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On the narrow path, a black shadow darted swiftly. Despite his imposing frame, his steps were as light as wind. Without hesitation, he plunged into the dense forest on both sides of the path, weaving through the trees.
However, above his head floated an eerie thousand-year soul ring. Behind the shadow, two soul masters—whose aura clearly surpassed his—were relentlessly pursuing him. The thick killing intent emanating from them made their murderous intentions unmistakable.
"Where do you think you're going!"
One of the pursuing soul masters roared in fury! His eyes were already bloodshot red, his teeth grinding audibly from rage. Because of this man, they had lost three brothers—but he was still alive!
"Hum—"
Six soul rings flashed brightly around this soul master's body.
"Boom—"
A fireball, large enough to engulf a person, shot forward with terrifying speed. The intense heat instantly ignited the surrounding air and trees, forming a massive flame prison that trapped everything within its radius.
The fireball itself maintained its momentum, crashing down toward the black shadow!
The explosion's heat wave rolled outward, the terrifying energy fluctuations engulfing everything around it. The giant fireball instantly reduced the surrounding trees to ashes.
But at the center of the explosion, bones surged from the ground, forming an impenetrable cage that shielded the interior.
Just then, a black light flashed beside the two Soul Emperors. The previously empty space instantly revealed the pursued figure, as bone spikes viciously erupted from unexpected directions!
"Clang clang—"
The two Soul Emperors seemed to anticipate this. Soul guide barriers appeared around them, easily blocking the bone spike attacks.
"Now let's see where you run."
A series of dense humming sounds came as brilliant soul guide beams locked onto the vital points of the pursued figure.
"Thud thud—"
More bone spikes shot up from the ground, blocking the soul guide beams. But the two Soul Emperors clearly understood their opponent's methods—the soul guide beams instantly charred the attacked bone spikes, turning them black like burned wood.
A single powerful punch easily shattered the seemingly impregnable bone prison, creating a large opening.
"Bone Dragon, die!"
Feeling his dwindling soul power, the man called "Bone Dragon" couldn't hide his grim expression. If not for that tracking soul ring, he would have long shaken them off.
"Swish—"
A warning bell rang in "Bone Dragon's" mind as he raised his arm to block.
A claw glowing with crimson-gold light slammed down on his forearm, the tremendous force causing his legs to buckle. At his side, a phantom-like figure shot toward his head with lightning speed.
In desperation, "Bone Dragon" could only dodge by turning his head.
A bloody scar was left on his cheek.
Facing this pincer attack, despair crept into "Bone Dragon's" heart. With only Soul King cultivation, how long could he possibly last against two Soul Emperors?
As time passed, "Bone Dragon" was covered in wounds, his aura weakened to its lowest point.
Even his soul power was nearly depleted.
"Bone Dragon, die!"
Crimson Gold Lion Soul Emperor's eyes flashed with ruthlessness as his claw rose, ready to strike downward! Just as it was about to claim "Bone Dragon's" head...
"Stop!"
A cold, gleaming sword pierced through the air, blocking the Crimson Gold Lion Soul Emperor's fatal strike at an extremely cunning angle.
"Who's there!?"
The Crimson Gold Lion Soul Emperor roared in anger. The other Soul Emperor seized the opportunity, his body transforming into a phantom as he charged toward "Bone Dragon."
But the next second, "Where do you think you're going?"
A hand suddenly landed on the agile attack Soul Emperor's shoulder. Before he could see who it was, a bone-chilling killing intent swept through his entire body, instantly disrupting his soul skill.
"You..."
The sight of dark green made the two Soul Emperors instinctively feel a moment of joy, but remembering this was the one who had prevented them from killing the "evil soul master," anxiety filled their hearts.
Regardless, facing members of the Shrek Inspection Team, two mere Soul Emperors dared not show the slightest disrespect.
Forgetting the "Bone Dragon" whose life was practically in their hands, they hurriedly clasped their fists in salute. "Greetings to the Shrek Inspection Team elders."
"You're this evil soul master." Chen Junting ignored the two Soul Emperors entirely, walking straight to "Bone Dragon's" side. After taking out the mission scroll, he displayed it before him.
"Hehe—"
"Bone Dragon" merely glanced at it, a strange smile forming at the corners of his mouth. "You from Shrek have also come to kill me?" Instead of answering, he questioned Chen Junting.
"That depends on whether you've done evil."
Sensing "Bone Dragon's" aura with his spiritual power, Chen Junting confirmed their suspicion. This "Bone Dragon" wasn't an evil soul master at all. He lacked the specialized cold aura of evil soul masters, completely unlike those sewer rats.
"Shrek elder, this evil soul master..." The Crimson Gold Lion Soul Emperor seemed to see Chen Junting didn't intend to kill "Bone Dragon," so the anger he'd been suppressing made him speak up.
"Enough!"
Before he could finish, Chen Junting cut him off. "This 'Bone Dragon' Soul King is not an evil soul master. Go back and tell your master to drop this matter."
"What!?"
A furious roar made Chen Junting's gaze turn icy cold.
"What? Are you questioning my decision? If you truly have objections, think carefully about what's really happening here. Or shall I tear off your veil of shame for you!"
Hearing this, the agile attack Soul Emperor grabbed his elder brother's right arm, pulling him back firmly. He feared his hot-tempered brother would completely offend this Shrek Inspection Team member. If that happened, things would escalate terribly.
They knew their own situation. Those who had framed "Bone Dragon" as an evil soul master knew better than anyone how innocent he truly was.
"Get out of here now!"
The Seven Kill Domain instantly expanded!
Invisible killing intent caused the surrounding temperature to plummet dramatically.
Just then, figures began arriving one after another. Dai Yueheng, Bei Bei, and Ning Tian stood around them in a formation, surrounding the two.
"We're leaving, we're leaving right now."
Instantly, the two Soul Emperors lost all their imposing aura.
Even the Crimson Gold Lion Soul Emperor's face lost all traces of anger when facing four members of the Shrek Inspection Team.
Without hesitation, they turned and fled in disarray.
Ning Tian then stepped forward, offering a pill that could heal wounds to "Bone Dragon." Before she could say anything, "Bone Dragon" took the pill without hesitation and swallowed it.
Then he calmly sat cross-legged, closing his eyes to heal.
"This kid is really bold."
Dai Yueheng crossed his arms over his chest, marveling aloud. "He knows we came for him, yet dares to heal so openly. This guy's courage is impressive."
"Shouldn't it be?"
Chen Junting swept a glance at "Bone Dragon," probing his condition with spiritual power. Then the Seven Kill Sword flashed out, drawing array patterns that formed the Element Gathering Array and Soul Absorption Array on the ground.
Surrounding natural energy continuously gathered, and as he healed, "Bone Dragon's" soul power gradually recovered.
"Not many would dare to offend so many nobles for the sake of others, getting framed as an evil soul master. Such people are rare indeed. And he probably guessed why we didn't attack him."
"Young brother Chen." Bei Bei approached Chen Junting. "I just surveyed the surrounding area. Based on their battle patterns, I've analyzed this man's fighting style..."
Afterward, Chen Junting and the others learned about "Bone Dragon's" combat style from Bei Bei, confirming from the side that "Bone Dragon's" strange abilities came not from evil methods but from spatial abilities.
"Spatial abilities!?"
"Exactly."
"Bone Dragon" slowly regained consciousness, responding after hearing everyone's astonishment.
"Thank you all for rescuing me. I am Gu Tianchen, my martial soul is Bone Dragon."
His frankness only increased Chen Junting and the others' surprise.
"Interesting."
Chen Junting murmured softly, his expression clearing.
"I am Chen Junting, from the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect. Currently studying in Shrek's Inner Court, serving as a member of the Shrek Inspection Team."
"I am Ning Tian, from the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect..."
"..."
After the four introduced themselves, Chen Junting inquired about how Gu Tianchen had been labeled as an evil soul master.
From Gu Tianchen's account, they learned that before awakening his martial soul, he had been kidnapped by human traffickers and sold as a "servant" to a noble. Afterward, under the noble's supervision, all the "servants" awakened their martial souls. Based on their awakening results, they were assigned different duties.
Those without soul power needed no further explanation.
Those with soul power would be trained as enforcers, receiving careful cultivation from the noble. But Gu Tianchen was different—his awakened martial soul was Bone Dragon. In the eyes of ordinary soul masters, this martial soul was synonymous with evil soul masters. Combined with his innate full soul power, it made the noble fear him even more.
After much deliberation, the noble ordered his grown-up enforcers to kill Gu Tianchen. But because Gu Tianchen was well-liked among the young "servants," someone who heard about it gave him a warning. After overcoming countless difficulties, he finally escaped with his life.
After that, he grew up wandering.
At first, due to his lack of knowledge about soul masters and soul rings, he didn't have an advantage in obtaining soul rings. But perhaps due to good fortune, Gu Tianchen's first three soul rings not only had appropriate ages but also excellent soul skills—Bone Enhancement for defense amplification, Mysterious Void which allowed him to escape with spatial powers, and a sonic attack called Bone Dragon Roar.
It wasn't until his fourth and fifth soul rings that he had a clear direction.
Defense combined with escape.
It was around this time that "Bone Dragon" emerged.
He targeted human traffickers, returning the children they had kidnapped or stolen to their original families. As for nobles—he judged case by case. If nobles treated their "servants" well, he naturally wouldn't interfere. But if they didn't...
In any case, this was how he ended up being reported to Shrek.
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