Are You Really an Evil Soul Master?

Only after the last guest had left did an attendant approach him. "Duke Chen, Your Majesty requests your presence in the Imperial Study."

"My thanks." Chen Chu nodded slightly and followed the attendant toward the Imperial Study. As he reached the door, he could clearly sense a faint strand of Soul Power within the room locking onto him. Its owner was extremely powerful, exerting considerable pressure on him, and its aura was as sharp as a sword. "Sword Douluo?"

The Imperial Study was brightly lit by candles. Xue Ye sat upon the Dragon Throne, while Ning Fengzhi and Chen Xin stood on either side. The atmosphere seemed somewhat off. The moment Chen Chu entered, Xue Ye questioned him directly, his voice several degrees sterner than it had been during the banquet. "Chen Chu, tell me, where did the Blood Fiend Energy on your body come from?"

"Huh?" Chen Chu was somewhat slow to react to such an inexplicable question.

Chen Xin stepped half a pace forward, and the Seven Kill Sword martial soul suddenly appeared. He stared coldly at Chen Chu. "Still playing dumb? My Seven Kill Sword is exceptionally sensitive to Blood Fiend Energy. The aura on you is even denser than that of the Evil Soul Masters I slew back then. If you had not used some special means to conceal it, it would have been exposed at the banquet."

"If you cannot give a reasonable explanation, do not blame this old man for being ruthless!"

The pressure of a top-tier Titled Douluo enveloped the entire study. Chen Chu felt a slight tightness in his chest, yet he still stood with his back straight and said solemnly, "Senior Sword Douluo, this junior respects your strength, but this junior truly is not an Evil Soul Master. Perhaps because this junior has traveled and trained outside for many years, killing quite a few evil soul beasts and soul masters, some bloody aura has stained my body and caused Senior to misjudge me?"

At that moment, Chen Chu was thoroughly disgusted with Ning Jian and the other man. Damn meddlesome bastards. Just because you have some strength, you have to show off?

"A misjudgment?" Chen Xin's gaze turned even colder. "The Blood Fiend Energy of Evil Soul Masters carries resentment and evil aura. It is completely different from ordinary bloody aura. If your conscience is clear and you are not an Evil Soul Master, then release your Soul Power and let me examine you carefully."

Ning Fengzhi also spoke up at the right moment, his tone gentle. "Young Friend Chen, at this point, words are useless. If you are truly innocent, let Uncle Jian examine you. It will also clear you of suspicion.

"You should know that Your Majesty had high hopes for you. If this is a misunderstanding, we will naturally give you justice."

Chen Chu fell silent for a moment before raising his eyes to Xue Ye. "Your Majesty, it is not that I am unwilling to cooperate, but a Soul Power examination concerns the foundation of a soul master. A single mistake could damage one's meridians. This boy is willing to swear upon his martial soul that I have never committed any evil deeds, nor am I an Evil Soul Master. If I speak even half a lie, may my martial soul shatter and may I never cultivate again."

A martial soul was the root of a soul master. Such a vicious oath was already extremely grave. Seeing the openness in Chen Chu's eyes, some of Xue Ye's doubts unexpectedly faded. He looked toward Chen Xin. "Sword Douluo, what do you think...?"

"Untrustworthy." Chen Xin's answer was decisive. "Evil Soul Masters possess countless strange methods. Perhaps he has a way to evade the oath's backlash. If we do not investigate this thoroughly today, he will surely become a great threat in the future."

Chen Chu frowned. "Senior, you do not believe this junior's oath, yet you insist on examining my Soul Power. Could it be that you have evidence proving this junior is an Evil Soul Master? This junior wishes to ask: if the examination proves that I am innocent, what will you do then, Senior?"

"If you are innocent, I, Chen Xin, will compensate you and never interfere in your affairs again." Chen Xin's tone was firm, without the slightest concession.

What a joke. He was stalling like this because he felt guilty. If he was not an Evil Soul Master, what else could he be?

"Good. It is a deal!" Chen Chu's expression remained unchanged, but he sneered inwardly. That was exactly what I was waiting for. Of course I am not an Evil Soul Master, so I have nothing to fear from your examination. But if you find nothing, I must make you pay up with some treasure!

"Everyone, look!" Chen Chu shouted coldly, and Divine Slaughter's Domain erupted instantly. A terrifying killing intent swept through the entire Imperial Study.

"What? How is that possible? This is... Divine Slaughter's Domain!"

Sword Douluo was the first to block the impact of that killing intent. He hurried forward several steps, seized Chen Chu's arm, and began forcibly examining him in disbelief.

The result matched his expectations. This truly was Divine Slaughter's Domain, a domain possessed by only a handful of people.

"Sword Douluo, how is it? Is there a problem? And what exactly is this Divine Slaughter's Domain?" Seeing Chen Xin's expression suddenly turn horrified, Xue Ye knew the situation had reversed, and in a way favorable to Chen Chu. He hurriedly asked.

Ning Fengzhi came back to his senses. After looking Chen Chu over several times, he explained to Xue Ye, "Your Majesty, Divine Slaughter's Domain is something produced by a land steeped in Blood Fiend Energy. It is said to be a domain-type skill that only the successive Gods of Slaughter can possess, and its power is formidable."

"To become a God of Slaughter, one must seal one's martial soul within that land of Blood Fiend Energy and fight the fallen ones inside to the death. Only those who achieve one hundred consecutive victories can obtain it."

As he spoke, Ning Fengzhi looked at Chen Chu once again. He had already lost count of how many times he had done so. He had never seen such an outstanding young man in all his life. Looking at Chen Chu's youthful face and recalling how calm he had remained in danger just now, an unrealistic thought suddenly arose in his heart.

His Rongrong would grow up in a few years as well, and she still lacked someone to protect her on her path. There seemed to be a ready-made, practically perfect candidate right before him.

Chen Chu withdrew his domain and said calmly, "Senior Sword Douluo, do you believe this junior now? This junior already said that this Blood Fiend Energy was not cultivated through the methods of Evil Soul Masters, and I am not an Evil Soul Master either. I merely had the good fortune of entering Slaughter City once and casually becoming a God of Slaughter."

Ning Fengzhi looked at Chen Xin. Only after seeing him nod did he say to Xue Ye, "Your Majesty, it seems this was a misunderstanding. Uncle Jian has dealt with Evil Soul Masters for many years and is overly sensitive to such auras. Young Friend Chen has suffered an injustice."

Hearing this, Xue Ye also let out a sigh of relief, and his tense expression softened. "Since it was a misunderstanding, then all is well. Chen Chu, today's matter was due to my poor consideration and gave you quite a fright. Do not take it to heart."

"Your Majesty overstates it." Chen Chu bowed. "Senior Sword Douluo was also acting for Your Majesty's safety. This junior understands."

Chen Xin looked at Chen Chu with a complicated expression. "Today's incident was my oversight. If you need anything in the future, come find me. Consider it my compensation to you."

"You are too courteous, Senior." Chen Chu nodded again and said nothing more.

Xue Ye also rose with the flow of the conversation. "It is getting late. Go back and rest first. Tomorrow, I will have someone deliver the Ten Thousand Year Soul Bone to your residence."

"Yes." After greeting all three of them, Chen Chu left the imperial palace under the guidance of the same eunuch from before.

Inside the Imperial Study, Xue Ye and the other two looked at one another. Ning Fengzhi was the first to break the silence. "Your Majesty, there are many matters to attend to in my sect, and my daughter is somewhat tired as well. We will take our leave first."

After Xue Ye nodded, Ning Fengzhi took Ning Rongrong and Chen Xin into the carriage back to the sect.

Inside the carriage, after covering the sleeping Ning Rongrong with a blanket, Ning Fengzhi looked at Chen Xin and said meaningfully, "Uncle Jian, compared to you in your youth, who do you think was stronger, that boy or you?"

Chen Xin, who had been meditating beside him, opened his eyes. Gazing at the moonlight outside the window, he said leisurely, "He is not very old. From feeling his bones today, I could tell he is absolutely under twenty, probably only seventeen or eighteen. He also possesses Divine Slaughter's Domain, and his martial soul seems quite strong. With such talent, I was inferior to him."