Two Arms looked at the large group of Soul Star people and souls in bewildernt. It had been a long ti since anyone had approached them. How could it be that suddenly, such a large crowd had appeared?
"Father... this isn't because I haven't been properly guarding the Yellow Springs Soul Refining Array. It's been over twenty years since anyone ca here. It just so happens that you arrived today, and they ca too…" Two Arms said to Chu Xuan behind him, his voice carrying a tone of grievance.
Chu Xuan nodded. He had just transferred his spirit through the soul transmission matrix to Soul Star. Stepping out of the Yellow Springs Soul Refining Array, he witnessed this strange scene.
"I know, you must have perford your duties well," Chu Xuan said casually. "Let's get to work then, it's about ti for a al. Four Arms, co out too."
Two Arms chuckled and swiftly dashed out. Four Arms barked twice and imdiately followed.
Two Arms charged forward and, before the two Specter Kings could react, he effortlessly tore them into shreds. Then, like a tiger entering a flock of sheep, he plunged into the rest of the Husbandry Faction's souls. In the blink of an eye, all mbers of the Husbandry Faction were annihilated. Not a single one was left.
Yun Shen and the other surviving Soul Star people watched this scene in shock. It was incredibly fierce. Those were two Specter Kings, soul entities only second to the Great Specter King in strength, and they had been killed in an instant.
What faction did they belong to? The Slaughter Faction? But wasn't the Slaughter Faction composed entirely of madn, especially known for their hatred of Soul Star people?
Logically, if these three spirits were from the Slaughter Faction, then they should have attacked them first. Yet, their targets were the mbers of the Husbandry Faction.
Yun Shen swallowed hard. Bowing his head respectfully, he said, "Greetings, senior. I am Yun Shen, a Soul Star person who has been kept by the Husbandry Faction. I was fortunate to escape a few days ago. Thank you for extending your help!"
Chu Xuan glanced at Yun Shen, "Keep this one, kill the rest."
In an instant, the remaining Soul Star people were torn to pieces.
A smile had just begun to form on Yun Shen's face, but it froze instantly.
"Senior..." Before he could continue, Chu Xuan employed the Soul Search technique, swiftly scouring through all of Yun Shen's mories.
After a mont, Chu Xuan nodded slightly. There wasn't much of value in Yun Shen's mind. He harbored no remorse for the actions of his noble ancestors towards the lower classes. Instead, he resented them for not having acted thoroughly enough, leading to a spectral uprising that cost him his privileged life.
"Indeed, as I suspected, all Soul Star people bear the original sin," Chu Xuan muttered, shaking his head.
The only useful information he extracted was about the city controlled by the Husbandry Faction, governed by three Specter Kings and ho to countless Great Specters and lesser specters.
Capturing them could significantly bolster his Sky-Shielding Umbrella, possibly leading to the ergence of new ghost commanders and even uncovering advanced soul techniques of the Husbandry Faction.
Chu Xuan left Two Arms to guard the formation while he, accompanied by Four Arms, headed towards the city. His knowledge of Soul Star's history was already extensive; now, it was ti to ascertain the true strength of these factions.
The Slaughter King of the Slaughter Faction had been growing stronger since his inception. Chu Xuan guessed it was now comparable in soul strength to a ghost commander.
The Husbandry Faction surely had its own king. Chu Xuan planned to probe the mories of the three Specter Kings to gain a more detailed understanding of the Husbandry Faction's king's power.
The next day, Chu Xuan stood amidst the ruins of Yellow Stone City, one of the twelve largest cities of the Husbandry Faction. The city was now enveloped in his strategic formation, ensuring no spectral being could escape. Five Specter Kings had been captured and confined within the Sky-Shielding Umbrella. The more elusive Great Specters were left for Four Arms to pursue.
The Sky-Shielding Umbrella behind Chu Xuan rippled with layers of suction, absorbing every spectral being within the city. As for the Soul Star people kept here, their physical bodies and souls had also been dispatched to their destined places.
At that mont, Chu Xuan held two dark purple crystals, nodding in satisfaction. These crystals, spoils of his victory, contained two high-level spectral techniques bestowed by the king of the Husbandry Faction.
Rubbing his chin, Chu Xuan recalled the mories extracted from the three Specter Kings' minds. "The king of the Husbandry Faction, known as the Greedy King, resides perpetually within the opulent Greedy City," he mused. "Ever since surviving an assassination attempt by the Slaughter King, the Greedy King has never left his palace in Greedy City."
Chu Xuan frowned slightly. Since the Greedy King rarely ventured out, the three Specter Kings knew little more about him. But fifty years ago, the Greedy King could effortlessly tear apart any errant Specter King, a testant to his unmatched power.
"Feasting day in and day out, his soul power might now be equivalent to that of a Ghost King," Chu Xuan speculated. "This is no trivial matter."
His concern deepened. He had initially assud that a Great Specter King might be slightly stronger than a regular Specter King, perhaps at most at the level of a Ghost Commander. He thought he just needed to locate the Greedy King and the Slaughter King and could simply overpower them.
However, if both the Greedy King and the Slaughter King truly possessed the strength of Ghost Kings, he would need to carefully strategize. There could be no room for errors or mishaps—every potential issue had to be preemptively addressed.
"Two Arms and Four Arms have reached the level of second-tier Ghost Kings. Advancing them further would not only be minimally beneficial but would also consu excessive resources," he pondered. "However, now I should start raising so lesser specters."
"These need not be ticulously cultivated; they can serve as cannon fodder if necessary." Two Arms and Four Arms were his key enforcers, and their well-being was crucial. Though his own soul form was rely a tenth of his true form, losing it would still be a significant loss.
Thus, he decided to cultivate more expendable forces to absorb the enemy's strength at the forefront. Moreover, gathering intelligence about the enemy was crucial—to truly know oneself and one's enemy ensured victory in every battle.
"Back on Blue Star, I was the strongest," Chu Xian reflected. "Subtly, I grew complacent and arrogant. I even brought this arrogance to Soul Star. Now, I realize I neglected the constant vigilance required in an alien battlefield. I must never let my guard down again."
"Being always cautious and careful is fundantal to securing one's existence," he reminded himself, recalling how complacency had led to others' downfall.
Chu Xian sighed deeply, engaging in a mont of self-reflection. Just then, Four Arms approached enthusiastically, his arms full of specters.
Chu Xian glanced over, "Any misses?"
Four Arms shook his head and barked, "Woof, woof, woof!"
Two Arms translated, "Four Arms says a few specters almost hid from him, but he found and devoured them."
Chu Xuan nodded in approval. Not a single one should be spared. The disappearance of all spectral and Soul Star beings in this city had nothing to do with him.
"Let's go," Chu Xian commanded, rising into the sky. He scattered a handful of blood beads, then released a stream of Corpse Refining Blood Fire.
With a roar, the fire exploded, engulfing the entire city. Soon, the Yellow Stone City was reduced to nothing but charred ruins. Even if the Husbandry Faction investigated later, they would find no trace of what had transpired.
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