Battle Through the Heavens: Starting with Cao Ying as an apprentice

With defeat inevitable, he decided to take a few down with him! He roared, and a burst of bloody light shot into the sky from his body.

"Soul Heaven Blood River!"

In an instant, the entire sky was dyed a ghastly blood red.

A raging river of blood, formed from countless wronged souls and vengeful spirits, appeared out of nowhere. Countless twisted faces floated and wailed in the river, emitting terrifying fluctuations that could corrode even the souls of saints, and surged wildly toward the protective shield of the Heavenly Profound Cauldron below.

This is a mysterious and unpredictable soul attack, vicious and domineering!

However, faced with the overwhelming river of blood and the vengeful spirits, the Heavenly Profound Cauldron only trembled slightly, its mouth seemingly transforming into a vortex that devoured everything.

The myriad rays of profound light erupted once more. The seemingly indestructible river of blood and the resentful souls, once touched by the light, were like ice and snow meeting the scorching sun, emitting a mournful shriek, rapidly melting and purifying, and finally turning into nothingness.

[What...what kind of treasure is this?! Even my soul attack is ineffective against it!]

The Soul Emperor's heart sank completely. He knew that he was facing a dimension that was completely beyond his comprehension.

The Heavenly Profound Cauldron floated in the air, once again bursting forth with an even more dazzling light, like a second sun rising, illuminating every corner of the battlefield and dispelling all the gloom and bloodshed.

As the dazzling light slowly dissipated and the sky returned to clarity, the Soul Emperor's proud "Soul Blood River" had vanished without a trace, as if it had never existed.

"Soul Emperor".

A clear and calm voice rang out.

At the center of the light, a figure slowly emerged. He stood atop the Heavenly Profound Cauldron, hands behind his back, calmly looking at the Soul Emperor opposite him.

Upon seeing the newcomer's appearance, even a resolute and ruthless hero like the Soul Emperor couldn't help but let a genuine look of amazement cross his eyes.

Portraits and legends can never capture even a fraction of this person's spirit.

The young man before me had sword-like eyebrows that slanted upwards to his temples, and starry eyes as deep as the sea. His facial features were so perfect that they seemed to have been sculpted by the heavens and earth. He exuded an otherworldly and extraordinary aura, as if he did not belong to this chaotic mortal world.

Just standing there, it gives people a sense of awe and a profound understanding of the simplicity of the ultimate truth and the natural order of things.

This is the first impression Su Baichen gives—too perfect to be real.

"Su Baichen." The Soul Emperor suppressed the turmoil in his heart, his expression regaining its composure as if he were in complete control, and replied slowly.

Even knowing he was doomed, he still maintained the last shred of dignity and composure befitting a peerless tyrant.

He glanced around, his gaze sweeping over his old rivals who had once been fearful but were now unharmed, before finally settling back on Su Baichen. He said calmly, "I think this is the first time we've truly met."

Su Baichen nodded slightly, his expression as calm as if he were discussing the weather: "That's right, it is indeed the first time."

Upon hearing this, the Soul Emperor suddenly chuckled, and the black mist surrounding him, symbolizing slaughter and bloodshed, slowly receded and dissipated.

Seeing this, Gu Yuan's heart tightened. He thought that the Soul Emperor was about to use some trick to escape again, and he immediately shouted, "Su Baichen, be careful! The Soul Emperor is trying to run away, stop him!"

However, Su Baichen simply watched quietly without making any move.

The Soul Emperor glanced at Gu Yuan, inwardly scoffing: "How foolish of me to have set a trap for him!"

Once the black mist had completely dissipated, the Soul Emperor's attire had changed.

The jet-black armor that symbolized the Soul Clan Chief and his ultimate ambition had disappeared, replaced by a spotless, simple white robe, making him look like a refined scholar traveling the world.

This stark contrast makes him appear gentle and refined, a far cry from the blood-stained, ruthless villain who would stop at nothing to achieve his goals.

Su Baichen's gaze lingered on him for a moment, seemingly genuinely admiring him, before she commented with a hint of teasing, "Hmm, your outfit is quite nice, much more pleasing to the eye than that dark, drab look you had just worn."

The Soul Emperor smiled nonchalantly, flicked his sleeves, and shook his head, saying, "Compared to you, I am far inferior."

He readily admitted that the other person's dignified demeanor, which came from within, was something he could never replicate.

After a brief silence, the Soul Emperor changed the subject and asked a question that had been on his mind: "Has the Void Devouring Flame been completely dealt with by you?"

Although it was a question, his tone was extremely confident.

If even Su Baichen could suppress him so easily, one can imagine what would happen to Void Devouring Flame, who was weaker than him.

Su Baichen did not hide anything and said frankly, "Yes, its intelligence has completely dissipated, and now only the purest source of the strange fire remains."

Upon hearing this, the Soul Emperor simply nodded silently, showing little surprise on his face.

Yes, even he himself is no match for it, let alone the Void Devouring Flame.

This seems like the obvious result.

He raised his head and looked deeply into the young man before him, who had overturned his understanding of power, as if he wanted to etch this final opponent into the depths of his soul.

Chapter 438 The Soul Emperor's Doubts

On the battlefield.

Su Baichen, dressed in a green robe, stood on the Heavenly Profound Cauldron, gazing at the somewhat lonely Soul Emperor opposite him, a faint smile playing on his lips, breaking the suffocating silence.

"Give up?"

His voice was calm, yet it carried a power that pierced through people's hearts.

Don't you want to try running again?

Upon hearing this, the Soul Emperor slowly shook his head, a look of relief appearing on his face, even tinged with a bitter smile of desolation.

"Run? Easier said than done."

He raised his head, his gaze sweeping over the solid, iron-like spatial barriers around him, which couldn't even cause a ripple.

“Mr. Su, your methods are extraordinary. You have sealed this place off so tightly that it is impossible for anyone to escape.”

"I'm not stupid, why should I do those futile things and humiliate myself?"

As soon as he finished speaking, he flicked his sleeves lightly, his movements so elegant that it was as if he were not on a battlefield of life and death, but in his own backyard.

In the void, streams of light converged, and a set of simple and elegant tea set appeared out of thin air, while two futons quietly landed on the ground.

The wafting aroma of tea strangely overpowered the lingering stench of blood and burnt smell in the air, bringing a peculiar sense of peace.

"Mr. Su, please have a seat." The Soul Emperor cupped his hands in greeting, his demeanor composed and his manners impeccable.

A hint of surprise flashed in Su Baichen's eyes, which then turned into understanding.

Without hesitation, he gracefully sat down on the prayer mat, his back straight and his demeanor composed, as if he were the one who had come to this tea party.

"Mr. Su, please." The Soul Emperor skillfully lifted the warm teapot, pouring the clear tea into the cup with a melodious, gentle sound.

Su Baichen reached out and took the teacup, his fingertips touching the warm porcelain wall, feeling the perfect temperature.

He didn't rush to drink it. Instead, he first held the teacup to his nose, gently inhaled the rising aroma of the tea, closed his eyes to savor it for a moment, and then tilted his head back slightly to finish the cup of tea.

The whole process was smooth and unhurried, as if one were truly enjoying tea and discussing philosophy with an old friend.

The Soul Emperor took in all of this, and the shock deep in his eyes could no longer be concealed.

He gave a self-deprecating laugh and said, "Mr. Su, you really are... incredibly bold. Aren't you afraid that I might have tampered with this tea?"

Su Baichen put down his teacup, his fingertips gently stroking the rim. Hearing this, he smiled and looked at the Soul Emperor with clear eyes: "Soul Emperor, you are a hero of your generation. You are willing to pay any price for your ambition, but you also have your pride."

"To use such a petty trick as poisoning is to underestimate you and to disgrace my title as the 'Lord of the White Dust Realm'."

[Ha, poison? How naively laughable.]

You underestimate my Nine Heavens Divine Thunder Body!

Su Baichen sneered inwardly. The moment the warm tea slid down his throat, a silent storm had already erupted within his body.

The Nine Heavens Divine Thunder Body operated on its own, and the vast and boundless Nine Profound Golden Thunder flowed like a gentle stream, instantly enveloping every drop of liquid that had seeped into its body.

The tea, which might contain a deadly poison capable of instantly annihilating a Dou Sheng powerhouse, was completely vaporized and dissolved into nothingness before it could even take effect, crushed by the power of thunder.

If such a trivial trick could harm me, then the Thunder Emperor's Nine Heavens Divine Thunder Body would be nothing more than a hollow reputation.

Before absolute power, all the world's secret schemes and underhanded tactics are utterly worthless and easily defeated.

The Soul Emperor was naturally unaware of the fleeting thoughts in the other party's mind. He only thought that Su Baichen was highly skilled and daring. His composure in the face of danger and his indifference to all things made him even more highly regarded than before.

The Soul Emperor sincerely exclaimed, "Mr. Su, you flatter me."

"I still have a few things on my mind that I would like to ask you for advice. I hope you will be kind enough to enlighten me."

Su Baichen nodded calmly: "Please speak freely."

The Soul Emperor's gaze was as sharp as a hawk's, locking onto Su Baichen's eyes, trying to find even the slightest flaw: "Mr. Su gives me an unusually familiar feeling."

“From beginning to end, I never saw surprise, doubt, or even anger on your face after the plan was disrupted.”

"It's as if everything... was already in your script, and I was nothing more than a puppet dancing in your palm, struggling ridiculously."

"You seem to know everything about me and the Soul Clan."

Su Baichen smiled and explained casually, "It's just some scrutiny and analysis of the details."

"I would like to hear the details." The Soul Emperor leaned forward slightly, appearing extremely serious.

"Firstly, it lies in the foundation of the rule." Su Baichen spoke slowly, yet every word was like a knife.

“I have fought or interacted with many powerful members of the Soul Clan. When they mention you, their eyes are filled with pure, deep-seated awe, without any other thoughts.”

"This shows that your rule is absolute and efficient, and your will is the only will of the Soul Clan."

He paused, then continued, "Secondly, it lies in execution and secrecy. The Soul Clan has set up blood sacrifice arrays all over the continent on a massive scale, yet they have managed to remain hidden for many years without being detected by any force. This level of execution is truly terrifying."

"They can even plant spies in other ancient races, remain hidden for years without revealing their identities, and deliver a fatal blow at a crucial moment... All of this points to a ruler with absolute authority, meticulous thinking, and far-reaching plans."

“A chaotic, internally divided group could never accomplish these things.”

The Soul Emperor's pupils contracted slightly, and the muscles on his face twitched slightly. He was clearly struck where he was most proud, yet he said incredulously, "You can deduce this much from just these minor details?"

“Yes.” Su Baichen nodded, then changed the subject, his tone carrying a hint of barely perceptible sarcasm.

“I have been to the ancient tribe and witnessed firsthand that there are numerous factions within the tribe, with factions attacking dissidents and power being dispersed.”

"Gu Yuan, as the clan leader, was unable to fully control the entire clan and was even restrained by a group of elders who were weaker than him."

"The difference between the two is obvious, and your terrifying nature becomes all the more apparent."

Su Baichen chuckled inwardly: [Heh, I can't exactly tell you that you're just a character in a book, can I? All my knowledge of you comes from that book.]

Upon hearing this, the Soul Emperor abruptly turned his head, his gaze like two cold lightning bolts, instantly shooting towards Gu Yuan, whose face was ashen, not far away.

His eyes were filled with undisguised contempt, sarcasm, and even a sense of absurdity mixed with anger, as if he were looking at a ridiculous, irrational clown.

[Just because I compared myself to such an ancient tribe, does that make my plans and my caution a joke? Does that expose me?]

[How could you be... such a waste! Gu Yuan, you are the greatest disgrace of my life, the Soul Emperor!]