Let's Go Take a Look

Early the next morning, Jiang Yuan packed his things and stepped out of his quarters. Dan Chen was already waiting at the door.

When she saw him, Dan Chen came forward. "Jiang Yuan, the elders asked me to go with you. I'm ready. We can leave whenever you are."

Jiang Yuan nodded. "Then let's go. The sooner we leave, the sooner we'll get there."

They walked side by side out of the Pill Tower and headed toward the border of the Central Plains. Along the way, Dan Chen couldn't help asking, "Jiang Yuan, I've heard the people from the Hall of Souls are pretty strong. Are you confident?"

"We'll see when we get there," Jiang Yuan said casually. "If I can't beat them, I'll run. I'm good at that, at least."

Dan Chen laughed. "You're not nervous at all, are you?"

Jiang Yuan smiled but said nothing. He did pick up his pace, though. They traveled for a little over a day, passing through several cities on the way.

Then Dan Chen pointed to a mountain range not far ahead. "It should be around there. The Three Elders said it was somewhere in those mountains."

Jiang Yuan looked where she was pointing and nodded. "Let's go take a look."

They soon reached the foot of the Mountain Range and found a concealed entrance. Several people in black robes were patrolling nearby.

Dan Chen lowered her voice. "Those must be disciples of the Hall of Souls. They look to be around Dou Wang level."

Jiang Yuan glanced at the black-robed figures, his expression unchanged. "Wait here. I'll go take a look."

Dan Chen froze. "By yourself? Isn't that too dangerous?"

"I'll be fine. I know what I'm doing. Stay here and back me up. If anything goes wrong, you can step in."

Dan Chen wanted to say more, but Jiang Yuan was already walking away. She swallowed her words. As he approached the entrance, the black-robed figures spotted him. "Who goes there?"

One of them barked the question, his hand already resting on the weapon at his waist.

Jiang Yuan stopped and gave them a faint, almost amused smile. "Just passing through. Is that not allowed?"

The man looked Jiang Yuan up and down, then frowned. "This isn't a place for you. Get lost."

Jiang Yuan laughed. "Big words. Now I really want to see what's inside."

With that, Jiang Yuan walked forward. The black-robed figures rushed at him, but before they could get close, their Dou Qi seemed to be cut off. No matter how they tried, they couldn't summon it.

Their fierce expressions turned to terror. Frozen in place, they could only watch as Jiang Yuan walked straight past without sparing them a glance and entered the passage.

Watching from her hiding place nearby, Dan Chen was secretly astonished. That ability of Jiang Yuan's is downright eerie. Inside, Jiang Yuan followed the passage for a while and soon emerged into a wide-open space.

It looked like a small Stronghold of the Hall of Souls. Quite a few people stood inside, all disciples of the Hall of Souls dressed in black robes.

The disciples turned toward the intruder, their faces wary and hostile. The black-robed man at their head was clearly much stronger than the rest. He appeared to have reached Peak Dou Emperor level.

He stared coldly at Jiang Yuan. "Who are you? How did you get in?"

Jiang Yuan looked around before answering at an unhurried pace. "I'm from the Pill Tower. I'm here to talk."

At the mention of the Pill Tower, the disciples' expressions changed, their gazes growing vicious. The man at their head sneered. "From the Pill Tower? And you came right to us? Perfect. We've been looking for a chance to give the Pill Tower trouble. Brothers, seize him!"

At his command, the disciples charged at Jiang Yuan.

Jiang Yuan made no move to dodge. He merely glanced at the first few rushing toward him, then quietly spoke three words: "Forbidden Character Art."

An invisible force spread from Jiang Yuan and instantly filled the entire space. The charging disciples suddenly felt their Dou Qi vanish, and their steps faltered.

They fell one after another, disbelief written across their faces. "My Dou Qi! Where did it go? What's happening? Why can't I use it?"

Panicked cries rose all around. The black-robed leader froze too. He tried to summon his Dou Qi, but nothing happened.

"W-what did you do?"

Jiang Yuan smiled. "Relax. I only sealed your Dou Qi. Now we can have a proper talk, can't we?"