"Ah!"
In an instant, an even more miserable scream burst from Zhao Yang's mouth. His entire body trembled violently, his eyes were bloodshot, and veins bulged on his neck. Previously he could barely stand, but now he could only collapse and crawl on the ground.
"Martial Soul True Body!"
"Activate!"
As the heir of the Glorious Duke's Mansion, when had Zhao Yang ever suffered such humiliation? Moreover, he had been praised as a genius since childhood. Now he was being pinned to the ground by a youth far younger than himself—what a disgrace! How could he not be furious!
In an instant, golden light radiated from Zhao Yang's body. His entire figure began transforming into a Violent Golden Bear. His muscles bulged, and his strength increased threefold. The ground beneath him cracked even faster.
But Zhao Yang discovered in terror that he still could not escape that seemingly light palm. It felt like a mountain pressing him down.
"So disobedient."
"Then be buried here—Titan Snow Burial!"
Jiang Jue spoke calmly. A crystal-clear icy blue light lit up from the right palm pressing on Zhao Yang's shoulder, and a wave of extreme cold erupted.
The defensive power that the Violent Golden Bear form took such pride in was effortlessly pierced by the freezing current. It spread from Zhao Yang's shoulder and rapidly extended throughout his body.
One hundred percent armor penetration!
Under Jiang Jue's nurturing, the Titan Snow Demon Right Arm Bone had long surpassed the 100,000-year level, and its armor-breaking effect had reached 100%.
"You… you can't kill me! I'm the heir of the Glorious Duke! I'm a noble!"
"The army of over ten thousand behind me is under my command. If I die, they'll charge up here and none of you will survive!"
"Let me go! Let me go! I'll let you leave safely! Ah—I was wrong!"
Feeling the freezing power about to spread to his heart, Zhao Yang's pupils suddenly shrank and he shouted anxiously.
He still had endless glory and wealth to enjoy. How could he die here!
"You're not sorry. You just know you're about to die. And how dare you threaten me?"
"Is it the army of ten thousand behind you that gives you courage? Don't worry—they'll follow you soon enough."
Jiang Jue's eyes narrowed slightly, a deep glint flashing within them.
As his words fell, the freezing force had already spread throughout Zhao Yang's body. Zhao Yang found that he could only gasp hoarsely; he could no longer speak. A flash of cold light appeared, and his entire body turned into an ice sculpture.
The moment Jiang Jue released his hand, a crack appeared on the ice statue.
Jiang Jue calmly walked toward Ke Ke. With every step he took, another crack appeared on the ice sculpture.
"Crack! Crack!"
"Boom!"
Just as Jiang Jue reached Ke Ke's side, the ice statue that Zhao Yang had become suddenly shattered. Frost mixed with blood exploded into countless snowflakes that scattered in the wind, leaving behind a strangely enchanting flower on the ground.
This scene was deeply imprinted in the eyes of Juzi and Ke Ke.
"Wake up."
Jiang Jue patted the stunned Ke Ke lightly and said softly.
Light returned to Ke Ke's eyes. She jumped up at once. The way she looked at Jiang Jue now contained not only joy, but also a hint of gratitude and admiration.
"Junior Jiang… it's only been a few years, yet you've already surpassed your senior sister. That's… really… unexpected."
Ke Ke's chest rose and fell as she spoke in a somewhat broken rhythm.
"This isn't over yet."
"Holy Son Jiang, there are still more than ten thousand soldiers below who will charge up here any moment. Shouldn't we temporarily avoid their sharp edge?"
"Our encircling army will arrive soon. Then we can wipe them out completely."
Juzi suggested while looking at Jiang Jue. She knew Jiang Jue's true identity. Now that she had been saved, besides joy, she also felt something else indescribable.
As if echoing Juzi's words, the soldiers below saw that their general had died. Instead of losing morale, their eyes instantly turned red and they charged toward the mountaintop without hesitation.
Because they knew that if Zhao Yang died, they would not survive either. Moreover, the imperial army approaching from afar would soon surround them.
"I need to avoid their sharp edge?"
Jiang Jue slowly shook his head, gazing at Juzi as he spoke softly.
"Tell me—how should these rebels be dealt with?"
Juzi was stunned for a moment, then said firmly:
"Rebels should naturally all be killed. Only then can we deter those restless feudal kingdoms."
"Today I'll teach you a lesson: people shouldn't be wasted. Their value should be used properly."
After speaking, Jiang Jue looked down at the enemy army surging forward like a tide. The corner of his mouth lifted slightly, and a dark red glint flashed in his eyes.
With a wave of his left hand, the Soul Refining Banner appeared. Six scarlet 100,000-year soul rings circled around it.
Jiang Jue mobilized the soul power within his body and poured it madly into the banner before tossing it into the air.
The Soul Refining Banner grew in the wind, instantly expanding dozens of times larger than before, floating behind Jiang Jue. On both sides of the banner, white skulls stared outward, ghostly flames flickering in their eyes as thick black mist spread around them.
"The wind is rising…"
Jiang Jue looked toward the distant horizon and slowly extended his hand. Smoke filled the sky. A violent gust swept through, his black hair dancing wildly, his long robe flapping loudly.
"What is that?!"
"Six 100,000-year soul rings—did I see that wrong?!"
"They're just illusions! Even ants can bite an elephant to death! Charge! Keep charging!"
The commander's voice rang out. The soldiers could only suppress their fear and continue rushing forward.
"Juzi… Junior Jiang doesn't look right. Isn't he a light-attribute soul master? Why is that banner spewing black smoke?"
Ke Ke swallowed nervously and asked in surprise.
"I… I don't know either. Do you think it feels too evil?"
Juzi hesitated for a moment but ultimately did not tell Ke Ke the truth.
"No! I think Junior Jiang looks incredibly cool."
Ke Ke's eyes shone as she murmured softly.
Juzi's mouth twitched slightly. She glanced upward. A strand of hair atop her head stuck up adorably, and a faint blush quietly spread across her pretty face. Yet in her heart, she silently agreed.
"Boundless Sea of Resentment!"
A deep and cold voice echoed through the space. Jiang Jue clenched his hand in the air, and the fourth soul ring on the Soul Refining Banner behind him burst with bloody light.
"Buzz!"
Blood-colored patterns wriggled as a huge cicada flew out. Its wings vibrated, and on them were six ghostly faces that emitted an ominous aura.
As the loud cicada cry rang out, a layer of ashen gray and crimson light instantly expanded outward, spreading rapidly in all directions.
Wherever the domain passed, all colors vanished. Within it, it seemed as if only these two colors remained to sing the final song of existence.
The domain spread nearly one thousand meters.
The soul engineers at the very front, who had just been preparing to attack, became motionless like statues the moment they were enveloped by the domain.
Thousands of people stood frozen like that. Yet their expressions differed—joy, anger, distortion—displaying every facet of human nature.
"Run! Run!"
Someone suddenly shouted.
The enemy soldiers behind them turned and fled faster than they had come.
"Why struggle? I'm taking you to walk the path of immortality together!"
"Everyone, why not come chat within my Human Emperor Banner!"
Jiang Jue's voice rang out again.
The souls of the several thousand people at the front slowly left their bodies and drifted toward the enormous Soul Refining Banner. Their expressions were already devout beyond measure.
The enemy soldiers behind them ran even faster.
But the domain expanded too quickly for them to escape.
A hundred li away, an army of nearly one hundred thousand troops was rapidly rushing toward the hill. They were the reinforcements Juzi had mentioned.
At the very front of the army was a unit equipped with elite soul-guided gear. On their shoulders was the emblem of a ferocious purple dragon.
This was the symbol of one of the Four Beast King Legions of the Sun-Moon Empire—the Huanglong Soul Engineer Corps.
"Something abnormal is happening ahead! Advance at full speed!"
(End of Chapter)