Just as the snowy owl soul was about to dissipate, a sudden thought flashed through Xie Zhaolin's mind. She pulled out an ice-blue beast core from her storage ring, the remnant of the Blackwater Mystic Fish.
The owl's golden eyes instantly locked onto the core, its attempt to devour her soul marks faltering for a heartbeat.
"You want this?"
She casually tossed the core in her palm while secretly forming a soul-controlling seal with her other hand.
When the owl lunged again, she suddenly crushed the core. Pure water spiritual power erupted into mist, shrouding the owl's soul. At the same time, the soul seal shot into its body.
"Skreee—!" The owl writhed in the mist, every brand that sank into its form making it spasm violently.
Sweat dripped from her forehead. Twelve soul seals, that was her current limit. When the final seal merged, the snowy owl finally released a cry of submission, spread its damaged wings, and gently landed on her shoulder.
Shuang Ling, jealous of the newcomer, rubbed against her with an aggrieved look. She chuckled and stroked its head.
Carefully checking the owl's wounds, she found the corroded feathers were already healing. As expected, high-rank yin souls had terrifying self-regeneration.
The snowy owl pecked lightly at her earlobe. She was just about to send Shuang Ling out to lure more beast souls when the owl suddenly bristled, its golden eyes locked on the tunnel ahead.
Her divine sense swept forward and caught sight of three blurred figures walking slowly toward her.
The first was a sword cultivator soul gripping half a glowing chain. To his left was a monk soul clutching prayer beads. To his right, an old man soul carried a medicine basket on his back.
Though they were all humanoid, their eyes were clouded and lifeless. Clearly, they'd long lost the memories of their past lives, leaving behind only pure battle instinct.
"So it's you three…" Her fingers brushed the trembling feathers on the owl's wing as realization struck.
No wonder the owl resisted so desperately earlier, even when the beast core tempted it. These three had planted a tracking mark in its body. It must've feared dragging her into trouble.
Her eyes turned sharp as she stroked the owl's trembling back. "Now it's time they paid the price."
Shuang Ling's tails stood up with excitement, and battle will once again ignited in the snowy owl's golden eyes.
"Perfect. Let's test how well you all can work together." She slid three soul-nurturing beads from her sleeve.
Shuang Ling instantly understood. With a flick of its tail, it leapt to the front.
Following it came a massive ice crystal tiger, its body twice the size of an ordinary tiger. Gleaming crystalline armor covered its frame, and frost formed wherever it stepped. On the other side circled a violet lightning marten, no bigger than a palm, but crackling with purple arcs of electricity. Above them, a Teng snake slithered silently along the cavern wall.
"Go." She flicked her finger.
The ice crystal tiger attacked first, unleashing a thunderous roar that made the entire passage plunge into freezing cold. Frost instantly coated the sword cultivator soul's blade, slowing his movements. The tiger seized the chance and lunged, its claws striking at his chest.
The sword cultivator raised his sword mechanically to block. Though stiff, his stance carried faint traces of the Xuantian Sect's basic sword forms.
Clang!
Sparks flew as claw and sword collided. The tiger staggered back but pounced again immediately. This time, its attacks targeted the joints—tactics she'd passed along through their contract.
Its claws, wrapped in bone-piercing cold, slashed down on the sword cultivator's wrist.
Crack!
A fracture spread across his soul body, and the illusory sword in his hand dimmed, its movements growing sluggish.
Meanwhile, Shuang Ling's blue fox fire arced through the air, slamming toward the monk soul's knees. The monk spun his beads frantically, forming a golden shield that barely blocked the flames. But in that instant, the violet lightning marten flashed behind him and sank its fangs into his ankle.
Crackling currents surged, making the monk's entire body convulse.
The Teng snake seized the chance, plunging from the ceiling and biting into his wrist. The monk cried out, releasing the beads. They hit the ground with a crisp clatter, and Shuang Ling pounced, snatching them up and carrying them back to her feet.
"Well done." She picked up the beads, realizing they were a Buddhist artifact. No wonder they'd hurt Shuang Ling. With a flick, she stored them away and returned her attention to the battle.
The four beast souls fought with even greater coordination than she'd expected—the tiger's brute force, Shuang Ling's distraction, the marten's lightning strikes, and the snake's ambush. It was almost the exact strategy she herself often used.
The old man soul suddenly flung green powder from his basket.
The powder ignited in the air, spreading as poisonous fire.
Her brow furrowed, ready to act, but the snowy owl launched from her shoulder first. Its wings stirred a freezing gale, instantly freezing the flames into falling crystals.
"Not bad." She smiled, impressed by its timing.
The sword cultivator broke free of the tiger, his sword aura suddenly sharp and fierce.
Her pupils shrank. That was really a Xuantian Sect sword art! The forms were incomplete, but the killing intent was unmistakable.
"Watch out!" she warned through the contract.
The ice crystal tiger rose onto its hind legs, crossing its foreclaws. A shimmering ice shield formed instantly.
Clang!
The sword aura slammed down, forcing the tiger back several steps. Cracks spread across the ice armor on its claws. Before the cultivator could follow up, the marten flashed forward, its lightning exploding as it rammed into his back. He froze mid-swing. Shuang Ling spat a plume of blue fox fire, searing across his face.
She seized the moment, weaving a spell seal.
All four beast souls unleashed their power at once. Four different forces fused into a torrent that crashed down on the sword cultivator.
Boom!
His soul body exploded into a storm of black mist that quickly dissipated.
The monk, shaken, pressed his palms together. A golden shield enveloped him as the old man desperately flung out more poisons, forming barrier after barrier.
She sneered. "A struggle of cornered beasts."
At her command, the snowy owl dove. Its wings whipped up icy winds, and the tiger's roar dropped the temperature even lower. Frost surged through the poison barriers, freezing them solid until they shattered.
The marten became a streak of lightning, dancing across the monk's shield. Each strike dimmed the golden light further.
The Teng snake slithered beneath the old man, sinking its fangs into his ankle.
"It's over," she whispered.
Her hands came together, weaving a final seal. Spiritual power erupted around her, her robes billowing without wind. Black energy streamed from her fingers, condensing into two thin lines.
"Go!"
The black lines shot forward, so fast they were nearly invisible.
One pierced the monk's brow. His golden shield shattered instantly. His body went rigid, the last spark in his eyes fading before his soul scattered into dust.
The other line pierced the old man's throat. He froze mid-motion, still reaching into his basket. His body cracked apart like dry clay before breaking into motes of light that vanished into the air.
The passage fell silent.