Trapped in the Eight Spirit Generals Array

Evan Yang saw General Skybreaker's aura changing—his body grew slightly, faint purple light radiated from him, and his eyes turned red as he glared at Evan Yang. "You've enraged me. You're dead."

General Skybreaker reached out his right hand, conjuring a vortex—not large, but even from across the room, Evan Yang could sense its effect on his soul.

General Skybreaker shouted, and a vortex formed on his fist, rapidly rolling toward Evan Yang. Evan stepped back, then leapt up, his right hand infused with Chaos Soul-Power, striking directly at General Skybreaker.

When Evan Yang dodged and counterattacked, General Skybreaker quickly retreated, spreading his hands to gather vortices, which rolled toward Evan Yang.

The vortex attack came—Evan Yang had nowhere to retreat. He spread his hands, gathering a surge of Chaos Soul-Power to block the vortex. After being knocked back, he landed atop a roof and calmly said, "Your vortex is impressive, but it's useless against me."

"You came out unscathed? Impossible! Your soul isn't strong enough to withstand my attack without consequence," General Skybreaker said, clearly in disbelief.

Evan Yang smirked. "That's just how it is. If you don't believe me, try again."

Seeing Evan Yang was stalling for time, General Skybreaker immediately ordered, "Kyle Cai, go post guards around the manor. I'll handle things here." Kyle Cai snapped to attention, "Yes, sir!" and hurried off.

Evan Yang, realizing General Skybreaker had caught on, tried to intercept Kyle Cai with a flash, but General Skybreaker blocked him, reaching out to attack. Evan Yang dodged aside and eyed his opponent warily.

"You think I'm stupid? You're not using your full strength," General Skybreaker sneered, sensing Evan Yang's fluctuating power.

"So what? Enough time has passed—your order is too late now," Evan Yang said with a smile.

"If they escape, you won't fare much better," General Skybreaker shouted angrily. Evan Yang replied, "I can still leave safely."

"Dream on! You really think you can come and go as you please here? Kid, you clearly don't understand me. Today I'll show you my trump card," General Skybreaker sneered at Evan Yang.

Curious what General Skybreaker would do next, Evan Yang watched as he pointed to several spots around them. At each, a stone statue appeared—eight in total, encircling the area.

Evan Yang saw each of the eight statues emit a stream of power, forming a ring that locked him at the center. Pale yellow energy drifted from General Skybreaker's hands toward the statues.

Realizing he was trapped, Evan Yang began gathering power to break out and counterattack.

Meanwhile, Gavin White had already led the crowd through the blockade, freeing many more captives. Under her command, thousands of souls surged forward, turning General Skybreaker's manor into utter chaos.

An enraged Kyle Cai blocked Gavin White and Damien Sword, who were about to continue wrecking things.

"Don't even think about leaving!" Kyle Cai shouted, seeing many had escaped but these two were still causing trouble with a group.

"It's you?" Gavin White smiled when she realized it was the person who had originally brought her here.

"I can't believe it's you two causing trouble! Who are you, and who's that man with you?" Kyle Cai shouted angrily at Gavin White.

"Who we are doesn't matter. What matters is teaching a lesson to an accomplice like you today," Gavin White snorted. The group immediately clashed with Kyle Cai and his men.

Seeing yellow light flare in the distant sky, Kyle Cai laughed, "You're doomed! General Skybreaker has activated the Eight Spirit Generals Array. Once he's free, you're all dead!"

Gavin White ignored the Eight Spirit Generals Array and kept fighting, but Damien Sword was alarmed. He hurried to Gavin White and said, "We have to leave—get outside, or everyone will be in danger soon."

"What's going on?" Gavin White asked, seeing Damien so anxious.

"The Eight Spirit Generals Array is extremely powerful—it's definitely aimed at Evan Yang. Once General Skybreaker is free, he'll come after us," Damien Sword explained.

Gavin White was shocked. "What about Evan Yang? Will he be in danger?"

"I don't know," Damien admitted. He wasn't sure of the array's full power, but his instincts screamed danger.

Seeing Damien's expression, Gavin White began to worry about Evan Yang. But Evan Yang had instructed her: no matter what happened, she must prioritize escape—he'd find a way out and meet up later. Now, his warning was coming true.

"Retreat," Gavin White said through gritted teeth, leading everyone out of the manor. Naturally, Kyle Cai moved to intercept them with his men.

As they ran and were pursued, Gavin White said to Damien Sword, "Everyone split up—scatter their strength."

Damien Sword nodded and told those with him, "Everyone, split up and leave separately."

The group scattered, and Gavin White said to Damien, "Until we meet again."

"Right," Damien Sword nodded, then left. Gavin White also departed. Outside the manor, those who had already escaped returned to their own places and hid, while Gavin White found a spot to hide as well.

Kyle Cai reached the manor's outskirts, saw souls everywhere, and didn't know whom to chase. Furious, he shouted, "Damn it, damn it, I'll kill you all!"

Just then, General Skybreaker's powerful aura arrived behind him. "What's happened? Did they all escape?"

"Yes, they've all escaped," Kyle Cai said worriedly, head lowered.

General Skybreaker was furious. "Useless! You've grown complacent in the manor, and now you can't even stop a few souls."

Kyle Cai replied, "There were too many of them. We—"

"Too many? What, that's a lot? If it were tens of thousands, would my manor be overrun?" General Skybreaker snapped.

Kyle Cai fell silent. General Skybreaker barked, "Everyone, gather before the Eight Spirit Generals Array—no delays!"

The guards rushed to assemble, hundreds gathering before the eight statues. General Skybreaker ordered, "Inject your Soul-Power into the statues every hour. I want to see how long he can last."

Kyle Cai and the others answered, "Yes, sir!"

"Kyle Cai, I'll leave this to you. I'm going to check on the Master Soul Summoner," General Skybreaker said, still stewing about Evan Yang's soul-sealing trick.

General Skybreaker found the Master Soul Summoner, who was still frozen, unable to move or resist. Furious, he said, "Damn it, what did that guy do to leave you like this?"

General Skybreaker brought the Master Soul Summoner to the Eight Spirit Generals Array. Meanwhile, Evan Yang continued to resist the statues' attacks; with the constant infusion of power, they remained strong.

"Kid, I'll give you a chance. Tell me how to wake the Master Soul Summoner, and I'll let you go," General Skybreaker said.

Evan Yang knew Skybreaker was trying to exhaust his power, but he wouldn't give in. He smiled, "You want me to wake him? Dream on. Someone like him only brings harm to others."

"Are you really that stubborn, kid? That's not a good idea. Besides, we don't have any real grudge, do we?" General Skybreaker tried to persuade him.

"A grudge? True, we don't. But your soul-refining business is hardly honorable. If I spread the word, who knows if your manor will survive?" Evan Yang said with a smile.

"You—" General Skybreaker glared at Evan Yang, itching to kill him on the spot.

Evan Yang just smiled. "What, are you scared? My people should be long gone by now. Maybe your little secret will get out soon. Who knows how lively things will get here? And will Spirit King Hanlin just sit back and watch?"

Hearing this, General Skybreaker finally lost it. "You're truly incorrigible! Fine, I'll destroy you—no one will ever know. Even if those people escaped, without evidence they can't do anything to me."

"I've been waiting for you to try," Evan Yang said with a smile.

"We'll see how long you can last!" General Skybreaker snorted, leaving his men to inject power into the statues every hour, then taking the Master Soul Summoner and departing.

In the city, Gavin White waited anxiously for word from Evan Yang. With no news for half a day, she worried, "What if something's happened to him?"

The more she thought, the more uneasy she became. Several times she almost snuck back, but remembering Evan Yang's words, she forced herself to stay. Still, every moment felt like an eternity.

"Evan Yang, please be safe. Otherwise, your child will have no father..." Gavin White sighed, thinking of the baby she carried.

General Skybreaker brought the Master Soul Summoner to a tall mountain—so high only those who could fly could reach the summit, where several thatched huts stood.

Landing before the huts, General Skybreaker called respectfully, "Are the three seniors here?"

"Who is it?" someone asked, emerging from a hut and looking at General Skybreaker. He replied, "You must be Master Skybrow?"

This man had a striking bright mark on his brow—everyone called him Master Skybrow.

"That's right. You actually recognize me? You must be here for our help—so, what do you need?" Master Skybrow asked.

"You really are straightforward, Master Skybrow. Actually, I want your help to wake him up," General Skybreaker said, pointing at the Master Soul Summoner.

Master Skybrow didn't even look at the Master Soul Summoner, just said, "We charge for our services—and not in Soul Coins. If we want something, you have to pay with that, or we won't help."