The Soul Tower trembled without pause. Inside, space twisted and warped as an invisible, overwhelming force seeped from the summit, pressing down on the three of them until breathing became a struggle. In that moment, the runes carved into the tower walls all lit up at once, and ancient soul force burst forth from the depths of the void, crashing into their spirits like a tidal wave.
"This pressure isn't ordinary," Lei Hao murmured, his eyes sharp. Lightning flickered in his palm—he was ready to strike.
Yan Yao stared intently at the spiral staircase ahead—the only path to the tower's top—now sealed by a barrier thin as silk yet firm as blacksteel. She said softly, "That's a Soul Lock Formation, designed to seal off spiritual power. If we force our way through, it will backlash and shatter our minds."
Xiao Chen remained silent. Within that barrier, he sensed a familiar, chilling presence—one he had pursued for years. The remnant soul of his nemesis—the Bloodflame Soul Lord!
That power had haunted his childhood in nightmares. Before his parents died, they had mentioned a mysterious organization known as the Scarred Flame Hall, and at its heart stood the Bloodflame Soul Lord.
"Bloodflame Soul Lord..." Xiao Chen murmured.
Lei Hao frowned. "You recognize the presence sealed in there?"
Xiao Chen nodded, his gaze dark. "It's the same aura from the night my parents were killed. I never saw the killer's face, but I'll never forget this presence."
Yan Yao's expression turned grave. "If it's truly him, even a fragment of his soul could devour an entire city."
Lei Hao said calmly, "We didn't come this far just to turn back."
Without hesitation, the three sat down in meditation. They each cast protective soul formations and began restoring their minds, preparing to break the seal and face whatever came next.
Time passed slowly. The light inside the tower brightened, and in the void outside, the faint sound of an ancient dragon's wail echoed—distant, mournful, as if from the dawn of creation.
Suddenly, a loud explosion. The barrier atop the tower rippled violently. Xiao Chen opened his eyes, stood up, and took a single step forward—then drew his sword and slashed the air.
"Break!"
A soul-forged sword ray shot forth like a meteor, piercing the barrier's weakest point. The screen shattered, soul energy surged outward, and a soul path formed, leading them to the tower's summit.
Lei Hao and Yan Yao flanked Xiao Chen. The three moved as one—silent, determined, like a blade slicing through illusions—ascending to the tower's highest realm.
At the Summit of the Soul Tower – The Soul Lord Appears
The summit wasn't a solid floor, but rather a suspended sea of soul energy. Azure-blue waves of spiritual force surged below. In the center floated a stone platform, where a hazy figure sat cross-legged—neither fully human nor entirely spirit.
Bloodflames coiled around the figure, as if its very soul were ablaze. The space around him twisted constantly, unable to contain such violent, monstrous power.
"So you've come..." The voice was like iron scraping stone—low, grating, laced with a chill that pierced the bone. "You are... Xiao Chen?"
Xiao Chen's sword hand trembled slightly. He had heard that voice before—in a soul jade left behind by his father.
"Bloodflame Soul Lord," he said quietly. "You were involved in the truth my parents uncovered."
The shadow paused, then gave a chilling laugh. "They did find traces of me. Pity they were too weak. So are you—not worth fearing."
Yan Yao's gaze turned cold. "Arrogant."
Lei Hao showed no emotion. His soul power had already gathered at his fingertips. "If you are merely a remnant, why are you trapped here?"
The soul didn't deny it. It smiled faintly. "The Soul Tower is a gateway to the Source of Fate. I once sought to steal its core, but was wounded and sealed here. Now, ten thousand years have passed. The tower is opening again. I... shall return."
Xiao Chen suddenly understood. None of this was a coincidence. He hadn't come just to find a killer—he'd been drawn here. His fate and this tower had long since intertwined.
"You want to seize the Source of Fate?" he asked.
"Indeed." The Soul Lord's voice was calm. "And you, Xiao Chen, are the perfect vessel for my rebirth. Your soul resonates with the tower. Once I devour you, I shall be free—my soul restored!"
With that, the bloodflame erupted, and the soul shadow split into countless fragments, surging toward the trio.
Three Against One – The Battle of Blood and Soul
"Formation!" Lei Hao shouted. The three moved instantly into a triangular stance, unleashing protective spells.
"Heaven's Thunder Lock Array!"
"Soulflow Reversion Technique!"
"Soulbrand Swordheart Art!"
Golden lightning, green soul energy, and sharp sword aura merged, forming a temporary barrier that slowed the soul's advance.
But the Bloodflame Soul Lord had once surpassed the Soul Realm. Even as a remnant, his power was monstrous. Their shield shook violently under his assault, cracks quickly spreading.
Xiao Chen realized the fight had to end quickly—or they would all die.
"Give me one incense stick of time," he sent telepathically to the others. "I will try to contact the tower's core soul and awaken the will of fate itself."
Yan Yao was shocked. "That means entering the tower with your soul! If you fail, you'll be destroyed!"
Lei Hao grinned through clenched teeth. "If he's betting his life, we'll bet ours too."
Yan Yao said nothing more. Her sword flew into the air, becoming a ribbon of icy-blue soul flame guarding Xiao Chen.
Lei Hao summoned his thunder source, his body turning into a storm of divine lightning, each strike scattering fragments of the enemy.
Xiao Chen closed his eyes, sat cross-legged, and began to separate his soul from his body—seeking contact with the Soul Tower's core. There was no turning back.
He saw his parents smiling spirits... the courtyard of his childhood... everything he had walked through...
He knew: this battle was no longer just for him.
The Awakening of Fate
When Xiao Chen's soul touched the core, the entire tower roared. The sky split open. All souls cried out in unison. Symbols of fate rose from the tower and poured into Xiao Chen like stardust.
"You... you awakened the tower spirit?!" the Soul Lord shrieked. His remnant soul trembled as if about to be devoured.
Xiao Chen opened his eyes. They no longer held mortal hues—only the vastness of the stars. He stood slowly, wrapped in divine flame, and declared:
"The Soul Tower is not yours. The key to fate… will never be yours."
He raised his hand. A golden soul mark burst forth and struck the Soul Lord at his core.
"AAAAARRRGGHHH!!!"
The Bloodflame Soul Lord screamed. His soul shattered into thousands of red fragments, vanishing into the tower's calm skies.
Silence returned. The soul sea stilled—as if no battle had ever occurred.
Yan Yao approached, voice gentle. "You did it."
Lei Hao smirked. "And lived."
Xiao Chen smiled faintly. His eyes remained calm. "But this is only the beginning."
He turned to face the end of the tower, where a door—glowing faintly—now hovered in the void.
The source of fate… was only just beginning to reveal itself.