Mutation and regeneration!

Buzz—!

A deep, resonant sound, seemingly echoing deep within the soul, exploded without warning!

In front of the three attacks, the air seemed to suddenly turn into some kind of incredibly tough, transparent gel, and a circle of complex, pale golden ripples, visible to the naked eye, spread out!

The pattern was composed of countless fine and ancient runes, and it vanished in a flash!

*Sizzle!*

The icy blue sword energy struck it, like a red-hot iron being plunged into icy water, emitting a sharp screech before instantly shattering into countless ice crystals that vanished without a trace!

Bang!

The fierce black flame struck the ripple as if it had hit an invisible copper wall, and a small portion of it bounced back, startling Ye Meier so much that she shrank back. The remaining energy was silently absorbed and annihilated by the ripple!

The excruciating pain Zhang Shaozhong had anticipated did not come. Instead, he felt a gentle yet irresistible force push him slightly, straightening his previously disheveled rolling position and causing him to sit on the ground unharmed.

"?!"

All three parties involved were stunned!

Ling Qingxue maintained her posture of pointing her fingers as if to stab, the cold killing intent in her beautiful eyes had not yet faded, but it had been replaced by deep surprise and doubt.

She felt as if her sword energy had vanished into thin air, instantly disintegrated by a higher and more tyrannical force, and even... a trace of it had backfired on her?

Ye Meier had a similar expression. The remaining black flame in her palm hissed and went out. She stared in astonishment as her attack was easily blocked and deflected, and a strange sense of unease arose in her heart.

Zhang Shaozhong sat on the ground, dumbfounded, touching his unharmed chest and back. He then looked at the two big shots opposite him who had suddenly stopped fighting and whose expressions were changing. He was a little confused.

What's going on?

Has their conscience finally awakened?

That's impossible!

Before he could figure it out—

"Well!"

"snort!"

"Ouch!"

The three of them groaned almost simultaneously!

A sharp, needle-like pain, originating from the deepest part of my soul, suddenly struck!

It wasn't strong, but it carried an indescribable, condescending warning!

It was as if a pair of cold eyes opened deep within their consciousness, glancing at them indifferently with unquestionable authority!

Along with this stinging pain on the soul level, the pitiful amount of power that they had just gathered within their bodies instantly dissipated!

It felt like my meridians were being violently rubbed by tiny electric currents, leaving me feeling sore and numb, and I couldn't muster any strength at all!

Ling Qingxue's delicate body trembled, her face paled, and the backlash from forcibly channeling her energy made her throat taste sweet, almost spitting out a mouthful of blood, but she swallowed it back down, her eyes filled with disbelief.

Ye Meier was in a similar situation. She clutched her chest and staggered, her blood and qi churning inside her. The backlash made her feel as if her internal organs were out of place. She looked at Ling Qingxue with suspicion, and then at Zhang Shaozhong.

Zhang Shaozhong suffered the most; he had no foundation to begin with, so this backlash was particularly noticeable to him.

He grimaced in pain, feeling his head buzzing. The warm current he had felt earlier instantly retreated deep into his lower abdomen, and he didn't dare utter a sound.

An eerie silence descended upon the cave.

The scene of fierce fighting and flying sword energy and flames just moments ago has completely disappeared.

The three people stared at each other, their faces filled with surprise, anger, embarrassment, and a hint of... indescribable bewilderment and horror.

"What...what's going on?!"

Ye Meier was the first to lose her temper, her voice filled with shock, anger, and unease.

"Who's playing tricks?! Get out here!" She tried to gather demonic flames again, but found her body empty. Moreover, the thought of attacking brought back the needle-like warning pain deep in her soul, causing her to subconsciously dissipate her power.

Ling Qingxue didn't speak, but her cold gaze swept around, and her jade-like hands trembled slightly.

She felt it more deeply than Ye Meier; the force that stopped them, the warning at the soul level, carried the meaning of an ancient, vast, and inviolable law!

This is definitely not some man-made formation or magic weapon!

Zhang Shaozhong rubbed his aching temples, his face contorted in a mournful expression, when suddenly, as if struck by a flash of inspiration, he recalled the last scene before he lost consciousness yesterday!

That enormous energy vortex, and that forcibly imprinted... ghost contract!

"Could it be...that..."

He spoke haltingly, his voice dry.

"Was it that...contract from yesterday that caused this trouble?"

Upon hearing this, Ling Qingxue and Ye Meier's gazes instantly focused on him, like four icy blades and fiery swords!

"A contract? What contract?!"

Ling Qingxue's voice was so cold it could shatter ice. She only remembered the chaos and despair she felt before losing consciousness and had no idea what happened afterward.

Ye Meier's eyes were also wide open with allure:

"Kid! Explain yourself! What kind of contract is this?!"

Zhang Shaozhong felt his scalp tingle from their stares and shrank back.

I forced myself to recount the rune phantoms I saw yesterday, the energy vortex pouring into my body, and the feeling of being forcibly branded. Although I spoke haltingly, I managed to get all the key information out.

"...I...I feel like that thing is branded into my soul..."

Zhang Shaozhong added at the end, looking utterly dejected.

Upon hearing this, Ling Qingxue and Ye Meier's expressions instantly turned extremely ugly!

They immediately calmed their minds and carefully sensed themselves.

really!

Deep within the very origin of the soul lies an extremely complex, faintly visible ancient rune mark!

It kept spinning, radiating a faint yet undeniable power of law, subtly connecting the three of their souls in an extremely awkward yet inescapable way!

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