"The Soul Suppressing Ladder... how did it become like this?"
Ye Ling looked at the golden ladder, stained by dark power, and his first reaction was disbelief!
What kind of divine artifact was the Soul Suppressing Ladder, and how could it be so easily corrupted by dark power?
However, just as Ye Ling was about to step forward to investigate, a large amount of black energy surged from the ladder, immediately forming a demonic face!
"This is!!!"
Seeing the demonic face, Ye Ling's heart tightened. He immediately recited incantations in his mind, ready to fight at any moment.
He was currently in his own consciousness space, unable to use his spiritual or soul power. The only thing he could wield was the power of runes. If this demonic face was the consciousness of the dark power, Ye Ling estimated he would be in for a tough fight.
But, this was also an opportunity for Ye Ling.
If the consciousness of the dark power remained hidden within him, he would be helpless against it.
However, now that the consciousness of the dark power had revealed itself, he could take this chance to settle things with the dark power and expel all the dark power from his body!
The demonic face stared at Ye Ling with a grin, mocking him, "Ye Ling, I didn't expect you to dare to enter your own consciousness space. Once I kill you, your body will be completely mine!"
Ye Ling condensed a long sword with runes and smiled at the demonic face, "What a coincidence, that's exactly what I was thinking. I'm quite grateful that you've come out to die!"
"Hahaha! Ye Ling, you're still so naive! Die for me!"
The demonic face laughed heartily, opening its monstrous maw and lunging at Ye Ling.
Ye Ling's consciousness space began to distort!
"This guy can distort my consciousness space?"
Seeing the power unleashed by the demonic face, a hint of solemnity flashed in Ye Ling's eyes. He instantly understood how strong this dark power was!
"Take my sword!"
Ye Ling dared not be careless. He immediately swung his rune sword with all his might!
Golden sword energy directly cleaved the demonic face. Ye Ling quickly pinpointed the core of the demonic face and lunged towards it!
"Hahaha! Useless!"
The demonic face laughed. The face that Ye Ling had split apart healed rapidly, and a large amount of black energy surged from its mouth, flowing towards Ye Ling, attempting to completely devour his consciousness!
"Ye Ling, hurry and escape! Let me see your pathetic state!"
The demonic face mocked. It expected Ye Ling to dodge the attack, but to its surprise, Ye Ling, upon seeing the black energy surge, not only did not retreat but instead condensed a rune barrier around his entire body with runes, and then charged directly into the black energy!
For the past three months, Ye Ling had been dealing with the dark power almost daily. Although he was temporarily unable to do anything about it, he had managed to analyze some of its properties, and thus was not at a disadvantage when clashing with it.
Since he had locked onto the core of the demonic face, he naturally intended to press his advantage and strike a decisive blow!
The demonic face clearly did not expect Ye Ling to charge directly into the dark power. Before it could react, Ye Ling had already penetrated its interior, heading for the demonic face's core!
The demonic face instantly panicked and quickly surrendered, "W-wait a moment! I surrender, stop!"
Ye Ling, who had grasped the core of the demonic face and was about to destroy it, was stunned upon hearing the demonic face's capitulation, "You're this cowardly?"
Although destroying the core would significantly weaken the demonic face, Ye Ling knew how much dark power resided within him. Even using that power alone would put Ye Ling in a difficult fight.
For Ye Ling, destroying the core was just the beginning of the battle.
But now, the demonic face's instant surrender was completely beyond Ye Ling's expectations.
Ye Ling could not imagine that something like this had corrupted the Soul Suppressing Ladder!
The demonic face quickly transformed into a ball of black fire, appearing in Ye Ling's palm, and said rapidly, "Kid! It's me, the World Annihilation Spirit Fire!"
"World Annihilation Spirit Fire?"
Ye Ling looked at the World Annihilation Spirit Fire floating in his palm, a hint of doubt flickering in his eyes. He questioned, "Do you think this will fool me?"
Fearing that Ye Ling would crush it, the World Annihilation Spirit Fire quickly said, "Don't be rash! It really is me! I was just playing a joke on you earlier, simply wanting to see what your current strength is like!"
"I'm really not the evil consciousness that's been corrupting your body!"
Ye Ling still didn't believe the World Annihilation Spirit Fire. He asked again, "If that's the case, then I'll ask you a few questions and see if you can answer them!"
The World Annihilation Spirit Fire confidently replied, "Ask away! I promise to answer them all!"
Ye Ling asked, "Alright, whose name do I often use when I venture out?"
The World Annihilation Spirit Fire answered without hesitation, "Wang Li Ren!"
Ye Ling then asked, "How would you rate your performance since you've been by my side?"
The World Annihilation Spirit Fire: "Of course, I'm your greatest asset, the best teammate in the world, saving your life countless times!"
Ye Ling's mouth twitched. He then asked, "Last question, how many times have you tricked me?"
The World Annihilation Spirit Fire blinked and retorted, "I tricked you?"
"Alright, I admit you are the World Annihilation Spirit Fire," Ye Ling said with a light laugh, releasing the World Annihilation Spirit Fire.
In fact, the first question was asked casually by Ye Ling. After all, that dark consciousness also existed in Ye Ling's consciousness space and knew everything Ye Ling had experienced.
However, for the latter two questions, only the true World Annihilation Spirit Fire would have the audacity to lie so brazenly. The consciousness of the dark power would most likely have answered truthfully.
After releasing the World Annihilation Spirit Fire, Ye Ling examined it closely again and asked, "I said you survived that explosion, why didn't you report back to me immediately, but instead hid in my consciousness space?"
The World Annihilation Spirit Fire nonchalantly replied, "Hmph! I'm so busy, how could I have the time to bother with a little brat like you?"
Ye Ling grabbed the World Annihilation Spirit Fire again, narrowing his eyes, "I'll give you one chance to rephrase that."
The World Annihilation Spirit Fire immediately cowered and hastily said, "Actually, after I self-destructed, my consciousness was saved by the Soul Suppressing Ladder. During this time, I have been undergoing the ladder trial and purifying my soul."
Hearing this answer from the World Annihilation Spirit Fire, a hint of surprise flashed in Ye Ling's eyes. He then looked at the Soul Suppressing Ladder behind him, which had been corrupted by dark power, and asked the World Annihilation Spirit Fire, "Meaning, the Soul Suppressing Ladder became like this because of you?"
The World Annihilation Spirit Fire defended itself, "How can you say it was me? I was just undergoing the trial normally. As for the spots on the Soul Suppressing Ladder, they are merely the ladder voluntarily absorbing the dark power from me..."
"You scoundrel..."
Ye Ling suddenly felt speechless. He had thought the Soul Suppressing Ladder had been corrupted by dark power, but in the end, it turned out to be the World Annihilation Spirit Fire's doing!
The World Annihilation Spirit Fire also seemed embarrassed about causing the Soul Suppressing Ladder to become like this. It said to Ye Ling, "Don't worry, this isn't entirely a bad thing. Thanks to the Soul Suppressing Ladder, I've completely escaped the control of the Upper Realm Lord. From now on, I won't have those seven-star pillar-like abominations popping out of me."
"And besides..." The World Annihilation Spirit Fire looked at Ye Ling and said carelessly, "Since you're already infected by the dark power, as the saying goes, more lice means no itching, more debts mean no worries. Why don't you just absorb all the dark power on the Soul Suppressing Ladder and go all out! This way, by sacrificing only you, both I and the Soul Suppressing Ladder will be happy!"
Ye Ling's face immediately darkened, and he said irritably, "I thank you!"