The Mystery of Burning Flame Valley, the Hall of Souls Loses Its Composure

"It wasn't impossible."

Hearing this, Lei Ying, the Lei Clan Patriarch, said in a deep voice, "According to my clan's intelligence, Yao Chen's disciple, Xiao Yan, had already cultivated Burning Flame Valley's Heavenly Flames Three Profound Transformations before coming to Central Continent."

"However..."

"Compared to whether Yao Chen and Tang Huoyun had been in contact."

"This Clan Leader is more curious about one thing: why had Burning Flame Valley hidden its strength all these years? And where had those two Dou Saint-level Puppets come from?"

At this point.

Lei Ying subconsciously looked toward Gu Yuan.

His eyes filled with curiosity, he said, "As far as I know, Brother Gu, you had a good relationship with Old Ancestor Fen Yan back then. Moreover, you were both Late Nine-star Dou Saints. Do you know anything we have never heard of?"

Meeting the gazes of the various clan leaders.

Gu Yuan slowly said, "I did have some ties with Old Ancestor Fen Yan back then, but when it came to secrets such as a sect's foundation, he definitely wouldn't have told me."

"As for these two Puppets at the Two-star Dou Saint level, I guess Old Ancestor Fen Yan probably found them in some Ancient Ruins and left them in Burning Flame Valley before his death as part of its inherited foundation?"

Hearing this.

The Ling Clan Patriarch subconsciously said, "Brother Gu, Old Ancestor Fen Yan was an expert from the same era as you, and he had the cultivation of a Late Nine-star Dou Saint. Logically, his lifespan should not have been exhausted. How could he have suddenly fallen without the slightest warning?"

Facing the Ling Clan Patriarch's question.

Gu Yuan was silent for a moment before saying quietly, "According to the intelligence gathered back then, Old Ancestor Fen Yan's death had a great deal to do with Hun Tiandi and the Soul Clan."

"It's just a pity..."

"Although every sign pointed to them, I had not the slightest concrete evidence in my hands."

"The place where Old Ancestor Fen Yan's aura had last vanished contained nothing except a massive pit that appeared to have been left by a self-detonation."

After learning that Old Ancestor Fen Yan's death was related to the Soul Clan.

The various clan leaders' expressions all turned solemn.

Especially the Ling Clan Patriarch and the Shi Clan Patriarch. For some reason, a trace of unease suddenly rose in their hearts, as if their clans were about to face annihilation.

At the same time.

Central Continent, the Soul Clan Soul Realm.

Looking at the scene on the Heavenly Dao Gold Ranking in the void.

Hun Tiandi, a Late Nine-star Dou Saint, said with amusement in his eyes, "I never expected that before that old fellow had been forced by Our Clan to self-detonate, he would still leave Burning Flame Valley two Puppets at the Two-star Dou Saint level, as well as a secret method capable of allowing a Three-star Dou Saint to surge by one major realm."

"No wonder Burning Flame Valley was able to suppress those two Dou Saint forces from beyond Central Continent."

"And climb to fourth place on the mainland's Sect Power Ranking."

After Hun Tiandi finished speaking.

Nihility Devouring Flame, who stood beside him, suddenly said, "Quite a few people in the clan are interested in Burning Flame Valley's secret method for increasing its strength, as well as the previously awarded Heaven-tier Intermediate Dou Technique, cultivation method, and Ninth-Grade pills from the Heavenly Dao Gold Ranking."

"This time..."

"Are we really not going to act?"

"Among the Ancient Eight Clans, the only person who poses a threat to Our Soul Clan is Gu Yuan. Given our current situation, it seems there is no need for us to be so cautious, is there?"

"Wait until the Gold Ranking finishes its assessment." Facing Nihility Devouring Flame's question, Hun Tiandi responded before saying with fervor in his eyes, "Nihility, haven't you noticed?"

"The grade of the pills awarded by the Heavenly Dao Gold Ranking has been steadily rising."

"Burning Flame Valley, in fourth place, has already received a Ninth-Grade Treasure Pill. If this continues, then based on my calculations, the pill rewards for the top three will most likely be a Ninth-Grade Profound Pill, a Ninth-Grade Golden Pill, and an Emperor Pill."

"Once the Hall of Souls, backed by Our Soul Clan, reaches first place!"

"This Clan Leader will obtain the Emperor Grade Pill, successfully break through the Emperor Realm Shackles, and advance to become the only Dou Emperor on Dou Qi Continent."

"Then, the things you mentioned earlier will be within easy reach for Our Soul Clan!"

"Therefore, everything can wait until the Gold Ranking ends and This Clan Leader receives the reward."

Hearing this.

A dark glint flashed through Nihility Devouring Flame's eyes.

But it was quickly concealed.

He said quietly, "Aside from Pill Tower, there is still a Mysterious Force that has yet to reveal itself."

"Although we have confidence in the Hall of Souls, this Mysterious Force is an uncontrollable factor. What if it surpasses the Hall of Souls and takes first place on the Sect Ranking? Then..."

Facing Nihility Devouring Flame's concern.

A ruthless look flashed through Hun Tiandi's eyes.

His tone chilling, he said, "This Clan Leader thought of that long ago. We'll ignore it for now. If there truly is an Emperor Pill, then regardless of which force it ultimately falls into, This Clan Leader will obtain it at all costs!"

"Even if the other side is a Nine-star Dou Saint Expert, it will be no exception."

"A thousand years ago, Xiao Xuan, Old Ancestor Fen Yan, and the Pill Tower Founder were all Supreme Experts at the Late Nine-star Dou Saint level. Yet what happened in the end? Didn't they all fall to Our Soul Clan's schemes?"

"If this Mysterious Force truly surpasses the Hall of Souls and makes the list."

"Then This Clan Leader won't mind recreating the Elimination Plan from a thousand years ago."

"After the Xiao Clan fell apart, Our Soul Clan has claimed to be second on Dou Qi Continent, but no one can claim to be first!"

Looking at the incomparably overbearing Soul Clan tyrant, Hun Tiandi.

Nihility Devouring Flame had intended to say something. However, in the next second, it seemed as if his throat had been seized, and he could not utter a word. He stared at the Heavenly Dao Gold Ranking in stunned disbelief.

That was because.

At this moment, on the Heavenly Dao Gold Ranking.

The scene of Burning Flame Valley had vanished.

In its place were rows of sinister, terrifying black palaces covered in ghostly flames.

Countless figures dressed in black cloaks and holding Soul Locking Chains moved around the black palaces...

When he saw the familiar architecture and black-robed figures on the Heavenly Dao Gold Ranking.

Hun Tiandi's expression also darkened instantly. He had considered the Mysterious Force ranking third and Pill Tower ranking third, but he had never considered that his own Hall of Souls would rank third.

Yet now, with the facts laid before him, he had no choice but to acknowledge it.

[Third Place on the Sect Power Ranking: Central Continent—Hall of Souls]

[Reason for being on the list: Although the Hall of Souls was the worst-reputed force on Dou Qi Continent, laying formations everywhere, creating death, and harvesting Soul Bodies, it had been able to develop until now because of its formidable strength and the backing of the Soul Clan, one of the Ancient Eight Dou Emperor Legacy Families;

Because of the restrictions imposed by the Alliance Agreement of the Ancient Eight Clans.

The Hall Master, 'Hun Miesheng,' publicly displayed the cultivation of a Late Four-star Dou Saint.

His actual cultivation was Initial Five-star Dou Saint; the Deputy Hall Master was a Late Three-star Dou Saint; the Great Heavenly Venerate was a Late One-star Dou Saint. In addition, the Hall of Souls also had Hun Qing Saint, an Initial One-star Dou Saint, as well as the Eight Heavenly Venerates and countless Dou Zun Experts.

Because its background, the 'Soul Clan,' was not included in the combat-strength evaluation for the Sect Power Ranking.

It therefore ranked third on the mainland's Sect Ranking!]

[Reward for being on the list: one Heavenly Grade High-level Cultivation Method, one Heavenly Grade High-level Dou Technique, and one Soul Attack Secret Method.]

[Special Soul Artifact—Myriad Souls Banner (capable of containing over ten thousand souls and possessing Soul Attack methods).]

[Everyone in the Hall of Souls advances by one star.]

[Five Ninth-Grade 'Profound' Pills.]

!!!

Central Continent's Hall of Souls.

After seeing the Gold Ranking's evaluation of the Hall of Souls.

The enormous Hall of Souls seemed to have been frozen in place. Everyone stood rooted to the spot, stunned into silence.

No one knew how much time passed.

After regaining his senses, the Hall Master Hun Miesheng instantly lost his composure. The aura of an Initial Five-star Dou Saint erupted from him, and he roared with a ferocious expression, "Damn it! How could it be third? How could my Hall of Souls rank below Pill Tower?"

"Why isn't the Soul Clan's background included in the Power Ranking's evaluation?"

"This Hall Master refuses to accept this!"