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Chapter 1295: Third Soul Armament (Part Eight)

The subordinate still harbored strong confidence in his techniques. While he knew his cultivation realm was somewhat inferior to Yang Haoran's, he believed this disparity could be overcome through other means. With his extensive combat experience and the unique properties of his Soul Armament, he was certain he could bridge the gap. He might not be able to effortlessly slay Yang Haoran, but he could at least inflict a severe blow!

However, the scene that unfolded next made him realize he was wrong—and spectacularly so.

Yang Haoran’s figure flickered, vanishing from his original position. He not only successfully evaded the incoming Soul Armament scimitar but also dodged the black pillar of light, whose abilities were unknown. This was the first time Yang Haoran had moved his body since their confrontation began, yet this single movement left the subordinate utterly astonished. Yang Haoran’s speed was simply too immense—so fast that he couldn't even track the trajectory of his dodge!

According to his initial predictions, with the speed of his attack and the distance separating them, Yang Haoran should have been utterly incapable of evading his assault. Once Yang Haoran was struck—whether by the scimitar or enveloped by the black pillar of light—the unique properties of his two Soul Armaments guaranteed he could make Yang Haoran pay a heavy price.

Yet, contrary to his expectations, neither of his two Soul Armaments’ attacks had the slightest effect on Yang Haoran. Yang Haoran had effortlessly dodged an assault he believed utterly impossible to evade!

Just as the subordinate was still reeling in shock, wondering how Yang Haoran possessed such incredible speed and agile reactions, he suddenly saw a black light flash across his vision. Before he could even discern what this black light was, he felt a sudden chill at his neck.

"Hehe, I've already unleashed my Soul Armament. Did you see it clearly?"

Yang Haoran’s voice, carrying a faint smile, drifted into the subordinate’s ears. Though it held a hint of amusement, it betrayed no arrogance or triumph, instead sounding utterly calm and detached. Yet, this voice was the last sound the subordinate ever heard in his life—a shocking and unwelcome sound.

Blood sprayed as the subordinate’s head rolled from his neck. At that very instant, his two Soul Armaments suddenly shattered, transforming into wisps of Yin Qi and dissipating. They had not even had the chance to unleash their full power before vanishing with the demise of their master.

From a distance, Ulan witnessed the entire scene. Her face, beyond the rage, was etched with profound shock. It wasn’t that she hadn’t wanted to save the subordinate; she simply hadn’t had the time to intervene. Everything had transpired too abruptly, so abruptly that even she had no window to react. By the time she processed what was happening, the black light had already pierced the subordinate’s neck.

Watching the subordinate’s head roll from his neck amidst spraying blood, Ulan did not step forward. She knew that any intervention at this point would be meaningless; even if she rushed to the corpse immediately, she couldn't save his life.

Furthermore, for her, this was not the moment to concern herself with the subordinate’s corpse. After all, the subordinate had only lost his physical body; she could still sense his soul present within the cadaver. As long as the soul remained, the subordinate was not truly dead. Thus, she didn't need to prioritize the corpse right now; she had far more pressing matters to attend to.

Ulan’s gaze shifted from the subordinate’s fallen corpse and settled on Yang Haoran. Just then, a black light shot rapidly from a distance, hovering suspended about a meter from Yang Haoran’s body, then slowly rotating around him, as if protecting its master, Yang Haoran, or perhaps demonstrating its might to the enemy.

Ulan naturally recognized this black light, for it was the very thing that had just instantly severed the subordinate’s neck. However, now that the object was no longer moving at high speed, even though it still emanated dense Yin Qi, she could clearly discern its true form. It was none other than Yang Haoran’s Soul Armament, Remnant Moon.

When Ulan’s gaze landed on Yang Haoran’s Soul Armament, Remnant Moon, her brows first furrowed deeply. Then, as if a sudden realization struck her, her expression changed once more, becoming even more unsightly than when the subordinate’s head had been severed.

"So it's you, Yang Haoran, the Guardian of the Ninth District of the Jingling Continent's Underworld Office!"

Ulan spoke coldly. Through Yang Haoran’s Soul Armament, Remnant Moon, she had recognized his true identity. As fellow Guardians, and with both sides currently locked in hostility, Ulan naturally knew of Yang Haoran, this particular Guardian, and was aware of his Soul Armament along with other information that their Tong Continent Underworld Office considered highly detailed.

It was precisely because of this that, after clearly seeing Yang Haoran’s Soul Armament, Remnant Moon, Ulan used that detail to confirm his identity.

However, at this moment, Ulan felt no trace of fear or panic in her heart. According to the intelligence gathered by their Tong Continent Underworld Office, Yang Haoran’s true cultivation realm should be at late-stage Earth Soul or, at most, peak late-stage Earth Soul; it was absolutely impossible for him to surpass that. Conversely, she was a Guardian who had fully opened all three souls: Heaven, Earth, and Life. Dealing with a Guardian who had only opened their Heaven and Earth Souls was an effortless task for her. Even a Guardian at the peak late-stage Earth Soul realm was no exception; in her eyes, they were still nothing but trash.

The reason her expression was so grim right now was solely due to rage. Yang Haoran was not only her enemy but had also killed her subordinate on her very own territory, going as far as to behead one of her most crucial confidants right before her eyes. Of course, her face would be unsightly; to her, Yang Haoran’s actions were not merely a simple provocation, but an arrogant display of blatant contempt.

But one thing still left her somewhat perplexed: according to the intelligence obtained by their Tong Continent Underworld Office, Yang Haoran’s realm absolutely would not exceed peak late-stage Earth Soul. The gap between such a realm and hers was not insignificant, so why would Yang Haoran act with such composure in front of her?

To suggest Yang Haoran didn’t understand the vast difference between peak late-stage Earth Soul and Life Soul was something she absolutely wouldn’t believe. Since he understood, yet still dared to remain so calm in her presence, what exactly was Yang Haoran relying on?

She quickly found the answer to this nagging doubt in her heart. She remembered Zhong Siyu, who was leisurely watching the spectacle with her legs crossed at the cave entrance. In Ulan’s estimation, the only reason Yang Haoran could be so composed was because he had Zhong Siyu, a Ghost King, as his assistant. This was Yang Haoran’s true reliance!

With his identity exposed, Yang Haoran’s expression remained utterly unchanged. He knew his true self couldn't stay hidden; once they truly engaged, he would inevitably have to use his Soul Armament, and his opponent would surely deduce his identity from it. This was an inevitable outcome. Hence, when Ulan exposed him, his demeanor didn't shift in the slightest, as it was all within his expectations.

"Hehe, Guardian Ulan, a pleasure to meet you. I hope you'll enlighten me."

Yang Haoran spoke with a faint smile. As the words left his lips, his body was simultaneously enveloped by a cloud of Yin Qi. In an instant, the Yin Qi dispersed on its own, revealing his form once more. However, the figure that reappeared had already reverted to his original physique and appearance.

Since his identity was already exposed, he no longer had any need to maintain his disguise, and so he simply reverted to his original physique and appearance.

Although Yang Haoran knew Ulan, and Ulan likewise recognized Yang Haoran, their familiarity stemmed entirely from intelligence reports and photographs. Prior to this moment, they had never truly met in person. Even during the great war against the Spiritualists years ago, in which all Guardians had participated, the two had never crossed paths, let alone cooperated.

"Hmph, rest assured, today I will certainly give you a proper lesson. If you had continued to cower like a shrinking turtle in Jingling Continent, I might have been temporarily unable to deal with you. But since you dared to trespass into our Tong Continent and act so wildly, then don't even dream of leaving here alive!"

Ulan spoke in a cold voice. At that moment, both her expression and her gaze erupted with an intense, undisguised killing intent!

As Ulan’s words fell, a powerful surge of energy burst forth from within her. Dense Yin Qi rose from her body, and three swirling masses of Yin Qi immediately appeared around her, slowly rotating. Within these three turbulent Yin Qi masses were precisely her three Soul Armaments!