Overdraw the future and become a peerless martial god

Chapter 209 The Source of Evil (Please Subscribe and Vote)
He took a deep breath and suddenly looked up at Yu Xingshui:

“Elder Yu.” His voice was calm, yet carried an undeniable sharpness. “My soul was disturbed by the strange fluctuations of demonic flames, and during that time, I seemed to catch a glimpse of the lingering will of the Primordial Master… He said, ‘Those who burn the world cannot be defeated by force; one must respond with a pure soul.’”

He paused, his gaze sharp and piercing:
"Does this mean that the true fatal flaw of the Ape Lord's Demonic Flame lies not in its power, but in its 'filthy' nature? Does it imply that brute force cannot eradicate the World-Burning Demonic Flame, and that only a certain 'soul-purifying method' can counter it?"

Yu Xingshui was slightly moved. She lowered her head and pondered for a moment, then flicked the mirror plate with her fingertips:
“There is indeed some kind of ‘soul-corrupting structure’ within this soul flame. If what the Pavilion Master said is true, then the words ‘soul purification’... may be the key.”

Chu Ning's pupils shrank slightly.

"Filth...assimilation...erosion of the soul..."

These words instantly reminded him of the terrifying backlash of the power of the boundary lock.

“Completely annihilating a demigod… is easier said than done.” Yu Xingshui sighed softly. “There may be records in ancient books, but the conditions required are extremely harsh. It may require the power of the same level to suppress and obliterate it, or to find its core essence and kill it with one blow, or… to trigger a higher level of power, such as the judgment of the World Patrol Envoy.” When she mentioned the World Patrol Envoy, her eyes showed even deeper fear.

Chu Ning fell into deep thought.

Strengthening the seal to buy time, directly resisting the Ape Lord's counterattack, and investigating its fatal weakness... a myriad of tasks, every step fraught with danger. And the greatest mystery—the truth behind Hunyuan's demise and the Ape Lord's fatal weakness—remains shrouded in demonic flames.

"Boundary Patrol Envoy..." Chu Ning silently murmured the name of this transcendent being. Yu Xing Shui's warning still echoed in his ears.

If the border patrol envoy is activated, will it be a blessing or a curse? Will it bring new and more uncontrollable variables?

Time slipped away quietly amidst deep contemplation.

Finally, Chu Ning suddenly raised his head, the cold murderous intent in his eyes replaced by a resolute determination to burn his bridges.

"The plan to reinforce the boundary markers shall commence immediately! Elder Li, Pavilion Master Yu, proceed with all preparations as previously agreed!"

"Three days from now, I will personally lead the elite warriors to the far north ice plains!"

"Go here to reinforce the seal and buy some time." Chu Ning's gaze was sharp as a sword, as if it could pierce through the void and stare directly at the ferocious ape within the seal.

He stood up. Although the light from the five-patterned Soul Lock was not dazzling, it exuded an unwavering determination and solemnity.

"The meeting at Jingyunzhai is adjourned for now. Gentlemen, let's go our separate ways!"

"This battle concerns the survival of the First-Class Pavilion and the peace of this world... Only victory is allowed, defeat is not an option!"

Li Jing'an and Yu Xingshui stood up solemnly and bowed to accept the order: "As you command, Pavilion Master!"

The two figures silently withdrew, leaving Chu Ning alone in Jingyunzhai.

He walked to the window again, gazing towards the far north, where the biting wind seemed to carry with it the scorching, ferocious aura of that parched land. The three-day deadline was fast approaching. He opened his palms, his soul locked in a ghostly embrace, as if responding to the challenge from the demigod.

He slowly sat up and looked out the window at the still dark sky. Suddenly, he remembered that Lei Jingjing had kept watch over the lamp outside Jingyunzhai until dawn that night. The soul lamp had not gone out, and the faint blue light in the wick had silently protected every wisp of his soul from dissipating.

For a moment, his gaze softened slightly, but quickly returned to its deep, iron-like intensity.

"How are Dong'er and Qingli doing in the far north, Cangque? And what about Mingli, who's far away in the capital...?"

He whispered each name in his heart, as if reaching out in the darkness to touch the figures of those he always cared about.

A true storm is about to erupt in the far north, where ice and fire intertwine!
The following day, on the Heavenly Mirror Platform, soul clouds rolled and the void reverberated.

Since Chu Ning took office, undercurrents have been surging within the cabinet, and now they are finally coming to light.

The warriors who once guarded the four borders and cultivated in seclusion in other realms were drawn by the "palace master's summons" that had never been used, and they tore through space and returned to the core of this world.

Dozens of figures stood on the platform interwoven with light. Around them flowed proof of the pinnacle of this realm—a first-grade soul pressure.

Some are as still and ancient as mountains, others are as sharp as a cleaver tearing through the void, and still others bear the marks of unhealed soul wounds and the dust of battle.

They are the true cornerstone and sharpest weapon of the First-Class Pavilion, in addition to the three pavilions of Soul Map, Soul Form, and Soul Mirror, and also the hidden foundation of the "Suppressor of Realms".

Chu Ning, clad in a Soul Mirror Robe, stood alone atop the central Soul Rank.

The gazes below converged, a web of scrutiny, indifference, doubt, and even subtle sharpness.

Lei Jingjing and Chu Yun stood on the edge of the stage. The former's soul lamp flickered with light at her fingertips, while the latter clenched her fists, her eyes filled with tension and anticipation.

Yu Xing Shui watched from afar without speaking, while Li Jing An stood solemnly to the left of Chu Ning, his gaze sweeping across the entire scene.

"I have summoned you all here today not for mere formalities," Li Jing'an's deep voice broke the silence, "but to set the anchor for the future of Yipin Pavilion!"

A tall, thin old man in red armor took half a step forward, his armor clanging, his voice as cold and hard as iron:
"Elder Li, when did you become so arrogant in front of us? The new Pavilion Master's Soul Lock is still in its early stages, his aura is still weak, and it is said that he narrowly escaped death during the Soul Locking Trial. With this frail body and weak Soul Lock, he dares to command us First-Rank cultivators? Isn't this childish!"

His gaze was like lightning, piercing straight at Chu Ning. Even before he released his soul pressure, the atmosphere in the entire arena froze, and even the lower-level Soul Holders around him subconsciously took a half step back.

That was none other than Yao Heng, the former left-wing guardian of the Soul Palace, known as "Annihilation Crimson Fiend." He swept across the Northern Region for thirty years with his Annihilation Soul Technique, proving his Dao through killing and ranking among the top five on the Offering List.

Immediately following his words, an elderly man with white hair slowly stepped out. His aura was faint and unpredictable, his presence sinister and elusive.

His voice was deep, yet as cold as ice:

"Indeed. What kind of person was the Grandmaster Hunyuan? He was in charge of the Boundary Lock, yet he still perished in the far north! Can the new Pavilion Master, who inherits his legacy, possibly shoulder his heavy responsibilities?"

"If you dare to dominate the lifeline of the three pavilions with only the light of the fifth soul rune..." He sneered, as if he foresaw a certain ending.

This person is named "Kui Zhao," a reclusive worshipper of the old lineage of the Soul Chart.

The power of the Soul Lock is not focused on defeating enemies, but rather on backlash, soul destruction, and mind control techniques. It was once responsible for suppressing and executing the "Ten Commandments of the Sinful Rank," and its reputation was so great that even the core warriors of the Soul Form Pavilion were unwilling to confront it easily.

The two exchanged a single word without releasing a trace of their soul imprints, yet it seemed to carry immense weight, the air pressing down on their soul ranks like sharp blades.

An invisible pressure of soul energy surged forth like a tidal wave, distorting the void.

Lei Jingjing's face paled slightly, and the light from her soul lamp flickered rapidly. Chu Yun let out a muffled groan, almost losing his balance.

Li Jing'an's expression remained unchanged, but at this moment he slightly turned his head, his expression carrying a seemingly respectful but actually resolute solemnity, and cupped his hands in a low voice:
"Sect Master—"

Chu Ning slowly raised her eyes.

His gaze was as calm as a bottomless, icy pool, yet it contained a sharpness that could pierce through everything. He remained silent and still, as if the surging pressure of his soul were merely a gentle breeze.

"I'm not here to submit to you."

His voice wasn't loud, but it instantly crushed all other noises, like a cold blade severing a thread. Every word seemed to strike the soul, echoing like a tolling bell.

"I'm here to tell you—"

The words have not yet fallen.

Chu Ning took a sudden step forward, and the Soul Rank beneath his feet trembled violently!
Spread your five fingers in your palm and point them toward the sky.

next moment--

"boom!"

A beam of dark golden light shot into the sky from his sea of ​​consciousness, and five layers of soul patterns appeared instantly, like five holy wheels illuminating the void, each circle more brilliant than the last. As the soul light swept across, the entire Heavenly Mirror Platform seemed to be forcibly suppressed by a "Soul Domain Lord's Decree".

At the core of the fifth soul rune, the Primordial Imprint suddenly lit up completely.

It was as if some long-lost "authority of the principal position" had been reawakened at this moment.

The myriad soul ranks trembled in unison, and an aura that did not belong to any mortal rose from his body—it was not Chu Ning's aura, but the true main will of the Boundary Lock, as if the heavens and earth were bowing down in his palm.

Soul Lock Suppression Realm - Descends!
There was no deafening thunder, only a wisp of silver-blue lightning quietly emanated from his palm, silently, yet instantly traversing space, carrying the overwhelming will of "direct soul intent," precisely piercing the deepest part of Yao Heng's soul sea.

"puff--!"

The old man's pupils contracted, and before he could react, his entire soul was pierced by divine lightning.

In that instant, the world darkened, and the air seemed to freeze.

The crimson armor shattered like cracked porcelain, and the fiery soul dissipated silently.

"Crack——!"

Seven charred lightning streaks instantly appeared on the Heavenly Mirror Platform beneath his feet. With each step he took back, the Soul Stone exploded like boulders, and each footprint was etched an inch deep. Before everyone's eyes, a dignified Soul Rank Elder was actually forced back seven steps by a single finger.

When he stood still, his back was soaked with sweat, his chest heaved like a drum, blood spilled from the corner of his mouth, and he almost vomited a mouthful of blood, but he forced it down. His face was as pale as paper.

The entire hall fell silent, as if not even the wind dared to move an inch.

Those powerful worshippers who had been observing coldly were now all visibly shaken. Their soul locks, though not activated, began to vibrate on their own, as if they were in the presence of their lord.

An unprecedented shock spread across the sky above the Heavenly Mirror Platform, like a silent tidal wave, crushing the sea of ​​will of every powerful individual.

In the silence of that lingering soul power, a whisper exploded in everyone's ears:

"The Primordial Imprint! That's the core of the fifth mark of the Primordial Master!"

"This is not a simulation, not a fragment... it is a complete print!"

"He really controlled the will of the Boundary Lock... and even triggered a response from the very origin of the Heavenly Mirror?!"

"The Heavenly Mirror... it wasn't rejected in his palm?!"

Some people were shocked and speechless, some turned pale, and some subconsciously lowered their heads and clasped their hands, not daring to meet Chu Ning's gaze.

The white-haired elder Kui Zhao, who had been shouting earlier, was now drenched in cold sweat, his lips trembling slightly, and his soul lock protective aura was violently unstable, as if it would collapse on its own at any moment.

Chu Ning slowly withdrew his palm, the five lines returned to their original state, and the world returned to calm.

He stood atop the Soul Rank, his robes fluttering slightly, his long hair gently flowing, without moving a single step, yet it was as if he were standing atop a mountain.

He surveyed the entire room, his gaze sharp as a blade, and spoke calmly:
"Now, who else wants to come up and try?"

Quiet.

Deadly quiet.

Even the continuous wind of the soul stopped making a sound, and on the soul platform, you could hear a pin drop for a moment.

It was as if, at that moment, not just one person was standing on the steps.

Instead, it was an entire mountain and river—the soul pressure of the new Soul Master—that was silently descending upon the summit of this realm within a realm.

Yao Heng bent over and knelt, his face as pale as paper, and he was still in excruciating pain in his chest.

Kui Zhao also lowered his eyes, not daring to meet Chu Ning's gaze.

However, just when everyone thought everything had settled down, a sudden change occurred.

"call out--!"

Two sharp sounds of wind breaking through the air burst forth from the Soul-Suppressing Tide Breath!

Yao Heng and Kui Zhao erupted almost simultaneously, their soul power exploding like a tidal wave, forcibly drawing upon the intent of the soul blade at the boundary of the turbulent soul lock!

"kill!"

"His soul root is not yet stable; this is the perfect opportunity!"

Anger and madness mingled in their eyes, clearly indicating that they had planned this all along and were just waiting for Chu Ning to withdraw his attack before launching a counterattack.

Li Jing'an's gaze turned cold, and he seemed about to take a step—

But before he could make a move, Chu Ning simply let out a cold snort:
"To resist stubbornly will only tarnish one's own soul."

The words fell.

The five lines on his palm reignited, and the Dark Gold Thunder Seal floated out into the air.

cut.

A silent slash, traversing the void.

Yao Heng and Kui Zhao stopped abruptly, their soul locks severed in one strike, their soul imprints shattering like porcelain.

"what!"

They coughed up blood, their bodies trembled violently, the soul stones beneath their knees shattered, and they collapsed to their knees.

The worshippers were shocked and their doubts remained unresolved.

But in the next moment—

"Click."

Deep within their soul imprints, a scarlet soul mark simultaneously emerged, churning and tearing within their soul consciousness.

Within its soul shadow, dark blood patterns spread like maggots.

"Wait! This isn't the self-destruction of the soul imprint, it's... a soul transformation mutation!"

"Retreat quickly!" Li Jing'an shouted suddenly, his soul robe billowing.

Chu Ning did not retreat. Instead, he raised his hand and pointed into the void, and the Five-Patterned Soul Lock swirled and gathered in his palm.

Yao Heng was the first to undergo a change. His soul was as if it had been forcibly torn apart by an evil force, and a ferocious soul shadow slowly crawled out from the crack in his sea of ​​consciousness.

The ghostly figure had no eyes or face, but had hooked teeth. It seemed to feed on resentment and rotting soul power, and it lunged at the crowd with a sinister grin.

"This is--"

"An evil spirit?! No... this isn't an external evil spirit; it's his own soul that has undergone a transformation!"

Kui Zhao also underwent a dramatic change, his soul collapsing like mud, and his own soul source seemed to have become a breeding ground for evil spirits, gradually becoming distorted.

"Before their souls were destroyed, they were awakened by 'some kind of rule'... and forcibly transformed into the remnants of evil spirits!" Yu Xingshui finally spoke, his tone heavier than ever before: "When a first-grade martial artist's soul collapses, he becomes the most terrifying breeding ground for evil spirits!"

"So...we were wrong."

Chu Ning stood atop the Heavenly Mirror Steps, his gaze indifferent as ice, his five fingers pressed together, and he uttered softly:
"town."

The Primordial Mark erupted with dark golden lightning flames, transforming into six soul chains that slashed down instantly, pinning the two soul shadows in mid-air and killing them instantly.

"boom--!!!"

The two soul shadows shattered simultaneously, like an explosion of ink waves, unleashing a torrent of evil energy that lingered for a long time.

The dust has settled, and the winds of the soul have gradually calmed.

Chu Ning exhaled slowly, his voice low:
"The demonic flames did not attack from outside the boundary."

"It is quietly corrupted from among strong people like you and me."

Upon hearing this, the entire stage fell into a deathly silence.

Dozens of warriors, their faces pale, stared at the ashes of the soul shadow that had just been annihilated, and felt an unprecedented chill rise in their hearts.

So, the most powerful Soul Master...

If it gets out of control, that's the most terrifying source of evil.

Chu Ning said nothing more, turned around and raised his palm.

In the center of the Heavenly Mirror Platform, the ancient Soul Seal Wheel, which had been dormant for a thousand years, slowly rose and gradually opened inch by inch as it was activated by the Soul Authority Talisman in Chu Ning's palm.

The soul light was as bright as day, and the inscription "First-Rank Pavilion Master - Out-of-Boundary Order" engraved on the seal wheel shone brightly amidst the many offerings standing solemnly.

A world-class expedition heading towards the far north is about to begin.

(End of this chapter)