The work of forging the soul weapon was extremely difficult to begin with. Fuchen and Ulan quickly pulled Xia Fei into their tempo. This phenomenon was made possible by the two Peak Spiritualists working unison. It was like a dream dimension Fuchen and Ulan had constructed, where both men had complete authority over what happened within.
Xia Fei found this all very fresh and new. Long ago, Phantom had used illusions to control Xia Fei’s mind and show him scenes that left him full of yearning. The dimension, which was as vast as the sea of stars, that the two Spiritualists had conjured was on an even greater scale.
“This is a necessity. Although it uses up quite a lot of energy, we must be completely isolated from the outside in order to best control the Searing Eye.” Ulan wiped the sweat off his face as he spoke. They had not really gotten started yet, but he and Fuchen were already very tired.
Xia Fei frowned and plucked a star from within the dimension.
“No need to be so curious. Once you have your seventh Soul Mark, you’ll be able to create your own dimension, too. Why do you think people who have dark energy are called Founders? It’s precisely because we have the ability to create worlds,” Fuchen nonchalantly said.
“Matter and life are both made from positive and negative energy. Warriors who are still stuck at the level of laws can never create worlds no matter how strong they may be. That’s because they haven’t gained control of dark energy, so the most they can do is use the Law of Space to open dimensions and use illusions to fool their enemies. Meanwhile, our dimension is made of real matter.”
As Fuchen spoke, he grabbed the star in Xia Fei’s hand and crushed it, sending him flying out.
Xia Fei swallowed. No doubt that this was all real. Masters of dark energy had the ability to create matter!
“What about life? Can we create life?” asked Xia Fei hurriedly.
“No. Life is a higher level of matter and requires an even stronger control of dark energy. We still don’t have that strength,” Fuchen said, “so in this aspect, the creation power of higher-rank warriors is actually just an upgraded version of the Law of Matter.”
The two of them stopped conversing with Xia Fei, placing their hands around the Searing Eye.
The insect in the eye was on its last breath. Just when its flame was about to go out, Fuchen and Ulan exerted their power, and the insect grew lively once more. However, it was full of hostility and madly shrieked at both Great Spiritualists.
Xia Fei’s job was to protect Ulan and Fuchen, but he did not see any danger right now. Thus, he began to examine the dimension that the two had created.
This dimension seemed vast, but it was actually not that big. As a real world, it was mottled with countless little stars and had actual air and matter; none of it was an illusion at all!
“Xia Fei, get ready,” Fuchen grunted. His face was already turning a little green, and he appeared to be having a tough time.
Xia Fei had not expected the danger to come so fast! It had only been a few minutes, but these two Great Spiritualists were already approaching their breaking point.
“What do you need me to do?” Xia Fei asked hurriedly.
“This thing is very strong; I really can’t tell how many of its species it consumed to reach this stage. Its counterattacks are very sharp and effectively prevent us from sending in spirit energy. Get ready. We’re going to pull you into our dimension,” Fuchen said.
As he spoke, Xia Fei felt his soul being pulled out of his body. This was dark energy, also known as soul power!
In ancient times, there were often tales of a person dying yet their soul still lingering and disturbing the living. Most people considered these to be mere tales, but they were actually not! Wandering ghosts were none other than powerful souls. While a person might die, their soul was inextinguishable!
For the first time in his life, Xia Fei had entered a world of dark energy, guided by two Peak Spiritualists.
Transformed into a white wisp, Xia Fei saw himself and also the souls of Fuchen and Ulan…
“You two!” Xia Fei yelled in shock.
“Don’t be afraid. These are our souls, forms of pure dark energy. We’re actually quite normal, but you…” Fuchen could not say more.
Alas, there was no mirror, so Xia Fei could not see what he looked like, but from the look in the eyes of Fuchen and Ulan and the tone of their voices, his appearance was either very unique or very terrifying.
Everything caught Xia Fei completely unprepared. Now that his soul had left his body, he could only use dark energy!
…
*Plush!*
Fuchen and Ulan collapsed to the ground, their faces pale.
Things started to get unpredictable. They originally planned to take responsibility for crafting the Searing Eye, while Xia Fei served as their support, but now, the tables had turned. Xia Fei had taken over their jobs, his two eyes holding that terrifying eye as he sent in spiritual power.
“This… What’s going on here? We were pushed out! Can you believe that?” Ulan said in frustration. He had lived for long but had never experienced anything this humiliating before.
Gritting his teeth, Fuchen stood up and stared at Xia Fei. Surprisingly, the latter was very calm as if this was just an ordinary occurrence.
“Crafting soul weapons tests not only a person’s dark energy but also their mental energy and soul. It seems like Xia Fei has stronger mental energy compared to us. This has nothing to do with his level. It just so happened that we can’t get accustomed to those crazy souls,” Fuchen said coldly.
Ulan firmly nodded. The Searing Eye had been formed by devouring many of the same kind, and naturally, these souls were brimming with resentment. They vented their anger on those in their vicinity, and as Xia Fei was currently near them, he had to endure hellish flames!
Without the restraints of the body, Xia Fei fully unleashed his mental energy!
His opponents were unseen. The eyeball had consumed far too many souls, which were not loyal warriors like Radix but rather through-and-through demons!
Taking possession of the Searing Eye meant slaying these demons first!
Unconsciously, Xia Fei had become the main force. He was not even aware that Fuchen and Ulan had been ejected by the dimension, and right now, there was only one word playing in his mind: kill!
Wherever his blade pointed, gods and demons got slain!
Xia Fei did not know that when he was freed from the shackles of the body, the nature hidden within his blood could be fully unleashed!
True warriors had violence flowing through their veins, and nothing could halt their desire for victory!
While Fuchen and Ulan were powerful, they were no warriors. They had the cultivation, but they lacked the experience of fighting through a living hell. Thus, when they fought against countless wicked souls, they felt like they could not gather their mental energy and were quickly defeated.
Xia Fei, in contrast, had been able to hold on. Fighting was as simple as drinking a bottle of mineral water to him, and so these heart-freezing howls came across as no more than melodious serenades.
…
It was late at night, and the Silver Specter was quiet. Fuchen and Ulan watched as Xia Fei slowly opened his eyes, his lips forming his signature smile.
“What are you two staring at me for?” Xia Fei asked.
Fuchen and Ulan swallowed. This day had been far too stimulating. The shifts on Xia Fei’s face alone were like a movie. As time passed and Xia Fei’s brow relaxed, Fuchen and Ulan exhaled in relief. They knew that Xia Fei had taken control of the situation.
“Did you finish cleaning up?” Fuchen and Ulan asked in disbelief.
Xia Fei nodded and looked at the Searing Eye.
This ugly eye was no longer home to a wriggling insect and was now just scarlet red. It was red down to the finest detail as if having bathed in blood for eons, so red it seemed to be about to bleed.
“I used spiritual power to seal this thing, but I don’t know if that’s okay.” Xia Fei recalled what had happened and recounted. “I didn’t have too many choices earlier. All those things flailing their claws and teeth at me really didn’t give me much room to think.”
Fuchen sighed and said, “You didn’t do anything wrong. The first step was truly to seal the Searing Eye. Those things that attacked you, just like Radix, were immortal souls, but they’re vengeful ones and not as easy to get along with as Radix.
“We can no longer help you, as you sealed it wholly through your power, you have to complete the job by yourself.”
Xia Fei nodded. “I originally assumed that Hosu sealing the Cosmic Gate hadn’t not been that hard, but when I sealed this Searing Eye, I realized that it’s no easy feat.”
Fuchen said, “Regardless, you solved the first step. Next is the most important step. In three hours, you must forge the Searing Eye into a soul weapon, or else everything will be for naught.”
“Three hours? Isn’t the time too short?” Xia Fei asked.
Fuchen replied, “You saw it. The seal isn’t that solid, so if too much time passes, those wicked spirits will charge back out.”
Xia Fei shrugged and said helplessly, “It’s strange. Originally, you two were supposed to make the Searing Eye, but now it’s become my job. Alright, Iet’s move to the next step.”
…
What came next was not too different from how Xia Fei normally made soul weapons. After all, the Searing Eye had been sealed, which was the most difficult step.
Fuchen and Ulan sighed as they watched Xia Fei work. Ulan said with some lingering fear, “Xia Fei’s will is truly tough. Is he not disturbed by those wicked spirits? I really felt like I’d break back there. Those wicked spirits kept whispering into my ears while clawing on my shoulders. If I had so much as turned my head, I would’ve been swallowed whole by them.”
After a few moments of silence, Fuchen sighed heavily. “It really was like that. Though I’ve lived for long, I have yet to meet anyone with as great of a resolve as Xia Fei’s. He’s truly so bold to a frightening degree. Still, what I care the most about is that when Xia Fei is in a pure dark energy state, he’s bursting with fiendish energy.”
Ulan nodded. “Dark energy is the power of the soul and is mental energy. I can only say that Xia Fei is much more formidable than he seems on the surface. As for that fiendish energy, have you noticed? All of the Skywings have this aura, and it’s particularly thick around their patriarch, Xia Gucheng, and Xia Fei. It’s as if—”
Fuchen suddenly stopped Ulan, his eyes fixed on Xia Fei.
*Rumble!*
A bloody eye had appeared around Xia Fei without warning. This eyes had two small wings, which were truly bizarre.
A sensation of extreme coldness, mixed with searing heat, began to fill the dimension created by the two Spiritualists, instantly turning it into one of fire and ice.
“Look! The Searing Eye is complete!” Fuchen shouted.
As he spoke, a strange sight unfolded!
Four Soul Marks appeared in a circle, like shields and a sun, giving off a blinding light!
