The situation changed in the blink of an eye. Whether the elders of Jia Nan Academy or the experts from the Black-Corner Region, everyone watched dumbfounded, their minds unable to keep up.
Han Feng understood only half of it.
He had contacted the Soul Hall experts to capture Yao Chen. Meanwhile, he intended to seize the opportunity to destroy Jia Nan Academy and take the Fallen Heart Flame, along with the Green Lotus Core Flame on Xiao Yan.
As for Yao Chen's Bone Spirit Cold Flame, he did not even dare think about it.
A greedy snake would try to swallow an elephant. When the Soul Hall had set its sights on someone, who was he to tell them what to do?
Yet he had never imagined that this junior brother he had never met seemed to interest the Soul Hall more than Yao Chen did.
Shen Luo's pupils contracted slightly.
He had revealed information about Xiao Yan and Yao Chen to Han Feng that day precisely to get him to bring in people from the Soul Hall.
He wanted the Xiao Clan's Ancient Jade too. Moreover, his Fire Control Ability had already reacted. Fire Fairy was concealed in the void at that very moment, awaiting his call.
It was precisely because this powerhouse at the Seven-Star Dou Saint Peak was holding the fort that Shen Luo dared to fight to his heart's content without fear.
Below, the Qianbai Elders' expressions grew increasingly grim.
Although Jia Nan Academy had ties to the Lei Clan, it was not one of the Lei Clan's forces.
Moreover, their opponents belonged to the powerful and mysterious Soul Hall.
When people from the Gu Clan greeted them, they were showing Jia Nan Academy respect. If they chose not to, there was nothing the elders could do.
If that soul body had been captured, so be it, but Xiao Yan was a student of the Inner Academy. If they said nothing, what dignity would Jia Nan Academy have left?
"You may take the soul and the other things, but this person is a student of Jia Nan Academy. You must leave him behind."
Conflict showed on the Qianbai Elders' faces.
With so many elders and students of Jia Nan Academy watching them, they could not simply back down.
Besides, their opponents were clearly after that soul body and the jade pendant. Xiao Yan himself had little value, so presumably the people from the Soul Hall would not embarrass them too badly.
Shen Luo's mind raced!
Sure enough, he had guessed correctly!
The Qianbai Elders were merely ordinary Lei Clan descendants, with no Dou Di Bloodline in their bodies. They knew nothing of secrets among the Ancient Eight Clans on the level of the Tou She Ancient God Jade.
Besides, even if they knew, they could only play dead now.
For matters on this level, even the Lei Clan's patriarch would probably be powerless if he came!
"Hehe, I'm taking the item, and I'm taking the person too. Anyone who dares stand in our way will be making an enemy of the Soul Hall."
The leading Nine-Star Dou Zong gave them no respect whatsoever.
They were accustomed to running rampant across the Dou Qi Continent. Jia Nan Academy was hardly worthy of bargaining with them!
"Damn you! Do you really think the two of us can do nothing about a handful of Dou Zongs?"
The Qianbai Elders exchanged glances. Suddenly, their Dou Qi surged as both rapidly formed hand seals, and an aura far beyond the Dou Zong level erupted.
Shen Luo frowned. "Shit, those two old bastards really did have a trump card!"
Although the Qianbai Elders were only at the Peak Dou Zong level, they possessed a secret technique that allowed them to briefly unleash the combat power of a One-Star Dou Zun by working together.
A Nine-Star Dou Zong was still only a Dou Zong, but a One-Star Dou Zun was a Dou Zun!
A gigantic handprint a thousand zhang across lunged toward the six Soul Hall Protectors.
"Quick, stop them!"
Now the Soul Hall Protectors finally panicked. Dou Qi poured from their bodies like a tide and collided with the towering hand.
Boom!
With a thunderous explosion, the Soul Hall Protectors were sent flying backward, all coughing up blood!
Although Dou Zun and Dou Zong differed by only one word, the gulf between them was like a heavenly chasm.
Even working together, they could not withstand a single attack.
The Qianbai Elders succeeded with one strike, but their misgivings kept them from pursuing.
With a wave of their hands, the chains on Xiao Yan turned to ash, and a tremendous force pulled him behind them.
"Seniors, thank you for saving my life! But my teacher is still in their hands. Please help him!"
Xiao Yan scrambled to his feet and immediately dropped to his knees.
He had met the Qianbai Elders once while selecting a Dou Technique at the Outer Academy. Now, only these two could save his teacher.
"Xiao Yan, Jia Nan Academy has treated you well, yet you and that so-called teacher of yours have brought great trouble upon us!"
"We have already taken an enormous risk by agreeing to protect you. If you wish to save your teacher, you will have to rely on yourself in the future."
The Qianbai Elders spoke coldly.
What a joke. If they could, they would have preferred to leave even Xiao Yan alone!
So many students entered and graduated from Jia Nan Academy every year. They did not have the ability to shoulder every student's troubles!
Hearing this, Xiao Yan immediately collapsed to the ground. His mouth opened, but no words came out.
Several months earlier, his second brother, Xiao Li, had dragged his severely injured body to the Outer Academy and told him everything that had happened to the Xiao Clan.
Now, not only had his father been captured, but even his greatest support, Yao Lao, had fallen into their clutches, and he had lost the Ancient Jade passed down through generations of his family.
"The Soul Hall, the Soul Hall again! I, Xiao Yan, will never coexist with you!"
No one paid Xiao Yan any attention. The Qianbai Elders stared fixedly at the void ahead, their faces darkening further!
A spatial rift hundreds of zhang long abruptly appeared above Jia Nan Academy.
"Hehe, daring to attack people from the Soul Hall? Jia Nan Academy really has reached the end of its days."
An emaciated figure slowly stepped out of the rift.
The newcomer wore a loose, heavy black robe. His face was gaunt as dry wood, and a chilling aura radiated from his entire body.
The Qianbai Elders' expressions changed drastically. "A Dou Zun! A Dou Zun from the Soul Hall has actually come in person!"
Shen Luo's breathing quickened as well.
He had not expected Han Feng to summon not only several Soul Hall Protectors, but even a Dou Zun.
It seemed the Soul Hall truly was determined to obtain Yao Chen's soul.
He felt somewhat relieved now. Fortunately, he had crushed Fire Fairy's Spatial Jade Slip beforehand, allowing her to arrive early.
Otherwise, he could only have watched helplessly as the Soul Hall departed today, all his scheming amounting to sewing a wedding dress for someone else.
"As a Dou Zun expert, wouldn't attacking us be beneath your standing?"
"Our academy's dean, Mang Tianchi, is an elder of the Lei Clan. Do you truly intend to do this?"
The Qianbai Elders spoke with terrified expressions.
Old Man Mu Gu ignored them. Instead, he took the Ancient Jade from one of the Soul Hall Protectors and examined it carefully, shock appearing on his face.
A moment later!
"Good, good! My trip to the Black-Corner Region was not in vain! You have all done well. I will personally report to the Heavenly Venerable-no, I will personally report to the Hall Master and have you rewarded according to your merits."
Old Man Mu Gu's beard and hair fluttered as his entire body trembled uncontrollably!
This was the Xiao Clan Ancient Jade!
The Soul Hall had searched for it for years, never managing to obtain it because of the Gu Clan's interference. Today, it had actually fallen into his lap!
Old Man Mu Gu then turned to Yao Chen's illusory soul body and chuckled softly. "Yao Chen, oh, Yao Chen, you truly are my lucky star."
Bitterness filled Yao Chen's face.
Even now, he could not understand why people from the Soul Hall had come to Jia Nan Academy.
He had thought that his treacherous disciple Han Feng had come for the Inner Academy elder Shen Luo and that Fallen Heart Flame. He had never expected that he himself was their target, or that the matter of the Xiao Clan Ancient Jade would inadvertently become involved.
Old Man Mu Gu took out a jade bottle and reached out with a gentle grasp, drawing Yao Chen's soul into it.
"Very well, very well. I'm in a good mood today, so I'll spare Jia Nan Academy this once."
Old Man Mu Gu lightly waved his sleeve, and a spatial rift abruptly appeared.
The Xiao Clan Ancient Jade involved matters of enormous importance. Even he dared not linger here too long. He had to hurry back to the Central Plains and hand the Ancient Jade to the Hall Master.
That Xiao Clan brat no longer mattered. Even Xiao Zhan was now utterly worthless!
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