"Xiaofeng, ignite the flames."
"Xiaotian, amplify the output."
While the others charged into the cavern with practiced formation, Chen Junting remained at the entrance beside Ning Tian and Wu Feng, calmly giving orders as his gaze swept the battlefield.
A fiery red light burst forward as Wu Feng's martial soul, the Scarlet Flame Dragon, roared to life. Simultaneously, nine radiances shimmered around Ning Tian's Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda, bathing the team in its support.
Chen Junting raised his hand, fingers forming a sword seal. With a flicker of purple light, his Seven Killing Sword whistled through the air—fast and lethal as a Reaper's scythe. In a single breath, it sliced across the throats of more than a dozen bandits, claiming lives with chilling precision.
Ning Tian's fourth soul ring lit up in response. Fourteen rays of buffing light burst out in all directions—instantly infusing the entire team, both core and reserve, with enhanced speed, strength, and resistance. Everyone's aura surged.
"Senior Sister Ma Xiaotao, Senior Gongyang Mo!" Chen Junting shouted across the battlefield. "Beware of the evil soul master's tricks. Burn the corpses first—don't leave them behind!"
"Understood!" they responded in unison.
Gongyang Mo immediately activated a flame-type soul tool, releasing streams of fire across the battlefield. Ma Xiaotao, already radiating with phoenix fire, unleashed golden-red flames that incinerated fallen enemies on contact.
But there were too many corpses—and even more incoming enemies. The two of them, along with Chen Junting, could only reduce a fraction of the battlefield to ash.
Still, they adapted. Every time they struck down an enemy, they made sure to leave no body behind—vaporizing them with scorching heat, leaving no trace behind.
Then came a shrill, eerie howl echoing from the depths of the cavern.
"Who dares challenge me—Death's Messenger? You will all die, and rise again as my corpse slaves!"
The voice was like icy needles, stabbing through the dark air.
Strangely, none of the remaining bandits rallied at the sound. Instead, they shrieked in terror and began retreating, their entire formation unraveling in panic.
Huo Yuhao's spiritual detection instantly flagged a threat. Chen Junting's expression darkened.
"Defensive formation—now!"
Without hesitation, he activated an Invincible Shield soul tool, throwing it over himself and Ning Tian. A wave of black light erupted as his fourth soul skill—Sword Domain: Raging Tides—blasted out in every direction, forming walls of slashing energy to intercept the surge.
Then, it began.
The corpses that hadn't been fully incinerated twitched violently, their skin turning red and bulging grotesquely.
And then—boom! boom! boom!
They exploded.
Gore sprayed the cavern walls, and waves of corrosive energy surged outward.
Luckily, Wu Feng and He Caitou, positioned further out and tasked with corpse disposal, were spared the brunt of the carnage.
But the main team—already deep inside—was hit hard.
Chen Zifeng, Xixi, Gongyang Mo, and Ling Luochen managed to survive, shielded by two Invincible Shields.
Dai Yueheng wasn't so lucky.
A partially-disintegrated Soul King corpse detonated right beside him. Though he activated his White Tiger Shield, the force of the blast shattered his defenses. Blood spurted from his mouth as his meridians twisted from the shock. Worse, toxic energy seeped into his system.
Yao Haoxuan fared worse. His bulky frame had no time to retreat—he was a perfect target. If not for Chen Junting's quick response, activating his Sword Domain to create a barrier, Haoxuan would have died on the spot.
Even so, he was grievously wounded—unconscious, and barely breathing.
"Hahahaha! How does it feel, Shrek? You dared burn my corpse slaves—but I have more!" the voice laughed, echoing again. "You'll all join them soon!"
But his gloating was short-lived.
"I'll burn you myself!"
A phoenix's cry tore through the cave.
Ma Xiaotao's golden-red flames blazed upward, her fury matching the heat of her fire. Her body surged forward like a meteor.
"Fifth Soul Skill—Phoenix Piercing the Clouds!"
A fiery phoenix erupted from her figure, condensing mid-air, then launched at the Death Messenger with explosive force!
The evil soul master panicked. He yanked a surviving Soul King subordinate in front of him like a shield and threw him forward.
BOOM!
Another corpse explosion detonated mid-air. Ma Xiaotao was blasted backward, flames trailing behind her, blood spraying as poison gnawed into her body.
But she wasn't the only one wounded.
The Death Messenger's right arm was gone, vaporized in the blast. His power was clearly inferior to Ma Xiaotao's—his injuries more severe.
Realizing he couldn't win, he turned to flee.
But before he could even blink, a gravitational force pulled him backwards—straight toward the cave's entrance.
A thundering voice followed. "You think you can run from me, brat?!"
The cave shook violently.
A flash of white light surged through the tunnel like a tidal wave. In its wake, every drop of corrosive blood, every corpse—everything unclean—was obliterated.
And then, Elder Xuan appeared.
He stood tall, his cloak fluttering, eyes bloodshot as he stared at the wounded students.
When he saw Ma Xiaotao and Dai Yueheng down, and Yao Haoxuan half-dead, his face twisted in rage.
"You deserve nothing but death."
He turned to the Death Messenger, now frozen in place by khaki-colored soul power.
With a crushing motion of his palm, the earth-element energy compressed. Before the evil soul master could even scream, his body collapsed inward—
And vanished into dust.
"How are they?!" Elder Xuan snapped, rushing over to Wang Yan.
Wang Yan was applying antidotes and soul recovery pills, but shook his head. "I've stabilized Dai Yueheng and Ma Xiaotao. But Yao Haoxuan's internal organs are tainted. My medicine won't work fast enough. If we don't get him back to the Academy, he may not make it."
Elder Xuan's fists clenched.
"I failed again…" he muttered. "I was too late. Just like before."
"Elder Xuan," a calm voice called behind him. "Blaming yourself won't save him."
Chen Junting and Ning Tian stepped forward.
Ning Tian held out two white jade pills. "These were refined by my mother using Breaking Clan techniques. They're far stronger than standard Academy pills."
Elder Xuan's eyes lit up. "Quick—give it to him!"
Ning Tian carefully fed the pill to Yao Haoxuan. Moments later, the color began returning to his face. Elder Xuan circulated his soul power, helping the medicine flow through his body.
An hour passed.
Ma Xiaotao and Dai Yueheng awoke first, groggy but alive.
Then, at last—
Yao Haoxuan's eyes fluttered open.
He was pale, weak, but... breathing.
Alive.
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(End of chapter)
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