Watching as the Black Rock Demon Serpent burrowed into the ground and vanished without a trace, beyond the reach of even his perception, Yun Shan abandoned any thought of reclaiming the recording stones.
With his Dou Ancestor cultivation sealed, the arrogance and conceit born from breaking through to Dou Ancestor and easily defeating his longtime rivals seemed to have been sealed away as well, gradually fading. In their place came calmness and rationality. He began to seriously reassess the situation before him and the man standing opposite him.
The person before him was definitely not from the Soul Hall. That audacious cooperation oath, the high-tier cultivation methods, the high-tier Dou Techniques, and such terrifying battle strength at such a young age, every sign pointed to the likelihood that this man came from a great power that bore enmity with the Soul Hall.
Lin Yuan raised his cup toward Yun Shan in invitation. "This wine is one of my proud creations. You might as well give it a taste."
As if to dispel any lingering doubts, Lin Yuan added, "Don't worry, there's no poison in it. Since we've already established a cooperative relationship, I wouldn't do something so pointless as to create unnecessary rifts between partners."
With that, Lin Yuan drained his cup in one go.
Yun Shan hesitated for a few seconds, then picked up his cup and drank it down in one gulp. It truly was excellent wine. He set the cup down, and Lin Yuan immediately lifted the wine jug to refill it for him.
'Not the domineering type like Protector Wu,' Yun Shan thought to himself. Recalling Lin Yuan's earlier words, he straightened his expression and asked, "Now that we've reached a cooperation, may I ask what you meant earlier by saying that 'the Misty Cloud Sect faces annihilation, and Sect Master Yun faces a life-and-death calamity'?"
Having confirmed that Lin Yuan was no ordinary individual, Yun Shan began to actively seek more intelligence from him. He himself was unfamiliar with and wary of, the Soul Hall as a 'partner,' while the man before him was clearly far more knowledgeable about it. This was an excellent opportunity to gain information.
Lin Yuan nodded, his expression turning solemn. "Since we're cooperating, I'll naturally tell you these things. I hope Sect Master Yun will also be frank. Let me ask first—your breakthrough to Dou Ancestor was achieved with the help of the Soul Hall, wasn't it?"
Yun Shan was slightly taken aback. After a moment of contemplation, he answered candidly, "That's right. They gave me a pill. It was with the help of that pill that I was able to break through."
"Oh? A pill from the Soul Hall?" Lin Yuan raised an eyebrow, a hint of amusement in his tone. "Using a Soul Hall pill to break through, Sect Master Yun certainly has courage."
"What do you mean by that?" Yun Shan's brows tightened as he asked.
Lin Yuan explained, "The Soul Hall is infamous for tampering with pills. Those who use Soul Hall pills to break through realms often have something done to their souls, placing them under Soul Hall control. Some of the Soul Hall's secret arts are centered on these manipulated souls. For example, the Soul Hall secret art Nine Forests, Hundred Devouring Souls can forcibly extract and devour such controlled souls, allowing the caster's strength to skyrocket in a short time."
He paused, looking seriously at Yun Shan. "When you used their pill to break through, did you feel anything unusual? Especially on the level of the soul."
Seeing Lin Yuan's serious expression, Yun Shan's mood sank slightly. "I did feel as though something merged into my soul at the instant of breakthrough. But afterward, I investigated and found nothing abnormal."
"Oh?" Lin Yuan seemed intrigued and suggested, "If Sect Master Yun doesn't mind, how about I take a look? Matters of the soul are an alchemist's specialty. Among Sixth-Grade alchemists, my soul perception is considered outstanding, perhaps I can discover something."
Yun Shan pondered for a moment, then nodded. "Then I'll trouble you."
"No need to be polite." Lin Yuan smiled faintly. "I don't want my partner to suddenly drop dead either. Besides, I really am quite interested in the Soul Hall's methods."
A quarter of an hour later, Lin Yuan opened his eyes, a look of 'just as I thought' appearing on his face. "As expected. There is a spell formed from an eerie power deep within your soul body. It's hidden extremely well, which is why it's hard to detect. If not for my relatively strong soul perception, I probably wouldn't have noticed it either."
Under Lin Yuan's guidance, Yun Shan finally managed to sense that strange spell formed from the eerie power.
A trace of coldness surfaced deep in Yun Shan's eyes. So this hidden trump card was the reason Protector Wu had always treated him, a so-called partner, with such contempt and arrogance? His life had been in that man's hands all along.
"Thank you. Is there a way to deal with it?" Yun Shan asked in a low voice.
Lin Yuan thought for a while, then said, "This power has fused too deeply with your soul. To resolve it without severely damaging your soul will indeed be quite difficult. As expected of the Soul Hall, their research into the soul is truly formidable."
"Is that so?" Yun Shan pondered briefly, then asked, "If it's merely difficult, that means there's still a way?"
"Yes. I have some ideas, but they still need further refinement," Lin Yuan confirmed. "I'll study it for a while and then give you a treatment plan. If you think it's feasible, we can choose an appropriate time to deal with it."
Hearing this, Yun Shan finally felt somewhat relieved. This partner actually seemed fairly reliable.
"Many thanks, my friend." After a moment's thought, Yun Shan raised his cup toward Lin Yuan, then took the initiative to drain it in one go, testing the waters.
"Friend?" Lin Yuan chuckled softly and also drank a cup. "You're too polite, my friend."
Hearing the word "friend," Yun Shan picked up the wine jug and refilled both their cups. "I already have some idea of what you meant by 'Sect Master Yun faces a life-and-death calamity.' Then what about 'the Misty Cloud Sect faces annihilation'?"
Before answering, Lin Yuan countered with a question. "Before I explain that, can Sect Master Yun tell me what the Soul Hall sought to cooperate with you for?"
As he spoke, Lin Yuan's eyes locked onto Yun Shan's. Naturally, Lin Yuan already knew that the Soul Hall's target was the Xiao Clan. He intended to use this information—which he already possessed, to test Yun Shan's current attitude toward their cooperation.
'He knows the Soul Hall so well—does he really not know their purpose? Is this curiosity, or a test?' Yun Shan analyzed Lin Yuan's intent as he met that deep, unfathomable gaze, quickly coming to a decision. 'Forget it. My life is in his hands right now. This isn't the time to gamble. I'll tell him the truth, if something goes wrong, it'll be Protector Wu's problem anyway.'
With that thought, Yun Shan smiled gently and said, "Since my friend is curious, I can share what little I know. I'm not clear on the specifics, but they place great importance on the Xiao Clan of Wu tan City. However, they currently do not allow excessive probing there, saying the timing is not yet right. As for why it's the Xiao Clan, I don't know."
Seeing Yun Shan provide genuine intelligence, Lin Yuan felt more satisfied. It seemed the cooperation was truly getting on track.
"Thank you for clearing that up, my friend," Lin Yuan said with a smile. "As it happens, I do have a bit of a clue about that and it's also related to the Misty Cloud Sect's impending annihilation."
'So it really was a test. Fortunately…' Hearing this, Yun Shan immediately understood that the earlier question had indeed been a test or a warning. Feeling secretly relieved, he asked seriously, "If this truly concerns the survival of the Misty Cloud Sect, please speak plainly."
Lin Yuan straightened slightly and asked, "Has my friend ever heard of the Ancient Eight Clans?"
"The Ancient Eight Clans?" Hearing this unfamiliar term, Yun Shan frowned. His intuition told him that he was about to touch upon some astonishing secrets. "I have not. Please enlighten me, my friend."
Lin Yuan smiled lightly. "Before I explain the Ancient Eight Clans, let me ask you this—how much do you know about the power structure of Central Plains?"
Yun Shan gently swirled the wine in his cup, a trace of emotion in his voice. "Though I reside in the northwest, as a sect master I naturally know a bit about Central Plains's power structure. Central Plain has the saying 'One Hall, One Tower, Two Sects, Three Valleys, Four Pavilions.' Even the weakest of the Four Pavilions are Dou Venerate-level powers, far beyond what places like our remote northwest can compare to."
"And the Soul Hall is that 'One Hall,' the continent's top-tier power." Mentioning the Soul Hall, Yun Shan's emotions grew complicated.
"Correct. Those are the highest-tier powers on the surface of the Dou Qi Continent." Lin Yuan paused, a hint of emotion entering his voice. "But that's only on the surface. The Dou Qi Continent hides many forces that do not flaunt themselves, yet possess terrifying strength."
"Among all these forces, the most supreme are the Ancient Eight Clans, also known as the Imperial Clans, descendants of Dou God bloodlines."
"The Ancient Eight Clans? Imperial Clans? Descendants of Dou God?" Yun Shan suppressed the shock in his heart and asked in a deep voice, "Which eight clans?"
Lin Yuan slowly recited, "The Ancient Eight Clans are the Hun Clan, the Gu Clan, the Lei Clan, the Yan Clan, the Yao Clan, the Shi Clan, the Ling Clan, and the Xiao Clan. Most of them reside in small worlds created by Dou Gods or Dou Saints and rarely appear on the continent. However, their clans are filled with experts, with no shortage of Dou Saints. They are the undisputed overlords of the Dou Qi Continent."
Yun Shan's expression changed drastically, his thoughts surging like a tidal wave. Everything he was hearing was beyond his imagination. "The Ancient Eight Clans… descendants of Dou God… the Hun Clan… the Xiao Clan… Soul… Xiao…" He murmured to himself, struggling to digest this earth-shaking information.
Lin Yuan remained silent, quietly waiting for Yun Shan to process the news.
After a while.
"Heh! I never imagined that I, Yun Shan, and my Misty Cloud Sect would be dragged into matters of this magnitude." As if understanding some of it, Yun Shan let out a bitter laugh and drained the wine in his cup.
The lingering sweetness of the spirit wine seemed to wash away some of the bitterness in his heart, leaving him with a touch of interest. "Does this wine have a name?"
Lin Yuan shook his head, smiling. "It hasn't been named yet. How about you give it one?"
Yun Shan thought for a moment and said, "This wine is mellow and smooth, with an aftertaste that lingers endlessly. How about calling it 'Thousand-Day Sweet'?"
Lin Yuan nodded approvingly. "Thousand-Day Sweet— a good name. Thank you."
Yun Shan's expression turned serious. "If you wish to thank me, you might as well answer a few questions."
"Oh?" Seeing Yun Shan so calm and sharp, completely different from the impression Lin Yuan had before, he smiled and nodded. "Ask away."
Yun Shan took a deep breath and composed himself. Though he had already guessed some things, he still hoped to get confirmation from Lin Yuan. "What exactly is the relationship between the Soul Hall and the Xiao family, and between the Hun Clan and the Xiao Clan among the Ancient Eight Clans?"
Lin Yuan looked at Yun Shan with a hint of amusement. "The Soul Hall is an outer force of the Hun Clan. The Soul Emperor you cursed earlier is the leader of the Hun Clan— Hun Tiandi, a Nine-Star peak Dou Saint, a true top-tier expert of the Dou Qi Continent. In terms of strength, he should be capable of killing the Soul Hall Master, Hun Miesheng, with a single strike."
"Hiss—" Yun Shan drew in a sharp breath. The first page of the handbook must contain the names of the Hun Clan's top experts. Thinking this, he looked at Lin Yuan with even more complexity in his gaze, sighing. "Thanks to you, my friend, I've really done something incredible! So reckless… aren't you afraid of playing with fire and burning yourself?"
Lin Yuan merely smiled without replying. This was nothing, what he might do in the future would be far more audacious.
Seeing Lin Yuan's indifferent expression, Yun Shan said helplessly, "Go on, tell me about the Xiao family and the Xiao Clan."
A teasing smile appeared on Lin Yuan's face. "The Xiao family is a branch of the main lineage of the Xiao Clan, which was once the strongest Ancient Clan before its decline. The Misty Cloud Sect has a deep connection with them. Your Young Sect Master went to the Xiao family to annul an engagement and even made a three-year agreement with the Xiao family's young master. Quite interesting, isn't it?"
"Even Ancient Clans can fall?" Yun Shan's tone was subtle—half amazement, half doubt, ignoring the teasing in Lin Yuan's words.
Lin Yuan smiled. "Of course. Many Ancient Clans have vanished. The Xiao Clan began declining over a thousand years ago and gradually became the Xiao family. The Hun Clan, on the other hand, is currently one of the top two strongest among the Eight Clans and is also an enemy of the Xiao Clan. However…"
Lin Yuan did not finish his sentence but smiled at Yun Shan, leaving the rest for him to figure out.
"However, even though the Xiao Clan has declined to the level of the Xiao family, to the point where a mere Dou King could wipe them out, the Soul Hall still treats them with such caution. That means the Xiao family is far from as simple as it appears on the surface, isn't it?" Yun Shan drained another cup, as if trying to wash away the bitterness in his heart with the wine's sweetness.
"That's right. No matter how much they've declined, it is still the remaining glory of what was once the strongest Ancient Clan," Lin Yuan said gently, slowly revealing the harsh truth. "The Xiao Clan had close ties with the Gu Clan. The remnants of the Xiao Clan's strongest soul still reside in the Gu Clan, which is currently one of the top two strongest Ancient Clans."
"A thousand years is not long for true experts. Among the Gu Clan and other Ancient Clans, there are still Dou Saints and Dou Venerate alive who were close to the Xiao Clan. They may not care about the Xiao Clan's decline, but if the Xiao Clan were truly annihilated and by the Misty Cloud Sect, what do you think would happen?"
Yun Shan understood. Completely understood.
Why did Protector Wu tell him not to casually probe that side? Most likely because there are still Ancient Clan experts paying attention to the Xiao family, probing recklessly could alert them.
Why could the Soul Hall easily wipe out the Xiao family but chose not to? It was to push him and the Misty Cloud Sect to the forefront to bear the potential fury and backlash. Among these many powerful experts, for whatever reason, if even one unleashes their wrath, he and the Misty Cloud Sect would face utter annihilation.
Would the Soul Hall protect him and the Misty Cloud Sect? Impossible. He had no such value.
And if he disobeyed the Soul Hall's orders? Also impossible. The Soul Hall's treasures are not easily obtained. Violating orders would still lead to death, and the Misty Cloud Sect would still be destroyed.
"So, from the moment the Soul Hall approached me, I and the Misty Cloud Sect have already been standing on a dead end?" Yun Shan reached this despairing conclusion and fell into prolonged silence.
No one knew how much time passed before a voice, completely incompatible with Yun Shan's usual demeanor, rang out.
"The Misty Could Sect's foundations of many years are going to be ruined by my hands? To hell with the Ancient Clans! To hell with the Xiao family and Xiao Clan! To hell with the Soul Hall and the Hun Clan—!"
'Success!' Lin Yuan exhaled a long sigh of relief inwardly. 'Finally, I've stirred Yun Shan's hatred toward the Soul Hall.'
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