Are You Truly an Evil Soul Master!

After the last guest left, a servant approached him. "Duke Chen, His Majesty requests your presence in the Imperial Study."

"Thank you," Chen Chu nodded slightly and followed the servant. As they neared the study, he could clearly sense a faint but powerful Soul Power within, locked onto him. The person's strength was immense, putting considerable pressure on him, and their presence was as sharp as a sword. Sword Douluo?

Inside the Imperial Study, lit by bright candles, Xue Ye sat on the Dragon Throne, with Ning Fengzhi and Chen Xin standing on either side. The atmosphere felt somewhat off. As soon as Chen Chu entered, Xue Ye directly questioned him, his voice more serious than at the banquet. "Chen Chu, I ask you, where did the Blood Fiend Energy on your person come from?"

"What?" Chen Chu was taken aback by the sudden, inexplicable question.

Chen Xin took half a step forward, his Seven Kill Sword Martial Soul instantly released. He looked at Chen Chu coldly and said, "Still playing dumb? My Seven Kill Sword is most sensitive to Blood Fiend Energy. The aura on you is even more potent than that of the Evil Soul Masters I've killed in the past. If you hadn't concealed it through special means, it would have been exposed during the banquet."

"If you cannot provide a reasonable explanation, do not blame me for being ruthless!"

The pressure of a top-tier Titled Douluo enveloped the study. Chen Chu felt a tightness in his chest but straightened his back and said earnestly, "Senior Sword Douluo, I respect your strength, but I am truly not an Evil Soul Master. Perhaps it's because I've been adventuring outside for years and have slain many wicked Soul Beasts and Soul Masters. The residual blood energy might have led to your misjudgment?"

Chen Chu felt a surge of annoyance towards Ning Jian and his companion. Damn busybodies, think they're so great just because they have some power!

"Misjudgment?" Chen Xin's eyes grew colder. "The Blood Fiend Energy of Evil Soul Masters carries resentment and malevolence, entirely different from ordinary blood energy. If your conscience is clear and you are not an Evil Soul Master, then release your Soul Power and let me investigate thoroughly."

Ning Fengzhi also spoke up at this opportune moment, his tone conciliatory. "Young friend Chen, at this point, words are useless. If you are truly innocent, allowing Uncle Jian to investigate will help clear your name. You should know that His Majesty placed great hopes on you. If this is a misunderstanding, we will naturally give you justice."

Chen Chu remained silent for a moment, then looked up at Xue Ye. "Your Majesty, it's not that I'm unwilling to cooperate, but the investigation of Soul Power concerns the very foundation of a Soul Master. A slight mistake could injure the meridians. I am willing to swear upon my Martial Soul that I have never done anything harmful or wicked, nor am I an Evil Soul Master. If I speak even half a falsehood, may my Martial Soul shatter, and may I never cultivate again."

Soul Masters regard their Martial Soul as their root. Such a severe oath was weighty. Xue Ye looked into Chen Chu's open gaze, and his doubts lessened considerably. He looked at Chen Xin. "Sword Douluo, what do you think..."

"Unreliable," Chen Xin stated decisively. "Evil Soul Masters have myriad cunning methods; perhaps he has a way to circumvent the backlash of the oath. If we don't clarify this today, he will surely become a great threat in the future."

Chen Chu frowned. "Senior, if you don't trust my oath and are insistent on investigating my Soul Power, do you perhaps have evidence that I am an Evil Soul Master? I would like to ask, if the investigation proves my innocence, what then, Senior?"

"If you are innocent, I, Chen Xin, will compensate you and never inquire about your affairs again," Chen Xin said firmly, without any intention of backing down. A joke. Such delaying tactics, such guilt. If he's not an Evil Soul Master, what is he?

"Alright, it's a deal!" Chen Chu's expression remained unchanged, but he sneered inwardly. This is what I was waiting for. Of course, I'm not an Evil Soul Master, so I'm not afraid of your investigation. But if you can't find anything, I'll make sure you compensate me with some treasures!

"Everyone, please observe!" Chen Chu shouted, and the Slaughter God's Domain erupted instantly, a terrifying killing intent sweeping through the entire Imperial Study.

"What, how is this possible? This is... the Slaughter God's Domain!"

Sword Douluo was the first to block the impact of the killing intent. He quickly stepped forward, grabbed Chen Chu's arm, and began a forceful examination with disbelief. The result was as he suspected; this was indeed the Slaughter God's Domain, a domain mastered by only a select few.

"Sword Douluo, how is it? Any problems? And what is this Slaughter God's Domain?" Xue Ye saw Chen Xin's expression suddenly turn horrified and knew the situation had reversed, in Chen Chu's favor. He quickly inquired.

Ning Fengzhi, recovering from his shock, looked at Chen Chu a few times before explaining to Xue Ye, "Your Majesty, the Slaughter God's Domain is a product of a place filled with Blood Fiend Energy. It is said to be a domain-type skill mastered only by successive Slaughter Gods, possessing immense power."

"To become a Slaughter God, one must seal their Martial Soul in that place of Blood Fiend Energy and engage in life-or-death battles with the fallen there. Only those who achieve a hundred consecutive victories can attain it."

At this point, Ning Fengzhi's gaze returned to Chen Chu. He had lost count of how many times he had looked at him. Such an outstanding young man was something he had never encountered in his life. Looking at his youthful face and recalling his composure under pressure just now, an unrealistic idea suddenly formed in his mind. His Rongrong would grow up in a few years and still needed a protector. This seemed like a perfect candidate.

Chen Chu retracted his domain and said calmly, "Senior Sword Douluo, you should believe me now, right? I told you, this Blood Fiend Energy was not cultivated by an Evil Soul Master, and I am not an Evil Soul Master. I merely had the fortune to enter Slaughter City and casually obtained the title of Slaughter God."

Ning Fengzhi looked at Chen Xin, and seeing him nod, he said to Xue Ye, "Your Majesty, it seems this was a misunderstanding. Uncle Jian, having dealt with Evil Soul Masters for years, is overly sensitive to such auras. He has caused young friend Chen undue distress."

Xue Ye also breathed a sigh of relief, his tense expression easing. "Since it was a misunderstanding, then all is well. Chen Chu, regarding today's events, I was not considerate enough and caused you alarm. Please do not take it to heart."

"Your Majesty is too kind," Chen Chu bowed. "Senior Sword Douluo was also acting for Your Majesty's safety. I can understand."

Chen Xin looked at Chen Chu with a complex expression. "I was negligent in today's matter. If you require anything in the future, do not hesitate to find me. Consider it my compensation."

"You are too kind, Senior," Chen Chu nodded again, saying no more.

Xue Ye also rose. "It's getting late. You should go back and rest. Tomorrow, I will have the Ten Thousand Year Soul Bone delivered to your residence."

"Yes." Chen Chu greeted all three of them and, led by the eunuch from before, left the palace.

Inside the Imperial Study, Xue Ye and the other two exchanged glances. Ning Fengzhi broke the silence first. "Your Majesty, my sect has many affairs to attend to, and my daughter is also a bit tired. We shall take our leave."

After seeing Xue Ye nod, Ning Fengzhi, along with Ning Rongrong and Chen Xin, boarded the carriage returning to their sect. Inside the carriage, after tucking in the sleeping Ning Rongrong, Ning Fengzhi looked at Chen Xin and said meaningfully, "Uncle Jian, comparing that young man today to yourself in your youth, who do you think is stronger?"

Chen Xin, who had been meditating, opened his eyes and looked at the moonlight outside. He said leisurely, "He is not old. I could feel it when I examined his bones today; he is definitely no older than twenty, likely seventeen or eighteen. And he possesses the Slaughter God's Domain, with a seemingly very powerful Martial Soul. With such talent, I am not his equal."