Soul Hall Protector

"Here, the information you asked us to look into."

Su Qian smiled.

"I truly don't know where you get your news from, to even know about the Ancient Eight Clans."

Su Qian wore a smile, but in his heart, he was certain that the Misty Cloud Sect was merely one of Yun Zimo's masks; there must be a much greater background behind him. This was the fundamental reason he was determined to befriend Yun Zimo!

"According to the latest intelligence, they were originally active in the Southwest Continent, but for some reason, they recently moved to the Northwest Continent. It just so happens that two protectors are currently operating within the empire near the Black-Corner Region!"

This was truly a coincidence—a coincidence so great that Su Qian felt there must be some massive conspiracy, though he could not yet fathom what it was.

"A Heaven-rank protector from the Soul Hall Western Branch, codenamed Wu, entered the Jia Ma Empire half a month ago!"

Yun Zimo's expression turned grave; what was meant to come had finally arrived!

"So it's that wild duck, Wu Ying."

Seeing Yun Zimo's grave expression, Su Qian glanced at the message and spoke with disdain.

"A... a wild duck?"

Yun Zimo was stunned. How could a dignified seven-star Dou Ancestor and Heaven-rank protector of the Soul Hall be reduced to a wild duck?

"The Northwest Continent is located in the far west of the entire Dou Qi Continent. It is the most barren land, second only to the north. Coupled with the activities of the Dark Night Clan, neither large merchant caravans nor powerful Central Plains factions would ever set up branches here," Su Qian explained slowly.

"You know that the Soul Hall is spread across the entire continent."

"However, because the western region is too remote, even the Soul Hall, which is never picky, finds it undesirable. That is why they only have one branch in our Northwest region, consisting of only Heaven, Earth, and Human protectors along with a group of Soul Envoys. They haven't even stationed a Soul Hall Elder here..."

"Ah? That's so shabby..."

"Yes, it is indeed shabby."

Su Qian nodded in agreement.

"After all, the Soul Hall branches I learned about while in the Central Plains always started with a Soul Hall Elder in command, with swarms of protectors under them."

"This one in the Northwest, while called a branch, is really just an office—a transit station. The one that truly calls the shots is the Underworld City Branch in the western region of the Central Plains!"

"Underworld City... Central Plains!"

Su Qian nodded inwardly. This kid had finally realized the significance of the Central Plains.

"The Central Plains is where geniuses gather; it is the place where you should let your brilliance shine!"

Su Qian stroked his beard and smiled.

"So, you don't need to worry about a character like Wu Ying."

"The Central Plains is not a place one can just go to so easily..."

Recalling that the Central Plains was a place where even a Dou Emperor was as common as a stray dog, Yun Zimo sighed softly. Without reaching the Dou Ancestor realm, he didn't even have the qualifications to walk the world!

"I can give you a recommendation letter for Jia Nan Academy. You can choose which Central Plains faction to join!"

Su Qian, who had been waiting for this moment, immediately took out a letter that had already been stamped; it was clearly prepared well in advance!

"Great Elder, have I just become a student of Jia Nan Academy?"

Yun Zimo was taken aback, then the corners of his mouth curled up as he shook the recommendation letter in his hand.

Old fox! Yun Zimo smiled slightly. Using him to fight for Jia Nan Academy was really...

Su Qian, however, lifted his teacup without a hint of shame or a change in his pulse. Since you've already accepted the letter, you can say whatever you want.

"Tell me, if we suppress that Wu Ying, will the Soul Hall come looking for trouble?"

Yun Zimo suddenly asked.

"Pfft!"

Su Qian sprayed out the tea he had just sipped. Looking at the serious, contemplative expression on Yun Zimo's face, he roared.

"Do you know who stands behind Jia Nan Academy? Do you know who stands behind the Soul Hall?"

"You are trying to ignite a war between the Lei Clan and the Soul Clan!"

Su Qian felt a chill at Yun Zimo's madness. Suppressing a Soul Hall protector? He actually dared to think of such a thing!

Before the Dean went on his travels, he specifically instructed that as long as the Soul Hall did not target Jia Nan Academy, they should try to avoid contact with them. Yet this kid was actually thinking about capturing a Soul Hall protector!

"Even if Wu Ying is a watered-down product raised through shortcuts, he is still a Dou Ancestor cultivated by the Soul Hall. His strength isn't the point; the point is that he is a man of the Soul Hall!"

"Why do they dare to collect souls across the continent so unscrupulously? Isn't it because they have the Soul Hall and the Soul Clan standing behind them?!"

Su Qian spoke with earnest concern. Suppressing Wu Ying wasn't difficult; the difficulty lay in what followed.

How would they deal with the Soul Hall? Furthermore, any major faction on this continent knew whose property Jia Nan Academy was. If someone from the academy made a move, it would easily give the false impression that the Lei Clan wanted to start a war.

"If I—and I mean without involving Jia Nan Academy—take out Wu Ying, would there be any problems?"

Yun Zimo asked tentatively.

"Do you think a Soul Tablet is just for show?"

Su Qian retorted irritably.

"You know what the Soul Clan is best at. As long as you dare to kill him, it won't be long before a much stronger Soul Hall protector descends upon the Jia Ma Empire. It's just a small empire; who knows how many are wiped out by the Soul Hall every single day!"

"We cannot kill him, and we dare not capture him. Are we just supposed to let that bastard wreak havoc on my home?!"

Yun Zimo's expression turned ugly as he crushed the teacup in his hand. Was he to just stand by and let Wu Ying stir up trouble across the Jia Ma Empire simply because of the Soul Hall?!

Su Qian sighed but did not refute him. That was how it was on the Dou Qi Continent; if you were strong enough, you could do whatever you pleased. Dissatisfied? No matter how dissatisfied you were, you could only endure it and suffer in silence...

"Unless you can become strong enough to annihilate this Soul Hall, or even the Soul Clan, the Misty Cloud Sect is nothing but an ant in their eyes..."

Su Qian spoke these taboo words slowly. In truth, he did not wish for Yun Zimo to be overly shackled by the sect; pursuing the strength of one's own power was the only true path on the Dou Qi Continent!

"Aren't you the same, having toiled for Jia Nan Academy your entire life?"

Yun Zimo turned his head to look at Su Qian and said.

"Because, for the time being, they cannot afford to provoke them!"

Hearing this, Su Qian only sighed and spoke this single sentence.

"Indeed, they cannot afford to provoke them..."

Yun Zimo smiled self-deprecatingly, a bitter, inexplicable feeling in his heart. The Misty Cloud Sect was destined to be the cannon fodder chosen by the Soul Hall, whereas Jia Nan Academy never was...

"My apologies, Great Elder."

Gently pushing the letter of recommendation back in front of Su Qian, Yun Zimo's expression turned relaxed.

"The sect made me who I am; I cannot cast aside the grace of my upbringing and the bonds of the sect. Since this is unavoidable, at the very least, I will have fought back!"

Bowing deeply, Yun Zimo turned and left, leaving Su Qian staring blankly at the gold-embossed letter of recommendation, letting out a long sigh after a long while.

Why must you be so foolish...

"Steady your mind!"

Yun Zimo roared, his fingers striking out in rapid succession to stimulate the Dou Qi hidden within Ren Xia's vital acupoints. Moments later, Ren Xia's aura surged, and a pair of flaming Dou Wings condensed behind his back!

"Many thanks, Commander!"

After stabilizing his realm, Ren Xia bowed in gratitude, only to be held up by Yun Zimo's hand.

"Reaching the Dou King realm is good. In the future, the affairs of the Xia Lan will require your hard work and dedication; I have not been a very competent commander."

Ren Xia was somewhat flattered, but before he could say anything more, Yun Zimo began to instruct another Dou Ling.

"It is thanks to you informing me of the whereabouts of Fan Lao and his three companions in advance that I was able to invite the elders of Jia Nan Academy to assist."

Yun Zimo looked at the leader of "Zero." He was the very mole Fan Lao had "pinned his high hopes on," yet Fan Lao could never have imagined that "Zero" had been Xia Lan from the very beginning, never having changed...

"'Zero' walks in the shadows. You must be even more careful with the selection process. The standard of 'better to have nothing than to settle for less' must never be relaxed!"

Yun Zimo said solemnly.

"Rest assured, Great Commander. 'Zero' shall never betray!"

The leader of 'Zero' knelt on one knee and whispered devoutly!

"From this day forward, you are the Great Commander of the Xia Lan!"

Yun Zimo handed the folded robes and bamboo hat to Ren Xia, placing his ink-black longsword atop them. The cyan and white Xia Lan emblem was clearly imprinted on the scabbard, emitting a faint glow!

"Great Commander! You..."

Yun Zimo shook his head, and the words Ren Xia had on the tip of his tongue could no longer be spoken.

"How will I find you in the future?!"

Watching Yun Zimo's retreating figure, Ren Xia suddenly shouted loudly, just as he had the first time Yun Zimo left. But this time, Yun Zimo raised a hand, and his gentle voice reached Ren Xia's ears.

"Jia Ma Empire, Misty Cloud Sect, Yun Zimo!"