After a full day of quiet rest and recuperation, Marco and Lu Zhou had mostly recovered from their injuries. As evening fell, the lingering sunset glow dyed the rooftops of Suotuo City golden. Lu Zhou knocked on Marco's door.
Standing outside, his expression as calm as still water, he said: "Drinks."
Marco scratched his head somewhat awkwardly: "Brother Lu, to be honest, I'm only twelve this year. My elders have always strictly forbidden alcohol."
A faint trace of surprise flashed through Lu Zhou's golden eyes, but it quickly returned to their usual sternness. "Twelve?" He examined Marco again, his tone still unreadable. "Truly rare."
"How old are you, Brother Lu?" Marco asked.
"Fifteen," Lu Zhou answered briefly before turning to walk toward the inn's exit. "Teahouse."
The two found an elegant teahouse in the city built alongside the river. Lu Zhou chose a quiet corner seat on the second floor by the window, his gaze consistently fixed on the sparkling river surface as if deep in thought.
The waiter enthusiastically served tea and snacks, to which Lu Zhou merely nodded slightly without saying more. When Marco poured tea for him, he noticed Lu Zhou's long, powerful fingers holding the cup, with thin calluses on the knuckles from years of sword practice.
"Today's battle taught me much from Brother Lu's sword techniques," Marco initiated the conversation.
"The sword is the path," Lu Zhou said, lifting his teacup while keeping his eyes on the window. "Your Martial Soul is extraordinary."
His evaluation was brief yet precise. Though Lu Zhou spoke concisely, whenever martial cultivation was discussed, a focused gleam would always flash in his eyes.
After three rounds of tea, night deepened. Moonlight shattered into silver glimmers on the river surface, and the teahouse guests gradually thinned out. In this tranquil moment, both frowned almost simultaneously—a sinister aura mixed with the scent of blood swept past from the street outside the window.
Marco lowered his voice: "This aura feels cold and eerie, carrying blood. Could it be the rumored Evil Soul Master?"
Lu Zhou was already on his feet, his golden eyes sharp as blades. "Follow." His movements were clean and decisive, without the slightest hesitation.
They quietly trailed the gray-cloaked figure through winding alleys. Lu Zhou maintained a distance of about three zhang, completely concealing his presence, his steps light as a cat's. Marco followed closely, pushing his Observation Haki to its limits.
The gray-clad man stopped in front of a residential house, a greedy red light flashing in his eyes. Just as he prepared to act, Lu Zhou moved instantly. Without warning or shout, only a cold gleam of steel.
"Who's there?!" The gray-clad man turned in panic, his face twisting into a ferocious expression upon seeing two youths. "Reckless brats, perfect to be my blood sacrifice!"
He released his Blood Centipede Martial Soul, three Spirit Rings rising: "Second Spirit Ability: Blood Foam Splash!"
Lu Zhou's expression remained unchanged as he drew his long sword. No Spirit Ability, just a simple diagonal slash. The blade light flashed, cutting through the blood mist, sending the gray-clad man flying back to crash against the wall.
"Spare me, sir!" The gray-clad man knelt begging for mercy, secretly moving his hands behind his back.
Lu Zhou's eyes turned cold as his second strike was already in motion. The blade light flashed, leaving the man's other arm dripping with blood.
When Lu Zhou prepared to finish him, Marco stopped him: "Brother Lu, wait. First ask about accomplices."
Lu Zhou sheathed his sword and stood quietly, looking at Marco.
"Evil Soul Masters often operate in groups," Marco explained. "There might be a larger conspiracy at play."
Lu Zhou gave a slight nod, pressing his blade against the gray-robed Evil Soul Master's throat. "Speak."
Under the chilling pressure of murderous intent, the gray-robed man's psychological defenses completely collapsed: "There are seven of us... Our leader, Lord Blood Butcher, is a Soul Emperor... Hiding in Zhang Family Village over forty li east of the suburbs..."
Marco suppressed his rage as he pressed for details, learning that the village had long become a nest for Evil Soul Masters, and most captured villagers had already met tragic fates.
"In your next life, be a good person." Marco said coldly. With a flick of his wrist, Lu Zhou ended the Evil Soul Master's life.
After disposing of the body, the two hurried east through the night. The closer they got to Zhang Family Village, the more desolate the surroundings became, with the scent of blood growing increasingly heavy in the air.
When they reached the village outskirts, the scene before them made their hearts sink. The entire village was deathly silent, with dilapidated houses casting ghostly shadows under the moonlight. The thick smell of blood and the rotting aura at the soul level were nearly suffocating.
"It seems... we're too late." Marco's voice was low. The information his Observation Haki fed back made his stomach churn—the village was filled with overwhelming death energy.
Lu Zhou didn't respond, but his grip on his sword noticeably tightened. He stepped silently into the village, with Marco following closely behind.
The village was covered in dried, blackened bloodstains—splattered on walls, soaked into the earth. Shattered windows and scattered clothing fragments silently testified to the tragedy. Beside an abandoned well, they discovered several incomplete skeletons, including those of children based on the bone structure...
Marco's expression grew increasingly grim, the fury in his chest like a volcano about to erupt. The chilling aura around Lu Zhou intensified—the manifestation of rage suppressed to its limit.
When they reached the central threshing ground, the sight made their blood run cold—dozens of emaciated corpses were piled mountain-high, their pale faces appearing drained of blood. At the center of the ground, an evil magic circle drawn in blood emitted nauseating energy waves.
"Bastards!" Marco growled, Azure Flames uncontrollably bursting from his body.
Lu Zhou abruptly drew his longsword, a sharp sword intent shooting skyward. His golden pupils contracted to pinpoints as he stared fixedly at the mountain of corpses, his murderous aura nearly condensing into frost.
Just then, the sound of breaking air suddenly rang out! Five figures leaped from the shadows, surrounding them. The scar-faced man at their head grinned viciously: "Heh heh, never expected blood offerings to deliver themselves!"
Marco and Lu Zhou instantly calmed, standing back-to-back. The horrific scenes they had just witnessed had already engraved these Evil Soul Masters' crimes in their hearts—a deadly battle was inevitable.
"Fourth Spirit Ability: Azure Flame Engulfment!" Marco activated his spirit ability first, his black Spirit Ring glowing brightly. The Azure Flames condensed then erupted, boosting all attributes by thirty percent.
Lu Zhou manifested two yellow and two purple Spirit Rings at his feet, his longsword humming. Though he didn't use any spirit abilities, his sword intent reached its ultimate concentration.
"Kill them!" the scar-faced man shouted. The five Evil Soul Masters simultaneously launched their attacks—blood mist, bone spikes, venom, and various other evil spirit abilities surged forward.
"Tempest Kick Azure Fire Slash!" Marco crossed his legs and kicked out, vacuum slashes wreathed in Azure Flame roaring forth. Lu Zhou's longsword danced, sword energy crisscrossing as he neutralized each attack one by one.
The battle instantly escalated to a fever pitch. Marco combined "Shave" with "Moonwalk," leaving afterimages in the air as he moved. His fists and feet were coated with Armament Haki, each strike carrying immense destructive force.
Lu Zhou's blade techniques were concise and deadly, every slash aimed precisely at vital points with astonishing power.
Soon, two Evil Soul Masters lay fallen in pools of blood. But the remaining three grew even more frenzied, resorting to trading injuries and even attempting to use the villagers' corpses as shields.
"Watch out!" Marco predicted the ambush with his Observation Haki and instantly activated his Double Pupil Divine Light. The ambusher screamed, clutching his head as he collapsed to the ground.
Seizing the opportunity, Lu Zhou's blade flashed like lightning, swiftly dispatching the other two Evil Soul Masters.
Just as they thought the battle was over, an earth-shaking roar erupted from deep within the village: "Who dares kill my subordinates!"
A terrifying aura, far surpassing that of a Soul Emperor, swept over them, accompanied by a thick, bloody scent. A crimson figure burst through the roof of the largest house, hovering mid-air.
Moonlight illuminated his twisted, ferocious face. Six Spirit Rings slowly rose beneath his feet, the most shocking of which was the sixth—a black ten-thousand-year Spirit Ring!
"...It's a Soul Emperor!" Marco's expression turned grave. Lu Zhou tightened his grip on his blade, his gaze as cold and resolute as ever.
The Blood Slaughter Soul Emperor's bloodthirsty eyes swept over the corpses of his subordinates before settling on the two young men. "Two little brats... Perfect. Your blood will help me break through!"
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