Her thoughts drifted to Albert, stirring ripples of emotion in her eyes. She lowered her gaze to her right hand—pale skin oozed frigid malice, and beneath the surface, a twisted shadow like a serpent slithered through her flesh, accompanied by endless eerie whispers murmuring in her ears.The voices sounded like demonic temptation, capable of corroding one’s heart and mind, yet she remained completely unaffected. During the years when this power had gnawed away at her, she had long grown accustomed to the sounds that would drive ordinary people insane.Her pale fingers suddenly clenched tight. The masked woman glanced behind her, where several figures slowly emerged from the darkness. Their footsteps were heavy, each bearing a bizarre black coffin slung over their backs, and mournful, sinister wails seeped out from within the coffins.They stared at the masked woman’s back, cold, feral glints flickering in their eyes.As if sensing their stares, the masked woman turned around and stre

Frank walked over to Emily once more, hoping to strike up more conversation and learn more about her by exchanging mission intelligence.But just then, Emily turned her head, her mysterious, profound golden eyes locking onto Frank. Her crimson lips parted slightly as she spoke. "Senior Frank, may I ask you about someone?"Frank replied warmly, "Feel free to speak, Senior Emily. I will tell you everything I know."A clear look of longing crossed Emily’s exquisite, stunning features as she said softly, "His name is Albert. He entered the Small Heavenly Expanse alongside the disciples of Heavenly Origin Ancient Academy this time.""He is my fiancé."The warm smile on Frank’s face instantly froze, as if swept over by an endless glacial cold.When all squads from the two great ancient academies had gathered outside the mission staging grounds and finished their preparations to enter, an unbelievably massive standoff unfolded within the chaotic void beyond the Small Heavenly Expanse.Vast c

Toni was bold and highly skilled. Holding the lantern, she stepped straight onto the water. Where the firelight swept across, the pitch-black lake water turned far clearer, and countless pale, ghostly shapes could be faintly seen fleeing deep into the water to avoid the glow.Ida stared in amazement. She had never imagined that igniting malice-tainted human skin with light soul force could repel fiendish creatures.Yet she soon spotted another flaw: the lantern’s fire only covered a limited area. By her estimate, it could shield merely five or six people at most.Their combined group numbered a hundred disciples in total.Crafting more skin lanterns was simple—they only needed to capture corrupted skin monsters—but disciples wielding Light Element Souls were extremely scarce.The Holy Light Ancient Academy side was comparatively well-off. Aside from Toni, who bore a Nine-Star Light Element Soul, they had seven others with Light Element Souls of varying ranks.On their own Heavenly Ori

A disciple from the Three-Star Division hurried forward, pressing his palm against Pat’s back. The Ancient Spirit Leaf on the back of his hand glowed faintly, drawing soul force out from within his body. After conversion and amplification, the energy streamed into Pat to rapidly replenish her power reserves.Tina stretched out her slender fingers, which instantly blushed bright and luscious like ripe fruit. A faint exotic fragrance drifted through the squad. Everyone who caught the scent found their soul force recovering far faster, and the anxiety and dread stirred by the unceasing eerie whispers around them slowly faded away.Ilya stared at the endless layers of fish fiends crowding outside the fire barrier and frowned. "Should we step in to fight?"Tina replied calmly, "There are bound to be an unknown number of High Wraith Demons inside the city. Our top combatants need to stay at peak strength at all times."Ida nodded in agreement. As cultivators at the Peak Late Advanced Heaven

Straight ahead, leading into the city, stood a covered corridor bridge that stretched toward a pitch-black city gateway tunnel.One by one, the group stepped off the water onto dry land and began checking the condition of their respective squads.Only now did Albert have a moment to turn toward Nikola and the others, forcing a weary smile. "Hurry and channel some energy to me, if you would."That earlier outburst had drained more than half his soul force, leaving his three souls thoroughly depleted.He had never imagined the mysterious golden wheel possessed such astonishing power—it could convert his ordinary soul force directly into light soul force, an ability exclusive to cultivators of the Divine Realm under normal circumstances.Moreover, the sacred purifying power he had unleashed earlier rivaled that of a Low Nine-Star Light Element Soul in potency.Shock stirred deep within Albert’s heart. Did this mean that whenever he wished, he could use the golden wheel to condense all hi