The aftershocks of the confrontation in the Dense Forest had yet to fade. Holding Su Qingyuan's and Yue Huaxi's hands, Lin Chen followed the main road onward, leaving that woodland and its hidden undercurrents far behind.
His brief clash with Tang San had seemed calm on the surface, but fierce currents had surged beneath it. Lin Chen now understood that Tang San's strength far surpassed that of Soul Masters his age. With twin martial souls bolstering him, his foundations ran deep; he was no ordinary opponent. Yet this did not fill Lin Chen with apprehension. Instead, it ignited an even fiercer fighting spirit—only by defeating an opponent like this could he truly prove his heaven-defying path and protect those beside him.
Su Qingyuan and Yue Huaxi remained silent along the way, merely holding Lin Chen's hands tightly. They could sense what weighed on his mind and knew that Tang San was an opponent he could not avoid. Words were unnecessary; their quiet companionship was the firmest support they could offer.
The three walked briskly. Half a day later, a magnificent, imposing city appeared at the edge of their vision.
Its walls towered into the clouds, built from enormous gray-green stones. Ancient patterns carved into them lent their grandeur the weight of history. Above the gate, the bold, forceful characters spelling "Heaven Dou City" proclaimed the majesty of the Heaven Dou Empire's central city.
As the capital of the Heaven Dou Empire, Heaven Dou City ranked among the continent's most prosperous cities. People streamed through it like woven threads, amid the clamor of carriages and horses. Nobles in luxurious clothing, wandering Soul Masters, and hawkers calling out from their stalls passed in an endless flow. Soul Master shops and cultivation workshops stood in tightly packed rows, while rich fluctuations of soul power filled the air. It was a hundred times livelier than the area around Qinglan Mountain.
Security at the gate was strict. Every soldier stood straight and tall, and several Soul Masters were stationed there to inspect travelers. As the imperial capital, its defenses were exceptionally tight.
Lin Chen and the two women straightened their clothing, then followed the crowd slowly into Heaven Dou City.
The moment they stepped through the gate, richer spiritual energy and the bustle of everyday life washed over them. Broad, straight streets stretched between rows of shops, displaying a dazzling array of Soul Master equipment, soul rings, medicinal herbs, and cultivation manuals. Vendors' cries, conversations, and the sounds of soul power colliding in sparring matches mingled together, painting a scene of flourishing prosperity.
"So this is Heaven Dou City? It's so lively." Su Qingyuan's eyes brightened as she looked around curiously. This was her first time seeing such a prosperous city, and her gaze brimmed with wonder.
Yue Huaxi also glanced around, a faint ripple crossing her cool expression. Clearly, Heaven Dou City's grandeur had shaken her as well.
Watching the two beauties beside him, Lin Chen gave a gentle smile. "Heaven Dou City is the heart of the Heaven Dou Empire, and its factions are tangled together. Besides the Royal Soul Master Academy and the Imperial Royal Family, a Spirit Hall Branch is stationed here. We need to keep a low profile. Let's find an inn first, then ask around about resources in the city and Soul Beast hunting grounds."
He knew that beneath Heaven Dou City's prosperous appearance, hidden currents surged and the various factions' roots intertwined. The Spirit Hall Branch, in particular, had sunk its influence deep. Spirit Hall had repeatedly targeted him on Qinglan Mountain and in the Dense Forest. Now that he had entered its territory, more trouble was inevitable.
The three followed the street until they found an inn in a quiet location with elegant surroundings. They booked three superior rooms, rested briefly, then prepared to visit the Soul Master Market to buy spiritual herbs and soul tools for cultivation.
But the moment they stepped outside the inn, several Soul Masters dressed in black Spirit Hall uniforms approached head-on and blocked their path.
Their leader was an arrogant-looking young man whose cultivation had reached level thirty-six, making him a Soul Elder. Four Soul Elders around level thirty followed behind him. Soul rings lit up around all five as they swept contemptuous gazes over Lin Chen and the two women, their hostile auras thick with provocation.
"You're Lin Chen? The little brat who keeps ruining Spirit Hall's plans?" the young man demanded, his tone overbearing. His gaze roamed brazenly over Su Qingyuan and Yue Huaxi, making no attempt to hide his greed. "To think you'd dare come to Heaven Dou City yourself. You've walked straight into the net."
Clearly, they had received word long ago and had been waiting here to put Lin Chen in his place, avenging the squads crippled on Qinglan Mountain and in the Dense Forest.
Passing Soul Masters and pedestrians hurried out of the way, apprehension appearing on their faces. Spirit Hall wielded tremendous influence in Heaven Dou City, and no one dared provoke it lightly. They watched from a distance, waiting to see what would happen to Lin Chen and his companions.
Su Qingyuan's brows knitted tightly, and she instinctively moved beside Lin Chen, quietly gathering power in her Azure Lotus Martial Soul. Silver soul power surged around Yue Huaxi as her Moonlight Spirit Grass Martial Soul appeared, her cool eyes filled with vigilance. Both stayed close to Lin Chen, ready to act at any moment.
Lin Chen's gaze abruptly turned cold. The gentle Life Soul Power around him sharpened in an instant. He looked indifferently at the young man leading them and said icily, "Spirit Hall's dogs certainly have sharp ears. I've only just arrived in Heaven Dou City, and you already can't wait to come out and bite?"
"Insolence! You dare speak disrespectfully to a lord of Spirit Hall!" The young man flew into a rage. His soul rings flared, and the aura of a level thirty-seven Soul Elder erupted without restraint. "Today, I'll clean house for Spirit Hall! I'll cripple your cultivation, then take these two beauties back to the branch and have them serve us properly!"
At those words, Lin Chen's killing intent erupted in full. His pale-green Life Domain spread instantly, enveloping all five Spirit Hall Soul Masters within a ten-meter radius!
Daring to defile those beside him with their words was already a capital offense!
[Life Domain triggered: enemy soul power suppressed by 40%, martial soul activity weakened by 35%!]
An invisible suppressive force descended upon all five at once. The young man's arrogant expression changed drastically. His soul power suddenly grew sluggish, searing pain shot through his martial soul, and circulating his power became unbearably difficult. More than half his imposing aura vanished outright!
"How is this possible?! Why can't I move my soul power?!" the young man cried out, his face filled with horror. He had never seen such a bizarre suppressive ability, and fear instantly rose within him.
The other four Spirit Hall Soul Masters also looked panicked. The Life Domain left their bodies rigid, making even their soul skills difficult to activate.
Lin Chen advanced with steady steps, each one seeming to land upon the very tips of everyone's hearts. Two dark-green soul rings surged up from beneath his feet. The twin green rings, aged three thousand eight hundred years and five thousand years, shone brilliantly. Their overwhelming aura dominated the scene, making all five Spirit Hall Soul Masters' martial souls tremble!
"I haven't gone looking for trouble with you, yet you've delivered yourselves to my doorstep. In that case, today I'll teach you what you should say—and whom you should never provoke!"
Lin Chen's voice was icy. Without a trace of mercy, he raised his hand and unleashed a soul skill!
"First soul skill—Life Binding!"
Countless thick strands of Life Blue Silver Grass burst wildly from the ground like enraged green dragons. Moving at incredible speed, they instantly sealed every escape route and lashed toward the five men, coiling around them!
Suppressed by the Life Domain, the five Spirit Hall members were utterly powerless to resist. In a single exchange, the blue silver grass bound them tightly, completely sealing their soul power and leaving them unable to move!
"Second soul skill—Life Suppression!"
The five-thousand-year soul ring blazed with light. Vast Life Force transformed into an invisible mountain and slammed mercilessly onto the five men!
Thud! Thud! Thud!
A series of dull impacts rang out as the five Soul Elders from Spirit Hall were forced straight onto their knees. Their bones creaked, and blood spilled from their mouths. Every trace of arrogance and conceit vanished from their faces, leaving only terror and disbelief.
They could never have imagined that a level twenty-two Soul Grandmaster could be this powerful, effortlessly crushing five Soul Elders!
"Spare us! Lord Lin Chen, please spare us! We'll never dare do it again!" The young Soul Elder trembled all over with fear, hastily begging for mercy on his knees. Not a shred of his earlier arrogance remained.
The surrounding spectators were utterly stunned. Deathly silence gripped the scene!
Everyone stared wide-eyed at the unruffled youth standing before them, shock written across their faces.
A Soul Grandmaster had crushed five Soul Elders—and they were people from Spirit Hall who had provoked him. This youth truly defied the heavens!
Lin Chen gazed coldly down at the five men kneeling and begging for mercy. His voice remained utterly level. "Crawl back and tell your branch master: if you dare provoke me again, I won't mind razing the Spirit Hall Heaven Dou Branch to the ground!"
With that, he raised his hand and withdrew the blue silver grass. A pulse of soul power directly crippled all five men's martial souls, stripping them of their ability to commit further evil.
Covered in injuries, the five scrambled and crawled away, never daring to look back.
Lin Chen withdrew his soul power, slowly reining in his sharp aura until his gentle demeanor returned. He turned to Su Qingyuan and Yue Huaxi, his voice instantly softening. "Let's go. Don't let these scum spoil our mood."
Both women nodded, looking at Lin Chen with admiration and tenderness as they stayed close beside him.
The spectators hurried to clear a path, their gazes filled with awe and curiosity. Just who was this youth, who dared confront Spirit Hall so forcefully and possessed such heaven-defying strength?
Under everyone's watchful eyes, Lin Chen and the two women walked slowly away, disappearing at the end of the street.
News of the clash soon spread through more than half of Heaven Dou City. Lin Chen's name once again resounded throughout the prosperous capital, while the incident also thoroughly enraged the Spirit Hall Heaven Dou Branch.
Deep within the branch, inside a luxurious hall, a sinister-looking middle-aged man in purple robes listened to his subordinate's report, then slammed the table and sprang to his feet. Soul Ancestor-level soul power surged around him, and towering killing intent filled his eyes. "What an arrogant brat! He dares cripple Spirit Hall's people and provoke my Heaven Dou Branch Hall! Pass down my order: gather our men. Lin Chen must be slain in Heaven Dou City!"
Meanwhile, at the Heaven Dou Royal Soul Master Academy, Li Ran learned that Lin Chen had crushed the Spirit Hall members in the street. Awe filled his eyes, and he immediately wanted to go help, only to be stopped by an academy instructor;
At the inn where Shrek Academy was temporarily staying, Tang San frowned deeply upon hearing the news, his apprehension growing stronger. He knew that such a commotion in Heaven Dou City would inevitably bring Spirit Hall's frenzied retaliation down upon Lin Chen. An even greater storm was about to sweep through Heaven Dou City!
Lin Chen strolled through the Soul Master Market with Su Qingyuan and Yue Huaxi, completely unconcerned about Spirit Hall's retaliation. He knew that now that all pretense had been torn away, only strength could break the deadlock and show Spirit Hall that he was not someone it could mold and manipulate at will!
He selected spiritual herbs suited to the two women's cultivation, his gaze resolute. Next, he would strengthen himself in Heaven Dou City, break through to Soul Elder, and face every enemy who came against him. Whether Spirit Hall or Tang San, he would defeat them all!
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