Soul Hall Attacks

"My son, Xiao Yan, has the makings of a Dou Di! Reaching the Dou Huang realm at eighteen—has the Xiao Clan seen such a genius in ten thousand years? Hahahahahahaha!"

Hearing Xiao Zhan's voice from outside the hall, Xiao Yan sprayed out a mouthful of wine.

Shaking his head helplessly, he said, "It's already the second day. Why is Father still like this?"

After news spread yesterday that Xiao Yan had defeated the Cloud Mist Sect's Great Elder and advanced to the Dou Huang realm, the Xiao Clan threw a lavish feast and spent without restraint.

Even during the day today, any mercenary who came to buy medicine only needed to tell the guards, "Congratulations to Young Master Xiao Yan for defeating the Cloud Mist Sect and advancing to the Dou Huang realm."

The healing medicine would be given away for free!

The entire Wutan City was in an uproar. More than half its people crowded outside the Xiao Clan gates to snatch medicine. The other half had not come because they had been stunned senseless by the news of Xiao Yan's advancement to the Dou Huang realm.

The Aoba Clan and Jia Lie Clan directly sent over six market districts and one million gold coins in congratulations. Many members of the Xiao Clan mocked their two old rivals mercilessly, yet neither clan dared show the slightest dissatisfaction, practically swallowing the insult spat in their faces.

A Dou Huang—saying that he could wipe out those two tiny clans with a flick of his fingers was already being polite.

The celebrations continued into the night. Xiao Zhan's laughter had not stopped since yesterday. Xiao Yan had long since slipped away while everyone was still enjoying the feast, seeking a little peace and quiet.

"What's wrong? Isn't this what you wanted?" Yao Lao's voice sounded.

"Of course it is. Didn't I work myself to the bone so my clansmen could always live like this?" Xiao Yan said.

"It would be nice if Xun'er were here."

"Your little girlfriend has probably heard the news already. She must be waiting day and night for you to go to Jianan Academy," Yao Lao teased.

"It's time to go. Once I settle things at home, I'll head to Jianan Academy. Didn't you say that place... Teacher, what's wrong?" Xiao Yan suddenly sensed Yao Lao's aura beginning to change.

"People from the Soul Hall... have come." Yao Lao's voice was terrifyingly cold.

"A Dou Zong?" Xiao Yan sensed it. "Teacher, watch me take him down."

"The Soul Hall's methods are strange. You'll suffer if this is your first encounter with them. I'll do it."

As he spoke, Xiao Yan felt his aura, already at the Dou Huang realm, continue to rise steadily. His body gradually passed into Yao Lao's control, and his eyes turned white.

Xiao Yan's absorption of the Crimson Lotus Karma Flame had naturally sent his cultivation soaring, but Yao Lao had also benefited greatly from this opportunity. The Crimson Lotus Karma Flame contained far too much energy for Xiao Yan, so the portion he did not need had been transferred to Yao Lao through their connection, further restoring Yao Lao's strength.

"Watch carefully. There will be no shortage of battles between us and the Soul Hall in the future," Yao Lao instructed.

A black shadow in the void looked down at the lively Xiao Clan residence and said disdainfully, "A trash clan whose strongest member is merely a Da Dou Shi is worthy of a prefecture-level Protector's intervention? I really don't know what those above were thinking."

At the side of the black shadow, where he paid no attention, a faint wisp of white flame silently appeared.

Looking at the jade bottle in his hand, Xiao Yan said, "Teacher, these Soul Hall people really are troublesome."

"The Soul Hall acts in strange and unpredictable ways. Back then, I suffered greatly at their hands. If I hadn't relied on the Bone Chilling Flame, you probably would never have met me. Find a secluded place and pry some information out of this fellow. The Soul Hall would not come to Wutan City without reason."

"Alright." A pair of wings appeared behind Xiao Yan as he flew out of the city, landing at the foot of a mountain shortly afterward.

After confirming that no one was around, Xiao Yan took out the jade bottle and removed its seal. A thin layer of Bone Chilling Flame covered the bottle. With a thought from Yao Lao, a soul body floated out of it.

"Yao Chen, you dare capture this Protector... Aaaah! Aaaah!"

Before the soul body could finish its threats, a wisp of Bone Chilling Flame wrapped around it. The agonizing pain of its soul being burned forced the soul body to scream endlessly.

The Bone Chilling Flame gradually weakened. Looking at the listless soul body, Xiao Yan asked, "Who are you?"

"You can forget about getting anything from me... Aaaah! Aah..."

Half a quarter-hour later, Xiao Yan looked at the now fearful soul body and asked, "Can you speak properly now? Who are you?"

"Soul Hall Protector Jiu Ying." Looking at the Bone Chilling Flame around him, the soul body finally answered.

"Why did you come to Wutan City?"

"To kill Xiao Yan."

"You're still not being honest, Teacher."

The Bone Chilling Flame began scorching Protector Jiu again. "I'll talk, I'll talk!" an eager voice cried out.

Xiao Yan looked at Protector Jiu indifferently. "You came to the Xiao Clan to take a piece of jade. It should be in Xiao Zhan's possession—a piece of jade that cannot be damaged by any means."

Xiao Yan frowned deeply. "What is this jade for?"

"My rank is too low... I don't know."

"Teacher." Xiao Yan's cold voice sounded again.

"Don't! This jade is extremely important. Even the Venerables value it highly. I truly don't know anything else!" Protector Jiu cried.

"Did you know of my teacher's existence beforehand?" Xiao Yan asked.

"No. The mission contained no information about either of you. If the Medicine Venerable were here, I would not have come alone," Protector Jiu answered.

Xiao Yan sealed Protector Jiu back inside the jade bottle and had Yao Lao reinforce the seal. Protector Jiu harbored too much evil intent; if it had been the Crimson Lotus Karma Flame, he would have been burned away in less than half a quarter-hour.

Xiao Yan frowned deeply. Protector Jiu's purpose had caught him by surprise. If he had come to capture Yao Lao, Xiao Yan could simply have run, since Yao Lao was inside his body. But the target was the Xiao Clan. He truly could not imagine what his utterly ordinary clan possessed that could attract the Soul Hall.

"Teacher, what do you think?"

"First, go get that jade from your father. Anything valued by the Venerables will not be simple. I have no clue right now either."

Xiao Yan was anxious, so he hurried back to the Xiao Clan. After he explained the matter to Xiao Zhan, Xiao Zhan directly gave him the jade and told him how to use it.

"Before your grandfather passed away, he told me that this jade was tied to the lives of everyone in the Xiao Clan and that I had to safeguard it well. Yan'er, have you learned something?"

"Father, I can't say for sure yet, but this matter is very important."

"It's fine." Xiao Zhan patted Xiao Yan's head. "You've grown taller in the past few years away. The Xiao Clan will have to rely on you from now on. Whatever happens, do as you see fit. Your father may not be able to help you much anymore, but I will always have your back."

Xiao Yan's body trembled. After bowing, he returned to his room, the corners of his eyes slightly damp.

Xiao Yan carefully took out the jade. Its patterns were ancient and simple, and its texture was warm and smooth. The point of light representing Xiao Zhan was distinct, but aside from that, there was nothing special about it.

"Teacher, do you recognize it?"

Yao Lao examined it for a while before saying, "Soul power cannot probe it. I have never seen this thing either."

"Protector Jiu said it cannot be damaged. I'll try." Xiao Yan exerted force with his hand. Even Dou Huang-level strength applied to the ancient jade did not change it in the slightest. Xiao Yan kept increasing his force, trying every possible method.

Finally, looking at the ancient jade that had remained utterly unmoved even after being burned by the Crimson Lotus Karma Flame for the time it took an incense stick to burn, he said, "Even a Heavenly Flame can't do anything to it. What exactly is this thing?"

Yao Lao looked at the ancient jade in the flames, suddenly seeming to remember something.

"This thing may be related to a Dou Di."

"A Dou Di?" Even Xiao Yan could not help but suck in a sharp breath.