A sinister smile appeared on the withered face of the Evil Blood Douluo.
He didn't answer Xue Beng, but instead walked to the nearby soul beast skeleton and sat down.
His dry, hoarse voice was somewhat grating: "This person's identity is very interesting. Soul Wind, you should recognize him!"
Looking at the mangled corpse on the ground,
a hint of surprise appeared in Soul Wind's eyes!
He shook his head, pinched his chin, and frowned.
He sorted through his memories, recalling the intelligence he had read about various forces.
A hint of doubt appeared between his brows.
"Teacher, do you know this person?" Xue Beng was still puzzled.
Soul Wind slowly walked forward, bent down, and brushed aside the corpse's disheveled long hair, revealing a bloodless, deathly pale face before him.
Hun Feng's body stiffened, still somewhat incredulous: "Your Majesty! This...this is Haotian Douluo Tang Hao!?"
"What!?"
Xue Beng, who was initially confused, was immediately shocked: "Teacher! You're not mistaken, are you? This person is actually Tang Hao?"
Hun Feng straightened up again, his face filled with sighs and regret.
"You can't be wrong. Although there are signs of age, he still looks eight or nine parts similar to the portrait in the Spirit Hall's wanted poster!"
"That's right! It is indeed Tang Hao!" Xie Xue Douluo nodded, agreeing with Hun Feng's judgment.
"Gulp...Your Majesty, you're too strong." Xue Beng looked at the composed Xie Xue Douluo, swallowed hard, and looked at him with amazement.
Haotian Douluo's strength was universally acknowledged in the Spirit Master world!
He had just entered the Title Douluo realm and fought against many opponents, and even the previous Pope of the Spirit Hall died in that battle.
Since then, Tang Hao had been hailed as the strongest Title Douluo in the Spirit Master world!
Even Xue Beng, who had played the role of a spoiled brat for many years, was familiar with the legendary deeds of Haotian Douluo.
He never expected that such a renowned powerhouse would be killed here by Xie Xue Douluo.
"Heh...you don't think I killed him, do you?" Xie Xue Douluo looked at Xue Beng with a strange expression, seeing the look of disbelief on his face.
"Wasn't it His Majesty who did it?" Xue Beng was stunned.
If Xie Xue Douluo didn't kill him, how did the corpse end up in his hands?
Hun Feng shook his head.
"Indeed, it wasn't His Majesty Xie Xue who killed him. Although His Majesty is a level 98 Title Douluo, even if you could completely capture Haotian Douluo, who possesses the world's number one weapon spirit, you couldn't possibly be completely unharmed!"
"Indeed!" Xie Xue Douluo understood this as well.
Over the years they had been here, they had gathered a lot of intelligence; he knew he wouldn't dare to directly confront the Haotian Sect's Great Sumeru Hammer.
"Then who killed him? And who is this corpse?"
"I don't know who killed him either; I picked it up!" Xie Xue Douluo chuckled, taking over Xue Beng's words.
"Found him?!" Xue Beng's expression changed.
Xie Xue Douluo stood up again, hands behind his back: "That's right, found him! When I saw him, he had been dead for a while, almost devoured by soul beasts."
"I didn't expect that the mighty Haotian Douluo would die so silently in the Star Dou Great Forest! It's really a bit laughable." Hun Feng poked his nose with his middle finger, a mocking smile on his face.
Xue Beng looked at the mangled corpse on the ground, feeling a pang of regret.
He had originally planned to use his teacher Hun Feng's soul skill to exchange for a Haotian Hammer martial soul, but the Haotian Sect had been closed for many years, and they hadn't had a chance to encounter any Haotian Sect disciples.
"Xue Beng, don't even think about it. You can't transfer souls from the dead!" Hun Feng saw through his thoughts at a glance and told him to give up the idea.
Even if he were still alive, his third soul skill, Soul Transfer, had a cooldown period of more than a year.
"Hehe, teacher, I was just expressing my feelings. I'm already very satisfied with having the strongest beast spirit in the entire continent!" Xue Beng laughed awkwardly.
"It's a pity that Tang Hao is completely dead, otherwise we might have been able to look at his memories!" Xie Xue Douluo paced around Tang Hao, placing his withered hand on Hun Feng's shoulder, revealing an ugly smile.
Hun Feng's face paled, forcing a smile: "Your Majesty, I'm really nearing my limit."
He couldn't bear that kind of pain any longer.
Although his spirit, the Soul Devouring Beast, could devour other people's souls to obtain information with its first soul skill,
the human brain has limited capacity. He couldn't handle much more memories.
If this continued, before the Soul Devouring Beast could turn on him and devour his soul, he would go insane or even die!
"Haha." Xie Xue Douluo let out a piercing laugh, waving his hand dismissively.
After chuckling a few times, his face immediately darkened. "Soul Wind, do you think if Tang Hao dies at the hands of the Spirit Hall, the Clear Sky Sect will come out of seclusion and fight them?"
The Evil Blood Douluo, stroking his chin, sat down on Tang Hao's corpse, elbows resting on his knees and hands supporting his chin.
"Hmm? Your Majesty...isn't Tang Hao already dead?" Xue Beng looked
at him with surprise, staring at the Tang Hao sitting there.
He was absolutely certain Tang Hao was dead beyond any doubt; how could he possibly die again?
The Evil Blood Douluo ignored Xue Beng's doubts, giving him a cold glance before falling into deep thought.
Xue Beng opened his mouth, realizing he had asked too many questions, and then remained silent.
Otherwise, this capricious fellow might teach him a lesson he would never forget.
Soul Wind poked his nose with his middle finger; compared to Xue Beng, he knew the Evil Blood Douluo much better.
"Does Your Majesty intend to use your ninth soul skill to refine him into a puppet?"
"That's right!" The Evil Blood Douluo stretched out his slender fingers, poking holes in Tang Hao's body.
His hoarse voice grew serious: "The Spirit Hall's strength is far greater than it appears!"
"Although after being refined, he'll only be a mindless piece of junk. But if it can incite conflict, it's a kind of waste utilization!"
"Indeed, it can be used!"
Soul Wind nodded; he understood.
What they were about to do would inevitably lead to bloodshed on this continent, perhaps even causing it to suffer the same fate as that other continent, staining thousands of miles with blood.
"It's a pity Your Majesty's idea is good, but Tang Hao has been hiding for so many years without any news. It seems too strange for him to suddenly die at the hands of the Spirit Hall."
Soul Wind recalled the information about the Clear Sky Sect and frowned again. "Moreover, Tang Hao has already been expelled from the Clear Sky Sect. Even if he really died at the hands of the Spirit Hall, the Clear Sky Sect might not necessarily come out of seclusion to avenge him!"
"Hmm! What you said makes sense. The head of the three upper sects is really a coward!" Evil Blood Douluo helplessly patted Tang Hao's pale and mutilated face.
From the bottom of his heart, he looked down on the reclusive Clear Sky Sect.
"But even so, I still have to refine it first. Anyway, I'll need it sooner or later. It wouldn't be good if it rotted!"
"After all, there will always be opportunities!"
Evil Blood Douluo got up and stretched, and began to select from the guards standing on both sides.
"Huh?"
During the selection, a somewhat familiar face made him exclaim in surprise.
"Has the human skin of that Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan disciple been put on him?"
"Yes, it's been put on!" Soul Wind nodded in agreement.
He glanced at the figure who looked exactly like the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan disciple, and seeing that the leather suit fit him fairly well, he didn't pay much attention.
Evil Blood Douluo continued to select, still asking, "How's the sorting out of his memories going? Any discoveries?"
"They're all insignificant people, but we have made some discoveries." Soul Wind took out his thick notebook from his soul tool again and quickly flipped through it.
"This person's name is Yu Zhufeng, a level 66 Soul Emperor."
"Get to the point!" Evil Blood Douluo frowned, somewhat impatient.
Hun Feng paused, flipped through the pages again, and continued, "This group of people came here to help the daughter of Yu Luomian, the second-in-command of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, find a soul beast suitable for her eighth soul ring!"
"Oh? Yu Luomian's daughter?...Then we'll choose you!" The Evil Blood Douluo, still speaking, suddenly stood up and released his martial soul.
Behind him was a churning sea of blood.
The moment his martial soul appeared, the entire cave was bathed in red light, filled with a heavy, bloody stench.
Beneath his feet, two yellow, two purple, four black, and one red soul rings pulsed.
The eighth ring suddenly flashed.
The eighth soul skill, Returning Heaven with Blood!
The Evil Blood Douluo simply extended his hand and grasped at a guard.
The guard, as if choked, couldn't utter a sound, and blood began to seep from his seven orifices and pores,
turning into strands of crimson threads that floated into the Evil Blood Douluo's hand.
Slowly, the guard's flesh withered and shriveled, turning into a dried corpse that collapsed to the ground.
The other guards trembled, their faces pale, and cold sweat beaded on their foreheads.
Yet, not one dared to utter a sound.
Xue Beng was also swallowing hard, his clothes soaked through.
The
Evil Blood Douluo had actually put him on the selection list!
He clearly saw those blood-red eyes coldly sweep over him.
Hun Feng, however, was already used to it.
Having followed the Evil Blood Douluo for so many years, he had witnessed far more cruel scenes.
The Evil Blood Douluo's eighth soul skill, Blood Resurrection!
It could even revive those considered beyond saving.
Using this skill on oneself can heal 100% of one's physical injuries, while using it on others can heal 80% of their injuries.
The only price to pay is a sufficient supply of fresh blood.
When the Evil Blood Douluo was once cut in half at the waist, he even massacred an entire village to heal himself.
Such a domineering soul skill naturally has its limitations.
If used on the same person again within three days, including the user, the healing effect will be halved!
Everyone fell silent.
The blood-red mass in the Evil Blood Douluo's hand floated towards Tang Hao.
A crimson light instantly shone on Tang Hao's body .
As if enveloped in a blood cocoon, his severed right arm began to reappear, slowly repairing itself.
The areas torn by the soul beast had also become full again.
Once Tang Hao's body was completely repaired, the Evil Blood Douluo waved his hand.
Tang Hao's body was lifted up by a gust of wind.
The dazzling 100,000-year soul ring beneath the Evil Blood Douluo's feet erupted with a brilliant light.
One of the Ninth Soul Skills, Evil Puppet Blood Zombie!
The red spirit ring suddenly split in two, one of which slowly detached from his body and floated above Tang Hao.
It gradually shrank and disappeared into Tang Hao's brow.
Tang Hao, who had been lifeless, suddenly changed.
His tightly closed eyes snapped open, revealing a blood-red ring around his black pupils.
It looked somewhat eerie, and he appeared completely numb.
"Sigh~ This strength is really a bit weak. It seems I can only save it for a crucial moment! At least make his 'death' have some value..."
The Evil Blood Douluo waved his hand dismissively.
The sea of blood behind him immediately expanded, transforming into a giant beast that enveloped Tang Hao's corpse before disappearing into his ninth spirit ring.
His ninth spirit skill, Evil Puppet Blood Zombie, could only control one puppet. It wasn't needed normally; his ninth spirit ring
contained a space to nurture the puppet.
After all, it was an inanimate object; keeping it inside prevented it from rotting.
It could preserve eighty percent of the puppet's strength.
However, Tang Hao's strength had already dropped below level 95 due to the loss of his right arm soul bone.
Now, as a puppet, his strength was barely at level 92.
Putting away his martial soul, Evil Blood Douluo turned to Soul Wind.
"You mentioned that Jade Luo Mian's daughter. Can we do something with her?"
"Your Majesty, her martial soul is a mutated martial soul, and she was once the Killing Horn of the Golden Iron Triangle!"
"You're interested in her martial soul?" Evil Blood Douluo glanced at him, then frowned. "By the way, what is the Golden Iron Triangle?"
Soul Wind was stunned, somewhat speechless.
Evil Blood Douluo indeed disdained such a combination.
Soul Wind didn't explain further.
"Rather than saying I'm interested in her martial soul, I'm more interested in the martial soul fusion skill formed by the Golden Iron Triangle—the Holy Light Dragon!"
"The Holy Light Dragon?!" A rare glint appeared in Evil Blood Douluo's eyes. "That's quite interesting!"
Glancing at Xue Beng standing to the side, Evil Blood didn't dwell on these matters.
"Alright. Let's put these things aside for now! Let's get back to the Heaven Dou Imperial City first. We can't fall behind Xing Luo in progress!"
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
Hun Feng and Xue Beng respectfully replied.
...
"Ah! We're finally out!"
At the edge of the Star Dou Great Forest, Ning Rongrong, perched on Ye Qiu's back, raised her hands, enjoying the sunshine.
The sun was already high in the sky.
After walking for an hour or so, they finally returned to the town they had come from.
Looking at the passersby, they relaxed again.
The atmosphere in the Star Dou Great Forest was truly oppressive.
Everyone's face was now etched with exhaustion. Even
Zhao Wuji, the one with the highest cultivation, was no exception.
He carried Tang San, who was still smelling bad and unconscious, and hadn't looked well the whole way.
"Everyone, let's rest in this town for a day and return to the academy first thing tomorrow morning!"
"Great! This Soul Hunt was really exhausting!" Oscar, supported by Ma Hongjun and Dai Mubai, also looked dejected.
No one objected to Zhao Wuji's decision.
They were indeed looking disheveled and listless, and needed a good rest.
The group strolled along the street, eventually choosing the same inn as before.
"Same rules as always! Food, clothing, lodging, and transportation are at your own expense,"
Zhao Wuji said as soon as they entered the inn. He then booked a room and carried Tang San upstairs.
Dai Mubai and the others followed after saying a few words.
"Ye Qiu~ Let's have a proper meal first!" Ning Rongrong clung to Ye Qiu, still leaning on his back.
She was getting tired of eating only pastries and dry rations for the past few days.
"Yes! Let's eat first, then go back to the room for a hot bath!" Xiao Wu rubbed her stomach. Although she was a transformed Soft Bone Rabbit, she couldn't eat carrots every meal!
"Okay! Then Miss Rongrong will treat us," Ye Qiu agreed with a light laugh.
"No problem! You pretty boy, I'll support all your women too!" Ning Rongrong patted Ye Qiu's face, looking like she didn't care about money.
"Hey! Don't be so loud!" Noticing the strange looks from some of the other diners, Ye Qiu felt a little uncomfortable and playfully slapped her buttocks.
"Hmph, I'm willing to support you." Ning Rongrong blushed and calmed down a bit.
"Come and order! After we finish eating, you and Xiao Wu have to explain things to us!" Zhu Zhuqing smiled, grabbed Ye Qiu's arm, and pulled him to a seat.
"Okay! I promise to tell the truth!" Ye Qiu put Ning Rongrong down and sat between Zhu Zhuqing and Xiao Wu.
He reached out and gently patted Xiao Wu's slightly lowered head, smiling at her. He believed that Zhu Qing and Rong Rong wouldn't mind Xiao Wu's true identity.