"Alright then, go ahead and devour him," Huang Shang nodded.
"Indeed, we've already encountered several members of the Soul Race," Hun Lao said with a nod. "According to legend, in ancient times, the Soul Race was targeted by a coalition of major powers from the Chaotic Void Sea. They suffered heavy casualties and withdrew from the Chaotic Void Sea. But judging from all the signs now, it seems the Soul Race might be planning to return to the Chaotic Void Sea. Or, there's another possibility: the Soul Race has always been lurking within the Chaotic Void Sea, laying low and hidden from the world until now, when they're finally emerging. The Soul Race is a truly terrifying race. If they reappear in the Chaotic Void Sea, they would certainly unleash a storm of violence, bringing great disaster upon the Chaotic Void Sea."
"Brat, stop! There's no need for this to end in a life-or-death struggle! How about this: spare me, and I'll give you a whole pile of treasures," the Soul Race member pleaded, his voice growing weaker as he completely lost his ability to fight back.
"If I kill you, everything you have becomes mine. Why would I need your gifts?" Ye Yunfei sneered.
Then, dozens of Ye Yunfei's Soul Force Planets surged forward and began forcefully devouring the body of this Soul Race member. Each of Ye Yunfei's Soul Force Planets transformed into a soul body. Dozens of these soul bodies clung tightly to the Soul Race member's form, tearing at it with bites, fists, and kicks. Even though the Soul Race member struggled desperately, he had to endure the various terrifying attacks from Ye Yunfei and his companions while simultaneously battling dozens of Soul Force Planets. He simply couldn't cope. Very soon, his body was torn apart piece by piece, leaving it maimed and incomplete. With every bite taken, a portion of his energy was lost, and his aura diminished significantly.
"This... This is also an inherited secret art of our Soul Race! I understand now—you are also a member of the Soul Race! You've already taken over this brat's soul body. Damn it! You disguised yourself too well; I didn't recognize you at all. Tell me, which clan are you from? I am a noble of the Fifth Clan, tasked with traveling through the Chaotic Void Sea to observe the situation in every Void Sea and secretly cultivate slaves for our race, preparing for our return to the Chaotic Void Sea. You dare to kill me? If our Fifth Clan finds out, there will be no place for you in the entire Soul Realm! Stop now, quickly!" The Soul Race member, seeing the Soul Force Planets technique Ye Yunfei was using and recalling the various other inherited Soul Race arts he had displayed earlier, seemed to have a sudden realization and shouted at Ye Yunfei. He believed that a member of the Soul Race must also be hiding within Ye Yunfei's Soul Sea, having taken control of both Ye Yunfei's soul body and physical form, which was why Ye Yunfei could wield the inherited arts of the Soul Race.
"This is my identity token from within the Soul Realm. You'll know once you see it. My status is special—I am no ordinary Soul Race member. Cease your actions immediately, or the consequences will be severe!" The Soul Race member's body had already been bitten away by a third. His face was filled with terror, his aura withered, making him look utterly miserable. A black token flew out from within his body, engraved with an ancient-looking number 'five'.
"It seems this guy really does have some status within the Soul Race," Ye Yunfei couldn't help but think to himself as he looked at the black token.
"You have status, and I have status too. Mine is even nobler than yours," Ye Yunfei said with a smile.
"How is that possible? Who are you, and what is your status? Could it be you are also a noble from one of the clans?" Hearing Ye Yunfei's words, the Soul Race member revealed a suspicious, uncertain expression. An ordinary Soul Race member would surely show some restraint upon seeing the token he had produced, but Ye Yunfei's reaction was one of complete disdain. This made him think Ye Yunfei might genuinely be a noble of their race, perhaps of even higher status than himself.
"My Lord, I was wrong. I shouldn't have crossed you. Please, spare my life. As long as you spare me, I am willing to follow and serve you in the future," the Soul Race member began, now treating Ye Yunfei as a fellow Soul Race member with a status higher than his own.
Within the Soul Race, the hierarchy was extremely strict. A lower-status member who offended a higher-status one could be killed at any moment, and their clan would not avenge them.
"It's too late. Do you think you can live after offending me?" Ye Yunfei said with deliberate sternness.
"Ah! Lord, please spare me! My Lord, your disguise was too perfect! I couldn't recognize you as a Lord of our race, which is why I offended you. Please, my Lord, spare my life!" The Soul Race member, now utterly powerless to resist as dozens of Soul Force Planets continuously gnawed at his body, could only plead weakly. He had truly mistaken Ye Yunfei for a noble Lord from his race. Even if he had any strength left to resist, he wouldn't dare.
"It's too late! You have no idea who I am, yet you dared to offend me. Not only you, but even the clan you belong to will be held accountable," Ye Yunfei said coldly, his face stern.
"What? You would hold my clan accountable? How could you have such authority? Unless... you came from *that* place?" Hearing Ye Yunfei's words, the Soul Race member was first stunned, then seemed to think of something. Instantly, he was seized by immense terror, scared out of his wits. "So that's it. You came from that place. I actually offended you... I truly deserve a thousand deaths. This is my fate!"
In that moment, the Soul Race member's heart completely sank into despair. He knew offending a Lord who came from 'that place' meant certain death.
The next moment, Ye Yunfei's dozens of Soul Force Planets swarmed over and completely devoured the Soul Race member.
"This guy was really too strong. We attacked him together for so long and only now managed to finish him off. If a few more Soul Race members of similar strength showed up, I doubt we'd be a match," the Golden-Horned Dragon Silkworm couldn't help but sigh.
"This guy was probably among the stronger ones within the Soul Race. Didn't you hear what he said earlier? He's a noble of a clan, with a much higher status and position than ordinary Soul Race members," Hun Lao said.
"That's right. He was indeed a noble from the Fifth Clan of the Soul Realm, holding a certain status and rank. He was of higher position and strength than the other Soul Race members we encountered before," Ye Yunfei said soon after completely devouring the Soul Race member and absorbing a portion of his memories.
"That guy mentioned the 'Soul Realm' just now. Could that be the Soul Race's nest?" Hun Lao, seeing that Ye Yunfei had finished devouring the Soul Race member, immediately asked.
"The Soul Realm is indeed the nest of the Soul Race. However, after devouring him, I only acquired part of his memories. The memories related to the Soul Realm are blurred and indistinct. That's because every Soul Race member sent out is implanted with special restrictions, sealing any memory concerning the Soul Realm to prevent leakage.
Also, the Soul Race does indeed intend to return to the Chaotic Void Sea. One of the cultivation resources the Soul Race relies on is the soul bodies of living beings. The Chaotic Void Sea holds countless millions of living beings. For the Soul Race, the Chaotic Void Sea is a vast treasury of cultivation resources. That's why they've always had plans to return to the Chaotic Void Sea and even intend to dominate the entire Chaotic Void Sea in the future."
"After devouring that guy, did you gain some of the Soul Race's inherited secret arts?" the Golden-Horned Dragon Silkworm asked curiously.
"Of course I did. In his memories, there are quite a few of the Soul Race's inherited secret arts and techniques, as well as his lifelong cultivation insights and experiences. Acquiring his inheritance in these arts will certainly elevate my level in soul force energy and soul force martial skills," Ye Yunfei nodded.
"Master, what should we do about those guys?" Hu Miao asked, looking towards their surroundings.
The beings that had been controlled by the Soul Race member were still frantically attacking the Formations Ye Yunfei had set up, trying to break in. However, the Formations Ye Yunfei had laid down were far beyond their ability to breach.
"They were ensnared by that Soul Race member's Puppet Soul Threads secret art. Now that he's been devoured by me, they have become my slaves. However, among these people, a significant portion are members of the Wanmu Ancestral Land. I'll just break the control of the Puppet Soul Threads and restore them to normal," Ye Yunfei said after looking around and considering for a moment.