274: The Dou Zun-level soul body within the body

Inside the secret chamber, the atmosphere was so heavy it could almost drip water.

Although Mu Chen could not perceive the exact movements of Jiang Donghua's Soul Power, the black curse mark that had been dormant on his chest for many years now clearly transmitted unprecedented energy fluctuations —extremely subtle yet extraordinarily active!

He could feel that something deep within the mark had been stirred, undergoing changes he could not comprehend!

He nervously stared at Jiang Donghua, who had his eyes tightly closed and his brows furrowed, his heart practically leaping into his throat.

He saw Jiang Donghua's body first tremble violently, as if struck by a huge impact, instantly making Mu Chen's heart jump to his throat!

But immediately afterward, Jiang Donghua's body quickly returned to calm, his breathing becoming long and steady, though the concentration and solemnity in his expression intensified.

Seeing this sight, an uncontrollable light of hope involuntarily shone in Mu Chen's eyes!

There was a reaction!

Moreover, Jiang Donghua seemed to have withstood the initial pressure!

In the past five years, he had never felt such active fluctuations from the curse mark!

"There is hope, there really is hope!"

He clenched his fists tightly, his fingernails digging deep into his palms, yet he remained completely oblivious to the pain.

However, deep within the cursed space shrouded by endless darkness, Jiang Donghua's experience was completely different.

After enduring the initial stillness and sticky embrace, his wisp of Soul Power finally penetrated layers of obstruction, parted the fog, and caught a glimpse of the internal scene!

However, the sight that met his eyes made his soul tremble deep down, as if facing a formidable enemy!

In the core area of that darkness, a human-shaped soul body, extremely thin and almost transparent, was suspended!

The soul body's face was indistinct, its form constantly twisting, threatening to dissipate at any moment, yet the terrifying aura it emitted —ancient, desolate, but carrying a hint of brutality and unwillingness —made Jiang Donghua instantly certain.

This was absolutely the remnant soul body of that old monster who had died hundreds of years ago yet could still severely injure a Dou Huang!

It was the core source of the curse!

"It really is him!"

A massive alarm went off in Jiang Donghua's heart, and he almost immediately urged the soul-severing ruler to retreat!

But the next moment, he forcibly suppressed that impulse.

Because he discovered that although the thin soul body emitted a heart-palpitating aura, it seemed to be in the deepest slumber, or perhaps a state of stagnation, showing no reaction whatsoever to external probing?

It just floated there silently, like an unconscious energy projection, constantly, instinctively, and slowly absorbing the faint energy seeping in from the outside.

"What's going on? Has its consciousness completely dissipated? Is only this shell, which instinctively devours energy, remaining?"

Doubts piled up in Jiang Donghua's mind.

He cautiously maintained the concealed state of his Soul Power, patiently observing the strange dark space for nearly ten minutes.

The soul body remained motionless.

Finally, Jiang Donghua decided to take a risk.

He manipulated that wisp of Soul Power, like the softest jellyfish tentacle, approaching the stationary soul body extremely slowly, bit by bit, attempting to perceive its state more clearly.

However, just as the Soul Power was about to touch the blurred edge of the soul body.

The entire dark space suddenly turned upside down and began to shake violently, as if a giant stone had been thrown into a stagnant pool!

The endless dark energy roared and tumbled like boiling water!

The terrifying aura that had been dormant instantly surged a thousandfold, like an ancient behemoth suddenly awakening from its slumber!

At the same time, the thin soul body, which had been motionless, suddenly opened its eyes!

A discontinuous, hoarse, and twisted soul sound, seemingly from the Nine Netherworlds and filled with endless malice and insane consciousness, exploded like thunder within the perception of Jiang Donghua's wisp of Soul Power.

"Ant!"

"Dare to disturb this Venerable One's... slumber!"

"Die!!!"

A terrifying soul impact, like a destructive tsunami, instantly swept toward Jiang Donghua's wisp of Soul Power!

The moment the old monster's remnant soul let out a malicious roar and the terrifying mental impact swept over like a destructive tsunami.

The alarm bells rang wildly in Jiang Donghua's heart; the fingers holding the soul-severing ruler suddenly exerted force, and he was about to immediately activate his secret technique to sever the connection with that wisp of Soul Power to protect himself!

However, just one instant before that destructive soul impact was about to devour his Soul Power, an anomaly occurred again!

The incomparably violent mental impact, filled with malice and killing intent, upon touching Jiang Donghua's wisp of Soul Power, was like hitting an invisible yet extremely compatible wall; not only did it fail to tear and annihilate it, but it strangely and silently dissipated!

No, it wasn't dissipation!

Jiang Donghua keenly sensed that the impact did not simply vanish —it transformed!

The Soul Power, originally filled with destructive and annihilating intent, became gentle and pure the moment it touched his Soul Power.

Like melting snow, it transformed into an incomparably pure, nourishing energy that was homologous to his own soul strength, and perhaps even more ancient and profound!

This energy not only caused no harm but, like timely rain after a long drought, slowly and comfortably merged into his wisp of Soul Power.

"What in the world is going on?!"

Jiang Donghua was completely stunned, his heart filled with immense confusion and disbelief!

The anticipated life-or-death crisis didn't appear; instead, he felt somewhat comfortable?

Not only was that wisp of Soul Power unharmed, but it seemed to have been carefully nourished, becoming slightly more condensed and agile!

This bizarre change completely exceeded his knowledge and understanding!

He cautiously maintained the stability of his Soul Power, vigilantly observing the soul body that had suddenly erupted in attack.

He saw that after delivering that strike, the old monster's remnant soul's violent aura quickly receded like a tide, and the madness and malice in its eyes rapidly dimmed, becoming hollow and spiritless once more.

It once again fell into the previous state of silence and stagnation; the earth-shattering outburst just now seemed like an illusion.

Jiang Donghua fell silent.

This situation was too bizarre, leaving him utterly baffled.

A bold idea arose in his mind.

He took a deep breath and decided to try again!

He once again manipulated that wisp of Soul Power, like a feeler testing a trap, extremely slowly approaching the silent soul body again.

Sure enough!

When his Soul Power once again approached a certain distance.

"Get... away...!"

The soul body was startled awake again!

Letting out an angry and indistinct roar, another wave of soul impact filled with destructive will violently struck!

Jiang Donghua forcibly suppressed the instinct to retreat, enduring the initial fear, and carefully sensed the impact's arrival —it was exactly the same as last time!

The violent impact, the instant it contacted his Soul Power, strangely transformed again, turning into pure and gentle nourishing energy that perfectly integrated into his Soul Power, making it grow stronger and more solid by another fraction!

This time, Jiang Donghua clearly captured the entire process!

Not only is this old monster's remnant soul attack unable to harm me, but it seems like it's feeding my Soul Power?!

This discovery made Jiang Donghua's heart pound wildly!