Chapter 82: Ruthless Flower Crusher

Zhang Yangzi described his judgment in the simplest terms. Just then, a red light suddenly streaked across the sky, shooting straight toward Zhang Yangzi, who was perched on a tree branch.

They had been discovered!

Zhang Yangzi quickly dodged, relying on his martial soul to take to the sky. The rest of the group immediately became alert, but Gu You didn't care. To him, it didn't matter what was coming—as long as it contained energy, it was no different from an ordinary soul beast. In this riot-phase Spirit Ascension Platform, there was never any real-world sentimentality. Opportunities were scarce; if one had strength, they could seize them!

Several figures appeared—three people, two males and one female. When they finally faced each other, Tang Wulin couldn't help but be slightly taken aback.

Among the two teenage boys and the girl, Tang Wulin didn't recognize the boys, but he did recognize the girl. What a coincidence—it was Mu Xi.

At this moment, above Mu Xi's head, a fireball as bright as the sun hovered. The red light from before was undoubtedly something she had launched.

One had to admit that Mu Xi's Blazing Sun martial soul was extremely powerful—practically an Italian cannon.

"It's you?" Upon seeing him, Mu Xi was also momentarily stunned, and the blazing light above her head dimmed slightly.

An opening!

Gu You's first soul ring lit up. A secret he had kept hidden for several months was once again revealed—the terrifying power of his Purple-Gold Annihilation Slash! Dragon might surged, and his boundless blood essence roared forth. A massive dragon head projection charged toward Mu Xi and her companions.

"No!" Tang Wulin shouted desperately.

But it was too late.

The dragon head projection instantly swallowed the three of them whole before they could even react. The only thing left behind was a half-meter-deep crater and a cloud of Spirit Ascension energy.

Tang Wulin's face darkened as he turned to Gu You, demanding, "She's my senior sister! Why did you attack her?"

Gu You cast a cold glance at him. "There's no such thing as seniority in here. Don't forget why you came—to obtain a thousand-year soul ring! Ordinary energy won't suffice for an upgrade. Killing soul masters and seizing their energy is the key. Are you telling me that after all your effort, you're throwing it away for some fleeting sentimentality? In this place, strength reigns supreme. Either you take from others, or they take from you. Of course, if you can't accept that, you're free to leave."

Tang Wulin had no retort.

He clenched his fists. Gu You was right. The opportunity for a thousand-year soul ring was right in front of them. The path of a soul master was a struggle against heaven and earth—what fairness was there? If fairness truly existed, would his soul spirit be defective? Would his martial soul be Blue Silver Grass? Would his soul power be stuck at such a low level?

Gu You didn't waste any more words and urged the group to absorb the energy before leading them deeper into the platform.

In the outside world, Wu Zhangkong had just witnessed Gu You's first soul skill in action for the first time.

Terrifying.

He had obliterated them instantly—three soul masters, possibly all at the Soul Elder level, completely crushed.

Zhang Yangzi muttered with a sly grin, "So ruthless… that senior sister was really pretty too…"

But before he could finish, a terrifying elemental pressure surged toward him from Gu Yue, freezing him in place. He immediately changed his expression to one of solemn respect.

Just then, Zhang Yangzi's face suddenly went pale, his body swayed, and he gasped in shock.

"Not good—my Blacky!"

Gu You's spiritual power was extremely high, allowing him to detect disturbances far and wide. His gaze sharpened.

A Man-Faced Demon Spider!

"Fall back!"

Above them, Zhang Yangzi's Black Hawk soul spirit had been pierced by an unknown force and began to disintegrate. Zhang Yangzi's cultivation dropped by a third instantly. Losing a soul spirit was a severe blow for any soul master.

The five of them quickly retreated, leaving only Gu You standing in place.

A green poison web suddenly appeared above Gu You's head and descended rapidly!

With his dragon claws activated, Gu You swiped at the web, slicing it cleanly apart. The moment it touched the ground, the net emitted a faint purple smoke, corroding the grass beneath it.

Seeing that its poison web had failed, a massive figure descended from the sky.

Eight long legs spread open like spears, enclosing Gu You within their deadly cage.

Its black-and-white patterned body was enormous, like a grinding disc. Each of its legs was over two meters long, and its entire form radiated a sinister glow. Beneath its belly, a terrifying human face was clearly visible, enhancing its eerie aura.

Wang Jinxi's face turned deathly pale.

He had been eliminated during his first experience in the Spirit Ascension Platform… by this very creature.

Gu You didn't attack immediately.

He had decided—he was going to capture this Man-Faced Demon Spider.

After all, there weren't many soul beasts capable of killing a thousand-year soul beast while still being at the hundred-year level. Disgusting as it was, it was undeniably powerful.

Gu You's second soul ring lit up, fusing with his Purple Demon Eyes. His spiritual power surged outward, focusing on a single point and striking the Man-Faced Demon Spider.

A high-pitched screech echoed through the air as the spider flailed, flipping onto its back.

Gu You always concealed his other soul rings when using his soul skills, revealing only one at a time. This way, he could maintain a layer of secrecy while preventing others from being too shocked by his abilities.

He approached the incapacitated spider and summoned a milk bottle artifact, absorbing the beast's essence into his mental world. As the stored soul power burst forth from the milk bottle, the spider's spirit coalesced in his mind before taking solid form.

Before the group could process their astonishment, Gu You let out a breath.

Just then—

"Roar!"

A monstrous bellow echoed from the distance. A bizarre, six-armed serpent covered in flames slithered toward them.

"Tsk. So many top-tier soul beasts just running over to feed me." Gu You cracked his knuckles, his bones producing a crisp crack sound.

But before he could make a move, a flash of white light streaked across the battlefield.

The six-armed serpent was instantly riddled with holes. A flurry of spinning ice wheels danced through the air, slicing the fire serpent into pieces. Though it wasn't a particularly powerful soul beast, its defenses were weak, making it easy prey for the whirling blades of ice.

Gu You was stunned.

A wave of rage surged through him.

My soul beast—gone!

A figure stepped into view, standing amidst the dissipating spirit energy.

He was a young man, around seventeen or eighteen years old, with three soul rings—two yellow, one purple—clearly marking his rank as a Soul Elder. He wielded a long, snow-white staff with a single blue crystal at its tip. His face was cold and proud. A dense yellow light radiated from around his body.

Behind him, a young girl peeked out cautiously. She appeared to be around the same age as Tang Wulin's group, with delicate blue twin braids and an incredibly beautiful face—so much so that she even surpassed Gu Yue in looks. She clutched a small ice staff identical in design to the young man's but smaller in size. A single yellow soul ring flickered at her feet. Her expression showed clear discomfort—she wasn't used to killing.

The girl stammered, "I… I didn't know…"

(End of Chapter)