Several days later, above a barren mountain range on the edge of the Nether Swamp, where the poisonous miasma was slightly thinner.
The Wind Riding Boat slowed and glided through the air.
Ning Chen and Xiao Yi Xian stood side by side at the bow, looking toward the strange terrain of the Chu Yun Empire as it gradually came into view. They were discussing where to stop next.
"I heard there's a 'Wan Du City' in the southern part of the Chu Yun Empire. It's home to many poison masters and apothecaries. Maybe we can find some suitable texts there, and..."
As Ning Chen spoke, he failed to notice that in the empty space behind and to the side of the Wind Riding Boat, a wisp of black mist—thin as smoke yet astonishingly dense—had appeared out of nowhere, less than ten zhang behind them!
Within the black mist, several illusory chains formed entirely from dark energy, their tips tipped with vicious barbs. They shot out like venomous snakes striking from their den.
Moving faster than the eye could follow, they silently and ruthlessly pierced the Wind Riding Boat's protective barrier, stabbing straight toward Ning Chen's heart!
The chains sent faint ripples through the space they passed, and an evil force that sucked at the soul spread around them!
A sneak attack!
And an exceedingly bizarre, vicious assault that targeted both body and soul!
Only when the bone-chilling cold touched him did Ning Chen realize what was happening!
His pupils contracted to pinpricks, and an unprecedented sense of deadly danger erupted through him!
His Dou Qi instinctively surged, ready to strike back, and his body tried to dodge, but the enemy's attack was too fast, too strange, too unexpected!
With the reflexes and speed of a Five-Star Dou Wang, there was no way he could avoid it now!
That frigid, overwhelming surge of Dou Qi... a Dou Zong!
In the blink of an eye, the realization sent Ning Chen's heart plummeting.
With death a hair's breadth away, he didn't even have time to feel fear. His body simply reacted on instinct.
Just as the black chains were about to touch his back, he abruptly twisted around, pressed the index and middle fingers of his right hand together like a sword, and thrust them toward the shadow of death closing in behind him!
"Vmmm—!!!"
At the point of his fingers, the void shook violently. It was as if an invisible force had churned the sea, suddenly raising layer upon layer of solid, visible ripples!
The sinister black chains, hurtling toward him with lethal force, touched the ripples before Ning Chen's fingertips—
—and seemed to slam into an invisible wall of sighs. They let out a grating, tooth-aching shriek and shuddered violently, but couldn't advance another inch!
Just then, a crisp notification suddenly rang out in Ning Chen's mind.
[Ding! Surprise value from Tie Protector +5000!]
Tie Protector? Soul Hall!
Ning Chen's heart jolted. He understood at once.
This was the Tie Protector from the Soul Hall, stationed in the Chu Yun Empire in the original story! No wonder his attack was so strange and ruthless!
A figure slowly emerged from the black mist. He wore a black robe, his face hidden in shadow. It was none other than Tie Protector of the Soul Hall.
At that moment, his crimson eyes were filled with utter shock.
Impossible!
How could a kid who clearly seemed to be a Dou Wang so effortlessly block the "Soul Locking Chain" he, a Three-Star Dou Zong, had prepared in advance?
Even though he'd struck in haste, that attack should have been enough to seriously injure or capture an ordinary low-star Dou Zong!
How had he blocked my attack?
A protective treasure? Or... was he pretending to be weaker than he was?!
Ning Chen was just as shaken. Cold sweat drenched his back, and his heart hammered as if it might leap from his chest.
If the Wu Wu Kai System hadn't saved his life just now, he would likely have been captured already, without even a chance to escape!
Those gutter rats of the Soul Hall! A dignified Dou Zong was actually using a sneak attack against me, a mere Dou Wang?!
Ning Chen was both shocked and furious. The cold light in his eyes was almost tangible. If looks could kill, Tie Protector would have died a hundred times over.
Tie Protector felt an inexplicable chill beneath Ning Chen's icy, fearless gaze. His unease only grew stronger.
Something was wrong! There was definitely something off about this kid!
Suppressing his roiling murderous intent and lingering fear, Ning Chen quickly turned to the pale, flustered Xiao Yi Xian beside him and sent her a steady, quiet transmission.
"Xian'er, don't panic. Stay right where you are and don't make a move. Leave this to me. You'll be safe. Trust me."
His calm, certain tone steadied Xiao Yi Xian. She nodded firmly, pressed her lips together, and clutched the Protective Jade Slip tightly, choosing to trust Ning Chen without reservation.
After calming Xiao Yi Xian, Ning Chen slowly turned back to Tie Protector.
The shock and anger had vanished from his eyes, replaced by an utter, indifferent calm, as if he were looking down on a speck of dust beneath his feet.
"You little runt from the Soul Hall. You're just as vicious and underhanded as ever."
Tie Protector visibly jolted. Beneath his black robe, his crimson pupils contracted sharply.
"You... you know who I am?!"
His voice was full of barely concealed suspicion.
The Soul Hall operated in secret across the Northwest Continent. Few knew of its existence, let alone could identify him at a glance!
Ning Chen didn't answer. His thoughts raced.
In this situation, fighting head-on was the worst option, while running might bring even more trouble.
His only way out was to do what he had done in front of Gu Yuan: play the part of "Qing Di" again, fool his opponent, and invent an identity that would make Tie Protector afraid to act rashly—and even force him to show respect!
You bastard. If I don't fool you so badly you scare yourself to death, I'll take your name!
Ning Chen steeled himself.
A faint, playful smile curled his lips, as if he'd just heard some boring joke.
"The Soul Hall? Heh."
Ning Chen gave a soft laugh and asked casually,
"You're the protector in charge of collecting souls in the Chu Yun Empire, aren't you? Which Venerable do you report to?"
The words struck Tie Protector like lightning. Even his body beneath the black robe swayed slightly!
How did he know we were collecting souls?!
That was core information. Even within the Soul Hall, only members of a certain rank knew about it!
Perhaps the top powers in Central Plains couldn't be kept in the dark, but here in the Northwest Continent... who was this man?!
A terrifying thought surfaced in Tie Protector's mind, impossible to suppress.
The man before him was no ordinary Dou Wang!
He had to be hiding his strength—and hiding it so deeply that even a Dou Zong like himself couldn't see through it!
If he could conceal it from me completely, then his true strength... might far surpass my own!
No!
He had to retreat at once and report this to Venerable Jiyin!
This man was far too strange!
But just as Tie Protector's black robe stirred and he prepared to dissolve into mist and flee, Ning Chen's voice drifted over again.
Only four short words, yet they struck like four ice picks driven into Tie Protector's heart, freezing his form in place just as he was about to vanish.
"I am Hun Chen."
Hun... Chen?
The surname Hun?!
Tie Protector's mind rang, then went completely blank.
Fragments of memory surged through him.
He had once overheard Venerable Jiyin of the branch hall speaking with another Venerable. They had mentioned, with boundless awe and wariness, the true masters behind the Soul Hall: an ancient and terrifying clan whose name... seemed to be "Hun"!
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