In the void mirror that reflected the scene, Batum's scream gradually faded, his physical form doomed under the combined assault of the Divine Lord and Ming Hao. Indeed, the sound within the illusory mirror finally vanished completely, and Batum’s Soul Altar drifted out like a wisp of gentle wind, attempting to flee.

Shi Yan's Devouring Black Hole hovered at the edge of the luminous curtain sky, having long lain in wait. A powerful soul suction descended, and despite the shrill fluctuations, Batum's soul could not break free, following the path of Ye Bolle and the others to be swallowed by the black hole.

Almost simultaneously, the pool of water condensed by Ling Mei’s profound meaning was permeated by extreme cold, eventually freezing solid. Inside, Ling Mei was locked in the center of the pool like a beautiful and alluring ice sculpture; from a distance, she resembled something sealed within a crystal kingdom, possessing a chilling beauty.

Ling Mei’s life force gradually waned, her eyes growing dim. She desperately twisted her neck, looking toward Shi Yan from afar.

Deep regret was etched in her eyes—regret for not adhering to the instructions of Tu Shiqi and his wife, regret for failing to make the right judgment. Not only had all the guards she brought perished, but she herself was now unable to escape death.

She realized that Tu Shiqi and his wife had been right… It was too late. “I know you owe Tu Shiqi and his wife a favor,” Mei Ji recovered her usual seductive charm, her eyes bright.

“How about it? Do you need me to go easy on her and let her live?” Ling Mei’s expression trembled slightly, a look of yearning appearing as she gazed hopefully at Shi Yan.

Shi Yan shook his head, his face cold as he spoke, “I don't have that kind of patience. If someone wants to kill me, no matter who they are or what their status, I will treat them the same!” As he spoke, he engulfed Batum’s Soul Altar, then settled directly above Ling Mei’s frozen pool.

With his fingers interlaced, ten sharp blades erupted, slicing toward the frozen water. “Crack!

Crack! Crack!” The pool was torn into pieces by the spatial blades, and Ling Mei within could not be spared.

Her divine body was sliced apart like water being drilled, shattering into four pieces. The black hole condensed by the Devouring Profound Meaning surged over like the gaping maw of a demon.

Before Ling Mei could resist, the soul suction pulled her in, swallowing her whole. “Truly ruthless and cold-blooded.

You could actually commit such an act of crushing beauty? Ling Mei was famous throughout the Xuan Tian Clan for her fiery spirit and stunning looks.

Isn't it a pity to kill her like this?” Mei Ji smiled broadly, teasing him coquettishly, her bright eyes filled with glee. “There are beauties everywhere; a few dying is no big deal,” Shi Yan frowned, glancing up at the sky curtain as he said, “We really need to break this light screen and leave quickly.” “Indeed.

And we must be fast. The ones killed here were all figures of noble status among the Seven Clans.

Their souls should elicit some response…” Ming Hong, resting on Audrey’s shoulder, said in a deep voice, “You should know this well enough?” He looked toward Mei Ji. Mei Ji’s smile vanished, and she nodded.

“Ye Bolle, Ling Mei, they are all important figures in their clans. Usually, they possess a wisp of their soul imprint corresponding to a specific secret treasure.

Once their soul is extinguished, those corresponding treasures often react.” “You mean… the members of the Seven Clans should know by now that Ye Bolle, Ling Mei, and Telega have been killed?” Shi Yan’s face shifted slightly. “Most likely,” Mei Ji affirmed.

“However, killing them was necessary. Otherwise, if they released the news, those people would know what happened below—they’d know about the Profound Meaning Talisman Pagoda, the Primordial Profound Talisman, and the exact location.” After a pause, she added, “But now, they only know that Ye Bolle, Ling Mei, and their group have died; they won't know the specifics of what transpired below, nor can they pinpoint the location accurately.

Once we leave this place and truly begin to move, finding us beneath the Sea of Annihilation will be even harder.” “Her analysis is correct, so we must hurry and leave before they track us here. If not, things will become very troublesome.

According to what they said, Master Tate is also in the Sea of Annihilation. If that person finds out, the consequences… will be disastrous.

We must return to the Desolate Domain as soon as possible!” Ming Hong said solemnly. Having refined Singh’s soul, he had a deep understanding of the many mysteries within the Soul Clan and knew how terrifying that person was.

He guessed that Master Tate’s death would certainly enrage that person, filling him with a bit of dread. “Master Tate?” the Divine Lord asked with a cold, hard tone.

“Was he very powerful? More powerful than the Bloodthirsty One?” “Na Puton is one of the three Ancestral Lords of the Soul Clan.

Although he is only at the First Heaven realm, he wields the Primordial Divine Artifact, the Soul Refining Cauldron! With the Soul Refining Cauldron, Na Puton's true strength is terrifyingly formidable.

I don’t know how the Bloodthirsty One’s combat power evolved later, but when I left, his strength was likely not much greater than Na Puton’s,” Ming Hong stated cautiously. “It is rumored that Na Puton has not yet completely refined the Soul Refining Cauldron into his natal divine artifact; it still lacks many powerful souls.

If that Cauldron is completely refined, I believe he will become even more terrifying!” “He should be inferior to the Master’s later self,” Ming Hao commented lightly. The Divine Lord agreed.

“Back then, the Bloodthirsty One managed to defeat the progenitor of the Devourer Clan, Shi, forcing him into slumber. Afterward, even heavily wounded, the Bloodthirsty One slaughtered our allied forces until the rivers ran red.

My physical body was shattered back then, and it took the sacrifice of the leaders of various factions to finally bring the Bloodthirsty One down. Na Puton is definitely no match for the Bloodthirsty One at his peak.” “I don’t know who the Bloodthirsty One is, but I know Na Puton is indeed terrifying.

If he can truly refine the Primordial Divine Artifact, the Soul Refining Cauldron, and break through to the Second Heaven Ancestral Lord realm, he might enter the ranks of the Top Ten Ancestral Lords. Even if he arrived now, none of us could stand against him.

Compared to him, Batum and Gan Fu are just half-measures, worlds apart.” Mei Ji interjected. “I think we truly cannot contend with Na Puton for now,” Ming Hong conceded.

Hearing them say this, Ming Hao and the Divine Lord also sighed softly. The Divine Lord remarked, “It’s a pity I didn't break through to the Ancestral Lord realm; otherwise, I would never have taken a mere Na Puton seriously.” “Break the light screen quickly!” Ming Hao roared.

Shi Yan nodded, then said no more. He flew to the peak of the imposing, mountain-like Profound Meaning Talisman Pagoda, looked up at the light screen, and silently contemplated something.

Within the secondary soul in his mind, fragmented, obscure Primordial Talisman Imprints were flowing chaotically. Unable to fully merge with the Desolate Partial Soul, he could not decipher the meaning of those imprints.

He focused his attention, condensing his aura, trying to perceive the mysteries. However, the Devouring Black Hole was spinning rapidly, writhing like a massive mouth, emitting a purifying fluctuation that made his spirit uneasy.

He knew that the Devouring Black Hole had swallowed the Soul Altars of Batum, Gan Fu, and Ye Bolle’s group one by one. Because those individuals possessed profound and exquisite realms of cultivation, and because among them were Batum and Gan Fu, who had grasped Dark Energy, the purification process this time would inevitably be much slower than usual, possibly involving other unforeseen changes.

But he hadn't expected the black hole's purification to affect his own mind, making it impossible for him to concentrate fully. He already struggled to understand the runes and break the intricacies of the Profound Meaning Talisman Pagoda, and now, unable to focus his spirit, he grew increasingly irritable.

As time passed, he remained seated motionlessly atop the Profound Meaning Talisman Pagoda. Brian’s face gradually darkened.

“If he is playing tricks on us and cannot open the light screen here, I will kill him with all my might to vent the hatred in my heart!” Ming Hao’s expression was also gloomy, his brow deeply furrowed as he pondered some matter. Mei Ji and Audrey were both unnerved and quietly fearful, only hoping Shi Yan could quickly find a way to lead everyone away from this place.

… On the surface of the Sea of Annihilation. In the center of the Soul Clan’s base, clusters of souls moved like serpents across the island, absorbing the fierce ghosts from the banners and carrying those spirits back to Na Puton.

The Soul Refining Cauldron spun above Na Puton’s head, drawing in those malevolent spirits and specters. The Primordial Talisman runes on the Cauldron gradually shone with an odd light, moving slowly like little snakes.

“Puff!” Suddenly, on Na Puton’s withered arm, a string of Soul Beads violently exploded. The beads dissolved into a faint mist, slowly coalescing into Tate’s vague face—a face that was vacant and expressionless, devoid of any life fluctuation.

Na Puton was busy smelting the Soul Refining Cauldron; upon seeing the Soul Bead burst, his eyes immediately darkened. Every disciple who sought tutelage from him was required to offer a wisp of their vital soul imprint, which he stored inside a Soul Bead.

Through this imprint, he could sense the location of every disciple at will and could crush their souls with a mere thought. This was a sinister means of control over his disciples.

Of course, if a disciple died suddenly, he would know instantly and could vaguely perceive the direction of their death. Now, the Soul Bead representing Tate had shattered and exploded, and Na Puton immediately knew what had just happened.

His eyeballs rolled, and he used the souls of three Primeval Gods as sacrifices to secretly trace the source using a divine secret technique. After a while, Na Puton snorted coldly, “Trash!

Daring to descend into the sea without my permission to seek Primordial Ruins. Death is too good for him; he wasted a thousand years of my cultivation!” He spat out an incantation, which fell into the Soul Refining Cauldron.

Immediately, hundreds of millions of souls surged into the Cauldron. Tucking the Soul Refining Cauldron into his sleeve, Na Puton stood up and vanished like a ghostly shadow.

… On another island in the Sea of Annihilation. The couple Tu Shiqi and Ya Yun were drinking and chatting with the avatar of the Dragon Lizard Ancestor on the island, discussing important matters.

“Jingle, jingle!” A dense ringing sound came from Ya Yun’s sleeve. Ya Yun looked astonished and took out a small bell, using her soul sense to perceive an urgent message transmitted from the Xuan Tian Clan headquarters.

Ya Yun’s face suddenly turned extremely fearful, and she abruptly stood up, crying out, “Ling Mei’s Soul Tree in the headquarters has withered! Her soul has completely scattered!” “Before we came here, Ling Mei led the Xuan Guards into the sea searching for some Primordial Ruin, and she died on the seabed!” Tu Shiqi’s expression changed drastically.

He took a deep breath. “Brother Long Lizard, please accompany us down into the sea.

Ling Mei… holds a special identity; she is the granddaughter of the Heaven Shaking Ancestor.” The Dragon Lizard’s face also changed dramatically; knowing that something terrible must have happened in the Sea of Annihilation, he said, “Good, I will descend into the sea with you!” … (To be continued) RQ