"Soul Form!"
That crimson, translucent human figure was unmistakably a soul form—and one currently being hunted by the Hall Of Souls.
After clearly seeing the scene within the black mist, Gu He's heart stirred. Without drawing attention, he vanished from his spot.
…
At that moment, agonized screams echoed from the black mist nearby.
"Who are you?!"
"Why are you pursuing me?! I've never had any grudge against you!"
A crimson soul flickered unsteadily in the violent winds, its face twisted with terror as it faced the encroaching darkness.
"Heh heh heh..."
A bone-chilling laugh rang out from the shadows. Suddenly, a black chain shot forth like a serpent, coiling around the crimson soul with eerie agility.
"Sizzle—"
The chain, seemingly condensed from an ominous energy, seared the soul upon contact. Wisps of white smoke rose from its body, followed by a piercing, agonized shriek.
"ARGH!"
"Please, spare me! I'll give you anything!"
"NO—STOP!"
Despite its desperate struggles—even conjuring crimson flames in a final bid for freedom—the soul was powerless against the black chain.
It could only watch helplessly as its essence weakened, until finally, the chain spat forth a dark light, ensnaring it completely.
"Heh heh heh... No matter how glorious or tyrannical you were in life, once reduced to a soul, you become nothing more than prey for our Hall Of Souls."
Amidst the grating, hoarse laughter, two shadowy figures gradually materialized.
One of them smirked smugly at the soul-capturing pouch now holding the crimson soul.
"Soul Five, there's a group of people over there. Should we take them too?"
The other shadow cast a sinister glance toward Ma Yicheng's convoy.
"Just a bunch of ants. Not worth the effort."
Soul Five scoffed dismissively, clearly unimpressed by Ma Yicheng and his group.
"True. Let's move elsewhere."
Nodding in agreement, the two shadows prepared to leave.
"Soul Palace."
A cold, clear voice suddenly echoed in their ears.
A chill shot down their spines—but before they could react, an overwhelming force of suction engulfed them.
"What is this?!"
"NO—!"
Panic-stricken, they found themselves helplessly yanked toward an unseen source.
Hidden within the black mist, Gu He extended his palm, a dark vortex swirling above it. The two shadows hurtled toward him, powerless to resist.
As their souls were sucked into the vortex, the devouring force faded, leaving behind two black beads in Gu He's grasp.
Through the beads' translucent surface, the two souls could be seen screaming in horror. Upon spotting Gu He, their expressions twisted with rage, their mouths moving as if hurling threats—yet no sound escaped.
It was as if they had been sealed away in an isolated, soundless void.
"Hmph. Since you enjoy harvesting souls so much, let's see how you like it."
Gu He smirked coldly at the trapped souls before glancing toward Ma Yicheng's convoy. In an instant, his figure melted back into the darkness.
A short while later, as Gu He rejoined the caravan, Ma Yicheng's plump face lit up with relief.
"Master Tiga! You're alright! I couldn't find you earlier—I was so worried!"
Rushing forward, the merchant let out a sigh of relief.
"No need for concern. I was merely blown off course for a moment."
Gu He shook his head with a faint smile. Though the man's concern stemmed from self-interest, his demeanor was still far more decent than most in the Black-Corner Region.
Not everyone in this lawless land was a monster.
"Blown away?! You're fortunate, Master Tiga. Anyone else would've been lost forever on these plains."
Ma Yicheng chuckled before gesturing toward the carriage. "Please rest inside while we reorganize the goods. We'll resume our journey shortly."
Nodding, Gu He re-entered the carriage and sat cross-legged. He then retrieved the two black beads, eyeing the still-furious souls within. A cold smile played on his lips.
"Soul Eater Art."
With a thought, a devouring force surged from his palm, penetrating the beads and latching onto the trapped souls.
Instantly, their expressions contorted in agony. Clutching their heads, they writhed in silent screams—their torment inaudible to the outside world.
Moments later, their essences dissolved into pure soul energy, which Gu He absorbed without hesitation.
Along with their power came their memories—flooding his mind with knowledge.
"Soul Five. Soul Nine. Deacons of the Hall Of Souls..."
After a brief pause, Gu He's eyes snapped open, gleaming with understanding.
From their memories, he learned their identities: one a three-star Dou Emperor, the other a one-star Dou Emperor—both low-ranking deacons of the Hall Of Souls.
In the hierarchy of the Hall Of Souls, deacons were the lowest tier of enforcers.
Above them stood mid-level and senior deacons—the latter reaching the terrifying strength of nine-star Dou Emperor.
Now armed with their knowledge, Gu He had a far clearer picture of the Black-Corner Region.
"This place is even darker than I imagined."
"Perhaps it's time to bring some light to this cesspool of chaos."
Gazing out the carriage window toward the distant horizon—where the Black-Corner Region lay—Gu He's eyes hardened with resolve.
His original plan had been simple: enter Jia Nan Academy, recruit talented disciples, and claim the Fallen Heart Flame for himself.
But after absorbing the deacons' memories, a new ambition ignited within him.
"'s time for a purge."
He would cleanse this corrupt land with overwhelming power.
Eradicate the wicked, plunder the treasures of its factions—not for greed, but to bring a sliver of hope to this desolate area.
At this moment, Gu He seemed to embody righteousness itself—a beacon of justice amidst the darkness.
After the black storm, Ma Yicheng's convoy encountered no further trouble.
By noon the next day, the bleak black plains finally gave way to patches of lush greenery. The seasoned guards exhaled in relief—once out of the plains, the journey would be far safer.
Most cities here were controlled by factions. As long as they paid the required tolls, outright slaughter was rare. Even the most ruthless groups knew better than to kill the golden goose.
Of course, exceptions existed—this was, after all, the Black-Corner Region.
Inside the carriage, Gu He observed their departure from the plains with calm detachment.
"Heh. We were lucky this time. No run-ins with bandits means no losses—and no compensation to pay."
Ma Yicheng grinned, wiping sweat from his brow. Transporting goods through these lands was akin to gambling with one's life.
"Master Tiga, here's your payment. It's modest, but..."
He handed Gu He a pouch of gold coins with an apologetic smile.
"Without your guidance, I might've wandered the plains for weeks. This is more than enough."
Gu He accepted the pouch without pretense—around 50,000 gold coins, by the weight.
"Thank you, Master Tiga."
Ma Yicheng then produced a rolled-up map, lowering his voice.
"For newcomers, this is the most valuable treasure of all."
Gu He's eyes narrowed slightly. Though the deacons' memories had already provided him with ample knowledge, he accepted the map graciously.
"Heh. Master Tiga, your strength is formidable, but in the Black-Corner Region, caution is key. Avoid looking like a newcomer—it invites unnecessary trouble."
"Noted."
Gu He nodded with a faint smile.
…
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