
Two dark tendrils of blue silver grass silently slid from the earth into their bodies. Mingtian sensed something was wrong and said to Mingxue, "Something's wrong. The village is in danger. Let's hide!"
"Ah? But what about Mom and Dad? Brother, I'm scared. I want Mom and Dad," Mingxue whimpered, struggling to even walk.
You couldn't blame her—they were just six-year-olds, completely unprepared for such a scene.
"Mom and Dad will be fine. Let's hide first. They'll come to save us soon!" Mingtian said, leading Mingxue to find a hiding spot.
At that moment, a Martial Soul Hall soldier spotted them and smiled sinisterly.
This soldier's soul power was among the lowest present, only level thirty-three, so he dared not confront the evil soul cultivators. Instead, he preyed on children. Seeing Mingtian and Mingxue was like spotting easy prey.
He unleashed his martial soul—a crimson canine spirit. His three yellow soul rings revealed his low level.
Crimson Dog Martial Soul, first skill: Dog's Speed.
A streak of red afterimages flashed as the soldier quickly closed in on Mingtian and Mingxue.
"Don't hurt my sister! Mingxue, run!" Mingtian shouted, shielding his sister without a care for his own safety.
But how could two kids stand against a three-ring Soul Respect? Without even using his skills, the soldier grabbed Mingtian and tossed him aside.
Looking at a pale Mingxue, the soldier's face twisted into a lecherous grin.
Though only six, Mingxue inherited her mother's stunning beauty, looking more than mature for her age. This soldier, a predator of young girls, completely disregarded the Martial Soul Hall's reputation and authority, grabbing Mingxue and tearing at her clothes as she screamed.
"No!!! Help!! Brother!!" Mingxue's cries sparked a flicker of awareness in Mingtian.
Watching his sister being violated, rage surged through Mingtian. Struggling to his feet, he grabbed a short knife from the ground.
The soldier, completely fixated on Mingxue—whose clothes were now completely torn—was about to undo his pants, oblivious to Mingtian sneaking up from behind.
Mingxue's desperate screams turned to despair, tears streaking down her face as the soldier's beastly lips pressed against her cheek.
Just as the soldier was about to fully assault Mingxue, Mingtian drove the knife into his back.
"Dare to hurt my sister? Die!" he yelled.
"What?!" The soldier was caught off guard. The blade pierced through his back and came out his chest, blood spraying everywhere. The soldier fell dead, and Mingtian collapsed, drained.
Mingxue lost consciousness, ignoring her brother as she wandered like a puppet into the forest…
"Reporting to the Hall Master: The Holy Spirit Sect members have been completely slaughtered. Not even the children were spared!"
"Good. How many losses did we suffer?"
"After counting, three Soul Respect members and one Soul Ancestor were lost."
"Good. Not bad."
Qian Daoliu looked over the blood-soaked remains of the Holy Spirit Sect and nodded approvingly.
"This time, Gui Mei and Yue Guan distinguished themselves greatly. Promote them to Martial Soul Hall Elders and engrave their martial souls on their badges. All personnel, retreat to the Martial Soul Hall!"
"Wait, Father! Dong'er is still fighting that female soul cultivator! Her whereabouts are unknown!" Qian Xunji reported.
"You damn brat! What's so good about Bibi Dong? It's better if she's dead!"
"But just in case, take some men to look for her. Mainly that evil soul cultivator."
"Yes!" Qian Xunji led his men out.
Qian Daoliu returned to the Martial Soul Hall satisfied, unaware that this purge wasn't flawless. A few remnants escaped, who would go on to become the original elders of the Holy Spirit Sect—including the ancestors of Zhongli Wu, Ye Xishui, Long Xiaoyao, and later, the Devouring God—
While Mingtian lay unconscious, a blue silver grass sprouted from his body, drawing in the spirit of the dead Crimson Dog soldier. A crimson dog phantom, surrounded by three yellow soul rings, entered Mingtian's body.
Inside him, Mingtian began to absorb the first martial soul his devouring ability had taken.
But this was only the beginning.
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(End of Chapter)