Devouring Soul Emperor

Not long after the signal was sent, people began to arrive one after another.

The first to arrive were two Third-level Martial Artists. They were powerless to resist and were easily dealt with by Chu Qingyun. They joined Cao Dezhi and the others, squatting on the ground with their hands over their heads.

Next, group after group of people rushed over, ranging from First-level to Fifth-level Martial Artists. However, not a single one could withstand even one of Chu Qingyun’s moves and were all taken down with ease.

Before long, a large crowd was squatting on the ground—all of them the Cao Family’s elite Martial Artists.

Finally, after much silent anticipation from the captives, a figure appeared: Second Young Master Cao, the Sixth-level Martial Artist, Cao Jingbin.

"The Second Master! The Second Master is here!"

"Hmph, that kid’s luck has run out. He’s just a Fifth-level Martial Artist, but the Second Master is a Sixth-level Martial Artist!"

"Second Master, teach him a lesson! That kid showed our Cao Family no respect!"

The captives began shouting all at once. Despite their excitement, none of them dared to stand up; they all remained obediently squatting on the ground, hands over their heads.

After all, Chu Qingyun had threatened them earlier: anyone who dared to stand would be killed.

They had immense confidence in Cao Jingbin, but no one was willing to gamble with their own life. ’Since we’re already squatting,’ they thought, ’what’s a little while longer?’

"Kid, you extorted my nephew, stole my family’s Demon Beast, and now you’ve captured my men. Are you trying to tear the sky down?"

Cao Jingbin’s expression was grim, a cold glint flashing in his eyes as he stared at Chu Qingyun.

"Tear the sky down?"

Chu Qingyun scoffed contemptuously. He had already interrogated his captives and learned that the two strongest members of the Cao Family were Cao Jingbin and his older brother, Cao Jingwen. Both were merely Sixth-level Martial Artists.

With the many methods at his disposal, Chu Qingyun truly wasn’t concerned about an ordinary Sixth-level Martial Artist.

"The Cao Family dares to call itself the sky? I have no idea where you get your confidence."

Cao Jingbin’s face grew even darker. "Fine, kid. I’ll show you the consequences of offending the Cao Family. Let’s see you try to run this time!"

"Fire Leopard Claw!"

Cao Jingbin roared, instantly unleashing his Martial Soul and lunging straight for Chu Qingyun.

His right arm seemed to burst into flames, enveloped in a layer of crimson fire. He formed his right hand into a claw, and the flames outside it condensed into a Flame Claw, shooting toward Chu Qingyun’s head.

Within the Flame Claw, Power subtly surged—the force of Momentum.

Cao Jingbin’s attack was surprisingly creative. It was based on a Tier Two Soul Technique, but he had integrated the Momentum of a Claw Technique. This fusion of two disciplines resulted in a move far more powerful than any ordinary Soul Technique or claw skill.

Though Cao Jingbin spoke with bravado, he was inwardly cautious of Chu Qingyun. That was why he opened with his strongest move.

’Anyone who could capture so many of our men and scare them into submission can’t be as simple as he looks,’ he thought.

"Profound Celestial Divine Pattern!"

"Thunderbolt Flash!"

Chu Qingyun let out a low cry. The Divine Pattern appeared on his right arm as he formed a Sword Pointing gesture with his index and middle fingers. Using his fingers as a sword, he met Cao Jingbin’s Fire Leopard Claw.

A spark of Thunder crackled at his fingertips, tracing an arc of electricity through the air. Like a sharp sword of lightning, it stabbed straight toward Cao Jingbin. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝒆𝔀𝒆𝙗𝓷𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝓶

Although he hadn’t drawn a physical sword, this Thunderbolt Flash was, after all, a Sword Technique from a King-rank Sword Technique. Its power was already immense, and with the enhancement from the Profound Celestial Divine Pattern, it became even sharper.

The Momentum on Cao Jingbin’s claw was instantly dispersed. The Thunder Aura flashed past, piercing through his right hand. The flames enveloping his hand and arm were swept away as if by a gale, dissipating inch by inch until they vanished completely.

Staring at the wound on his right hand that was now dripping blood, Cao Jingbin’s face turned pale. He stood frozen in place.

’How can this be... How is this guy so strong!?’

Although the only visible injury was the puncture wound on his hand, a bolt of Thunder Power had actually entered his meridians the moment his palm was pierced.

The Thunder Power rampaged through nine of his meridians, causing such agonizing pain that large beads of cold sweat broke out on Cao Jingbin’s forehead. He was forced to mobilize all the strength and Primordial Power in his body to suppress the invading Thunder.

"Cao Jingbin, Second Young Master Cao, how does that Thunder taste?" Chu Qingyun taunted him with a cold smile.

Cao Jingbin grit his teeth, let out a heavy grunt, but said nothing.

He was afraid that speaking would release the Qi he was holding back. If he failed to suppress the Thunder and it erupted completely, he would be lucky to escape with his life, though he would certainly be severely injured.

"Go over there, get on the ground with your hands on your head, and squat. Otherwise, I’ll give you another taste."

As Chu Qingyun spoke, another flash of Thunder Aura flickered in his palm. The sight made Cao Jingbin’s face twitch violently. Filled with indignation, he walked over to the other members of the Cao Family, put his hands on his head, and squatted down.

Even with the Thundercloud Sword still in its sheath, Chu Qingyun, as its master, was able to draw upon a sliver of its power.

What Cao Jingbin didn’t know, however, was that this power from the Thundercloud Sword couldn’t inject a bolt of Thunder into an enemy’s body like the Thunderbolt Flash could. It was just a bluff...

At this point, the members of the Cao Family were petrified. Some were even beginning to feel a sense of despair.

’Even the Second Master, a Sixth-level Martial Artist, was defeated in a single move. In the entire, great Cao Family, is there anyone left who could deal with Chu Qingyun? Could the Patriarch defeat him?’

Their hopeful anticipation had turned into uncertainty about their future—and their lives.

What’s meant to happen will happen. Before long, two more people arrived.

Chu Qingyun recognized the younger one: Cao Meng. If he hadn’t intentionally stirred up trouble, Chu Qingyun probably wouldn’t even be here.

The other was a middle-aged man in a blue brocade robe. Though Chu Qingyun didn’t know him, he could guess that this was the Cao Family Patriarch, Cao Jingwen.

Seeing all the members of his family squatting on the ground with their hands on their heads, Cao Jingwen’s expression changed, his eyes flashing with annoyance.

But when he saw his own younger brother squatting among them, Cao Jingwen’s heart sank completely. Despite this, he managed to force a smile onto his face.

"Ahem, this young man," Cao Jingwen said, cupping his fist in a formal gesture, his face wreathed in smiles. "I am Cao Jingwen. May I ask how my Cao Family has offended you?"

His posture showed that he wasn’t treating Chu Qingyun as a junior at all, but rather as an equal.

"Why don’t you ask your son?" Chu Qingyun said with a placid smile.

SMACK!

Without another word, Cao Jingwen viciously slapped Cao Meng across the face, causing half of it to swell up instantly.

"Father, are you crazy? Why did you hit me? He’s the one who captured our family and Second Uncle! You should be hitting him!"

Cao Meng was completely stunned by the blow, unable to understand why his father would suddenly strike him.

"You unfilial son! How dare you spout such nonsense! Apologize to this young man at once!"