Heavenly Symbol Master VS Earthly Protector

A gentle breeze swept past, lifting a strand of black hair. While chatting, Ya Fei and Nalan Yanran paid it no mind, tucking the stray hair behind their ears before continuing their earlier topic.

"Big Sister Ya Fei, you've lived in Wutan City for a long time. Do you know anything about that Xiao Yan?" Nalan Yanran asked.

"Not really." Ya Fei smiled. "That person keeps a low profile and hates socializing. He generally doesn't appear except during major festivals."

"So this person is actually that cowardly, not even daring to face reality." Nalan Yanran shook her head, speaking with some disdain.

"Little Sister Nalan, that isn't necessarily true." Ya Fei shook her head. "Keeping a low profile doesn't mean he's depressed and useless. If he had persisted in cultivation for years without fail, never stopping even when his Dou Qi vanished, he might well be a person of firm resolve."

"That's merely your guess, Big Sister Ya Fei," Nalan Yanran said.

"Your words might also be speculation, little sister." Ya Fei chuckled softly.

"Forget it. Let's not talk about him." Nalan Yanran spoke in a sullen tone. Although she had indeed broken off the engagement because she didn't want to marry a stranger, her contempt for her fiancé had also played a part.

"Then why don't you take a live-in husband, Little Sister Nalan?" Ya Fei pointed toward the window and laughed. "That person's looks are good enough for you."

"Big Sister Ya Fei, stop fooling around... Huh?" Nalan Yanran suddenly let out a startled cry. "Where did that person go?"

Ya Fei was stunned by her words. She turned her beautiful eyes, only to find that the figure by the window had already vanished.

"Where... where did he go?" Ya Fei's expression changed slightly. She swept her gaze around, yet still couldn't find him.

Time passed quickly. Night fell, and on this moonless, windy night, the lush forest outside the window became gloomy and terrifying.

In a forest, rustling sounds rang out one after another, startling flocks of birds into flight. When he reached an open space, Lu Bu abruptly stopped and looked toward the shadow beneath a dark tree to the west.

He didn't know who had come. Lu Bu had arrived in this world less than three days ago. If he had to name an enemy, it could only be Yun Leng, but a mere Dou Wang like Yun Leng didn't have that ability.

"Jie jie jie... You've discovered me..." Two red glows lit up within the dim shadows, followed by a sharp, eerie cackle.

"Damn it..." Lu Bu's cheek twitched. It was someone from Soul Hall. From the Great Thousand World to the myriad heavens and worlds, nobody could mistake that iconic laugh.

"Kid, how did you discover this protector?" The black mist swayed gently as the voice spoke with interest.

Lu Bu didn't answer. His soul power spread from between his brows and enveloped his entire body.

"Forget it if you don't want to talk. Jie jie... Come with this protector. This protector has taken a fancy to your soul." The black mist slowly solidified, and the red glow brightened further as the Soul Hall Protector spoke with a strange laugh.

Lu Bu slowly exhaled, his gaze turning sharp. Today's matter couldn't be settled peacefully. They could only fight. This person from Soul Hall was far too overbearing; there was no chance of reasoning with him.

Whoosh, whoosh!

The black mist suddenly trembled, and two sharp chains shot out from within it like venomous snakes darting from their lair, streaking forward violently.

"Kid, I am Emperor Wu of Soul Hall. Hand over your soul!"

"Hmph!" Lu Bu snorted coldly and swung his sleeve. His soul power transformed into a spear and shot forward fiercely.

Clang~

The crisp clash of metal rang throughout the forest. At the point where the two collided, fierce winds swept outward, uprooting the surrounding shrubs.

Emperor Wu let out a strange laugh. "Kid, you're pretty capable. Among the Human Protectors of my Soul Hall, you can be considered top-tier."

"Human Protector?" Lu Bu raised an eyebrow. He was a One-seal Heavenly Talisman Master, but he had no idea what level of expert that made him on the Dou Qi Continent.

"Jie jie... It's what you call Peak Dou Huang." Emperor Wu actually explained for once. Immediately afterward, the black mist surged, and profound runes lit up along the chains.

"Kid, I'm an Earthly Protector. Fighting me... Jie jie, you're still far too inexperienced!"

The chains locked in their confrontation suddenly shuddered. They strangely pierced through Lu Bu's spiritual spear and lunged straight at his face.

"Jie jie... Your soul power is completely useless before me. Hand over your soul!"

"Peak Dou Huang?" Lu Bu was slightly startled. It seemed that the realms of the Profound Region couldn't simply be equated with those of the Dou Qi Continent.

The thought flashed through his mind. Lu Bu's eyes narrowed, and his attention returned to Emperor Wu opposite him. The intangible Spirit Fire suddenly attached itself to his spiritual spear and spread along the chains, burning toward the black mist.

At the same time, Lu Bu stamped his foot. Formation patterns spread out, and earthen-yellow light rose from beneath him, forming a pillar of light that shielded his body.

Boom!

The pillar of light trembled violently twice, ripples spreading layer after layer, but it narrowly managed to block the chains.

"Ah—!"

"Damn it! What kind of flame is this? It can actually burn souls!?"

At the same time, Emperor Wu's cry of pain came from within the black mist. Clearly, Lu Bu had gained a slight advantage in their clash.

"Damnable bastard!"

"This protector will make you wish you were dead today!"

Emperor Wu roared. The black mist spread and expanded without limit, instantly blotting out the sparse starlight in the sky.

Within the black mist, red light blazed. A Soul Body drifted out and gazed blankly at its surroundings. Judging from the fluctuations radiating from it, it was an expert no weaker than Lu Bu.

Before it could react, however, the black mist swallowed it whole. Immediately afterward, the sounds of chewing rang out, followed by screams and cries of pain. But... those should have belonged to that Soul Body.

Lu Bu's mouth twitched. Damn it, he used his ultimate move after suffering the slightest setback. Aren't Soul Hall Protectors supposed to fly into a rage and curse for several hundred words first?

If you had this kind of judgment when facing Xiao Yan, he wouldn't have become a Dou Di!

"Jie jie jie... To die beneath my Soul Hall's Nine Forests Hundred Devouring Souls, your life can be considered worthwhile!"

Amid his strange laughter, the black mist that blotted out the sky rapidly contracted and condensed. Vaguely, an armored figure began to appear.

"Hmph!"

Lu Bu snorted coldly. Both hands suddenly formed seals, moving so quickly that afterimages appeared.

As his hand seals took shape, the earthen-yellow light beneath his feet rapidly withdrew. Silver, transparent formation patterns twisted and coiled, while various runes emerged like fluorescent light.

Lu Bu stomped his foot, brought both palms together, and shouted:

"Yin Demon Howl!"

In an instant, a silver, transparent skull wrapped in countless strange runes slowly emerged above his head. It was as tall as a story of a building.

"Damn it, this kid is truly bizarre!" Seeing this, Emperor Wu, who was still devouring and digesting the soul, was greatly shocked. He had captured souls for many years, but this was the first time he had encountered such a situation.

However, Lu Bu wouldn't give him a chance. Taking advantage of an opponent's weakness to finish him had always been Lu Bu's creed.

Surging soul power roared out from between Lu Bu's brows. The silver skull slowly opened its mouth, and a piercing screech suddenly erupted.

"Eee—!"

With a bang, the armored figure formed by Emperor Wu was instantly sent flying. The pitch-black armor began to turn illusory, and black mist emerged once more.

"Ah—!"

"Bastard, that was a soul attack!?" Red light burst brilliantly from within Emperor Wu's black mist, and a terrifying aura exploded outward.

"Kid, you ruined three years of my painstaking cultivation! I'll use your soul to pay the debt!"

That attack had clearly injured him badly. The black mist surged without pause, and the armored figure grew increasingly illusory.

"Nine Forests Hundred Devouring Souls, form!"

Emperor Wu shouted. The armor that had transformed into black mist instantly retracted, returning to its original form. Finally, the black mist vanished, leaving only a figure floating in the air and walking upon nothingness.

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh~

The moment he appeared, gloomy winds howled throughout the entire forest. Under the moonless sky, it became so dark that one couldn't see one's own hand. A cold, terrifying aura radiated from Emperor Wu's body.

"Jie jie jie... Kid, obediently hand over your soul!"

Lu Bu's cheek twitched as he stood within the formation. Damn it, I can't beat him!

This aura was beyond what he could withstand in his current state. Even if he used the Devouring Ancestral Talisman, his chances of victory wouldn't be high. Besides, Lu Bu didn't want to devour something like this.

What should I do?

Lu Bu's eyes flickered, his dark pupils turning rapidly. In the end, he sighed helplessly.

"Forget it. I really can't beat him. I can only run..."

Immediately, his hand seals changed. The silver, transparent light beneath his feet instantly turned dazzling silver. Then, black marks flickered within it, accompanied by faint cracking sounds like shattering glass.

"Not good! That's the Power of Space! This kid wants to run!"

Emperor Wu cried out in alarm. He had no time to wonder why someone at the Peak Dou Huang level could wield the Power of Space. He hurriedly raised one palm and slammed it downward.

Clang!

A deafening boom that shook the heavens and earth rang out!

A huge black serpent formed from chains came roaring over. Wherever it passed, the air shattered layer after layer, and bursts of thunder exploded over the forest.

"Kid, you can't escape. Die for this protector!" Emperor Wu sneered. The black serpent opened its jaws wide and bit down at Lu Bu.

However, Lu Bu's formation had already been completed. Dazzling silver light shone like a golden crow upon the earth, illuminating the entire forest, which had been so dark that one couldn't see one's hand before one's face.

Just as the giant serpent was about to descend, the dazzling silver light suddenly stopped. Then, like a lamp losing power, it vanished completely in an instant.

Rumble!

The earth trembled, and the mountains shattered. Waves of earth surged into the sky. The black chain serpent destroyed half a mountain with a single strike. Its destructive power was truly terrifying.

"Damn it, he still escaped!" Emperor Wu roared. He threw back his head and howled, causing the dark clouds in the sky to churn as though his cry had stirred the heavens.

"Kid, you ruined three years of my painstaking cultivation. Just wait! I'll find you, then make you experience the agony of ten thousand souls devouring your body!"

Half an hour later, after sensing that Emperor Wu's aura had completely vanished, a mound of earth slowly rose from the ground in one part of the forest. Lu Bu crawled out of it, covered in dirt.

"Damn it, luckily I managed to fool him... Ptooey, ptooey!" Lu Bu spat the dirt from his mouth and let out a bedraggled sigh of relief.

How could he know a spatial formation? No... Actually, he did. His understanding of the Power of Space was decent, but he couldn't use it right now.

On the Dou Qi Continent, only the Ancient Void Dragon and that cheat Xiao Yan could wield the Power of Space before reaching the Dou Zong realm. Others didn't have that ability, and neither did Lu Bu.

What he had used earlier was merely an illusion formation to deceive his opponent. Fortunately, he had successfully fooled Emperor Wu.

"Damn it! I'll remember this grudge today!" Fierce light flickered in Lu Bu's eyes.

"Emperor Wu, just you wait. In the future, I'll repay you properly!"

Lu Bu gritted his teeth. This matter... wasn't over yet!

He was determined to take Emperor Wu's life. Even if the Soul Hall Hall Master came, he wouldn't be able to save him. That was Lu Bu's word!

With a tap of his foot, Lu Bu's figure transformed into lightning and rapidly sped toward the Magical Beast Mountain Range to the east!

Dear readers, in the Fujian dialect, "Lin Bei" means something like "your father" or "I'm your old man."