Jiu Hu Fa's thoughts flickered in confusion for a moment. But seeing Ye Chen's cultivation—merely an Eight-Star Dou Wang
...he dismissed it. Surely, he couldn't pose a real threat to a Dou Zong like him.
Without hesitation, Jiu Hu Fa surged forward, intent on subduing Ye Chen, using him to pressure Yaocen, and to try opening the sealed space.
Ye Chen's lips curved slightly.
"About time… go."
At his command, the Spirit Control Talisman in his hand erupted with black light, carrying dense black mist hurtling toward Jiu Hu Fa.
"Trickery!"
Jiu Hu Fa sneered, sending his own black mist to intercept. Yet to his surprise, within Ye Chen's mist, four enormous black chains rapidly formed and pierced through his black mist.
"What?!"
"You're also from the Hall? Why attack me?"
Jiu Hu Fa, startled, assumed Ye Chen was allied with the Soul Hall.
"Ha! You think only your Soul Hall can seal souls?"
Ye Chen smirked. Under his control, the four black chains surged at Jiu Hu Fa, while the mist enveloped him completely.
"Shh! Shh!"
Caught within the Spirit Control Talisman's mist, Jiu Hu Fa found his strength significantly suppressed.
His surrounding black mist gradually dissipated.
"This is impossible!"
He tried to retaliate, but Yaocen's white flame projectiles were already incoming, forcing him to defend.
The Spirit Control Talisman's mist didn't harm Yaocen, giving him freedom to attack.
"Ah!"
The sealed space turned pitch black, punctuated by flashes of white light and sharp, agonizing screams.
Yaocen, empowered by Ye Chen and the talisman, pressed the attack. In no time, Jiu Hu Fa was fully restrained, the four black chains binding him tightly.
"Shh! Shh!"
His black mist thinned as the chains tightened, revealing his true form: a semi-ethereal soul.
Ye Chen had anticipated this. The Spirit Control Talisman was designed for such a fight.
The Soul Hall specialized in capturing souls, and ordinary Dou Qi couldn't deal fatal damage to soul forms. The best hunter for a soul was another soul.
Most Soul Hall members were soul forms, like Jiu Hu Fa, with only a few retaining physical bodies.
"Don't kill me… if you do, the Elders will know!"
Jiu Hu Fa's tone shifted from pleading to threatening.
Within the Hall, every member had a soul token; death would immediately alert others.
"Relax. I won't kill you. You still have some use."
Ye Chen's calm response eased Jiu Hu Fa slightly. At least death wasn't immediate.
"Seize him!"
Ye Chen's mental command sent a massive pull through the chains, dragging Jiu Hu Fa into the talisman's space.
"No…!"
Jiu Hu Fa screamed, struggling, but the effort was futile. In moments, he was pulled completely into the Spirit Control Talisman.
"What kind of place is this?! Let me out!"
"Stop threatening… dare harm me, and you'll die too!"
Inside, Jiu Hu Fa's curses echoed, but Ye Chen snapped:
"Silence!"
"Spirit Control Talisman, refine him!"
Black mist surged again, consuming Jiu Hu Fa's soul.
"Ahhh…"
His screams of agony filled the space. Though stronger than Yaocen's initial encounter in Wutan City, Ye Chen had improved exponentially since then.
The refining process quickly subdued Jiu Hu Fa, leaving him unconscious.
"Return for now. By tomorrow morning, Jiu Hu Fa should become my second soul servant."
Ye Chen lifted the spatial seal, restoring tranquility. The black mist dispersed, leaving no trace of the battle.
Using the Hidden Spirit Stone, Ye Chen concealed his cultivation and returned quietly to Yunlan Sect's main hall.
"Ye Chen, you went out in such a hurry… what happened?" Yun Yun asked, curious after seeing him gone for hours.
"Yun'er, nothing major. Just a sneaky intruder trying to enter Yunlan Sect at night. I handled him." Ye Chen smiled.
"An intruder in Yunlan Sect?"
Yun Yun frowned. With her power, she hadn't sensed anything unusual. How had Ye Chen discovered it?
Yun Yun, my soul power has already reached the Spirit Realm.
My senses are far sharper than ordinary people!" Ye Chen smiled, seeming to read the curiosity in Yun Yun's eyes.
"Spirit Realm?"
Yun Yun still looked puzzled. She didn't understand much about the boundaries of soul power.
"Yun Yun, souls also have levels. A higher soul level grants greater perception and control over details.
For example, an alchemist…" Ye Chen patiently explained the mysteries of soul cultivation.
"I see…"