"The first Soul Palace has been opened, and the Soul Melting Technique is now complete."
Feeling the newly formed Soul Palace within his body, a satisfied smile curled at the corner of Gu He's lips.
With a flick of his fingers, a jade bottle sealed with an invisible flame materialized in his palm. His gaze turned icy as he stared at the bottle, murmuring slowly, "Protector Wu… your doom has arrived."
His palm pressed against the bottle's mouth, and the fluctuations of the invisible flame gradually weakened before finally dissipating.
As the flame vanished, an ethereal soul burst forth, desperately lunging toward the ceiling.
"Flick."
An invisible wall of flames suddenly materialized above, blocking the soul's escape.
"Hiss—"
The moment the wispy soul collided with the barrier, a sharp sizzling sound erupted, followed by a piercing scream.
Gu He watched the frantic soul with faint amusement. With a wave of his hand, the fiery barrier descended, ensnaring the soul before gently lowering it before him.
"Heh, Protector Wu, why the hurry?" he sneered, observing the trapped soul shrinking away from the flames, too terrified to touch them.
"Gu He! What do you want? I've already told you everything! How long do you intend to keep me imprisoned?" the Protector Wu roared in fury.
"Worry not. Starting today, you'll be completely free." A cold glint flashed in Gu He's eyes as he spoke.
The Protector Wu's heart chilled at the murderous intent in those words. "What do you mean? You plan to kill me?"
"Gu He, I warn you—every Soul Palace Protector bears a soul imprint within the Soul Palace itself! If you kill me, the other protectors will hunt you down!" the Protector Wu bellowed in desperation.
"No, I won't kill you." Gu He shook his head, the coldness in his eyes deepening. "But from this moment onward… you and I shall become one."
As the words fell, he slowly extended his hand. A dim light flickered in his palm, swiftly condensing into a swirling black vortex. A terrifying devouring force erupted.
"Soul Devouring Art!"
With a low shout, the devouring power seized the Protector Wu.
"What are you—NO! STOP! AHH—!"
Terrified shrieks filled the air as the soul was helplessly dragged toward Gu He's palm, utterly powerless to resist.
Once fully absorbed into the dark vortex, the devouring force faded, leaving behind a black bead in Gu He's grasp.
Through its translucent surface, the Protector Wu's soul could be seen screaming in silent rage—completely cut off from the outside world.
"Truly, no soul can resist the Soul Devouring Art." Gu He smirked, examining the bead.
He then channeled his soul power, wrapping the bead before guiding it into the newly formed Soul Palace within his body.
"Hum."
The moment the bead merged with the Soul Palace, a peculiar sensation surged through Gu He's mind.
Memories—countless fragments of the Protector Wu's life—flooded his consciousness.
Gu He observed dispassionately, absorbing none of it, merely witnessing the recollections like an outsider.
Soon, he had reviewed the Protector Wu's entire existence—every moment, every secret—as fleeting as a reflection in water.
With a thought, he activated the Soul Palace.
"Whoosh."
A dark, eerie glow erupted from the Soul Palace's location, rapidly spreading through his limbs until his entire body was shrouded in an ominous black light.
"Kekeke!"
A moment later, a sinister cackle echoed as the light dissipated—revealing not Gu He, but the Protector Wu himself.
Yes, Gu He's form had vanished entirely. In his place stood the perfect replica of the Protector Wu.
The Protector Wu strode to a bronze mirror, examining his reflection with fascination.
"Marvelous… The Soul Melting Technique doesn't just replicate appearance—it perfectly mimics aura and presence too."
This Protector Wu was, of course, Gu He—now fully incarnated through the Soul Palace's power.
The real Protector Wu remained imprisoned within Gu He's Soul Palace, utterly at his mercy.
The Soul Melting Technique's true wonder lay in its ability to assimilate everything from the trapped soul—memories, abilities, even the subtlest of mannerisms.
At this moment, Gu He was the Protector Wu in every conceivable way.
"Kekeke!"
The Protector Wu suddenly laughed at his reflection.
"Even the laugh is just as grating."
Though he had fully taken over the Protector Wu's identity, Gu He realized he could still access his own abilities.
"Perfect."
His lips curled in satisfaction before his gaze shifted toward the back mountains.
"Now… it's time to reunite with an old friend."
In a flash, the Protector Wu vanished.
When he reappeared, he stood before a concealed cave at the base of a cliff deep within the Misty Cloud Sect's back mountains. A massive boulder sealed its entrance.
From the memories he'd absorbed, Gu He knew—Yun Shan was inside, secluded in meditation after consuming the Blood Soul Pill, attempting his breakthrough to the Dou Ancestor realm.
"Old Sect Master… it's been over ten years, hasn't it?"
The Protector Wu smirked, staring at the cave.
…
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