As the battle continue, Secondth Palace Lord looked more grimmer as time passes by. Not even once did he get the upper hand in their exchange.

In the first place, humans are known to be on a weak side on the same level compare to most of the races known like Beast Race, and that also includes the Elf Race. Although Elf Race almost don't have an advantage when it comes to their physical body, they were still talented to many aspects, which includes archery and wood magic. Forest are also their natural domain.

This is also why despite being outnumbered, Cole's side was yet to fall. Even the wolves seems to receive some kind of buff inside the forest.

The battle between the others are on stalemate. Despite the unusual elf who wields a giant hammer continuously receiving damage, he has yet to fall as one of the elf at the distance who holds a staff, sends a green aura to him which heals him almost instantly.

They can't defeat one another.

The battle between the beast tamers are also on stalemate. The kid's beast are quite special, despite being on weaker side, they could actually stop the other side. What more, it was not just one but two beast tamer with their three tamed beast each.

If the flow of the battle continue, it was not without a doubt that they'll be defeated sooner or later. They were gradually weakening. As they were at the enemies territory, he can't just summon another allies. Meanwhile, the others could anytime.

He have to think how to break this flow and make it tilt into his side.

Secondth Palace Lord raise his equipment and fan at the Elven Matriarch's position, hoping that it will provide some desirable effect.

"Don't waste your effort. Your evil technique might be powerful, but it won't have any effect to elves." Elven Matriarch said while she dodge the attack and shot her own.

After some time of their confrontation, Mayana already guess the effect of the fan equipment her opponent hold, which is really evil if she say so herself.

It could actually incite one's lust to extreme! What an evil attack! Not to say shameless!!

Think about it, how could someone battle someone to their best capability while they were sexually bothered? So evil!!

Fortunately, this technique was produced like it was a poison, which where elves are quite resistant.

"Argh!" With his last attack, his defense fall for a second which was exploited by the sharped eye elf. His shoulder was grazed by her quick arrows.

Secondth Palace Lord took out a recovery pill and ingest it. He's already on a disadvantage, he can't afford to lower his abilities further just because of a wound.

His heart aches, he, and perhaps the whole powerhouse who's included in the operation, have truly miscalculated this time. They thought that with the elves' weakening Tree of Life, in addition to the very poor environment of Dark Forest, their operation will be very easy.

But who would've thought that not only the Dark Forest was actually a very rich location, the elves was also a force to be reckon with eventhough with their current predicament. Not to say the hateful human who foiled their plan!

He can't help but glare for a second to Cole's location, specifically Celia. If the Red Skull Bandit group was not eliminated, even if they can't defeat the elves, they shouldn't have a trouble escaping.

But not only their advantages was eliminated, there's even a strange beast that could block teleportation!

Suddenly, a realization dawn on him; that turtle beast was definitely a Space affinity beast! What else could block and control the surrounding Space in the specific area?

He can't help but steal a glance to the turtle beast that was currently pasted on the book equipment with a greed in his eyes. That one was truly a very tempting, even for them who's not a beast tamer!

Suddenly, while he was looking at their location, a strange scene appear; a small circular passage was created and there's a number of elves on the other side, and most of them wields a bow and an arrow.

The Secondth Palace Lord's face instantly paled.

∞

"[Poisonous Rain]!" The first beast tamer who looks a middle-aged man, which Cole decided to call as Uno, shouted.

"Roar!" Then the lion who have a mane made of mist poisons, which do really look like a cloud, riase its head and cry loudly while facing the sky.

The cloud mane of the lion beast gradually thin out while an ominous green cloud appear at the sky, targeted specifically to Cole's location. Soon, a poisonous rain started to pour towards them.

Cole frowned. Not because of the poisonous rain but because the summoned tamed beast of the other side appears ...unusual. They seemed to be moving mechanically, which is very odd since he could clearly feel a powerful blood and life energy, signifying that it was clearly much alive. If he didn't know any better, he'll really think that it were a group of puppet than beast.

Suddenly, he remember that the first time he introduced his self as a beast tamer to Bell in their first meeting, she seems to be very afraid.

Bell should have some kind of information about this Beast Tamer Sect which a wild Elemental Spirit like her dreads about.

And so he asked her in their [Soul Link], not even affecting their current action;

"Do you know about them, Bell? This so called Beast Tamer Sect?"

A illusionary bell was summoned by her out of the void. The bell sway with quick interval which makes the two beast tamer at the back clutch their head,

Offense [Multi-Bell]!

"I encounter them once in my location before. As you know, we Elementals are also a part of Spirit Race. Beside being very gifted with the element we are born to, we are also innately talented and sensitive when it comes to creatures soul." She paused,

"And just like what I encounter before," she pointed at the beast of the other side, "this creatures soul too was all sealed."

Cole jolted, "Sealed?" he wonder. Can a soul can be sealed? Specially inside your own body?

"Do you know why I've got really afraid of you when you introduced yourself as a beast tamer when we first met? It was also because of that suppressed soul." She paused.

"Elementals are born with no physical body, instead, we are born with special body made up of rich specific Heaven and Earth energy. What makes our body whole and didn't dissipate was because of our soul. If our soul got sealed, there's a very high chance that our 'body' will disintegrate and dissipate into the air. If that happens, even if we a managed to survived that damage, our hard earned cultivation will start back to the scratch."

Cole frown deeply after he heard Bell's recollection.

And since he considered himself as an somehow expert with soul, he tried to feel the Ten-Meter Muscled Python that was near him.

This kind of beast are known for their strong body and their main technique is constricting victim to their death, just like a normal python at planet Earth.

However, in this battle, this beast was very restricted and have yet to show what its capable of. It was because Cole and his beasts and spirits, including Grand Elder Sakura, are inside and protected by [Summoning Grimoire]'s [Protect] skill. It was only used as meat shield by the other side to stop Caol's fire breaths attack.

Also, as if living up to their name as though they were mechanical lifeforms, the beast of the other side continue to battle in their top capabilities eventhough they were riddled with wounds and damages. It was as though those beast didn't feel any pain.

Soon, he finished on scanning this phyton beast.

You have acquired the special skill, [Divine Sense].

Despite seeing that sudden notification, Cole still look at the beast puzzledly.

It was because when he's scanning this beast, he don't feel its soul unique presence, instead, what he felt is the presence of its supposed to be beast tamer.

"If what I'm seeing is right, that certain technique is Spirit Race, Soul Clan unique technique, [Soul Sealing] and [Soul Puppetry]." A voice reverberated inside his head. It was the Artifact Spirit of [Purifying Evil Radiance Orb].

Cole jolted as he remember that he have something or someone ancient inside his Sea of Consciousness.

"What is that two unique technique, Mr. Artifact Spirit?" He asked.

Inside his Sea of Consciousness, the orb inside flash a blinding light and a monk sitting in lotus position appear.

"Just call me by my common name given to me by my previous master, Baldy." Then its bald, monk head release a shining light.

"..." Cole was a little speechless. He then remember the term he usually use to amuse himself about bald heads; 'roll on'. Like a deodorant.

He shake his head, intending to remove the unwanted thought. But a smile was now plastered on his face.

"Soul Clan was a very powerful member of Spirit Race. Just like their clan name, Soul Clan is an expert of soul techniques. Among those famed hidden technique is the [Soul Sealing] and [Soul Puppetry]."

"Just like a normal Spirit Race, Soul Clan are creatures made of powerful soul but with no physical vessel. However, this Soul Clan was a very special Spirit Race as compare to others, no matter what level they reach, they can't make a physical vessel. For instance, Elemental Clan have the ability to create crystallized body when they reach Tier-3 and could even make a physical body when they reach Tier-7. Soul Race, on the other hand, can't make all of this. They always remain in their natural form, a wisp. No matter how strong they are, there were many things that soul body can't do."

"And so, to overcome this weakness, they make that two special technique. First, they will seal the body's soul and then temporarily replace that with their own soul. Through that, they could control the body like it was theirs in the first place. That was the [Soul Sealing] and [Soul Puppetry]."

"Then that means that Soul Clan was behind all of these?" Cole interrupted.

Baldy shake his head, "No. In the hands of Soul Race, this was a hidden technique but for humans, this was a taboo technique."

"Taboo?"

"Taboo. Just like what that old man use, this technique copied from Soul Clan by humans are considered demonic technique. When I was following my last master, there's a great storm created by this technique. There were many Emperors and leaders, Sect Masters and Elders was secretly controlled by a single sect. Only, that certain sect tried to also use it to Beast Race before. The Beast Race got offended and they eliminate this sect to the ground. That technique was believed to be eliminated. But now, it reappear."

"Do you know how to remove the sealing?" Cole ask afterwards. After he heard Baldy's recollection, he thought that removing the seal in the beast soul was the best answer to defeat this beast tamers.

"Removing the seal was very hard to do, specially if you don't want to kill the beast original soul. However, if you want to defeat them, there's a very a simple way to do it. Just eject the soul of that so called beast tamer out of the body that drives it."

This driving the soul out will be easy for Cole. He only have to drip a drop of blood towards the beast and make a connection like he did when subduing an artifact spirit.

However, he knew that his soul level was weak compare to the other side who was at the Peak of Nascent Soul-Stage. Without a doubt, the other side's soul level will be more powerful than him who only just breakthrough to Nascent Soul.

"If you're thinking about the other side's soul strength, then hesitate no more. Do you think that I submit to you just because you're talented and I'm really impressed? No. I submit to you because I know that I'll be obliterated, a Spirit Artifact of Divine-Rank Equipment, if I really have a soul battle with you. Do you think that their soul are more powerful than Divine Spirit?" Said of Baldy while he silently thought inside his head; Psh, you will battle with you through soul? Not only your soul energy reserve was like an ocean, there's even two ridiculously powerful beast soul, one of it are even a rare Divine Dragon that specializes in soul obliteration. I'll grow a hair if they managed to defeat you!

Meanwhile, confidence immediately filled Cole's existence.

"Also, if you don't know its abilities, use your bracelet equipment instead of your blood. Your opponent might only two by now, but I'm sure that you'll be an enemy their whole sect. If you only use your blood, I'm sure you'll be killed by blood loss."

Cole look at the jade bracelet in his hands with puzzled gazed.

Soul Jade Bangle?

Oh, right! That equipment skill!

But before that...

Cole open another [Gate] and 10 elves pass through it. They were the reinforcement he ask from Grand Elder Sakura.