Soul Guard Alliance? Wipe Them All Out!

"Master, you can't toy with me like this!"

Hearing Gu He's words, the Black Scale Cold Flood Dragon's body instantly stiffened, and he spoke with some dejection.

He had finally caught a Nine-star Dou Zong, yet his master wanted to snatch food from his jaws again.

The Black Scale Cold Flood Dragon was on the verge of exploding.

A trace of embarrassment flashed across Gu He's face, but looking at Yun Protector's excellent Nine-star Dou Zong corpse, he truly could not bear to let the Black Scale Cold Flood Dragon waste it like this.

He could use it to refine a puppet later, give it to his disciples for protection, and then get a Dou Venerate puppet in return. What a bargain!

Seeing the Black Scale Cold Flood Dragon's aggrieved expression, Gu He could only continue comforting him. "Black Scale, I promise I'll let you eat your fill next time. This old fellow's flesh is sour and stinks. What's so good about it? Next time, Master will take you somewhere for a proper feast."

Since Gu He had already said that, what else could the Black Scale Cold Flood Dragon say?

He felt utterly helpless. How had he ended up with such a master?

Seeing the Black Scale Cold Flood Dragon compromise, Gu He smiled faintly and directly stored Yun Protector's frozen corpse in the System Space.

Then, Gu He flashed and landed in the valley below.

"Black Scale, stand guard for me!"

After calling out to the Black Scale Cold Flood Dragon, Gu He looked at the black bead containing Yun Protector in his hand, the corners of his mouth curling upward.

The Black Scale Cold Flood Dragon pursed his lips and helplessly followed him down.

Then, Gu He released his soul force and enveloped the black bead, directly sending it toward the Soul Palace he had opened within his body.

The black bead was like an illusory object. It drilled directly into Gu He's body and, guided by his soul force, slowly entered the Soul Palace within him.

The instant the black bead entered the Soul Palace, Gu He's mind trembled, and a strange sensation surged into his heart.

Then, countless memories flooded Gu He's mind.

These were Yun Protector's memories!

The memories of Yun Protector's entire life rapidly flashed through Gu He's mind.

Gu He did not accept all of this information. Instead, he merely watched everything silently like an observer.

A moment later, like fleeting reflections in water, Gu He had finished viewing Yun Protector's memories.

After a long while, Gu He slowly opened his eyes, a flash of understanding passing through them.

"The Soul Hall Venerable stationed at Soul Burial Ridge isn't here?"

"That truly is good news."

Having obtained all the information in Yun Protector's mind, a sharp glint flashed through Gu He's eyes.

Originally, the person he feared most in the Black Corner Region was that Soul Hall Venerable.

But now, that Soul Hall Venerable was actually absent.

The heavens were truly helping him!

Did that not mean he was now invincible throughout the Black Corner Region?

At that thought, Gu He could not help wanting to throw back his head and laugh.

"It seems even the heavens do not want these villains of the Black Corner Region to keep living."

From Yun Protector's memories, Gu He had also obtained an interesting piece of information.

Ever since Medicine Emperor Han Feng had died, the leaders of the various major factions in the Black Corner Region had all been living in fear.

After learning that the culprit behind it was very likely the Soul Hall, even some of the Black Corner Region's veteran experts could no longer sit still.

Thus, an alliance aimed at resisting the Soul Hall's cleansing of the Black Corner Region was born.

The Soul Guard Alliance!

Its purpose was to resist the Soul Hall!

Tomorrow, the Soul Guard Alliance would hold the Soul Guard Assembly at the Black Emperor Pavilion and select the alliance leader.

"The Soul Guard Assembly? Heh, isn't this giving me a chance to wipe them all out?"

After learning this news, a cold smile could not help appearing on Gu He's lips.

Then, with a thought from Gu He, soul force surged into the Soul Palace and began activating it.

At that moment, the location of the Soul Palace suddenly emitted dim, eerie black light.

The black light grew increasingly dense before gradually spreading through Gu He's limbs and bones, eventually covering his entire body.

Very soon, Gu He's whole body was enveloped in black light, making him appear extremely eerie.

"Jie jie jie!"

A moment later, along with a piercing laugh, the black light instantly dispersed, revealing...

Yun Protector's figure!

That was right. Once the black light vanished, Gu He's figure had completely disappeared, while Yun Protector had reappeared.

"Hehe, after breaking through to the Spirit Realm, the Soul Fusion Art has become even more terrifying."

"With my current appearance, even if I stood before that Soul Hall Venerable, he probably would not notice anything unusual."

At that thought, an idea could not help surfacing in Gu He's mind.

Should he infiltrate the Soul Hall under Yun Protector's identity from now on, then freely devour that Soul Hall Venerable and gradually work his way into the Soul Hall headquarters?

That was quite a good idea.

However, with his current strength, he should consider it more carefully in the future.

His immediate priority was to wipe out those members of the "Soul Guard Alliance."

"Jie jie jie, those who offend my Soul Hall shall be executed, no matter how far away they are!"

The next moment, "Yun Protector's" piercing laughter echoed throughout the valley.

Beside him, the Black Scale Cold Flood Dragon could not help raising a hand to his forehead, his face covered in dark lines.

"Black Scale, come with me. Master will take you to have a feast!"

"Yun Protector" glanced at the Black Scale Cold Flood Dragon, then transformed into a mass of black mist and vanished from the valley.

Hearing that, the Black Scale Cold Flood Dragon's eyes immediately lit up, and he hurried after him.

Black Emperor City was the headquarters of the Black Emperor Sect, one of the Black Corner Region's top factions.

The Black Emperor Sect mainly ran auctions and frequently held large-scale auction events. It had once put countless priceless treasures of heaven and earth up for auction, enough to make even Dou Zong experts covet them.

Therefore, the Black Emperor Sect enjoyed an extremely resounding reputation throughout the Black Corner Region.

The Black Emperor Pavilion was a residence in Black Emperor City specially used to receive renowned experts of the Black Corner Region. Those who received invitations and were permitted to stay there were all experts and faction leaders with considerable fame in the Black Corner Region.

At this moment, all the notable experts of the Black Corner Region had gathered here.

In the past, these experts would only congregate here when the Black Emperor Sect held a major auction.

This time, they had not come for an auction, but for a grand meeting.

Within a hundred meters around the Black Emperor Pavilion, Black Emperor Sect guards stood under strict watch. The moment ordinary people approached, they would be immediately driven away.

At the heart of the Black Emperor Pavilion was an incomparably luxurious hall, as spacious as a plaza.

The Black Emperor Pavilion's hall was currently bustling with voices. Quite a few figures sat in scattered groups, and their seating arrangements were particularly deliberate. Most gathered with people they knew well or belonged to the same faction, while the tables occupied by lone individuals belonged to independent cultivators of the Black Corner Region. Such people were generally quite powerful and somewhat eccentric. Drawing blades at the slightest disagreement was entirely normal.

Chaos was the hallmark of the Black Corner Region, and it had not diminished in the slightest even within the Black Emperor Pavilion. Since most of the Black Corner Region's experts and factions had gathered here, some inevitably encountered enemies they hated. Once such people met, conflicts naturally erupted, and in the Black Corner Region, they were settled...

Those qualified to enter this place were all leaders of the Black Corner Region's major factions, and the weakest among them had reached the Dou Emperor realm.

Seated in the seat of honor at the front of the hall was an old man dressed in a yellow robe.

Several enormous golden pythons were embroidered on that yellow robe. Under the sunlight, they reflected a faint glow and seemed almost alive, radiating an unusual pressure.

This man was the Black Emperor Sect Leader, Mo Tianxing, who possessed the terrifying strength of a Four-star Dou Zong.

This Soul Guard Assembly had also been proposed by this Black Emperor Sect Leader.

Standing to Mo Tianxing's left and right were a young man in white robes and a red-faced old man dressed in an alchemist's robe.

The white-robed young man looked to be only twenty-six or twenty-seven years old. Dressed in snow-white robes that fluttered around him, he possessed a carefree and refined air. His face was exceedingly handsome, though that handsomeness carried a hint of feminine softness. His slightly thin lips were gently pressed together, and a faint smile hung at the corners of his mouth. Though the smile gave an impression of kindness, the feminine aura around him made people feel somewhat displeased.

This white-robed youth was the Black Emperor Sect's Young Sect Leader, Mo Ya.

The red-faced old man beside him was the Black Emperor Sect's chief alchemist, Qi Shan, a Sixth-Grade Alchemist!

Seeing the three people at the head of the hall, a considerable commotion immediately arose below, followed by cries of surprise.

"That's actually Black Emperor Sect Leader Mo Tianxing?"

"I heard Mo Tianxing entered the Dou Zong class over a decade ago and has remained in seclusion ever since. Who would have thought that even he would personally appear today?"

"Hmph, as if we don't know what he wants. He is after the position of Soul Guard Alliance Leader, nothing more."

"But honestly, with his strength, the position of alliance leader truly seems destined for him."

"The person beside him should be the Black Emperor Sect's Young Sect Leader, Mo Ya, right?"

"I heard Mo Ya is not even thirty, yet he has already reached the Six-star Dou Emperor realm. At his current strength, even some elders within his sect can hardly match him."

"What terrifying cultivation talent. They say the Black Emperor Sect places enormous hopes on him. He will likely reach the Dou Zong realm."

"That red-robed elder should be the Black Emperor Sect's chief alchemist elder, right? I heard he is already a Sixth-Grade Alchemist."

"Ya'er, who has yet to arrive?"

Mo Tianxing swept his gaze over the hall before asking Mo Ya beside him.

Hearing that, Mo Ya surveyed the hall and respectfully replied, "Only the people from Molten Flame Valley have yet to arrive."

"Molten Flame Valley..."

Mo Tianxing narrowed his eyes, and a trace of chill flashed through them.

The reason he had organized this Soul Guard Assembly was naturally to become the Soul Guard Alliance Leader.

Although the Soul Hall's assassinations had plunged the Black Corner Region into chaos this time, the ambitious Mo Tianxing believed this was an excellent opportunity to unify the Black Corner Region.

For so many years, the Black Corner Region had remained in a state of chaos. It was rare for everyone to unite because of the Soul Hall, and this allowed Mo Tianxing to see a chance to unify the entire Black Corner Region.

Throughout the whole Black Corner Region, the only faction with the strength to contend with him for the position of Soul Guard Alliance Leader was Molten Flame Valley.

"I wonder whether Old Ghost Demonic Earth is dead or alive. I hope that old ghost does not appear this time."

Old Ghost Demonic Earth was the founding ancestor of Molten Flame Valley, possessing overwhelming strength.

However, Old Ghost Demonic Earth had not shown himself for nearly a decade.

Rumors outside claimed that Old Ghost Demonic Earth had long since died.

There were also rumors saying that Old Ghost Demonic Earth was in secluded cultivation, attempting to break through to a higher realm.

What Mo Tianxing feared most at this assembly was that Old Ghost Demonic Earth was still alive and would appear at the meeting.

If Old Ghost Demonic Earth appeared, then with that old fellow's strength, the position of alliance leader would likely fall into his hands.

"Hahaha, how rare! So many experts have gathered together!"

At that moment, a booming laugh rang out in the hall, drawing everyone's attention.

Mo Tianxing stared intently and saw that a gray-robed, hawk-nosed old man had appeared in the hall at some point.

"It's him!"

Upon seeing the old man's face, Mo Tianxing's pupils shrank, and his expression became somewhat grave.

"Elder Yingshan?"

Someone in the hall had evidently recognized the old man as well.

Countless shocked gazes turned toward the gray-haired, hawk-nosed elder seated in the corner, and cries of surprise rang out throughout the auction house.

"Elder Yingshan? He is Elder Yingshan, one of the top three on the Black List back then? He is actually still alive?"

"He was never dead to begin with. He merely hid away to cultivate in seclusion. I never expected to see this senior expert who once dominated the Black Corner Region today. This trip has truly not been in vain."

"Back then, he was already a peak Dou Emperor. After so many years, he must have broken through to the Dou Zong realm, right?"

Compared to the noisy commotion in the back, the atmosphere in the VIP seats was shrouded in a strange oppression. Numerous somewhat chilling gazes shot over from all directions and converged on Elder Yingshan.

Elder Yingshan's expression did not change at all under those hostile gazes. He casually found a seat near the front and sat down, leaning lightly against the chair back. His expressionless aged face faintly revealed a trace of viciousness.

In a place like the Black Corner Region, there were no softhearted people. To become one of the top three peak experts on the Black List back then, the number of people who had died by his hands was impossible to count.

Elder Yingshan had once been a notoriously vicious figure in the Black Corner Region. Though he had cultivated in seclusion for many years and his ferocity had somewhat subsided, anyone who thought he was now a soft persimmon to be squeezed at will would likely pay a price in blood.

"I never expected Brother Yingshan to come today as well!"

After a moment of silence, Mo Tianxing took the initiative to rise and exchange pleasantries with Elder Yingshan.

He could sense that Elder Yingshan's strength was no weaker than his own, so his attitude was extremely cordial.

"Hehe, since Brother Mo invited me, how could this old man dare not come?"

Hearing that, a smile also appeared on Elder Yingshan's aged face, and the two began exchanging polite words.

Just as they were conversing, a shout suddenly rang out from behind them.

"Molten Flame Valley's Grand Elder Fang Yan has arrived!"

The sudden shout caused many people present to stop their discussions and turn their surprised gazes toward the distance.

A large group was quickly approaching. At the front of the crowd, a simply dressed, red-haired old man strode over with the bearing of a dragon and tiger.

"I never expected Molten Flame Valley to send that old fellow Fang Yan as their leader this time."

"Hehe, it seems they are also here for the position of alliance leader. Otherwise, with that old fellow's strength, on the verge of breaking through to Dou Zong, he would not have come all this way."

"Looks like there will be quite a show this time. Many first-rate factions and quite a few powerful experts have already gathered in Black Emperor City. For the so-called position of alliance leader, I wonder whether they will come to blows."

As they watched the red-haired elder, whispers immediately rose from the crowd around the hall.

This Grand Elder of Molten Flame Valley had actually reached the peak Dou Emperor realm, with half a foot already stepping into the Dou Zong class. Such strength was already comparable to Medicine Emperor Han Feng.

Everyone shifted their gazes from the red-haired elder to several people beside him and discovered that several cold-faced elders were all Dou Emperors, their strength no weaker than that of several experts on the Black List.

"It seems Molten Flame Valley came prepared this time!"

"I heard Molten Flame Valley possesses a secret technique. When three Dou Emperor elders join forces, they can unleash the strength of a Dou Zong."

"However, Mo Tianxing broke through to the Dou Zong realm over a decade ago. With Fang Yan's strength, he probably cannot contend with him!"

"The position of alliance leader will likely fall into Mo Tianxing's hands this time."

Inside the hall, everyone watched the Molten Flame Valley group entering and began discussing it among themselves.

(End of Chapter)