My Master Is Hun Xuzi!

"Hun... Miesheng?!"

The black mist roiling around Venerable Jiyin abruptly stilled, and the sickly green soul flame flickered violently!

How could he not know that name?!

It belonged to the supreme master of Soul Hall, Lord Hun Miesheng!

He was a Dou Sheng Expert who stood at the peak of the continent—the true ruler of Soul Hall!

And this man, who called himself "Hun Chen," had dared to speak the master's name directly?!

A storm surged through Venerable Jiyin's heart.

He was shocked that the other man knew the master's true name and spoke of him so casually.

He was also suspicious of the man's identity. After all, the Soul Clan was even more secretive than Soul Hall, and most of its members operated in the Central Plains. It was all the more unlikely that one of them would come to this remote corner of the Northwest Region.

But then again, if the man were an impostor, how could he know such a deeply guarded secret?

Anyone who knew the master's name—however little else they knew—had to be a powerful Soul Hall or Soul Clan member, at least a Dou Zun.

The alternative was that he belonged to some other major faction and possessed even greater strength—at minimum, a high-ranking Dou Zun! Perhaps even a Half-Saint!

As his thoughts raced, Venerable Jiyin's anger and suspicion quickly gave way to uncertainty and wariness.

Whether this "Hun Chen" was genuine or not, it was clear that he wasn't someone Venerable Jiyin could afford to provoke.

If he was an impostor, his ability to impersonate someone so calmly while knowing so many Soul Hall secrets meant he had a terrifying backing.

And if he was genuine... then he was someone Venerable Jiyin could only look up to—and perhaps curry favor with!

He weighed the pros and cons in an instant.

Venerable Jiyin drew a deep breath and slowly withdrew his oppressive aura.

"Tie Ying, where is that 'Lord Hun Chen' now?"

Tie Protector keenly sensed the change in his attitude. Relieved, he quickly replied,

"Reporting to Your Excellency, Lord Hun Chen is currently at the Wanxie Sect."

"Hmm..."

Venerable Jiyin pondered for a moment, then made up his mind.

Rather than remain here, consumed by doubt and risk offending someone he shouldn't, he would go and meet the man in person!

He could test the man, confirm his identity and gauge his strength. And if the opportunity arose... perhaps he could even make a valuable connection!

In a place like Soul Hall, having more connections—especially ones that led to the Soul Clan—was more important than anything.

"I understand."

Venerable Jiyin spoke slowly.

"For now, handle the soul collection as that lord wishes. Make the necessary preparations. I'll go to the Wanxie Sect in person and pay Lord Hun Chen a visit."

Tie Protector was secretly delighted, knowing his move had been the right one. He bowed and replied,

"Yes! I'll make the arrangements at once and notify the Wanxie Sect and Lord Hun Chen in advance!"

At the Wanxie Sect, in a secluded courtyard.

Ning Chen had just finished helping Xiao Yi Xian with a difficult passage in the Seven-Colored Poison Scripture when a series of surprise points appeared on his system panel.

[Surprise points from Venerable Jiyin +6666...]

[Surprise points from Venerable Jiyin +5600...]

Looks like a bigger fish is about to take the bait.

Half a day later, high above the Wanxie Sect's mountain gate.

Dark clouds stirred in the sky, and a flash of dark green light streaked past.

The space ahead silently shattered like fragile glass, then collapsed into a deep black hole with edges that warped and writhed.

Venerable Jiyin stepped out of the black hole in his black robes.

He turned slightly and asked Tie Protector, who followed close behind,

"Is Lord Hun Chen here?"

Tie Protector lowered his head and replied,

"Reporting to Your Excellency, I already sent word to Lord Hun Chen that you were coming. He's meditating in seclusion on the rear mountain. You may go straight there."

"Hmph."

Venerable Jiyin let out an emotionless snort. He was somewhat displeased by Tie Protector's excessive eagerness, and felt that he had lost a little face in front of his subordinate.

But wary of the mysterious "Hun Chen," he ultimately chose not to tear through space and appear directly on the rear mountain.

Instead, he stepped into the air and glided unhurriedly toward the Wanxie Sect's rear mountain.

On the Wanxie Sect's rear mountain, outside an elegant pavilion.

Venerable Jiyin quietly arrived, guided by his soul perception.

His soul power swept the area like radar, having already scanned it carefully several times.

The result only deepened his doubts.

Aside from himself, there was only one presence here, and the energy fluctuations of that presence... clearly belonged to a Dou Wang!

How could that be?

If this were truly an important figure from the Soul Clan, no matter how low-profile he was, he wouldn't disguise his strength so completely in front of Soul Hall subordinates, passing himself off as no more than a Dou Wang.

It made no sense.

Suppressing his tangled thoughts, Venerable Jiyin descended and walked toward the pavilion, half-hidden by vines and exotic flowers, his doubts and wariness mounting.

Inside, a figure in blue robes stood with his back to him, hands clasped behind him as he gazed into the distance at the faint poisonous mists drifting among the mountains and the lush greenery.

"You finally came..."

Sensing Venerable Jiyin's arrival, Ning Chen didn't turn around at once, as though the man's presence meant nothing to him.

Venerable Jiyin paused. The "Dou Wang" he sensed stood in stark contrast with the man's extraordinary calm and composure, making him inexplicably uneasy.

Though he was ninety-nine percent certain, he didn't dare gamble on that remaining one percent.

Steadying himself, he spoke first.

"Jiyin, Venerable of the Northwest Region branch of Soul Hall, pays his respects to the envoy."

Only then did Ning Chen slowly turn around. His expression was calm, his gaze settling on Venerable Jiyin as he gave a faint "Mm" in acknowledgment.

Then, before Venerable Jiyin could speak again, Ning Chen broke the silence himself, his tone even and direct.

"Venerable Jiyin, did you come in person because you still have doubts and don't fully believe what I told you?"

Venerable Jiyin's heart tightened, and his brows furrowed despite himself.

He wouldn't dare admit outright that he did have doubts, especially when the other man had called him out so bluntly.

But he didn't want to let the matter slide, either. He had come here intending to test and verify.

His thoughts raced, and he lowered his posture even further.

"The envoy exaggerates. How would this subordinate dare question you? It's just that you came to the Northwest without any formal order from Soul Hall, and..."

He paused slightly, as if searching for the right words.

"Your aura is so restrained, so unfathomable, that my meager perception can't discern your true cultivation. This subordinate is uneasy. So I took the liberty of asking for clarification. I hope you'll understand that I'm only doing my duty and give me some indication, so I can serve you with peace of mind."

His words were impeccable. Whether or not Ning Chen was an important figure from the Soul Clan, there was nothing to fault in them.

Ning Chen sneered inwardly. The old fox was as cunning as ever—he'd tossed the question right back to Ning Chen and made him prove himself.

Still, this worked out well. Better for Ning Chen to make something up than have Venerable Jiyin ask about details that didn't exist in the original story.

As it happened, Ning Chen might not have had many talents in his previous life, but he'd been excellent at making things up.

"Ah..."

Ning Chen suddenly sighed, his face turning rueful and helpless.

He didn't answer Venerable Jiyin right away. Instead, his gaze seemed to pass through the mountains beyond the pavilion and settle on some distant place.

Silence fell over the pavilion, broken only by the faint rustling of the wind through the vines.

After a long moment, Ning Chen drew his gaze back and looked at Venerable Jiyin again, his tone calm.

"It's understandable that you'd have doubts about my identity. The clan has always kept its affairs secret."

He paused, as though he had made up his mind, then spoke slowly.

"I didn't leave the clan on an assigned mission. I came here because... I couldn't disobey my master."

"Your master?"

"Indeed."

Ning Chen nodded, the helplessness in his expression deepening.

"My master... is Hun Xuzi."