270: What’s the truth behind Qin Mo’s death?

Through the sensation of the Soul Seal.

Xiao Shi clearly sensed that Xiang Zizhen's location was already very close to him.

It seemed that after Xiang Zizhen entered combat, he hadn't moved again.

He remained in that spot.

As for the main body, there was only a small portion of the formation patterns left to decipher.

He believed that by the time he reached Xiang Zizhen's location, he should be able to complete this part of the formation patterns' deciphering.

But just as Xiao Shi was about to rush to Xiang Zizhen's location.

A tearing pain suddenly erupted in his brain.

The side effect of the Soul Gathering and Consciousness Forming Pill appeared!

Although this Medicinal Pill could transform his Soul Power into Soul Consciousness in a short period, it would cause great damage to his Soul after use.

Xiao Shi quickly took out the Soul Healing Pill he had prepared long ago.

After swallowing it.

The Soul-related healing brought by the Soul Healing Pill finally stabilized his injuries.

At the same time.

In a stone chamber not far from Xiao Shi's location.

Under Xiang Zizhen's feet in the stone chamber was a Formation, entirely black, as if outlined and interwoven with ink.

Under the Formation's blockade.

Xiang Zizhen's body was covered in mottled black, as if splashed with ink.

These black marks were spread across his limbs, waist, and back, continuously expanding from his body at a visible speed.

Despite this.

Xiang Zizhen showed no panic on his face.

He calmly looked at the black vortex on the ground in front of him.

And said lightly.

"So eager to fight me to the death, are you very afraid of me?"

From the black vortex, numerous black, viscous mud suddenly surged up, converging to form a figure completely shrouded in a black cloak.

His entire face was covered by the black cloak, obscuring his appearance.

"Are you pretending to be calm?"

A hoarse, deep voice came from within the black cloak.

Xiang Zizhen curled his lips.

"At first, I really didn't expect you to use that guy to set up a killing trap for me here. But from the moment my subordinates died without reason, I already guessed that you were behind all of this!"

The figure in the black cloak couldn't help but laugh upon hearing this.

"Then you realized it a bit late."

"Late?"

Xiang Zizhen shook his head and smiled.

"You and I know each other well. You should know that what I'm best at... is using stratagem against stratagem!"

"Right now, it seems like you're setting a trap to kill me, but is it possible that I'm actually hunting you?"

As soon as Xiang Zizhen finished speaking.

A Formation suddenly appeared beneath the feet of the mysterious person covered by the black cloak.

This Formation, in both size and structure, was identical to the Formation under Xiang Zizhen's feet!

The only difference was the color.

The Formation under Xiang Zizhen's feet was as black as ink.

While the Formation under the mysterious person in the black cloak's feet was golden.

The moment the Formation appeared beneath his feet.

Mottled golden paint also appeared on the mysterious person in the black cloak.

Boom!!

A loud bang suddenly erupted from Xiang Zizhen's body.

His body instantly swelled and grew larger.

His body was covered with a layer of crimson-golden skin, as if he had transformed into a huge five-meter sculpture.

It was none other than the Mountain God from the Four Symbols Divine Martial Sect!

Normally, when Xiang Zizhen acted under the identity of Chu Zheng, he would not easily use the power of the Four Symbols Divine Martial Sect.

Because this would expose his identity.

However, he seemed to have no such reservations about the mysterious person in front of him.

He immediately unleashed the power of the Four Symbols Divine Martial Sect.

And the moment he transformed into a giant sculpture.

The Formation under Xiang Zizhen's feet was directly shattered by his immense body.

Xiang Zizhen directly swung his crimson-golden giant fist.

Creating a tearing blast in the air.

A punch fell!

...Xiao Shi continuously rushed towards Xiang Zizhen's location at an extremely fast speed.

Although his Soul Seal's distance sensing indicated that the distance between him and Xiang Zizhen was already very close.

The paths in the underground palace were not all straight lines.

Many times, even if there was only a wall separating them, he would have to take a very long detour to reach his destination.

This seemingly close distance.

Still required some travel to reach.

Xiao Shi knew.

Time was pressing now.

He had to get Xiang Zizhen out of here before that Soul body devoured the other Prison Guards and fully recovered its strength.

Although he didn't know what kind of strength that Soul body would possess after fully recovering.

He knew it was definitely something he couldn't contend with.

At the same time, he couldn't stop the Soul body from devouring other Prison Guards.

In the current situation, he could only save himself and had no ability to care for others.

While moving quickly, Xiao Shi also continuously monitored Xiang Zizhen's situation through the Soul Seal.

He could sense that Xiang Zizhen's Soul was constantly fluctuating.

Clearly, the battle there was extremely fierce.

As he got closer.

Xiao Shi could even feel the ground shaking.

Finally.

After some travel.

He could already see the massive stone chamber ahead.

The terrifying rumbling vibrations were coming from the stone chamber ahead.

From a distance, the power fluctuations emanating from the stone chamber forced Xiao Shi to stop there.

Unable to get any closer.

The power level there was simply too terrifying.

It had already far exceeded his tolerance limit.

Although he couldn't see the situation inside the stone chamber.

Xiao Shi, however, sensed a familiar aura from these emanating power fluctuations... He instantly recognized it.

This was the power aura of the Four Symbols Divine Martial Sect!

"Xiang Zizhen... was forced to use the power of the Four Symbols Divine Martial Sect!"

Xiao Shi's heart sank.

He knew.

With Xiang Zizhen's caution, he would only use the power of the Four Symbols Divine Martial Sect when absolutely necessary.

After all, once he used the power of the Four Symbols Divine Martial Sect, his identity would be exposed.

Judging from the power fluctuations emanating from the stone chamber now.

Xiang Zizhen's situation might not be good.

However, with Xiao Shi's current strength, he couldn't help Xiang Zizhen at all.

Anyone who could suppress Xiang Zizhen would at least be a Martial Demon Realm Expert. Even if he still had some unused items on him.

These items could only target the Martial Soul Realm.

They would not be effective against Martial Demon Realm Experts.

Xiao Shi could only wait for their battle to pause.

Only when the battle between the two sides paused, and these powerful power fluctuations ceased, could he approach.

While Xiao Shi waited outside the stone chamber.

The Soul body that had escaped from Xiao Shi earlier had already begun to rapidly devour the Prison Guards in the underground palace one by one.

He first targeted the Prison Guards in the Soul Awakening Stage.

With the strength of these Prison Guards, they were no match for him and were directly possessed by it.

Then, it began to hunt and devour other Prison Guards through the possessed body.

He seemed to possess a method to accurately track the whereabouts of these Prison Guards in the underground palace.

Even though these Prison Guards were scattered to various locations in the underground palace by Xiang Zizhen's teleportation, he could still precisely locate them.

Under continuous killing and devouring.

The originally dim Soul body gradually turned bloody again, becoming even more powerful than before.

Revengeful anger also ignited in his eyes.

After these Prison Guards were successively killed and devoured by him.

He quickly began to sense Xiao Shi's location.

"Found him!"

After successfully sensing Xiao Shi's location.

His figure flickered.

He immediately charged towards Xiao Shi at a terrifying speed.

This time.

He was going to completely eliminate this damned human!!

..."It's not over yet!"

Outside the stone chamber.

Xiao Shi had waited for a long time.

He had expected the battle inside to end quickly.

But he didn't expect that after waiting for so long, there was no sign of the battle in the stone chamber stopping.

The rumbling continued loudly.

Powerful energy fluctuations continuously emanated, making it impossible for Xiao Shi to approach, so he didn't know what was happening inside the stone chamber.

This also gave him a new understanding of the formidable nature of Martial Demon Realm Experts.

Clearly, Martial Demon Realm Experts were not only more powerful in terms of their energy level, but also more astonishing in their endurance.

This had both pros and cons for Xiao Shi.

The advantage was that the longer the battle between the two sides lasted.

It indicated that Xiang Zizhen's situation was not as bad as he had thought.

The two sides were likely in a state of evenly matched stalemate, neither able to overcome the other, which was why there had been no result for so long.

But the disadvantage was... if this dragged on.

Xiao Shi worried about unexpected events.

"I wonder to what extent the Soul body has recovered now?"

Xiao Shi felt a faint anxiety in his heart.

Just then.

The power fluctuations in the stone chamber suddenly paused.

Xiao Shi's heart stirred.

He immediately moved closer.

As he approached.

He remained cautious and vigilant.

After all, he didn't know the situation inside the stone chamber.

If the battle between the two sides was only a brief pause, then powerful energy fluctuations might erupt again.

Xiao Shi was also prepared to retreat at any time.

He quietly arrived at the entrance of the stone chamber.

Hiding to the side, he carefully peeked inside.

He tried his best to ensure that he wouldn't be discovered by the people inside the stone chamber.

As long as the people inside hadn't spread their Soul Consciousness, with the darkness of this underground palace, it should be difficult to spot him with just the naked eye.

However, if the opponent constantly maintained a state of Soul Consciousness diffusion, then he wouldn't be able to hide no matter what.

Fortunately... after a major battle, both sides had suffered significant losses and wouldn't continuously maintain the diffusion of their Soul Consciousness.

Neither of them discovered Xiao Shi outside.

Xiao Shi saw Xiang Zizhen at a glance.

At this moment, Xiang Zizhen was kneeling on the ground, panting, his body covered in blood, his face pale and showing weakness.

Across from Xiang Zizhen.

Was a figure shrouded in a black cloak.

This person was also kneeling on the ground.

His head bowed.

Most of the black cloak was damaged.

Only a hood remained, barely covering his face.

Both of their chests heaved violently like bellows, constantly gasping for breath.

"This seems like a good opportunity!"

Xiao Shi's eyes lit up.

He pondered that if he unleashed his full speed now and rushed out at the fastest possible speed, he might have a chance to take Xiang Zizhen away directly.

The only thing he wasn't sure about.

Was how much combat power the enemy opposite Xiang Zizhen still had?

As a Martial Demon Realm Expert.

Even if only a trace of residual strength remained, it could still pose a threat to him.

There was still considerable risk involved.

Xiao Shi decided to observe a bit longer.

To be safer.

..."Is this your killing trap? It's not that impressive."

Xiang Zizhen grinned and sneered.

In response.

The mysterious person replied indifferently.

"At a time like this, you're still trying to play mind games?"

"It seems you're really anxious."

"Presumably, you've already thought... that I still have a powerful trump card."

"He's coming soon!"

Xiang Zizhen's expression was normal.

He seemed unconcerned, but in reality, his heart was extremely anxious.

He knew that besides the enemy in front of him, there was also a powerful Soul body!

When the Soul body arrived.

The situation would be dire.

"I must end the battle quickly, I can't drag it on any longer..."

With this thought.

Xiang Zizhen rapidly mobilized the last of his inner strength.

He wanted to kill the opponent before the Soul body arrived.

However, for some unknown reason.

His mobilization of power became incredibly slow, making it difficult to draw out the power within his body.

Although he showed no abnormality on his face.

The opponent seemed to know that he was mobilizing his power.

He chuckled deeply.

"Don't try, during our battle just now, I already sealed our powers. Now, neither of us can mobilize the residual power within our bodies."

As he spoke.

The mysterious person braced his hands on the ground and stood up directly.

"Xiang Zizhen, you lost!"

He said.

While reaching up to grasp the hood on his head.

He yanked it off.

"!!!"

The moment he saw the mysterious person's face.

Xiao Shi's pupils underwent a violent tremor.

His entire brain felt as if it had been struck by a hundred thousand bolts of lightning simultaneously.

He was utterly shocked beyond words by the mysterious person's appearance!

He had never imagined.

That this mysterious person... would look like this!!

In an instant.

Qin Mo's death, the killing trap set by the opponent this time... everything clearly formed a line in Xiao Shi's mind.

He understood everything instantly!

He understood why Xiang Zizhen had so many suspicious points, yet wasn't the murderer!

"So... that's what happened!!"

He clenched his fists.

Finally unraveling the mystery of Qin Mo's death.

However, at this moment.

A terrifying chill suddenly swept over him from behind, instantly making him feel as if he were in a world of ice and snow.

This chill not only affected his body.

More importantly, it affected his Soul.

Causing his entire thought process to briefly halt.

He instantly realized.

The Soul body had arrived!!

Although Xiao Shi had worried that the Soul body would be troublesome after recovering while he was waiting for Xiang Zizhen and the others to finish their battle.

He never expected... that the Soul body would recover so quickly!!

And it clearly knew his exact location.

And came straight for him!

In order to resolve Xiao Shi in one fell swoop.

And avoid being attacked by Xiao Shi's previous nail again.

Upon arrival, the Soul body directly detached from its original possessed body and, in its Soul form, pounced towards Xiao Shi.

It intended to directly rush into Xiao Shi's body to possess and kill him!

The Soul body, after its recovery, was now far more powerful than before.

Even if it were to face Xiao Shi's previous powerful attack again, it was confident enough to withstand the opponent's assault.

Swish!

The Soul body's speed was incredibly astonishing.

It was already too fast to be seen with the naked eye.

In an instant.

He had already reached Xiao Shi's back, incredibly close to Xiao Shi.

An intense crisis exploded in Xiao Shi's mind.

The terrifying aura emanating from the Soul body alone made him feel unable to resist.

He deeply knew that once the Soul body rushed into his body to possess it, this Clone would definitely be taken by the opponent.

Xiang Zizhen would also certainly die in this killing trap.

At this critical moment.

Xiao Shi gritted his teeth.

He felt that only one item might offer a glimmer of hope now.

"I'll risk it all!!"