"A nine-star Dou Emperor."
"A three-star Dou Emperor."
"They were rare existences in the Jia Ma Empire."
"Heh heh heh, so it really was these two—the Jia Ma Imperial Family's Jia Xingtian and the Misty Cloud Sect's Sect Master Yun Yun."
High above Jia Ma Holy City, a black shadow concealed within the void let out a sinister chuckle, one only it could hear, one that proved its identity better than bloodline ever could.
The shadow was a mass of eerie black mist with the ability to conceal itself. Within the mist stood a black-robed man wearing a mask, his gaze exceptionally sinister, chains circling around him.
Jia Xingtian and Yun Yun had not noticed that someone was spying on them. The former stroked his beard and replied, "As far as I know, there is a Soul Hall stronghold within the Chu Yun Empire. Soul Envoys from the Soul Hall occasionally appear there."
The Chu Yun Empire?
Yun Yun finally understood why Jia Xingtian had said she definitely could not go looking there.
Given the centuries-long enmity between the Chu Yun Empire and the Jia Ma Empire, if she, the Misty Cloud Sect's Sect Master, dared to go there, she would immediately be ambushed and targeted. She feared she would never return.
As for concealing her identity and secretly infiltrating, setting aside the Chu Yun Empire's intelligence capabilities, she was not going to seek out Soul Hall members for a friendly reunion. She was going there to kill.
The moment she fought, her identity would inevitably be exposed. Faced with the Chu Yun Empire's experts hunting her down, even as a Dou Emperor, she would have no chance of survival!
"There is one other place where a Soul Hall branch is confirmed to exist." Jia Xingtian continued, causing anticipation to appear in Yun Yun's eyes. "At the border between the Northwest Continent and the Central Plains lies the Tianxin Empire. I traveled there in my younger days and heard that there is a Hun Clan branch hall in Heaven Burial Ravine."
Yun Yun: "..."
The Tianxin Empire was a first-rate force on the Northwest Continent. On the surface alone, it had more than one or two Dou Zongs.
The Soul Hall branch within the Tianxin Empire had to be guarded by at least a Dou Zong expert.
"Other than that, this old man knows nothing more." Jia Xingtian indicated that this was all he knew.
"These leads are already enough. Thank you for telling me, Elder Jia." Yun Yun clasped her hands solemnly.
Jia Xingtian gave a slight nod and asked probing, "What do you need Soul Hall members for?"
"If it is convenient to say, you can tell this old man. If I happen to encounter anyone from the Soul Hall, I can ask for you."
When Yun Yun had decided to seek information from Jia Xingtian, she had already prepared her answer. Smiling, she said, "I recently came across notes left behind by my teacher. They said that when he traveled the Northwest Continent in his youth, he had once known someone from the Soul Hall."
"I had only happened to hear of the Soul Hall before. My teacher has been in seclusion to heal his injuries for so many years without emerging, so I wanted to find someone from the Soul Hall and see whether they might be able to help."
Yun Yun had no intention of concealing Yun Shan's closed-door seclusion, nor was there any need to.
Back then, Yun Shan had fought an expert from the Chu Yun Empire. After killing two Dou Kings, he had been severely injured by the attack produced when a Dou Emperor expert self-destructed. Jia Xingtian knew this better than anyone.
"So that was it." Jia Xingtian nodded in realization, his tone solemn. "If this old man encounters anyone from the Soul Hall, I will certainly pass on this message."
"Thank you." Yun Yun nodded politely and slowly rose to her feet. "I have other matters to attend to, so I will not keep chatting with Elder Jia."
Jia Xingtian understood what she meant and rose as well. "In that case, this old man shall take his leave first."
Jia Xingtian departed first. Yun Yun stood where she was, lost in thought for a long time before leaving as well.
Within the void high in the air, Protector Wu's expression was exceedingly colorful. "That old fellow Yun Shan has ties with our Soul Hall?"
"That explains it. When this Protector appeared, he was not particularly surprised, nor was he unfamiliar with the Soul Hall."
"When this Protector offered to help him break through to the Dou Zong realm, he actually put on an act and considered it for a whole month before agreeing."
At that moment, Protector Wu felt that Yun Shan had completely played him. So that old bastard had secretly wanted to make contact with the Soul Hall all along.
However, when he recalled the extra ingredients he had added to that pill and secret technique, he let out another "Heh heh" chuckle. "In the end, this Protector was one step ahead. Yun Shan, you do not know much about the Soul Hall's methods. Those things are not so easy to take."
Protector Wu left the void and fled in the direction of the Chu Yun Empire.
Since Yun Yun was Yun Shan's disciple and had shown no hostility when mentioning the Soul Hall, there was no need to pay her much attention.
As for Jia Xingtian of the Jia Ma Imperial Family, once Yun Shan used that doctored pill to break through, he would be perfect for testing its effects.
"Heh heh heh~"
Meanwhile.
The Xiao Clan of Wutan City.
Xiao Ting had yet to meet up with Xun'er because Xiao Yan had intercepted him halfway.
"Third Brother, if you have something to say, say it quickly." Xiao Ting looked at the mysteriously acting Xiao Yan, confusion hidden in his eyes. "I have a date with Xun'er. You know what her temper is like."
Upon learning that Xiao Ting had been intercepted by Xiao Yan, Xun'er, who had reached the entrance of the small courtyard: "..."
"Tsk, Little Ting, you've changed." Xiao Yan reached out and clutched his chest, wearing a wounded expression. "You used to have eyes only for your Third Brother. You treated Xun'er like your mortal enemy, just like me and that damned woman Xiao Yu. And now you are actually going on a date with her."
"Third Brother, people change." Xiao Ting's expression was serious, as simple and honest as ever. "When I was young, I did not know how wonderful Xun'er was and mistakenly treated Third Brother as a treasure. Now I have awakened."
Pfft.
Xun'er could not help laughing outside the courtyard gate.
She had done it deliberately too, since she did not have a habit of eavesdropping.
"Oh, Xun'er is here. Come in, come in." Xiao Yan's eyes flashed as he asked Yao Lao inwardly, "Teacher, should I still tell Little Ting about you?"
"Tell him." Yao Lao did not hesitate much. "I roughly know this girl's background. Even at my peak, I would have been wary of the force behind her. The people around her have probably already discovered me, and likely noticed that Xiao Ting broke through to the Dou Shi realm as well."
"Understood." Shock flashed through Xiao Yan's eyes.
Although he did not know how strong Yao Lao had been at his peak, he was surely at least a Dou Zong expert.
If even a Dou Zong was wary of her, then Xun'er's background...
Thinking of this, Xiao Yan looked at Xiao Ting with sympathy in his eyes. "Little Ting will have a lot of pressure in the future."
He had to cultivate hard and become Little Ting's support, lest he be bullied by Xun'er and could only swallow his broken teeth in silence.
"Cousin Xiao Yan." Xun'er entered the small courtyard and gave Xiao Yan a cool nod of greeting. Then she walked to Xiao Ting's side, smiled sweetly, and called out with a little more warmth in her voice, "Brother Xiao Ting."
Xiao Yan felt his teeth ache. This woman's double standard was far too obvious.
Faintly, he also felt a dull ache in his neck—the shadow left behind from childhood.
"Xun'er, you got up so early?" Xiao Ting asked warmly. "Have you eaten breakfast? Do you want something I make, or should we go to that restaurant on West Street you love?"
"I'll listen to Brother Xiao Ting." Xun'er answered softly. "It would just be too tiring if you started cooking now."
"It would not be tiring, but it would take time, and you would have to wait while hungry." Xiao Ting hesitated briefly before deciding, "Let's go to that place on West Street today. Tomorrow, I'll cook for you myself."
"Then Xun'er gets the best of both worlds." Xun'er's smile became even sweeter.
Xiao Yan:?!?
I have not eaten breakfast either, but I do not need to anymore.
Who could still eat breakfast after being force-fed such a huge bowl of dog food first thing in the morning?
Before you continue