After a brief recovery, Lin Yuan parted ways with the other two.
By now, Lin Yuan had absorbed the Ice and Fire Infinite Pill, Full Moon Wearing Autumn Dew, and Earth Dragon Golden Core.
Though their potent medicinal effects hadn't increased his Soul Power, they had dramatically improved how quickly it recovered.
By the time he reached the west gate of the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineer Academy, Lin Yuan's Soul Power had already fully recovered.
When he arrived at the meeting place, he found the other two already waiting for him.
"You're late, junior brother." Long Aotian flashed his white teeth, grinned, and walked over, giving Lin Yuan a thumbs-up.
"I had to deal with something on the way, so it took a while. But I'm not that late, am I?" Lin Yuan let Long Aotian sling an arm over his shoulder and bumped fists with him.
"Not too late. How did things go? Nothing unexpected happen?" Long Aotian asked with concern.
"Everything's fine. How's Master doing?" Lin Yuan meant Du Busi.
"I'm not sure. He's been in seclusion ever since I came back from seeing you a year ago."
"But Elder Jin Peng said things are going well. Maybe Master will break through his limit and emerge from seclusion before long."
"Good." Lin Yuan nodded to Long Aotian.
"It's been a long time, Senior Sister." Lin Yuan greeted Wei Na with a nod.
Wei Na smiled and nodded back, then began to get ready.
They had informed the Nine Treasures Glazed Sect about the rescue of Nana's parents in advance, and Long Aotian and Wei Na had been sent along to gain experience.
They had originally planned to send Ning Tian and Wu Feng, but their Martial Souls were too recognizable. If anyone escaped, it would cause a lot of trouble.
Moreover, Wei Na's Martial Soul was especially suited to infiltrating the Holy Spirit Cult. After obtaining Full Moon Wearing Autumn Dew, she could now create illusions powerful enough to fool Soul Emperors.
"Children, I'll wait outside. If you run into danger, release all your Soul Power. I'll come to your aid immediately," Cao Xin said.
Everyone nodded to Cao Xin. Each of them took several kinds of tangerines produced by Ju Zi, then followed Nana as she led them into the Holy Spirit Cult's branch.
It was an unremarkable building, no different from countless others in Mingdu.
Nana put on her white hood and went forward to knock. A young man wearing a hood and bamboo hat opened the door.
He let Nana inside, then Long Aotian, concealed behind him, snapped his neck with one hand.
Lin Yuan and the others were prepared to leave no survivors. They intended to slaughter every Evil Soul Master in this den of devils.
Sweat trickled down Wei Na's forehead as she walked at the front. She sent a mental message to the others: "Something's wrong."
"Besides the two Soul Emperors, I can clearly sense another mental fluctuation at the Soul Saint level."
Everyone's expressions changed in alarm. Lin Yuan was especially surprised.
This differed from the original story. There should only have been two Soul Emperors stationed here.
"Then where is that Soul Saint?" Long Aotian hurriedly asked.
"Right—"
Boom!
Before Wei Na could answer, the ground beneath them split open.
A pale, eerie hand thrust up from below and reached for Lin Yuan.
"You really know how to pick your opponent." Lin Yuan smiled faintly.
In an instant, he completed his Dragon Transformation. His hands became sharp dragon claws, and a pair of dragon wings sprouted from his back.
The moment the eerie giant hand closed around him, the power of destruction surged through Lin Yuan's body.
Like a burning piece of charcoal, Lin Yuan's body scorched the hand. It released him in pain almost immediately.
Lin Yuan seized his chance, clasped his hands together, and drove his dragon claws down.
"Tsk. What a troublesome brat." His Martial Soul Avatar vanished.
The one who had launched the ghostly hand climbed out of the ground. He was a gaunt, middle-aged man whose face was half like a rotting corpse.
The seven Soul Rings around him, arranged in the optimal configuration, revealed his Soul Saint cultivation.
The commotion brought every Evil Soul Master in the courtyard rushing out, including the two Soul Emperors.
Now that they had been exposed, Lin Yuan felt a headache coming on. The Soul Saint's appearance had completely thrown his plans into disarray.
He had originally planned to sneak in and assassinate the two Soul Emperors. He and Long Aotian could attack at the same time and instantly kill any Soul Emperor.
But now...
Their opponents numbered one Soul Saint, two Soul Emperors, and several Soul Elders.
Though there was a gap in their ranks between Soul Ancestors and Soul Kings, their side was still completely outmatched.
Lin Yuan could hold out against a Soul Saint for quite some time, and might even turn the tables if the opportunity arose.
At four rings, Long Aotian could also trade blows with one Soul Emperor and take him out of the fight. But Wei Na, a Soul Elder, wasn't much stronger than an ordinary Soul Ancestor.
The same went for Nana, who was also a Soul Elder. She was only a little stronger than others of the same rank.
This was troublesome. Seriously troublesome.
"Holy Servant No. 6, you actually betrayed us?" One of the Evil Soul Emperors recognized Nana and cursed at her furiously.
Nana immediately looked terrified. The Holy Spirit Cult had left a deep psychological scar on her.
"I should've brought Brother Ji along..." Lin Yuan said with a troubled expression.
With Ji Juechen and Jing Ziyan there, the situation would have been much better.
Facing the brat before him, whose Soul Rings were so terrifying, the Evil Soul Saint looked less than pleased.
"Boy, I'll pretend you wandered onto the wrong turf today. Leave now, and I'll let this matter go." The Evil Soul Saint spoke to Lin Yuan.
"Oh? This senior is remarkably magnanimous. It seems I judged you by your appearance." Lin Yuan gave a dry laugh.
Lin Yuan could tell something was clearly off.
With such a huge advantage, the Evil Soul Saint should have tried to keep them here.
Instead, he was urging them to run?
There had to be some unusual scheme at work. Otherwise, he wouldn't have acted this way.
"Boy, something's wrong." In the Sea of Consciousness, the God of Destruction's gaze sharpened as he warned Lin Yuan.
"What is it, Master?"
"A god-level powerhouse is coming this way."
"What?" Lin Yuan's eyes flew wide.
A god-level powerhouse heading their way was definitely bad news. The god-level beings on the Douluo Continent had no good relationship with Lin Yuan.
"Where are they?"
"Right above you."
Lin Yuan looked up in alarm.
Beneath the moonlight, a girl with six wings on her back hovered in the air.
Her features were cold and aloof, and her eyes were pure and immaculate.
She looked about as old as Long Aotian and held a holy sword that seemed to be forged from gold.
"So soon? Damn rats, you've ruined our plan!" The Evil Soul Saint cursed at Lin Yuan and the others.
Lin Yuan immediately understood why the Evil Soul Saint had reacted that way.
He had appeared here to set a trap—to hunt this Angel.