Eastern Region of the Central Plains.
The Ancient Realm, the Ancient Clan Elder Council Hall.
The atmosphere was somewhat oppressive.
Gu Qian clenched his fist and slammed it hard on the table!
"The Hun Clan! The Hun Clan has gone too far! This is already the third time in the past few days that they've interfered with our affairs!"
As he spoke, Gu Qian gritted his teeth and swept his gaze over the elders.
"Elders, can you really swallow this insult?!"
"Gu Qian, we can't let our emotions dictate our actions. I feel there's something... strange about this."
Gu Xu, Gu Qian's older brother, spoke in a deep voice.
Gu Qian stuck out his neck. "Strange? I think they've just decided we're too soft! They're pushing their luck and deliberately provoking us!"
Gu Shan sighed, his tone helpless.
"Even if we know they're deliberately provoking us, what can we do right now? Several of our Dou Sheng-level elders were all injured by Xiao Xuan, and they're still recovering. With just the few of us, that old bastard Hun Chi could take us all down!"
"We can ask the other two of the Three Immortals of the Gu Clan to step in!"
"Elder Gu Dao is injured, and the other two are at a critical point in their breakthroughs. Do you dare disturb them?"
"..." Gu Qian fell silent.
Those two had been in seclusion for years. Not long ago, word came that they were about to break through to Eight-Star Dou Sheng!
At a time like this, not even Gu Lie—or the clan leader—would dare disturb them lightly!
After all...
The clan leader's wife had fallen because her breakthrough failed.
They didn't want to interrupt a powerful clan member's breakthrough over some trivial matter!
Gu Shan patted Gu Qian on the shoulder.
"Enough. As long as the Hun Clan doesn't go too far, we can only endure it for now."
"But... but it's so frustrating."
"How about this? The young lady still hasn't returned, has she? Take a trip to the Northwest Continent and bring her back yourself."
"I don't wa—" Gu Qian started to refuse, then changed his mind. "I'll go. Leave this to me!"
He had suddenly remembered the reports: the Soul Hall had a branch in the Northwest Continent!
It was overseen by a mere Five-Star Dou Zun.
With his strength as a Six-Star Dou Zun,
he could easily deal with them!
So he immediately changed his tune and volunteered to go to the Northwest Continent.
He would seize this opportunity
to wipe out that Soul Hall branch in one fell swoop!
After accepting the task,
Gu Qian wasted no time. He left the Ancient Realm at once, preparing to take a Space Wormhole to the Northwest Continent!
Gu Xu couldn't help feeling that his younger brother had agreed a little too readily.
It seemed unusual.
Gu Shan figured Gu Qian was simply too pent up. A trip to the Northwest Continent would let him clear his head. Perhaps bringing the young lady back would lift his spirits.
Gu Xu didn't think much more of it.
Meanwhile,
elsewhere,
Mo Yu, the Soul Hall's Ninth Heavenly Venerable in the Dead Soul Mountain Range, had already set out for the Northwest Continent, bringing along Old Ghost Zhaixing, who had partially recovered.
She not only intended to personally guard the Soul Hall branch at Heaven Burial Ravine in the Tianxin Empire,
but also planned to deliberately spread word of its return,
so the people of the Ancient Clan would know that the branch had risen again!
When she arrived at Heaven Burial Ravine,
Mo Yu was furious at the devastation all around!
The soul bodies stored here had all been released by the "Ancient Clan"!
"Damn the Ancient Clan! I, Mo Yu, will make you pay! I'll show you that the Soul Hall is not to be trifled with!"
"Ninth Heavenly Venerable, what should we do next?" Old Ghost Zhaixing asked.
The Ninth Heavenly Venerable gritted her teeth. "Stick to the plan. I want to see who the Ancient Clan sends this time!"
"Yes."
In just two days,
the Soul Hall branch had been rebuilt!
The newly arrived Protectors resumed their century-old routine of collecting souls.
The Ninth Heavenly Venerable, Mo Yu, hid deep inside the branch, concealing her aura as she waited for the rabbit to come to her!
"Damn it, the Soul Hall actually built a branch in a godforsaken place like this!"
On the outskirts of Heaven Burial Ravine,
Gu Qian stepped out of a spatial rift.
Looking down at the desolate land below, he couldn't help cursing under his breath.
A hint of disdain showed in his eyes.
In truth, he had reached the Northwest Continent long ago.
He simply hadn't known where the Tianxin Empire was,
so he'd asked around all the way here.
When he arrived, he also spotted traces of battle below.
He thought to himself that it would be best if the Soul Hall's people had already been killed. Then he wouldn't have to lift a finger, and he'd be all the more pleased.
Before long, he reached the depths of Heaven Burial Ravine.
There, he spotted a strange building hidden among layers of clouds and mist!
He could just make out shadows emerging from the building, while other figures darted inside from outside!
Gu Qian recognized the Soul Hall Protectors' methods at a glance!
In an instant, he appeared in front of the building.
"You Soul Hall scum! Your grandpa Gu Qian is here! Get out and welcome me!"
His mighty Dou Qi wrapped around his voice, sending it reverberating across the area!
Birds and beasts scattered from the forest in fright.
Gu Qian raised a hand and unleashed a Mountain Opening Seal, slamming it down at the buildings below!
Boom!
In an instant, several buildings were reduced to rubble!
Gu Qian burst into laughter.
"Hahaha! Are all the Soul Hall cowards hiding in their shells?! I've already attacked, and you still don't dare come out!"
Unsatisfied, Gu Qian followed up with a Sea Overturning Seal!
"The people of the Ancient Clan really are arrogant!"
Just as the seal was about to land on the main hall,
a voice devoid of emotion suddenly rang out across the sky!
Then, above the main hall, a blue figure emerged from a tear in space!
The moment she appeared,
the air in the area grew damp, and tiny raindrops began pattering down!
She easily dispelled the Sea Overturning Seal!
"So it was you. The Soul Hall's Ninth Heavenly Venerable!"
Gu Qian gave a cold laugh!
The Ninth Heavenly Venerable, Mo Yu, stared coldly at Gu Qian.
An undisguised killing intent welled up in her eyes!
"You came alone?"
Gu Qian chuckled, utterly unconcerned. "Heh. You lot are no match for me. I'm more than enough on my own!"
"Since that's the case, you'll stay here forever!"
"If you want to keep your grandpa here, you'll have to prove you're strong enough!"
"A mere Six-Star Dou Zun dares to run his mouth in front of me!"
The Ninth Heavenly Venerable swept her sleeve, and the raindrops between heaven and earth converged at astonishing speed, forming a rapidly spinning curtain of rain that shot toward Gu Qian!
Green light suddenly burst from Gu Qian's palm, and an intricate hand seal took shape!
"Heaven Annihilation Seal!"
Boom!
The curtain of rain collided with the seal.
The rain curtain shattered the seal. With a sharp hiss, it sliced off Gu Qian's hand!
"Argh!"
Gu Qian let out a scream!
The Ninth Heavenly Venerable stepped forward, appearing before Gu Qian, and lightly struck out with her right palm!
Boom!
Pfft!
The blow landed squarely on Gu Qian's chest, sending him flying as blood poured from his mouth!
"Damn it! I was careless!"
Clutching his aching chest, Gu Qian used his severed arm to tear open the space behind him and plunged inside.
At the same time, he unleashed a Sea Overturning Seal.
The Ninth Heavenly Venerable blocked the attack and tried to pursue him, but it was already too late!
The Ninth Heavenly Venerable gritted her teeth and cursed, "Damn it! I was this close! That bastard still got away."
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