Outside the Inn, two streaks of light zipped across countless treetops, heading straight for the distance.
Occasionally, their figures would become visible, revealing them to be Xu Tianxi and Yue Lao.
Before long, the two arrived deep within the jungle, where Zhi Sen's figure appeared in their sight.
"Senior, how was your search? Have you found any trace of those guys?"
Xu Tianxi landed lightly, asking Zhi Sen, who was probing the surroundings with his eyes closed, about the situation.
Of course, when he set out to pursue the assassin group this time, he didn't pin all his hopes on the Star Luo Empire's cooperation. Xiao Changfeng had already provided them with some information, and forcing Xu Jiujiu to deliver intelligence was merely to deepen her hatred for Shrek.
What he did to Xu Jiujiu and the Star Luo Empire carried a sense of unwarranted disaster. Xu Jiujiu's personality was bound to change drastically after this incident, but he had no regrets. In fact, he was even somewhat pleased that he had seized this heaven-sent opportunity, using the token Zhang Lexuan had given him years ago to stage a good show.
Xu Tianxi didn't want to shackle himself with moral constraints or be labeled a good person. In his philosophy, he should be as warm as a spring breeze to his own people, but as merciless as Thunder to his enemies, willing to go to any lengths when necessary.
Shrek was his destined enemy, with no room for negotiation. All he could do was seize every available opportunity to destroy it.
Easily defeating Chen Xiaojie, he had no other suitable identity to hide behind. Only posing as a Shrek Inner Courtyard disciple made the most sense. Since the Star Luo Royal Academy people actively stumbled into him, it would be a waste not to use them.
Since he was already pretending, he might as well maximize the benefits of his disguise.
The existence of the Tang God King hung over him like a guillotine, preventing him from relaxing even slightly. Everything he was doing now was to improve his situation, to gain more time to grow stronger, and to prepare for the coming storms.
In the past, Yan Shaozhe had pushed him to the brink but failed to kill him. Shrek was destined to face his revenge once he had matured and grown stronger, just as they would be annihilated by a Level 12 Fixed Soul Guided Cannon Shell ten thousand years later.
Of course, there had to be a bottom line to his actions.
First, he couldn't associate with Evil Soul Masters. If he couldn't defeat or kill these guys, so be it. Those he could defeat, he would. Those he couldn't defeat temporarily, he'd deal with after he developed.
Second, he couldn't involve civilians. It didn't matter if Soul Masters fought to the death among themselves, or if they fought desperately on the battlefield, but massacring civilians was unacceptable.
Zhi Sen woke up, his expression serious as he nodded.
"Young Master, I've generally located those guys. From what I've gathered, the leading 'Abomination Envoy' might already have Soul King cultivation. There are three or four Soul Ancestors, and over thirty Soul Elders and lower-level Soul Masters. Should I go in and start slaughtering them?"
"A Soul King? He was a top-tier Soul Ancestorsix months ago. Has he advanced already? He's cultivating quite fast."
Xu Tianxi was surprised to hear that. After a moment of thought, he cupped his hands and said solemnly,
"When the time comes, I'll use 'Mirror Flower, Water Moon' to infiltrate first. Senior, you'll come with me, but don't act immediately. I'll test their strength, and you can capture people from behind."
"If I can take down that 'Abomination Envoy,' that would be best. If I can't defeat him, then I'll have to trouble you to intervene, Senior."
Zhi Sen nodded. "Alright, but the methods of Evil Soul Masters are always tricky and difficult to deal with. Young Master, you must be extremely careful!"
After the battle last night, he had witnessed the terrifying cross-realm combat power of this Young Master. While an Evil Soul Master Soul King was indeed dangerous and could pose a threat to a Soul Emperors, Xu Tianxi was by no means an ordinary person.
"Yue Lao, you are the most experienced. I must trouble you to guard the outside and help us with the cleanup. Every member of this assassin group is utterly wicked. If any of them escape, don't let a single one get away!"
After discussing the plan with Zhi Sen, Xu Tianxi turned to Yue Lao, solemnly addressing the cleanup.
Leaving loose ends was too disgusting. If they were going to kill, they had to kill cleanly. Not a single one of these bastards, accustomed to rape, pillage, and plunder, could be spared.
"Understood."
Yue Lao replied with a murderous tone, then hesitated slightly, adding,
"But Young Master, you haven't seen the methods of Evil Soul Masters before. You might not know how cruel they are. How about this old servant goes in first and slaughters those small fries for you?"
Hearing this, Xu Tianxi's eyes flickered. After a few seconds, he shook his head.
"No need. If I truly can't bear it, I'll send them on their way with cannon shells. After all, this is my training; I need to experience what I'm meant to experience."
Yue Lao nodded and said no more. The two followed Zhi Sen over mountains and across ridges, arriving before a massive cave entrance covered by numerous vines and branches.
Using his Illusory Moon Mystic Eyes to survey the situation from afar, Xu Tianxi's eyes instantly narrowed.
On the cave walls on both sides, hung what looked like tattered rags, but they were human skins, including those of infants. He sighed,
"This is the first time I've met people so utterly deserving of death. I'll send you on your way."
Activating the Level 5 Flying Soul Guidance Device on his back and ensuring his stealth effect, Xu Tianxi swooped down towards the bottom.
"Second Soul Skill, Mirror Flower, Water Moon."
Invisible Spiritual Power enveloped the area, drawing a curtain over this considerably large cave.
Inside the cave, bandits, some counting treasures, others indulging in their beastly desires, seemed to have been paused, their movements and breathing eerily frozen.
Several dark green vines shot up from the ground, wrapping around some of the victims, followed by a series of huge explosions.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Fixed Soul Cannon Shells, burning with sparks, spread their wings and glided out, exploding within the massive cave. Ruthless energy raged, engulfing every bandit whose mind had been brought to a standstill…
At this moment, thunder roared from the ground in the cave. Beams of Thunder light and Frost light shot out. Xu Tianxi, hidden in the darkness like a silent specter, calmly harvested lives one by one.
After slaughtering hundreds of bandits, Xu Tianxi's expression was as calm as a lake. He held a Level 4 Soul Guided Ray in each hand, firing them simultaneously from both sides. There was not a trace of warmth in his eyes, which shone with the Cold Moon Gaze ray.
Killing people truly wasn't a big deal after all; doing it enough times just made one numb.
Bang!
Piercing through the defenses of a Soul Ancestor-level bandit with a single shot, Xu Tianxi felt a sinister aura and Spiritual Power no weaker than Chen Xiaojie's emanating from him. His eyes swirled, and he unleashed a powerful Cold Moon Gaze ray directly at the bandit's head.
Boom!
With a headshot, the Soul Ancestorbandit, perhaps a member of the six Demon Soul Knights, had his head explode like a watermelon. Red and white matter splattered across the ground as he stumbled and fell, ending his wicked life.
The bandit was clutching a piece of bone and flesh the size of a baby's arm, and Xu Tianxi caught the strong scent of human blood from it, his gaze sharpening.
He fought cautiously, sending out a Level 3 Fixed Soul Guided Cannon Shell every time he advanced, completely eliminating any chance of being ambushed and destroying all the bandits' bodies.
The Death God Envoy's Corpse Explosion technique was terrifyingly powerful, and he wasn't about to gamble on whether this Abomination Envoy had a similar ability.
Suddenly, a sickening roar echoed from deep within the cave.
"Who dares to offend my Abomination Demon Soul?! Prepare to die!"
"You're the one who should prepare to die! Take this!"
Xu Tianxi shouted decisively, pulling out his pre-assembled Gatling-style Level 4 Soul Guidance Cannon Shell firing platform from his Storage Ring. He loaded six Level 4 Soul Guidance Cannon Shells into it and then fired with a BOOM.
"Rumble—"
In that instant, purplish-red Thunder and pure white Frost illuminated the dim cave, unleashing an earth-shattering wave of terrifying energy.
The cave began to collapse in large sections. Xu Tianxi, who had been sent flying backward by the cannon's recoil, had eyes as bright as the moon. He stared at the figure deep within the cave, a strong killing intent rising in his gaze.
"Trying to escape? I've never seen an Evil Soul Master escape from me, and you won't be any different."
"Third Soul Skill, Cold Moon Gazing Whale Fall!"