Return of an Old Friend

Sound Valley, a major force in the Central Plains, had fallen into silence after suffering an unprecedented calamity more than a year ago.

The sect's strength had been greatly diminished, and its already sparse contact with the outside world had nearly been severed. Its disciples acted with increasing caution and restraint. Shrouded in dense spiritual mist, the vast valley resembled a wounded beast, curled up as it licked its wounds, silent to the point of deathly stillness.

Yet under such circumstances, a pitch-black figure appeared there.

This person was enveloped in a cloud of impenetrable black mist. His outline was blurred, and not the slightest trace of aura leaked from him. His strength was beyond imagination, utterly incomparable to Lei Jingxiao, who had previously come to steal Dou Techniques and cultivation methods. Even Fanyin, Sound Valley's strongest expert, would have been completely unable to detect his presence. Entering Sound Valley now was as easy for him as entering his own backyard.

He eventually stopped in an open area. The remnants of destruction here were especially severe, with massive craters splitting the ground.

Dim flames seemed to burn within the black figure's eyes. His gaze appeared to pierce straight through the physical ruins and settle upon something in the void that ordinary people could not "see." There, exceedingly complex and intense soul power was tangled together: towering hatred unwilling to perish, a morbid craving for great strength, extreme resentment at having everything destroyed, and an obsession so powerful it was nearly twisted beyond recognition!

"What powerful obsession. This trip was not in vain." The black figure spoke to himself, then used a method incomprehensible to ordinary people to stir the Dou Qi energy between heaven and earth.

Specks of Dou Qi and soul power emerged together, obeying his every wish like