The Martial Emperor with Dragon Blood Chapter 1253 - 1254: The Spirit Within the Book

Upon hearing the voice, Ye Mo furrowed his brow faintly. Evidently, the Tenth Prince Ao Zi had begun his provocation, aiming straight to end his life.

"Hmm!"

Li Murong nodded before asking, "Everyone, what's your take on this situation?"

"Tomorrow, we must refuse the challenge at all costs. Ye Mo slew the Eleventh Prince of the Dead Soul Clan, so they'll surely send a much fiercer powerhouse."

One leader shared his view.

"Do you know who the Wraith Camp plans to field tomorrow?"

Li Murong questioned.

"The opposing camp announced that tomorrow's main fighter is the Tenth Prince Ao Zi, backed by a leader-level powerhouse from the Wraith Camp."

The soldier responded.

"Ye Mo, what's your opinion?"

Li Murong sought Ye Mo's thoughts.

"Accept!"

Ye Mo replied steadily.

"What? Accept?"

Li Murong was stunned. The Tenth Prince's might dwarfed the Eleventh Prince's. Legends claimed that among the twelve princes, nearly all wielded formidable soul devices.

"Ye Mo, I advise halting fights for three days to scout their forces and craft a strategy."

A leader who unlocked the Fourth Space-Time Gate proposed, "At present, you're one of our camp's scarce leaders able to shatter their Wraith Formation. If you fall to them too, securing victory in this war becomes immensely challenging."

Leader-level clashes in the initial phase serve as the war's opening act. Later, they determine the ultimate outcome. During this prelude, without deploying top fighters against the foe, the final showdown needs no further explanation.

"We've lost eleven bouts already, with seven leaders slain. We need to lift spirits by slaying three of theirs in a row. That's my strategy—no matter what, morale must surge."

Ye Mo stated composedly.

Securing three straight victories was Ye Mo's personal target.

Ao Zi's power was daunting, yet not unbeatable. Discovering a counter would ensure his downfall.

"Very well!"

Li Murong nodded decisively and declared, "Ye Mo, should you eliminate the Tenth Prince tomorrow, I'll grant you two Books of Soldiers as the camp's reward!"

Slaying a leader to earn two military technique books was unheard of.

Yet Li Murong understood Ye Mo was their camp's prime choice for battle. Leaders with Sixth or Seventh Space-Time Gates unlocked could only engage in the climactic fight.

Back in the tent, Ye Mo and Xiao Yue plotted tactics. Per the Wraith Demon Emperor's intel, the violet net Ao Zi deployed was a soul device named Sky-Shrouding Net, woven from Ancient Dragon Tendon. It was incredibly resilient, impervious to blades or brute force.

"With soul origin in hand, his Sky-Shrouding Net would mean nothing to me."

Ye Mo remarked coolly.

"Soul origin?"

Xiao Yue queried, confused.

"The Immortal Cycle of Life and Death I wield requires soul origin power to activate, but my current reserves won't suffice for it."

Ye Mo explained.

Immortal Cycle of Life and Death struck Xiao Yue's memory as overwhelmingly potent. If Ye Mo unleashed it, the Sky-Shrouding Net might shatter. Freed from it, even against a Fourth Space-Time Gate opener, Xiao Yue could join and overpower him.

"Ye Mo, didn't Li Murong mention the Book of Soldiers he gave you seals mighty souls? Perhaps give it a shot—you might harvest something."

Xiao Yue proposed, her brows arching abruptly.

"Fine, though unsealing a Book of Soldiers stirs a racket. Yueyue, guard me as I attempt it!"

Ye Mo requested.

"Got it, stay cautious!"

Xiao Yue agreed and exited the tent to stand watch over Ye Mo.

Ye Mo hurled the Book of Soldiers forth, channeling his heart force to unseal it fully in an instant.

At once, a mighty ethereal humanoid surged from the Book of Soldiers, its gaze blazing as it fixed on Ye Mo.

"Haha, you've got guts—a Third Transformation Wheel of Reincarnation martial artist releasing my soul outright! Sealed though I am in this Book of Soldiers, none below Divine Venerate Realm can free me without courting death. Behold me ripping your body apart, absorbing its essence to sustain my soul form longer!"

Across the expansive camp grounds, a frenzied bellow echoed, shaking the ambient space fiercely. The spectral form lunged, assailing Ye Mo.

Confronting the onrushing soul body, Ye Mo sneered back. His gaze blade-like, he declared, "Being dead, you ought to embrace oblivion. Without forging a new flesh, you'll fade regardless of your desperate hold on existence. Think my Wheel of Reincarnation Realm leaves me helpless against you?"

Ye Mo splayed his five fingers, invoking the Soul Collecting Technique. Clenching abruptly, the space quivered as if seizing an indomitable peak. The Divine Venerate Strong Practitioner instantly sensed a ferocious pull shredding its soul, spawning a vortex toward Ye Mo's palm.

"What technique is that? It targets soul bodies! No, I have to flee!"

The Divine Venerate Strong Practitioner's soul body quaked, radiating light in a bid to slip Ye Mo's hold.

"Pointless. My Soul Collecting Technique preys on soul bodies. Your vast soul will yield three soul essences for me."

Ye Mo bellowed. His Lu Xian arm quivered anew, palm thrusting savagely, warping the Divine Venerate Strong Practitioner's soul body further until it compacted into a sphere.

Ye Mo observed the spectral orb writhing futilely in his grip, unable to escape.

"Spare me!"

The Divine Venerate Strong Practitioner wailed desperately, yet Ye Mo remained unmoved, spinning the Soul Collecting Technique once more to pulverize its soul into abundant soul origin power. He compressed it straight into three soul essence drops, stowing them in the Lu Xian arm.

With the Divine Venerate Realm soul demolished, colossal energy erupted from the Book of Soldiers, cascading onto Ye Mo's head and making his frame crackle with intensity.

This surge embodied an ancient master's full cultivation, unleashed in one torrent. An ordinary martial artist would burst under its weight.

"Perfect—this power will propel me to Fourth Transformation of Wheel of Reincarnation and unlock Time Acceleration comprehension."

Ye Mo wasted no time, promptly devouring and refining the energy.

Breakthrough loomed with great promise.