Medicine Elder, you also don't want Fairy Qing...

"Medicine Elder—"

"I respect you as a senior of high standing, which is why I have been unwilling to sour our relations!"

"However, if you continue to play dumb, Senior!"

"Then things between us will not be so easy to negotiate from here on out..."

Xiao Yan held the black-mist-shrouded Ten Thousand Soul Banner, smiling faintly, his words dripping with threats.

The very moment the Ten Thousand Soul Banner appeared, the system's notification chime rang out.

[Ding—]

[Host, well done!]

[Congratulations to the Host for using such an incredibly domineering posture, wielding the supreme villainous treasure "Ten Thousand Soul Banner," to fiercely terrify the soul entity Yao Chen!]

[As the strongest "goldfinger" grandfather to the world's destined protagonist "Xiao Yan," Yao Chen is currently gripped by immense fear, his composure nearly shattered!]

[Obtained Super Villain Points +300!]

Oh?

I can earn Super Villain Points this way too?

Not bad, not bad at all.

Xiao Yan couldn't help but chuckle inwardly; this easily earned back the points he had just spent on the lucky draw.

Noticing that Medicine Elder, hidden within the Mystic Ring, still refused to appear, Xiao Yan could only shake his head to himself. This "old man" certainly knew how to endure.

However.

Having read the original work and now holding the upper hand, he had plenty of ways to manipulate the situation.

And so, Xiao Yan continued to "strike while the iron was hot": "Stop playing dumb! Senior Medicine Elder!"

"You wouldn't want to end up with your soul scattered, unable to take revenge with your own hands, and forced to watch that rebellious disciple of yours, Han Feng, remain at large, would you?"

"Furthermore—"

"I'm sure you wouldn't want Fairy Qing or Xuan Yi to..."

Before he could finish his sentence.

Suddenly!

With a "swish"—

A profound light erupted from the ring, condensing into a phantom figure before Xiao Yan.

With white hair and a grey robe, his face was lean and refined, his brows carrying an air of detachment from the world. Even in his soul state, he could not hide the demeanor of the powerhouse he once was.

So this is Medicine Elder?

Looking at the soul phantom before him, Xiao Yan raised an eyebrow slightly.

I have to admit, this old man has quite the presence; he is truly worthy of being the Medicine Venerable who once shook the continent.

However—

Before Xiao Yan could think further.

The remnant soul of Medicine Elder that had burst from the ring reacted with astonishing speed!

The moment he appeared, he transformed into a streak of light, retreating at lightning speed to the corner of the room, putting a distance of several yards between himself and Xiao Yan!

At the same time—

"Boom!"

A cluster of bone-white flames rose from Medicine Elder's palm, instantly condensing into a fiery barrier to shield himself.

Bone Chilling Flame!

An exotic fire that intertwined extreme heat and extreme cold, ranked eleventh on the Exotic Fire Ranking!

Medicine Elder controlled the fire with one hand and formed a seal with the other, his eyes fixed on Xiao Yan with extreme vigilance—or more accurately, fixed on the Ten Thousand Soul Banner shrouded in black mist in Xiao Yan's hand.

What is that thing?!

Medicine Elder's pupils constricted.

As a soul entity, he was exceptionally sensitive to such cold, eerie auras.

The black banner simply hung there, and the wisps of black mist it emitted made his Dou Zun-level soul feel a faint sense of palpitations and dread.

It was as if—

That thing was his natural nemesis!

"This..."

Medicine Elder felt a tempest raging within his heart.

Having lived for over a hundred years and traversed the continent for so long, he had seen countless treasures, yet he had never encountered anything so bizarre!

A mere wisp of its aura was enough to fill him with a terror that made him feel as if his soul would scatter into nothingness!

It was as if a single gentle wave of that black banner would instantly suck his soul inside, condemning him to eternal damnation!

What on earth... is this kid's background?!

Medicine Elder stared fixedly at Xiao Yan, his heart filled with extreme shock.

He remembered clearly that three years ago, when he had inadvertently regained consciousness within the Mystic Ring, he discovered that this boy named Xiao Yan possessed extraordinary talent. He had spent his time secretly observing the boy's character while quietly absorbing his Dou Qi to restore his own soul.

For these three years, every move Xiao Yan made had been right under his nose!

He had watched with his own eyes as this former genius, due to his own clandestine absorption of Dou Qi, saw his cultivation plummet, falling from the clouds to the depths of despair and becoming the laughingstock of all Wutan City.

He had watched as Xiao Yan was mocked by others during the day and bit his lip while shedding tears alone under his covers at night.

He had watched as this kid wanted to give up time and time again, only to climb back up and stubbornly continue his cultivation.

He could be certain...

In these three years, Xiao Yan had not stepped a single inch outside the Xiao Family, had not practiced any outrageous evil techniques, and had certainly not come into contact with any "expert"!

But—

What was going on today?!

He was clearly at the third stage of Dou Qi this morning, so how did he suddenly become a Dou King?!

The Xiao Family was clearly just an ordinary, small clan with mediocre foundations, so how could they suddenly produce such a bizarre treasure that even he, the Medicine Venerable, found terrifying?!

"Impossible..."

"This is absolutely impossible..."

Medicine Elder screamed frantically in his heart, the look of vigilance on his face growing heavier.

He subconsciously took another half-step back, the Bone Chilling Flame in his palm burning more fiercely to shield himself completely.

As a soul entity, he knew his current situation all too well.

If his physical body were still intact, with his former strength at the peak of the Dou Venerable realm, he would not be this wary.

But now, he was merely a fragile soul. While he might be able to deal with a Dou King or even a Dou Emperor by exhausting his means and using the Bone Chilling Flame, that "black banner" in Xiao Yan's hand seemed to be the natural nemesis of soul entities!

Vaguely.

Medicine Elder had an intuition that if he were the slightest bit careless, he would end up with his soul scattered to the winds!

"This kid..."

Medicine Elder's gaze remained locked on Xiao Yan; beyond the shock, there was now a greater sense of scrutiny and confusion.

He carefully sized up the youth before him.

Fifteen or sixteen years of age, with delicate features, yet his eyes were surprisingly calm, even carrying a hint of playfulness.

That kind of look was not something a youth from a remote, small city should possess.

Instead, it looked like—

Like a hunter who had anticipated everything and held the victory in his grasp!

This was clearly and drastically different from the Xiao Yan he had known for three years.

What shocked Medicine Elder even more was that this kid actually knew his identity!

Medicine Venerable, Han Feng, Fairy Qing, Xuan Yi...

Any one of these names should not be something a mere youth in Wutan City could possibly know!

How on earth does he know?

Or could it be... is he some big shot?

Or—possession?!

Countless thoughts flashed through Medicine Elder's mind, and the more he thought, the more terrified he became.

He stared intently at Xiao Yan, attempting to discern something from the other's expression.

However.

Xiao Yan simply stood quietly in place, holding the black Ten Thousand Soul Banner, a faint smile playing on his lips as he neither spoke nor moved.

That composed and mysterious demeanor made Medicine Elder feel increasingly uneasy.

The atmosphere in the room solidified to the extreme.

After a long silence—

Medicine Elder finally could not help but speak, his voice low and hoarse, carrying a heavy sense of vigilance and apprehension:

"Since you know my identity and background, Yao Chen, then you should be well aware of my temper!"

"Today—"

"If you do not give me a proper explanation as to who you really are."

"Then do not blame me, Yao Chen, for risking this old life of mine to fight you to the death!"