Chapter 91: Tie Wu

Behind the three of them, a group of Soul Masters were pursuing them, about seven or eight in number, all at the Second Ring level, with a white and a yellow Soul Ring configuration.

In contrast, the three of them each had the optimal Soul Ring configuration of two yellows.

Tie Li's brows showed a hint of doubt; logically, after being cultivated by the Spirit Hall, their strength should surpass that of ordinary Soul Masters, making it not difficult to deal with Soul Masters of the same level, let alone all three having the optimal Soul Ring configuration.

Hm?

Tie Li sensed the presence of a Fallen Soul Master in the soul power emanating from that group of Soul Masters.

Upon closer inspection, their eyes appeared hollow, showing no emotional fluctuation, like puppets.

Thus, there was a Fallen Soul Master hidden in the shadows.

Tie Li did not rush forward to rescue; he took a tungsten gold bow from his storage ring.

The arrow feather rested on the bowstring, with slender violet arcs of electricity encircling the tip.

Whoosh

The rush through the air sounded like a flash of violet lightning.

Bang

It pierced a man's chest, pinning him firmly to the tree.

This shift immediately drew the attention of Tie Wu and his two companions.

Rescue arrived?

That was their first reaction; they immediately stopped fleeing.

Whoosh whoosh whoosh

Three more violet flashes flickered before their eyes; the Soul Masters chasing them lacked agility, their movements a bit stiff, unable to dodge the arrow feather, which pierced their chests and nailed them to the tree trunks.

Whoosh

Another arrow was fired, but this time a gaunt, withered figure blocked it.

A white, a yellow, and a violet Soul Ring floated on his body.

"It's Ku Mu, that's him," Tie Wu's eyes narrowed as he recognized the gaunt figure.

That was also their mission on this trip: to hunt a Fallen Three Ring Soul Honorable.

Three Second Ring Grand Soul Masters aiming to kill a Three Ring Soul Honorable, as long as they coordinate properly, the problem is basically minor.

What they didn't expect was that Ku Mu could control other Soul Masters, suddenly adding eight Second Ring Grand Soul Masters, exceeding their control.

"You three kids aren't bad, just right to be my puppets, hehe."

"As for you, it'd be best if you die."

Ku Mu's Second Soul Ring lit up; the remaining four Grand Soul Master puppets suddenly surged with astonishing speed, attacking Tie Li's position from four directions.

Tie Wu and his two companions, seeing no puppets beside Ku Mu, exchanged a glance and launched a joint attack on Ku Mu.

Two strong attacks and one control—a formation of their training squad.

"Hehe, I just love watching you struggle desperately," Ku Mu let out a sinister laugh.

The Third Soul Ring lit up, representing the violet Thousand-Year Soul Ring.

The four puppet Soul Masters, originally pierced in the chest by Tie Li's arrow and nailed to the tree, suddenly swelled; their skin turned an unhealthy gray-brown, forcibly pulling the arrow feather from their chests. The arrowhead bore dried blood, yet the wounds bled not a drop.

Roar

A nonhuman roar erupted from its mouth, charging at the three of Tie Wu like a maddened Soul Beast.

The Soul Rings on the three lit up, but only a brief flash; the strong‑attack type Tie Wu and Xiong Fu were knocked back, while Mu Lin used Ghost Vine to entangle the four's ankles, buying his two companions a little time.

After being enhanced by the Thousand-Year Soul Technique, the four puppets' body strength reached the level of a Three Ring Soul Honorable.

With Ku Mu's control from the side, the four puppets' combat awareness surged dramatically.

Ku Mu, thinking everything was under his control, let out a chilling laugh.

Boom—

The distant thudding on the ground and the flicker of violet lightning froze the smile on Ku Mu's face.

Puff—

The Fallen Soul Master, his spirit rebounding, spat out black‑red blood that reeked with a foul stench.

Impossible—he's clearly a Soul Elder; how could he eliminate my four puppets in one go?

The puppets amplified by the Second Soul Technique reached Soul Elder level in speed and attack; he once used four puppets to hold back two Soul Elders.

Even if outmatched, how could he not buy any time at all?

Boom

Planting his feet, Tie Li's figure surged upward, first hammering the puppet nearest to Tie Wu into the air.

The massive force combined with the destructive power of violet thunder, toppling several massive trees; countless bones in his body snapped, while violet arcs mercilessly drained his life force.

"Come at me."

Ku Mu's complexion changed; he instantly commanded the remaining three puppets to assault Tie Li simultaneously.

His First Soul Ring emitted an abnormal white glow.

Due to the innate nature of his martial soul, regardless of what Soul Ring he absorbs, his First Soul Technique cannot change; it can only be used on Soul Masters, manipulating their minds and turning them into puppets.

Once turned into a puppet, even if Ku Mu is killed, the mind cannot be restored; without a soul‑restoring herb or elixir, the rest of one's life is spent in a muddled haze, the so‑called fool.

The greater one's spiritual power exceeds the opponent's, the higher the success rate.

Thus he always selects Second Ring Grand Soul Masters as targets, preferably crippling them so their consciousness blurs, which yields the highest success rate.

Switching to a Three Ring Soul Honorable, even if severely wounded, the spiritual power gap is minimal, making success difficult.

He is now releasing his First Soul Technique on Tie Li because the situation has slipped beyond his control; he is like a drowning man, grasping at any chance to survive.

Tie Li only felt his head grow heavy, his spiritual power jolted, and then recovered as such.

"Ah!"

The withered tree let out a mournful scream, blood streaming from all five orifices, and at that instant it lost control of its puppet.

Reacting instantly, Tie Li understood what was happening, and the head of the Purple Thunder Hammer aimed at the withered tree's head.

Puff—

It burst like a watermelon, white‑red blood and gunk splattering outward.

The mental pressure deep within Baidi had once been unbearable for Tie Li, but it also served as a cultivation of his spiritual power, making his spiritual power extremely resilient.

When the withered tree died, its puppet lost control and became dazed.

Tie Wu watched Tie Li's back, and an inexplicable sense of familiarity and warmth rose in his heart.

When he saw Tie Li's appearance, his emotions began to get out of control.

Tie Li quickly gave him a glance; Tie Wu immediately lowered his head, fearing his companions would notice his oddness, and suppressed his emotions internally.

"Thank you, senior, for your assistance." Mu Lin and Xiong Fu opened their mouths to thank.

If it weren't for Tie Li's appearance, they would have gotten into big trouble today.

Moreover, this is their first mission; if it ends in failure, no matter what happens during the process, their evaluation within the Spirit Hall will drop.

"The Fallen are a potential threat to every Soul Master; I'm not only helping you, I'm also helping myself."

Tie Li hasn't seen his younger brother for years, so he naturally has many things to say, but with Tie Wu's companion still beside him—both are members of the Spirit Hall—his earlier feigned death was also linked to the Spirit Hall, so he certainly cannot casually reveal his true identity.

(End of Chapter)