Chapter 26

Chapter 24: Swallowing the Blood Soul Pearl

Black mist enveloped the area, and the blood qi was instantly drained.

Tuoba Ye had been closely watching the bandits like Dao Feiyang. Seeing the black pearl, he almost cried out in shock: "Blood Soul Pearl!"

The Blood Soul Pearl could be considered a demonic artifact. Although it had no inherent power, it specialized in absorbing blood qi and souls.

Powerful practitioners of the demonic path used the blood qi and souls absorbed by the Blood Soul Pearl to cultivate, refine artifacts, and enhance their strength.

Seeing that Dao Feiyang possessed such an evil demonic artifact, Tuoba Ye was utterly shocked.

However, after carefully observing Dao Feiyang, he felt somewhat relieved. Dao Feiyang had no spiritual roots and could not possibly be a cultivator.

This could only mean one thing: Dao Feiyang was acting on the orders of a powerful practitioner of the demonic path, specifically collecting blood qi and souls for them.

To collect blood qi and souls, one had to engage in large-scale slaughter.

It seemed that Dao Feiyang and his gang had indeed killed many innocent people; otherwise, the Blood Soul Pearl would not have such a powerful aura of malevolence.

"Damn it!" Tuoba Ye said angrily.

Battles among cultivators were very common, but involving ordinary people was completely unacceptable.

Even powerful practitioners of the demonic path should have some底线 (底线 means "bottom line" or "limits"). They should not go too far.

This practitioner of the demonic path, in order to enhance their cultivation, had someone collect blood qi and souls, making them a disgrace among cultivators.

Tuoba Ye was not a moralist. If it did not involve him or his family, he would not get involved.

However, since Dao Feiyang was against the Tuoba family, he was essentially an enemy. Tuoba Ye would naturally eliminate him, regardless of who was behind Dao Feiyang.

There were too many bandits to kill them all.

After killing hundreds of bandits, Tuoba Ye felt somewhat exhausted, let alone the Eight Dragon Guards and Zhan Meng.

The bandits were already terrified. They wanted to flee, but as soon as they turned around, they were killed by their fellow bandits at the先天武神 (先天武神 means "Natal Martial Deity") level.

"Kill! Retreat and die!" Dao Feiyang roared.

He indeed followed the orders of a powerful practitioner of the demonic path, having to submit Blood Soul Pearls filled with souls and blood qi every ten years. If he failed to do so, he would be punished.

With the ten-year deadline approaching, he still had one Blood Soul Pearl that needed to be filled with souls and blood qi.

There was no other way; he had to let his subordinates die, absorbing their blood qi and souls.

Completing the task would also deplete Tuoba Ye's group's essence energy, achieving two goals at once.

The remaining bandits dared not approach Tuoba Ye's group, nor did they dare to retreat. They were in a dilemma, with no way out.

Tuoba Ye's group needed to catch their breath and did not rush to attack.

"Clear a path and let the bandits escape," Tuoba Ye said, his eyes brightening.

The Eight Dragon Guards immediately moved aside, clearing the path down the mountain.

The bandits heard this and, seeing the Eight Dragon Guards move aside, they scattered and rushed down the mountain as fast as they could.

Facing certain death, they naturally would not miss the chance to escape alive.

"Those who flee will die!"

"Run, and you will be killed without mercy!"

The bandits roared, but it was useless. The bandits only fled faster.

Tuoba Ye's group, ten Natal Martial Deity-level experts, were also quite exhausted.

Dao Feiyang's group still had twenty-one Natal Martial Deity-level experts, and they were well-rested.

"Boy, no matter who you are, you're dead this time!" Dao Feiyang said coldly. "Everyone, attack together! Kill them and avenge our brothers!"

The Eight Dragon Guards' faces changed. They were the most exhausted and had little fighting power left.

Zhan Meng was panting and had little fighting power left.

Only Tuoba Ye was slightly better off, with his powerful physical strength and minimal essence energy consumption.

"Eight Dragon Guards, protect Zhan Meng. You protect yourselves, and I will deal with them," Tuoba Ye said loudly.

"Yes, Young Master!" The Eight Dragon Guards were confident in Tuoba Ye's strength and immediately moved to protect Zhan Meng inside the Eight Directions Demon-Slaying Formation.

The Eight Directions Demon-Slaying Formation not only had powerful offensive capabilities but also impressive defensive capabilities. It would not be easy for the bandits to break through.

Zhan Meng was somewhat unwilling: "Let me out. I want to fight alongside Young Master."

"You can't go out. If you do, it will distract Young Master," Long Yi said.

Zhan Meng finally calmed down and no longer insisted on going out.

Dao Feiyang and his group could not believe that Tuoba Ye intended to fight them alone.

"Boy, your strength is indeed impressive, but arrogance has its limits," a bandit said coldly.

Dao Feiyang shouted, "Kill him first!"

Five or six bandits pounced on Tuoba Ye. Before they even reached him, their blade auras and sword qi crisscrossed, trying to tear him apart.

Facing these attacks, Tuoba Ye remained calm, using his agile movements to dodge and quickly close in.

His movements were like a ghost, unpredictable and strange, and he soon approached the bandits.

He was small and his fists were small, but they did not seem threatening.

However, every punch from Tuoba Ye hit its mark, and each punch killed a bandit.

He used his physical strength combined with essence energy, making his combat power extremely strong.

"Fourth Brother!" Dao Feiyang cried out in horror.

Fourth Brother was a Six-Star Natal Martial Deity, with formidable strength. He pounced on Tuoba Ye but could not withstand a single punch and was killed.

With Fourth Brother dead, Dao Feiyang and the Second Brother's faces changed. They pounced on Tuoba Ye together.

The Second Brother was a Seven-Star Natal Martial Deity, and Dao Feiyang was an Eight-Star Natal Martial Deity. Both were formidable opponents.

Tuoba Ye did not engage them in a direct fight but focused on dodging. When he found an opportunity, he killed other bandits. He used the Adamantine Talisman and the Great Strength Talisman, making him overwhelmingly powerful.

Some bandits were blocked by the Eight Dragon Guards, who were under attack but could still protect themselves.

Dao Feiyang and the Second Brother worked in perfect harmony. Every time Tuoba Ye killed a bandit, they would attack him, causing him significant injuries.

If it weren't for his cultivation of the Nine Transformations of Gods and Demons, his powerful physical strength and defense, and the protection of the Adamantine Talisman, he would not have been able to withstand the attacks of these two powerful opponents. Although Tuoba Ye had not yet fully mastered the first transformation of the Nine Transformations of Gods and Demons, he had already shown its power.

Dao Feiyang and the others were shocked: "This boy is not human. He can withstand our attacks and still not die."

"He's too powerful. We must not let him leave alive," the Second Brother said.

Tuoba Ye was severely injured and, despite secretly using spirit talismans, could not kill the Second Brother and Dao Feiyang.

Seeing Dao Feiyang and the Second Brother closing in, Tuoba Ye held a Fire Talisman and an Ice Talisman, ready to activate them.

Seizing the opportunity, he activated the Ice Talisman and the Fire Talisman, targeting the Second Brother alone.

"Boom!" The ice and fire collided, creating a violent explosion that directly shattered the Second Brother.

Dao Feiyang was horrified: "Boy, you are a cultivator, yet you interfere in secular matters!"

"Old man, you use the Blood Soul Pearl to collect blood qi and souls. This is the path of the demonic, extremely evil. If the righteous cultivators find out, you will have no place to hide," Tuoba Ye said loudly.

Seeing that Tuoba Ye recognized the Blood Soul Pearl, Dao Feiyang's face became even uglier.

He saw the fate of the Second Brother and dared not approach easily.

In a dilemma, it was truly uncomfortable.

After a moment of hesitation, Dao Feiyang did something that even Tuoba Ye could not believe.

He took out a Blood Soul Pearl filled with blood qi and souls, black mist spreading, and malevolent aura surging.

He swallowed the Blood Soul Pearl in one bite. His already terrifying face became even more horrifying, his muscles contorted in pain, and he no longer looked human.

His aura continued to rise, surpassing the Natal Martial Deity level.

Tuoba Ye's face changed. He knew he did not have the strength to face Dao Feiyang.

"Run for your lives!" He shouted, ordering the Eight Dragon Guards to flee. If they could escape, they would still protect Xia Yuxuan.

"Mother, I may never see you again. Father, I have not yet fulfilled my duties. I am truly unwilling," Tuoba Ye cried out in his heart.

"Young Master, we cannot leave. If we die, we will die together!" Long Yi shouted.

Zhan Meng said, "Yes, we will fight to the end!"

"Go! My mother and father are entrusted to you. Go now!" Tuoba Ye shouted.

Long Yi's eyes turned bloodshot and shouted, "Retreat!"

He knew that staying would only be a burden and could not drag Tuoba Ye down. If they left, Tuoba Ye might still have a chance to escape.

Zhan Meng did not want to leave but was dragged away by Long Yi and the others.

Tuoba Ye also wanted to escape, but Dao Feiyang's aura locked onto him, making it impossible to break free.

He was almost in despair when, at that moment, the rabbit spirit, who had run away, suddenly appeared and jumped onto Tuoba Ye's shoulder.

Seeing the rabbit spirit appear, Tuoba Ye felt a glimmer of hope: "Rabbit Spirit, can you handle it?"

"No! His strength has increased too much, and he is too terrifying," the rabbit spirit said.

Tuoba Ye was at a loss: "I know, but we must come up with a plan, or we will die."

Dao Feiyang's aura continued to rise, becoming even more terrifying.

His eyes were bloodshot, staring at Tuoba Ye as if he wanted to devour his flesh and blood.

The rabbit spirit said, "There's no other way. I have to use the forbidden power. It's all your fault, boy, making me need to rest for a long time again."

"Rabbit Spirit, be careful!" Tuoba Ye warned.

Dao Feiyang had become too terrifying, and it was unclear how strong he had become. Tuoba Ye could not handle him.

The rabbit spirit had sealed power within him, vast and unfathomable. If it could be unleashed, it would easily kill Dao Feiyang.

Tuoba Ye could only pray that the rabbit spirit could turn the tide.

The rabbit spirit only stared at Dao Feiyang, not rushing to attack.

The blood qi and souls inside the Blood Soul Pearl were too violent, and Dao Feiyang clearly could not suppress them. Blood was flowing from his seven orifices.

Even so, Dao Feiyang's aura continued to rise, becoming extremely terrifying.

"Rabbit Spirit, are you not going to act?" Tuoba Ye was clearly anxious and worried.

If Dao Feiyang continued to grow stronger, it would be even more terrifying.

Tuoba Ye had never seen such a situation and did not know what would happen—whether he would explode or his strength would increase. No one could be sure.

"Don't be anxious. Wait a bit longer," the rabbit spirit said solemnly.

Tuoba Ye did not know what opportunity the rabbit spirit was waiting for. He did not say more and let the rabbit spirit decide the timing.

In any case, Tuoba Ye did not dare to approach Dao Feiyang. The aura was enough to suppress him, preventing him from getting close to launch a surprise attack.

As for long-range attacks, Tuoba Ye had considered it, but it was not realistic. His fist auras could not break through Dao Feiyang's defense.

At this moment, a blood-colored barrier formed around Dao Feiyang, filled with energy, making it not easy to deal with.

He could not figure out how the rabbit spirit planned to act.

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