Chapter 188: The Soul Hall Reappears
Xiao Yan first placed Qing Lin in a safe spot before quietly appearing outside the secret chamber. Using the concealment techniques he had mastered from the Xiao Clan, the two individuals inside were utterly unaware of his presence.
Inside the chamber, the Zhang Clan Patriarch spoke to the elegantly dressed elder before him, his tone calm and confident.
The words that followed stunned Xiao Yan.
"Executor Mo Cheng, has the legendary Green Lotus Core Flame been secured?"
The Zhang Clan Patriarch, merely a Da Dou Shi (Great Battle Master), dared to covet a treasure like the Green Lotus Core Flame? Even more surprising, his tone hinted at authority, subtly above the Dou Huang (Battle Emperor) before him.
What could give a mere Da Dou Shi the gall to act this way toward a Dou Huang?
To Xiao Yan's astonishment, the elder, Mo Cheng, didn't show any resentment. Instead, he replied respectfully:
"Patriarch Zhang, rest assured. The Green Lotus Core Flame has already been hidden in a safe location."
Hearing this, the Zhang Patriarch smiled, satisfaction evident on his face.
"Good. If this mission is carried out smoothly, you may earn the favor of the Revered One and be promoted to a protector in our Soul Hall."
Xiao Yan's eyes widened at those words.
The Zhang Patriarch is part of the Soul Clan's remnants?
The Soul Clan had been wiped out, yet the Soul Hall its extension still existed? Not only that, but it seemed well organized and powerful, with a Dou Huang merely acting as an executor.
And now, they were targeting Heavenly Flames.
Xiao Yan frowned. It seems the remnants of the Soul Clan are far more widespread and organized than I had thought.
Tracking the Flame
Xiao Yan chose not to act immediately, instead quietly tailing the two men. They entered a deep underground passage, descending for over a hundred meters before reaching the bottom.
The surroundings were dark, but faint streaks of cyan light illuminated the area.
"Just ahead lies the Green Lotus Core Flame," Mo Cheng said, leading the way.
As they ventured further, the cyan light grew stronger, and soon, a small cyan flame no larger than a fist came into view. It rested on a lotus platform roughly two or three feet wide.
Though small, the flame exuded terrifying heat, making it clear that if its power were unleashed, the entire Salt City could be consumed in a fiery inferno.
"Perfect, it's truly a Heavenly Flame," Zhang Patriarch said, nodding with satisfaction.
"With this, the Soul Hall will grow even stronger," Mo Cheng added, a pleased smile on his face.
At that moment, a faint yet chilling laugh echoed behind them.
"Heh. I didn't expect the Soul Hall to still exist in this world."
Both men froze, their expressions shifting from joy to horror.
"Who's there?!" the Zhang Patriarch shouted, his body immediately tensing.
Turning, they saw a young man emerge from the shadows, his features illuminated by the cyan glow.
When the Zhang Patriarch recognized the face, his expression twisted into terror.
"It's… it's you!"
The youth smiled faintly, his tone calm and polite. "Patriarch Zhang, it's been a while. How have you been?"
"Xiao… Xiao Yan! Why are you here?" The Zhang Patriarch forced a smile that looked more like a grimace.
Xiao Yan's grin widened. "Heh. If I hadn't come, I wouldn't have discovered that you're part of the Soul Clan's remnants."
Hearing this, Mo Cheng's eyes narrowed.
"How dare you slander the Soul Hall as remnants! Who are you?"
Mo Cheng saw this as an opportunity to prove his loyalty. Without hesitation, he unleashed his Dou Qi, prepared to strike Xiao Yan down.
Unfortunately for him, Xiao Yan was unmoved. He raised his palm, and in an instant, it crossed the space between them, slamming into Mo Cheng.
"Boom!"
The impact sent Mo Cheng flying, blood spraying from his mouth. His body crashed into the chamber wall before collapsing to the ground.
Mo Cheng's face was pale, his eyes filled with disbelief. In that one exchange, his powerful Dou Qi had been completely neutralized. His Dou Huang cultivation was utterly destroyed in an instant.
Interrogation
Xiao Yan turned his attention back to the Zhang Patriarch, who was trembling in fear.
"Tell me, what's your connection to the Soul Hall?" Xiao Yan's tone was calm, but his eyes were icy.
"I I'll never tell you!" The Zhang Patriarch laughed bitterly, his gaze resolute. He bit down hard, intending to crush the poison capsule hidden in his mouth.
However, before his teeth could make contact, he found himself unable to move.
To someone like Xiao Yan, who had begun to grasp spatial manipulation, immobilizing a mere Da Dou Shi was child's play.
The Zhang Patriarch's eyes widened in panic as Xiao Yan casually flicked a finger, sending a thread of Dou Qi into his mouth.
"Crack."
The poison capsule was dislodged, and the tooth containing it fell out.
Xiao Yan smirked as he retrieved a small sphere with perforations, plugging it into the patriarch's mouth.
"There. That'll keep you quiet."
With a wave of his hand, Xiao Yan sent the Green Lotus Core Flame into his storage. With Wen and Wu Saints assisting, collecting the flame was effortless.
He then turned to Mo Cheng, who was trembling on the ground.
"Now, tell me everything you know about the Soul Hall."
"I I don't know anything!" Mo Cheng stammered, shaking his head violently.
"Don't know anything?" Xiao Yan chuckled coldly. A spark of Yin Yang Saint Flame ignited on Mo Cheng's body, and his agonized screams filled the chamber.
Within moments, his body was reduced to ash.
However, Xiao Yan wasn't finished. His hand reached out, grasping Mo Cheng's fleeing soul.
"I'll give you one more chance. Speak, or next time, I'll burn your soul."
Faced with Xiao Yan's merciless gaze, Mo Cheng's soul trembled. He glanced pitifully at the Zhang Patriarch before finally breaking.
"I I'll talk! Just don't burn me!"
(To be continued…)
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