Conflict

As an elder of Spirit Hall, Yan Yu had recently been having a miserable time. A few days ago, Niya had come to him to discuss how to deal with the threat posed by Hals and Bibi Dong. At the time, he had thought his status was exalted and that he was unlike ordinary elders. He was a core member of the Elder Hall, after all. Surely, no matter what, Bibi Dong and Hals wouldn't dare touch him out of respect for the Pope. So, in a moment of impulsiveness, he had given Niya the rotten idea of striking first.

Though he had regretted it a little afterward, he hadn't given it much thought. Who could have guessed that after just one night of meditation, everything would change so drastically?

All morning, the noisy commotion around the elders' residences had kept him from finding any peace.

As a Spirit Saint, Yan Yu didn't even need to listen carefully to catch snatches of words on the wind: "plotting murder," "Holy Maiden," "Niya," and "sentenced." Each word on its own wasn't a problem, but put together, they made it easy for Yan Yu to figure out that Niya's trouble had come to light.

Yan Yu looked impatient, but his fingers kept tapping the table rapidly. He could clearly hear his heart thumping wildly.

Yan Yu clenched his left fist and pressed it hard against his left thigh, feeling a little flustered.

"Ha! What a joke. Why would I be afraid of those two kids? I've eaten more salt than they've eaten rice. Would I be scared? Hah, ridiculous."

Yan Yu muttered to himself. His voice accidentally rose a little, and he quickly lowered it again.

He didn't notice that his legs had begun trembling uncontrollably.

"Bang, bang, bang!" A series of urgent knocks sounded at the door.

Yan Yu jolted out of his thoughts and sprang to his feet, staring at the door in alarm.

When no one opened it, the person outside didn't say anything, but kept knocking. The rhythm suddenly grew erratic, speeding up and slowing down.

Yan Yu suddenly felt uneasy. Without meaning to, his heartbeat began to rise and fall with the rhythm of the knocking.

He staggered, hurriedly steadied himself against the table, and cautiously made his way toward the door.

Just as Yan Yu reached it, the knocking abruptly stopped.

Yan Yu drew a deep breath and held it. In a stern, forceful voice, he said:

"Who—who's knocking? It's late. This elder is already asleep. If you have something to say, come back tomorrow."

No one outside replied. Yan Yu pressed himself against the door and listened for a while. Once he was sure there was no sound, he cautiously opened it a crack.

Peering through the gap, Yan Yu looked left and right. Seeing no one, he let out a long breath and shut the door.

Yan Yu rested his head against the door, feeling his body go weak.

"What are you afraid of?" a hoarse, low voice suddenly came from behind him.

Yan Yu's hair stood on end, and his scalp prickled.

He turned stiffly and saw the robed figure standing silently by the table, gazing out the window.

"H-Hals..."

Large beads of sweat rolled down one after another. Yan Yu's hands and feet felt icy cold.

He swallowed and tried to keep his composure. "Hals, even as a fellow elder, you have no right to barge into my room."

Hals slowly turned around and lifted his bowed head. The blazing flames in his eyes seemed to sear Yan Yu's very soul.

"Fellow elder?" Hals let out a strange chuckle. "Heh heh heh. You're no longer an elder. From the moment you plotted to harm the Holy Maiden, you became a traitor to Spirit Hall."

Yan Yu's face paled, but he still forced himself to stand his ground.

"What do you mean, Hals? You can eat whatever you like, but you can't say whatever you like."

The flames in Hals's eyes flickered, and the corner of his mouth curled beneath his hood.

"Still denying it? No matter. Once you're in my hands, I'll make anyone spill every last one of their secrets."

Hals rolled his wrist, his right hand already resting on the Hook at his waist.

"You know, in my eyes, you're actually a coward. You're nowhere near as tough as that little girl, Niya. But even she only lasted two or three hours before she gave in."

At Hals's movement, Yan Yu's pupils shrank to pinpoints. He stayed still, but his thoughts raced.

Looks like that little brat Niya confessed everything. What do I do? What should I do? Don't panic, don't panic...

Judging by Hals's attitude, he'd probably already received an order from the Pope. That meant there was no way I could stay in Spirit Hall. At this point, my only option was to risk it. He's a Spirit Saint, and so am I. He may be strong, but I'm no pushover. Even if I can't beat him, I can still fight for my life and escape...

Having made up his mind, Yan Yu steadied himself and shouted, trying to sound braver than he felt:

"Hals, I respected you as a fellow elder and didn't want to come into conflict with you. But you've insulted me time and again. For the sake of my dignity, I, Yan Yu, will fight you to the death!"

Watching Yan Yu release his martial soul, seven Soul Rings—yellow, yellow, yellow, purple, purple, black, and black—floating behind him as his face flushed red, Hals chuckled dismissively. "Heh. Fight to the death? Do you even have what it takes?"

With his Soul Rings around him, Yan Yu's tone grew much more forceful.

"What makes you think I don't? Hals, you're far too arrogant. You may be a genius, but you're only a Seven-Ring Soul Sage, and so am I. I might not be able to take you down with me, but if we fight to the death, you'll pay dearly too."

Hals finally laughed. He abruptly lifted his head, and the Soul Flame in his eyes blazed. The Soul-Guiding Lantern had appeared in his hand at some point, shining brilliantly, while eight Soul Rings—yellow, purple, purple, black, black, black, black, and red—radiated a terrifying pressure behind him.

"E-Eight Rings?!"

Yan Yu could no longer keep his composure. His face filled with shock, and his body stiffened under the might of that final crimson Soul Ring.

"A hundred-thousand-year Soul Ring?!"

At last, Yan Yu could no longer withstand the terrifying pressure. A flash of light appeared in his hand, and a long staff entwined with several carved golden dragons materialized. His Soul Rings glimmered, but he didn't attack Hals. Instead, he turned and swung the staff at the wall.

"Boom!"

Dust billowed everywhere. Hals didn't hurry after him. He strolled through the haze and stepped over the rubble of the collapsed wall, watching Yan Yu's retreating figure. The first of his Soul Rings, the Hundred-Year Soul Ring—Soul Essence Enhancement, which hadn't lit up in a long time—glowed. Flecks of green light drifted from the Soul-Guiding Lantern and merged into the Hook in his hand. With a flash of light, Hals flung it forcefully toward Yan Yu.

Hearing the whistle behind him, Yan Yu felt the hairs on his back stand on end. Without hesitation, he swung his staff in a full arc, aiming to knock the Hook away. At the same time, his Soul Ring flashed with golden light, and his martial soul, the Coiling Dragon Staff, suddenly doubled in thickness and length.

"Clang!"

A crisp ring sounded. The Green Flame in Hals's eyes flickered several times, then settled. This was the first time anyone had ever blocked his Hook.

But if I let you escape after that, I might as well die...

The corner of his mouth lifted in disdain. The Second Soul Ring behind him flashed. He opened his mouth and unleashed an inaudible roar at Yan Yu's fleeing figure—his self-created combination technique, Soul-Quelling Roar!

It was called inaudible because it acted directly on the soul; it made no sound in the outside world.

With no time to pay attention to what was behind him, Yan Yu suddenly felt a deafening roar explode beside his ears.

"Buzz, buzz, buzz!"

Two streams of nosebleed trickled from his nostrils like little brooks. His ears were visibly unharmed, yet he still couldn't hear anything outside, only a buzzing that filled his head.

The force within him was thrown into disarray. Yan Yu's steps stumbled, and he pitched forward, tumbling to the ground.

Hals still didn't hurry. He continued walking at the same unhurried pace.

Yan Yu's left leg was visibly twisted out of shape. Anyone could tell at a glance that it was broken beyond repair.

"Heh... heh..."

Gasping for breath, Yan Yu clawed at the ground and dragged himself forward. His eyes bulged, filled with terror...