If We Can't Handle the Soul Hall, Can't We Handle You?

The Soul Hall experts came quickly and left just as quickly.

Without the slightest hesitation, Old Man Mu Gu tore open the space before him, eager to leave.

He stepped inside, and the Soul Hall Protectors behind him followed close on his heels, not even bothering to leave a parting remark.

The original plan had been to capture Yao Chen and deliver him to the nearest Branch Hall.

Every Branch Hall had at least two Revered Elders stationed there, leaving no room for mishap.

But unexpectedly obtaining the Xiao Clan Ancient Jade had thrown everything into disarray.

Mu Gu's hand trembled slightly around the jade.

Half of it was wild joy.

This thing was valuable enough to send a Three-Star Dou Zun like him soaring to the heavens in the Soul Hall in a single step.

The other half was fear.

This thing was also a hot potato.

The top powers might fear the Soul Clan, but they would not necessarily take the Soul Hall seriously.

The Gu Clan, the Lei Clan, the Yan Clan—which of them did not have a High-Rank Dou Sheng guarding them?

What they feared was the Soul Clan, not Mu Gu of the Soul Hall.

A Three-Star Dou Zun like him holding the Tou She Ancient God Jade was no different from a child carrying gold through a crowded market.

Besides, the Gu Clan had always regarded the Xiao Clan Ancient Jade as already in their pocket. According to Soul Hall Master Hun Miesheng, the Gu Clan had only held back because of an agreement made years ago, but they had long since set their sights on that Ancient Jade.

If the Gu Clan learned that someone from the Soul Hall had taken the Xiao Clan Ancient Jade...

Mu Gu shuddered.

He actually still had a Spatial Jade Slip given to him by the Soul Hall's Ninth Heavenly Venerate, but he would not use it.

He wanted to hand the Ancient Jade to Hun Miesheng personally. Only then would all the credit belong to him.

Above the Inner Academy, Shen Luo stood with his hands behind his back.

A breeze stirred his robes. The young man's face was calm, but a strange white light suddenly burst from his eyes.

The white light shone into the void as though it had substance, as if conveying a message to some powerful being.

"Intercept and kill them in the void."

After a pause, he lowered his eyes slightly and hurriedly added:

"Bring back all their Storage Rings and possessions. Leave no survivors, and leave no trace."

Every word seemed to have been squeezed through his teeth.

Cold and ruthless.

Only after sensing the Fire Fairy leave did Shen Luo softly exhale.

He had spoken those words casually on the surface, but in truth, he had already gone over them countless times in his mind.

Old Man Mu Gu was a Three-Star Dou Zun, merely an ordinary Revered Elder in the Soul Hall, not even a Heavenly Venerate.

Killing him would take the Fire Fairy no more than a breath.

Even taking ten thousand steps back, if he carried a Spatial Jade Slip made by a Dou Sheng, it would still mean nothing before the Fire Fairy.

Low-star Dou Sheng? The Fire Fairy could kill one with each slap!

A vast gulf separated Dou Zun from Dou Sheng.

A heavenly chasm separated low-star Dou Sheng from High-Rank Dou Sheng.

With the Fire Fairy acting personally, nothing unexpected would happen during this ambush.

Not a single survivor could be left, including Yao Chen!

The relationship between Yao Chen and Xiao Yan could no longer be changed.

Their deep bond as master and disciple was a fact, and the Xiao Clan Ancient Jade carried enormous implications. Once word leaked, the Gu Clan would surely be shaken.

Yao Chen's greatest value lay in refining pills, and pills were what Shen Luo lacked least.

As for the Flame Mantra, it was a joke.

Even if Tou She Ancient God came in person, he would have to tremble beneath the crotch of Shen Luo's Heavenly Tyrant Body.

Yao Chen had to die.

Leaving him alive would invite endless future trouble; killing him would leave everything clean.

As for the Soul Clan investigating Mu Gu's disappearance later...

The corners of Shen Luo's lips lifted slightly.

With the Fire Fairy handling it, they would uncover nothing.

Even Hun Tiandi coming in person would be useless!

Shen Luo lightly touched his brow with a fingertip, pondering silently.

This storm was far from over.

It would not take long for word that the Xiao Clan Ancient Jade had fallen into the hands of a Soul Hall expert to reach the Gu Clan. Whether the Gu Clan would endure in silence or erupt was hard to say.

But if the Soul Clan learned that Mu Gu had vanished with the jade, they would certainly send people to investigate.

If Dou Sheng from both the Soul Clan and the Gu Clan gathered in the Black-Corner Region...

When immortals fought, mortals suffered.

He needed to leave for a while first.

It was just as well. It was time to seek out some opportunities.

Two faces surfaced in Shen Luo's mind.

Zi Yan and Medusa.

One dragon and one snake, both seeds of future High-Rank Dou Sheng.

The blood of the Ancient Void Dragon Emperor's royal line flowed through Zi Yan's veins. Shen Luo wanted to keep her by his side, spending every day together. Once their relationship was thoroughly secure, he would take her to the Ancient Dragon Clan and help her unify Dragon Island.

As for Queen Medusa...

Shen Luo recalled the look in her eyes when she gazed at him.

She had completely turned into a little fangirl.

Women always admired strength.

And Queen Medusa was a powerful woman among women. He had to give her a proper resolution.

Shen Luo planned to take her to the Jia Ma Empire, have her pass the Snake-People Tribe's throne to one of its leaders, and then bestow resources on them, freeing her from any worries back home.

Medusa was no longer one of the Snake-People. She had evolved into a top-tier magical beast!

Magical beasts were magical beasts, and Snake-People were Snake-People. Her bloodline had changed, and their races were now distinct.

Only after settling the Snake-People Tribe's affairs could she truly follow him across the continent with unwavering devotion.

At this thought, Shen Luo's mind grew clear.

In the shadows, Earth Demon Old Ghost quietly retreated half a step.

The Demon Flame Valley patriarch, who had been so overbearing and insufferably arrogant just moments ago, now hunched his neck and suppressed his aura to its utmost, like a rat that had stolen oil, hoping only to slip away amid the chaos.

"Qianbai Elders, Earth Demon Old Ghost is trying to leave! Kill him quickly!"

Shen Luo's sharp shout exploded like thunder, pinning Earth Demon Old Ghost in place.

Phoenix Wings abruptly unfurled behind Shen Luo, each slight tremor of their brilliant feathers stirring ripples in space.

Bang!

The void shook.

Shen Luo and Earth Demon Old Ghost were already locked in fierce combat in midair.

Earth Demon Old Ghost was, after all, a peak Seven-Star Dou Zong, a full five minor realms above Shen Luo.

His formidable strength was by no means comparable to that of an ordinary Dou Zong.

Shen Luo knew perfectly well that even if he could win a head-on fight, he would inevitably be injured.

He did not need to win.

He only needed to hold him up for a moment.

Sure enough, at Shen Luo's reminder, the Qianbai Elders finally shook off the shadow cast over them by the Soul Hall experts.

Their faces were aged, but their eyes were as sharp as blades.

Their icy killing intent took tangible form, permeating the entire void until even the air seemed to freeze.

"Heh, Earth Demon Old Ghost."

Elder Bai sneered, his voice carrying long-suppressed viciousness.

"If we can't handle the Soul Hall, can't we handle you?"

The two of them were seething with pent-up anger.

They had forcibly rescued Xiao Yan and then confronted a Soul Hall Dou Zun. Cold sweat now soaked the backs of their robes, and lingering fear still gripped them.

Had Mu Gu truly decided to destroy the academy and slaughter its people, they would not even have been qualified to stop him.

Even if they could briefly unleash the combat power of a One-Star Dou Zun, it would still be inadequate before a Three-Star Dou Zun!

Now, Earth Demon Old Ghost was the perfect target for them to vent that pent-up fury.

The Qianbai Elders arrived in a flash and struck with a palm.

Earth Demon Old Ghost's face turned deathly pale. He could only gather his lifetime's Dou Qi into his palms and force himself to meet the blow.

Bang!

Blood sprayed wildly as his body flew backward.

Facing a combined strike from the Green and White Elders, who could unleash the combat power of a One-Star Dou Zun, he was already drawing more breath than he could release, his life hanging by a thread.

Shen Luo immediately flew forward, his fists falling like a rainstorm.

Every punch struck a vital point without a shred of mercy.

Dozens of punches later, Earth Demon Old Ghost showed no further sign of life.

Shen Luo caught his breath, reached out to remove his Storage Ring, collected his soul in a jade bottle, and stowed his body in the Storage Ring.

Clean and decisive.

The Qianbai Elders exchanged smiles. One lunged at Mo Tianxing, while the other locked onto Eagle Mountain Elder.

Su Qian's beard and hair streamed as killing intent boiled in his eyes. "Elders, heed my command! Hit them hard!"

He shot forward, heading straight after Han Feng.

Hu Gan's Dou Qi surged as he turned into a streak of light, pursuing the Gold and Silver Elders with a ferocious assault.

The Gold and Silver Elders were already scared out of their wits. Like Han Feng, they fled desperately, not daring to fight back at all.

Shen Luo did not join the pursuit of Han Feng. Instead, he turned and lunged at Mo Tianxing and Black Mountain Elder.

A peak Nine-Star Dou Zong against Four-Star Dou Zong-the outcome was beyond question.

They could not escape, could not win, and could not even detonate themselves.

Before long, another two bodies and two souls had been pocketed by Shen Luo.

Shen Luo brushed the dust from his clothes and turned his gaze toward the figure fleeing in panic across the horizon.

"Han Feng, you're the only one left."

He murmured to himself, the corners of his lips curling upward.