Lin Ze'an slowly took out his token, his gaze sweeping coldly over the Spirit Hall Soul Masters and the Evil Soul Master struggling on the ground. "Looks like that last purge didn't teach you people a thing."
Putting on such a blatant act was like grinding the dignity and credibility of Spirit Hall into the dirt.
"You know what crime it is to shield an Evil Soul Master, don't you?"
The moment they saw the token, the few men hurriedly dropped to their knees, their faces turning deathly pale.
"W-we greet the esteemed Elder... Please forgive us, Elder!"
At the word "Elder," the Evil Soul Master's twisted face contorted even further, and her eyes filled with terror.
She struggled to get up and flee, but the agony in her chest left her unable to move. All she could do was lie there in despair, her lips trembling.
Lin Ze'an glanced around. The once-bustling street had fallen into chaos, with people screaming as they scattered in every direction.
"There's no need for explanations."
Lin Ze'an spoke indifferently and flicked his wrist. Countless vines shot out with lightning speed, wrapping around the Evil Soul Master and the Spirit Hall Soul Masters.
"Mm! Mmm!" The Evil Soul Master had just tried to scream when a vine clamped over her mouth, choking off her voice.
In moments, the group had been bound tight, turned into living dumplings.
At that, Lin Ze'an gave a light wave of his hand. The vines dragged the tightly bound group toward the Spirit Branch Hall in Suotuo City.
The vines rustled as they dragged the captives along, drawing sidelong glances from the people who hadn't yet fled. But not a soul dared approach.
The merchants and passersby who had narrowly escaped huddled in the street corners, staring at the scene in dumbfounded shock.
A young man had subdued so many Soul Masters with such a forceful display. It was simply beyond belief.
Before long, the heavy gates of the Spirit Branch Hall in Suotuo City were smashed open by a powerful force.
Several Palace Guard Knights standing outside were sent flying inside. They rolled across the ground several times before coming to a miserable stop.
"What's going on?!" Cries of alarm immediately rang out from inside the branch hall.
At that moment, Lin Ze'an strode through the Spirit Branch Hall's gates, dragging along the people bound tightly in vines like dumplings.
"Outrageous! Who dares trespass in the Spirit Branch Hall?!"
Several Soul Masters inside the hall immediately roared, Soul Power surging around them as they assumed guarded stances.
But the moment they saw the token in Lin Ze'an's hand, their words caught in their throats.
Lin Ze'an's gaze swept across the stunned deacons and Palace Guard Knights in the hall, then settled on the figure hurrying over from the rear.
"We greet... the esteemed Elder!"
On the way here, Lin Ze'an had already asked around. As expected, this man was Gao Yunting, the Bishop of the Spirit Branch Hall in Suotuo City.
Gao Yunting had just hurried out from the rear hall. The instant he saw Lin Ze'an, his expression changed drastically, and he quickly bowed in greeting.
Lin Ze'an gave a slight nod, but didn't linger on him. Instead, his gaze went straight to the Evil Soul Master still struggling on the ground.
Then he asked coldly, "Do you know what crime it is to shield an Evil Soul Master?"
"And do you know what crime it is for a branch-hall Bishop to trample on the dignity and credibility of Spirit Hall?"
At his words, cold sweat instantly beaded on Gao Yunting's forehead. His legs gave way, and he hurriedly dropped to his knees. "Elder, please see the truth! We absolutely didn't shield them!"
"We've done everything we can to hunt down these Evil Soul Masters. Elder, please see the truth!"
"Everything you can?" Lin Ze'an snorted and pointed at the veiled woman. "She's only a Soul King. Don't tell me you couldn't beat her."
The Bishop lowered his head even further. Sweat slid down his cheeks, while the deacons behind him also bowed their heads, not daring to meet Lin Ze'an's gaze.
"Evil Soul Masters have committed numerous murders in Suotuo City, slaughtering civilians and draining their Soul Power."
"And you, members of Spirit Hall, actually shielded and indulged them. Your crimes are unforgivable."
Lin Ze'an turned and called out toward the hall entrance, "Ghost Leopard!"
"Here!"
At the reply, a black figure swept in from outside like a gust of wind.
Ghost Leopard appeared beside Lin Ze'an and bowed respectfully. "Elder!"
Lin Ze'an looked at him and gave an order. "Take everyone here into custody. Investigate thoroughly. Anyone who colluded with or shielded Evil Soul Masters goes straight to Slaughter City."
Ghost Leopard immediately nodded and replied in a deep voice, "As you command, Elder!"
"Slaughter City?!" The people in the hall erupted in an uproar, their eyes wide with terror. Their legs gave out, and they collapsed to the ground.
Even those who had never been there had heard of Slaughter City. It was the most terrifying city of sin on Douluo Continent.
Being thrown in there meant a fate worse than death—and never making it out alive.
Gao Yunting's face turned deathly pale, his whole body shaking violently, his eyes full of terror and despair.
He stumbled backward several steps, slamming into a stone pillar inside the hall. "No! I don't want to! I don't want to go to Slaughter City!"
His legs were so weak he could barely stand, but his instinct to survive drove him to flee at all costs.
In an instant, Soul Power surged beneath his feet, and six Soul Rings appeared.
"I... I'm a Soul Emperor! You can't treat me like this!" Gao Yunting howled, his eyes bloodshot. "I'm... I'm..."
Before he could finish, he kicked off the ground and shot toward the hall entrance like a black shadow, fleeing for his life.
He was about to burst out of the hall and escape to freedom.
However—
"Bang!"
A shadow moved even faster than he did.
A cold glint flashed in Ghost Leopard's eyes. His figure was like a black bolt of lightning as he intercepted Gao Yunting at even greater speed.
He raised his right leg and kicked Gao Yunting hard in the chest.
"Bang—!"
Gao Yunting didn't have time to react. The kick sent him flying into the stone wall inside the hall. He slid to the ground, letting out a bloodcurdling scream.
He curled up on the ground, his chest heaving violently as blood spilled from the corner of his mouth.
Mouthful after mouthful of blood sprayed from his lips, splattering across the floor.
Ghost Leopard stood coldly before him, looking down at the man who had tried to flee. "If I let you get away, I might as well go to Slaughter City myself."
Gao Yunting trembled and tried to get up, but his body was too weak. All he could do was watch as Ghost Leopard spoke.
"Colluding with Evil Soul Masters and damaging Spirit Hall's reputation—your crimes are unforgivable."
"Since you want to run, I'll grant your wish and send you straight to Slaughter City!"
The other Soul Masters in custody witnessed the scene. Their faces turned ashen and their bodies shook, and not one of them dared entertain the thought of escaping.
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