Chapter 49: The Shackles of the Soul Master

Beneath countless black chains, the most terrifying entity in the world is bound—the one who bears all the darkness on behalf of all mortals. This is the origin of the Soul Lord.

There is no Naihe Bridge in this world, yet the Ghost Gate Pass truly exists!

The accumulation of all wandering ghosts is sealed within this Lock Pavilion. Dark shadows drift, surrounding the self, and the restraints of countless black iron chains seal everything deep beneath the earth.

[Heaven]
[Qi Soul]
[Brave Soul]
Along with the supporting [Spirit-Intelligence], the deceased yet hidden [Axis], guarding the valley entrance before Zhoukou Village—it can be said that the majority of the Soul Suppressing Temple's strength has gathered here. Moreover, their objective appears unanimous: to completely eradicate the Soul Lord's faction!

Meanwhile, Tianchong is running for his life. Since the Spirit-Gathering Stone is neither with Li Fengyin nor Luoyu Duanhen, it must have already fallen into the hands of [Spirit-Intelligence], which is Dong Yunpo.

If so, the most terrifying scenario is very likely to unfold, rendering all futile struggles completely meaningless!

The only two S-grade Spirit-Gathering Stones in the world: one is known to be at Tianqi headquarters, while the other is hidden within the Soul Suppressing Temple. Then, what is the actual function of this S-grade Spirit-Gathering Stone?

It is:
A crystal of spiritual energy!

All the spiritual energy throughout the entire solar system is currently restricted to Earth. Countless Spirit-Gathering Stones on Earth have become vessels for the excess spiritual energy, thereby creating Earth's supreme energetic field.

Yet, with ghosts having no underworld, reincarnation has become nearly impossible. The true meaning of the Soul Suppressing Temple lies in suppressing the dead spirits!

The Soul Lord uses his own body as fuel, igniting the heart lamp of souls, enduring the torment of these ghosts, diffusing them, and ultimately maintaining the balance of Earth.

This is something everyone who enters the Soul Suppressing Temple must know. It is also one of the greatest secrets under heaven—a secret that must not be exposed even in death, a secret to be guarded unto the end!

Yet no one knows that the soul is only a part of it. Although people speak of souls and spirits, almost everyone has forgotten the corporeal anima (the physical soul).

The Anima Lord has long since lost his sanity, while the Soul Lord has become the guardian of this ultimate secret. Others, even if they discover it, will either keep silent or take action.

And the key to everything lies in this ink-colored Spirit-Gathering Stone.

However, this is also a secret. It is known that when the Soul Lord holds the lamp, the location of the soul heart lamp is within the Lock Pavilion.

"Even at the cost of everything, we must crush the Soul Lord's faction in one fell swoop!"

[Heaven] declared this, slamming a foot heavily onto the ground. The entire terrain emitted a deep roar, splitting the earth and opening new realms. Then, reaching out, he caused the winds and clouds in the sky to change color.

The formation of [Earth] requires a pincer movement from above and below—such was Dong Yunpo's assessment. Cold sweat beaded on his palms, for the strength of [Heaven] was simply terrifying.

He was entirely worthy of being the number one among the [Heaven], [Earth], and [Man] triad!

An earth dragon and a violent gale merged into a symphony that swept across the entire Zhoukou Valley. Under such overwhelming power, everything seemed destined to be utterly destroyed.

At that moment, [Heaven] stepped into Zhoukou step by step. Previously, they had merely blockaded the valley entrance, but now, the only things standing tall within the valley were the twin towers of soul and anima, accompanied by a long-haired young maiden and a somewhat plain-looking middle-aged man.

The wound around the long-haired young maiden's waist had already scabbed over, while the middle-aged man's expression appeared somewhat gloomy. It seemed that the most unfavorable situation was driving them with unstoppable momentum toward a final, desperate battle of life and death!

At this moment, Tianchong was hurrying toward Zhoukou from the high ground at his utmost speed, leaving deep craters with every single step. Yet, he also seemed to foresee the very thing he least wished to encounter.

However, Tianchong was forced to halt his advance, for two figures barred his path—they were none other than [Vigor Soul] Shen Xi and [Force Soul] Tu Bao.

"Damn it!"

Tianchong now fully grasped the current situation, a sensation akin to an impending explosion filling his chest. Everything had been calculated by that scoundrel Spirit-Intelligence!

He could only hope that [Earth] Shen Yin and [Man] You Wei would manage to hold out, yet the situation on both sides was fraught with extreme danger.

The true battle of subversion was about to unfold.

"Fengyin," Dong Yunpo whispered, "reserve your strength; there is something even more terrifying ahead."

Li Fengyin, who had been quietly observing from the rear, also felt sweat on his palms. The strength of this group was truly unimaginable.

Nodding, Li Fengyin touched the ink-colored pendant resting between his collarbones, but ultimately lowered his right hand.

At that moment, Dong Yunpo shook his head, seemingly conversing with someone unseen. Li Ziye could not help but think of the [Axis]: "A deceased person?"

Li Ziye had never believed in ghosts and deities, but right now, he could no longer maintain the axis of the roulette within his heart. It began to spin; it seemed that from the very beginning, his inner self had been fraught with endless struggle.

Yet, just at that moment, behind Shen Yin and You Wei, an aged, stooped elder appeared. Clad in tattered garments, he kept his hands clasped behind his back, his gaze locking from afar with that of [Heaven].

A nameless, faint smile curved the corner of [Heaven]'s mouth. Perhaps victory was already secured; even now, almost no one had noticed the arrival of this elderly man.

And so he simply watched. Outside the battlefield, [Earth] initiated his formation first. A small blade in his hand swept through the air, and the pact of ghosts and deities was already inscribed.

The formation originating from the underworld would obliterate the malice ahead!

The surging earth dragon instantly disintegrated, scattering countless fragments of mud and turning into dust and smoke.

As for the storm in the sky and the lurking lightning, [Man] raised the blade in his hand and uttered a low chant. An aura soaring into the heavens spanned the sky, shrouding the territory where the two of them stood.

Post-heaven ascending breath!

Everyone present drew in a sharp breath. This was the rarest of the four types of aura, and the most difficult one to manifest.

"Though it has formed, the tempering seems insufficient," [Heaven] stated in a deep voice. "Nothing to fear!"

Extending a palm, he gave a fierce squeeze. [Heaven] unleashed his ability, causing the earth to rise like a giant hand, violently propelling [Earth] and [Man] toward the sky. Above them, a cloud hand had also formed, and the two forces compressed the positions of Shen Yin and You Wei with frantic intensity.

A hand of rock and soil, and a hand of heavenly clouds!

As for You Wei and Shen Yin, [Earth] dealt with the earth, while [Man] dealt with the heaven!

This was a rigid collision of sheer power.

Lightning surged like roaring waves, eclipsing the sky, while the air rippled with concentric circles of shockwaves. This time, a magnificent curtain of war smoke was about to rise.

Yet precisely at this moment of stalemate and compression, the stooped elder—who had remained unnoticed yet present all along—finally made his move!

He slashed his hand through the empty air, then turned around and stepped directly into the Anima Tower.

A wave of crushing pressure emanated from the void, and the target of this oppressive force was none other than the mid-air space where Shen Yin and You Wei were engaged. If it struck true, survival would likely become an utter impossibility!