228: Dropped spirit-level items

Above the long spear, numerous black auras swirled around, flowing in all directions.

Some of the black aura even spread to the Soul Body, causing the blood-colored Battle Armor on the Soul Body to turn dark red.

Furthermore, some black spikes appeared on the Battle Armor.

This Soul Body… was precisely the Battle Soul that Xiao Shi had released when he killed the Ghoulish Spirit!

It originated from the Mysterious Bracelet Xiao Shi had obtained at the Seven Stars Holy Land.

[Name: Mysterious Bracelet]

[Type: Bracelet]

[Grade: Unknown]

[Description: One of the key Soul Seals for opening the stone gate. It requires a continuous accumulation of Wandering Souls to reach full capacity before it can possess the power to open the gate.]

...There were three black gems on the bracelet in total.

Only when all three black gems lit up.

Would it be considered at full capacity.

To light up the black gems, Xiao Shi needed to continuously kill and accumulate Wandering Souls.

Anyone he killed would have their soul transform into a Wandering Soul and condense into the bracelet.

Only when a sufficient number of Wandering Souls were accumulated would the gems on the bracelet light up.

The Wandering Souls within the bracelet could also be released.

Although releasing them meant starting the accumulation process all over again, it could unleash a powerful Battle Soul for combat!

Since the last time he released the Battle Soul, depleting the Wandering Souls within the bracelet, Xiao Shi had, after such a long period of slaughter, once again lit up two black gems.

Upon seeing the opponent transform into a Soul Body after death.

Xiao Shi immediately thought of the Battle Soul within the bracelet.

He knew clearly.

Among his many methods, the only one capable of dealing with Soul Bodies was the Battle Soul within the Mysterious Bracelet!

When he had only lit one black gem, the Battle Soul he released already possessed the power of the Blood Martial Realm.

Now, with two black gems lit.

Xiao Shi felt that the Battle Soul he released should possess power comparable to the Martial Soul Realm.

As Xiao Shi issued the command to the Battle Soul.

The Battle Soul held its spear, the tip aimed at the Gaunt Man in front.

Whoosh!

The warhorse beneath him moved its four hooves, transforming into a dark red stream of light, with black aura flowing over its body, trailing behind him like smoke.

In an instant, he charged towards the Gaunt Man with astonishing speed.

“He… he can actually release a Soul Body!!”

The Gaunt Man’s expression changed drastically.

His entire Soul Body fluctuated violently.

In his eyes, this was an incredibly unbelievable feat.

Firstly, treasures capable of containing Soul Bodies were inherently rare, each possessing an indescribably astonishing value. This was definitely not a treasure a Blood Martial Realm martial artist could possess!

Secondly, the level of the Soul Body was far higher than the Blood Martial Realm. Even if the opponent had a treasure capable of containing a Soul Body, it would be impossible for him to possess the ability to absorb a Soul Body.

Especially since the Soul Body Xiao Shi released was not an ordinary Soul Body, but an extremely powerful one!

This made the Gaunt Man even more incredulous.

Under the charge of the Battle Soul.

In an instant.

The two Soul Bodies engaged in a fierce battle.

Xiao Shi retreated to a distance.

He did not join in.

He knew his level was insufficient.

Even if he attacked himself, his attacks would pass directly through the opponent’s Soul Body, unable to touch the Gaunt Man after he transformed into a Soul Body.

He could only place his hopes on the Battle Soul now.

Although he couldn't participate in the battle.

Xiao Shi closely observed the fight between the Soul Bodies.

He discovered.

The battle of Soul Bodies was still quite different from physical combat.

The movements in Soul Body battles were smaller, and the destructive power was not great.

Unlike physical combat, where the ground would crack and buildings would collapse at every turn.

Soul Body battles would often only cause vibrations in the air.

There would be no earth-shattering destruction.

The Battle Soul released by Xiao Shi, as he had predicted earlier, already possessed the strength of the Martial Soul Realm.

However, in the struggle against the Gaunt Man, he had no advantage and could not gain the upper hand.

This made Xiao Shi frown.

“He clearly has injuries, yet he can fight my Battle Soul to a standstill…”

“The injuries to the Soul Body feel very strange; they don’t seem to affect his combat strength or state at all.”

Xiao Shi pondered.

Of course.

This might also be because the opponent’s injuries were not severe enough.

But one thing was certain.

The Battle Soul he released this time would not end the battle quickly like last time.

The difference in combat power between the two sides was not great.

Puff!

The long spear in the Battle Soul’s hand directly pierced through the Gaunt Man’s body.

However, the Gaunt Man’s palm also pierced through the Battle Soul’s head.

They passed each other.

Both their forms became much dimmer.

“It seems the injuries to the Soul Body are mainly manifested in the body itself…”

“They won’t have severed limbs or bleeding; their bodies will always remain intact, but after the Soul Body is damaged, their form will become dim until it disappears…”

Xiao Shi gained a deeper understanding and knowledge of Soul Bodies.

As the two Soul Bodies fought fiercely.

Their bodies gradually dimmed.

This situation, for Xiao Shi, was naturally something he was happy to see.

Even if the Battle Soul dimmed to the point of annihilation, it would not have much impact on him.

Anyway, after releasing the Battle Soul this time, he would have to accumulate new ones through killing again.

Regardless of whether the Battle Soul could ultimately defeat the Gaunt Man, it would not continue to exist.

If both sides perished together.

Xiao Shi would definitely profit.

And the Gaunt Man also realized this.

“Damn it!!”

He hadn't expected this Blood Martial Realm fellow to be so troublesome.

Since he became a Martial Soul Realm, no Blood Martial Realm had ever made him feel so frustrated.

In the past, all the Blood Martial Realm he encountered were killed with a flick of his hand.

This was the first time he had been made so miserable by a Blood Martial Realm fellow.

“If this continues, I’m definitely finished!”

A hint of ruthlessness and madness flashed in the Gaunt Man’s eyes.

He raised his hand.

He aimed at the blood-armored Soul Body in front.

He once again unleashed the killing move he had previously used to injure the six members of Rapid Shadow Palace!

There was no excessive flourish.

He simply pressed his hand down.

Boom!!

With a shocking sound that compressed the air.

The blood-armored Battle Soul, having suffered a heavy blow, instantly became incredibly dim, almost invisible to the naked eye.

Although the Gaunt Man also paid a huge price, his form became incredibly blurry, but his situation was much better than the Battle Soul’s.

“Not good…”

Xiao Shi frowned.

This person’s strength was indeed even more astonishing than he had imagined.

Even after releasing the Battle Soul, he was still slightly inferior and not an opponent.

The only thing worth celebrating was that the Gaunt Man’s condition was also very poor due to the Battle Soul’s consumption.

“I’ll risk it all!”

A fierce glint flashed in Xiao Shi’s eyes.

He realized that he would have to act himself to have a chance of killing him.

His figure moved.

He quickly distanced himself from the opponent.

He knew that with the disparity in strength between them, he definitely couldn’t engage in close combat.

“My ordinary attacks probably won’t be able to touch him; he’s in Soul Body form and can naturally immunity ordinary physical attacks…”

Xiao Shi thought rapidly.

While continuously increasing the distance, he continued to unleash the Gravity Domain.

The Gravity Domain was also effective against Soul Bodies!

It just couldn’t end the battle through the Gravity Domain.

However, it could affect his state and speed.

It was a supportive ability.

At the same time.

Xiao Shi’s index and middle fingers were held together like a sword.

His Natal Martial Blood within his body also turned gray at this moment, directly entering the gray blood state.

Chirp!

A sharp sword qi shot out from his fingertips.

It directly struck the Gaunt Man.

But it passed directly through the Gaunt Man’s body.

Just like striking empty air.

It did not cause him any harm.

“Even sword qi doesn’t work?!”

Xiao Shi’s heart sank.

If that was the case, he only had one last method left.

The Gaunt Man’s figure was blurry.

His gaze fixed intently on Xiao Shi.

Although his current state was very poor, it was still enough for him to eliminate this Blood Martial Realm fellow.

He directly chose to ignore Xiao Shi’s attacks.

In his Soul Body state.

Such attacks simply couldn’t harm him.

Whoosh!

He floated directly towards Xiao Shi.

His current state even prevented him from attacking from a distance.

He could only get close and kill him at close range.

The Battle Soul, being so blurry that it was almost invisible, was powerless to stop him.

Facing the Gaunt Man’s approach.

A sharp glint flashed in Xiao Shi’s eyes.

He still raised his hand.

His finger pointed remotely at the Gaunt Man.

Screech!

A ray of light once again shot out from his fingertip.

However, what he unleashed this time was not sword qi.

But… Blood Vein Finger!

“A dying struggle.”

The Gaunt Man neither dodged nor retreated, directly colliding with it.

Such an attack simply couldn’t harm him.

But the moment the blood-colored light shot from Xiao Shi’s fingertip touched him.

“Hmm?”

The Gaunt Man’s expression suddenly changed.

Whoosh!

Black flames suddenly surged from his Soul Body.

“This… This is!!”

The Gaunt Man’s pupils constricted.

As a member of Demonic Path forces, he recognized this black flame at a glance.

“Yin Flame!!”

He cried out in horror.

Xiao Shi outwardly appeared to be using the Blood Vein Finger, but in reality, hidden within the Blood Vein Finger was his second Natal Martial Blood — Yin Flame!

It could be said that the Blood Vein Finger was merely a disguise.

The true killing move.

Was the Yin Flame hidden within the Blood Vein Finger!

Since Yin Flame became his second Natal Martial Blood, Xiao Shi had never used it.

He also didn’t know if Yin Flame would be effective against Soul Bodies.

But in this situation, he had no other choice.

He could only meet it with Yin Flame.

In an instant.

The black Yin Flame enveloped the Gaunt Man’s entire Soul Body.

And under continuous burning.

The Gaunt Man’s Soul Body rapidly annihilated.

The Gaunt Man’s face was filled with terror and disbelief.

He truly couldn’t believe that this person would possess Yin Flame, and moreover… pure Yin Flame!

He let out a tragic roar.

“How could you possibly have Yin Flame!!”

“How is that possible!!!”

In his understanding.

Yin Flame had always been sealed and suppressed in Lieyin City.

Many powerhouses from Demonic Path forces back then wanted to control Yin Flame, but no one succeeded.

Even those Demonic Path powerhouses standing at the peak of Star Luo Territory couldn’t do it.

Ultimately, they could only choose to seal and suppress it.

Now… Yin Flame appeared in the hands of a Blood Martial Realm fellow.

“Who exactly are you!?”

The Gaunt Man stared intently at Xiao Shi.

The series of methods Xiao Shi displayed.

Made him realize that this person must have a terrifying background.

Unfortunately.

Under the burning of Yin Flame, he was destined not to get an answer.

His entire Soul Body was quickly burned to ashes.

Xiao Shi’s heart was also somewhat shaken.

Yin Flame was not only effective against Soul Bodies, but it also seemed to have a great restraining effect!

This made him think of the full name of Yin Flame… Nether Yin Flame!

“Nether… perhaps it’s the greatest restraint against souls!”

Xiao Shi pondered.

As the Gaunt Man’s Soul Body perished.

An item also dropped.

This made Xiao Shi breathe a sigh of relief.

Now he could finally confirm that this person was truly dead.

“To kill such a Martial Soul Realm powerhouse is truly not an easy task; one must not only kill his physical body but also destroy his Soul Body…”

Xiao Shi sighed with emotion.

Although Yin Flame had a significant restraining effect on Soul Bodies.

This was also under the circumstance that the opponent’s Soul Body was already on the verge of collapse.

If he were in his peak state… the opponent would definitely have a way to neutralize Yin Flame.

He couldn’t possibly rely solely on Yin Flame to casually kill such a top-tier Martial Soul Realm powerhouse.

After all, such powerhouses wouldn’t foolishly stand there and let him burn them with Yin Flame.

“To deal with such powerhouses, I still need to reach the Martial Soul Realm myself; at my current realm, it’s truly too strenuous.”

Xiao Shi took a deep breath.

This final blow was more difficult and dangerous than he had imagined.

Mainly because he didn't know before that such top-tier Martial Soul Realm powerhouses would have a Soul Body after death.

For example, the Martial Soul Realm he killed earlier did not have a Soul Body appear after death.

Now, with the item dropping.

Xiao Shi quickly stepped forward.

He picked up the item on the ground.

Item information then appeared in his vision.

[Name: Undying Soul Imprint]

[Type: Soul Seal]

[Grade: Martial Soul Grade]

[Description: One of the most powerful Soul Seals in the world. Integrating this imprint allows the Soul Body to be undying.]

[Remark 1: For those who integrate the Undying Soul Imprint, when the Soul Body is destroyed, it will automatically reincarnate, thus reincarnating as a new soul. The new soul will retain ninety percent of the old soul’s memories.]

[Remark 2: If the new soul is destroyed, it will continue to reincarnate, lasting indefinitely. However, each time a new soul is destroyed, a certain degree of erosion will occur in the old soul’s memories. If it is destroyed too many times, then the old soul’s memories will be lost forever.]

...Xiao Shi looked at the item in his hand.

His mind was greatly shaken.

In other words… once this Undying Soul Imprint was integrated, to some extent, it meant that after he was killed, he could immediately reincarnate and cultivate again!

And it was reincarnation with most of his memories!

This was like rebirth.

And no matter how many times he was killed.

He would always reincarnate and cultivate again.

His soul could never be extinguished!

“However, if he really gets killed to the point of losing all memories of the old soul, then it’s no different from being dead.”

Xiao Shi thought to himself.

But he felt that unless he provoked some unimaginably powerful being.

Who could, after killing him, immediately locate his reincarnated new soul and continue to destroy it.

Otherwise, ordinary people would be unable to pursue and kill the new soul.

They wouldn’t even know that his soul had begun to reincarnate.