Martial Master

"Ah!"

In an instant, a piercing scream resembling that of a wretched ghost echoed through the entire cave. The handsome ghost cultivator stared in terror at the scene before him, his heart was actually grasped by the Dark Moon Nether Maiden, pounding fiercely.

"Your Majesty the Empress, you..."

The handsome ghost cultivator's mind spun in confusion as the intense pain made him momentarily forget to think.

Why?

This was the only thought in his mind. Wasn't the Dark Moon Empress supposed to favor him? Why had she pulled out his heart?

Could this be a little peculiarity of the Dark Moon Empress before she got down to business?

At this moment, the handsome ghost cultivator's mind was still in a daze.

He didn't understand.

While he was in a daze, his entire life force was slowly dissipating, his will growing colder, as if he were slowly falling into an ice cellar.

What the Dark Moon Nether Maiden had ripped out, claiming it to be a heart, was actually the source of his being. Without his source, the power in his body was gradually flowing away. In no time, he would likely descend into decay, his physical body rotting.

"Your Majesty the Empress..."

He stared blankly at the Dark Moon Nether Maiden, his eyes filled with a dazed longing. The extreme pain made him desperately hope that she would return his source back to his body.

It wasn't just this handsome ghost cultivator; other ghost cultivators below were also in a daze at this moment.

Was this... perhaps the foreplay of the Dark Moon Empress before getting down to serious business?

But this foreplay was far too horrifying.

"Truly foolish!"

The Dark Moon Nether Maiden looked at the handsome ghost cultivator before her and the other ghost cultivators below who were as dazed as geese, a hint of cold mockery flickering in her eyes.

She had seen this kind of gaze too many times.

Almost every time a ghost cultivator was offering themselves up, after she took their source, they exhibited that kind of expression—a mix of horror, confusion, disbelief, and yet too frightened to resist. It was extremely pathetic.

"Poof!"

In front of everyone, the Dark Moon Nether Maiden curled her lips into a mocking smile, gently squeezed, and instantly, the source of that heart was crushed by her, transforming into endless pure rules of the Underworld, dissipating in the air.

"I..."

Only then did the handsome ghost cultivator realize what had happened. His source had actually been crushed?

Was he going to die?

The Dark Moon Nether Maiden wasn’t just playing with him; she truly intended to kill him?

"No!"

Boom!

Finally, the handsome ghost cultivator let out a terrified scream, and a soul shot up from his body, transforming into a streak of light as it rushed towards the void above the cave.

Run!

At this moment, there was only one thought in his mind: to escape this horrifying place.

However, the Dark Moon Nether Maiden looked at his soul soaring into the sky, showing no response. Her expression remained indifferent as she softly uttered, "Suppress!"

Buzz!

From above the cave, a strange restriction rose up, and with a rumbling sound, strands of black aura swept out, darting toward the handsome ghost cultivator’s soul, instantly wrapping it within.

Sizzle! Sizzle! Sizzle!

The intense corrosive power made the handsome ghost cultivator's soul dissolve in an instant. Pure soul power flowed into the surrounding restriction, strengthening the power of the pitch-black restriction.

"No! Your Majesty the Empress, please spare me!"

The handsome ghost cultivator let out a desperate and terrified scream, while the Dark Moon Nether Maiden remained expressionless, allowing the handsome ghost cultivator's soul to be obliterated in the midst of his cries, vanishing without a trace.

Buzz!

The pitch-black restriction above the cave trembled lightly, and a faint light emerged.

"Well, not bad." The Dark Moon Nether Maiden nodded. "This fellow’s cultivated path rules are quite rare, actually providing a threefold boost to this Refining Abyss Great Formation. Very impressive." A satisfied expression appeared on her face as she then glanced at the terrified crowd below, chuckling, "Everyone, didn’t you all say you would submit to this emperor? This emperor now needs you to offer your souls and sources. Are you willing?"