Xu Chu chuckled darkly, "I thought it was something serious! As long as we get the information we need, the life or death of this black-robed scum doesn't matter in the slightest. Even if he survives today, we'll end him soon enough."
His cold words matched the sentiment of the others. The man in black was already marked for death. There was no question about it.
The black-robed man, overhearing their grim discussion, seemed to lose some of his crazed confidence. The madness in his eyes faded as realization set in. His voice trembled as he scoffed, "You think you can search my soul? What arrogance! Do you truly believe mere mortals like you can breach my defenses?"
But You Susu paid no mind to his ranting, stepping closer, her gaze locked on the trembling man. Her eyes glowed with a sinister red light. "A warrior stronger than a Martial Emperor... After I strip your soul, perhaps I'll savor what remains of you."
Her voice was low, threatening, and the red glow in her eyes intensified. For a moment, the black-robed man's bravado faltered, a flash of genuine fear flickering across his face.
"You dare!" he spat, his voice shaking. "If you dare to invade my soul, you'll provoke forces far beyond your comprehension!"
Before he could finish, You Susu's hand clamped down on his head, dark energy surging from her fingertips. The man's body stiffened as a faint light penetrated his mind, and with a twitch of his eyes, he collapsed into unconsciousness.
The moment You Susu's energy entered his mind, she was met with immense resistance, like a fortress designed to repel even the most skilled soul hunters. Worse yet, the dark power in his soul began to fight back.
Her expression tightened with concentration. "Soul Search! Break!"
With a voice of unshakable determination, she pushed deeper into his consciousness. Despite the black-robed man's powerful defenses, You Susu pressed on, breaking through layer by layer. Her mastery of the soul-searching technique was evident as she navigated the traps laid within his mind.
Suddenly, she felt it—a presence far stronger than she had expected.
"So... this is the truth," she muttered, her eyes widening. But before she could go further, a thunderous voice boomed in her mind.
Boom!
The overwhelming pressure rocked her back as if a colossal force had struck her soul. She stumbled, nearly collapsing. Immediately, the others rushed to her side, concern etched across their faces.
Orion was at her side in an instant. "What happened?" His voice was low, filled with worry.
You Susu, her face pale, took a deep breath. "The one who placed the seal... they are far stronger than I imagined."
She had underestimated the enemy. Even from such a great distance, their power was strong enough to nearly shatter her mind.
"My lord!" Xu Chu's voice broke through the tension. He had moved to check the black-robed man and found his body lifeless. "He's dying."
Orion's heart skipped a beat. Dying? No! Not before they got the answers they needed. "Finish him!" he shouted, desperation creeping into his voice. He had hoped to gain some power or benefit from the black-robed man's demise.
Xu Chu didn't hesitate. With one swift movement, his sword plunged deep into the chest of the black-robed man.
Ding! A chime echoed in Orion's mind.
[Congratulations! You have killed a warrior at the peak (?) level of Martial Emperor. You have earned 10 million luck points!]
Despite the chaotic situation, Orion couldn't help but feel a surge of satisfaction. The reward was greater than expected, and the grim thoughts in his mind lightened just a bit.
Xu Chu withdrew his blade, turning toward You Susu. "Did you find out anything? Any clue about the mark?"
The group fell silent, eyes trained on You Susu. Her face was still pale, but she managed a faint smile. "Yes," she said, her voice weak but triumphant. "I've learned enough. Though I couldn't uncover every secret, I now understand the nature of the mark on the Lord."
Her words brought some relief, though her body trembled, clearly drained from the battle within her own mind. She coughed, unable to fully recover yet.
With a gesture of her hand, the black-robed man's body disintegrated, turning into pure energy. She devoured it swiftly, her delicate lips consuming the essence like a predator feasting on prey. Orion swallowed, mesmerized by the unsettling display of her power.
As the energy restored her strength, she finally spoke. "The jade slip... it was more than a mere tool. It was a communication device tied to the imperial guards of the Immortal Dynasty."
She paused, letting the weight of her words sink in.
"The mark on the Lord is no ordinary curse. It's a tracker, a mark used by the Yuhuaxian Dynasty's Forbidden Army to identify enemies. Once marked, the victim will be hunted endlessly, across time and space, by the dynasty's soldiers."
The room fell deathly silent. The gravity of her revelation struck everyone like a blow to the chest. Orion was now marked for death by a relentless force far beyond their world.
Their nightmare had only just begun.