"Trying to escape?!" Though startled, Li Zhaoyan reacted with lightning speed! Releasing Marco, he snorted coldly as his figure vanished like a ghost, reappearing instantly in the path of the fleeing pearl. The immense Soul Power of a Soul Douluo erupted, materializing into a solid pale blue energy hand that descended like an inescapable net, grasping fiercely toward the sinister pearl!
Yet the pearl proved extraordinarily malevolent! The moment Li Zhaoyan's Soul Power-formed hand touched the black-red Evil Qi swirling around the pearl's surface, an ear-piercing sizzling sound erupted. Like ice meeting scorching sun, the energy hand visibly corroded and dissolved at alarming speed! The pearl merely hesitated briefly before struggling to escape with even greater velocity!
"What treacherous Evil Qi!" Li Zhaoyan's expression darkened, realizing ordinary Soul Power couldn't subdue this object. Without hesitation, the Soul Ring beneath his feet glowed brightly as he declared:
"Autumn Maple Domain, unfold!"
A pale golden light screen rapidly expanded from his center, instantly enveloping a hundred-meter radius! Within the Domain, autumn's lethal atmosphere prevailed as countless maple leaf illusions whirled through the air. The oppressive, withering, purifying power surged toward the Evil God Pearl like tidal waves!
Under the powerful suppression of the Autumn Maple Domain, the Evil God Pearl's escape speed noticeably slowed. The Evil Qi surrounding it clashed violently with the Domain's power, producing grating hisses reminiscent of fire meeting water. The blood-colored patterns on the pearl's surface glowed with eerie light, resisting the purification force.
Li Zhaoyan's eyes sharpened, knowing he must end this quickly! He stepped forward personally, clenching his right fist as the Autumn Maple Domain's power concentrated intensely. His entire fist seemed coated with pale golden crystalline radiance, emitting a powerful will capable of purifying and suppressing all existence. Slowly yet determinedly, he reached out to grasp the violently trembling, struggling sinister pearl!
"Bzzz—!!!"
The Evil God Pearl appeared to sense extreme danger, emitting sharper, more resentful vibrations! Thick, substantial black-red Evil Qi surged forth wildly, assaulting Li Zhaoyan's palm and the Domain light enveloping it, attempting to corrode and repel him.
But Li Zhaoyan's will remained iron-clad, his Soul Power continuously sustaining the Domain. His hand steadily penetrated the Evil Qi barrier, pale golden Domain light and black-red Evil Qi engaging in fierce confrontation—constantly annihilating each other while continuously regenerating. Finally, his fingers closed firmly around the icy yet violently pulsating pearl!
The pearl thrashed in Li Zhaoyan's palm like a trapped beast, its frantic collisions and continuous Evil Qi assaults causing his arm to tremble slightly. Gritting his teeth, he channeled his Soul Power and Domain energy to their limits, his palm becoming like a furnace that continuously refined and suppressed the pearl's Evil Qi.
Gradually, under Li Zhaoyan's persistent suppression, the Evil God Pearl's struggles weakened. The blood-colored patterns on its surface gradually dimmed until finally, the heart-palpitating Evil Qi completely retracted. The pearl grew still, though its profound black color and faint blood patterns still emanated an ominous aura.
Li Zhaoyan finally breathed a sigh of relief, beads of sweat already visible on his temples. He carefully cradled the pearl in his palm, sensing the lingering coldness and lifelessness.
The others cautiously gathered around, their faces filled with lingering fear and astonishment as they looked at the now-quiet pearl.
"Ke'er, what... what exactly is this thing? Why didn't a Soul Ring appear after the Dark Demonic Evil God Tiger died?" Li Zhaoyan looked at his son, his eyes full of confusion. The others also turned their questioning gazes toward him.
Marco took a deep breath, organizing the fragmented information he had vaguely perceived while absorbing the Source of Life along with memories from his previous life, and explained in a solemn voice: "Father, Uncle Yang, this object is probably not as simple as the essence of a Soul Beast. According to some extremely ancient legends, the Dark Demonic Evil God Tiger isn't a naturally born Soul Beast, but rather... the result of the Evil God's power descending upon a White Tiger, causing a terrifying mutation."This transformed the White Tiger's original light attribute into extreme darkness and evil, giving birth to the fallen black wings representing corruption and that scorpion tail-like Evil God Hook." It possesses the ultimate evil attribute left by the Evil God - this power is extremely yin and wicked, overwhelmingly domineering, and fundamentally cannot be contained or endured by a human body. That's why there has never been a person in history whose Martial Soul was the Dark Demonic Evil God Tiger. Also, because its growth method is extremely evil, relying on devouring the Soul Power and life force of other Soul Beasts or Soul Masters, it is rejected by heaven and earth. In the Soul Beast world, other Soul Beasts will often unite to attack it upon encounter, attempting to destroy it before it matures."He pointed at the pearl in his father's hand and said: "This pearl is likely formed from that trace of the Evil God's original power - the most core, essential thing of this Dark Demonic Evil God Tiger." It itself resembles an Evil God relic more than a conventional Soul Beast, which is why no Soul Ring appeared after its death. And what I absorbed in the vortex earlier was perhaps its purest Source of Life after the Evil God attribute was stripped away."
"The Evil God... reaching level one hundred to become a god... Could those elusive legends actually be true?" Osler murmured, his face filled with awe. Ye Lingling and Qiu Yao also widened their eyes, finding it hard to believe. Yang Wudi watched the pearl with profound eyes, lost in thought.
Just then, the curious Ye Lingling, seeing the massive tiger corpse lying completely still, cautiously approached and reached out her finger, wanting to touch the fur of this legendary ferocious beast. However, the moment her fingertip made contact with the cold, stiff fur—
Another anomaly occurred!
The entire massive corpse of the Dark Demonic Evil God Tiger, as large as a small hill, seemed to instantly lose all support and substance, transforming into countless fine purple light points that swarmed toward the Evil God Pearl in Li Zhaoyan's palm as if drawn by an invisible magnet! In the blink of an eye, the enormous corpse vanished without a trace, completely absorbed into the pearl! Only the pits and mess left by the battle remained at the scene, as if the ferocious beast had never existed.
"This... even the corpse has been completely absorbed?!" Li Zhaoyan looked at the pearl in his hand, which now seemed darker and colder to the touch, and gasped, "It appears a Soul Bone is impossible too."
He sighed, both marveling at the eerie nature of the Evil God Pearl and feeling a tinge of regret. Such a powerful and rare Soul Beast had left behind not a single material after its demise.
After experiencing such a series of thrilling and tumultuous events, everyone was utterly exhausted, both physically and mentally. Li Zhaoyan took out a jade box he had prepared in advance for storing precious medicines, carefully placed the Evil God Pearl inside, and sealed it with several talismans before finally feeling somewhat at ease.
By then, the sun had set, and the forest grew dim. They decided to rest on the spot, with Yang Wudi, who had consumed relatively little Soul Power and was in the best condition, taking charge of keeping watch. Perhaps due to the lingering ferocious aura of the Dark Demonic Evil God Tiger not having completely dissipated, combined with Yang Wudi—a Soul Douluo—standing guard, no other reckless Soul Beasts disturbed them that night.
A campfire was lit, dispelling some of the chill and darkness of the forest. Marco sat by the fire, feeling the surging, ocean-like Source of Life within him, far surpassing what it had been before, and the profound and powerful "Phoenix Domain" in his consciousness. His heart swelled with the joy of his gains. However, when his gaze swept over the jade box his father had solemnly stored away, his brow furrowed slightly. The ultimate evil power contained within the Evil God Pearl remained a significant hidden danger, and how to handle it required careful consideration.
Li Zhaoyan sat beside Marco, his eyes almost unable to tear themselves away from his son. The relief of having regained what was lost and the lingering fear still haunted his heart. He gently patted Marco's shoulder, conveying everything without words. As the night deepened, the Star Dou Great Forest returned to a superficial tranquility, but the experiences of this night were destined to be deeply etched into everyone's memories.
--Enjoying the story? Want more chapters? Check out my Patreon and support me for 40+ advance chapters.
Just search for "QueenTL" on Patreon!"
Thanks!