Chapter 1227 Mo Chen

Leaving Mo Chen's residence, Shangguan Mo follows clues from the diary to Akatsuki's secret soul-refining base—the "Death Desert" located on the border between the Land of Fire and the Land of Wind. The desert is thick with endless sand dunes, the scorching sun scorches the earth, and the air distorts into a mirage, making it difficult to discern direction.

"Thank goodness I have you." Shangguan Mo patted the Falling Star Scorpion. Its black iron shell could absorb the spiritual energy in the air, using energy fluctuations to determine direction. The Falling Star Scorpion headed deeper into the desert, its green chakra forming a guiding line ahead to prevent Shangguan Mo from getting lost.

After walking for about half a day, a massive black castle suddenly appeared ahead. Its walls were covered in red soul runes, glowing eerily in the sunlight. This was Akatsuki's secret base. The castle was surrounded by soul puppets, their bodies made of soul materials, their eyes gleaming red, and they held various soul weapons in their hands, looking extremely threatening.

"Looks like we'll have to force our way through." Shangguan Mo flung out the Soul Refining Rune, and the Meteoric Scorpion immediately launched its attack, its tail blasting meteorite fire towards the puppets. The green tailed beast chakra struck the puppets, instantly stiffening their bodies before they collapsed into a pile of shattered soul refining material. As Mo Chen's diary had recorded, the soul refining puppets were afraid of tailed beast chakra.

As the two advanced, the Starfall Black Scorpion's tailed beast chakra became its most effective weapon, rendering countless spirit-refining puppets vulnerable. Soon, they arrived at the castle's core hall. Within the spirit-refining formation at its center, three bound spirit-refining masters lay, their chakra being drained and injected into a massive spirit-refining puppet. Standing ten meters tall, this puppet was crafted from star-core black iron and other rare spirit-refining materials, its eyes gleaming with a golden light. It was clearly Akatsuki's ultimate weapon.

"Finally found you!" The voice of the Soul Refining Ghost came from above the hall. He stood on the high platform, holding the Soul Refining Staff in his hand. "Shangguan Mo, you've ruined my plan. Today, you and your spirit beast will become the nourishment of this 'Ultimate Soul Refining Puppet'!"

The Soul Refining Ghost swung the Soul Refining Staff, and the Ultimate Soul Refining Puppet suddenly moved, its massive fist smashing towards the Meteoric Scorpion. The Meteoric Scorpion blocked the fist with its pincers, but was sent flying by the immense force. A noticeable dent appeared on its iron shell, and a surge of green chakra instantly repaired the dent.

"This puppet is even harder than star-core black iron!" Shangguan Mo was shocked. He immediately recalled the secret technique of soul refining and fusion, and quickly formed seals with his hands, "Meteoric Black Scorpion, fusion!"

Green tailed beast chakra surged out from the body of the Falling Star Scorpion and wrapped around Shangguan Mo's body. The black iron shell gradually merged with him, forming a set of soul-refining armor with a green glow. The giant sickle of the scorpion's tail appeared in his hand, and a scarlet light lit up in his eye sockets - this was the soul-refining fusion form!

"What form is this?" The Refined Ghost's expression suddenly changed. The Ultimate Refined Ghost launched another attack, its massive sword slashing towards Shangguan Mo. Shangguan Mo swung his massive sickle, and the green tailed beast's chakra merged with the colorful Refined Ghost energy, forming a massive blade of light. The blade struck the puppet's blade, splitting it in half, and flew towards the Refined Ghost.

The Soul Refining Ghost tried to dodge, but was hit by the light blade, and his body was instantly devoured, leaving only a broken Soul Refining Staff. The Ultimate Soul Refining Puppet lost control, fell to the ground with a bang, and turned into a pile of broken Soul Refining Materials. Shangguan Mo released the combined form, and the Falling Star Scorpion reappeared.