Chapter 52: Arch-Nemesis

[Spirit-Wisdom] Dong Yunpo and [Heaven-Rush] Li Jingxian joined the Soul Suppression Hall almost simultaneously.

Furthermore, the two were close friends, but when it came to competing for the position of the [Soul-Governing Envoy], Dong Yunpo was chosen on the grounds that [Spirit-Wisdom] was more suitable. However, [Heaven-Rush] Li Jingxian still remained the strongest among the Seven Souls. This situation inevitably created a rift between them that could not be avoided.

Yet, their ultimate parting of ways lay in the death of [Axis].

The original name of [Axis] was Yuhua, and she possessed the highest talent among the Seven Souls!

The techniques she studied were also the most lethal. [Rift] was the only technique she knew.

It ignored the pressure of coercion, auras, and domains, inflicting devastating damage with overwhelming might!

A formidable martial artist, an agile figure, and a flawless face with flowing black hair, yet she was a gentle person. However, Heaven-Rush lost her once again, while Dong Yunpo gained her.

Yet Dong Yunpo was still ranked second. Why did everything—despite Heaven-Rush being ranked first—end up in Dong Yunpo's hands?

Every time, Li Jingxian was left helpless, though he also knew that Dong Yunpo's actual strength was no less than his own. Afterward, during the final mission, [Heaven-Rush] was still a step too late. Yuhua fell amidst the torrential rain, growing cold alongside it.

Beneath the vast, dark night, clouds drifted, and the towering mountain ranges resembled galloping waxen mammoths in the frozen distance. Under such darkness, shadows stirred; the phantom souls of the world surged from the sky and the hidden depths of the earth, converging into a single lantern.

The [Soul-Heart Lantern]

Meanwhile, [Soul-Governing Envoy], one of the two great emissaries of the Soul Suppression Hall, stood upon the valley of Zhoukou—a circular valley that would ultimately collapse. Toward which side would the scale of victory tip?

Even Dong Yunpo could not answer. Could it be that all the efforts he had made would dissolve into nothingness?

Only by slaying [Heaven] could one move forward; this was a fact [Axis] knew. Yet, Dong Yunpo would never agree to [Axis]'s decision to sacrifice herself, nor would he ever interfere in anyone else's choice.

A faint blue wisp of smoke drifted leisurely, scattering a sense of worldly vicissitudes across the ground. This was his home turf, for he was the [Soul-Governing Envoy]!

The news just transmitted by the soul spirits indicated that Heaven-Rush had broken through the interceptions of [Essence-Soul] and [Vigor-Soul]. At this moment, he had no choice but to cross the peak and enter the Twin Soul Suppression Towers.

Would he choose this path, though?

Dong Yunpo could only intercept him alone, and yet he remained somewhat uncertain.

After a brief silence, a figure came charging straight up from beneath the peak. Dong Yunpo suddenly felt like laughing: "This fellow will never manage to change this habit of his in a lifetime."

Discarding the cigarette in his hand, Dong Yunpo walked forward. The valley behind vanished from his field of vision, and the figure below finally appeared—it was none other than the exhaustingly relentless Heaven-Rush!

Yet, they were about to clash once again. This time, Li Jingxian had no reason to retreat or dodge.

And this was precisely what Li Jingxian had been anticipating.

"Qi-Rush!"

Li Jingxian roared at the top of his lungs, slamming his foot fiercely against the mountainside. Shattered rocks flew in all directions, transforming into countless cannonballs that exploded outward!

Li Jingxian was going to unleash his full strength here.

Dong Yunpo lowered his brow, forming hand seals. A soul-shattering howl erupted once more, resembling a lion's roar echoing across the eastern river, its most lethal aspect being the soul shockwave. All the incoming projectiles were pulverized into dust, and Li Jingxian himself was afflicted with soul debility.

This was Dong Yunpo's advantage!

However, Dong Yunpo had also expended immense power. He had cast a barrier over the entire area to ensure no sound would escape, knowing this was an inescapable battle between himself and [Heaven-Rush].

Ever since the day Heaven-Rush had fallen at his feet, Dong Yunpo had understood long ago that he would never lose again.

Without another word, Heaven-Rush completely ignored his soul weakness, charging up the mountain with all his might. Dong Yunpo slammed his palms hard against the ground, causing countless soul spirits to burst forth, accompanied by a myriad of simultaneous, minor soul-shattering howls. They ignored direction and terrain, appearing intangible while taking on a nearly physical form during their attack.

He stamped the ground and leaped upward!

Soaring more than a dozen meters into the air, Li Jingxian covertly tossed down a small pebble, no larger than a thumb. Even so, he lunged toward Dong Yunpo; knowing Dong Yunpo was weak in close-quarters combat was precisely why he frequently relied on his soul-shattering roars.

At this moment, one of them harbored the intent of a mere bluff, while the other could not afford not to fear.

Dong Yunpo's gaze flickered between the small pebble and Li Jingxian, his brow furrowing. This style of attack was far too reckless!

"A Single Finger Startles Zen!"

Just as the pebble landed on the ground, Li Jingxian unleashed his ultimate trump card. As he was about to land, he began to accelerate, fully utilizing his power.

The pebble gained incomparable acceleration, skimming the mountainside and shooting toward Dong Yunpo at a crazy velocity!

Piercing through countless rocks, the piercing, whistle-like screech was exceptionally grating!

As for Li Jingxian himself, he gradually gathered momentum. Dong Yunpo leaped backward, while Li Jingxian landed, kicked off the ground once more, and charged after the retreating Dong Yunpo—moving even faster than him!

Meanwhile, the pebble had already reached Dong Yunpo's chest, passing through the gap in Li Jingxian's punching stance to strike Dong Yunpo in rapid succession right alongside Li Jingxian's fist!

The pebble pierced straight through his body, while the fist struck squarely against his abdomen. Dong Yunpo's body was sent flying backward like a torn sack of sand.

Yet, at the very same moment, the real Dong Yunpo was already standing behind Heaven-Rush, employing a technique he had never before used in front of outsiders: [Soul of Life and Death]!

It converted damage into zero harm and instantly repositioned him to the exact moment before the injury began.

Could this, however, be a decisive, instant-victory strike?

Heaven-Rush began to grit his teeth once more. Damn it, this bastard always kept a backup plan—he always had countless tricks up his sleeve!

And what he now had to face was Dong Yunpo's lethal strike.

At this moment, Dong Yunpo brandished his divine weapon!

The [Soul-Falling Spear]

With a sudden, violent whip of his arm—who could have guessed that Dong Yunpo was a speartip wielder?

Countless soul spirits transformed into spear blades, resembling blades of light and drifting clouds. With a single sweeping thrust, Dong Yunpo unleashed his personal spearmanship technique.

[Breaking Rush]

Adopt an ungraceful posture as Heaven-Rush slammed flat onto the ground; that single sweep of the spear shattered the very peak of this mountain range!

The immense shockwave of the explosion was deafening, yet everything was strictly contained within the barrier. Almost no one knew of the battle taking place here, which was precisely what Dong Yunpo desired.

A strange look of astonishment flashed in Li Jingxian's eyes. Yet the battle had only just begun; was he destined to suffer defeat here?

Even so, he had never lost to him even once!

This time would be no exception!

Li Jingxian retreated frantically under the opponent's continuous ground sweeps, before suddenly locking his legs around Dong Yunpo's spear shaft, grabbing the earth with both hands, and heaving!

Dong Yunpo failed to steady his stance, his feet instantly lifting off the ground.

[Heaven-Rush] Li Jingxian coughed up a mouthful of blood as the internal injuries triggered by his previous reckless burst finally erupted. Nevertheless, Li Jingxian still infused a fierce momentum into Dong Yunpo and his longspear as their bodies floated in mid-air!

Flying through the air like a cannonball, Dong Yunpo found it difficult to keep his eyes open amidst the violent gales. He tumbled repeatedly among the rocks of the mountainside before finally driving his Soul-Falling Spear deep into the earth, halting the terrifying momentum.

Even so, Dong Yunpo sustained numerous abrasions, and his previously pristine clothes were reduced to a disheveled state. Standing two kilometers apart, Dong Yunpo frowned—he had nearly been knocked out of the boundary. He had to think of something!

At that moment, Heaven-Rush also staggered to his feet, clutching his chest and wiping a streak of blood from the corner of his mouth. Boundless emotion surged within his heart: could it be that his current path, the path of the Soul Suppression Hall, truly could no longer be walked?

In his hand rested a piece of ink-colored stone, its surface dim and smooth. This was the [Ink Key], and also the key to unlocking the Suppression Tower where the Soul Lord resided.

When the Soul-Heart Lantern resided in the Soul Tower, the Soul Lord wielded it to burn soul-spirit lamp oil; when the Soul-Heart Lantern resided in the Spirit Tower, the Spirit Lord wielded it to burn dead souls as lamp oil. This was the rule from ancient times down to the present day, and it was this rule that guarded the order and cycle between the souls and living beings of the earth.

The [Ink Key] was the token of the Soul-Governing Envoy and the Spirit-Attending Envoy, used to transfer the position of the Heart Lantern between the Twin Towers.

Furthermore, it was also the key to liberating the Soul Lord.

The Soul Lord had long since fallen into madness and obscurity, and the loss of the Soul Suppression Hall's Ink Key had caused the Soul Lord to continuously burn soul spirits. With the imbalance of soul and spirit, the Soul Lord's descent into madness had deepened, and the situation had now reached a point beyond all regulation.