His bluff had scared Tie Protector half to death

Could it... could the man standing before him really be from that legendary Soul Clan?!

That was it!

If not, how could he know the Soul Hall's core secrets?

And why would he, a Dou Zong protector, be treated with such cold indifference—as if he were a subordinate, or even an ant?

As all the clues fell into place, a "reasonable" guess took shape in Tie Protector's mind, making his heart pound with fear.

This lord, who called himself "Hun Chen," had to be from the Soul Clan!

He had concealed his true strength and traveled the Northwest Continent disguised as a Dou Wang. He must have been carrying out some highly classified mission for his clan!

Tie Protector's sneak attack must have been noticed from the start. The man had only pretended not to know because he didn't want to reveal his identity...

By now, Tie Protector was almost certain that the unfathomable "Lord Hun Chen" before him came from the mysterious and terrifying Soul Clan. He was someone Tie Protector absolutely couldn't afford to provoke!

But Tie Protector was, after all, a Soul Hall Protector, with a suspicious and calculating nature.

Even though he was seventy or eighty percent convinced, he still held on to one last urge to test the waters.

Forcing down the tumult in his heart and his fear, he lowered himself even further. His voice beneath the black robe held both respect and cautious probing.

"Please forgive me, my lord. I was blind and offended your authority."

He apologized first, then shifted his tone slightly and asked deferentially,

"There is just one thing I don't understand. I hope you'll forgive my audacity in asking, and enlighten me."

Ning Chen's expression didn't change. He merely glanced at him, silently telling him to go on.

Choosing his words carefully, Tie Protector said,

"I once heard Venerable Jiyin mention in passing that a lord joined the Central Plains headquarters some years ago. He was an Eighth-Tier alchemist and... seemed to have joined halfway through. Have you heard of this, my lord? That lord was..."

It was a rather tricky question. To answer it, one would have to be a member of the Soul Hall—and, at the very least, have considerable strength and status.

At first, Ning Chen's heart sank when he heard the question. If Tie Protector had asked about the Soul Hall's leader, or even a Dou Sheng from the Soul Clan, Ning Chen might have known a little.

But an Eighth-Tier alchemist in the Soul Hall? There were so many minor characters like that in the later parts of the book that some didn't even get names. How was he supposed to know?

But when he heard the rest of the description, Ning Chen froze.

An Eighth-Tier alchemist who had joined the Soul Hall halfway through...

Wasn't that Old Man Mugu?

With the answer already in mind, Ning Chen remained utterly composed. A faint, almost imperceptible smile even crossed his face, as though he found the question somewhat amusing.

"Heh. You're well-informed. You even know a little about Mu Gu."

Mu Gu!

Tie Protector's heart lurched!

Not only did the man know about it, he had even named the Eighth-Tier alchemist, Mu Gu!

He said it so casually, as if he were speaking of an ordinary subordinate!

The last of Tie Protector's doubts vanished completely!

All that remained was boundless fear and regret.

He had actually attacked a lord from the Soul Clan! He might as well have been asking for death!

"My lord! I was wrong! I deserve to die! Please forgive me this once, for my ignorance!"

Tie Protector hurriedly bowed, his posture utterly servile and his voice trembling.

He was terrified that the man might just think a single thought and reduce him to a disembodied soul.

Seeing Tie Protector's reaction, Ning Chen finally felt the heavy stone in his chest lift and secretly let out a sigh of relief.

At last, he'd managed to bluff the treacherous bastard!

Unlike Ning Chen and Tie Protector, each turning things over in their minds and harboring their own schemes, Xiao Yi Xian had been staring in utter bewilderment. Her thoughts were a tangled mess.

What was going on?

What was the Soul Hall? Why had Ning Chen said his name was Hun Chen?

Was that really his name, or was he pretending? And how could a name alone make this powerful, half-human, half-ghost figure beg for mercy?

Xiao Yi Xian felt her head starting to throb. The complicated, uncanny scene before her was far beyond anything she had known.

My head's so itchy. It feels like I'm about to grow a brain...

Now that the crisis had been temporarily averted, a more interesting idea came to Ning Chen.

The curve of his mouth deepened slightly as he looked at Tie Protector, who stood before him in anxious, utmost deference. A trace of amusement and coldness flashed in his eyes.

A Soul Hall Protector... He would make a pretty good pawn.

Wouldn't it be a waste of this "chance encounter" not to make good use of him?

"I can pretend that what happened today never happened."

Ning Chen spoke slowly, his tone still indifferent. Tie Protector, however, felt as if he had been granted a reprieve.

"Thank you, my lord! Thank you for your generosity!" Tie Protector hurriedly thanked him.

"However," Ning Chen continued, "since you're here, that saves me some trouble. I have other business in this area. Perhaps... there'll be something I need your help with."

Tie Protector's heart tightened, then lifted with a flicker of delight.

The chance to serve a lord from the Soul Clan was an opportunity to atone for his mistake—and perhaps even a chance to climb the ladder!

He immediately pledged his loyalty.

"Give me your orders, my lord. I'll go through fire and water for you, even if it costs me my life!"

"Good."

Ning Chen nodded slightly, seemingly satisfied with his answer.

Then he turned to Xiao Yi Xian, who was still bewildered, and introduced her casually.

"The young lady beside me has the Woeful Poison Body..."

Before he could finish, Tie Protector recoiled as if someone had stepped on his tail. He sucked in a sharp breath and cried out in shock,

"The... the Woeful Poison Body?!"

He knew exactly what the Woeful Poison Body meant!

It was the most poisonous constitution under heaven, with a cultivation speed so astonishing and poison arts so strange and overbearing that it was almost unbeatable among those of the same rank. It was the nightmare of all cultivators!

Ordinary people would do anything to avoid it. Who would dare keep someone like that by their side?

After his initial shock, Tie Protector's belief that Ning Chen was a "lord from the Soul Clan" grew even stronger.

No wonder... No wonder this lord was so fearless! What mere Dou Wang would dare keep such a "calamity" at his side?

He must be so powerful that he had nothing to fear from the backlash of the poison body!

As expected of a major figure from the Soul Clan. He even dared to make use of the Woeful Poison Body...

He jumped to the conclusion that Ning Chen was using Xiao Yi Xian. After all, that was exactly the sort of thing the Soul Hall would do. What good could the Soul Hall possibly be?

"What? Do you have a problem with that?"

Ning Chen saw Tie Protector's strong reaction and shot him a cold look.

"No! Absolutely not!"

Tie Protector shuddered and hurriedly suppressed every trace of emotion, shaking his head like a rattle drum.

"I was just... just amazed by your boundless abilities, my lord. To have someone with such a constitution serve at your side... I'm truly in awe, truly in awe!"

He wiped away nonexistent sweat, his fear of Ning Chen growing deeper still.

"Put those pointless thoughts of yours away."

Ning Chen turned his gaze away, his tone once again flat.

"Since you're willing to serve, there are a few things I need you to do."

"Give me your orders, my lord!" Tie Protector perked up and listened attentively.

"First,"

Ning Chen raised his index finger.

"Use every bit of Soul Hall influence you can command within the Chu Yun Empire, including your outer informants and Soul Envoys, to gather every high-level text, secret art, and special Dou Technique related to poison arts in the empire."

"Pay particular attention to records concerning the Woeful Poison Body or ancient poison arts. The more, the better; the higher the rank, the better. Remember, there's no need to rush, but you must be quick."

Tie Protector considered this for a moment. Gathering information and materials wouldn't be too difficult for the Soul Hall, so he promptly replied,

"Yes! I'll mobilize everyone at my disposal and gather everything for you as quickly as I can!"

"Second,"

Ning Chen raised a second finger.

"Take us to the Wanxie Sect. I need a quiet, suitable place to stay. This area is full of poison masters, so the Wanxie Sect will do."

"Make the arrangements. Ensure everyone in the sect understands how they're to serve us."

Tie Protector hesitated.

The Wanxie Sect was indeed one of the important pieces they secretly controlled in the Chu Yun Empire, useful for collecting souls and making money.

But having the entire sect serve this lord and the Woeful Poison Body... Wouldn't that cause too much of a stir?

Besides, Venerable Jiyin had made collecting souls an urgent priority. It couldn't be neglected. If this delayed the task...

Ning Chen caught the fleeting hesitation in his eyes. His gaze turned cold, and his voice grew stern.

"What? Is there a problem? Or do you think Venerable Jiyin's orders matter more than mine?"

Tie Protector's heart trembled, and cold sweat broke out instantly.

He hurriedly explained, "Please don't be angry, my lord! I'm not trying to shirk my duty. It's just... Venerable Jiyin gave strict orders that collecting souls is our top priority and must not be delayed."

"The Wanxie Sect also has a part in that. If we suddenly change its purpose, it may affect our progress. I'm afraid... I won't be able to answer to Venerable Jiyin."