Soul Hall Appears

"Lin Sen, Lei Na, Xiao Ding, and Xiao Li are in your hands."

Outside Rock Desert City, Yang Chen was parting ways with Lei Na, Lin Sen, and Hai Bodong. He had matters of his own to attend to, and there was no longer any need for him to keep watch over the Jia Ma Empire.

"Rest assured, Second Master. We'll definitely train the two young masters well!"

Lei Na thumped his chest with a resounding bang, his face brimming with excitement. At first, when training Xiao Li, Lei Na had been somewhat cautious. But after discovering just how effective the medicine Second Master had given him was, he gradually became bolder.

The result was that an entirely new world had been opened up for Lei Na. He trained Xiao Li ruthlessly. After every session, Xiao Li would be left sprawled on the ground.

Naturally, the results of such training were extremely gratifying. It had not even been that long, yet Xiao Li seemed like a completely different person, his entire being exuding a tenacious toughness.

Yang Chen greatly approved of what Lei Na and Lin Sen were doing. Moreover, he would be leaving the Jia Ma Empire for some time, so certain arrangements had to be made in advance. Xiao Ding and Xiao Li no longer required his concern for the time being, while Xiao Yan had Yao Chen keeping an eye on him. That only left True Lord Hall.

True Lord Hall did not have many people at present, but it was located in the imperial capital and had Fa Ma looking after it. With Hai Bodong being sent to oversee matters in the imperial capital as well, and Yun Yun keeping the Yunlan Sect in check, Yang Chen did not need to spend much thought on it.

"Mm. If anything happens, go to the imperial capital and find Hai Bodong. Discuss it among yourselves and resolve it. If there is a major matter that cannot be decided, and I am not around..."

Yang Chen paused slightly. Then, under the strange looks of Hai Bodong, Lei Na, and Lin Sen, he finally spoke softly.

"If that happens, go to the Tagore Desert."

Although Yang Chen did not say so outright, Hai Bodong, Lin Sen, and Lei Na all knew whom they were to seek out in the Tagore Desert. Their expressions immediately became rather amusing, and they could not help sighing inwardly.

As expected of Medusa Queen. Her methods were truly formidable.

This time, more than just the few of them had gone to the Tagore Desert. That little girl named Qing Lin, the saintess of True Lord Hall and someone Second Master cherished so dearly, had also been left in the Snake-People Royal City to be raised by Medusa Queen.

Ignoring those curious gazes that concealed faint amusement, Yang Chen gave Hai Bodong another instruction before landing on the back of the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King and saying in a deep voice,

"As for the Mittel Family, use your own judgment. Let's go. To Wutan City!"

After Yang Chen departed, Hai Bodong also flew straight toward the imperial capital. His relaxed figure carried the air of an old man rekindling the fervor of youth.

In a dense forest dozens of kilometers outside Wutan City.

Yang Chen rode leisurely toward Wutan City atop the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King. After seeing Xiao Yan this time, Yang Chen would leave the Jia Ma Empire for a while. The next time they met would likely be nearly a year later, at Xiao Yan's coming-of-age ceremony.

"Master, should I stay behind and protect the Third Young Master?"

The Purple Crystal Winged Lion King's deep voice slowly rang out. Its master had three nephews in total. The first two each had a Dou King expert protecting them, but no one had been assigned to protect the Third Young Master. That seemed somewhat inappropriate.

"There's no need. After you take me to Wutan City and familiarize yourself with Xiao Yan, return directly to the Magic Beast Mountain Range. When that boy enters your territory, remember to leak the news about the Companion Amethyst Source to him."

Yang Chen smiled softly, seemingly already looking forward to Xiao Yan taking the Companion Amethyst Source right from under the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King's nose.

The Purple Crystal Winged Lion King was clearly confused by Yang Chen's arrangement. No matter what, even if it only displayed the strength of a sixth-tier magical beast, how could someone below the level of a Da Dou Shi possibly sneak in without making a sound?

"But Master, with my strength, how could the Third Young Master possibly get close?"

"Don't worry. When the time comes, I'll find someone to spar with you. It'll be a good chance to see whether his courage is great enough!"

Yang Chen had naturally considered such matters. Handling it would be simple enough. He only needed to find a Dou Huang to lure the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King away, then let Xiao Yan make trouble on his own.

What kind of genius could not make trouble? No member of the Yang Clan was incapable of stirring things up!

"Hmm? Descend!"

Suddenly, Yang Chen's eyes narrowed. His expression turned grave as he spoke in a deep voice. Even as he spoke, his hands were already forming seals. Immediately afterward, an unfathomable aura enveloped Yang Chen and the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King beneath him.

By the time the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King landed in the forest and shrank its body, the auras of both Yang Chen and the lion king had completely vanished.

The instant their auras disappeared, space suddenly twisted. Then, three strange figures concealed beneath black robes silently emerged.

"Wutan City is ahead. It seems we did not take the wrong path."

One of them held a map and spoke softly after carefully comparing it. Another was about to nod in response when he suddenly said with uncertainty,

"Eh, something feels strange."

"What is strange about it?"

A third person spoke up, but the one who had raised the concern merely shook his head. The other could not help chuckling.

"See? You're overthinking it again. It was the same back then. There was clearly nothing wrong, yet you insisted on being suspicious of everything and even got reprimanded by the Hall Master."

"Wasn't I simply being cautious? If something went wrong and the Hall Master became enraged..."

Seeing that the two seemed about to start arguing, the first man quickly separated them and tried to mediate.

"That's enough. Stop arguing. Let's first go to Wutan City and investigate. The Hall Master's mission is what matters!"

"Hmph. Let's go!"

With that, the three of them tore through space once more and vanished above the forest. Beneath the trees, Yang Chen's face remained grim. He said nothing, and no anger showed on his face. Only the hand gripping the Universe Fan tightened until the folded fan creaked.

The Purple Crystal Winged Lion King, lying on the ground in a form no larger than an adult dog, did not even dare breathe loudly. As a magical beast, it could sense the suppressed yet surging killing intent within its master, like a volcano on the verge of eruption.

"Ha! Ha!"

After taking two deep breaths, Yang Chen's gaze became profound once more. A cold smile curled at his lips as he muttered to himself,

"Soul Hall? I never expected them to appear so soon. Truly, enemies are bound to meet. It seems that three years from now, the Yunlan Sect will become even livelier. Heh."

Yang Chen gave a cold laugh. His left hand unconsciously reached up to stroke the eye on his brow, and in his eyes, that stormy night seemed to appear before him once again.

"It seems my plans must be moved forward as well."