A World Worth Protecting

The shockwaves it created turned into a destructive storm that swept in all directions. Wang Baole’s pupils shrunk. Being daring enough to give chase, he naturally knew the explosive power of a Planet realm that was forced to self-destruct. So, as his opponent self-destructed, Wang Baole rapidly weaved hand seals with both hands and unleashed all the power of the Emperor Armor. While retreating, he also activated the Divine Justice Shield and took out the twelve emperor puppets and extra Dharmic Battleships from his storage bag. Even the sealed Shan Lingzi, who couldn’t resist, was taken out to defend him!

At that moment, he wasn’t worried about being identified. While the full power of the Demonic Eye Art was unleashed, Dark Fire dispersed in the surroundings and formed a giant black fireball.

All that setup was completed in the blink of an eye. In the next moment, the impact from Dan Zhouzi’s self-destruction exploded forth in the cosmos. Looking from afar, the self-destruction formed a light that became extremely resplendent. As rumbles sounded, Wang Baole’s body retreated more quickly, but it was still engulfed within it.

The Dark Fire burnt for about three breaths before dissipating, and the demonic eye was also sustained for three breaths. Afterward, the twelve emperor puppets’ souls were stored away in time, though their bodies were wiped out. They held on for two breaths. Then, Shan Lingzi was forced to self-destruct in exchange for two breaths, but his soul was also pulled away by Wang Baole in time!

That way, the impact of Dan Zhouzi’s self-destruction was resisted by Wang Baole, with him barely taking any damage during that ten breaths. The impact only hit Wang Baole after that. That meant that he used external power to neutralize most of the self-destruction’s power. Although the remaining impact still damaged him, it didn’t deal much damage.

And as a cold glint shone in Wang Baole’s eyes, he raised his right hand and gathered the Dark Fire again. Sounds of complicated chants spread, and after they gathered, they formed an imposing sound that echoed through the cosmos.

“Dark Art, Soul Guidance!” The sound turned into invisible waves that ignored the disturbances of Dan Zhouzi’s self-destruction as they swept and spread towards the surroundings. Meanwhile, an illusory shadow appeared in the southeast direction as the waves engulfed it!

The illusory shadow was Dan Zhouzi’s soul, which was making use of the self-destruction to escape!

“Impossible! You, you… you’re someone from the Dark Sect!” Dan Zhouzi’s expression completely changed as intense disbelief and desperation appeared in his eyes. While he let out a shrill cry, it was also difficult for him to escape as Wang Baole grabbed with his right hand. He was bound by the waves that quickly gathered from the surroundings, and no matter how he struggled, it had no effect. In the next moment, he was pulled in front of Wang Baole and grabbed by him!

Killing a Planet realm really does take quite a bit of effort. Wang Baole humphed and looked at Dan Zhouzi’s soul in his hands. Although the soul looked illusory, it was still similar to Dan Zhouzi’s appearance. At the same time, it also gave him a feeling of highly concentrated soul power.

As for Dan Zhouzi’s soul, which was bound by the Dark Art, it couldn’t struggle at all. He also couldn’t self-destruct his soul and even slipped into a coma slowly. It seemed that under the Dark Art, all his resistance was futile.

Wang Baole observed for a while. After all, this was his first time capturing a Planet realm cultivator’s soul. He also sensed that a pulling force seemed to exist deep within the cosmos that seemed to want to take away the soul. It was just that the pulling force wasn’t very powerful and was disrupted by the Dark Art, so Wang Baole could still resist it.

But he had a gut feeling that if he didn’t attack using his Dark Art and destroyed the soul, the pulling force would have increased infinitely in the next moment until it sucked away the soul he destroyed. If all conditions were met, it would still be possible for Dan Zhouzi to revive several years later.

But if his soul was wiped away by the Dark Art, that possibility would disappear.

Is that the Never-Ending Clan’s Heavenly Dao… Wang Baole pondered as the demonic eye behind him transmogrified again. The black eye opened, showing a cold gaze. If one looked closely, those familiar with Wang Baole would realize that the gaze of the black eye came from the same source as Wang Baole!

This was the change in the Demonic Eye Art that happened after he wiped away the Divine Eye civilization’s first generation patriarch. It meant that the Demonic Eye Art had completely become his personal divine power, and there were no future threats.

After sensing the Demonic Eye Art’s black eye, a strange glint flashed between Wang Baole’s eyes. He was about to throw the soul in his hands towards the demonic eye behind him, to let it absorb the soul and turn it into his cultivation. But very quickly, he paused. After thinking, he took out Shan Lingzi’s soul from his storage bag.

When Shan Lingzi appeared, his whole body trembled. His eyes were full of intense fear and desperation as he looked towards Wang Baole. Although he didn’t see the entire battle, Dan Zhouzi’s escape previously and the self-destruction of his physical body made him understand how scary the pig-headed man from before was. That was especially so considering Dan Zhouzi’s soul was captured alive. This made him feel extremely bitter.

“Just kill me. I’ve accepted my fate!” He felt bitter, but a resolute will spread from Shan Lingzi’s soul. He was prepared to die. In fact, after experiencing the collapse of his physical body back then, he had prepared before coming. He had some confidence that he could find a chance to revive many years later after he died.

“Pretty gutsy, eh?” Wang Baole looked at Shan Lingzi and suddenly laughed. In front of Shan Lingzi, he threw Dan Zhouzi’s soul towards the giant demonic eye behind him. Instantly, the demonic eye’s pupil expanded. It was like a black hole and a giant mouth as it sucked Dan Zhouzi’s soul into it.

Afterward, the demonic eye swelled rapidly as though a storm was spreading within it. In fact, it was even trembling uncontrollably. Obviously, to the demonic eye, the absorption this time was unprecedentedly huge nourishment!

After all, this was… killing a Planet realm and absorbing his soul!

Rumbles exploded forth from within the demonic eye. As they sounded out consecutively, and as the demonic eye absorbed, the backlash also started. A stream of heat gushed into Wang Baole’s body from the demonic eye, causing his body to tremble violently. All the losses of the Emperor Armor were instantly replenished. At the same time, his cultivation also rose from its original foundation, reaching the maximum point of what he could withstand.

Wang Baole understood that he could no longer continue staying at the Spirit Immortal realm. So, although there was still a lot of Dan Zhouzi’s soul power left, it was difficult for him to continue absorbing it, as though he was a fully filled bottle. That was unless he broke through to the Planet realm and exchanged for an even bigger bottle…

Although that was the case, the benefits of absorbing a Planet realm soul hadn’t ended. The changes in the demonic eye became more obvious and, faintly, within its pupil… a double-image appeared as though a second pupil was growing!

Such a change was unexpected, even for Wang Baole. The Divine Eye Art didn’t mention this, so it was obviously a change that happened on its own after the Divine Eye Art was modified by the Dark Art!

After all, the Dark Sect only had the Nascent Soul Demonic Eye Art. Everything that followed was cultivated by Wang Baole using the Divine Eye Art. So now, his Demonic Eye Art was an unprecedented path of evolution to a certain extent!

While such gains made Wang Baole feel extremely comfortable, excitement also appeared in his eyes. Although killing a Planet realm was difficult and drained him a lot, he gained a lot from it too. Getting rid of a future threat was just one of the benefits. Even though Dan Zhouzi’s storage bag collapsed, the increase in cultivation and replenishing of the Emperor Armor made Wang Baole feel that it was worth it. That was especially so considering he still had much of Dan Zhouzi’s soul power stored away.

At the same time, his gains also included the golden beetle. Although the beetle was on its dying breath, Wang Baole felt that he could repair and completely control it. After all, the beetle could turn into the golden beetle seal and could be considered a kind of Dharmic treasure to a certain extent. So, while feeling extremely satisfied, Wang Baole purposely licked his lips and displayed a look of greed as he looked towards Shan Lingzi, who was already scared out of his wits by that scene.