“Oh, did you receive a sound transmission?” Seeing Ye Yunfei’s sudden change of expression, Hun Lao immediately inquired.
“Seven or eight of my clones have encountered trouble. My clones can share memories, thoughts, and emotions with each other at any time, but now several of them have suddenly lost contact with the others. Even if they were to meet face to face now, they’d behave like total strangers. That means those clones of mine have already been compromised.
Those clones are all at the True God level. Their sudden trouble indicates that something must have happened in the Xuanhuang Continent—likely, a powerful enemy has secretly invaded.
I must return immediately to check. The Xuanhuang Continent is my most important base in the Sixth Void; it absolutely cannot be allowed to fall into chaos.”
As he spoke, Ye Yunfei had already retrieved a flying ship, rushing back toward the Xuanhuang Continent at full speed.
While hurrying back, Ye Yunfei used Message Jade Slips to call upon a large group of clones scattered throughout the Sixth Void, ordering them to also return to the Xuanhuang Continent.
Ye Yunfei feared a strong enemy had invaded the Xuanhuang Continent, so he intended to bring more clones with him to confront the threat.
“I hope nothing has happened to the Xuanhuang Continent. This is the first stronghold I established after arriving in the Sixth Void,” Ye Yunfei thought to himself.
Finally, when Ye Yunfei reached the outskirts of the Xuanhuang Continent, he immediately used his Soul Force Energy to scan within.
“On the surface, the Xuanhuang Continent seems unaffected. However, eight of my clones have indeed been compromised.”
Ye Yunfei soon realized that his eight clones within the Xuanhuang Continent showed no reaction whatsoever to his return, while all his other clones sensed his arrival and promptly exchanged memories of the recent period.
“It seems I can no longer control the Soul Bodies of these eight clones, either.”
In a flash, Ye Yunfei’s figure appeared high above the Xuanhuang Continent. His formidable Soul Force Energy surged forth, sweeping across the land below and instantly pinpointing the exact locations of his eight out-of-control clones.
To ensure the safety of the Xuanhuang Continent, Ye Yunfei had previously stationed a number of True God-level clones there, strengthening its defenses. Currently, the Xuanhuang Continent housed at least thirty of Ye Yunfei’s True God-level clones.
Before entering the continent, Ye Yunfei altered his appearance and used the Jade Ruyi to conceal his Soul Body aura, becoming a complete stranger. Apart from his clones, no one else knew of his return.
Ye Yunfei immediately positioned himself beside one of his clones.
This clone was an Initial True God. Originally a True God of the Four Directions Tower assigned to guard one of its branch bases, Ye Yunfei had relocated this clone to the Xuanhuang Continent after seizing control of that Four Directions Tower branch.
“The Soul Power imprint I previously placed on this clone’s Soul Body has been destroyed. Furthermore, its Soul Body seems to have gained additional elements.”
Concealing his form nearby, Ye Yunfei examined his clone and quickly confirmed that the Soul Power imprint he had once branded onto the clone’s Soul Body had vanished, causing the clone to slip from his control.
“This clone of mine has likely been taken over by someone using some formidable soul technique.”
Once inside the Xuanhuang Continent, Ye Yunfei continuously received memories from his other clones scattered across the continent. He soon learned that the eight clones had sent out distress signals to others before they were compromised.
Before their troubles began, those eight clones had suddenly detected a large number of black threads appearing in their Soul Seas—threads most likely condensed from Soul Force Energy and best described as soul-threads.
By reading the memories of his other clones, Ye Yunfei pieced together the events.
The eight clones had been ambushed one after another. Large quantities of black threads suddenly materialized in their Soul Seas, entangling their Soul Bodies. Gradually, they lost contact with the other clones in the area. Eventually, all communication ceased entirely; even when meeting face to face, exchange had become impossible.
“Black threads… Could it be…?” Recalling the detailed descriptions of the events sent by those eight clones to others before they fell, Ye Yunfei’s heart stirred.
“Are you suspecting those black threads might be from the Puppet Soul Thread Secret Art you once practiced? But that’s a Soul Race heritage technique. If it truly is the Puppet Soul Thread Secret Art, wouldn’t that mean a member of the Soul Race has entered the Xuanhuang Continent?” After Ye Yunfei explained the situation, Hun Lao exclaimed in astonishment.
“If it really is the Puppet Soul Thread Secret Art, then a Soul Race member has likely infiltrated the Xuanhuang Continent—moreover, a particularly powerful one, since controlling True Gods via the Puppet Soul Thread Secret Art is no simple feat,” Ye Yunfei nodded in agreement.
“No wonder those clones lost contact with your other ones. After a Soul Body is controlled by the Puppet Soul Thread Secret Art, it undergoes a complete transformation, developing a fanatical loyalty and worship toward the caster; its entire being revolves around the caster.
If your eight clones have indeed been controlled by a Soul Race member using the Puppet Soul Thread Secret Art, they have likely already become that Soul Race individual’s slaves,” Hun Lao reasoned.
“I think that’s not the most important point,” the Golden-Horned Dragon Silkworm interjected. “The critical issue is, if your eight clones have been commandeered by a Soul Race member, they will undoubtedly report everything they know truthfully to their master.
If so, then your background, whereabouts, and past actions—wouldn’t they all become known to that Soul Race member? What secrets would remain for you?
It’s entirely possible this Soul Race member has already disseminated your identity and deeds, stripping you bare and exposing you for all to see.”
“Exactly. That is indeed the greatest concern. If your background and identity were made public, your operations within the Sixth Void would become far less convenient in the future,” Hun Lao concurred.
“Let’s set those worries aside for now. Our immediate priority is to locate that Soul Race member; they must be hiding within the Xuanhuang Continent.” Ye Yunfei considered for a moment before speaking.
“Right, find that Soul Race member first, eliminate them, and cut off the root of the trouble. The Soul Race is a notoriously tricky and cunning species. They typically use their controlled slaves to carry out various tasks while their main body remains tightly concealed, rarely appearing in person. Finding them won’t be easy,” the Golden-Horned Dragon Silkworm added.
“No, I think I might not need to search for that individual’s main body location. Let me start by attempting to regain control over my eight clones and see if it’s possible.”
Ye Yunfei focused his thoughts, immediately executing a secret art of the Samsara Ghost race upon the Soul Body of the Initial True God before him. Since Ye Yunfei had once practiced the Soul Race’s Puppet Soul Thread Secret Art, he understood that any Soul Body controlled by this art remained essentially unchanged—it had simply been attached with numerous soul-threads. These threads induced a fanatical devotion and absolute loyalty within the Soul Body, thereby placing it under the caster’s command. So those soul-threads were the core of the issue.
Sure enough, Ye Yunfei soon detected countless black soul-threads densely layered over the Soul Body of this Initial True God. Like bindings wrapped around a dumpling, the black threads thoroughly trussed the clone’s Soul Body.
These black soul-threads emanated an eerie aura that seeped deep into the Soul Body, generating memories, intentions, emotions, and thoughts foreign to the Soul Body itself.
These foreign elements now tightly controlled the Soul Body, instilling within it a fervent worship and unwavering loyalty; at the mere sight of its master, it longed to offer up everything it possessed.
Under the influence of the Samsara Ghost race secret art, the Initial True God began to feel intensely drowsy; its Soul Body swayed unsteadily, and its entire form struggled to remain upright.
“How strange… Why am I so sleepy? I truly feel like taking a long nap!”
Overwhelmed, the Initial True God plopped down cross-legged, eyelids unbearably heavy, yet vaguely puzzled by this unnatural fatigue.
In such a state, the clone failed entirely to notice that an external surge of Soul Force Energy had infiltrated its Soul Sea and was silently probing its Soul Body.
With Ye Yunfei’s current Soul Force Energy level, employing a soul technique against an Initial True God was simplicity itself. Shortly after, the Initial True God slipped completely into a drowsy, sleep-like trance.
“The core reason my clone was taken over lies with these black soul-threads. If I can purge these black threads from its Soul Body, won’t I be able to retake control of this clone? Alternatively, I could simply use the Soul Purification Art, thoroughly cleansing its Soul Body once more, wiping away all that came before and reducing it to a pure Soul Body, then reimprint it with my Soul Power brand. Wouldn’t I then regain control?”
While sensing the Initial True God’s Soul Body, Ye Yunfei pondered his options.
“Try this: first attempt to eradicate the black soul-threads from its Soul Body. See if it can be done. If you succeed, you’ve discovered a method to counter the Soul Race’s Puppet Soul Thread Secret Art. In the future, if any of your own people fall under that art, you could rescue them.
If it proves impossible, then simply purge that fellow’s Soul Body clean again and reclaim control over him,” Hun Lao suggested to Ye Yunfei.