In an instant, the dagger formed from Lin Xiao's soul bone pierced Old Third's chest. He could feel a warm sensation spreading from his palm, and then five soul rings rose around him.
As the first soul ring flickered, the blood in Old Third's body transformed into countless seeds of flesh, bursting outward. In the blink of an eye, Old Third's body was riddled with holes, and the other three halted their steps under the sudden onslaught.
Only then did Lin Xiao slowly raise his head to look at the remaining men.
He had to admit, their coordination was impressive. Old Third's sneak attack from behind drew the target's attention, while the others simultaneously targeted the arms and legs to hinder movement. If someone else had attacked vital points like the head or throat at that moment, even if the target reacted in time, they would likely be injured.
If their weapons had been coated with poison, the effect would have been even more devastating.
No wonder they dared to act so suddenly. This chain of attacks could overwhelm even a soul master of higher cultivation.
Unfortunately, with their fifth brother killed by Nightmare Douluo, they hadn't had the chance to adjust their tactics. Despite their seamless coordination, the absence of that final step allowed the prepared Lin Xiao to react in time.
Perhaps they hadn't expected Lin Xiao to act so decisively either. In a single exchange, a brother they had spent day and night with was killed, and the remaining three didn't dare approach for a moment.
"You guessed right. I am indeed an evil soul master," Lin Xiao said, slowly standing up.
"So I know where the lingering smells on you come from. That bloody stench isn't from soul beasts—it's from humans. I'm quite curious how a group of people who help other soul masters hunt soul rings ended up with such a strong scent."
The burly man didn't respond. He glanced left and right before fixing his gaze on Lin Xiao. "No point talking to him. We're dead if we leave, and we're dead if we stay. Might as well fight him!"
With that, the burly man charged at Lin Xiao.
Lin Xiao lightly tapped his foot, swiftly retreating. He knew that while his left arm bone compensated for his weakness in close combat, keeping some distance would allow him to better utilize his abilities.
The scenery around him blurred as he moved. With a wave of his hand, a residual soul floated up from Old Third's body. Lin Xiao's soul rings lit up again, and invisible seeds of soul sliced through the air toward the others. But in the next moment, his movements froze.
A series of unfamiliar scenes flashed before his eyes—emotions of sorrow, joy, and everything in between welled up in his heart. He had never seen these events, yet they felt as vivid as if he had experienced them himself, with clear memories surfacing in his mind.
He quickly snapped out of it and saw that the burly man and the other two were all standing frozen in place.
Lin Xiao instantly realized that what he had seen weren't his own experiences but the memories of these men.
Just as seeds of flesh could devour the physical strength of an opponent, seeds of soul consumed their souls—their memories.
Scenes they couldn't forget or didn't want to recall were now uncontrollably replaying before their eyes.
Since breaking Nightmare Douluo's restriction, this was the first time Lin Xiao had used the soul-related abilities of his Higanbana martial soul. He had only intended to see how it differed from before, but he hadn't expected the effect to be so pronounced.
With his unrestricted spiritual power now more closely connected to the Higanbana, he was about to test his other soul skills when his expression suddenly changed.
In the distance, he faintly sensed the aura of other soul masters, likely drawn by the fluctuations of their battle.
His mind raced, and Lin Xiao abruptly raised his arm. A blinding white light shot from his soul cannon, and a hole instantly appeared in the bodies of the three men lost in their memories. They collapsed stiffly to the ground.
Lin Xiao stepped forward, crouching beside Old Third. He raised his hand but suddenly paused, looking slightly upward.
This was the Outer Area of the Star Dou Great Forest, where the trees were sparser compared to the inner regions. The interwoven branches didn't fully block the night sky, and moonlight filtered through the gaps, casting its glow on the ground.
Beneath that moonlight, a slender figure stood at the tip of a tree branch. The delicate branch bent only slightly under her weight. A full moon hung in the sky behind her, its cold light cascading down like a waterfall, outlining her form clearly.
The moonlight made it hard for Lin Xiao to discern her features, but he could make out her long hair tied back, with a few strands breaking free and fluttering gently in the night breeze.
With a light tap, the branch swayed slightly, and in an instant, the figure landed in front of Lin Xiao. The pristine moonlight seemed to grow even brighter with her arrival.
"We meet again," she said.
Hearing her voice, Lin Xiao stood slowly, smiling. "Yeah, what a coincidence, meeting again."
His smile didn't fade, but the flow of soul power within him didn't slow in the slightest.
At such close range, Lin Xiao recognized the newcomer—it was Zhang Lexuan, whom he had met a few times before. Though not a stranger, he wished it hadn't been her.
He was all too aware of Shrek Academy's stance on evil soul masters. He didn't know what Zhang Lexuan would think of the scene before her or whether she had overheard his conversation with the hunters, but he was already prepared to act at any moment.
However, Zhang Lexuan only glanced at him before crouching down, inspecting the bodies without any guard, letting the blood stain her fingers.
"I came here to hunt these people down," she said softly, as if confirming their identities.
"They're a group that specializes in helping other soul masters hunt soul rings."
"Yeah, I heard that when I talked to them earlier," Lin Xiao nodded, stepping slightly closer, watching Zhang Lexuan's unguarded back.
"Did you know they charge very low prices?" she asked.
Lin Xiao wasn't new to the world and quickly grasped what Zhang Lexuan meant.
Helping other soul masters hunt soul rings wasn't an easy task, and fighting soul beasts always carried risks. In a place like the Star Dou Great Forest, all sorts of unexpected dangers could arise—it was like carrying your head on your belt to do business.
As a result, the cost of helping others hunt soul rings was never cheap. The fact that these men charged low prices clearly indicated there was more to it.
Zhang Lexuan stood up, scanning the surroundings before fixing her gaze on Lin Xiao. "The soul masters who hire these people usually don't have any powerful backing or long-term teammates."
"And since they're drawn to the low prices, it means their family circumstances aren't great. If people like that go missing in the Star Dou Great Forest, few would bother to investigate."