Chapter 160: Try Taking My Soul

Bang!

A heavy strike with the sword sent the corpse-monkey flying, crashing heavily against the crystal wall.

Though several gasps and tears split across the corpse-monkey's flesh, it did not hinder its ability to scramble back up in the slightest.

This was because it was a lifeless corpse controlled by another, devoid of any capacity for fear or knowledge of pain.

It bared its torn mouth, wearing a thoroughly hideous expression.

Pus and corrupted blood oozed continuously from the surface of its ruptured skin.

Crack, crack, crack...

Bones popped with crisp sounds.

The corpse-monkey's stature rapidly expanded, finally transforming into a towering ten-zhang-tall corpse-ape.

A foul, putrid stench of death billowed into Xia Jiuxuan’s nostrils.

"Roar!"

The frenzied corpse-ape radiated an aura vastly more formidable than before.

Thud, thud, thud!

It strode forward step by step, and with every heavy impact, the entire prison chamber trembled.

Boom!

It raised its massive fist and smashed it toward Xia Jiuxuan.

This punch was blindingly fast and terrifyingly powerful, stirring up visible ripples in the spatial fabric.

Xia Jiuxuan thrust out a palm to meet the incoming fist head-on.

Bang!

Xia Jiuxuan's figure was knocked backward.

Whoosh!

Giving Xia Jiuxuan no chance to recover, the corpse-ape’s colossal form charged forward like a collapsing mountain.

"You're courting death!"

Xia Jiuxuan summoned the Blood-Bone Sword.

"Samsara Slash!"

Swish!

A blood-red sword projection slashed directly toward the corpse-ape’s forehead.

Clang!

To Xia Jiuxuan's surprise, the blade failed to pierce the corpse-ape's skull; instead, it batted the creature backward.

Seeing this, Xia Jiuxuan flashed forward in an instant.

"Limitless Penetration!"

The sword lifted, and fell.

The crimson sword radiance illuminated the entire subterranean prison.

Crack, crack, crack!

That single sword stroke churned up countless arcs of lightning.

"Roar!"

The corpse-ape roared furiously, thrusting its massive fist upward.

This time, the blood-red sword projection sliced straight through the corpse-ape's fist, the jagged wound tearing all the way up to its shoulder.

Even with one arm cleaved open, the corpse-ape showed no intention of retreating.

Its remaining fist viciously slammed toward Xia Jiuxuan.

Xia Jiuxuan swept his sword in a backhand strike, landing squarely upon its head.

The colossal fist ground to an abrupt halt, and the gargantuan body crashed heavily to the ground.

In the end, the corpse-ape’s speed was still half a beat slower than Xia Jiuxuan's!

After dispatching the corpse-ape, Xia Jiuxuan plunged the Blood-Bone Sword into its skull to absorb the lingering killing intent.

...

Deep within an underground palace in the Valley of the Undead.

Along the sides of the gloomy, dusky grand hall stood rows of rotting corpses.

In the center of the hall stood a solitary, beautiful figure.

"Offer up your soul to the great lord."

Two shadowy figures wreathed in gloomy mist drifted closer, speaking in parched, hoarse voices.

"Humble ant, what are you still hesitating for?"

"Become the lord's most loyal servant, and you shall obtain immense power."

"Your mortal flesh shall endure for eternity."

The figures shrouded in black mist urged relentlessly.

"You lied to me! My father's soul is not here at all!"

The beautiful young maiden raised her head, staring ahead as she rebuked furiously.

Crack, crack, crack!

Up ahead, on a black dragon-throne, fine crimson lightning ripples flickered into existence.

In a fraction of a second, the previously empty throne welcomed a new presence.

His entire body was covered in blood-red scales, and a tail resembling that of a dragon trailed behind him.

This being was none other than a Purgatory Asura!

"A sword physique—the lord will surely love this."

The Asura's lips parted as he uttered a chilling remark.

Down in the hall, Duanmu Wan felt a shiver run down her spine as she sensed the bizarre, ominous aura radiating from the Asura.

This blood-armored entity was just as terrifying as the demons!

"What on earth are you monsters!" Duanmu Wan instinctively shouted in a cold voice.

The Purgatory Asura raised his head, his crimson eyes reflecting Duanmu Wan's silhouette.

"Audacious!"

At that moment, several figures stepped into the grand hall.

Unlike the corpses and bizarre entities, these individuals were living, breathing humans.

"Why haven't you knelt to offer your soul?"

The leader of the group was a middle-aged man with archaic tribal markings etched across his face.

"No!"

Duanmu Wan stepped back two paces.

"You deceived me!"

Duanmu Wan shook her head, her face a mask of bitter anguish.

"You were once the daughter of a generation's Sword Lord, so how could you be so foolish?"

The middle-aged man sneered coldly.

Duanmu Wan trembled violently, demanding, "Why! How do you know who I am!"

The middle-aged man glanced at Duanmu Wan before sweeping his sleeve through the air.

Instantly, runes flashed in the void, coalescing into a shimmering screen of light.

The light screen gradually transformed into the projection of a figure.

It was a young man with star-like eyes and sword-shaped brows, carrying a massive mysterious-patterned greatsword on his back, standing with his hands behind his back beneath a canopy of stars!

"Father!"

At the sight of that figure, Duanmu Wan could no longer hold back her tears.

She had come here willingly precisely because someone had shown her this very vision.

"Did you really think we were lying to you?"

The middle-aged man stepped forward, fixing his gaze on Duanmu Wan. "Let me tell you, the lord has not only obtained his soul, but his physical remains as well!"

"Impossible!"

Duanmu Wan shook her head instinctively.

"My father was killed by the demons thousands of years ago; his soul would have scattered into nothingness long ago!"

Duanmu Wan fought desperately to keep her mind clear.

"Hahaha, is the might of our lord something you could ever comprehend?"

"Little girl, obediently offer your soul, and you can be reunited with your father."

The middle-aged man stated.

Duanmu Wan bit her lip, staring fixedly at that peerless figure.

"It's fake! You're lying to me!"

The middle-aged man's expression darkened as he let out a cold snort. "If our lord did not hold your father's soul, how could we have tracked you down through spiritual resonance and known your true identity?"

Hearing this, Duanmu Wan froze.

Could her father's soul truly be in their hands?

If she offered up her soul, would she genuinely be able to reunite with her father?

At this moment, a fierce struggle raged within her heart.

"Wan'er, is that you?"

"Wan'er, father has missed you so dearly."

At that instant, the young man's projection turned its gaze toward Duanmu Wan with lively expression, calling out to her with deep affection.

"What's wrong, little crybaby? Don't you recognize your father anymore?"

The figure drifted closer, a hand gently brushing past Duanmu Wan's long hair.

"Ah."

In that instant, Duanmu Wan's mental defenses completely collapsed.

Especially at the mention of the nickname 'little crybaby.'

Because when she was a child, her parents had always called her that.

"Father, I—I am coming to find you right now."

Tears streaming down her face, Duanmu Wan found herself involuntarily dropping to her knees.

"Come, repeat after me... O supreme and sovereign master, I willingly offer my humble soul unto you..."

The young man spoke at an exceedingly slow pace, guiding Duanmu Wan to recite the sacrificial incantation.

The vibrant light in Duanmu Wan's eyes gradually faded.

She murmured blankly, "O supreme and sovereign master, I..."

Boom!

Right at that moment, a thunderous crash echoed from outside the grand hall.

In an instant, two severed corpses were blasted inward, crashing onto the hall floor.

The sacrificial ritual was abruptly interrupted!

"Who goes there!"

The middle-aged man whipped his head around, roaring fiercely toward the entrance.

"Her soul is as weak as an ant's and of no real use. Why don't you try taking mine instead?"

Before the person arrived, his voice preceded him.

Hearing this, the middle-aged man furrowed his brows.

"It's that mysterious brat!"

"He actually dares to barge in here! He's simply courting death!"

Slowly, from beyond the brilliant light and shadows, Xia Jiuxuan stepped forward.

Finally, Xia Jiuxuan stopped right beside Duanmu Wan.

He grasped her by the shoulders, pulling her to her feet while wrapping his right arm around her slender waist.

"Why are you so easily fooled?"

As Xia Jiuxuan spoke, his spiritual consciousness surged outward, forcefully cleansing and wiping the demonic hypnotic arts completely from Duanmu Wan's mind.

"Ah!"

Duanmu Wan instantly snapped back to her senses, letting out a startled cry.