Upon hearing Jiang Jue's words, Cheng Gang's expression stiffened. As a Titled Douluo with the Ant Emperor Martial Soul, his instincts told him that if he surrendered his soul, he might never escape from the palm of this young man in front of him for the rest of his life.
"I have information about the Star Luo Empire's emperor targeting you. If I offer that... could I perhaps avoid surrendering my soul?"Cheng Gang looked nervously at Jiang Jue, his voice stammering.
"Foolish! If you hand over your soul, I'll learn that information anyway."Jiang Jue shook his head, and the bright flames in his hand flickered more vigorously.
"Old Zhang, looks like this 'Your Grace' still harbors some resentment. I think you should show him how we treat our guests."
As Jiang Jue finished speaking, Zhang Peng's eyes lit up with a sinister gleam. He chuckled wickedly, and dark soul power gathered in his hand. He lifted Cheng Gang again like a chick.
"I have nine methods that can make you obediently hand over your soul! Nine!"At the same time, the dark soul power began seeping into Cheng Gang's skin. His eyes bulged wide, and choking sounds came from his throat. He felt as though he was about to suffocate.
Since Zhang Peng had sealed his soul power, Cheng Gang could only rely on his physical body as a Titled Douluo to resist the dark force. But he couldn't even defeat Zhang Peng with his soul power, let alone now.
In a flash, Cheng Gang raised both hands, indicating his surrender.
"I give up! I really give up!"
Cough, cough... cough cough...
Released again, Cheng Gang's face flushed red as he gasped for air. In that moment, he realized how beautiful it felt just to be alive.
Jiang Jue merely watched him silently. Some people just didn't know their place—only when pain was inflicted would they learn to bow their heads.
In this world, when you mess around, you have to be prepared to get beaten.
"Hand it over."Jiang Jue spoke in a low tone.
This time, Cheng Gang didn't dare to resist. He quickly pulled out a cluster of spiritual essence from his sea of consciousness. As it emerged, his face turned deathly pale.
Not everyone possessed a spiritual source as powerful as the Iceworm of Ten Thousand Dreams—especially not a non-spirit-attribute soul master like Cheng Gang.
Jiang Jue chanted a harsh and bitter incantation under his breath. The bright flame in his hand surged from his fingertips and plunged into Cheng Gang's spiritual essence. Threads of invisible, transparent strings extended from the essence and connected to Jiang Jue's hand.
This was the same magic Elex had used to brand Zhang Peng's soul last time. After returning from the Far North, Elex taught this magic to Jiang Jue so he could better control Zhang Peng's Soul Flame.
As the number of soul threads increased, Cheng Gang's body trembled uncontrollably. Excruciating pain engulfed his mental sea.
"Bind!"Jiang Jue shouted softly. A fiery red light detached from Cheng Gang's essence and floated into Jiang Jue's palm.
This was Cheng Gang's Soul Flame!
Why was it so painful for Cheng Gang during the branding process? Simple—Jiang Jue was still inexperienced.
After all, Cheng Gang was his first test subject.
"Xiao Hu, come out."Jiang Jue waved his left hand. The Soul Refining Banner appeared in his grasp, its blood-red patterns pulsing. Two streaks of light shot out from it.
"Awwooo!"
Smack!
"You dumb tiger, stop howling."
These two streams of light were none other than Ice Soul Battle Tiger and Nangong Wan.
"Store this Soul Flame properly, just like last time."Jiang Jue tossed the flame to Xiao Hu.
The tiger leapt up and swallowed it whole.Ever since Jiang Jue had instructed it to keep Zhang Peng's Soul Flame safe, Xiao Hu had racked its underdeveloped brain and come up with a brilliant idea: swallow it.
It was actually a clever move. Now that it was a beast soul, as long as it didn't actively absorb the flame, it would remain completely safe inside.
"Sigh, I thought we were getting a newcomer. Turns out, it's not."Nangong Wan looked at Cheng Gang with disappointment, smacking his lips.
"No worries, I'll wait for you inside."
Cheng Gang: "?"
Was that even human speech?He could clearly sense that both creatures who emerged from Jiang Jue's dark, smoky banner were soul bodies. And what kind of things only exist as soul bodies?
Dead ones.So wasn't Nangong Wan basically cursing him to die soon?
A chill of fear toward the unknown gripped Cheng Gang's heart. He suddenly felt like he had boarded a pirate ship he could never escape.
Whether it was Jiang Jue's dark magic or the sudden appearance of Nangong Wan, they all completely shattered his understanding of the world.
"Alright, we're all one big loving family now. No need to be so formal."
"Cheng Gang, earlier you mentioned the Star Luo Empire's emperor had plans for me. Speak."
Jiang Jue glanced at Nangong Wan, then signaled Cheng Gang to reveal what he knew.
"Young Lord, I overheard Xu Jiawei instructing someone to inform the Body Sect about your presence, to lure them here."Cheng Gang, now sensible, respectfully addressed Jiang Jue as "Young Lord" and even referred to Emperor Xu Jiawei by his full name—no more honorifics.
He understood the situation perfectly. Since he couldn't win and had already surrendered his soul, all that remained was to submit completely.
"But you knew I had a Body Martial Soul. Why would you still suspect I was a re-cultivated soul beast and come after me?"Jiang Jue was confused.
Cheng Gang scratched his head with a sheepish grin and said awkwardly,"I wanted to take a gamble."
"…"
Jiang Jue understood now. It was pure greed.
After all, if Jiang Jue really was a re-cultivated soul beast, that would mean soul rings and bones of at least 200,000 years were within reach. No wonder Cheng Gang was tempted.
"Stirring up conflict between the Body Sect and Mingde Hall, huh… Xu Jiawei, what a schemer."Jiang Jue murmured with a deep gaze.
There was some truth in what Xu Jiuyou once said: among the three former empires, only Star Luo Empire retained real strength. The other two had been in decline. If not for the Body Sect, the Heaven Soul Empire would've been the first to fall.
"But this actually works in my favor."Jiang Jue smirked. After all, wasn't his goal to attract the Body Sect's attention? In a way, Xu Jiawei was even helping him.
"Young Lord, this is something Wang Gengyin asked me to pass on to you."
A flash of white light appeared in Nangong Wan's hand. A silver spear materialized, gleaming with sharp, cold light. Embedded in its center was a black soul bone, from which faint dragon roars could be heard.
This was none other than Luo Bai, the weapon gifted to Jiang Jue by Jing Hongchen.
"Wang Gengyin has finished the modifications? Let me see."Jiang Jue took Luo Bai and poured his soul power into it. Dozens of core arrays inside the spear activated simultaneously. The soul bone of the devouring dragon at the center unleashed a dark aura of consumption, and a purple-black glow radiated along the spear.
After obtaining long-term residence in the Soul Refining Banner, Wang Gengyin had been entrusted with modifying this level-8 melee soul tool, since Jiang Jue still struggled to control such high-level weapons.
With Wang Gengyin's improvements, the weapon now suited Jiang Jue's style far better. At Jiang Jue's request, a special attribute had also been added...
(End of Chapter)