272: the truth

He had sought help from the other party from the very beginning, but received no response.

Only at the very last moment did the incomplete consciousness within the black coffin take action.

"...With my current power, I could only drag him over in one go after he had suffered heavy damage."

"If I had acted earlier, I could have at most repelled him, but I wouldn't have been able to drag him into the black coffin," the incomplete consciousness within the black coffin replied.

Xiao Shi suddenly understood.

It seemed the other party knew from the start that the Blood-colored Soul Body could not threaten him.

They didn't even give him a hint, making him worry for nothing.

Before this, Xiao Shi had absolutely no idea that his Soul was so terrifying.

The Myriad Treasure Pagoda Spirit located deep within his Soul alone was enough to make him fearless against any Possession or attachment.

Unless he encountered an existence at a higher level than the Myriad Treasure Pagoda Spirit!

But an existence of that level would likely be able to destroy his Divine Soul with a single thought, rendering everything useless.

And besides the Myriad Treasure Pagoda Spirit, there was also a mark within his Soul...

In the future crisis scene deduced by the fragment of the celestial compass, that huge petrified face was clearly tracking his whereabouts through this mark.

No matter where he went, the other party could find him through this mark.

"This mark must have been placed on me when I unsealed the blood mass and released the petrified heart within it..." Xiao Shi realized.

Because the status of this mark was too high, he had been unable to detect or sense its existence from the beginning to the end, let alone erase it.

It was likely that only when the existence within the black coffin awakened could this mark in his Soul be removed.

Although the existence of this mark was a huge potential crisis, at this stage, it could provide powerful protection for his Soul!

Any Soul body attempting to devour his Soul would be warned by the mark.

Even with the power of the Blood-colored Soul Body, it had nearly collapsed after receiving the warning from the mark.

Combined with the black coffin, which could counterattack invading Soul bodies at any time, Xiao Shi realized at this moment that his Soul had long since become impregnable!

"I feel that besides these means, if I were to wear the [ heavens secret mask ], my Soul would have an extra layer of protection!"

He knew that the Tianji Hall also acted upon the Soul and would certainly provide powerful Soul protection.

With so many powerful means, any Soul body that dared to enter his Soul would undoubtedly be on a path to death!

Now that the Blood-colored Soul Body had been dragged into the black coffin, the crisis regarding Xiao Shi's Clone was resolved.

All of this seemed slow, but it actually happened within a few seconds.

The mysterious person opposite Xiang Zizhen had been keeping an eye on Xiao Shi.

He was waiting for the Blood-colored Soul Body to complete the attachment and Possession so they could destroy Xiang Zizhen together.

However, the moment Xiao Shi looked up, their gazes collided.

The clarity in Xiao Shi's eyes left the mysterious person stunned on the spot.

"He... he wasn't possessed??" The mysterious person widened his eyes, a strong sense of shock rising within them.

When the Blood-colored Soul Body had arrived earlier, he had already sensed that its strength had mostly recovered.

Logically speaking, possessing this Prison Guard at the Soul Awakening Stage should have been effortless.

Yet now, there was no change in the other party's eyes.

In fact, in the mysterious person's perception, he could no longer sense the presence of the Blood-colored Soul Body!

"What is going on?!" The mysterious person was completely bewildered.

The situation before him had exceeded his understanding.

It wasn't just the mysterious person who felt surprised by this; Xiang Zizhen also wore a look of astonishment.

He also couldn't understand why this had happened...

Although he knew the other party's killing intent was extraordinary, given the status of the Blood-colored Soul Body, it should not have been affected.

Under their surprised and puzzled gazes, Xiao Shi took a deep breath.

Originally, his plan was to take Xiang Zizhen away directly.

But now, the situation had changed...

The invasion of the Blood-colored Soul Body had caused a stagnation in the main body's interpretation of the formation patterns. It might still take some time to complete the interpretation.

And he had now been seen by Xiang Zizhen and the mysterious person opposite him.

He could no longer hide.

Fortunately, through their previous conversation, he knew that their current power was sealed, and the strength they could mobilize was limited.

Xiao Shi thought for a moment.

Perhaps it was time to show his cards.

He moved, walking straight into the stone chamber.

He looked at Xiang Zizhen, then focused his gaze entirely on the mysterious person opposite.

"How should I address you?"

"A demonized Clone?"

The reason Xiao Shi understood everything the moment he saw this mysterious person was because the mysterious person before him, in terms of both figure and appearance, was exactly the same as Xiang Zizhen!!

At the same time, Xiao Shi could distinguish that the other party had not changed his figure or appearance through some items or disguise.

This was his original appearance!

Although their figures and appearances were identical, there were differences.

This person's pupils were a deep dark red, exuding bloodthirst and ferocity.

At the same time, his aura was the typical aura possessed by people from Demonic Path forces.

Cold, cruel, sinister, and cold-blooded!

It gave Xiao Shi the feeling... of a Xiang Zizhen who had fallen into the Demonic Path!

Previously, the most contradictory point about Xiang Zizhen was that his character was not the type to harm his fellow sect members.

But if there were two Xiang Zizhens... and one of them was in a state of having fallen into the Demonic Path, then everything made sense.

"If I'm not mistaken..."

"Qin Mo was killed by you, right?" Xiao Shi stared at the demonized Xiang Zizhen and spoke calmly.

As soon as his words were spoken, the pupils of both Xiang Zizhens constricted simultaneously.

Xiao Shi's words were like thunder in their ears.

"...Who are you!?" Both Xiang Zizhens spoke at the same time.

To be able to know about Qin Mo... and to deduce the truth of Qin Mo's death, this person was likely one of the members within their Four Symbols Divine Martial Sect.

But now, they couldn't distinguish which member the other party was.

After all, they usually met in dreams and had never met in private.

Xiao Shi slowly raised his palm.

ROAR!! A huge tiger's roar immediately spread out from his body, creating a shockwave in the air, directly revealing his identity to the two.

"Crimson Tiger Lineage?" The demonized Xiang Zizhen frowned.

He still didn't know who he was.

Xiang Zizhen, however, had a flash of light in his eyes.

"It's you!!"

In fact, Xiang Zizhen had already guessed it.

Although he hadn't met these members of the Four Symbols Divine Martial Sect, he had some understanding of them.

The only one he was relatively unfamiliar with was the new member of the Crimson Tiger Lineage.

He didn't expect... Wang Xiao was actually this new member of the Crimson Tiger Lineage!

"You knew full well that I was not the killer of Qin Mo, yet you deliberately guided the identity of the killer towards me. It was to test me, right?" Xiao Shi looked at Xiang Zizhen.

The moment he saw the demonized Xiang Zizhen, he had understood everything.

It was obvious.

Xiang Zizhen had known who the killer was all along.

But he had deliberately guided the identity of the killer towards him; his purpose... was to test him.

After all, with an unknown member appearing out of nowhere, Xiang Zizhen didn't know if this member was a bait released by the Star Luo Lord.

Given his caution, he certainly had to test him.

He had to confirm that the other party's identity was not problematic before he could let him join.

But he didn't expect... the other party was actually right by his side!!

And he had never realized from the beginning to the end that this Prison Guard with extremely heavy killing intent was actually the new member of the Crimson Tiger Lineage.

"How did you know that I am also a member of the Four Symbols Divine Martial Sect?" Xiang Zizhen asked.

He considered himself to have no flaws or loopholes in hiding his identity.

As soon as the words left his mouth, he realized it.

He had just used the power of the Four Symbols Divine Martial Sect.

As a member of the Four Symbols Divine Martial Sect, the other party could tell at a glance.

Plus, seeing his demonized Clone... naturally, everything became clear.

The demonized Xiang Zizhen frowned tightly.

He realized that he had overlooked this person from the Crimson Tiger Lineage from the very beginning.

He hadn't known that this person existed from start to finish!!

After all, when he was separated from Xiang Zizhen's body, Xiao Shi had not yet arrived in Star Luo Province.

Therefore, in the information he possessed, there was no relevant information about Xiao Shi.

Of course, although Xiao Shi had already deduced that Qin Mo was killed by Xiang Zizhen's demonized Clone, he still had many doubts in his heart that had not been resolved.

However, he believed that once he rescued Xiang Zizhen, he would be able to resolve all his doubts from Xiang Zizhen.

"Almost there..." Xiao Shi prepared to retreat and take Xiang Zizhen away.

The reason he chose to show his cards this time was, on one hand, to confirm his guess and gain Xiang Zizhen's trust, so that whether it was integrating into the Four Symbols Divine Martial Sect or killing prisoners in the prison, he could have greater convenience and benefits.

Anyway, the identity of Wang Xiao was just one of his Clones.

His main body was still hidden behind the scenes.

It had no impact on his main body.

And with Xiang Zizhen's trust, his actions would be very convenient.

On the other hand, showing his cards was also to stall for time.

He needed this time to let his main body complete the interpretation of the formation patterns.

Currently, the main body's interpretation of the formation patterns only had a tiny bit left!!

As soon as the main body completed the interpretation of the formation patterns, he could immediately take Xiang Zizhen and leave this underground palace.

However, he was not the only one stalling for time!!

The reason Xiang Zizhen's demonized Clone had said so much here was also to stall for time!!

At this moment, his power was sealed, and he could not mobilize the remaining power within his body.

But he could use the Formation in the underground palace!!

After some delaying, he successfully activated a Formation within the underground palace.

As the formation patterns under his feet brightened, his body suddenly began to emit bursts of black light.

"No matter who you are, today... none of you will survive!!" The demonized Xiang Zizhen let out a low roar.

Beneath the thick black light spreading from his body, a black Soul shadow suddenly floated out from his body.

It was undoubtedly his... Life Soul!!

Now that his internal power was sealed and he could not use the remaining power in his body, he could only use the underground palace Formation to enhance his Life Soul, thereby ending everything through his Life Soul.

Xiao Shi could clearly see that numerous black lights were condensing on the demonized Xiang Zizhen's Life Soul, making his Life Soul very different.

It carried an incomparably powerful strength.

The moment it appeared, it made Xiao Shi's entire body tremble uncontrollably.

He had never seen such a powerful Life Soul!!

This was far, far more powerful than the Life Soul of that foreign expert he had killed before!!

Whoosh! The demonized Xiang Zizhen's Life Soul, glowing with black light, lunged over at a terrifying speed.

Xiang Zizhen was anxious, but he had no way to help.

He was now powerless to resist and could only pin all his hopes on Xiao Shi.

Xiao Shi's palms tightened, and his whole body broke out in a sweat.

Although the power the other party erupted with at this moment had not reached the level of the Martial Demon Realm, it still exceeded his own by too much.

The pressure it brought him was unprecedentedly huge, just like a rabbit facing a lion lunging at it!!

The main body's interpretation of the formation patterns was still a tiny bit short.

This meant he had to withstand the other party's attack to have any possibility of taking Xiang Zizhen away.

"Fight it out!!" A sharp light flashed in Xiao Shi's eyes.

He decisively threw the item in his hand towards the incoming Life Soul of the demonized Xiang Zizhen.

And the moment he threw the item, the [ Soul Plate ] in his mind began to spin directly.

The pointer of the [ Soul Plate ] spun and stopped directly on the usage area.

Facing this unknown item thrown over by the other party, the demonized Xiang Zizhen's Life Soul raised his hand to slap it away.

But the moment he touched this item, hum!!

The entire consciousness of the demonized Xiang Zizhen was directly immersed into a certain Martial Artist from many years ago.

At this moment, he felt himself transformed into a young man in his twenties, who was currently Cultivating a Cultivation Technique.

This feeling was very strange.

It was as if... he had immersed himself into someone else's memories!!

Instantly transforming into the character within the memory, to the extent that he forgot his real identity and immediately followed the young man in the memory who was Cultivating the Cultivation Technique, and began the Cultivation of the Cultivation Technique.

However, just as he had immersed himself in the Cultivation of the Cultivation Technique, crack!!

A sound of a mirror shattering rang in his mind.

The scene before him split and shattered.

His consciousness returned to normal.

"Ugh!!" This forced interruption caused his entire Soul to experience a sharp pain.

At the same time, he found that his forward-charging figure had stopped accordingly.

"Damn it!!" He glanced at the item he had knocked away.

He never expected that this would actually be... a Soul Shard!!

He had just woken up.

Hum!! Instantly, he was pulled into the memory again.

Immersed in the Cultivation again.

At this moment, his situation was like a complete picture that had been cut into many parts, making reality and memory intermingled.

One second he was trapped in memory, the next second he would wake up, and then fall into memory again...

In the eyes of Xiao Shi and Xiang Zizhen, the Life Soul that had been charging over was stagnant and motionless the previous second, trapped in a state of comprehension.

The next second, its eyes returned to normal, and just as it was about to take action, it immediately immersed itself into the state of comprehension again...

"The effect of the combination of the [ Soul Plate ] and the [ Soul Shard ] seems to be even better than I imagined!!" Xiao Shi's eyes lit up.