Protector Wu (41k)

When Yun Yun returned to her room, she found Liu Yu inside, though she was hardly surprised. Back in Sacred Feather City, she had usually slept beside him. She did not need to think to know that the Grand Elder must have brought him here.

"Yun'er, it's getting late. Time to rest!" Liu Yu said softly, watching her with a smile.

Yun Yun rolled her eyes at Liu Yu, but did not refuse...

Several days later, a tremendous disturbance erupted deep within the Misty Cloud Sect, sending terrifying waves of residual energy rippling outward.

At Yun Shan's secluded cultivation grounds, sinister black mist filled the sky. An icy voice, tinged with furious frustration, rang out from within it. "Yun Shan, do you have a death wish? You actually dare attack me? Have you forgotten that I was the one who helped you break through to Dou Zong?"

Yun Shan stood in the sky with his hands behind his back and sneered. "Helped me break through to Dou Zong? More like secretly poisoned me so you could control me and achieve your own goals!"

"Did I help you break through to Dou Zong or not? Without me, you would already be dead! Since you can't recognize a favor when you see one, don't blame me for showing no mercy! Hehehe!" Protector Wu laughed in anger. He did not know how Yun Shan had learned all this, but it no longer mattered. A Dou Zong's soul, along with the entire Misty Cloud Sect, would barely make up for his losses this time.

With a movement of his hand, a pitch-black chain appeared in Protector Wu's palm with a clatter. It trembled slightly. A moment later, he gave a strange laugh and flicked his arm. The chain instantly slashed across the sky, becoming a blurred black line that pierced through space and shot toward Yun Shan.

The chain's tip was extraordinarily sharp and covered in mysterious runes. Spiral patterns wound around its point, and under the impetus of Protector Wu's energy, faint traces of baleful aura seeped from it. Clearly, this dark chain was no ordinary object.

"Great Sorrow Wind-Ripping Hand!"

Watching the black chain rapidly expand in his vision, Yun Shan's pupils contracted slightly before he let out a deep shout.

As his shout fell, brilliant light suddenly burst from his palm. An enormous energy hand several dozen feet long materialized eerily, carrying a ferocious gale as it slammed toward the chain.

Boom!

The two terrifying attacks collided with a thunderous crash, making even space tremble slightly. The tremendous explosion of energy rolled across the sky like a thunderclap. Yet this attack, comparable to Yun Shan's full-strength strike, had only barely blocked Protector Wu's casual blow.

"Yun Shan, since you dare betray me, prepare to die! Hehehe!" Protector Wu smiled sinisterly. Once he killed Yun Shan and extracted his soul, he would make sure to torture him thoroughly!

He flicked his arm, and three black shadows surged from behind him with a clattering sound, circling endlessly above his head like three venomous snakes.

"Three-Stage Soul Lock!"

He extended his pitch-black hand and changed his hand seal. The three chains circling above his head shot toward Yun Shan with piercing whistles. As they streaked forward and crossed, they sealed off every avenue of escape. Clearly, Protector Wu intended to kill Yun Shan in a single strike!

Just then, five enormous energy fluctuations suddenly appeared in the sky. Four huge serpentine energy constructs and an earthen-yellow mass of energy resembling a meteor abruptly emerged from the void. Three slammed toward the chains, while the other two surged toward Protector Wu.

Yun Shan did not miss this excellent opportunity. His gaze suddenly sharpened, and his hands swiftly formed seals. A fierce shout filled with cold killing intent resounded across the sky.

"Wind Brake Obliteration!"

As his shout fell, vast quantities of Wind-Attribute Dou Qi gathered above his head, rapidly condensing into an azure Dou Qi sword more than ten feet wide. The sword spun wildly, making an exceptionally shrill sword cry ring through the sky.

Yun Shan swiftly changed his hand seal and pointed toward Protector Wu. The enormous, wildly spinning sword immediately shot forward!

In an instant, the sword pierced through the resistance of space. After a few flickers, it hurtled toward Protector Wu alongside the other two energy attacks.

Within the roiling black mist, Protector Wu's expression grew somewhat grave as he watched the three energy attacks surge toward him. As a protector of the Hall of Souls, capturing soul entities was as easy as turning his hand. In ordinary combat, however, protectors like him were not much stronger than anyone else.

Against Yun Shan alone, a mere One-Star Dou Zong, his strength as a Mid-Rank Dou Zong would certainly allow him to kill his opponent in the end. But these five Dou Zongs could already threaten him!

Protector Wu steeled himself. More than a dozen pitch-black chains surged violently from his body, blanketing the sky as they collided with the three powerful attacks.

Bang!

An extraordinarily terrifying energy storm swept outward from the center of the explosion in an instant, engulfing a radius of several hundred meters!

At that moment, the black mist churned and rushed toward the edge of Yun Shan's secluded cultivation grounds. Protector Wu had clearly made a feint; his true aim was to retreat.

A wise man did not swallow a loss staring him in the face. So Yun Shan could find help, could he? Next time, he would bring the Hall of Souls' protectors from across the Northwest Continent and wash the Misty Cloud Sect in blood. Only then would he erase the humiliation of fleeing today!

"Protector Wu, long time no see. Let's settle our old grievances once and for all today!" A cool voice suddenly rang out between heaven and earth.

Protector Wu looked bewildered within the black mist. Grievances? What the hell? Everyone who had a grievance with him had already died beneath his chains. The sudden voice instantly put him on guard.

Suddenly, terrifying Soul Power silently surged from every direction. Without giving Protector Wu any time to react, it enclosed the entire expanse of black mist like a cage, then began compressing and devouring it. Against that immense Soul Power, the black mist's resistance was utterly futile.

"A Spirit Realm soul! How is that possible?" Protector Wu's terrified voice rang out from the black mist as he felt that dreadful spiritual pressure. How could someone with a Spirit Realm soul possibly appear in a backwater like the Northwest Continent?

His cries of shock gradually turned into screams, for Liu Yu's Soul Power had already begun devouring his soul entity.

Liu Yu paid him no heed. He simply drove the Profound Heaven Soul Art to its fullest extent. Combined with his Spirit Realm soul, it soon devoured Protector Wu's soul entity completely. Then Liu Yu's soul drew a small mass of pure soul energy into his Spiritual World to digest.

After dealing with Protector Wu, Liu Yu slowly emerged from the void. At the same time, six figures came to his side—the elders and the others.

"Elder Liu, this Protector Wu...?" Yun Shan was the first to ask. He had now offended Protector Wu beyond any hope of reconciliation. Unless the protector was dead, he could not rest easy!

"Rest assured, former Sect Leader Yun. Protector Wu expended some energy fighting you, and I had a way to counter him. With my surprise attack, he's already dead!" Liu Yu said with a light laugh.

Yun Shan breathed a sigh of relief. As long as he was dead, all was well. Protector Wu had placed considerable pressure on him. Even setting aside the power behind him, his own strength alone meant that if he escaped, the Misty Cloud Sect would inevitably suffer his terrifying revenge.

Two figures slowly descended from the sky over Sacred Feather City. Having dealt with Protector Wu, Liu Yu returned to the Snake-People Tribe, planning to take care of a few related matters before heading to the Black-Corner Region!

Naturally, Yun Yun wanted to follow Liu Yu. Seeing this, Yun Shan decided to let her accompany Liu Yu and see more of the outside world. He would handle the sect's affairs, so she could follow Liu Yu without worry.

As Liu Yu watched the two races mingle harmoniously amid the bustle, he suddenly sensed an unusual soul fluctuation. Curious, he instantly spread out an invisible wave of soul power and traced its source—Xiao Yan!

At that moment, Xiao Yan was chatting with Yao Lao as he walked along the street, looking for overlooked treasures, when he suddenly noticed that his teacher had fallen silent. Then he abruptly realized that a terrifying surge of Soul Power had locked onto him! Like a bird startled by the twang of a bowstring, his body instantly tensed, and cold sweat poured down his back. The moment Yao Lao sensed that terrifying Soul Power, he stopped making a sound.

Passersby noticed Xiao Yan suddenly standing motionless and cast strange looks his way. Xiao Yan had no way to voice his misery. It was not that he did not want to move—he could not! That powerful Soul Power had pinned him in place.

Teacher, what do I do? Xiao Yan could only frantically call out to Yao Lao in his mind, but Yao Lao seemed to have vanished off the face of the earth. There was no response whatsoever.

Xiao Yan was anxious, and Yao Lao was scarcely any better off. That Soul Power felt somewhat familiar, but he did not dare be certain. After all, in the resource-starved Jia Ma Empire, breaking through from mortal realm great perfection to the spirit realm in just over a year was simply impossible!

Xiao Yan was numb. What exactly does this mysterious expert hiding in the shadows want? Is he toying with me? A warrior can be killed, but never humiliated! The constant stares from people on the street made him wish he were dead!

Just as Xiao Yan sank into utter despair, the terrifying power suddenly withdrew. At the same time, a calm voice rang out in his mind. "Xiao Yan, come find me at the Divine Temple!"

The moment he realized he could move again, Xiao Yan fled the scene...

Outside the Snake-People Tribe's Divine Temple, a black-clad youth approached with an expressionless face. One of the Snake-People guards stationed outside the entrance saw him and asked, "Are you Xiao Yan?"

"Yes." Xiao Yan was not surprised by the guard's question. Elder Liu had presumably left instructions. Though he was somewhat puzzled as to why Elder Liu was at the Snake-People Tribe's Divine Temple, he did not dwell on it.

"Please follow me." After confirming Xiao Yan's identity, the Snake-People guard turned and led him into the Divine Temple.

Along the way, Xiao Yan looked around at his surroundings. As they ventured deeper, the heavily stationed guards he had seen at the beginning gave way to areas that were almost deserted.

After walking and pausing along the way, Xiao Yan finally reached the center of the Divine Temple. This was the hall where Liu Yu usually handled affairs, as well as where he received important guests.

Just as Xiao Yan was about to pass through the last doorway and enter the enormous palace before him, the doors suddenly opened on their own. The Snake-People guard who had led him inside withdrew as well.

Within the spacious, luxurious hall, the figure on the throne quietly watched Xiao Yan enter. The cool, aloof woman below the throne raised her head for a brief glance, then paid him no further attention.

"Elder Liu, long time no see!"

Xiao Yan stepped forward and bowed to Liu Yu. He had not taken what happened on the street earlier to heart. Was he the sort of person who quibbled over every little thing? He glanced at Yun Yun, who seemed to be handling official business below the throne, then hurriedly withdrew his gaze and looked at Liu Yu.

"It has indeed been a long time, Xiao Yan." Liu Yu chuckled and continued, "How did things turn out between you and Nalan Yanran?"

Xiao Yan paused, but quickly replied, "Nalan Yanran and I are now brother and sister. Our engagement has been canceled."

"Brother and sister?" Liu Yu's gaze turned odd.

"Yes. With Old Master Nalan as our witness, I acknowledged Nalan Yanran as my younger sister," Xiao Yan said.

When Old Master Nalan Jie had sought him out privately to discuss the engagement, he had ultimately "settled for the next-best option," proposing that he acknowledge Nalan Yanran as his younger sister as a tactful way to reject the marriage. Old Master Nalan Jie had not forced him and agreed to his proposal. The so-called three-year agreement had also become a sparring match between siblings.

It was unexpected, yet understandable. In the end, Xiao Yan still harbored a thorn in his heart over Nalan Yanran's attempt to break off their engagement.

"Elder Liu, thank you for that bottle of companion amethyst source last time! If there's ever anything you need me for, I certainly won't refuse!"

Xiao Yan spoke suddenly. The companion amethyst source Liu Yu had gifted him after leaving that time had been an enormous help. Not only had it increased his strength, but he had also obtained Purple Flame from it and then evolved his cultivation method. This was no small debt of gratitude!

"Haha, it seems that bottle of companion amethyst source helped you a great deal." Liu Yu chuckled, then changed the subject. "I called you here this time because I discovered something interesting about you."

Xiao Yan's expression instinctively tightened. Had Yao Lao been discovered? Remembering the terrifying Soul Power he had felt on the street, his heart grew heavy.

"Don't be nervous. I sensed you communicating with a soul entity earlier, so I took a closer look." Noticing the change in Xiao Yan's expression, Liu Yu's lips curved slightly upward.

At that moment, the pitch-black ring on Xiao Yan's finger flashed faintly. An illusory old man with white hair and a white beard floated out, his gaze filled with amazement as he looked at Liu Yu.

"Young fellow, you're the most monstrous talent I've ever seen! If you had been born in the Central Plains, you would surely become one of the continent's foremost experts. But even now, it isn't too late!" Yao Lao stroked his beard, making no attempt to conceal the admiration in his eyes.

Beside them, Yun Yun was also somewhat surprised to see the elderly soul entity suddenly appear.

"You flatter me, sir. I've merely had rather good luck. This world is full of people more talented than I am. Take Xiao Yan, for instance. His talent is truly exceptional, and his future is promising!" Liu Yu was quite modest. He had a clear understanding of himself: without the Achievement System, he would not be where he was.

At Liu Yu's modest attitude and praise for Xiao Yan, Yao Lao laughed heartily. "Just call me Yao Lao. Young Liu, sometimes there's no need for modesty. A genius is a genius. As for this disciple of mine, his talent is decent enough. He's just a little rash and a little slow."

Seeing Yao Lao suddenly turn his sights on him, Xiao Yan was speechless. Who talked about their own disciple like that? Still, he was very happy to see his teacher and Elder Liu getting along so well.

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