Chapter 41: Targeted

The night in Xingluo Cheng is very long; for a city with a permanent population of eight million, prosperity is not the whole story. Where there is moonlight, there will be shadows that the moonlight cannot penetrate.

Zhang San knelt on one knee before a mass of black-gray mist.

The black mist obscured the other party's figure, making it impossible to see even a hint of a silhouette; one could only see two deep, bloody eyes within the black mist.

"Outlaw Zhang San, what business do you have with this seat?"

"You should understand that I do not like to participate in the affairs of the Holy Cult."

"Yes, my lord."

Zhang San prostrated himself, his voice trembling.

"The people from Shrek have uprooted our stronghold in Xingluo Cheng. Your subordinate previously fell into their hands, but I would rather die than submit. Fortunately, I was helped by a senior and escaped the pursuit of the evil Shrek."

"Hmph!" The bloody eyes in the black mist scrutinized Zhang San and said coldly, "Get to the point; the matter of the stronghold has nothing to do with me."

"Yes, Venerable Lord." Zhang San trembled, "This matter might allow the Holy Cult's strength to increase significantly, which is why your subordinate is reporting it out of turn."

Zhang San told everything, from the black-robed masked person rescuing him to being told about the Medical Immortal Douluo in the Xingluo Huanggong.

"Oh?" Hearing Zhang San's explanation, the voice of the figure in the black mist sounded slightly surprised.

"A Soul Master with the Death Attribute? Interesting. However, can life and death be converted?"

"Judging by what you mean, it seems there is more than just Wang Xian'er."

"Is that right?"

"Yes, that is what that person said." Zhang San buried his head very low.

The black mist dissipated, revealing a man with a mask whose figure was not particularly handsome.

"Borrowing a knife to kill; do you really think our Holy Spirit Cult is stupid?"

"What does my lord mean?"

Zhang San looked bewildered.

"Chi—"

A black light pierced through Zhang San's chest.

"Wh-why?"

Zhang San's eyes widened, filled with astonishment.

He had brought such important intelligence to the Holy Cult; by any logic or reason, they should not have killed him.

"Trash, you didn't even know you were being tracked."

He watched quietly as Zhang San collapsed into a pool of blood, observing the life force of the person before him vanish.

He resisted the urge to consume Zhang San's soul and turned to leave.

"I didn't find the intelligence the Cult Master wanted, but confirming that Wang Xian'er can be converted into an Evil Soul Master counts as repaying that original favor."

"Two Soul Masters with the Death Attribute?"

"Although it might be a case of borrowing a knife to kill, it is necessary to confirm it in detail."

The figure who spoke disappeared into the night.

About ten minutes later.

In the alley, an aura appeared once again.

The aura possessed light and fire.

The man wore a mask, his body covered by a black cloak.

"Hmm, exposed?" The black-robed masked man was silent for a long time, staring at the chest of Zhang San that had been pierced by the black light, and muttered, "Judging from the aura, the other party is at least a 95th Level Titled Douluo."

"95th Level strength, this is a bit troublesome!"

The black-robed masked man pondered; his own high-end combat power could not be brought over.

A dark flame landed on Zhang San's body, and in an instant, a raging fire ignited within the alley.

The next day.

Having spent the previous day in a game of wits with the Star Luo Emperor and Yan Shaozhe of Shrek, Xiadie, exhausted, had a wonderful sleep in her residence.

The morning sun shone on Xiadie's cheeks, her translucent hair shimmering with luster; the illuminated hair felt warm, giving off a tranquil atmosphere.

"Without the pressure of Laigushi, my whole body feels much more relaxed!"

With her hands resting on the windowsill, letting the newborn sunlight spill onto her body, Xiadie's demeanor was extremely lazy.

"I didn't expect Yan Shaozhe to enter the palace at that time; his Bright Phoenix martial soul was actually able to detect the death aura on her."

"This is a troublesome matter after all."

Killing Yan Shaozhe was impossible; her current strength could not achieve it, unless she could have a few Titled Douluo act as power banks for her.

When she crossed paths with Chi Wang in the Star Dou Great Forest, she absorbed the soul power of Xu Jiujiu, Manyi, and Wang Xian'er, but that only barely opened the Underworld Flower Sea.

It was different from the innate Domain of Yishi Mingyu.

The Underworld Flower Sea was more like a semi-plane existence like that of Yilaikesi.

It was not a mental world nor a Domain, but a portable plane that appeared along with her, Xiadie.

Her current martial soul, Boluokesi, was more like a projection of the real Boluokesi.

"Do I need the strength of a Titled Douluo?"

Recalling that when she opened the Underworld Flower Sea, it had almost drained the soul power she had absorbed using her Domain.

"I am too weak." Xiadie shook her head.

Two soul rings, one purple and one red, slowly rose.

"First Soul Skill—Ripple of the Dead Sea"

"Second Soul Skill—Dance of the Underworld Butterfly"

As the name suggests, her First Soul Skill is to condense any weapon using the Death Element; unlike the sluggishness before she obtained a soul ring, it can exist for a long time.

As for her second soul skill, it is to strip the Death Element from the air to grow Anti-Spirit Flowers, which allow for reconnaissance as long as they exist.

Before leaving the Huang Gong, she used her second soul skill to monitor Xu Jiawei and Wang Xian'er, only leaving once she was certain they had no intention of making a move.

Furthermore, the second soul skill can be used in conjunction with a Domain to condense a miniature version of the Domain.

The soul power consumption of teammates or enemies will be absorbed by the sub-domain and then fed back into Xiadie's own Domain, thereby increasing Xiadie's combat power.

It sounds complicated, but in practice, it is simple.

Both sides burn soul power, and as a support, her combat power just keeps jumping up.

It is not much different from dealing with Chi Wang in the Star Dou Great Forest, except that for a Domain, one needs the teammates' consent to extract power, whereas the second soul skill makes one stronger the longer the battle lasts.

This method of gathering soul power into a Domain and then using the Domain to condense attacks consumes a great deal of Spirit Power.

But if Xiadie has nothing else, her Spirit Power—aside from being unable to launch external attacks like a Spirit-type Soul Master—is unmatched across the entire continent.

Even if the Limit Douluo Wan Yao Wang dared to attack her with Spirit Power, she could 100% make Wan Yao Wang explode out all of his Limit Douluo-level soul rings and soul bones.

As for Gu Yue Na, who is also a princess living in seclusion, well.

Play it safe for now; it is unclear.

Xiadie's Spirit Power is very strong right now, but it is definitely not at its peak.

Xiadie took a deep breath and slowly retracted her soul ring.

"Level 26."

According to the terminology of this world, she should be a Great Soul Master.

As for real combat experience.

The accumulation of over thirty million lifetimes of experience is the proof, even without becoming an Emanator and exposing her strength to be detected by Laigushi.

Even though she was killed by Bai E time and time again, she does not feel she is much worse than Bai E.

That's right, Bai E has experienced over thirty million lifetimes and possesses countless sparks.

But he switched to later versions of Bai E to take over the relay several times, while she, Xiadie, has been the original version from beginning to end.

Having truly experienced the pain of over thirty million lifetimes, that is a knife stabbing into the heart every single time.

In other words, "My pain is not necessarily above yours, but my pain is definitely more ancient than yours."

She isn't actually a masochist like Polyxena says; who wouldn't have resentment after being stabbed so many times?

"Knock, knock, knock."

Xiadie looked toward the direction of the main door.

Why is she here?

Is the Deputy Hall Master of the Star Luo Empire's Hall of Worship really this idle?

Xiadie walked to the door and opened it.

"Your Excellency Medical Immortal, do you have business so early?"

"Some trouble has arisen." Wang Xian'er hesitated to speak.

"Your Excellency, come in and we shall talk." Xiadie welcomed Wang Xian'er in and poured a cup of tea for her and one for herself.

Wang Xian'er looked at the tea but did not drink.

"Xiadie, I am here to apologize to you." Wang Xian'er sighed, "Your Death Attribute may have been exposed."

"Hmm..." Xiadie's eyelids flickered, "Who exposed it?"

"I'm not sure." Wang Xian'er shook her head,

"We caught two Evil Soul Masters in the Huang Gong this morning; they seemed to have come to investigate the Death Attribute Soul Master in the Huang Gong."