Seeking an audience with Yao Lao

Yun Congxin had spent a long time considering the Gu Clan and the Hall of Souls.

Although Yun Shan, a Dou Zong, seemed to reign supreme in the Jia Ma Empire, he was actually nothing more than a tool for a Soul Hall Protector.

If Yun Congxin did not bring in another sufficiently powerful faction, sooner or later he would probably end up like Yun Shan in the novel, forced to follow one dark road all the way to its end.

Thinking back on Yun Shan's ultimate fate, the Soul Hall Protector had probably dug his grave for him while helping him break through to Dou Zong. To avoid being devoured by the Hall of Souls like Yun Shan, with not even a scrap of his soul left, Yun Congxin could only risk laying everything bare in the hope of drawing the Gu Clan's attention.

Even a little attention would do. It would be enough to deter that Protector and buy some time for himself and Xiao Yan.

Since he was already bargaining with a tiger for its hide, why fear drawing in a bear as well?

But Ling Ying heard an entirely different meaning in those words. A Dou Zong expert had suddenly appeared and told him that his sworn enemies had propped him up. No matter how he looked at it, it seemed as though the man might launch an attack without a moment's warning...

And so Ling Ying secretly began circulating his powerful Dou Qi. He could not help tensing up, putting himself on full alert.

Yun Congxin pretended not to notice Ling Ying's little movements and continued, "But I can tell those fellows are the sort to devour people without spitting out the bones. That's why I'm telling you about this, Mr. Ling. I hope you'll be careful around them."

"I felt like an old friend of yours from the moment we met, Mr. Ling, so let me offer a word of advice: this Northwest Continent won't remain peaceful for much longer. Unless you absolutely have to come here, you'd be better off staying away."

"The Hall of Souls does indeed devour people without spitting out the bones..." Ling Ying said warily. "Do you know what they're plotting, Sect Master Yun?"

What were they plotting? Obviously, just like you lot, they were plotting to seize the Xiao Clan's Ancient Jade!

Yun Congxin shook his head. "I don't know what they're plotting. They act in secret and never contact me unless they need something. The only thing I can say for certain is that they seem to be searching for something..."

"Something..." Ling Ying pressed. "Do you know what sort of thing it is, Sect Master Yun?"

He could not be too specific. At a time like this, he absolutely could not reveal too many details. Yun Congxin was merely a one-star Dou Zong, not even qualified to become a Soul Hall Protector. How could he possibly know something so confidential? He could only feign ignorance, lest he lose the rice while trying to steal the chicken.

"That I don't know. They're cautious and never explain anything to outsiders."

Ling Ying's expression grew increasingly grave. He cupped his hands and said, "Thank you, Sect Master Yun. We appreciate your kindness. I still have something to attend to, so I'll take my leave."

Yun Congxin knew the matter was more or less settled. He returned the salute and watched Ling Ying leave.

"All right, I've done what I can to set a tiger upon the wolves. The rest is up to Heaven." Yun Congxin stood where Ling Ying had secretly observed the Xiao Clan earlier, watching the clan members below board the Flying Magical Beasts one after another.

"Next, it's time to deal with my own problem."

Only after all the Xiao Clan members had boarded the Flying Magical Beasts and the grand flying procession had taken off and settled into steady flight did Yun Congxin move.

He could hint to the Gu Clan that the Hall of Souls intended to make a move on the Ancient Jade and draw their attention, but he would never trust the Gu Clan as his lifeline. He had revealed his situation to Ling Ying because he had no other choice, certainly not because he trusted the character of the Gu Clan's people.

On the Dou Qi Continent, the Gu Clan was the only faction capable of standing against the Hall of Souls that he could establish contact with.

To forge iron, the hammer itself had to be strong. Relying on anyone else was no better than relying on himself; Yun Congxin understood that much.

So he had to find a way to undo the Hall of Souls' secret technique, or all his efforts would be for nothing!

"Sect Master Yun? What's he doing here?"

Yun Shan's figure suddenly appeared in the small cabin on the back of Xiao Yan's Flying Magical Beast, taking Xiao Yan completely by surprise.

Xiao Yan had originally intended to put his tried-and-true overachiever routine to use and cultivate during the flight, so he had requested a Flying Magical Beast all to himself.

Now that had done Yun Congxin a huge favor.

"Little Yanzi, we meet again," Yun Congxin said with a smile.

"Elder Yun, what brings you here?" Xiao Yan rubbed his nose and cupped his hands. "My cousin is on another magical beast..."

"Your cousin?" Yun Congxin froze for a moment. "What does your cousin have to do with this? I'm here to see you and your teacher."

"My teacher?" Xiao Yan went rigid. "What are you talking about, Sect Master Yun? I don't understand..."

Yun Congxin gave a wry chuckle and cupped his hands. "At this point, there's no need to keep pretending, Little Yanzi. There's a senior hidden in your Storage Ring, isn't there? Although he's a soul, he still retains strength at least equivalent to a Dou Emperor. In life, he was probably at least one of those legendary... Dou Zun experts, wasn't he?"

"Sir, I mean no harm. I've truly encountered a difficult problem and have come to seek your advice." Yun Congxin solemnly bowed with his hands cupped. "Please, Senior... be generous with your guidance..."

The room fell silent. Xiao Yan stared blankly at the bowing Yun Congxin, somewhat at a loss.

Each day felt like a year. Yun Congxin felt as though his heart was about to leap out of his chest. Even during his enormous gamble of revealing his situation to Ling Ying earlier, he had not been this nervous.

May everyone in the world be healthy, and may dust gather on the medicine shelves.

Yao Lao was certainly a good man, a good man with a healer's compassionate heart. But they were neither kin nor friends, and being a good man did not mean he would help him...

What if he was suspicious of me? What if he saw that I'd relied on the Hall of Souls to advance to Dou Zong? What if I carried the Hall of Souls' aura?

Yun Congxin's thoughts ran wild, leaving him increasingly unsettled.

"Ah, how did you discover me?"

Only three breaths had passed, but to Yun Congxin, they had stretched on as though they would never end. Only when Yao Lao's voice emerged from the Storage Ring did he breathe a sigh of relief, a relieved smile appearing on his previously tense face.

"I discovered it in the Mo Clan's ruins. I investigated the incident involving the Mo Clan. That must have been your work while accompanying Little Yanzi, wasn't it, Senior?" Yun Congxin immediately delivered the answer he had prepared long ago.

"Elder Yun, what happened with the Mo Clan was..." Xiao Yan hurriedly began to explain.

"I know. I investigated the Mo Clan, and they deserved worse than death. The Xiao Clan now serves as external stewards of our Misty Cloud Sect, so we can classify this as cleaning house. You don't need to be so nervous."

"Then what do you need from me?" Yao Lao emerged from the Storage Ring and asked.

Looking at the somewhat translucent old man before him, Yun Congxin gave a full account of how he had broken through to Dou Zong with the Hall of Souls' help.

"So you think the Hall of Souls left a hidden contingency inside your body, and you want me to help examine it?"

"Exactly. As long as you're willing to help, Senior, anything in my Misty Cloud Sect is yours for the asking. Pill formulas, medicinal ingredients, cultivation methods and combat skills—as long as you need them, I won't hesitate!"

"Ah, never mind. Since you've helped my disciple so many times, I'll put in a little effort and help you this once."