My Ares Son-in-Law

At this critical moment, a clear phoenix cry suddenly rang out in Xiao Chen's mind, piercing through all other noises like celestial music. He had been poised to unleash his golden light to withstand the attack, but upon hearing the phoenix cry, he changed his stance, bringing two fingers together and gently pointing them at the void: "Break!"

A streak of azure sword energy suddenly shot into the sky, carrying a faint fragrance of grass and trees, yet containing an invincible sharpness, and collided violently with the golden giant palm!
"Boom——"

The explosive force of the energy burst out like a thunderclap, shaking the entire training ground. The violent shockwave spread outwards like a tidal wave. The spectators in the front row near the martial arts platform had no time to dodge and were thrown off their feet by the shockwave, screams echoing throughout the arena.

Seeing this, Situ Xiong sneered, "You're just putting on a brave face! How long can you hold on? The third move will send you on your way!"

"Heh, send me on my way? If that's all you're capable of, then you'll be the one going to your death today!"

Xiao Chen sneered, quite disdainfully.

He originally intended to kill Situ Xiong directly.

The two moves just now have already tested the opponent's strength. Although he is not weak, the aura of the Prison Clan on his body is very faint, so he does not seem to be a true member of the Prison Clan. There is no need to waste any more time.

However, at this moment, the immortal palace within his body suddenly underwent a strange change. The black soul tower that had been silent all along began to shake violently, and a faint red light shone through the window frames of the tower.

At this moment, Xiao Chen felt that everything around him had slowed down. Situ Xiong's movements as he gathered his moves, the gasps of the audience below the stage, and the scattered pebbles in the air all seemed to have been slowed down.

The next moment, the scene of the martial arts arena vanished abruptly, replaced by a majestic and solemn chaotic space. A massive black ancient building stood in the center of the space, nine stories high, each floor engraved with intricate ancient Dao patterns, which shimmered faintly in the dim light, exuding an aura of vicissitudes.

Suddenly, a strange black aura burst out from the Soul Tower, turning into countless tiny black dots the size of sesame seeds. These dots swirled around Xiao Chen like fireflies, but without any malice. Instead, they seemed to be getting closer to him.

"Om..."

The entire Soul Tower began to shake even more violently, and clear, melodious Daoist chants emanated from within, like countless sages reciting scriptures in hushed tones, ethereal and solemn. A vast, primordial aura completely enveloped Xiao Chen. Although he could not see any images, he could clearly sense the profound principles of the Dao that had once been enacted within this Soul Tower: the birth and death of souls, the natural order of the Dao, and the cycle of heaven and earth.

In that split second, he seemed to see a figure riding the waves from the depths of the ancient battlefield.

It was a man dressed in black armor, standing 24 feet tall. His armor was carved with ferocious beast faces, and each plate of armor gleamed with a ghostly light. He held a pair of long brass maces, which were covered with fine patterns. A leopard skin pouch hung from his waist, and a wisp of purple-gold light could be faintly seen from the opening of the pouch.

That was the scent of the Purple-Gold Flower Fox-Sable; its body was surrounded by Daoist aura, as if the sun, moon, and stars were encircling it, so majestic that people dared not look directly at it.

"A mere mortal, yet you manage to trigger the Soul Tower to recognize you as its master?" The man looked down at Xiao Chen, his voice booming like a great bell, causing Xiao Chen's soul to tremble slightly.

Xiao Chen felt his blood boiling, and a fragmented memory suddenly appeared in his mind… it was about the origin of the Soul Tower and the identity of the terrifying being before him. He suppressed his shock and tentatively asked, “You are… King Mo Lishou?” Mo Lishou flicked his sleeve, and the chaotic space behind him rippled like a starry sea: “It seems you have gained the initial recognition of the Soul Tower. In that case, I will help you overcome this tribulation, lest your newly recognized successor die at the hands of a mortal.”

Before he could finish speaking, Xiao Chen felt a lightness in his soul, and the chaotic space before him suddenly vanished. When he opened his eyes again, he was back on the martial arts stage. But he could clearly feel that there was an old and majestic consciousness within his body.

That was a part of Mo Lishou's spirit.

"Don't panic, kid. I'll borrow your body for a bit." Mo Lishou's voice rang in his mind, tinged with disdain. "Once I make my move, I can cripple this arrogant young man within three moves."

"Wait!" Xiao Chen hurriedly stopped him in his mind, his tone filled with confidence, "Senior, there's no need to take action. Although I am not very talented, I am still considered to be a formidable opponent in this mortal world. Dealing with someone like Situ Xiong is a piece of cake."

Mo Lishou paused for a moment, then observed Xiao Chen's cultivation level and true qi foundation through his senses. He then laughed, his laughter carrying a hint of warning: "Indeed, your strength is more than enough to deal with him. However, you seem unaware that he has a small thing hidden inside him. If you are not careful and are ambushed by that thing, you may really be doomed here today."

"The monster inside him?" Xiao Chen's heart skipped a beat, and he suddenly woke up.

I had truly underestimated my opponent! Although I was certain that I had few rivals in the mortal world, I was not absolutely invincible! If Situ Xiong truly harbored a fragment of the soul or remnant spirit of a powerful member of the Prison Clan, and had launched a sneak attack while I was fighting Situ Xiong, the consequences would have been unimaginable!

He subconsciously looked at Situ Xiong, who was currently gathering the power of the third form. A faint trace of black aura was mixed in with the golden light around him, which could not be detected without careful observation.

"That monster is very strong?" Xiao Chen raised an eyebrow, his fingertips unconsciously stroking the cracked jade pendant in his sleeve, his gaze still fixed on Situ Xiong, not daring to relax for a moment.

Mo Lishou's voice rang out in his mind, carrying a calm composure born of experience, devoid of his previous arrogance: "It is at least several levels stronger than the strength you have currently displayed. It has been lurking within this mortal's body for a long time, nourishing itself with the host's martial arts cultivation, and has long since become a terrifying existence capable of devouring souls. However, this fiend is extremely cautious, and will never easily reveal its presence unless forced into a desperate situation."

Xiao Chen pondered for a moment, a decisive glint in his eyes: "How about this, I will first confront Situ Xiong head-on, and if that Prison Clan monster dares to take the opportunity to launch a sneak attack, then I will trouble you, senior, to take action and eliminate it."

"Very well, this will allow me to see just how capable you, this successor, really are." Mo Lishou's voice held a hint of anticipation.

No sooner had he finished speaking than Situ Xiong's long-awaited killing move was delivered to his face!

"Give me your life!" he roared, his right fist tearing through the air with a piercing whistle. Golden light and black energy intertwined on his fist, carrying a terrifying aura capable of turning fine steel into dust, as he aimed straight for Xiao Chen's face.

At the critical moment, a figure in cyan leaped onto the martial arts stage like an arrow. Huang Tian held aloft a black iron badge engraved with a strange dragon pattern, and his voice was as loud as a bell: "Situ Xiong, wait! This is the Western Region Garrison Order. Seeing this order is like seeing the garrison commander himself. How dare you be so insolent?"

The dragon emblem on the document gleamed with a cold, golden light in the sunlight, its scales incredibly lifelike, each exuding majesty. This was the supreme symbol of power in the Western Region; only one existed in the entire region, impossible to counterfeit. (End of Chapter)