Chapter 144: The Soul Devouring Hand

It all happened too fast.

So quickly that everyone present was left utterly stunned.

The dark figure materialized.

Its hand plunged into Lu Yang’s back.

It was swift, without a hint of hesitation.

Lu Yang’s body stiffened abruptly.

Time seemed to freeze for him. He lowered his head, staring in shock at the hand that now protruded from his chest.

He didn’t immediately feel pain. Instead, a profound numbness spread through his body, followed by a dizzying, world-spinning sensation.

Lu Yang’s face, visible to the naked eye, turned ashen white, like paper. His eyes widened, pupils contracting to pinpricks.

There was no time to react. The hand, having pierced his back, now emerged cleanly from his chest, its movement decisive, taking less than half a second.

He stared at the pitch-black, unnatural hand protruding from his chest. All he felt was an icy, invasive foreign presence.

His face rapidly drained of color, becoming deathly pale. His pupils, constricted by extreme shock and terror, were mere pinpoints.

He slowly raised his head, seemingly attempting to speak, but only an inarticulate gasp escaped his lips.

“What the hell!”

“I’m going to die!”

A piercing shriek tore through the night sky.

***

Yet, amidst this utter chaos and pain, one figure’s reaction was starkly different.

Chen Wan was utterly frozen.

It wasn’t until that hand pierced Lu Yang’s chest, until Lu Yang let out a heart-wrenching scream, that Chen Wan’s recently cleared eyes were instantly filled with an emotion she couldn’t quite believe.

She looked at the pitch-black hand protruding from Lu Yang’s chest, at his ashen face and agonized, twisted expression. An unprecedentedly cold and biting emotion surged through her.

It completely overwhelmed all the fragile sanity she had just regained.

It was fury.

This somewhat foolish yet genuinely sincere young man, whom she had only just met, was the one who had accepted her, and even tried to understand her absurd ‘wish.’ He had allowed her to feel a flicker of warmth after a long period of solitude.

Now, he was being brutally harmed right before her eyes!

“Ah—!!!”

A shriek so sharp it barely sounded human erupted from Chen Wan’s lips.

Her originally clear eyes were instantly stained crimson.

The resentment and malevolent energy that had only just dissipated from her body ignited like sudden dynamite, exploding with even greater intensity than when she had been purified earlier.

An even more violent black aura erupted from deep within her spiritual body. The spiritual pressure emanating from her body surged by several magnitudes.

The ground of the clearing cracked inch by inch, and shattered stones floated into the air!

Fury completely clouded her mind.

The negative emotions, the pain, and the resentment accumulated over thirty-four years, which had been temporarily suppressed by her obsessions with ‘innocence’ and ‘familial affection,’ were utterly ignited by the sight of Lu Yang’s suffering.

She transformed into a meteor of black energy, wrapped in monstrous resentment, and charged towards the shadowy figure.

Her speed was so immense that it dragged out afterimages and a piercing sonic boom in the air!

However—

“Perfect timing…”

A hoarse, dry voice, filled with undisguised pleasure and greed, softly echoed.

The shadowy figure finally revealed its full form. It was a deeply unsettling presence.

Of medium height, it was cloaked in a tattered, oversized black robe. However, the exposed head and hands sent shivers down one’s spine.

There was no intact skin on its face; muscles and membranes were directly exposed, appearing as a decaying, dark red hue, covered in twisted, writhing black patterns.

Its facial features were indistinguishable. Only two hollow eye sockets, each burning with a cluster of eerie green light, were visible.

Its gender, age, and even whether it was truly ‘human’ were impossible to discern.

Facing Chen Wan’s thunderous, resentment-fueled charge, the Soul Cultivator—or rather, the Soul Devourer—let out that same low, pleased murmur.

Then, with its hand still impaled through Lu Yang, it casually flung him aside like trash!

Lu Yang’s body arced through the air, crashing heavily onto the ground several meters away. He tumbled for a few circles before finally coming to a stop.

He lay on the ground, coughing violently, unable to move for a time.

The Soul Cultivator didn’t even spare Lu Yang another glance. Its green-flamed eye sockets fixed on the charging Chen Wan, and the only remaining ‘mouth’ on its face twisted into a chilling, predatory grin.

Just as Chen Wan, brimming with furious resentment, was about to collide with him, a strange transformation occurred!

The Soul Cultivator neither dodged nor retreated. It simply raised the hand that had just pierced Lu Yang’s chest, aimed its palm at Chen Wan, and slightly curled its five fingers.

“Huh?!”

Chen Wan’s forward momentum abruptly froze!

To her horror, she discovered that her vast and violent malevolent energy was suddenly tearing away from her control!

It began to madly drain and rip from her spiritual body, surging towards the Soul Cultivator’s palm!

It wasn’t just the outwardly manifested malevolent energy; even the very essence of resentment that formed the foundation of her existence, deeply rooted in her soul, began to violently shake, as if about to be uprooted!

‘No… no…!’

Chen Wan let out a terrified shriek, desperately trying to stabilize her spiritual body and retract her power.

But the suction force emanating from the Soul Cultivator’s palm was incredibly immense. Moreover, it possessed an absolute suppressive quality specifically targeting spiritual bodies and negative energy!

She was like someone caught in invisible quicksand; the more she struggled, the deeper she sank, and the faster her power drained away.

The Soul Cultivator greedily inhaled, as if savoring a rare delicacy. The pitch-black resentment surging towards him was swallowed whole by a tiny, rotating black vortex in his palm.

His aura expanded and strengthened at a visible rate. The writhing black patterns on his body grew brighter and more active.

‘This is truly… a magnificent specimen of a Special Grade Resentful Spirit. Its spiritual energy fluctuations are incredibly pure and potent. A true gem!’

The Soul Cultivator’s voice was still hoarse and distorted, but the satisfaction and greed within it were almost overflowing.

He had known of Chen Wan’s existence for a long time. For him, her pure and powerful resentment was an unparalleled temptation.

He had lain in wait, biding his time, waiting for the perfect moment—the moment when a resentful spirit, under extreme emotional duress, was at its most active and most easily stripped and absorbed.

“Let me go!!”

Chen Wan shrieked hysterically, her soul body twisting and deforming under the suction, becoming increasingly faint.

Meanwhile, Lu Yang, who had been flung aside, finally managed to regain his senses amidst the intense pain and shock.

He struggled to push himself up, his first reaction being to touch his chest—the place where he had been pierced. His hand met the intact fabric of his sportswear, and beneath it, warm skin.

There was no wound, no blood, not even a trace of pain. Only the scrapes and aches from falling to the ground remained.

“What… what happened?”

Lu Yang was utterly bewildered, his mind a chaotic mess. He clearly remembered the icy sensation of something piercing his body, the tearing pain—it couldn’t have been an illusion!

But now…

“It’s a Soul Cultivator.”

A cold voice suddenly spoke, carrying a sense of solemnity and a hint of understanding.

Xiao Moyuan had, at some unknown point, moved to stand a few steps in front of Lu Yang.

His face was ashen, his gaze like a blade, firmly locked onto the Soul Cultivator who was absorbing Chen Wan’s power.

“And they walk the path of evil cultivators, specializing in devouring the negative emotions and souls of living beings, even those of spirits. Their methods are vicious, stopping at nothing to achieve their goals.”

Xiao Moyuan spoke quickly, but every word was incredibly clear. He was both explaining to his companion and rapidly analyzing his opponent.

“His attack on Lu Yang just now seemed to target him, but it was actually a variation of the Soul Devouring Hand.

It has a massive corrosive and damaging effect on spiritual bodies, capable of instantly crippling or even disintegrating a soul’s structure.

However, it only caused intense, painful hallucinations and a momentary disturbance of life force, with almost no actual physical damage.”

“His target from the very beginning was Chen Wan!”

Lu Yang instantly understood this explanation. So, he had merely been bait, a tool to provoke Chen Wan into losing control, and a diversion to distract them!

The Soul Cultivator’s true prey was Chen Wan, who possessed powerful resentment!

A wave of lingering fear and relief washed over him, but it was immediately followed by towering anger and… a courage he hadn’t even known he possessed.

He looked at Chen Wan, who was screaming in pain and whose soul body was growing fainter under the Soul Cultivator’s palm suction, not far away.

The spiritual body of the girl who had quietly listened to him read poetry last night, her eyes filled with shyness and anticipation, was now enduring unimaginable torment.

“Damn it!”

Lu Yang fiercely wiped his face, shaking off his earlier fear and lingering dread. The brute force and righteous indignation of an athlete instantly rushed to his head.

He didn’t know where he found the courage, or rather, he simply didn’t use his brain. With a low roar, he directly scrambled up from the ground, like an enraged bull, and charged at the grotesque and terrifying Soul Cultivator with his bare hands!

“Bastard! Let her go!!”

The Soul Cultivator’s attention was entirely focused on absorbing Chen Wan’s power. It completely disregarded the charge of this ‘ordinary human.’

It didn’t even bother to turn around, simply waving its free left hand casually backward.

“Pfft—!”

Lu Yang’s forward momentum abruptly halted. He was struck as if by a massive blow, sent flying backward again, even harder and faster than last time!

He flew over a dozen meters, smashing heavily into the outer wall of an old building on the edge of the clearing!

“Bang! Crash!!”

Lime dust showered down from the wall’s surface. Lu Yang grunted, sliding to the ground along the wall.

He felt as though all the bones in his body, especially his head, were about to shatter. His internal organs churned, and a sweet taste filled his throat; he nearly vomited blood. He could only curl up, clutching his body.

“Lu Yang!!”

Seeing her good elder brothers successively suffer heavy blows, Su Mian’s eyes instantly turned red.

Worry, anger, and anxiety over Chen Wan’s predicament all mixed together, overwhelming Xiao Moyuan’s earlier instruction for her to rest and not use her demonic power.

*Boom*—!

Demonic energy erupted uncontrollably from her body! Her eyes instantly transformed into brilliant golden vertical pupils, and fluffy fox ears ‘popped’ out from her hair.

Behind her, three bushy fox tails, shimmering with moonlight-like radiance, appeared.

Although her demonic form wasn’t yet fully manifested, this semi-demonic state already caused a pure and powerful wave of demonic energy to emanate from her, making it difficult for even those nearby to breathe.

“Oh?!” a gasp sounded.

The Soul Cultivator, whose movements had paused slightly while absorbing Chen Wan’s power, turned its green-flamed eye sockets towards Su Mian.

When it clearly saw Su Mian’s delicate face in her semi-demonic form, especially her pure demonic power and rare fox demon characteristics, the green flames in its eyes intensified, openly revealing intense greed.

‘Such a beautiful fox demon… so pure, such pure demonic power, hah! I didn’t expect such an unexpected harvest tonight! After absorbing this resentful spirit, I’ll deal with this little fox too!’

The Soul Cultivator’s hoarse voice twisted with desire.

However, the instant his vile thought arose—

An icy, murderous, terrifying aura suddenly locked onto him!

The Soul Cultivator didn’t even have time to react. It only felt the space behind it subtly ripple.

Then, an irresistible, enormous force slammed hard into his back!

Pfft—!!

The Soul Cultivator’s body beneath its cloak violently bent forward, and he was flung into the air. He spewed a large mouthful of liquid mixed with black foul blood and shattered internal organs, which traced a gruesome arc in the air.

He crashed heavily onto the ground dozens of meters away, tumbling for a dozen more circles before finally managing to stop. He plowed a deep沟壑 furrow in the ground.

Xiao Moyuan’s figure appeared, at some unknown point, in the exact spot where the Soul Cultivator had been standing.

He slowly retracted his right hand, his eyes swirling with an almost tangible killing intent.

He didn’t even spare a glance for the Soul Cultivator he had just sent flying. His gaze immediately turned to Su Mian. Only when he saw her maintaining her semi-demonic form did the intense killing intent on him slightly recede.

“Cough cough… cough cough!!”

The Soul Cultivator struggled to prop up his upper body. The decaying muscle tissue covering his face twitched in pain.

He looked, utterly horrified, at Xiao Moyuan, his green, flame-like pupils flickering violently.

“You… who are you?!”

His voice was filled with disbelief. He had spent years absorbing malevolent and resentful energy to cultivate his body, and his physical form had long since transcended the mortal realm. Even the spells of ordinary demon hunters would struggle to easily wound him.

Yet this young man, relying solely on pure physical strength and speed, had critically injured him with a single blow?

‘How is this possible?!’

Not far away, Hua Liang, who had originally been preparing to act, showed a hint of surprise and deep interest in his eyes.

He rubbed his chin, muttering to himself, “Oh? It seems this Classmate Xiao, who is protecting Su Mian, is indeed not simple… This physical strength, this speed, and the quality of spiritual energy that erupted for that instant… tsk.”

He displayed a playful smile, then retreated a few more steps, completely settling into a stance of ‘watching the show with peace of mind.’

‘However, it seems I won’t need to meddle now.’

Xiao Moyuan ignored the Soul Cultivator’s astonished question and Hua Liang’s scrutiny.

He walked to Su Mian, reaching out to gently caress her cheek, his movements incredibly tender, as if he were a completely different person from the one who had just unleashed that thunderous attack.

He said softly, “Be good, promise me. You don’t need to use your demonic power today. You need to rest properly.”

His fingertips carried a trace of cool spiritual energy, gently stroking Su Mian’s brow, helping her calm her agitated qi and emotions.

In her golden-eyed state, Su Mian could feel the unfathomably deep, yet incredibly reassuring aura emanating from Xiao Moyuan more clearly.

Under his soothing touch, the demonic energy around her slowly receded, her fox ears and the illusory fox tails gradually faded and disappeared. Her eyes also returned to their normal color, though her face remained somewhat pale.

“Leave that guy to me,” Xiao Moyuan said with a slight smile.

With that, he turned around. The gentle smile on his face vanished instantly, replaced by an even purer killing intent than before.

The speed of his transformation made even the observing Hua Liang raise an eyebrow.

The Soul Cultivator felt the dread of death. He struggled to climb up, while simultaneously forming hand seals, the remaining black patterns on his body writhing frantically, attempting to muster demonic power to counterattack or escape.

But Xiao Moyuan gave him no further opportunity.

The ensuing confrontation was less a battle and more a one-sided, overwhelming execution.

Xiao Moyuan’s figure seemed to transform into a black lightning bolt. There were no dazzling magical lights, only the simplest, most direct, and most terrifying physical strikes and extremely precise spiritual energy impacts.

He appeared to the Soul Cultivator’s left, delivering a swift hand chop that precisely struck and broke the Soul Cultivator’s left wrist, which was in the midst of forming seals. The vile incantations instantly disintegrated.

The Soul Cultivator shrieked. It gathered a ball of foul black energy in its right hand and aimed it at Xiao Moyuan’s face.

Xiao Moyuan neither dodged nor retreated. He flicked a finger, and a thread of golden spiritual energy, condensed like a needle, shot out, instantly piercing the black energy and, with undiminished force, impaling the Soul Cultivator’s right palm, pinning him firmly to the ground!

The Soul Cultivator tried to stir the remaining malevolent energy within him to self-detonate and resist, but Xiao Moyuan already had one foot planted on his chest.

A powerful, domineering spiritual energy permeated his body, like the most precise chains, instantly sealing all his spiritual veins and vital points throughout his entire body!

The entire process was fluid and decisive. From the moment Xiao Moyuan turned around until he completely subdued the Soul Cultivator, less than thirty seconds had passed.

The Soul Cultivator lay on the ground like a pile of mud, trembling. Only the green flames in his eyes still flickered weakly. He couldn’t even move a finger, only able to exert his last bit of strength to glare at Xiao Moyuan with venomous incomprehension.

Xiao Moyuan didn’t even look at him. He took out his phone, dialed a number, and commanded in a detached tone:

“West of the city, N University, Third Teaching Building, coordinates sent. Captured one evil Soul Cultivator who walks the path of soul refining.

His soul body is currently bound by my spiritual energy. His physical body is severely injured and he has no ability to resist.

Send someone over to take him to the Demon Extermination Bureau’s Black Prison for processing according to the highest threat level.”

After giving his concise instructions, he hung up the phone and shifted his gaze to the other side.

The moment the Soul Cultivator was sent flying and the suction force ceased, Chen Wan plummeted from mid-air like a kite with a broken string.

Now, her soul body lay on the ground, almost transparent and barely visible.

Her once solid form now flickered unstably like a candle in the wind, emanating extremely unstable, faint spiritual light, as if it could completely dissipate at any moment.

Her eyes were closed, her brows tightly furrowed, her face etched with pain. She seemed to lack even the strength to make a sound.

Lu Yang finally struggled to his feet, limping but incredibly anxious, and rushed to Chen Wan’s side. He wanted to touch her, but feared his own life force might further harm her fragile soul body.

He could only kneel helplessly beside her, his face filled with panic and heartache.

“Chen Wan! Chen Wan, why are you like this? You… what happened to you? Wake up! Look at me!”

Xiao Moyuan walked over, looking down at Chen Wan’s condition, his brows deeply furrowed.

“Xiao… Brother Xiao! School Idol Xiao!”

Lu Yang grabbed Xiao Moyuan’s pant leg like a drowning man clutching a straw, completely disregarding his image. His voice was choked with sobs and pleading.

“You have to save her! Please save Chen Wan! She… she suffered for thirty-four years, and she was finally about to be free, just one last step! She can’t just… she can’t!”

The usually boisterous athlete’s eyes were now red-rimmed, his words incoherent.

Su Mian also walked over, looking at Chen Wan’s dying soul body, her heart filled with unbearable pity.

“Xiao Moyuan, please help Chen Wan… she’s too pitiful.”

Xiao Moyuan was silent for a few seconds, his gaze sweeping over Chen Wan’s increasingly faint soul body, then at the pleading Lu Yang and the sympathetic Su Mian. He slowly spoke, his voice deep and solemn:

“There is… a way.”

Lu Yang’s eyes lit up. “What way?! Whatever it is, as long as it can save her, I’ll do it!”

Xiao Moyuan looked at him, enunciating each word. “But if she is saved this way, she will likely… never be able to enter the cycle of reincarnation again.”

Lu Yang froze, not yet fully comprehending the meaning of this statement.

Xiao Moyuan continued, “It’s a way to stabilize her soul body and prevent its complete annihilation. The Soul Cultivator’s ‘Soul Devouring Hand’ caused near-irreversible damage to the very essence of her soul. Conventional methods cannot repair such trauma.”

“The only way is to use an unconventional contract, forcefully binding her soul body to the life essence of a living person. The living person’s vibrant life force will then nourish and sustain her damaged essence.”

He paused, looking at Lu Yang, whose expression was beginning to change.

“This kind of contract is called a ‘Co-existence Contract.’ Once signed, Chen Wan’s soul body will exist by depending on the life of the contractor. The contractor will need to permanently sacrifice half of their life force to sustain Chen Wan and prevent her from dissipating.”

“From then on, their lives will be intertwined.

They will flourish together and suffer together. If the contractor is severely injured or their life force significantly declines, Chen Wan will weaken proportionally.

Conversely, if Chen Wan suffers another severe injury, it will also backfire on the contractor.”

“And Chen Wan, because her soul body will be bound to a living person’s life and no longer be complete and independent, will lose the qualification to be accepted by the rules of reincarnation, unless the contractor dies.

If the contractor dies, the contract is dissolved, and she will immediately dissipate along with them.”

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