The altar stood nearly ten meters high, situated squarely in the center of a vast, open hall. To its left, right, and front, there were wide-open archways. Beyond the openings, a reddish haze suggested a profound depth.

Upon that circular altar perched a massive wing.

Nearly two meters tall, the wings of the creature spread wide, yet remained still as if sculpted in the void, motionless. The giant eagle’s feathers were sleek and pitch-black, its blood-red eyes wide open. Its long beak resembled a razor-sharp steel hook, faintly shimmering with a cold, fierce light.

This was the physical body of the Soulhawk King!

That thought flashed instantly through Nie Kong’s mind. The urgent voice of the Soulhawk King then rang out, “Big Brother, quickly! Quick, let me out! Those spirit beasts are about to arrive; if we wait any longer, it will be too late.” Hoo!

Hoo! Before Nie Kong could answer the Soulhawk King, the void beside him subtly warped, and Bai Yuqing and Mu Hongling crossed the barrier after him.

“Spirit beasts!” Upon seeing the giant eagle on the altar, Mu Hongling gasped. Crimson light surged from her body, instantly enveloping the ethereal glow formed by the “Azure Sea of Heaven.” A fierce aura pressed outward like crashing waves, making it appear as if her tall, graceful frame was set ablaze.

Buzz! The broadsword in Bai Yuqing’s hand hummed, sharp chill piercing to the very tip of the blade.

It was no wonder Mu Hongling and Bai Yuqing reacted so strongly; the “Soulhawk King’s” body was startlingly lifelike, positioned in a striking posture. Anyone suddenly encountering such a massive spirit beast would instinctively adopt a defensive stance.

“Don’t worry,”

Nie Kong quickly restrained them both. “That is merely a soulless spirit beast shell; it won't attack us. Little Master, Sister Bai, you wait below. I’ll go up and take a look.”

At that moment, the ground began to tremble violently, and the roaring sounds from all sides rapidly approached. Nie Kong had no time for lengthy explanations. Before his words had fully faded, spiritual power bloomed like flowers beneath his feet. With a single Flower Evasion Shadow, Nie Kong drifted toward the high altar like a phantom.

Bai Yuqing and Mu Hongling exchanged glances, unable to rest assured, and with a flash of movement, followed him.

A short while later, all three figures had landed atop the circular altar. “Big Brother, I’m too excited. Fifty years—I’m finally about to return to my own body.” The Soulhawk King’s voice had become thick with emotion.

“Go ahead!” Nie Kong smiled slightly, placing his palm on the shell of the body, then released his spiritual consciousness. Watching the wisp of remnant soul of the “Soulhawk King” drill inside, Nie Kong inwardly marveled: this “Soulhawk King” must have been immensely powerful back then, otherwise its physical body would not have remained incorruptible for fifty years.

Mu Hongling, sharp-eyed, couldn't help but ask, “Apprentice, what was that you patted into the spirit beast’s body just now?” Bai Yuqing also looked at Nie Kong, though the broadsword in her hand did not slacken in the slightest.

“The soul of this spirit beast!” Since things had come this far, Nie Kong did not conceal the truth, speaking quickly, “When I was outside, I obtained the fleeing soul of this spirit beast. My ability to see the stone tablet clearly atop Mount Blazing Flame and activate the spiritual patterns on it relied entirely on this spirit beast’s memories.”

Mu Hongling was stunned; how could Nie Kong have encountered something like this?

Crack! Cackle…

Just like popcorn popping, a string of crisp cracking sounds suddenly erupted from within the “Soulhawk King.” The physical body, dormant for fifty years, was gradually reawakening.

“It’s coming back to life!”

Seeing this, Mu Hongling felt a shock in her heart, and the tip of Bai Yuqing’s broadsword lifted slightly, faintly pointing toward the Soulhawk King’s head.

At that precise moment, the Soulhawk King’s blood-red pupils shifted, and its two widespread wings fluttered slightly—once, then a second time, then a third… Whoosh! With the flapping of its wings, a powerful gust of wind swept outward. After flapping a dozen times in succession, the wings quietly folded. The Soulhawk King moved slowly on the platform like an arrogant emperor, seemingly readjusting to a body that hadn't moved in a long time.

“Roar! Roar! Roar!” Amidst the rumbling footsteps, roars erupted like thunderclaps, exploding in the ears of Nie Kong, Bai Yuqing, and Mu Hongling.

Immediately following, spirit beasts burst forth almost simultaneously from the hall doors to the left, right, and front, moving with lightning speed, and within moments, they were less than fifty meters from the high platform.

Boom!

The footsteps behind showed no pause, and in the blink of an eye, several more spirit beasts rushed out. With a highly untrustworthy giant eagle beside them, and waves of other spirit beasts pouring out from the three doorways, Bai Yuqing and Mu Hongling couldn't help but frown slightly.

“Soulhawk!”

Nie Kong looked at the Soulhawk King and smiled slyly, “All the spirit beasts of the Dark Soul Hall are coming. Are you ready now?” Now that the Soulhawk King had left Nie Kong’s consciousness, they could no longer communicate telepathically. Hearing his words, slight surprise showed in the beautiful eyes of Bai Yuqing and Mu Hongling.

“Big Brother, I have been ready for a long time.”

Seeing the giant eagle address Nie Kong as “Big Brother,” Mu Hongling was even more astonished.

However, the next sentence from the “Soulhawk King” nearly made her eyes pop out of their sockets: “The spirit beasts of the Dark Soul Hall are extremely fond of absorbing soul power. Three fresh souls have suddenly appeared here today; I imagine they will all be very happy.”

Three fresh souls? Wasn't it referring to the apprentice, Sister Bai, and herself?

After realizing Nie Kong had placed its soul inside the giant eagle, Mu Hongling had guessed that Nie Kong intended to use this creature to deal with the other spirit beasts, though she hadn't held much hope for it. Now, hearing the “Soulhawk King” speak these words, her delicate eyebrows couldn't help but twitch slightly.

Nie Kong glanced at the approaching spirit beasts, showing no sign of panic: “Soulhawk, are you joking?”

“No, no, Big Brother, I am serious. Your three souls are quite good, especially yours, Big Brother—a rare delicacy.” The Soulhawk King’s voice carried a hint of mockery. “Don’t worry, Big Brother, I will personally savor your soul.”

“Soulhawk—” “Shut up!” The Soulhawk King’s previously cheerful tone suddenly turned icy. “I call you Big Brother only as a temporary measure; did you really take yourself for my elder brother? I am supreme in the Dark Soul Hall! Fifty years ago, I was already a dignified Ninth-Grade spirit beast. You, a mere Spirit Manifestation Master, dare to be my Big Brother? If I hadn't lost the majority of my strength trying to leave the Dark Soul Hall back then, I could have eliminated you back in Luoyan City!” Nie Kong smiled faintly: “Soulhawk, I still have to tell you an unfortunate truth: whether you admit it or not, I will always be your Big Brother, and you will forever be my subordinate!”

“Heh heh, heh heh…” The Soulhawk King seemed to have heard the funniest joke in the world, emitting a sharp cackle from its throat. “Fool, such a fool! If you hadn’t returned my soul to my body, perhaps what you said would have been true! Unfortunately, you great fool, you were stupid enough to believe I would help you resist these Dark Soul Hall spirit beasts! How long did you torture me during this time? If I don't make you taste the same torment several times over, I won't be able to quell the hatred in my heart!”

Saying that, the Soulhawk King flapped its wings, soaring into the air, and let out a piercing shriek: “Li—!”

The moment this sound rang out, a sword-shaped mark suddenly appeared on the head of the “Soulhawk King,” and a blood-red radiance exploded from the imprint. Most astonishingly, the shape of the mark was identical to the dark, black miniature sword Nie Kong possessed, only differing in color.

“Roar! Roar! Roar…” Almost simultaneously, the dozens of spirit beasts charging into the hall all stopped abruptly, fixing their gazes on the flashing, luminous sword mark on the “Soulhawk King’s” head, letting out fierce roars that seemed to echo the Soulhawk King’s piercing cry.

“Surround them!”

The Soulhawk King let out a sharp cry. The spirit beasts in the hall immediately obeyed the command, roaring as they charged toward the circular altar. Mu Hongling managed a wry smile; the most dangerous scenario was finally unfolding. Dealing with one of these powerful spirit beasts was difficult enough; handling dozens charging together was another matter entirely.

Fortunately, she had anticipated such a situation, so she wasn't flustered. Blazing fire spiritual power surged around her like a tide, while her eyes remained fixed on the “Soulhawk King.” Bai Yuqing, however, blurred into a white streak and positioned herself before the steps of the altar, her broadsword gleaming coldly.

“My little brother is too naughty; I, as the elder brother, must discipline him a bit!” Nie Kong narrowed his eyes and smiled, a thought stirring in his mind.

“Heh heh, discipline me? You think you’re worthy?” The “Soulhawk King” flapped its wings, its body visibly trembling, seemingly amused by Nie Kong’s words.

However, before its mockery could finish, a sharp cry suddenly tore from its throat. Instantly, the “Soulhawk King’s” body convulsed, and it staggered precariously toward the edge of the high platform.

“Li!”

The Soulhawk King shrieked, then thrashed violently on the altar like a duck whose neck had been cut. Its long wings alternately snapped shut and spread wide, fiercely striking the surface of the altar.

The gusts of wind forced back were as sharp as knives.

“Roar…”

The spirit beasts surrounding the platform suddenly halted, their eyes showing confusion as they watched the “Soulhawk King” on the altar. They seemed unable to understand why the guardian spirit beast of the “Dark Soul Hall” was suddenly adopting such a posture and crying out so miserably, as if on the verge of death.

“Ah!”

The Soulhawk King let out another scream, struggling to flip back up. Its eyes, already blood-red, turned even deeper crimson, as if it desperately wished to tear Nie Kong to shreds before it. “Nie Kong, you bastard, what did you do to my soul?”

Just then, the “Soulhawk King” discovered a needle-prick-like agony suddenly coursing through its soul. This torment arrived in waves, and before the stinging sensation stopped, an even more intense piercing pain began to sprout from the depths of its soul…