While the Western Sea Soul Engineer Legion soldiers engaged in fierce combat, another group of over twenty quietly advanced toward the central castle from the southern side of the walls.
This group was led by Yao Yang, accompanied by Imperial Dragon Soul Engineer Legion soldiers.
Although these soldiers were only at rank 50, they used the cover of the surrounding stone houses, the darkness, and Yao Yang's fifth soul skill, which allowed them to conceal their presence. Thanks to these factors, they reached the vicinity of the castle unnoticed.
This was the eerie power of a spiritual-type soul master. Without specialized soul tools designed to detect spiritual energy, even a Soul Douluo would struggle to sense anything amiss.
Yao Yang observed the battle in the air between Wang Xiao and Hai Xiao and glanced at Qiu Ying, who was being held back by four or five Soul Emperors from the Imperial Dragon Soul Engineer Legion.
Everything was going according to plan.
"It seems the majority of the Western Sea Soul Engineer Legion's elites are engaged in combat. The number of soldiers guarding the castle should be small. Once we storm the castle, follow the battle plan: eliminate the remaining defenders as quickly as possible. After rescuing Zihuang, we'll use the castle's high ground to deploy the stationary soul cannons and annihilate the enemy forces," Yao Yang instructed.
Xu Zihuang's identity was far too sensitive, and they couldn't risk any information leaking from this place, even if it meant paying a heavy price.
"Yes, sir!" The soldiers responded in unison.
Though Yao Yang wasn't an official member of the Imperial Dragon Soul Engineer Legion, his formidable strength had earned him their respect. Moreover, these orders were directly from Wang Xiao.
The ten or so Western Sea Soul Engineer Legion soldiers guarding the castle's entrance stood on edge, focused on the battle unfolding at the eastern port, ready to provide reinforcements at a moment's notice.
The squad leader, looking at the heavy casualties his side was suffering, swallowed hard.
He could hardly imagine how a mere twenty or so soldiers from the Imperial Dragon Soul Engineer Legion could possess such terrifying power. If the full legion were here, it would truly be their end.
As he stood lost in thought, his body suddenly stiffened. He turned sharply toward the southeastern part of the castle.
"Enemy Att—..."
Before he could finish shouting, his eyes lost focus, and he collapsed to his knees, powerless.
Around twenty figures emerged from the shadows near the castle's flower garden. At the forefront, Yao Yang frowned slightly, his third purple soul ring glowing brightly.
Yao Yang seemed puzzled as to how the squad leader, with only a rank 50 cultivation and no ability to extend his spiritual senses, had managed to detect their presence.
What Yao Yang didn't know was that the squad leader's martial soul was uniquely sensitive to temperature changes in the environment. Spiritual energy alone couldn't mask body heat.
The thought briefly crossed Yao Yang's mind, but he didn't dwell on it. He motioned to his team, then led the charge into the castle's first-floor hall.
The grand hall, illuminated by the glow of soul-powered lamps, was resplendent with golden light and exquisite decorations. But none of the intruders paid any attention to these details.
Scanning the hall briefly, they identified their route and immediately ascended the staircase.
The sound of hurried footsteps echoed through the castle, breaking the stillness. Their entrance wouldn't go unnoticed for long, and stealth was no longer necessary. Their primary goal now was to rescue Xu Zihuang as quickly as possible.
Before they could reach the second floor, a series of footsteps and the clinking of armor drew closer.
"You lead them to the other floors. Leave this to us!" said a white-haired old man, just half a step behind Yao Yang. His murky eyes gleamed with sharp resolve as he stepped forward with five others.
Two yellow, two purple, and one black soul ring emerged beneath him, his entire body radiating a vibrant green light.
As his black fifth soul ring shone, countless verdant sword bamboos shot up from the floor near the stairwell, piercing through the granite ceiling and spreading cracks along the walls.
Several Western Sea Soul Engineer Legion soldiers who had just arrived were impaled by the bamboo, their blood and shattered organs splattering the walls.
"Enemy attack!" cried the seven or eight surviving soldiers, their pupils contracting in fear. They quickly released their martial souls and activated their soul tools.
Yao Yang nodded silently, bypassing the old man and leading the remaining soldiers up to the third floor.
Similar battles erupted on the third and fourth floors, but the soldiers left to guard the castle were far too few to stop Yao Yang's group. After eliminating the defenders, the intruders searched each floor carefully for Xu Zihuang.
"Elder Yu, all Western Sea Soul Engineer Legion soldiers on the second floor have been eliminated," reported a young soldier clad in the deep purple armor of the Imperial Dragon Soul Engineer Legion as he approached the white-haired elder, who was panting heavily.
Elder Yu, the one who had held off most of the soldiers on the second floor, flushed slightly in embarrassment. "I have to admit that I'm getting old. If I were younger, I wouldn't have exhausted myself dealing with these brats." He discreetly pressed a hand against a minor wound on his abdomen while glancing over his shoulder.
"Nearly lost my dignity. I can't let my hard-earned image crumble now," he muttered under his breath before barking at the young soldier:
"What are you standing around for? Go find the young lord!"
The elder himself began combing through the hallway.
"Click—"
The sound of a door opening at the end of the second-floor hallway put everyone on high alert. Soldiers rushed to Elder Yu's side, aiming their soul tools at the source.
But to their surprise, it wasn't Western Sea Soul Engineer Legion soldiers who emerged, but ten stunning young women.
The women huddled closer together, clutching each other's arms tightly, as if frightened by the hostile reception. Only the coldly elegant, golden-haired woman at the front remained composed.
Noticing the deep purple dragon-patterned armor of the intruders, her eyes lit up with excitement.
"So it is the Imperial Dragon Soul Engineer Legion!"
"Ziyue…" murmured a blue-haired woman with a voluptuous figure, tugging nervously at Yin Ziyue's arm. Despite their noble upbringing, the sight of deadly soul tools aimed at them left them trembling with fear.
Yin Ziyue offered a flawless smile, gently patting the blue-haired woman's arm to reassure her.
"Don't worry; it'll be fine," she said softly, though a trace of coldness flickered in her eyes.
Raising her gaze, Yin Ziyue addressed Elder Yu with a composed demeanor. "We have no connection to the Western Sea Soul Engineer Legion. We were chosen by the prince earlier today. May we have the honor of meeting him?"
The soldiers turned to Elder Yu for guidance.
Elder Yu hesitated briefly before slowly stepping forward with a calm smile. "I'll pass along your request. In the meantime, please return to your room and rest."
Though his tone was polite, it left no room for negotiation.
"As it should be," Yin Ziyue replied, casting Elder Yu a deep glance before leading the women back into the room.
"Elder Yu, didn't the Legion Commander say to leave no survivors?" One soldier whispered nervously.
"We'll leave that to the young lord's judgment. Do I need to remind you how things work?" Elder Yu looked at the ten women sitting on the room's couch and shot him a pointed look before continuing, "You two, stay here and guard them. The rest of you, follow me to find the young lord."