NOVEL WEB Chapter 150: Lotus-Hearted Demons.
After leaving the Evil Dragon Arena, Huo Yuhao began wandering through Ghost Street. His main objective was to gather various rare materials—ores, metals, gemstones, and parts from soul beasts.
After all, in a fantasy world like this, even ores often carried unique properties and attributes.
No wonder it's called Ghost Street of Mingdu—so many illegal goods, and surprisingly high-quality ones too. You could even buy strategic-level resources that were officially prohibited.
For example, banned rare metals.
To buy these, Huo Yuhao emptied his personal stash of savings. Of course, he also employed his "Lucky Pickups" ability. Occasionally, he'd even randomly collect souls and flesh.
Some of these materials were for fusing with the Ghost Banner martial soul—specifically to enhance its banner pole, imbuing it with unique abilities. For instance, a special gemstone used in storage-type soul tools allowed his Ghost Banner martial soul to gain spatial capabilities.
But most of the materials were fed to the Mutated Ice Centipede martial soul. Using its Devour technique, it absorbed them to strengthen itself while gaining new abilities.
At this point, the Mutated Ice Centipede martial soul was increasingly becoming a great demon.
In fact, based on its current power, calling it a "great demon" wasn't an exaggeration. Compared to the former Pudu Cihang, it only lagged in cultivation and experience. In terms of abilities and skill sets, it was actually more advanced.
After a massive round of shopping, Huo Yuhao had acquired almost everything he had his eyes on.
Once he passed through the domain of the Evening Water Alliance, spending the night's earnings, he added several new items to his collection—crystal-like cores.
These were ten-thousand-year Evil Eye crystal cores!
They were rare materials, typically used to craft soul tools with spiritual attributes or serve as the cores for special devices. But for Huo Yuhao, their primary use was to feed the Mutated Ice Centipede to enhance its spiritual attributes. Of course, at the ten-thousand-year level, they could only provide a small boost.
Still, better than nothing.
After all, resources you ignore will be consumed by others, who will grow stronger bit by bit until they become overwhelming forces capable of devouring you.
Huo Yuhao had no intention of letting that happen. That's why he never wasted "food." He wanted to become the devouring force himself.
Leaving the Evening Water Alliance's domain, he passed through several small underground factions and entered the Common Alliance's territory.
The small forces situated between the two major ones didn't really get a share of the profits. They existed more as a buffer zone between the two powerhouses and often had to pay "protection fees" to both sides.
Yet despite that, many factions still dreamed of setting up shop here. Without background support, even obtaining such a territory was impossible.
The Common Alliance's turf also had similar businesses to the Evening Water Alliance—but the overall style was vastly different. Their side was far livelier, filled with music and dance, and their soul-guide lamps glowed with suggestive hues.
Because they couldn't compete with the Evening Water Alliance in raw power, the Common Alliance took the route of soft power—focusing on indulgence and entertainment.
Compared to the Evening Water Alliance, Huo Yuhao actually preferred the Common Alliance's territory. Not because of the abundance of women, but because of the abundance of desire!
In just two days, Huo Yuhao had thoroughly mapped out the Common Alliance's operations. With his Spiritual Detection, no secret could hide from him.
Thus, with ease and familiarity, Huo Yuhao entered a large entertainment venue. No one followed him, so he didn't bother with disguises—and nobody noticed him anyway.
Using his spiritual techniques, he lowered his presence. Even the venue's staff failed to notice him as he entered.
Like that, he bypassed all security and walked straight into one of the deeper VIP rooms. Taking out his pre-prepared drinks and snacks, he began to enjoy them while cultivating.
Yes, cultivating!
Huo Yuhao was using the rampant desires flowing through the Common Alliance to fuel his practice.
Especially in this, the largest entertainment venue—overflowing with the Seven Emotions and Six Desires—it was an inexhaustible wellspring.
Such a fertile ground—it would be a waste not to cultivate.
The VIP room he chose was reserved for nobles. Since they didn't visit daily, Huo Yuhao had no worries about being found.
And if a noble did show up?
Well, that noble would be meeting another kind of noble indeed.
This form of cultivation didn't require Huo Yuhao to do anything directly. All he had to do was draw the emotional energies from the crowd outside into his left hand, where thousands of female souls resided. These souls would absorb the emotions and transform them into power, which in turn was fed back to Huo Yuhao.
Those female souls were all former furnaces—women Huo Yuhao had harvested via dual cultivation. He had deliberately kept their souls intact.
He had even taught them how to cultivate using emotional energies. For women who died in ecstasy, practicing through the Seven Emotions and Six Desires was extremely efficient.
In truth, this was a demonic technique.
Righteous paths also had methods of cultivating through emotion and desire—but they used their own emotional energy. Huo Yuhao, on the other hand, was harvesting others', which was essentially the same as dual-cultivation predation.
But the effect was outstanding.
In just over a day, those thousands of female souls had all grown stronger. Their souls were now laced with multicolored auras, showing signs of transformation.
They were on the verge of becoming demons.
If these souls successfully transformed, the power they returned to Huo Yuhao would allow him to master the path of emotions and desires.
And if they continued evolving, they might even trigger the awakening of a divine ability in Huo Yuhao.
Of course, their rapid growth wasn't just thanks to the favorable environment. It was also because Huo Yuhao was employing scorched-earth tactics, extracting others' emotions with abandon.
After all, he couldn't stay here forever. He needed to maximize returns in minimal time.
Emotions and desires stem from human essence. Extracting them is no different from draining life force. The most obvious symptoms: fatigue, weakness, and depletion.
But for the people coming here to indulge, waking up sore and drained the next day? Totally normal. They'd even think, "Wow, what a great night. Can't wait to come back!"
So no one ever suspected Huo Yuhao's methods.
Besides, hardly anyone on the Douluo Continent understood this stuff to begin with.
Even if someone did die on the spot from having all their essence drained, others would just say: "Dude couldn't handle it. Played too hard and dropped dead."
Meanwhile, inside the Miniature World Gourd, apart from the transforming souls, there was a bluish glow in another corner. Within it, a golden humanoid figure sat cross-legged, also undergoing final transformation.
It was the fusion of Huo Yuhao's true body avatar with ancient soul beast bones—a brand-new incarnation about to be born. It could be called an external avatar.
And a special one at that!
This new form would inherit the ancient soul beast's power and also share the abilities of Huo Yuhao's true body avatar. Once complete, it would possess the same level and strength as Huo Yuhao himself.
"Everyone's evolving… everyone's transforming… Wonderful. Just wonderful," Huo Yuhao murmured, sipping his drink while intensifying his emotional extraction.
Pleasurable cultivation time always passes quickly.
It was soon the latter half of the night, and even the entertainment venues grew quiet. After all, everyone's emotions and vitality had been drained all evening, leaving them exhausted.
Huo Yuhao reluctantly left Ghost Street.
"Once these souls transform, they can hide in Ghost Street to cultivate on their own, and I won't need to bring them here anymore," Huo Yuhao thought to himself.
Then, he'd have more time for the next phase of his plan.
The tunnel had already been dug to the Sun Moon Empire's harem!
No need to wait long—based on current progress, the souls would complete their transformation by tomorrow.
After leaving Ghost Street, Huo Yuhao returned to his base.
Having watched the lively scenes at the entertainment venues all night, Huo Yuhao was brimming with energy. As usual, the four maidservants eagerly came to him.
Under Huo Yuhao's influence, the four could no longer restrain themselves. They were fine when he wasn't around, but in his presence, desire consumed them.
This was a cumulative effect.
Desire is like a towering snow mountain: once cracks form and sliding begins, it collapses into an unstoppable avalanche!
With Zhang Lexuan's tacit approval, the five-person "team-up" had become routine. Zhang Lexuan even created favorable conditions for them.
For instance, she'd sometimes announce she'd be out for a while, returning in the afternoon, allowing Huo Yuhao and the maidservants to freely explore bolder "techniques."
But Huo Yuhao always noticed that Zhang Lexuan, supposedly absent, would secretly observe from the shadows.
The maidservants, none of whom were Soul Sages, couldn't detect her, so they acted uninhibitedly.
Zhang Lexuan believed her concealment was flawless, certain Huo Yuhao and the others wouldn't notice.
Recently, her "outings" had grown more frequent, and the maidservants bolder.
Huo Yuhao returned to his room and hadn't sat long when the four maidservants, as if on cue, slipped in. Huo'er exclaimed excitedly, "Yuhao, little brother, Her Holiness the Saintess is out again. We can have fun today!"
But Huo Yuhao looked wistful. He no longer feigned resistance, instead acting serious. "Sisters, your lack of restraint will only harm you."
"What are you saying, little brother? Aren't you happy?" Jin'er teased. "Don't you enjoy all four of us serving you?"
"Besides, you have a special constitution," Huo'er added.
Shui'er chimed in, "Just think of it as us cultivating to better assist Her Holiness later. Help us, Yuhao, little brother~"
Mu'er, the shyest, blushed and mumbled, "Cultivation… addictive."
Huo Yuhao: "…"
Addicted to cultivation? I can't even call you out!
After teaming up for so long, Huo Yuhao had given the four some benefits, boosting their cultivation. They were now close to Soul Sage.
His special constitution was naturally exposed.
Zhang Lexuan had known this for a while. Showing no reaction would've raised suspicions.
This made the maidservants even fonder of Huo Yuhao.
Before he could play the gentleman further, the four shed their outer garments. To his surprise, beneath weren't their usual clothes but provocative, varied-style lingerie.
They'd come prepared!
"What's wrong, Yuhao, little brother? Stunned? Want to feel the wonders of our outfits?" Jin'er teased.
"It… it was Jin'er's idea," Mu'er stammered.
"Come on~~~" the others coaxed.
The four pulled Huo Yuhao from his chair.
Jin'er suddenly covered his eyes from behind, whispering seductively, "Yuhao, little brother, how about something more thrilling this time?"
"Do as you please, sisters. What can I do if I disagree?" Huo Yuhao sighed, feigning helplessness.
The four giggled, keeping his eyes covered, and led him out of the room to a new one.
When Jin'er uncovered his eyes, Huo Yuhao saw where he was, and his expression froze.
"This is…"
"This is Her Holiness's room~" Jin'er purred.
"No, we can't do this here!"
"It's fine. As long as we're careful, we'll clean up afterward…" Huo'er reassured.
"Mmph…" Huo Yuhao's protests were muffled.
The maidservants weren't just ice-and-fire duality; each had unique traits and skills.
Battling in Zhang Lexuan's room made them feel an extra thrill, and their performance surpassed all prior sessions, exceeding expectations.
It wasn't just them—even Zhang Lexuan, watching secretly, felt a sense of involvement.
At dawn, Huo Yuhao left, still craving more. The exhausted maidservants began diligently cleaning the room's mess.
Behind a wall outside, Zhang Lexuan, disheveled and weak, leaned against it, staring blankly at the sky. Her emotionally suppressed eyes flickered with feeling.
The mental barrier suppressing her emotions had loosened!
Regaining strength, she wiped her index and middle fingers, hiding her soaked skirt.
Her eyes returned to absolute calm.
Zhang Lexuan began to reflect.
Initially, she'd relied on self-relief, but its effect waned.
Discovering that watching Huo Yuhao heightened the thrill helped.
But now, even voyeurism was losing its edge.
It wasn't Huo Yuhao's fault—she was growing accustomed.
"I need stronger, more direct stimulation to further shake the barrier, but…" Her rationality warned against going further, as it would breach ethics.
Yet, thinking of the lingering mental barrier, she hesitated.
Ultimately, reason prevailed.
"These recent attempts have weakened the barrier's hold. I can hold out another half-month, which should be enough," she told herself.
But some things weren't entirely up to her.
…
Day Four.
Huo Yuhao effortlessly dispatched another opponent.
His fame grew, drawing crowds specifically for his matches. While three consecutive wins weren't rare, days of unbroken victories were.
Spectators wondered: didn't Huo Yuhao ever need to recover?
Seeing him crush opponents instantly, they realized he truly didn't.
He was genuinely formidable!
Naturally, he attracted attention. Some wanted to recruit him, others to collaborate, and some to eliminate him privately to uncover his strength's secret.
Oddly, the Holy Spirit Cult didn't cling to him like a plaster.
But no one in Ghost Street had yet acted against him.
Huo Yuhao, as usual, collected his prize money, shopped, and headed to the Ordinary Alliance's territory to cultivate.
He ignored the schemers. Tonight, thousands of female ghosts in the Pot Heaven Space were set to transform into demons Can ghosts transform into demons?
The answer is: not inherently. Ghosts and demons are fundamentally different entities — they exist in parallel categories, not as stages in an evolutionary hierarchy.
A youkai (demon) arises from the anomaly of things.
A ghost is a lingering spirit that refuses to disperse.
However, ghosts can be transformed into demons through specific means.
To undergo such a transformation, a ghost typically requires a vessel — a thing to rely on. For example, attaching to white bones might create a bone demon; possessing a corpse might yield a corpse demon. Both are relatively common varieties.
Some exceptional ghosts, after becoming demons, retain ghostly traits. These beings are simultaneously ghost and demon — capable of absorbing the essence of sun and moon to cultivate power, while still devouring other ghosts to grow stronger. Their abilities are eerie, their strength formidable.
The thousands of female ghosts inside Huo Yuhao's miniature world also required a special transformation method to become demons.
He chose to convert them because, while he wasn't lacking in ghostly minions, he had very few demons under his command.
Ghosts have their uses; demons have theirs. Huo Yuhao needed to grasp both forces — firmly.
To be honest, the decision also stemmed from resource allocation: certain things useless to ghosts could be put to use by demons. Either way, these beings — whether ghosts or demons — would ultimately add to Huo Yuhao's power.
The big fish eats the small. Huo Yuhao simply had to eat the biggest fish.
Due to the sheer number of female ghosts, Huo Yuhao opted for the simplest method: vessel-based demonization. He provided each of them with a Blood-Essence Seed.
These seeds, infused with the life attributes of the snow lotus and rich with vital energy, were ideal for fueling demon transformation. Furthermore, because the seeds originated from the snow lotus, they potentially passed on some of the lotus's powers — boosting the transformation outcome.
It all happened in the same entertainment venue, the same private room — no dramatic spectacle, no overwhelming metamorphosis.
Only Huo Yuhao, carefully guiding the forces of human emotion — love, hate, desire — to irrigate the process, gently fusing the Blood-Essence Seeds into each ghost, like a patient gardener nurturing his flowers.
Bathed in a seven-colored glow, the female ghosts completed their final metamorphosis. They didn't stop at the spirit level — they leapt directly into true demonhood.
After transforming, they ceased their cultivation and knelt before Huo Yuhao in the enclosed world, every one of them expressing their heartfelt thanks.
"Greetings, Lord Bright King. Thank you for your divine enlightenment!"
Huo Yuhao gazed down into his pocket dimension, examining his new creations.
Though they had become demons, they remained humanoid in form. Each had acquired a new body of flesh and blood, retaining their former beauty — now even more enchanting, with a breathtaking allure.
Perhaps it was the influence of the snow lotus seeds: they lacked the sinister aura of ghosts and the bizarre qualities of typical demons. Instead, they radiated an almost sacred purity, like holy maidens.
They retained rational minds and memories from life, but were deeply influenced by the White Lotus teachings and cultivation method, ensuring unwavering loyalty to Huo Yuhao.
Additionally, many of them inherited portions of the snow lotus's powers — granting them deeper spiritual foundations and greater future potential.
What surprised Huo Yuhao most was that some had retained fragments of their martial spirits from life — turning these into techniques and abilities.
This made sense. The fact that ghost souls sealed in spirit banners could still use martial spirits and skills implied a close connection between soul and martial spirit. Their retention post-demonization wasn't that unusual, after all.
"Still, now that they've become demons, they can no longer be called 'ghosts'. Since they were all transformed using snow lotus seeds, I'll call them Lotus-Hearted Demons."
The newly named Lotus-Hearted Demons bowed again, voicing gratitude.
At the moment they received their names, their destinies became entwined with Huo Yuhao's. The glory of their entire race now belonged to him.
With a wave of his hand, Huo Yuhao dismissed most of the Lotus-Hearted Demons, sending them out to hide within the Ghost Street, where they would continue absorbing human emotions to cultivate power.
They infiltrated quietly, cloaking themselves using their innate shapeshifting abilities.
These powers — illusion, invisibility, aura suppression — came naturally to them, perhaps due to their foundation in White Lotus cultivation. It made mastering such techniques easier.
Some hid as flowers in pots, some attached themselves to objects, and others followed living people, secretly siphoning their emotional energy.
Huo Yuhao kept a few Lotus-Hearted Demons by his side — the most gifted among them — because he wanted to study their unique qualities.
Interestingly, among them were the wife and daughter of Prince Yongning. Both possessed extraordinary beauty and talent. After transforming, they were among the very finest of the group.
The daughter of Prince Yongning was especially gifted — gaining snow lotus powers like holy light and healing, while retaining part of her original Sun Martial Spirit. She had the greatest potential of them all.
"Thanks to Prince Yongning for this mother-daughter gift. Well then — time for a proper tasting."
"Please be gentle with us, Lord Bright King~"
To serve Huo Yuhao, the Lotus-Hearted Demons gave their all.
This wasn't some kind of cultivation session anymore. Huo Yuhao savored every nuance — especially the synergistic allure of the mother and daughter, whose appearances were 70% alike. The experience gave him a unique thrill.
"Perhaps I should pair Nan Shuishui and Nan Qiuqiu together next…" he mused, a little itchy with anticipation.
After his "appraisal," Huo Yuhao discovered something special: the Lotus-Hearted Demons were classified as soul beasts on the Douluo Continent.
Humanoid soul beasts were not unheard of — examples include the wolf-thieves, dragon girls, and mermaids.
Unfortunately, the Lotus-Hearted Demons lacked original yin essence, and were instead born as natural furnaces — special physiques ideal for cultivation support. Each possessed a rare, high-grade body that enhanced spirit power refinement with no side effects.
This made Huo Yuhao reluctant to part with them… though their current strength still left something to be desired.
"Nothing beats what you've created yourself — always fits just right," Huo Yuhao remarked again.
After finishing his inspection, Huo Yuhao let the remaining Lotus-Hearted Demons return to their training, then headed back to his residence.
Another day of pleasure — but this marked the beginning of chaos in Ghost Street.
Because now, thousands of Lotus-Hearted Demons had taken root there, treating every human who entered as a potential source of sustenance.
And Ghost Street was only the beginning…
Fifth Day — Daytime
It rained lightly over Mingdu, as if washing the city clean and leaving it brighter, more vibrant.
After taming four maids, Huo Yuhao's main body rested leisurely, conserving energy for the night's events.
Meanwhile, his Third Prince and Death God Envoy avatars encountered a new development. Just as the two avatars were cooperating smoothly, Xu Tiannan finally made his move.
The Third Prince had reached the mountain containing the Bright King Divine Artifact — a location whose existence was no secret. Naturally, Xu Tiannan was aware of it and intrigued.
Thus, both he and the Third Prince, each commanding their own army, met at the mountain's base.
Though both forces hailed from the Sun-Moon Empire, the lines between them were sharply drawn. There was a palpable tension — a sense of confrontation.
Even the cloudless blue sky above felt solemn and oppressive.
"Why is His Highness the Crown Prince not hiding safely in the rear this time? What brings you to the front lines? Have you finally grown the courage to clash with the White Lotus Cult?" The Third Prince was the first to speak, mocking with a sneer on his face.
Xu Tiannan eyed the Third Prince clad in his "Six Divine Armaments," his gaze growing slightly colder, though his expression remained composed. "What are you talking about, Third Brother? I was out there comforting the disaster-struck citizens of our empire. I came here today because I was worried about you. Since Father entrusted the task of suppressing the rebellion to the two of us, we should be working together, not apart."
"Heh, Xu Tiannan, this isn't the capital of Míngdu. There's no need to keep up the pretense anymore. Who are you trying to fool?" the Third Prince retorted bluntly.
"What are you saying, Third Brother? My intentions are genuine." Xu Tiannan smiled calmly, showing the composure of someone deeply calculating.
After all, there was no need to argue with a man already doomed.
His arrival today wasn't just for the artifact of the Bright King—it was also to eliminate the Third Prince.
Xu Tiannan had already gained a foothold in the southern province. With that base secured, it was time to remove the Third Prince. Allowing him to continue leading troops in the field made Xu Tiannan uneasy.
What worried him most was how the Third Prince had essentially turned his legion into a personal army, whereas Xu Tiannan's forces still acted solely on imperial orders.
But in Xu Tiannan's eyes, once the Third Prince was gone, his legions would be toothless—and ripe for the taking.
"Cut the crap, Xu Tiannan. You and I both know why you're here. Leave now, and no one gets hurt," the Third Prince said coldly.
As his words fell, his entire army stepped forward in unison, a chilling show of loyalty. It was clear they would draw blades against the Crown Prince and their supposed allies if the Third Prince so ordered!
Xu Tiannan's expression finally shifted. The officers behind him also paled.
They realized, to their shock, that the Third Prince's control over his forces was far greater than they had anticipated.
If he truly wanted to rebel, these soldiers would follow him without hesitation. It was especially alarming because two of his core units were formerly among the empire's most loyal—beast-taming war divisions.
How had the Third Prince pulled this off?
By what means?
"Your Highness," said a middle-aged man behind Xu Tiannan. This was none other than Xu Tianyuan—head of the Royal Dragon Soul Tool Corps, a prince of the Sun-Moon Empire, and cousin to both Xu Tiannan and the Third Prince.
Xu Tianyuan was warning Xu Tiannan that a fight with the Third Prince's army must be avoided.
No matter who emerged victorious, it would be a blow to the empire. Moreover, the Royal Dragon Soul Tool Corps—and the other Soul Tool divisions—did not belong to Xu Tiannan personally.
The Royal Dragon Soul Tool Corps in particular answered only to the imperial family. It was always neutral, serving only the interests of the throne.
If Xu Tiannan truly wanted to take command of this corps, he'd have to earn it—but he hadn't yet.
Upon hearing Xu Tianyuan's reminder, Xu Tiannan's tense expression eased slightly. He spoke gently, "Don't worry, Brother Tianyuan. I understand. Third Brother may be impetuous, but I am not."
He deliberately used a more affectionate tone, trying to curry favor with Xu Tianyuan.
Still, backing down wasn't an option.
Thus, he said, "Third Brother, you and I both know the importance of what lies within that mountain. It's very likely guarded by the White Lotus Cult's two strongest envoys—both of them titled Douluo. So my suggestion is: let's join forces. We retrieve the artifact together and bring it back to the capital for Father to decide its fate. What do you think?"
"No need for your help, Crown Prince. I'll deal with those two old dogs myself. When I retrieve the item, I'll personally deliver it to Father," the Third Prince replied, completely unmoved.
"Don't be reckless, Third Brother. Who knows how many traps lie in wait inside, or if the White Lotus Cult has stationed entire battalions in there? Don't forget—they once boasted over ten thousand soul masters. Our frontline camps suffered heavily because of them," Xu Tiannan said in a measured tone, then proposed, "How about this: You and I each take elite squads into the mountains lightly equipped. Our armies remain stationed outside as backup. That way, we can either advance or retreat depending on the situation."
"We're all acting in the interest of the empire. If you don't trust me, surely you trust Brother Tianyuan?"
"That artifact must be in the Empire's hands!" Xu Tianyuan declared his stance at last.
He was representing the empire itself.
A divine artifact capable of helping someone break through to the Titled Douluo rank was of enormous strategic value. It could never be allowed to fall into private hands.
Hearing Xu Tianyuan's words, the Third Prince hesitated—but eventually nodded. "Very well. As you say. It's better off in the empire's hands."
"You're truly a man of great foresight, Third Brother," Xu Tiannan said with a smile.
Xu Tianyuan also nodded and breathed a sigh of relief.
The Third Prince's concession meant he wasn't planning to seize power by force. Civil war could be avoided.
In truth, Xu Tianyuan was increasingly impressed with the Third Prince. He hadn't expected this level of competence. The rebellion suppression campaign had truly elevated his standing.
With consensus reached, the two legions set up camp—one on the southern side of the mountain, the other on the north.
Then, the Third Prince and Xu Tiannan each led teams composed of Titled Douluo, Level 9 Soul Engineers, and a unit of Soul Douluo into the mountain.
Xu Tiannan led his side personally, with Xu Tianyuan accompanying him, along with fifteen Soul Douluo who were also Level 8 Soul Engineers.
The Third Prince led his team as well, accompanied by Shadow Douluo and Porcelain Douluo, plus seven Soul Douluo who were also Level 8 Soul Engineers.
Xu Tiannan's team had more engineers; the Third Prince had more Titled Douluo.
At this point, Xu Tiannan had yet to reach the Titled Douluo rank himself, so his only such powerhouse was Xu Tianyuan.
With no objections from either side, they entered the mountain from the east.
With imperial forces positioned on the north, south, and east, the only unwatched direction was the west. But even that was guarded by western Sun-Moon Empire troops.
What none of them realized, however, was that several black-robed figures had quietly followed and infiltrated the mountain as well.
Silently, both teams made their way inside, alert for traps, moving swiftly to locate the artifact.
Surprisingly, the journey was smooth. They encountered no traps along the way.
By dusk, they had reached a valley in the mountains—and there, they finally found the Bright King's artifact.
In the center of the valley stood a crystalline, glowing pillar, luminous even as the daylight dimmed—striking and unmistakable.
Standing before it were two figures—the Death God Envoy and Eunuch Gao—guarding the artifact from atop a massive boulder.
There was no time for pleasantries.
"You're finally here. I was getting impatient~" Eunuch Gao said with a twisted smile.
The Death God Envoy followed. "Since you've come this far, you may as well stay. Come on out, my darlings!"
BOOM—
A thunderous crash echoed through the valley. The last rays of sunlight vanished at an unnatural pace. Darkness engulfed the entire gorge, as if they had stepped into a separate domain.
The next second, decayed hands burst from the earth—zombies clawing their way out of the soil.
The Undead Swarm was on the move!
The battle erupted without warning.
It was as if someone hit the skip button during a cutscene in a game.
No time for the drawn-out dialogue—just blood and carnage!
Fight! Fight!
Xu Tiannan, the Third Prince, and the others had remained vigilant, so they immediately reacted when the zombie horde surged out. None of them were caught off guard.
The zombies that appeared around them were instantly slain, and they swiftly prepared to face the encroaching undead from all directions.
"Form ranks to face the enemy!"
"Form ranks to face the enemy!"
Xu Tianyuan and the Third Prince issued the command simultaneously.
All the soul engineers accompanying them closed ranks around Xu Tiannan, Xu Tianyuan, and the Third Prince, forming a battle formation. They hoisted their soul cannons and unleashed a barrage of fire toward the zombie swarm.
They were using Level 6 soul cannons—capable of rapid-fire and well-suited to clear large numbers of enemies quickly.
At this moment, the true combat strength of the soul engineer legion was on full display:
Fast, relentless, devastating.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
In a single wave of bombardment, a large number of zombies were blasted apart—limbs and fragments raining across the valley.
Yet more zombies continued to crawl out from underground.
In mere moments, hundreds more had emerged.
More and more zombies poured out, soon blanketing the entire valley.
"Don't stop!" the Third Prince barked.
"Keep going!" Xu Tianyuan echoed.
The soul engineers continued their assault.
Though the zombies were numerous, they were not hard to kill.
These creatures had once been branded heretics—people who had refused to submit to the White Lotus Sect. Their wives and daughters were selected to be given to the Dark King as cauldrons for cultivation. The men and their remaining families had their blood drained by the Death God Envoy, turning them into zombies.
Thanks to their "contributions," the Death God Envoy's power had risen rapidly—even achieving the rank of Titled Douluo.
So the Death God Envoy granted them a "new future"—their souls were absorbed into Huo Yuhao's Ghost Banner martial soul.
And their corpses weren't wasted either.
Infected with corpse poison, they became zombies.
However, because their blood had been drained, their zombie forms had little potential. After all, blood is the source of a zombie's power.
These corpses hadn't been nurtured carefully, had never had a full meal, and didn't even get a proper coffin.
They had simply been buried in the mountains, absorbing a bit of moonlight energy over time, barely enough to reanimate.
These were not even low-rank purple zombies—they were mindless husks, completely controlled by the Death God Envoy. Their combat ability was weak; the strongest among them barely had the strength of a Soul Elder. Their only threat was the corpse poison lingering in their bodies.
That poison, however, originated from the Death God Envoy himself.
But even the corpse poison was useless against the soul cannons.
As the soul engineers continued to bomb the zombie horde, the valley began to crumble from the bombardment. Fortunately, no one here was ordinary—they had no fear of a collapsing valley.
The soul engineers activated their flying soul tools, soaring into the air, continuing their bombardment from above—and avoiding the poisonous miasma formed by the shredded corpses.
The bombardment lasted three full minutes.
Only then did the zombies stop surfacing from the earth.
By then, over 5,000 zombies had been obliterated.
When the attacks ceased and the soul power light faded, everyone could finally see the state of the valley.
The valley now appeared two meters deeper. The surface rocks had shattered, revealing damp earth beneath. It was littered with dismembered corpses and body parts, stinking of blood and decay. Wisps of dark green corpse poison lingered above the valley like a sinister fog—thick, noxious, and refusing to dissipate.
Meanwhile, the Death God Envoy and Grand Eunuch Gao simply watched.
They remained by the Dark King's artifact, casually swatting away falling rocks and clearing a patch of ground around them.
They were completely unharmed.
" Death God Envoy, your end is near! Surrender now, and you may be spared!" the Third Prince said coldly.
"Come in and get me, if you've got the guts~" the Death God Envoy sneered.
With the zombie horde slain, the spreading corpse poison had become their natural barrier.
Furious, the Third Prince ordered, "Activate soul barriers and advance!"
At once, the soul engineers deployed their Level 8 soul shields, easily repelling the toxic gas and stench.
Then, they raised their soul cannons once more, descending into the valley with cautious steps, closing in on the Death God Envoy and Grand Eunuch Gao.
This time, the Third Prince entered personally—determined to take the Death God Envoy's head himself. Shadow Douluo and Porcelain Douluo followed, flanking him like loyal guards.
Xu Tianyuan nodded and prepared to join them.
"Activate soul shields and advance. We can't let the tiger return to the mountain!" he ordered. Then he turned to Xu Tiannan. "Your Highness, should we assign someone to protect you?"
Xu Tiannan shook his head. "I am not so fragile. I need no protection. Cousin Tianyuan, give your full support to my younger brother. Sadly, due to my condition, I cannot join the front lines."
"Please take care of yourself, Your Highness," Xu Tianyuan said, offering a final word before leading his team into the poisonous fog, closing in on the Death God Envoy and Grand Eunuch Gao.
Though rebels, it would be ideal to capture them alive—they might reveal more secrets of the White Lotus Sect.
Xu Tiannan's wheelchair remained at the edge of the toxic zone. Once Xu Tianyuan left, a heavy expression spread across Xu Tiannan's face.
He had a deep sense of foreboding.
Perhaps due to his suspicious nature, he had developed extremely sharp intuition.
His keen eyes scanned the valley and finally spotted something odd: the Death God Envoy and Grand Eunuch Gao were far too calm. They hadn't even activated their martial souls.
Their composure was unnerving.
"Could it be… a trap?"
Still, Xu Tiannan said nothing to warn Xu Tianyuan. After all, Xu Tiannan's true reliance wasn't on him—or on the soul engineers. In fact, he secretly hoped the Third Prince would fall into the trap.
Ideally, the Death God Envoy would kill him outright.
Xu Tiannan didn't have to wait long—the Death God Envoy began to act.
As the Third Prince and Xu Tianyuan led their men deeper into the valley, now surrounded by shattered limbs and corpses, the Death God Envoy let out a chilling laugh.
"Almost there…"
"Corpse Explosion Technique: Corpse Explosion Grand Formation!"
The Death God Envoy raised both arms in a sacrificial pose. A strange energy surged from within him like countless tentacles, burrowing into every chunk of flesh—linking all the scattered remains.
Then—they all started to swell.
The severed limbs expanded grotesquely, radiating imminent danger. In that instant, everyone in the valley felt surrounded by death.
Their expressions changed instantly.
"Retreat—now!" Xu Tianyuan managed to shout.
The next second—BOOM!
A deafening explosion ripped through the valley. Even those outside heard the blast. The explosion engulfed the entire valley, shaking nearby hills, with faint signs of a potential landslide.
The shockwave hurled Xu Tiannan through the air, but he quickly activated his soul shield and protected himself. His wheelchair transformed into a flying soul device, stabilizing him midair.