Xuan Kongzi
"I know you have two Dou Venerate guarding this little courtyard, which is why you're so fearless!" Elder Mu Gu said sinisterly.
"However, before revealing myself, I had already set up Soul Barrier here! At this moment, everything happening in this courtyard is difficult for outsiders to detect! Your two Dou Venerate guards won't be able to discover the anomaly here for the time being!"
He clenched his fist suddenly, and the dark flame expanded abruptly, emitting a chilling aura.
"Since you are so stubborn and have chosen to be an enemy of my Soul Hall, then tonight, this place will be your burial ground! Stifling geniuses is one of my favorite things to do!"
A chilling killing intent locked onto Lin Ming, as if it were a tangible presence.
However, faced with the Killing Intent that would terrify even a Peak Dou Ancestor expert and the eerie gray flames, Lin Ming showed no panic whatsoever. Instead, a cold, mocking smile appeared on his face.
"Is that so? You want to kill me?" Lin Ming scoffed, shaking his head with a tone of pity as if looking at a clown. "Old dog Mu Gu, before you make a move, I suggest you... take a look behind you."
Lin Ming's words were calm, yet they were like a thunderclap, exploding in the ears of Elder Mu Gu!
Elder Mu Gu's heart skipped a beat! He was extremely confident in his Soul Barrier and did not believe that anyone could sneak in silently! But Lin Ming's confident and mocking gaze did not seem fake!
Almost instinctively, he abruptly turned his head and looked behind him—
Less than three zhang behind him, an old man dressed in simple white clothes, with a handsome face and eyes that seemed to have seen countless ages, stood quietly.
The old man stood with his hands behind his back, his body emanating no powerful energy fluctuations, as if he were one with his surroundings. Yet, just by standing there, he seemed to become the core of the entire Courtyard, and even the moonlight seemed to favor him more, coating him with a faint silver glow.
It was none other than the Heavenly Flame Venerate — Elder Yao!
Elder Yao looked calmly at Elder Mu Gu, his gaze as if he were looking at a stray dog that had wandered into his Backyard, carrying a hint of indifference and a hint of... undisguised Killing Intent.
"Your Soul Barrier is... not bad." Elder Yao spoke slowly, his voice calm yet carrying an invisible pressure that seemed to solidify the space around Elder Mu Gu. "Unfortunately, it's not quite enough to fool me."
The Elder Mu Gu's pupils suddenly contracted to the size of pinpoints! The hairs on his entire body stood on end!
He had no idea when the other person had appeared! It was as if the other person had always been standing there, and he had simply been blind to it!
To be able to break through his Soul Barrier so easily and get so close without him noticing... this person's strength is definitely far superior to his!
An unprecedented chill instantly shot from the soles of Elder Mu Gu's feet straight to the top of his head!
The Elder Mu Gu Elder Yao's gaze swept over him! It was a tremor that came from the depths of his soul, the most instinctive fear of the weak when facing an absolute powerhouse!
He couldn't sense Elder Yao's specific cultivation level at all. He only felt that the other party standing there was like facing a vast, unfathomable starry sky, or an ancient volcano that could erupt at any moment and destroy everything! His own power was as insignificant as a firefly compared to the bright moon in front of the other party!
"Nine... Peak Nine-Revolution Dou Venerate?! No... maybe even Half Sage?!" A chilling thought exploded in his mind like a thunderbolt! Elder Mu Gu was terrified. He could never have imagined that the person protecting Lin Ming was such a terrifying existence standing at the pinnacle of the continent! The information the Soul Hall gave him was seriously wrong! No, he knew absolutely nothing about it!
"Senior... Senior..." Elder Mu Gu's voice was dry and hoarse, filled with unprecedented fear. His previous arrogant and all-controlling demeanor had vanished.
He instinctively tried to use his Space Power to escape, but was horrified to discover that the space around him was as solid as High-Grade Steel and had been completely sealed off by an invisible and intangible yet boundless power! He couldn't even cause a single Spatial Fluctuations!
"Coming and going as you please? And you even threatened to kill the one I'm protecting..." Elder Yao spoke slowly, his voice still calm, but every word was like a heavy hammer, striking Elder Mu Gu's heart. "When did the Venerable Elder of the Soul Hall become so ignorant of the rules?"
Before he finished speaking, Elder Yao casually raised a finger and gently tapped Elder Mu Gu.
There was no earth-shattering energy eruption, no dazzling brilliance, but the space around Elder Mu Gu collapsed and compressed like an ice surface tossed with a boulder! An irresistible and indescribable terrifying force pressed towards him from all directions!
"No!!!"
The Elder Mu Gu let out a shrill, desperate roar, his powerful Dou Qi erupting wildly, and the Heavenly Flames swelled to its limit, attempting to resist the crushing force of space. He formed hand seals, and a solid black Soul Light shield instantly condensed in front of him—one of his trump cards for survival!
However, faced with an absolute disparity in strength, all struggles are in vain.
"Snap!"
The Soul Light shield that was strong enough to withstand the full force of Five-Star Dou Venerate's attack became as fragile as paper the moment it came into contact with the invisible Space Power. It couldn't even last a moment, and was instantly covered with cracks before shattering with a bang!
Immediately following, the surging Dou Qi and eerie gray flames around him were extinguished as if by an invisible hand, without even a ripple.
"Pfft!"
Elder Mu Gu was struck as if by a heavy blow. His body trembled violently, and he coughed up a mouthful of blood mixed with fragments of internal organs. His breath instantly weakened to the extreme. He felt as if every bone in his body was groaning under the invisible pressure, as if he would be crushed into mincemeat at any moment!
This is the terrifying strength of Peak Nine-Revolution Dou Venerate! To deal with him, there's no need to even use Dou Technique; merely a preliminary application of Space Laws is enough to render him powerless, like a fish on a chopping board!
Elder Yao's eyes were indifferent as he looked at Elder Mu Gu struggling in agony under the spatial compression, like a dying wild dog, without the slightest pity. He had always been ruthless towards the people of the Soul Hall. He slightly curled his fingers, intending to crush this scourge completely and eliminate any future trouble.
However, just as Elder Yao was about to deliver the fatal blow—
"Well..."
A sigh, seemingly traversing endless space and carrying a hint of helplessness and vicissitude, rang out without warning in the Courtyard shrouded by the Soul Barrier.
The sigh wasn't loud, yet it seemed to contain some strange power of rules, instantly calming the violent spatial compression and allowing the nearly collapsing Elder Mu Gu to catch his breath. At the same time, the Soul Barrier set up by Elder Mu Gu in the Courtyard, like ice and snow under the sun, silently melted and disintegrated without causing any energy impact.
Immediately afterwards, the void above the Courtyard rippled like a curtain of water, and a figure quietly appeared.
The newcomer was dressed in ordinary Pill Tower Elder, with a lean face, deep eyes that seemed to contain stars, and three long wisps of beard on his chin. His temperament was otherworldly. He stood there, as if he had merged with the whole world. Although he was right in front of you, he gave people a feeling of being far away and ethereal.
It was none other than Xuan Kongzi, one of the Three Pill Tower Heads!
Xuan Kongzi's gaze first swept across the arena, lingering for a moment on the exhausted and disheveled Elder Mu Gu. His brows furrowed almost imperceptibly. He then looked at Elder Yao, a hint of solemnity and surprise flashing in his eyes, and cupped his hands, saying, "My friend, your cultivation is profound, truly admirable. I am Tong Xuan from the Pill Tower Xuan Kongzi, greetings."
With his keen eye, he could immediately discern that Elder Yao's unfathomable strength was definitely on par with the three giants, or perhaps even surpassed them! This greatly shocked him; when had the Ye Family acquired such a powerful ally?
Upon seeing Xuan Kongzi appear, Elder Yao also restrained some of his aura and nodded slightly in return. "Heavenly Flame Venerate, Yao Tianhuo. The name of Xuan Kongzi Master Xuan Kongzi is renowned far and wide."
"The Heavenly Flame Venerate?" A thoughtful look flashed in Xuan Kongzi's eyes. He seemed to have some impression of this title, but he couldn't recall the specifics for the moment, so he could only suppress his doubts for the time being.
His gaze finally settled on Lin Ming, who had remained calm ever since Xuan Kongzi appeared, and his eyes revealed undisguised admiration and amazement.
Although most of what happened here was hidden by the barrier, as Pill Tower Giant, he naturally sensed the powerful energy fluctuations within Sacred Pill City, especially the intense conflict involving Soul Power and Space Power.
"Little fellow, you must be Lin Ming?" Xuan Kongzi asked gently, with a hint of a smile.
"That old fellow Sheng Yao raved about you after he went back, and now that I've seen you in person, it's clear you live up to your reputation. Not only is your soul talent unparalleled throughout history, but you also have such a powerful protector by your side. No wonder even my proud disciple had to submit."
"Junior Lin Ming greets Xuan Kongzi Master Xuan Kongzi." Lin Ming bowed respectfully, showing reverence for this pinnacle figure in the continent's Alchemist world.
Xuan Kongzi nodded, then turned his gaze to Elder Mu Gu, who was trying to slip away quietly. His expression instantly turned cold, and his voice carried an undeniable authority. "Mu Gu, this is my Pill Tower's territory, not a place where your Soul Hall can act recklessly! Considering that the two sides haven't completely broken ties yet, I'll spare your life today. Go back to your Soul Hall and tell your Hall Master that during the Pill Gathering, if anyone from the Soul Hall dares to lay a hand on Alchemist valued by my Pill Tower, don't blame my Pill Tower for showing no mercy and uprooting all your spies in Sacred Pill City!"
As soon as he finished speaking, Xuan Kongzi lightly waved his sleeve.
A gentle yet irresistible force enveloped Elder Mu Gu. Before he could even utter a sound, his figure vanished instantly, like a stone thrown into water, and he was transported to some unknown corner Sacred Pill City.
After casually dealing with Elder Mu Gu, Xuan Kongzi looked at Lin Ming again, his expression becoming serious. "Lin Ming, the Soul Hall has been very active during the Pill Gathering. Their goal is probably not just the Pill Gathering ranking, but also the 'Three Thousand Burning Flame'. You have completely offended them, and you must be extremely careful in the future."
He paused, then continued, "Sheng Yao's previous invitation remains valid, and I also hope you can come to the Pill Tower as soon as possible. There are some things that need to be discussed with you in person. Regarding the Soul Hall, the Pill Gathering, and even... regarding your extraordinary Soul Power, perhaps we can find some answers and possibilities for cooperation."
Xuan Kongzi's words undoubtedly raised the level of importance attached to the Pill Tower to another level, directly elevating it to the level of the three giants.
Lin Ming understood that this was both an opportunity and a potential trap in a larger vortex. But he felt no fear; instead, a surge of pride rose within him. He took a deep breath and solemnly cupped his hands in greeting to Xuan Kongzi:
"Many thanks to Xuan Kongzi Master Xuan Kongzi for his help and reminder. This junior will certainly head to the Pill Tower as soon as possible to pay my respects to the guild masters!"
Xuan Kongzi nodded in satisfaction, then gestured to Elder Yao before his figure vanished silently into the void, just as he had arrived, as if he had never been there at all.
The Courtyard returned to tranquility, with only Lin Ming and Elder Yao remaining, along with the lingering faint Spatial Fluctuations and a trace of blood.
The moonlight remained cold and clear, but Lin Ming knew that the turmoil in Sacred Pill City had accelerated because of him. The trip to the Pill Tower was now imperative!