The oriole is unaware of the bird behind; is this elixir yours?

Space solidified like iron. The two Black Robed Men from the Hall of Souls could not even move their eyes, leaving only terror surging in the depths of their Souls.

They tried to detonate the soul bags within their bodies, intending to use a secret technique to devour the countless Souls stored inside in exchange for a brief burst of power to break free from the shackles.

This was a common life-risking method used by those of the Hall of Souls in desperate situations.

However, the sealing power of the space ancestral talisman far exceeded their imagination.

That intangible yet indestructible spatial shackle not only locked down their Physical Bodies and Dou Qi, but even the connection between their Souls and the soul bags inside them was forcibly severed and suppressed.

Despite their mental prodding, the soul bags did not respond at all, as if they had already been isolated in another space-time.

In the fleeting moment of their desperate struggle, Shen Wen moved.

He didn't even form a hand seal, simply clenching his five fingers lightly toward the area where the two were located.

“Heaven Imprisoning Hand.”

As he whispered in his heart, the scene within the area solidified by Space Power changed abruptly!

A phantom of a giant hand, chaotic in color with ferocious fingers, appeared out of thin air. It did not strike down from the outside.

Instead, it "grew" out from within the solidified space, palm facing upward, completely clutching the two Black Robed Men inside!

Atop the giant hand phantom, greyish-white desolate air currents and silver spatial cracks intertwined, emitting a terrifying intent that devoured life, solidified time and space, and ended everything.

“No—!!!”

The Black Robed Men only had time to let out a short scream in the depths of their Souls.

The Heaven Imprisoning Hand closed.

There was no world-shaking explosion, nor was there any gruesome scene of flesh and blood flying.

Within that giant hand phantom, the bodies of the two Black Robed Men were like weathered sand sculptures, instantly losing all color and becoming grey-white and withered.

Then they silently collapsed and dissipated, turning into the finest dust.

At the same time, the soul bags within them, which had been forcibly sealed and had no time to detonate, also disintegrated directly under the terrifying devouring power of the Heaven Imprisoning Hand.

The majestic yet chaotic Soul Power surged out like a flood through an open gate, but it was firmly confined within the square inch of the palm by the Heaven Imprisoning Hand.

As if filtered and purified by an invisible funnel, it turned into pure Soul Origin, continuously being absorbed and transformed by the Heaven Imprisoning Hand.

The entire process was as fast as a single breath.

When the chaotic giant hand phantom slowly faded and finally dissipated in the air, there was nothing left on the spot, not even a trace of bloody scent.

Only the subtle spatial ripples in the air that had yet to settle, and the rapidly dissipating, heart-palpitating aura of finality, proved everything that had just happened.

Earth Demon Old Ghost froze on the spot, his mouth slightly agape and his pupils shrinking to the size of needle tips.

Those two Hall of Souls experts who had pushed him into a desperate situation with their unpredictable methods... were just gone like that? Not even a corpse left, their Soul Flying Away and Spirit Scattering?

What kind of Dou Technique was that?!

His back was instantly drenched in cold sweat. The gaze he directed at Shen Wen was now filled with unspeakable terror and awe.

This person's methods were simply unfathomable!

“Th-thank you, Senior, for saving my life!”

Earth Demon Old Ghost suddenly snapped back to his senses and hurriedly bowed in salute. His voice was dry, carrying the lingering fear and the relief of surviving a disaster. “My Demon Flame Valley will never dare to forget this kindness. In the future, if Senior has any orders...”

“Save you?”

Shen Wen interrupted him indifferently. With a wave of his hand, the cold jade bottle that Earth Demon Old Ghost held in his hand and hadn't had time to hand over flew lightly into his palm.

“Senior, this is my Medicinal Pill, you...” Earth Demon Old Ghost was stunned. Looking at his empty hand, he instinctively wanted to speak.

Shen Wen didn't even look at him as he put away the jade bottle, his tone so flat that no emotion could be heard: “Your Medicinal Pill? If you call it, will it answer?”

Earth Demon Old Ghost's face stiffened, and he was instantly at a loss for words.

“If it weren't for this Medicinal Pill being about to fall into the hands of the Hall of Souls, I wouldn't have even bothered to show up.”

Only then did Shen Wen glance at him, his gaze calm and without ripples. “Something you cannot keep for yourself is no longer yours. If you want to blame something, blame your own lack of ability.”

As his voice fell, before Earth Demon Old Ghost could react further, the space beside Shen Wen rippled slightly. His figure faded like a water ripple and completely disappeared from the spot, as if he had never appeared.

On the desolate rocky beach, only Earth Demon Old Ghost remained standing blankly.

The night wind blew past, bringing a wave of icy coldness, but it was far from the chill rising in his heart at this moment.

His expression shifted between cloudy and clear, turning from green to red. His palms were clenched into fists, his knuckles white from the pressure.

In the end, it could only turn into a heavy breath full of frustration and powerlessness, dissipating in the cold air.

He, Earth Demon Old Ghost, who had dominated the Black-Corner Region for so many years, was feeling this frustrated for the first time!

...Shen Wen naturally couldn't be bothered to kill this Earth Demon Old Ghost; it was better to leave him for Xiao Yan's training. As for that so-called Flame Manipulation Art, it was of no use to him at all.

Even the refining method for the Heavenly Demon Puppet was already in his hands.

“A cost-free business.”

Shen Wen put the zong ji pill into his storage ring, then moved the items from the storage rings of those two from the Hall of Souls into his own storage ring.

“It seems these two fellows really intended to auction this Medicinal Pill!”

Shen Wen discovered that there were indeed a seventh-rank magic core and a soul infant fruit inside. He was somewhat surprised, as he had thought the people from the Hall of Souls also intended to do a cost-free business.

His figure flickered continuously, traversing through space. With the help of the space ancestral talisman, his use of Space Power already allowed him to travel through space like a Dou Zun.

Returning to the Jia Nan Academy courtyard, Shen Wen went straight to the Quiet Room.

Cao Ying was at the desk organizing her recent Alchemy insights. Seeing Shen Wen push the door and enter, she looked up and smiled: “Husband is back? Did things go smoothly?”

“I conveniently dealt with two small fries from the Hall of Souls.”

Shen Wen walked to her side. With a flip of his palm, a fist-sized fruit shaped like an infant and emitting a soft white jade glow appeared in his hand. It was precisely the soul infant fruit.

The natural patterns on the fruit's surface vaguely outlined the contours of facial features. Wisps of cool and pure Soul fluctuations rippled out, and the air in the Quiet Room seemed to become a bit fresher.

Cao Ying's beautiful eyes widened slightly as she said in surprise: “soul infant fruit? For such a rare object that nourishes the Soul to actually appear at a Black-Corner Region auction?”

“Got it from the people of the Hall of Souls.” Shen Wen placed the soul infant fruit on the desk in front of her, his tone casual. “Your current Soul Realm is already at the Spirit Realm Great Perfection, just one step away from the Heaven Realm.

I have already refined the spirit nurturing pill. Combined with this soul infant fruit, it should be enough to help you Breakthrough.”

Cao Ying looked down at the soul infant fruit, then looked up at Shen Wen, warmth flowing in her eyes.

She was well aware of the preciousness of the soul infant fruit. Even for Shen Wen's own Soul cultivation, it would be beneficial, yet he had given it to her without hesitation.

“Husband...” Cao Ying said softly, “This soul infant fruit is also useful to you. Why don't you keep it for yourself? I can take it step by step; sooner or later, I will also be able to Breakthrough to the Heaven Realm.”

Shen Wen shook his head: “The soul infant fruit is good, but for me, it's not a necessity. I have other methods to improve my Soul cultivation.”

He paused and continued: “Moreover, the sooner your Soul Realm reaches the Heaven Realm, the better it will be for both your Alchemy skills and your own strength.

Next, we need to clear out the Hall of Souls' strongholds in the Northwest Continent. Having more strength means having more certainty.”

Seeing Shen Wen's clear attitude, Cao Ying no longer declined. She carefully put away the soul infant fruit and said softly: “Then I will not let my husband's heart go to waste.”

Shen Wen handed her another jade bottle, which contained the spirit nurturing pill he had refined earlier.

“Adjust your state and enter seclusion for your Breakthrough. I will be by your side to act as your Protector.”