The Mysterious Figure In The Black Mist, The Soul-Containing Bead!

"Phew... it's finally over!"

At this moment, the warriors under Orion let out a collective sigh of relief, having vanquished their opponents.

What a brutal battle it had been!

It could be said that this was the most formidable enemy they had ever faced. Fighting against foes whose combat power surpassed that of the Great Emperors was incredibly perilous. One misstep, and it could have been their end.

Fortunately, the timely support from their lord's subordinates ensured that they emerged victorious without any casualties.

However, in the moment of relaxation, no one noticed a faint light flicker across the jade slips carried by the black-robed men.

In a blink, tendrils of black mist escaped from the slips and dissipated into the air, unnoticed by anyone nearby.

Meanwhile, in the ruins of Chang'an City, the remnants of Linglong's fallen adversaries lay scattered across the ground. Zhou Linglong's exquisite eyes, once bright and vibrant, were now devoid of life, her expression frozen in a haunting mixture of defiance and despair.

Suddenly, twelve wisps of black mist coalesced, intertwining and forming an illusory figure shrouded in a dense, dark fog. This figure, an unsettling shadow of a being, emerged with only its head visible—two flickering red eyes glowed ominously amidst the darkness.

"Hmph!" The figure scoffed, its voice reverberating eerily through the desolate landscape. "This bunch of incompetents... can't even handle this trivial matter!"

Despite its powerful presence, the figure had no mouth, yet its disdainful words filled the air, amplifying the eerie ambiance surrounding Zhou Linglong's lifeless body.

In a brief moment of fury, the black mist figure's gaze shifted to the sky, where Xu Chu and the others hovered. Fear glimmered in its eyes.

Though it possessed tremendous power, it, too, was weakened upon entering this world, just like the black-robed men. Now, it was merely at the peak of Great Emperor strength. Against formidable foes who could easily eliminate even those men in black, it stood no chance of victory.

"But the master's grand plan... cannot end here!" The figure mused, glancing back at Zhou Linglong's lifeless form. Protecting the powerful Holy Body had been its top priority, and failure was not an option.

In a moment of determination, it produced a small white bead, seemingly from thin air.

"Ah, good! Though the owner of this holy body is dead, her soul lingers on!"

The figure manipulated the bead, ready to encapsulate Zhou Linglong's soul within it.

"If left in her body, the soul will surely fade away! Even if a Daluo Jinxian were to arrive, salvation would be impossible!"

With a swift motion, an illusory replica of Zhou Linglong's soul emerged from her body, ethereal and shimmering like a soft glow.

In folklore, it was said that a soul lingers in its vessel for seven days after death. To ensure no lingering threat, many powerful beings would obliterate the soul upon defeat.

Yet Orion lacked the strength to perform such a feat.

As Zhou Linglong's soul was gently absorbed into the spirit-accumulating bead, the black mist figure sighed in relief.

"Finally! No errors in the process!"

It carefully stored Zhou Linglong's soul, then hesitated as it looked back at her lifeless body.

"After all, she is a Holy Body. It would be wise to keep her. She may yet prove useful!"

With another wave, the figure absorbed Zhou Linglong's body into its own form, preserving it for the time being.

However, just as it prepared to tear through space and escape, an unsettling realization washed over it.

"No... we cannot leave just yet!"

The figure's instincts flared with alarm. It had witnessed the recent battle, noting that one of the enemies commanded the very laws of space.

If it departed now, the spatial fluctuations would undoubtedly attract attention.

Pondering for a moment, the black mist figure retrieved a jade slip.

"Hiss... it seems I must resort to using this escape jade slip!"

Though it was a painful decision—gifted by its superior and crafted by a powerful artisan—it was a necessary risk.

With no hesitation, the figure activated the jade slip, engulfed by a bright light.

In the blink of an eye, it vanished from the scene.

Meanwhile, not far off, Emperor Xu Huang felt the slightest ripple in the air, akin to a mosquito buzzing just before a light was turned on.

He frowned, extending his spiritual awareness to scan the surroundings.

After a thorough examination revealed nothing, he released a soft sigh, dismissing the feeling as inconsequential.

Unlike Xu Chu and the others, who remained oblivious to the disturbance, Emperor Xu Huang's keen senses had caught a glimpse of something more elusive.

"My lord..."

As the dust settled, Xu Chu and the others returned to Orion, relief washing over them upon confirming his safety.

During the chaos, they had been too preoccupied with their own battles to ensure their lord was unharmed.

"By the way, Lord, here's the space ring belonging to those men in black robes."

Xu Chu stepped forward, presenting Orion with a shimmering space ring containing all the spoils collected from their vanquished foes.

"Well done! Thank you for your hard work!"

Orion's face broke into a smile as he accepted the ring, his excitement palpable.

"These foes hail from the upper realm, so I'm sure their possessions will be quite valuable!"

A sense of anticipation ignited within him as he thought of the wealth hidden within, fueled by the thrill of their recent victory.