Soul's Return: 25% Turbulent Counterattack
"Salsa! Help them!" Fa narrowly avoided Night of Eternal Silence's deadly sweeping bone claw using her newly awakened foresight ability, shouting hoarsely. She knew that even with their explosive power-ups, facing Casa del at 25% strength along with the full trio of dragons (Night of Eternal Silence, the poison dragon, and the spirit dragon) was still like a drop in the ocean! They had to bring Arya and the others back!
"Leave it to me!" Salsa's soul body was perfectly synchronized with her adult demon dragon. The dragon let out a heaven-shaking roar, its massive body slamming fiercely toward Night of Eternal Silence. Its icy breath and shadow dragon claws attacked wildly, locking the strongest opponent in a deadly stalemate. At the same time, Salsa's soul core erupted with intense soul fluctuations as her hands rapidly formed an extremely complex soul seal. "Soul Guidance Return Flow — Bridge of Origin!"
A translucent bridge constructed of pure soul power, shimmering with ghostly blue and silver-white light, instantly extended from Salsa's soul body, precisely connecting to Arya's floating, struggling soul!
"Stop her!" With a thought from Casa del, the silver-blue spirit dragon let out a sharp screech, abandoning its attack on Celestia and pouncing toward the soul bridge Salsa had created! The poison dragon also spewed corrosive toxic smoke, surging forward.
"No you don't!" Celestia's six wings vibrated violently, transforming into a wind-thunder lightning bolt that tore through space and instantly blocked the spirit dragon! "Wind-Thunder Judgment — Void Severance!" Her six wings flapped, condensing a massive cross-shaped blade of destructive wind blades and judgment lightning that slashed viciously at the spirit dragon! Kayla's soul-war giant god roared, controlling her physical body to swing thunder claws that summoned a sky full of golden lightning, forming a thunder prison that crashed down on the incoming poison dragon! Relying on foresight, Fa moved like a ghost through the gaps between toxic smoke and spirit assaults, her short blade unleashing extreme-cold ice crystal storms that continuously sliced and slowed the two dragons' attacks. Lin Ya's vine barriers and Rex's full-powered fire coverage bought Salsa precious time!
The soul bridge fluctuated violently under the spirit dragon's interference, but Salsa gritted her teeth. Though her soul body's light flickered unstably, her will remained rock-solid. She forcibly stabilized the bridge; soul power wrapped around Arya's soul like gentle yet resilient threads, slowly pulling it back toward her fallen body.
"Arya, come back!" Salsa's mental voice was filled with power.
A flash of light — Arya's floating soul successfully returned! Her fallen body jerked violently, her eyes opened, and her emerald gaze instantly regained its brilliance. She grabbed the storm bow beside her at once!
"Next! Tisk!" Salsa didn't pause. The soul bridge instantly shifted toward the dwarf Tisk's floating soul.
With Arya's powerful long-range support now added, the situation eased slightly. Arya's light arrows were precise and lethal, targeting the spirit dragon's hypnotic eyes and the poison dragon's energy weak points. Celestia and Kayla (in soul-war giant god state) felt much less pressure.
Under the team's desperate protection, Salsa endured immense pressure and exhaustion, successfully guiding Tisk's, Yuyuer's, and Zhamisi's souls back to their bodies one by one!
When Zhamisi finally opened her scarlet vertical pupils, grabbed her venom fang curved blades, and let out a vicious hiss, the entire team's combat power instantly surged to its peak! The five survivors' eyes burned with even fiercer fury and fighting spirit!
"Very good." Casa del watched the five stand again, along with the greatly empowered Celestia, Salsa, and Kayla (in soul-war state), with even deeper appreciation in his eyes. "30%! Let me see what brilliance the reunited you can unleash!"
30% Absolute Barrier
Casa del's bony fingers traced a mysterious arc in the air. In an instant, the entire plaza's space seemed gripped and solidified by an invisible giant hand!
30% power was far beyond anything before!
Night of Eternal Silence's soul flames blazed fiercely; its draconic might became a tangible tsunami, ruthlessly suppressing Salsa's adult demon dragon. Every bone claw strike carried a space-tearing whistle, and the soul-freezing breath range expanded several times! The poison dragon's spit was no longer mist, but flowing ink-green venom like molten lava! The spirit dragon's screeches turned into countless condensed, solid-like mental spears that blanketed the field indiscriminately!
Even more terrifying was Casa del himself. He was no longer just an observer; his skeletal figure flickered like a ghost across the battlefield. Every appearance came with faint spatial ripples. He no longer touched souls directly — he simply pointed with a finger, a thread of dark-golden soul rule power swirling at the tip.
The space he pointed at instantly produced terrifying "soul collapse"! Whether it was Celestia's ultra-fast wind-thunder assault, Kayla's raging thunder fists from the soul-war giant god, or Fa's killing ice blades guided by foresight — all power vanished like mud into the sea upon reaching those collapse points, devoured and annihilated! Even Arya's light arrows, Yuyuer's water flows, Zhamisi's toxic mist, Lin Ya's vines, and Rex's energy beams were twisted, deflected, and weakened by the invisible soul rules when approaching him!
He was like a god who controlled the soul veins of this space, walking upon the rules themselves.
35% Suppression and the Gift of Inheritance
Then came 35% power, demonstrating absolute dominance in realm!
The battle turned into one-sided attrition and struggle. The team's explosive power crashed against Casa del's soul rules and the three strengthened giant dragons like waves against a reef — spectacular in force, yet unable to shake the absolute barrier. Celestia's wind-thunder was swallowed by collapse points, Kayla's giant god body was slammed by Night of Eternal Silence and shook violently, Salsa's demon dragon was covered in wounds under the joint assault of venom floods and mental spears, Arya's arrows were easily twisted, Tisk's war hammer sparked uselessly against collapse points, Yuyuer's illusions were seen through by the spirit dragon, Zhamisi's poison was absorbed and fed back by the poison dragon, Lin Ya's vines withered in patches under draconic might, and Rex's armor began overloading and smoking under multiple pressures…
Though Fa survived several near-death moments thanks to her star pupil foresight, her right eye was bleeding from overuse, her vision blurred. She poured everything into her final strike "Eternal Freeze Fang," stabbing at Casa del's back, but it was completely devoured by a sudden soul collapse point at the last moment. The massive backlash made her spit blood and stagger backward.
Finally, after Night of Eternal Silence's full-powered "Eternal Silence Dragon Breath" froze most of the plaza, the poison dragon's venom flood sent Kayla's soul-war giant god body (protected only by her soul) and Tisk flying, the spirit dragon's dense spears pierced multiple holes through Celestia's six wings, Arya, Yuyuer, and Zhamisi collapsed unconscious after their mental defenses broke, Lin Ya was forced to her knees by draconic pressure, Rex's armor was damaged in many places with electric sparks, and Salsa's demon dragon was pinned motionless by Night of Eternal Silence's claw…
Fa leaned on her short blade, half-kneeling on the ground. Looking at her nearly powerless companions, feeling her body completely drained and the sharp pain from her right eye, she painfully raised her head toward the still calm and composed Casa del.
"…We… lost." Her voice was hoarse, filled with unwillingness, yet also a trace of relief.
Casa del slowly withdrew his fingers. The rampaging poison dragon and spirit dragon dissolved into light particles, Night of Eternal Silence released its grip on the shadow demon dragon, let out a low dragon hum, and retreated behind Casa del with calmed soul flames. The terrifying pressure receded like a tide.
He walked to the center of the plaza, his gaze sweeping over those who had fallen, half-knelt, or barely held on — especially lingering on the blood-soaked yet stubbornly determined Fa, and Salsa whose soul body was dim but still controlling the demon dragon to struggle upright.
"Although you could not defeat me," Casa del's voice rang out, still low and deep, yet strangely less icy and carrying a hint of… recognition? "you have shown will, potential, and especially the determination to protect your companions and break through your limits… You have passed the trial." A very faint yet genuine smile appeared on his skeletal face. "This battle — you pass the test."
These words were like heavenly music. The extremely tense group instantly relaxed; a wave of post-battle exhaustion swept through them.
Casa del no longer looked at them. He turned and walked toward Aelios lying quietly on the stone bed. His bony finger hovered over Aelios's brow as he chanted an ancient, obscure incantation that seemed to commune with the soul's origin. Dark-golden soul radiance and a gentle yet powerful purifying force flowed from his fingertip, slowly entering Aelios's body. The "soul-binding miasma" black energy clinging like a parasite deep in Aelios's soul rapidly melted and disintegrated like snow under this power.
Aelios's tightly furrowed brows gradually relaxed; a trace of color returned to his pale face. His long lashes trembled, and he slowly opened his eyes. Those ice-blue eyes carried initial confusion before slowly focusing…
"Aelios!" Celestia, who had barely made it to the stone bed, completely collapsed the moment she saw those eyes open! All her strength and composure shattered. She rushed to the bedside like an arrow, tightly embracing her awakened beloved. Tears poured like broken pearls, soaking his clothes. "You're awake… You're finally awake… Wuu…" She sobbed uncontrollably, filled with endless longing and the wild joy of reunion.
Fa and the others watched this scene with heartfelt, weary yet relieved smiles. All the hardships were worth it in this moment.
Casa del quietly watched the embracing couple for a moment, then turned his gaze toward Salsa's approaching soul phantom, whose eyes were complex yet grateful.
"Salsa Liscia." His voice carried undeniable authority and… expectation. "Your soul body talent, especially your dragon-summoning aptitude, is a once-in-ten-thousand-years genius for the soul body clan. The adult shadow frost soul dragon… has boundless potential. Are you willing to become my second disciple and explore the ultimate mysteries of the soul body clan with me afterward?"
Salsa's soul body shook violently! Her eyes burst with incredulous light. Becoming a disciple? This was a dream opportunity! She looked toward Fa, who gave her a firm nod. Salsa no longer hesitated. Her soul phantom respectfully bowed deeply to Casa del, her voice trembling with excitement: "Disciple Salsa Liscia greets Master! I am willing to cultivate with Master from now on!"
Casa del nodded slightly, a satisfied expression on his skeletal face.
Then Casa del walked to Fa, who was breathing weakly with blood still tracing from her right eye. With a flip of his palm, an irregular crystal shard about the size of a fist, flowing with deep ghostly blue light and containing what seemed like a nebula vortex inside, floated quietly above his palm. The shard radiated a vast, ancient aura pointing directly to the origin of stars, resonating faintly with Fa's right-eye star pupil.
"This is one of the objects I guard," Casa del handed the shard to Fa. "One of the star shards. It shares deep affinity with your 'star pupil.' Today, it is entrusted to you. I hope you use it well and do not disappoint the secrets it contains and… the responsibility of guardianship." At the same time, a massive and pure torrent of knowledge about soul resilience, mental defense, and the essence of abyssal deadly poison, accompanied by a beam of light, directly flooded into Fa's mind. This was part of his inheritance — recognition and a gift for passing the trial.
Fa solemnly reached out with both hands and received the ghostly blue star shard. It felt warm and gentle in her hands; a homologous power instantly surged through her body. The three-colored light in her star pupil (ghostly blue, dark green, silver-white) suddenly blazed, interweaving with the shard's glow, and the pain strangely eased considerably. The vast knowledge settled in her mind. She bowed deeply: "Thank you for your generous gift, Lord Casa del! This junior will not fail your trust!"
Casa del's gaze swept over everyone present, finally resting on the embracing Celestia and Aelios, then turning toward the endless dark depths of the Silent Extinction Corridor.
"Let's go. I will accompany you out." He turned, his skeletal figure rejoining the group. His voice seemed to come from a distant time and space, carrying a deep sigh and endless expectation.
In the cold air of the Silent Extinction Corridor remained only the group's heavy breathing, Celestia's suppressed sobs, and the ghostly blue star shard quietly rotating in Fa's palm, as if connecting to an endless future.
Salsa and the Soul King's Sworn Brotherhood
Casa del flicked a bony finger, as if brushing away a speck of dust.
Buzz—
The ghostly blue soul flames flowing between the bones of the mountain-like bone dragon "Night of Eternal Silence" suddenly contracted. Accompanied by a low sigh as if from ancient times, the giant beast body made of pure death and ice transformed into a dense shadow, rapidly shrinking and flowing before merging into the shadows of Casa del's deep-blue cloak and vanishing without trace. The suffocating oppressive feeling in the space dissipated, leaving only the icy echo deep in the soul.
The arched soul vortex portal silently slid open. Fa and the group followed Casa del out of the deep darkness of the Silent Extinction Corridor, returning to the dreamlike floating soul city woven from soul energy in the Soul Descendant Homeland. However, the scene awaiting them outside the door made everyone's steps falter.
Gatekeeper Valkan, Weaver Liriel, and Mourner Nox — the three soul body clan elders — along with hundreds of elite Dawnlight Guards (guards made of pure silver-glow soul bodies) stood like frozen statues outside the door. The moment Casa del's skeletal figure stepped through the portal, an indescribable absolute pressure originating from the level of life and soul origin descended! It was not deliberately released — merely his existence was like the abyss itself descending!
"Ugh!" Valkan's deep-blue energy soul body, shaped like a heavy-armored general, shook violently. The flowing ghostly blue halberd in his hand nearly slipped; his deep-blue light instantly dimmed by several degrees, as if bearing invisible heavy pressure.
Liriel's surrounding rune chains emitted sharp buzzing, their flow becoming chaotic. The sharp silver-glow outline twisted slightly, and the sharp silver light in her eyes flickered violently with disbelief and shock.
Mourner Nox staggered back half a step; the two ghostly green soul flames under his hood jumped madly. At the top of his pale skull staff, the green flame in the skull's eye socket flickered like a candle in the wind, emitting a faint buzzing like a fearful groan.
The hundreds of Dawnlight Guards knelt uniformly on one knee, their soul fluctuations filled with instinctive awe and submission; they could not even raise their heads. The entire passageway entrance fell into dead silence, with only the low hum of soul energy flow and extremely suppressed breathing.
Casa del ignored the three elders' reactions and floated straight forward. His deep-blue cloak rippled not at all in the flowing soul light currents. Fa and the others followed closely, feeling the gazes from the three elders filled with extreme shock and scrutiny, deeply shaken by Casa del's transcendent status within the soul body clan.
The news spread like a boulder thrown into the sea of souls, stirring massive waves. In moments, the entire floating soul city seemed to come alive! Countless soul body clan members of various forms poured out from the giant soul crystal buildings, converging into a vast ocean flowing with ghostly blue and silver-white light. They were silent, yet emitted intense soul fluctuations like the murmurs of billions forming an invisible tide.
In the central area of the floating city, a soul energy source so massive it twisted space suddenly blazed! Soul King Erebus's dark-gold soul body, over five meters tall, descended before Casa del as if tearing through the void. Behind him, the fifteen highest council members hovered like satellites guarding a star, radiating vast soul fluctuations yet appearing minuscule before Casa del.
Erebus's giant eyes burning with pure dark-gold soul fire gazed at Casa del. His ancient, unchanging soul voice carried a barely noticeable tremor and… filial affection: "Master! You… you have finally stepped out of the Silent Extinction Corridor!" His massive soul body bowed deeply, his posture extremely respectful. "Does this mean you will once again take the reins of the soul descendants' authority and lead our clan back to the peak of Muret, restoring our past glory?" His voice was filled with irrepressible fervent anticipation.
Casa del stopped. His gaunt face hidden in the cloak's shadow, his voice calm and flat yet carrying the vicissitudes of eons: "Peak? Glory?" He shook his head slightly, as if brushing away distant dust. "Merely passing clouds, shackles that bind the soul. I have come out not for this." He paused, as if calculating something, then asked: "Erebus, how many years have passed since I entered the Silent Extinction Corridor?"
Erebus's massive soul body trembled slightly. He answered respectfully: "In reply to Master, it has been exactly twenty years since you entered the Silent Extinction Corridor."
"Twenty years…" Casa del repeated softly. A very faint sigh seemed to come from under the cloak. "A mere snap of the fingers, yet enough for seas to turn into mulberry fields." He changed the subject, pointing his bony finger at Salsa's floating soul phantom beside him: "Although I have no intention of involving myself in worldly affairs again, this time I have found you a junior sister." He looked at Salsa. "Salsa Liscia, the pride of the Gravekeeper lineage and a once-in-ten-thousand-years soul body dragon summoner. Her talent is no less than yours back then."
"Junior sister?!" Erebus's burning soul flames jumped violently; his gaze instantly locked onto Salsa. Not only him — even the other 18 council elders (including Cassandra of the Gravekeeper branch) and the millions of surrounding soul body clan members had their soul fluctuations erupt in intense ripples of shock and doubt! Whispered soul murmurs swept through like a storm:
"The Gravekeeper branch's Salsa?"
"Dragon summoner? The legendary talent?"
"What qualifications does she have to become His Majesty the Soul King's junior sister?"
"Lord Casa del's decision…"
Erebus, after all the Soul King, instantly suppressed the waves in his heart. He knew his master's judgment was never wrong. "Since it is Master's decree, Erebus shall obey." His massive dark-gold soul body turned toward Salsa, his voice carrying authority and a trace of scrutiny: "Salsa Liscia, show your power. Let the Soul Descendant Homeland witness Master's insight!"
Salsa took a deep breath (a fluctuation of her soul body), determination flashing in her eyes. She floated forward a step, facing the Soul King and millions of soul descendants. The shadow and icy power deep in her soul core erupted!
"By soul as guide, by shadow as body, the ancient covenant manifests here — Shadow Demon Dragon · Frost Soul Descent!"
A clear yet majestic dragon roar echoed throughout the soul homeland! Space twisted violently; deep night-like shadow and soul-freezing extreme cold converged! An adult shadow demon dragon over thirty meters long, with incredibly solid form and lifelike details, tore through the void and descended fiercely! It was covered in thick scales flowing with dark luster; icy blue flames flowed between the scale gaps. Its massive bone wings spread, blocking the sky! Most chilling were its huge dragon eyes burning with icy blue soul fire, radiating draconic might that looked down on all beings and the icy chill from the abyss! This was precisely Salsa's shadow frost soul dragon that had truly reached adulthood after breaking through in the Abyssal Rift's desperation!
"Roar—!!!"
The demon dragon raised its head and roared. Its icy breath turned into a ghostly blue light pillar shooting toward the soul star at the top of the floating city, freezing fine ice crystals in the air along its path! Pure draconic might mixed with Salsa's unique icy aura swept the field like a tangible wave!
The millions of soul body clan members fell silent instantly! Their soul fluctuations plunged into a deathly stunned silence! Even Soul King Erebus's burning dark-gold soul flames contracted sharply! An adult dragon! And a mutated demon dragon fusing shadow and extreme cold! This power and potential was enough to shake the entire soul body clan's understanding! All doubts and whispers vanished before this absolute display of power.
"Good!" Erebus's massive soul body let out a resounding soul voice filled with admiration and recognition. "Soul body dragon summoning, adult realm! Salsa Liscia, you are worthy of Master's favor!"
Erebus then made his own summons. Space cracked open behind him, revealing a majestic soul dragon of equal size, formed entirely of dark-gold soul crystal, with eyes burning molten-gold soul fire! The two dragons confronted each other; draconic might clashed, and invisible thunder seemed to boom above the sea of souls!
Casa del nodded slightly. His hoarse voice carried a trace of praise: "Dark-gold soul crystal dragon… Not bad, Erebus. Your cultivation has advanced considerably compared to twenty years ago."
Erebus retracted his draconic might. His dark-gold soul body performed an ancient soul descendant salute toward Salsa.
He turned to Casa del: "Master, Erebus wishes to form a soul pact with Junior Sister, to be sworn brother and sister forever, watching over and helping each other!"
Casa del nodded slightly.
A solemn and ancient soul body clan ceremony was held on the grand soul crystal plaza before the Soul King's palace. Erebus and Salsa's soul phantoms floated in the center, facing each other. Countless fine silver runes made of pure soul energy emerged from the void, circling and intertwining around the two before finally branding a complex and mysterious soul mark on their foreheads — symbolizing the covenant of fellow disciples and linked souls. Under the witness of millions of soul body clan members, Soul King Erebus and Gravekeeper Salsa Liscia formally became sworn senior and junior siblings.