Tie Protector, Adding Another Alias

A few days later, on the edge of the Nether Swamp, above a desolate mountain range where the poisonous miasma was slightly thinner.

The Wind Riding Boat slowed its speed and flew forward at a leisurely pace.

Ning Chen and Little Fairy Doctor stood side by side at the bow, gazing at the unique landscape of the Chu Yun Empire that was gradually coming into view, discussing their next stop.

"It is said that there is a 'Wan Du City' in the south of the Chu Yun Empire, where many poison masters and alchemists gather. Perhaps we can find suitable manuals and..."

As Ning Chen was speaking, he did not notice at all that in the void diagonally behind the Wind Riding Boat, a wisp of black mist, thin as smoke yet incredibly dense, appeared out of thin air like a ghost, less than ten zhang behind the boat!

Within the black mist, several phantom chains made entirely of pitch-black energy, tipped with ferocious barbs, struck out like vipers leaving their den.

With speed that surpassed the limits of visual perception, they silently yet viciously pierced through the energy shield of the Wind Riding Boat, aiming straight for the vital point of Ning Chen's heart!

Wherever the chains passed, the space rippled slightly, and an evil power capable of devouring souls permeated the air!

An ambush!

And it was an extremely bizarre, vicious attack that combined both spiritual and physical strikes!

It was not until the bone-chilling cold reached his body that Ning Chen was jolted into a state of terror!

His pupils contracted to the size of needle points, and an unprecedented sense of lethal crisis exploded throughout his entire body!

Instinctively, his Dou Qi surged to counterattack, and his body attempted to dodge, but the opponent's attack was too fast, too strange, and too unexpected!

With his reaction speed as a five-star Dou Wang, he had nowhere left to hide!

This cold and majestic fluctuation of Dou Qi... it was a Dou Zong!

In the blink of an eye, this realization caused Ning Chen's heart to sink to the bottom of the abyss.

At the threshold of life and death, he didn't even have time to feel fear; it was almost a purely instinctual reaction.

The moment the pitch-black chains were about to touch his back, he violently turned his body, his right index and middle fingers pressed together like a sword, and he struck out rapidly toward the shadow of death attacking from behind!

"Hum--!!!"

Where his fingertips pointed, the void roared and trembled, as if the surface of the sea had been stirred by an invisible giant force, suddenly setting off layers of visible, dense ripples!

Those black chains, carrying the momentum of a sure-kill strike and extreme venom, the moment they touched the ripples in front of Ning Chen's fingertips, They collided with an invisible wall of sighs, emitting a teeth-grinding, piercing vibration. They shook violently, but were unable to advance even a single inch!

Just then, a crisp notification sound suddenly rang out in Ning Chen's mind.

[Ding! Surprise value from Tie Protector +5000!]

Tie Protector? Soul Hall!

Ning Chen's heart shook violently, and he realized the truth in an instant.

This was the Tie Protector from the Soul Hall in the Chu Yun Empire mentioned in the original story! No wonder the attack was so bizarre and vicious!

Within that mass of black mist, a figure slowly emerged, draped in a black robe with his face hidden in the shadows—it was indeed the Soul Hall Tie Protector.

At this moment, his scarlet eyes were surging with overwhelming shock.

Impossible!

How could a brat whose aura was clearly only that of a Dou Wang so effortlessly block his premeditated "Soul Locking Chain" as a three-star Dou Zong?

Even if launched in haste, this strike should have been enough to severely injure or even capture an ordinary low-star Dou Zong!

How on earth did he block my attack?

A protective treasure? Or... was he faking his strength all along?!

Ning Chen was also left with lingering fears; cold sweat broke out on his back, and his heart hammered against his ribs, nearly leaping out of his chest.

If it hadn't been for the Wu Wu Kai System saving his life just now, he would have likely been captured, without even a chance to escape!

These rats from the Soul Hall! A dignified Dou Zong expert actually resorting to an ambush to deal with a mere Dou Wang?!

Ning Chen was both shocked and furious, the cold light in his eyes nearly turning into substance; if looks could kill, the Tie Protector would have died countless times over by now.

The Tie Protector felt a strange chill in his heart as he met that icy, fearless gaze, and his sense of unease grew even stronger.

Something is wrong! This brat is definitely hiding something!

Forcing down his surging murderous intent and lingering fear, Ning Chen quickly turned his head and whispered a message to the pale and flustered Little Fairy Doctor, his voice steady, "Xian'er, do not panic. Stay where you are and do not make any sudden movements. Leave this to me; there is no danger. Trust me."

His calm and certain tone acted like a sedative, settling Little Fairy Doctor's panicked mind. She nodded firmly, bit her lip, gripped her protective jade slip tightly, and chose to trust Ning Chen unconditionally.

After calming Little Fairy Doctor, Ning Chen slowly turned back, his gaze landing on the Tie Protector once more.

At this moment, the shock and anger in his eyes had completely vanished, replaced by an extreme, indifferent calm, as if he were looking down at insignificant dust beneath his feet.

"A whelp from the Soul Hall, acting as sinister and despicable as ever."

Upon hearing this, the Tie Protector's body visibly trembled, and the scarlet pupils beneath his black robe contracted sharply, "You... you actually know my origin?!"

His voice carried an unconcealable sense of shock and suspicion.

The Soul Hall operated in secrecy within the Northwest Continent, and very few people knew of their existence, let alone someone who could identify him by name in a single breath!

Ning Chen did not answer his question directly, his thoughts racing.

The current situation made a head-on confrontation the worst possible strategy, and fleeing might only invite even greater trouble.

The only path to survival was to do exactly what he had done before when he played the role of Qing Di in front of Gu Yuan: bluff the opponent once more, and establish an identity that would make Tie Protector afraid to act rashly, or even force him into a state of reverence!

You bastard, if I don't bamboozle you into a limp today and scare you to death yourself, I'll take your surname!

Ning Chen steeled his heart.

A faint, playful arc curled at the corner of his mouth, as if he had just heard some boring joke.

"Soul Hall? Heh."

Ning Chen chuckled, asking in a casual tone, "You are the protector responsible for collecting souls in this Chu Yun Empire, aren't you? Which Venerable is in charge of overseeing you?"

As soon as these words were spoken, Tie Protector was struck as if by lightning, his body beneath the black robes swaying uncontrollably!

How could he know that we are collecting souls?!

Such core secrets were only known to those of a certain rank even within the Soul Hall!

Perhaps this couldn't be hidden from the top factions in the Central Plains, but here in the Northwest Continent... who exactly is he?!

A terrifying thought surfaced in Tie Protector's mind, impossible to suppress.

The person before him was definitely not the Dou Wang he appeared to be!

He must have hidden his strength, and hidden it so deeply that even he, a Dou Zong, could not see through it!

To be able to make him sense nothing at all meant his true strength... was likely far beyond his own!

No!

He had to retreat immediately and report this matter to Venerable Jiyin!

This person was far too bizarre!

However, just as Tie Protector's black robes stirred and he prepared to transform into black mist to escape, Ning Chen's voice drifted over once again.

It was only four short words, yet they struck like four ice picks, piercing deep into Tie Protector's heart and causing his form, which was about to dissipate, to freeze instantly!

"This seat is Hun Chen."

Hun... Chen?

The surname Hun?!

Tie Protector felt his mind go "buzz" and turn completely blank.

Countless fragments of memory surged forth frantically.

He had once accidentally overheard Venerable Jiyin of the branch hall chatting with another Venerable, where they had mentioned, with immense reverence and trepidation, the true masters behind the Soul Hall—an ancient and terrifying race whose name... seemed to be "Hun"!