Chapter 609: Why the Hurry to Destroy Each Other

"Brother, what are you doing? You attacked me!"

"Forgive me, brother. This battle presents an unprecedented challenge. If we don't utilize every resource at our disposal with maximum efficiency, victory will be impossible. I will preserve a trace of your soul. We *will* win, and I promise to help you restore your essence!"

The First Elder grandiosely justified his actions, but showed no mercy as he devoured the Second Elder. In short order, the Second Elder was reduced to skin and bones, his eyes deeply sunken, and his once vibrant life force nearly half depleted.

In stark contrast, the First Elder, having absorbed this life force, underwent a profound transformation in his vital signs, appearing remarkably rejuvenated, with the vigor of youth despite his age.

"My god, he's showing signs of rejuvenation! Could he be nearing the true limits of a mortal body?"

"Hahaha! Excellent, brother, you've finally succeeded in reaching the peak of a mortal body's potential! Don't forget, half the credit for your success belongs to me!"

The First Elder glanced at his newly youthful skin, and his expression abruptly darkened.

"As an elder, you should know this truth best: Evil Spirit Canyon has no use for the weak. Even if you hold a high position, the moment you lose your utility, you become nothing more than sustenance."

The First Elder's words were clearly meant only for the Second Elder. No one else nearby could discern what was truly happening within the mist, yet the immensely powerful Xu Yang found himself the sole witness to this unfolding scene.

"It's true what they say: your so-called camaraderie only persisted because the lure of personal gain wasn't strong enough. The moment you have the chance to consume another, such bonds truly become worthless."

The First Elder looked at Xu Yang with a half-smile, seemingly offering no rebuttal to his words.

"The strong prey on the weak, survival of the fittest – this is an eternal, unchanging truth of the world. If you don't subscribe to this philosophy, then how did you manage to reach your current position, step by step? Don't stand there feigning moral superiority."

Xu Yang merely offered a cold smile. "However flawed humanity may be, it's rare to find those who would betray their own brethren for personal gain. The five of you should have stood united against your common foe; that was your only true path to victory. Now that you've sealed your own fate, you have no one but yourself to blame."

Xu Yang had no desire to waste another word on the figure before him. His sole aim was to utterly destroy this treacherous, self-serving old man on the spot!

Simultaneously, the First Elder had completely drained the Second Elder – who had been his companion for untold years – until he was a mere skeleton. With a final blow, he struck the skeletal remains, reducing them to dust.

Having consumed all the life essence from the Second Elder's body, the First Elder now looked completely rejuvenated, like his younger self. Aside from his facial hair, his entire demeanor, and his eyes, which now gleamed with radiant vitality, perfectly conveyed his newfound vigor, a stark contrast to his previous withered appearance.

"Thank you for your contribution, young one. As a token of my appreciation, I'll grant you a swift end. However, I must avenge my second brother's death at your hands."

A sinister smile slowly spread across the First Elder's face. He had clearly resolved to pin the Second Elder's demise on Xu Yang.

However, none of this mattered to Xu Yang. The only thing he sought was victory in this confrontation, for only the victor would wield power and control.

"Now, I'll show you the true power of the Malevolent Spirit lineage!"

"Dominate Fear!"

As the First Elder's cry resonated, vast expanses of black, ominous clouds swiftly gathered above him, coalescing in a matter of moments into a colossal, terrifying black skull totem.

All life energy fluctuations in the vicinity transformed into dark ripples. Simultaneously, Xu Yang's soul world, now dominated by this oppressive fear, was rapidly corrupted, causing everything he saw to plunge into a despair-inducing darkness.

"So that's it. This is a formidable method for destroying souls. The First Elder's primary advantage, naturally, lies in his mastery over spiritual energy! Fortunately, I was prepared; otherwise, if he had truly invaded my soul, I doubt I would have had any chance of recovery."

Confronted with this situation, even Xu Yang, strong as he was, couldn't help but feel a shiver of dread. After all, the soul is the absolute core of one's being; if even the soul realm were corrupted, there would be no possibility of returning to peak strength, and survival itself would become questionable.

Fortunately, Xu Yang was unique; his soul realm possessed a distinct color. Sensing this energy surge through his soul, he instantly closed his eyes, frantically drawing upon all available reserves within his soul realm. A powerful soul light erupted, and at the same moment, the Angel's Heart was fully activated. Without warning, two incredibly pure angelic wings materialized behind Xu Yang.

This manifestation of power was utterly unprecedented! Even Xu Yang himself hadn't realized the profound purity of the essence contained within the Angel's Heart; he simply hadn't known how to harness such angelic power.

Yet, this time, as Xu Yang's soul realm was being corrupted by the invading force, the Angel's Heart spontaneously unleashed immense power, perfectly purifying the encroaching darkness into oblivion.

"What?! How is this possible?"

The First Elder was utterly dumbfounded. He had never in his wildest dreams imagined that this incredibly potent human expert, who commanded both the Sea God's domain and the laws of the earth, would also manifest the inherited power of the Angel lineage!

"Are you some kind of glitch? To possess so many divine, heaven-defying legacies condensed within one body!"

The First Elder's expression at that moment was comical, a look of utter disbelief, as if he'd just swallowed something foul, as he stared incredulously at Xu Yang.

The two angelic wings behind Xu Yang weren't fully materialized, but they were more than enough to purify the First Elder's spiritual energy.

"Honestly, your technique has served as a valuable reminder. Should I face Zi Kuang in a future showdown, there's a real chance he could exploit my soul. Thanks to your little demonstration, I'm now better prepared."

"You scoundrel! Today, it's either your life or mine!"

The First Elder had poured almost all his strength into that soul attack, only for it to completely miss. How could he not be enraged? Moreover, seeing Xu Yang's calm, almost condescending expression pushed him completely over the edge.

"Demonic Frenzy Devour!"