Strongest War Emperor

The moment the Ghost King entered Shen Lang’s body, he let out a few wild laughs and immediately charged toward his Sea of Consciousness.

All he had to do was devour Shen Lang’s soul or wipe out his Divine Sense, and it would all be over.

However, just as the Ghost King entered Shen Lang’s body...

”Thunder Purgatory!”

A voice as calm as still water echoed within the Barrier, instantly stunning the swarm of ghosts that had been rushing forward to take advantage of the situation.

A brilliant silver radiance emerged from Shen Lang’s body. Tendrils of silver electricity writhed like tiny snakes, pulsing in and out.

The berserk Thunder Power of Supreme Yang and Firmness flooded Shen Lang’s entire body!

Then, the sound of thunder echoed through the heavens!

The swarm of lesser ghosts that had just been charging forward shrieked and turned tail to run.

Shen Lang was completely enveloped in a web of crisscrossing Thunder Power. He was turning his own body into a Cage, intending to imprison the Ghost King within!

At that moment, the Ghost King inside Shen Lang’s body sensed what was happening on the outside and immediately sneered, ”Hahahaha, you brat! You want to turn your body into a Cage to imprison me? You think you’re worthy?!”

The black mist that was the Ghost King instantly drifted to the edge of Shen Lang’s Sea of Consciousness.

But the moment he saw Shen Lang’s Sea of Consciousness, the Ghost King froze. A terrible premonition instantly rose in his mind.

There, in the center of Shen Lang’s Sea of Consciousness, a Small Cauldron was bobbing up and down with the ebb and flow of the sea!

Above the Small Cauldron, a Black and White Tai Chi Diagram was slowly rotating...

BUZZ!

The Small Cauldron suddenly emitted a soft hum, then expanded several times in size!

Simultaneously, Shen Lang’s Sea of Consciousness contracted violently, forming an incredibly condensed ball of light that the Small Cauldron shielded completely!

The Ghost King almost wailed in agony. Without a second thought, he turned to flee. ’Damn it all to hell! You’re too despicable, too shameless! I’ve never met anyone as shameless as you in my life!’

If he hadn’t witnessed the perverse power of the Heaven-Sealing Cauldron earlier, the Ghost King would have charged forward without hesitation to seize Shen Lang’s Divine Sense.

But having seen the Heaven-Sealing Cauldron’s heaven-defying power, he was terrified to even look at it, let alone touch it.

At this point, how could he not know what kind of trick Shen Lang was playing?

’The problem is, even if that Small Cauldron is powerful, this brat can’t possibly activate it. Otherwise, why would he have wasted so much time fighting me?’

’So what makes him think that sealing his body with Thunder Power can stop me from breaking out?’

’And what does he plan to do by sealing me inside his body?’

’Don’t tell me he thinks he can devour me with that pathetic little soul of his? What a fool’s dream! He’s courting death!’

The Ghost King’s questions were soon answered.

The instant after Shen Lang set up the Thunder Purgatory and sealed his body with Thunder Power, he activated the Tai Chi Diagram in his Sea of Consciousness without the slightest hesitation!

WHOOSH!

Within his Sea of Consciousness, the unassuming and seemingly harmless Tai Chi Diagram began to spin furiously, transforming into a massive, rotating black hole!

The Ghost King, just about to flee, was instantly seized by a powerful suction. He was dragged irresistibly toward the terrifying black hole.

At the same time, outside in the massive Barrier, a gigantic hurricane vortex formed with Shen Lang at its center. A violent suction swept through the area. Countless lesser ghosts screamed in terror and scrambled toward the edge of the Barrier, trying to escape the pull of the vortex.

For a moment, dust and debris filled the air amidst the shrieks of ghosts and howls of beasts as the world plunged into darkness!

”Impossible! This is impossible! How can something like this exist?! If you had this, you would have used it from the start!”

The Ghost King roared hysterically, desperately trying to break free from the suction of the spinning black hole.

But even as the Ghost King struggled for his very life, he was still dragged forward, step by step!

What’s more, the power of the black hole was still growing stronger!

”This? I don’t need to explain it to you, do I? I enjoy letting my enemies die in frustration.”

Shen Lang’s voice echoed in the Sea of Consciousness, enraging the Ghost King so much he could have spat blood.

”Bastard, what the hell do you want?!” the Ghost King shrieked miserably, seeing himself being dragged toward the black hole, unable to break free.

”What else could I want? You’re an old ghost who has lived for hundreds of years. Swallowing your Energy will greatly increase my Cultivation. Come now, don’t be so polite. The Tai Chi Diagram is your final destination. This is your fate, ordained by the heavens.”

Shen Lang threw the old ghost’s own words back at him.

”I don’t believe it! You’re just a brat at the Spirit Martial Realm Early Stage! How can you possess such immense power?!”

The Ghost King roared. The black mist that formed his body swelled several times in size, actually managing to counteract the Tai Chi Diagram’s pull and break free just a little!

Shen Lang said faintly, ”So you won’t give up until you’re staring death in the face...”

”Bullshit! I’m overjoyed every time I see a coffin!” The Ghost King’s power continued to surge, and he unexpectedly managed to move forward a short distance.

”...”

Shen Lang had won countless verbal spars, but aside from arguments with women and Chu Qingcheng, this was the first time he had ever been left speechless.

”Damn it. Give you an inch and you take a mile. You dare to act so arrogant before this young master even now? Absorb!”

As Shen Lang shouted, the black hole vortex emitted a bizarre sound, and its power multiplied severalfold.

Before he could even celebrate, the Ghost King watched in horror as he was once again dragged rapidly backward. He immediately shrieked in terror, ”Aaaah! Stop, stop! I surrender!”

”Who the hell are you to still be calling yourself ’I’?”

Shen Lang said coldly, once again activating the Tai Chi Diagram.

The suction from the black hole vortex increased once more, and the speed at which the Ghost King was being dragged back accelerated again.

”I was wrong! You’re the master, I’m the subordinate, alright? Please, spare me! It wasn’t easy for me to cultivate for hundreds of years! You can’t do this to me!”

”What the hell do I care about your hundreds of years of Cultivation? Give me one good reason to spare you, or I’ll ensure your Soul Scatters right now!” Shen Lang barked.

However, the pull of the Tai Chi Diagram finally slackened, giving the Ghost King a moment to breathe.

”I can submit to you! I can be your subordinate, help you conquer lands, slay your enemies in every direction, and even give you a back massage or something... Absorbing me won’t do you much good! You practice a Cultivation Technique of Supreme Yang and Firmness, while I am an embodiment of Profound Yin Qi. I’m much more useful to you alive than dead, right?”

”Hmph, submit to me? My talent is peerless and my Cultivation speed is a thousand miles a day. What use do I have for a worthless subordinate like you?”

As he spoke, the pull of the Tai Chi Diagram intensified once more.

The Ghost King couldn’t help but cry out, ”Have a heart! I am the Ghost King of the Dark Forest, at the Peak of Spirit Martial Realm! If you hadn’t interfered, I’d be in the Xuanwu Realm by now! How can you call me useless...”

”What bullshit Ghost King? That’s just a title you gave yourself... But you have a point. You do have one foot in the Xuanwu Realm, so I suppose you have some use. Fine. Swear the Heart Demon Blood Oath, offer up your Soul Blood, and become my slave. You shall never betray me for all eternity!”

Shen Lang said, feigning reluctance.

Seeing a chance to live, the Ghost King wasn’t about to let it slip away. He immediately yelled, ”I’ll swear! I’ll swear! But turn this thing off first! I can’t hold on much longer...”

No one understood the terrifying power of this black hole vortex better than the Ghost King. He felt that if he was pulled just a little bit further, the vortex’s ferocious suction would instantly tear him to shreds.

It was impossible to reach the black hole unscathed.

This kind of suction, which targeted souls and Energy directly, was something only a Soul Body like him could perceive so clearly.

If he delayed even a moment longer and was sucked into the black hole, Soul Scattering would be the only possible outcome.

Even if he broke through to the Xuanwu Realm, it would make little difference in this situation.

At this point, the Ghost King had no other choice.

Submit, or die!

To submit meant offering up his Soul Blood and swearing the Heart Demon Blood Oath.

This Soul Blood wasn’t actual blood, but a Soul Mark. Once surrendered, whether by the Ghost King or any other powerful Martial Artist, it was tantamount to placing one’s life in another’s hands. The one who controlled the Soul Blood could cause their Soul to Scatter at any time!

It wouldn’t matter even if they were thousands of miles apart.

Furthermore, if the one who controlled the Soul Blood died, the one who had offered it would also perish.

Soul Blood could only be offered willingly. Forcing it out of a Martial Artist or any other creature was impossible, unless one possessed immense Divine Techniques.

Once the Soul Blood was surrendered, one would be reduced to a complete slave, bound to obey their new master’s every command.

This was far more vicious than any mere contract.

All of Shen Lang’s machinations were, of course, to force the Ghost King to offer up his Soul Blood willingly.

’Forget it,’ the Ghost King thought. ’This kid is ruthless, unbelievably courageous, decisive, and merciless. Yet, his mind is meticulous, his intellect almost demonic... He’s been playing me like a fiddle from the very beginning. His Cultivation is astounding for his age, and he possesses an Exotic Treasure... Submitting to him wouldn’t be a disgrace to my title as Ghost King!’

’Perhaps if I follow him and serve him well, I might even have a chance to get my Soul Blood back, or become a true Ghost King!’

’I swear...’

As the Ghost King considered Shen Lang’s many extraordinary qualities, he finally began to feel a little better about the situation.

He hesitated no longer, immediately offering up his Soul Blood and swearing the Heart Demon Blood Oath, pledging to never betray him.

...

Inside the Heaven-Sealing Cauldron, a tear-streaked Nalan Ziyun was whipping her Silver Flood Dragon Chain, lashing out wildly in all directions.

”I have to get out! Let me out!”

Nalan Ziyun had become a complete mess. Her hair was disheveled and her face was haggard, a stark contrast to her once radiant appearance. She looked like a different person entirely.

Having dealt with the Ghost King, Shen Lang sent his Divine Thought into the Heaven-Sealing Cauldron to check on her. He was speechless for a long moment.

”What’s gotten into you? Why are you acting so crazy? I’m not dead yet...”

Shen Lang’s voice suddenly echoed inside the Heaven-Sealing Cauldron.

”You’re alright? You’re alright!”

Nalan Ziyun couldn’t take it anymore. She collapsed to the ground, sobbing uncontrollably.

She hadn’t known Shen Lang’s plan. When the Ghost King had invaded his body, she was certain Shen Lang would die, and she had immediately descended into a crazed panic.

Outside the Heaven-Sealing Cauldron, the hurricane surrounding Shen Lang finally subsided, and the crackling arcs of electricity around his body vanished.

Nalan Ziyun and the weakened Ghost King appeared beside Shen Lang at the same time.

The Ghost King was incredibly weak, nothing more than a mass of black mist. It had no face, only two balls of Ghost Fire burning where its eyes should be.

”You son of a bitch! You’re not dead!”

After a moment of shock, Nalan Ziyun saw the Ghost King and charged like a tigress. Her Silver Flood Dragon Chain whipped through the air with a series of CLANGS, striking the Ghost King’s form.

The poor Ghost King howled in agony as he was struck again and again, but he didn’t dare run. He could only look pitifully at Shen Lang, hoping he would stop the madwoman.

But Shen Lang simply turned his gaze toward the four Rakshasa Ghosts in the distance...

The Ghost King was now weakened to the extreme, no different from a Martial Artist at the Spirit Martial Realm First Heaven. He was no match for Nalan Ziyun’s furious assault with the Silver Flood Dragon Chain, howling miserably with every blow.

And Nalan Ziyun, having been scared half to death thinking Shen Lang was gone, now wielded her chain like a whip. Her attacks were relentless, like a surging river, and she showed no signs of stopping.

”AWOOO...”

The Ghost King’s miserable screams were so desolate they could move one to tears. In fact, they were so moving that the distant Rakshasa Ghosts felt like crying out loud as well.

”What the hell is going on? How did it come to this?!” one of the Rakshasa Ghosts lamented to the heavens.