The Nether Dragon Soul Headband was a sinister tool capable of mind control. The moment it was put on someone, escape was near impossible. Only when the gap between the soul power of the mind controller and the victim was too large that there was a chance for the victim to escape the headband's influence.
Xiang Shaoyun had decided to use the Nether Dragon Soul Headband for two reasons. Firstly, he wanted to test the strength of the Nether Dragon Soul Headband. Secondly, he wanted to see if he had sufficient soul power to control Long Hui, who was already in rather bad shape.
The Nether Dragon Soul Headband was a high-level equipment that ordinary equipment and weapons couldn't compare to. A proof of that was the sight of the Nether Dragon Soul Headband streaking unobstructed across the lava without suffering any damage whatsoever. In the blink of an eye, the headband arrived before Long Hui. There, it enlarged before wrapping itself around Long Hui's head.
In order to escape the destructiveness of the millennium earthcore fire, Long Hui was fully focused on fleeing. He had not expected to be attacked in this manner at all. Before he even understood what was going on, the headband was already snugly wrapped around his head.
"What is this? F*ck off!" Long Hui howled as he tried ripping the headband off.
Xiang Shaoyun quickly chanted the Nether Dragon Soul Curse mantra, sending numerous ancient symbols drifting forward to the Nether Dragon Soul Headband.
"Roar! Roar!"
The Nether Dragon Soul Headband had seemingly transformed into a devilish dragon that started wreaking havoc in Long Hui's mind. Thundering dragon roars sounded in his mind, putting him in intense pain.
"Ahhhh!"
The dreadful and devilish curse almost seemed like it was actually a dragon devouring the victim's soul. The process was excruciatingly painful, and Long Hui felt like his head had completely gone out of control; the throbbing pain gave him the sensation that his head was about to explode.
He resisted endlessly, but his physical body was being burned by the millennium earthcore fire at the same time. His king-grade armor was already on the verge of completely falling apart. With the two sources of suppression, escape was nearly impossible for Long Hui.
"Submit!" Xiang Shaoyun channeled his will into the Nether Dragon Soul Headband, forcing Long Hui to submit.
Long Hui was clear that if he dared to keep struggling, his soul would be completely destroyed. In any case, the pain his very soul was experiencing was too much for him to handle. Thus, he answered without the slightest hesitation, "I am willing to submit! I submit!"
The moment he agreed to submit, Xiang Shaoyun withdrew a large portion of the flame power assaulting Long Hui. He increased the speed in which he chanted the mantra, imprinting a brand in Long Hui's soul.
Long Hui was given no chance to resist. Everything proceeded smoothly, and before long, the Nether Dragon Soul Headband sank into Long Hui's head and encased itself around his soul.
The original Nether Dragon Soul Headband flew back into Xiang Shaoyun's head, leaving behind a duplicate around Long Hui's soul. This duplicate was actually a soul brand created by the headband, and it was also the brand Xiang Shaoyun would use to control Long Hui.
One could say that the brand was a seed of the Nether Dragon Soul Headband and that the actual Nether Dragon Soul Headband was something akin to a queen capable of exercising full control over its seed. This was the marvelous part of the Nether Dragon Soul Headband.
After completing the process, Xiang Shaoyun felt his soul power weaken considerably, to the point he felt slightly lightheaded. That was the side effect of soul power exhaustion. It proved that using the Nether Dragon Soul Curse wasn't easy after all.
"Luckily, it was a success." Xiang Shaoyun smiled smugly.
At present, a strand of Long Hui's soul brand had appeared in his head. This soul brand was under control of the Nether Dragon Soul Headband, and the moment he chanted the mantra of the curse, Long Hui would be tormented by an excruciating pain. Apart from that, if he erased this soul brand, the brand in Long Hui's soul would immediately explode, destroying Long Hui's soul.
This was a form of absolute control that nobody could hope to escape. Even after Xiang Shaoyun died, the disappearance of his soul power would also result in Long Hui dying together with him. The only way Long Hui could regain his freedom was by having Xiang Shaoyun personally remove the curse from him.
"Leave and make sure nobody approaches this place," Xiang Shaoyun issued his first command.
"Yes!" Long Hui was already fully under Xiang Shaoyun's control. He also knew what Xiang Shaoyun was capable of doing to him. Thus, he agreed without hesitation and flew away.
After Long Hui left, Xiang Shaoyun was still able to sense his soul undulations, giving him a clear picture of Long Hui's location at all times.
"What an exquisite curse," Xiang Shaoyun told himself gleefully.
In the future, he would have a King Realm guardian by his side. Things would be much safer for him, and the power under his control would also grow. This was an excellent start to the growth of his personal faction.
Xiang Shaoyun then started replenishing his soul power with the Nether Dragon Soul Curse. He would only leave after recovering to an optimum condition. At this time, Xiao Wenbo had already returned. When he saw the sorry look on Long Hui, he quickly asked, "Long Hui, what happened to you? You look terrible with all the burns on you."
Long Hui replied nonchalantly, "It's nothing. I tried searching under the lava and got myself in this sorry state."
"Haha, are you trying to get your hands on the millennium earthcore fire as well? Forget it. If the pavilion master found out, both of us will suffer," Xiao Wenbo said with a smile.
"Of course not." Long Hui refused to admit the truth. He paused for a bit before asking, "So is the millennium earthcore fire over there fake?"
"It's most likely a strand of the millennium earthcore fire's flame instead of its actual body," Xiao Wenbo said.
"Um. Let's continue guarding out there then. Let the kids continue what they're doing," Long Hui said.
"How about what's down there?" Xiao Wenbo pointed at the lava pool and asked.
"There's nothing there. Come on, let's go," Long Hui said and left.
Xiao Wenbo was still feeling doubtful, but he did not push further. He did not cultivate the power of flame anyway. Any secret the place had would have nothing to do with him. Furthermore, he was not as strong as Long Hui. It would be better for him to obey.
After Xiang Shaoyun recovered, he peeked out from the lava again.
"Time to leave. Staying will only cause more problems," Xiang Shaoyun muttered to himself before quickly climbing out of the lava. Without the two Kings, he was able to easily reach the edge of the crater. When he appeared, the flame beasts noticed him and immediately wanted to attack.
Xiang Shaoyun allowed some of Yun Flame's power to leak, and he bellowed, "Scram!"
When the flame beasts sensed Yun Flame's power, they instantly became deferential and retreated from Xiang Shaoyun. After extending his senses to his surroundings to ensure there was nobody around, he left. As he traveled, he ripped the human skin from his face.
"A lot of people saw me drop into the lava. If I show myself with that face, they will be able to guess that I have obtained the millennium earthcore fire. It is time to return to my real face," Xiang Shaoyun muttered to himself.