Spirit Hall's Fury, Revenge Begins

Chapter 48: Spirit Hall's Fury, Revenge Begins

The celebrations in Heaven Dou City still echoed above the streets. Golden flower petals drifting from the direction of the Star Dou Arena fell onto the roof of Spirit Hall's exclusive carriage, only to be instantly shattered into dust by the black Soul Power surrounding Bibi Dong. Inside the carriage, Hu Liena hung her head low, pale purple blood seeping through the bandages around her severed tail. Xie Yue and Yan remained unconscious, carried by two Soul Masters and laid in the corner, their breaths weak—this crushing defeat in the finals had nearly wiped out Spirit Hall's entire Golden Generation.

"Trash! A bunch of trash!" Bibi Dong's voice shattered the dead silence within the carriage. The Pope's Scepter in her hand slammed heavily against the carriage floor, its embedded ruby glowing with an eerie red light. "The Golden Generation, cultivated with countless resources from Spirit Hall, couldn't even defeat a ragtag team! They even broke the Soul Erosion Array, took the championship, and disgraced Spirit Hall!"

Hu Liena's shoulders trembled violently, but she did not dare argue. She knew that Bibi Dong had been consumed by rage. Any defense would only bring an even more terrifying punishment. Outside the carriage, the Soul Masters responsible for guarding it barely dared breathe. Spirit Hall's black flags snapped in the wind, yet they could not conceal the stifled fear within the group—everyone knew that His Majesty the Pope's fury would soon burn toward a certain target.

Bibi Dong's gaze suddenly fell upon the carriage wall, where the faint light from the Star Dou Arena was reflected. She could vaguely see the members of the Cauldron Sword Team receiving the crowd's cheers. Her eyes turned piercingly icy. Black Soul Power gathered in her palm, forming a thin light whip that lashed brutally against the carriage wall, leaving behind a deep mark. "Cauldron Sword Team... Lin Che... and that Tang San... You dared ruin Spirit Hall's plans. I will make you pay a price more painful than death!"

"Ghost Douluo!" Bibi Dong's voice pierced through the carriage, carrying unquestionable authority.

A black shadow appeared beside the carriage like Ghost Mei. Ghost Douluo's hood was pulled extremely low, revealing only a pair of green-glowing eyes. "I am here."

"Take fifty elite Soul Masters and immediately lie in wait near Soul Severing Cliff outside Heaven Dou City." Bibi Dong's voice came from within the carriage, carrying a trace of viciousness. "Set up the Netherworld Soul Devouring Array. Once the Cauldron Sword Team leaves Heaven Dou City, launch the array and leave them all there! Remember, the Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bone fragment on the champion's trophy must be recovered. Lin Che's Universe Cauldron must be destroyed. As for the rest... show no mercy!"

"Understood!" Ghost Douluo's voice did not waver in the slightest, as though he had merely received an ordinary assignment. He turned and vanished into the shadows. Moments later, fifty Spirit Hall Soul Masters clad in fitted black garments quietly broke away from the Guard Team. Like bats merging into the night, they sped toward Soul Severing Cliff in the western outskirts of Heaven Dou City—that was where the Cauldron Sword Team had once picked Sun Flame Grass. The terrain was complex, and black mist lingered there year-round, making it the perfect location for the Netherworld Soul Devouring Array.

The Netherworld Soul Devouring Array was Ghost Douluo's personal formation. It required the blood essence of ten Soul Masters as its catalyst and the Soul Power of fifty Soul Masters as its foundation. Once activated, it released Netherworld black mist capable of devouring Soul Power. Countless Soul Devouring Spider eggs were also hidden within the mist. Once someone became entangled in the black mist, not only would their Soul Power be drained dry, but their soul would also be parasitized by the spider eggs, eventually turning them into mindless walking corpses. After Ghost Douluo arrived at Soul Severing Cliff, he immediately ordered the Soul Masters to split up. Ten were responsible for carving formation patterns into the rocks by the cliffside, twenty excavated the formation core, while the remaining twenty set traps throughout the area, ensuring that once the Cauldron Sword Team entered the formation's range, they would never escape.

As the formation patterns were carved, dark red blood flowed along the grooves in the stone and merged with Soul Severing Cliff's black soil, emitting a nauseating stench. Within the black clay jars buried at the formation core, Soul Devouring Spider eggs wriggled through the black mist, producing faint rustling sounds. The traps were filled with poisoned thorns, their venom glowing pale purple. A single drop was enough to stiffen a Soul Master's meridians. Ghost Douluo stood in the center of the formation, forming seals with both hands. Black Soul Power rapidly spread through the formation patterns, enveloping the entire Soul Severing Cliff in a thin layer of Netherworld black mist. From the outside, the place looked no different from usual. Only Soul Masters who approached the formation could faintly sense the sinister aura permeating the air.

Meanwhile, the Cauldron Sword Team's celebration continued within Heaven Dou City. Oscar had set up a victory feast in Shrek Academy's courtyard. The sausage machine was continuously operating, and golden Recovery Sausages, blue Detoxification Sausages, and red Power Sausages were piled across the tables. Ma Hongjun and Dai Mubai competed in drinking, White Tiger Claw and Phoenix Fire occasionally colliding and setting off waves of laughter. Ning Rongrong carefully wiped the champion's trophy, the Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bone fragment at its rim glowing softly beneath the lights. Tang San, meanwhile, studied the Spirit Hall token seized during the finals from a corner, attempting to uncover more intelligence about Spirit Hall.

Yet Lin Che could never fully relax. He sat on the courtyard threshold, the Azure Water Sword leaning beside him, while his fingers absentmindedly rubbed the Sword-Tassel Glazed Bead. From the Spirit Hall spy's ambush during the coronation ceremony to the message Gu Rong had just sent him—"Spirit Hall is making unusual moves. Soul Master movements are abnormal. Be wary of an ambush when leaving Heaven Dou City."—he always felt that a pair of eyes was watching the Cauldron Sword Team from the shadows. That sinister Soul Power Fluctuation was exactly like the one possessed by Ghost Douluo they had encountered before.

"What is it, Captain? Still thinking about Spirit Hall?" Tang San walked over to Lin Che and handed him a cup of wine. "The victory feast is almost over, yet you're still hiding here alone, lost in thought."

Lin Che accepted the cup but did not drink. He merely looked toward the outskirts of Heaven Dou City. "Senior Gu Rong sent word that fifty Soul Masters from Spirit Hall have left Heaven Dou City, and their destination is unknown. I have a feeling they won't let this go so easily. They're definitely waiting for us to leave Heaven Dou City so they can strike back."

Tang San's expression also turned grave. He recalled Ghost Douluo's viciousness in the finals and the terrifying nature of the Soul Erosion Array, and could not help frowning. "You mean they'll ambush us on the road back to Shrek Academy?"

"Very likely." Lin Che nodded and rose to his feet. "The Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bone fragment on the champion's trophy belongs to Spirit Hall. They definitely want to take it back. Besides, we broke their Soul Erosion Array and defeated the Golden Generation. They won't simply let that score go." He looked toward Ning Rongrong, who was polishing the trophy. "Rongrong, keep this trophy for now. The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect has considerable influence in Heaven Dou City. Spirit Hall won't dare come and seize it openly. Besides, your Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda can isolate Soul Power Fluctuation and conceal the trophy's aura."

Ning Rongrong froze for a moment, then nodded solemnly. "Don't worry, Captain! I'll place the trophy in the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's secret chamber and have our most elite disciples guard it. I definitely won't let Spirit Hall take it!" She carefully stored the trophy inside a specially made Soul Tool. The Seal Formation patterns engraved upon it belonged to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and could effectively isolate the Energy Fluctuation of the Soul Bone fragment.

After arranging the matter of the trophy, Lin Che looked at Tang San and Dai Mubai. "Dai Mubai, come with me to scout the terrain outside Heaven Dou City, especially around Soul Severing Cliff. It's a necessary route on our way back to Shrek Academy. The terrain is complicated, making it the easiest place for an ambush. Tang San, stay at the academy with Oscar and Jiang Zhu to prepare countermeasures. Make more Anti-Poison Sausages and refine Array Breaking Spirit Liquid. If we discover an ambush, we'll have a way to deal with it."

Dai Mubai immediately put down his wine cup. The sharp edge of White Tiger Claw flashed. "No Problem! I was just looking to stretch my muscles. If we run into Spirit Hall people, it'll be the perfect chance to let them taste my strength!"

Though Tang San was somewhat worried, he understood the importance of scouting the terrain and could only nod in agreement. "You must be careful. If you find anything wrong, send word back immediately. We'll bring people to support you." He handed Lin Che a Communication Jade Talisman. "This jade talisman can contact me directly. Just inject Soul Power into it to use it."

Lin Che accepted the jade talisman and carefully tucked it into his clothes. He and Dai Mubai made simple preparations, bringing the Azure Water Sword and White Tiger Claw with them before quietly leaving Shrek Academy and heading toward Soul Severing Cliff in the western outskirts of Heaven Dou City. Night gradually deepened, and there were almost no pedestrians on the roads outside the city. Only the occasional roars of Soul Beasts made the surroundings feel even more sinister.

As the two neared Soul Severing Cliff, Lin Che suddenly stopped and motioned for Dai Mubai to hold his breath. "Something's wrong. The Soul Power Fluctuation here is strange." He drew the Azure Water Sword, Azure Sword Qi gathering at its tip. "Can you smell that faint bloody stench in the air? And that trace of sinister Soul Power? It's very similar to the Netherworld black mist we encountered before."

Dai Mubai sensed the area carefully, and his expression instantly grew grave. "It's really there! And Soul Severing Cliff ahead seems darker than usual. Even the moonlight can't shine into it." He clenched White Tiger Claw and watched the front warily. "Could Spirit Hall really have set an ambush here?"

Lin Che did not advance rashly. Instead, he took out an Array Probing Talisman he had previously made from his Storage Soul Tool. After injecting Soul Power into it, he threw it toward Soul Severing Cliff. The instant the Array Probing Talisman flew into the cliff's range, an invisible force wrapped around it. The paper talisman instantly turned black, then exploded with a bang, turning into a wisp of black smoke that dispersed. This was the Array Probing Talisman's reaction upon encountering a sinister formation, proving that a formation had indeed been laid at Soul Severing Cliff.

"So there really is an ambush!" Lin Che's gaze sharpened. "And this formation is quite powerful. The Array Probing Talisman couldn't send back even a trace of information. Dai Mubai, let's get a little closer and see if we can locate the formation core. That way, we can figure out how to break it in advance."

The two cautiously approached Soul Severing Cliff, concealing their Soul Power Fluctuation as much as possible to avoid being discovered by the Soul Masters within the formation. The closer they got to the cliff, the stronger the bloody stench in the air became. The temperature around them also grew lower and lower, making even breathing somewhat difficult. Lin Che's Azure Water Sword suddenly began to tremble lightly, and the Sword-Tassel Glazed Bead glowed with a faint green light. This was the blade's reaction to sensing poison, indicating that poison was hidden within the formation as well.

"Watch your step!" Lin Che suddenly grabbed Dai Mubai and pointed at the ground by his feet. Dai Mubai lowered his head and saw several pale purple thorns faintly exposed beneath the black soil. Venom from the thorns was slowly spreading through the earth. Had he taken another step forward, he would have stepped directly into the trap.

Just then, a faint sound of Footsteps suddenly came from afar. Lin Che and Dai Mubai immediately hid behind a huge boulder and held their breath as they watched two Spirit Hall Soul Masters in fitted black garments walk past them. They carried black clay jars and were heading deeper into Soul Severing Cliff, whispering to each other as they went. "Lord Ghost Douluo said that once the Cauldron Sword Team enters the formation, we'll immediately activate the Netherworld Soul Devouring Array and leave them without even a chance to escape." "Hehe, I heard Lin Che's Universe Cauldron is extremely formidable. We must destroy it this time and make His Majesty the Pope happy."

Their conversation reached Lin Che and Dai Mubai clearly. A cold glint flashed through Lin Che's eyes. He quietly gestured to Dai Mubai, signaling him not to act rashly. Only after the two Soul Masters had gone far away did Lin Che whisper, "So they've set up the Netherworld Soul Devouring Array, and Ghost Douluo is here too. We still don't know where the formation core is, so we can't act carelessly. We need to return and discuss a countermeasure with Tang San and the others first."

Though Dai Mubai was unwilling, he knew this was not the time for recklessness and could only nod. The two quietly withdrew from Soul Severing Cliff's range and sped back toward Heaven Dou City. In the night, their figures were like two streaks of lightning, quickly vanishing at the end of the road. Only the Netherworld black mist at Soul Severing Cliff remained, silently waiting in the darkness for its prey to arrive.

Inside Spirit Hall's carriage, Bibi Dong rested with her eyes closed, the ruby on the Pope's Scepter glowing with an eerie red light. She seemed to have already foreseen the Cauldron Sword Team falling into the Netherworld Soul Devouring Array. A cruel smile curled her lips. "Lin Che, Tang San... your time to die has come."

Within Shrek Academy's courtyard, Tang San held the Communication Jade Talisman and anxiously awaited news from Lin Che and Dai Mubai. Oscar and Jiang Zhu had already prepared a large supply of Anti-Poison Sausages and Array Breaking Spirit Liquid. Ning Rongrong had also contacted the disciples of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, ready to provide support at any moment. Everyone knew that a new battle was about to unfold within the Netherworld black mist of Soul Severing Cliff.