"Ahhh!"
"We surrender! We surrender! We're willing to become prisoners!"
"You have to treat prisoners well!"
The fleeing enemy troops glanced back at the Soul Refining Banner spewing thick black smoke. Instantly their scalps went numb, and they roared in despair, wishing they had been born with two extra legs to run faster.
"Buzz!"
An invisible ripple spread out, instantly enveloping the fleeing soldiers. Color and sound vanished in an instant.
Seen from high above, with the hill as the center, everything within a radius of a thousand meters had turned into only two colors—ashen gray and crimson.
Tens of thousands of enemy soldiers were trapped within the domain, frozen like statues, completely motionless.
On the hilltop, Jiang Jue's eyes were icy, though a faint hint of excitement flickered deep within them. His hand clenched in the air had turned slightly pale.
"Pulling over ten thousand enemies into the illusion at once… it's still a bit strenuous."
Feeling that more than half the soul power in his body had already been consumed, Jiang Jue showed no frustration. Instead, the corner of his mouth curled slightly upward.
"But this is already enough!"
"Everyone—why not hurry and assist me!"
"Enter my Human Emperor Banner!"
With Jiang Jue's low shout, a violent wind surged, lifting the hems of clothing.
The enemy soldiers who had been standing like statues suddenly collapsed one after another. Like wheat being harvested, starting from the front line, they all fell to the ground with dull thuds.
Yet on every single one of their faces was a satisfied smile, as though they were forever immersed in an unimaginably blissful illusion.
Life bloomed in an instant—
And withered just as quickly.
Soon after, countless souls separated from their bodies. With devout smiles on their faces, they floated toward the Soul Refining Banner like people returning home.
"Th-this… Junior Jiang…"
Ke Ke stared at the scene before her, unable to finish her sentence.
"What's wrong? Is it too bizarre? Don't panic…"
Juzi gently patted Ke Ke's shoulder and comforted her softly. After all, this might be the first time Ke Ke had witnessed such a scene; it was understandable for her to feel frightened. And even Juzi herself was extremely shocked.
Could one person truly change the course of a war?
"No… I mean, Junior Jiang has this much stamina? Such a huge domain, and he can maintain it for so long!"
Ke Ke shook her head slightly and said something astonishing.
"Huh?"
Juzi froze for a moment, her brain almost short-circuiting. She knew her best friend could be somewhat careless—but she hadn't expected her to be this carefree.
Seeing methods like those of an evil soul master… shouldn't you be terrified?
Jiang Jue, however, had no time to pay attention to the two of them. He was fully focused on guiding these "fellow cultivators" into the Human Emperor Banner, while his first soul ring lit up.
Evil Spirit Tide activated.
A gigantic evil eye appeared above the battlefield. Twelve tentacles lashed downward, and the soul power remaining within the fallen bodies emerged, transforming into the purest form of energy before flowing back into Jiang Jue's body.
The soul power that had been more than half depleted was now replenishing at an unbelievable speed.
Just as the Masked Douluo had told him when Jiang Jue first obtained this soul skill—
In group battles, Evil Spirit Tide was practically a divine technique.
Secretly stealing others' soul power… how was that any different from a ruthless bandit?
The more enemies there were—
The stronger he became.
Inside the Soul Refining Banner, black mist surged and sinister winds blew.
Under Jiang Jue's control, the black mist rapidly condensed into a magnificent tower, standing tall within the banner's inner space.
The souls entered the tower in an orderly manner, sitting cross-legged on meditation cushions.
Above them inside the tower stood a gigantic throne.
The souls gazed devoutly toward the throne, constantly murmuring in low voices as if offering prayers.
Threads of transparent faith power slowly flowed into the throne.
"Praise my name, and I shall grant you eternal life!"
A grand voice echoed within the Human Emperor Banner.
Build a tower reaching the heavens—
Gather the faith of countless beings.
Watching this scene, Jiang Jue's eyes showed a hint of satisfaction as he nodded slightly.
As these souls were refined, the aura emanating from Jiang Jue grew heavier and stronger.
He had already reached Level 70, only one soul ring away from becoming a Soul Sage.
Soon after, the enormous Soul Refining Banner shrank again and returned to Jiang Jue's hand. A faint look of compassion appeared on his face.
In just a few minutes, he had allowed ten thousand people to ascend the path of immortality.
This was truly great love. Great kindness.
Amen.
"Holy Son Jiang… i-is it over already?"
Juzi slowly walked to Jiang Jue's side and looked down at the countless bodies on the ground, murmuring.
Amid the shock in her eyes, a new spark gradually ignited…
"What else would it be?"
Jiang Jue raised an eyebrow and asked in confusion.
"Hehe… Junior Jiang, the three of us are really amazing."
"More than ten thousand enemies turned to ashes with just a wave of our hands."
Ke Ke, relieved to have survived, stood proudly on the hilltop with her full chest puffed out, her figure swaying confidently. Yet her gaze occasionally snuck glances toward Jiang Jue.
Not the slightest bit affected by what had just happened.
"Holy Son Jiang… what should we do with these bodies? The Empire's army will arrive soon…"
"If they see this, it could have an unfavorable impact on you."
Juzi hesitated for a moment, biting her red lips slightly as she asked Jiang Jue.
After witnessing Jiang Jue's overwhelming personal power, Juzi's inner thoughts had quietly begun to change.
The army she had once relied on no longer seemed so invincible.
Does this mean… there might be another path for me to avenge my father?
The once decisive woman now felt somewhat conflicted. When she looked at Jiang Jue again, he seemed almost like the pillar she could rely on.
"I already said it earlier—nothing should be wasted."
Jiang Jue's expression remained calm as his body slowly rose into the air. A deep black aura ring appeared beneath his feet.
Low chants echoed as the aura of the undead spread.
A pitch-black, grotesque gate, a hundred meters tall, rose from the ground and pierced the clouds.
Countless undead figures were engraved across the entire gate, emitting a sinister aura—like the gate to hell itself.
"The Undead World, open!"
With a thunderous shout, the gate to the undead demi-plane rumbled loudly. In an instant, it released a purple light that illuminated the countless corpses.
At the same time, on the distant horizon, the dark mass of an approaching army could already be seen rushing toward the hill with full speed.
"Burial is burial no matter where it happens. Let this Holy Son make use of your final remnants."
With a wave of Jiang Jue's hand, the purple light from the undead demi-plane rapidly retracted back into the dimension—
And along with it, it carried away the ten thousand corpses.
He clasped his hands together.
Everything returned to silence.
Jiang Jue lightly straightened his robes. After the battle, the corners of his clothing had become slightly dirty.
Juzi pressed her lips together, unable to say another word.
Across the entire battlefield, aside from abandoned battle flags, bloodstains, and the craters left by artillery shells—
Not a single person remained.
Ke Ke, however, seemed largely unchanged. She simply stared at Jiang Jue with admiration.
The Soul Refining Banner had already shocked her enough earlier. Now, no matter what happened around Jiang Jue, she wouldn't find it surprising.
After all, Jiang Jue had saved her life.
What reason was there to worry?
What she was curious about, however, was why Juzi called Jiang Jue "Holy Son Jiang."
Could it be that the two of them were hiding some little secret behind her back?
"Senior Sister Juzi, what position do you currently hold in the army?"
(End of Chapter)