The Nine Sons of the Dragon included the gluttonous Taotie, and naturally, he inherited the divine abilities of the Dragon race. Having boasted so boldly before Ye Jingyu, he certainly didn't intend to be defeated by this mortal. Casting aside all other concerns, he unleashed a true Dragon Clan divine technique...
The terrifying surge of power not only obliterated the very essence of the Yin-Yang Daoist’s soul but also sent a dizzying shockwave through Ye Jingyu, who was in the same room. Even those gathered outside felt as if their own souls were on the verge of shattering...
This was with their souls safely protected within their bodies. If their spirits had been forced outside, they would have been utterly pulverized by that single roar...
"Ah..." The disintegrating Yin-Yang Daoist shrieked in agony, his shattered soul desperately trying to flee in all directions. The primeval monstrous beast, Taotie, was indeed extraordinary. Even as a mere infant, it possessed such might; how devastating would it be once fully grown? (Read the complete novel at .1.(1.m.literature.net)
That initial roar had critically wounded his spiritual core. If he didn't flee now, there would be no other chance...
But how could Little Tao Tao grant him such an opportunity? The shadowy black figure shot out like lightning, opening its colossal maw to swallow the scattered fragments of the soul...
With every piece of soul it consumed, the Yin-Yang Daoist emitted a wave of despairing spiritual anguish. Yet, Little Tao Tao knew nothing of pity—otherwise, it wouldn't be known as a primeval monstrous beast...
Opening its massive mouth, it crunched away, as if eating biscuits, systematically devouring every fleeing shard of soul, granting the Yin-Yang Daoist absolutely no chance to reassemble. Not a single fragment was left behind...
Although Ye Jingyu’s soul remained tethered, his Celestial Eye was wide open, allowing him to witness everything clearly. The Dragon-Patterned War Wave Little Tao Tao had just executed was utterly terrifying. A mere touch had shattered the Yin-Yang Daoist’s soul into pieces. What if that force had been directed at him?
Taotie, the primeval monstrous beast and one of the Dragon Progeny, was truly unparalleled...
"I'm so tired, I need a long nap. Don't wake me up..." After consuming the entirety of the Yin-Yang Daoist's soul essence, Little Tao Tao sent this mental message to Ye Jingyu. Then, the black silhouette melted back into its true form, reverting to the appearance of a small lamb, which settled down in a corner and fell into a deep sleep...
Ye Jingyu understood. Even though he was a Taotie, he was still a juvenile beast. Swallowing the soul of a powerhouse at the Soul Condensation realm required immense time to digest—it was akin to a three-year-old child consuming an entire elephant...
At this moment, those outside, alerted by the commotion, rushed in. They found Ye Jingyu sitting calmly on the couch while Little Tao Tao was sprawled in the corner, snoring soundly, showing absolutely no signs of having been involved in an attack...
Meanwhile, in Yun Jing, within the estate of the Eldest Young Master, Luo Haitian, along with the mysterious Mr. Tao and three elderly men—all with silver hair but radiating vibrant energy—were seated around a table. Seated cross-legged before them was a man dressed entirely in black. If Ye Jingyu were present, he would have recognized the man as identical to the Soul Master who had ambushed him earlier...
"Mr. Tao, this Yin-Yang Daoist has been separated from his body for so long; why is there still no word? Could something have gone wrong?" Luo Haitian voiced his concern while watching the immobile Yin-Yang Daoist seated on the couch. Of course, his worry wasn't for the Daoist's well-being but for the potential failure to eliminate Ye Jingyu...
"Eldest Young Master, rest assured. My friend’s Soul Arts have reached the peak of the Soul Condensation realm. That boy is, at best, in the Soul Manifestation realm. How could he possibly contend with my friend? Unless the Third Young Master’s estate harbors another expert at the Soul Condensation level..." Mr. Tao replied with supreme confidence...
"You can be entirely certain of that point. While the Third Brother has certainly amassed some influence over the years, the strongest man by his side is merely a Primordial Martial Master. He doesn't even have a single Grandmaster expert, let alone a Soul Condensation realm Soul Master..." Luo Haitian shook his head, knowing the intricacies of his siblings’ forces far too well...
"If that is the case, then the Eldest Young Master may relax. A mere Soul Condensation realm..."
"Pfft..." Just as Mr. Tao was about to state that killing a Soul Manifestation Soul Master with a Soul Condensation master was as easy as crushing an ant, the Yin-Yang Daoist suddenly opened his mouth and spewed a mouthful of blood, immediately collapsing to the ground...
"What happened?" Everyone started in shock...
Mr. Tao stepped forward, checking the Yin-Yang Daoist’s breath, only to find none. Worse, the body was rapidly growing cold...
"He... he... he was actually struck so severely that his soul was completely annihilated..." A look of profound shock washed over Mr. Tao's face...
A Soul Master at the Soul Condensation realm—what a formidable and noble rarity that was within the Shu Yun Nation. Yet, now, one had their soul utterly destroyed with such ease? This... this was truly too horrifying...
It wasn't just Mr. Tao who found it unbelievable; the others present shared the same astonishment. A powerhouse at the Soul Condensation boundary, simply gone...
"Eldest Young Master, you... you told us there were no experts above the Soul Condensation realm at the Third Young Master’s residence! Then how could he have been killed?" Mr. Tao demanded of Luo Haitian with fury and disbelief...
A Soul Master at the Soul Condensation realm was vastly different from a Martial Artist at the Grandmaster level. A Grandmaster could still be besieged and killed by a group of Martial Masters or Primordial Martial Masters weaker than him. But a Soul Condensation Soul Master, even if overwhelmed by multiple Soul Masters below their level, could almost effortlessly allow their soul to escape if defeated. Even against another Soul Master of equal standing, obliterating a Soul Condensation soul entirely was difficult, as the soul could fracture and then slowly reform once even a sliver managed to return to the physical body...
But to be completely annihilated like this meant that the Third Young Master’s estate likely harbored a Soul Master whose power surpassed the Soul Condensation realm...
Surpassing Soul Condensation—what an impossibly mighty existence would that be...
"No... no... no, that is absolutely impossible! The Third Brother definitely does not have such an expert by his side! Something must have gone wrong; it has to be this way, it must be!" Luo Haitian's face twitched. If their deduction was correct, didn't that imply that Luo Ruofeng’s actual strength far exceeded his own? He could not accept it...
"Eldest Young Master, Brother Tao, let's not lose our composure. Soul Masters are rare in this world. If a Soul Master at the Spirit Manifestation realm were so easily found, we might as well quit the game now. I suspect there is something else suspicious at play here..." At this point, another elder, clad in a light blue robe, spoke up...
"Mr. Lan is right. Eldest Young Master, we must reassess our strategy," a green-robed elder chimed in...
Hearing their counsel, both Mr. Tao and Luo Haitian managed to calm their nerves. The situation was indeed too bizarre; they needed to ascertain the truth before they found themselves at a distinct disadvantage...
"Someone! Summon Miss Yao Rao here immediately!" Luo Haitian suppressed his agitation and shouted toward the outside...