Evil Venerable of the Sword Dao
Chapter 490 - 136 Soul Path Breaks Sealing [2]

Chapter 490: Chapter 136 Soul Path Breaks Sealing [2]

Soul after soul, like shades of the Netherworld, flew out from Xiong Ba’s body.

Each person possesses only one soul, yet Xiong Ba’s soul was not merely singular; there were many.

Yet Bai Ying, witnessing this scene, felt no surprise, as if it were completely normal.

She watched as streams of Void Souls flew out of Xiong Ba’s body and formed patterns resembling Ancient Array Runes; only then did Bai Ying solemnly speak, "I had not expected your Soul Path Technique to be remembered, though it is quite elementary. However, to maintain such Ghost Souls at this realm is already extremely commendable."

After White Fox finished speaking, he similarly released waves of Ghost Souls, each one resembling his true soul. As these souls flew out, each one met face to face with Xiong Ba’s souls and engaged in a mysterious transfer of power for healing, using Ancient Netherworld Runes.

Originally, there were only two people here, but now it looked as though nearly ten thousand cultivators were simultaneously healing, creating an immensely awe-inspiring and grand spectacle.

This process also lasted for a very long time.

During this process, Xiong Ba’s Ghost Souls shattered one after another; White Fox Bai Ying’s Ghost Souls also fractured and were lost, significantly depleting their strengths.

But every time a Ghost Soul shattered, a new one would grow back, almost maintaining a balanced ratio.

However, as time went on, this situation began to change.

Gradually, the shattering of Ghost Souls occurred more quickly, while those that derived anew became fewer.

This process accelerated, and in less than half a day, all that remained of Xiong Ba’s Ghost Souls were ten.

Among these ten, the Three Souls and Seven Spirits stabilized distinctly, no longer absorbing or releasing the power of Netherworld Runes.

These Three Souls and Seven Spirits seemed to have become eternal, unaffected by changes in time and space.

At this point, White Fox Bai Ying took a deep breath and finally retracted the shattered Ghost Souls.

The vanished Ghost Souls, like particles of light, formed into black lines and immediately flew back into her body.

In just a moment, White Fox Bai Ying returned to her normal state, but her complexion suddenly turned extremely pale, and her strength was significantly weakened.

The Twelve Magnetic Light Columns, as if sensing something, erupted with destructive Killing Dao at the same time, firmly targeting White Fox Bai Ying. Bai Ying, unflinching and undodging, allowed the twelve beams of Slaughter Light to shine upon her.

Her body then generated endless Ghost Souls again, each one like herself, continuously forming endless Ancient Runes to weaken the murderous intent of the light columns.

The dense Ghost Souls, each controlling a type of Netherworld Rune, quickly extinguished the endless Primordial Magnetic Light of Slaughter, and ultimately, with a shake of her body, White Fox expelled a great mouthful of blood and extinguished the light of the Twelve Magnetic Light Columns completely.

At this moment, Xiong Ba radiated a stunning brilliance; it seemed he had unlocked the supreme prohibitions of his body. After the Three Souls and Seven Spirits were in place, all the Seals on him were released, and his strength almost instantly returned to its peak.

However, his expression wasn’t joyful; rather, it was somber.

"Bai Ying, something is amiss, although fully recovered, my strength seems not to have reached the peak of yesteryears, and now it might not be enough to instantly kill a Saint," Xiong Ba said with a tinge of disappointment in his voice.

"I know, this is actually the best outcome. You were sealed for so long and repeatedly overdrawn the potential in your body, causing nearly eternal injuries to your Three Souls and Seven Spirits. It’s fortunate that your strength did not regress, and being able to recover to a realm nearly equal to that of Nine Origin Sword Saint is the best outcome I could derive," White Fox Bai Ying explained.

"That’s good, I was just worried about wasting your painstaking efforts. Since everything went smoothly, then we can search for Wan Jian Tian," Xiong Ba sighed with relief.

Since they had reached this step, there was nothing to regret. If the first step wasn’t perfect, the journey ahead would be even tougher. Now that Bai Ying described the first step as nearly perfect, he felt much more reassured.

"Allow me a moment to rest. Additionally, since you’ve just recovered, you should familiarize yourself with the Soul Path and Netherworld Runes. The way of Netherworld Runes and the Ancient Array Map are indeed related; it’s a pity we don’t understand them, otherwise, we could restore Wan Jian Tian’s strength even more."

Bai Ying said with some regret.

"There’s nothing we can do then. Although Netherworld Runes and Ancient Array Runes are remarkably similar, currently no genius cultivator has understood any commonality between them, let alone combining the two for application. Moreover, Wan Jian Tian’s potential has nearly been exhausted, and both his physical body and soul have withered and decayed; he’s hardly likely to be of much help. After all, he was already damaged when sealed, with only a fraction of his strength left," Xiong Ba said earnestly.

This matter was almost like striking a stone with an egg; he didn’t believe there was any chance of success, but some things had to be done even if there was no hope, or if the outcome was known to be cruel, didn’t they?

Just like his master... Some things seemed destined, unavoidable.

People, born as humans, exist under the Heavenly Dao and hold onto their own perseverance.

If one day, they lose that perseverance, cultivation becomes meaningless and people become crazed and hysterical, devoid of humanity.

"I’ll try my best. The capabilities of the Ten Thousand Years Soul Path are vast, and the Thunder Flame Soul Liquid might be beneficial. But I don’t know to what extent I can restore him."

White Fox Bai Ying pondered for a moment, then focused again, using immense Soul Power to operate the Soul Path Technique.

The Soul Path is exceedingly eerie and unique—it’s akin to the endless splitting of the soul, a proliferative method of human growth, considered a Supreme Dao of Heaven and Earth, unfathomable in its depth.

The Soul Path can derive millennia, transforming the soul into a state beyond imagination.

The physical body continuously proliferates and transforms, growing from a single particle into the flesh of vast and ancient life forms, but the physical body will eventually decay.

However, the soul is different. When the soul proliferates to the extreme, it can form an Ancient Ghost Soul body, eternal and indestructible, making this technique deeply mysterious and terrifying.

And when the soul becomes potent through transformation, slaying cultivators becomes as simple as cutting grass.

Yet not every cultivator can practice the Soul Path; without inheritance and talent, even if all its secrets were exposed, no one could cultivate it.

This is a Super God technique.

White Fox Bai Ying was cultivating the Soul Path, healing her past wounds. Xiong Ba’s sealing turned out to be simpler than she expected; firstly, Xiong Ba had some understanding of the Soul Path, and secondly, he had refined some Netherworld Runes, able to control a Divine-level Killing Array. Thus, he had inadvertently weakened the sealing, nearly loosening it himself.

If Bai Ying hadn’t intervened, it might have unsealed itself after a certain amount of time.

However, Wan Jian Tian was different. He bore the burden of Twelve Magnetic Light Columns and Soul Killing Chains on his body, his sealing immensely powerful.

"Rest assured, if it really doesn’t work, I will shatter my soul. Although Elder Wan Jian Tian and I don’t see eye to eye, his capabilities are indeed stronger than mine. Even if his body is nearly decayed, once he makes a move, his methods will be much more refined than mine. I, Xiong Ba, have to admit that," Xiong Ba said candidly.

Bai Ying nodded, starting to derive the Ghost with extreme power, restoring her own Soul Power at a horrifying rate, enhancing the Soul Path Technique to an extreme.

A moment later, White Fox Bai Ying opened her eyes, a resolute light flashing within as she said, "Alright, let’s set off."

"Good, then I’ll control the Divine-level Killing Array to attack the Twelve Magnetic Light Columns," Xiong Ba pondered.

Bai Ying nodded.

Having the Divine-level Killing Array attack the Twelve Magnetic Light Columns was a better outcome than she anticipated because if she herself had used the Soul Path to attack the Twelve Magnetic Light Columns to enter the core of the columns, the probability of unleashing Wan Jian Tian would be nearly zero.

With the Divine-level Killing Array replacing the Soul Path to attack the Twelve Magnetic Light Columns, the success rate increased at least by thirty percent. While a thirty percent success rate was still low, it was entirely worth the gamble.

Seeing Bai Ying nod, Xiong Ba took a deep breath, deriving the Divine-level Killing Array.

As the Killing Array launched, heaven and earth changed color, and the Ten Thousand Ghosts Sword Tomb’s Netherworld Demon Cave immediately underwent severe tremors.

The Killing Array derived overwhelming power, like roaring waves, suddenly striking the Twelve Magnetic Light Columns, which immediately erupted into dazzling Guanghua. This Guanghua, like destructive orbs of light, annihilated everything it touched, akin to a light of world destruction.

"Boom boom boom—"

"Puff puff puff—"

Heaven and earth were penetrated by the Divine-level Killing Array, and the Twelve Magnetic Light Columns seemed to destroy the world with terrifying Guanghua, repeatedly shattering space and various restraining powers.

The explosion and collision of the two forces were unimaginably terrifying and powerful.

If outside, heaven and earth would be shattered, but the Ten Thousand Ghosts Sword Tomb, an invincible space, though not destroyed, had many areas directly ruined into wreckage.

The disturbance caused by the Ten Thousand Ghosts Sword Tomb deterred any cultivator from approaching, even the Saints, who were exceedingly wary.

For this was the aura of the Divine-level Killing Array’s collapse, the sign of the Twelve Destructive Light Columns erupting.

A terrifying killing power that could destroy even Saints who came close.

The disturbance left Xiong Ba bleeding from every orifice, the immense impact nearly obliterated him. Fortunately, his physical body was extremely strong, allowing him to survive the ordeal, but ultimately, he had to relinquish the Divine-level Killing Array as he could not maintain it, allowing it to fail and shatter.

If he hadn’t let go, he likely would have died from the backlash, but by letting go, he only lost the Divine-level Killing Array. Regrettable, yet he preserved his life.