Chapter 57: Before the Storm

A delicate jade foot stepped onto the square stone platform, followed by the appearance of a cyan-robed figure. It was none other than the [Soul Master] Meng Xian, whose presence instantly struck terror into the heart of [Vigor] Li Jingshen.

It was a fear born from the suppression of absolute power, a shivering that originated deep within the soul.

Unlike the imposing aura of a Heavenly Venert, Meng Xian’s most terrifying trait was her soul power, which was even more targeted—and this time, its target was Li Jingshen.

Cold sweat dripped down his spine, and Li Jingshen’s body began to tremble involuntarily.

As the strongest woman in the world, her mere appearance—without even lifting a finger—was enough to awe all creation. Even Heavenly Venerts gave her a wide berth. She was one of the very few supreme powerhouses remaining in the world.

"Vigor," Meng Xian said in a tranquil voice, "you likely lack the strength sufficient to subdue the Soul Sovereign."

Li Jingshen gritted his teeth, a flicker of hesitation crossing his usually cold pupils. "How can I know without trying?"

"Still brooding over your father's affairs?"

Meng Xian asked, her tone as serene as ever. "Yet the dead are difficult to revive."

"I merely want to know why my father's soul was trapped within this Coffin-Lock Chamber, subjected to endless torment!" Li Jingshen declared with resolute articulation, finally baring his inner thoughts.

Then he asked, "Was it because of that man?"

Meng Xian sighed. It seemed she wanted to have a proper conversation, but clearly, time was no longer on their side. Her greatest helplessness—the most helpless kind of all—was knowing that an event was bound to happen yet being completely powerless to stop the tragedy.

"Trust me, then come with me," Meng Xian said. "Or else, I will open the gate here for you and send you inside."

"Where I go matters not to me. I only wish to know whether my father's death was worth it."

Meng Xian hesitated for a moment, a trace of sorrow surfacing in her eyes. "I am not the one meant to answer that question."

"Is that so?" The Vigor Li Jingshen gritted his teeth. "Then open the gate for me!"

"You Wei is currently inside," Meng Xian said quietly. "Give me one hour."

"Very well."

Li Jingshen’s expression turned cold once more. This time, it was a test of waiting. Then, Meng Xian vanished from the square stone platform, taking Li Jingshen with her, as if some tacit agreement had been reached.

However, the very instant they disappeared, a crop-haired youth suddenly appeared, tumbling through midair before managing to land steadily on his feet.

To be honest, Luoyue Duanhen's mind was in a complete blank state. He had accidentally stepped onto the square stone platform and never expected to be teleported to this unknown place. Flanked by grey walls, the corridors were illuminated by wandering dead souls, their blue-green flames standing out with striking brilliance.

"Still, it's best to figure out where this is first," Duanhen muttered speechlessly. "The panic emanating from behind that massive door genuinely makes one's hair stand on end."

Switching scenes, the [Strength Soul] Tu Bao finally arrived at the ninth level of the Soul-Suppressing Pagoda, then climbed the steps to appear before [Human] Shen Yin, who was guarding the tenth level.

Shen Yin had just lowered the [Heaven-Falling Blade] in her hand when her archenemy appeared before her once more...

After a brief calm, all battles within both the Soul Pagoda and the Soul-Vigor Pagoda ceased. Dong Yunpo and the [Valiant Soul] Shen Ling had also encountered an awkward situation: starting from the eleventh level, there were no longer any traps or mechanisms blocking their path, allowing the two to accelerate their ascent.

"Has the Soul Master weakened to such an extent?"

Dong Yunpo's slightly weathered face furrowed into a light frown. "Something feels amiss."

Shen Ling remained silent beside him, her fingers twitching behind her back as if transmitting some coded message.

Yet, at that moment, Dong Yunpo suddenly realized a stark truth: he himself had seemingly become the most dangerous target. Pincer movements from above and below, coupled with an ambush right beside him—this was something he had never anticipated. Even with his formidable sensory perception, he could not resolve such a predicament. What on earth should he do?

This was the question weighing on Dong Yunpo's mind. Meng Xian's power had long surpassed his initial expectations, leaving him with a lingering sensation that everything was entirely within the Soul Master's control. Nonetheless, Dong Yunpo had no choice but to keep climbing the steps.

Dead or alive, he would know once he met Meng Xian!

However, his opponent perhaps no longer intended to let him reach that point peacefully.

The first to launch an attack was the [Valiant Soul] Shen Ling, who had been traveling alongside Dong Yunpo. With a flash of cold light, a sleek blade sliced open Dong Yunpo’s body from behind. Yet, the very next moment, Dong Yunpo reappeared directly behind Shen Ling.

A familiar technique: a violent eruption of the Soul Roar!

Shattering stones shook the earth as the floor of this level suddenly pulverized. However, the Valiant Soul had already moved to Dong Yunpo's flank, slashing fiercely in a wide half-circle resembling a crescent moon.

Dong Yunpo took a step back to evade the razor-sharp edge, spun around, and lashed out with the shaft of his Soul-Lost Spear. Considering himself a decisive man, he knew this left his opponent with nowhere to dodge!

Duck!

Shen Ling managed to duck beneath the sweeping spear shaft. Air currents exploded outward, and the soul roar was staggering, but this was merely the beginning.

Cutting to another scene, Tu Bao and Shen Yin confronted one another on the tenth level of the Soul-Suppressing Pagoda.

The [Strength Soul] Tu Bao frowned. "I didn't expect it to be you."

"Indeed, neither did I," [Human] replied. "I had hoped not to be your opponent."

A trace of sorrow tainted the young woman's delicate cheeks. "Yet, I had no choice."

"Neither did I."

Tu Bao sighed heavily, then widened his stance, gripping his fists—one forward, one back—into a defensive posture. For him, countering after the enemy struck was his absolute forte.

[Heaven-Falling Blade]

Ranked fourth in the manual of blades, the weapon was unsheathed once more. The tip of the sword rippled with acquired vital breath. This storm-like flurry of rapid thrusts left Tu Bao in utter misery, yet he still managed to dismantle his opponent's offensive momentum.

Though his movement speed was not fast, it did not mean his reaction time was slow. The vast majority of those frantic stabbing strikes fell on empty space.

His bronze-colored skin effectively concealed the scars of his past. Now, he swerved his torso, letting the blade graze past his flank, and extended his iron-like right arm to grab Shen Yin's left shoulder.

However, his opponent flicked her wrist, causing the blade to whip around in her grip, forcing Tu Bao to abandon the grab. Tu Bao immediately slammed his foot onto the ground.

A wave of air dispersed, forcing Yuhua back two steps, though not a shred of panic could be seen in her eyes. Instead, she swept one hand across the blade's edge, wisps of aura steaming upward from her feet.

A solemn expression surfaced in Tu Bao's eyes. Striding forward without giving her time to react, he unleashed a vicious whip kick!

Yet, what met him was the flat side of the blade. Amidst the sweeping motion, Tu Bao forcefully elevated his lower leg, vaulted over the sharp edge, and kicked straight into the [Human]'s left arm.

No sound, no impact noise, no exploding air currents—the sole attribute of the [Strength Soul]: internal damage!

Meanwhile, Li Fengyin, Amy, and the [Essence Soul] Shen Xi descended deeper down the Soul-Suppressing Pagoda. Deeper and deeper they went, losing count of the meters, feeling as though the ground itself had long been left far behind.