"Who dares to intrude and insult this Venerable?!"
Thunder Venerable roared in fury, springing to his feet the moment he heard the voice.
He was already irritated enough. Now someone dared to challenge him right at his doorstep. Streaks of lightning swirled violently around him.
Suddenly, a black mist appeared out of thin air in front of Thunder Venerable. He instinctively threw a punch toward the black mist.
"Snap!"
The moment his fist made contact, a slender hand shot out from the mist and directly gripped his palm.
Thunder Venerable felt as if his fist had struck a pool of water. He quickly withdrew his hand and flashed backward to create a safe distance.
Once he stood firm, his gaze warily fixed on the black mist before him.
"Hehehe, Thunder Venerable is as short-tempered as ever. That's not good!" The black mist gradually dissipated, revealing an old man in a blue robe standing in the hall.
The moment the old man appeared, the air in the entire hall became moist. Faintly, tiny raindrops eerily began to fall inside the hall.
"Hall of Souls… Nine Heavens Venerable Moyu?" Thunder Venerable narrowed his eyes as he observed the newcomer's appearance and aura. "Why aren't you busy collecting souls? What are you doing here? This isn't a place you'd like."
"Hehehe, Thunder Venerable, you jest. I am here to help you resolve the problems you are currently facing," the old man, referred to as Nine Heavens Venerable, said indifferently as he flicked his sleeve.
"Help me?" Thunder Venerable scoffed, scrutinizing the man before him. "The word 'help' doesn't sound right coming from someone of the Hall of Souls!"
"Hehehe, it seems Thunder Venerable doesn't need our help to reclaim your position as the overlord of the Northern Region—even though you've now become the laughingstock of various major powers," Nine Heavens Venerable chuckled strangely, a hint of mockery in his voice.
Upon hearing this, Thunder Venerable's eyes flickered continuously as he fell into thought. However, judging by his constantly changing expression, it was clear that the words had struck where it hurt.
Nine Heavens Venerable watched Thunder Venerable's wavering expression and smiled. "It seems you do need our help."
Thunder Venerable did not respond directly. Instead, he weighed the pros and cons of cooperating with the Hall of Souls. Although the Hall of Souls was notorious for devouring people without spitting out bones, their strength was undeniable.
"With your strength alone, you can't overthrow Boundless Heaven Hall, can you?" Although Thunder Venerable didn't know Nine Heavens Venerable's exact strength, rumors said he was a Seven-Star Dou Zun. While there might be some inaccuracy, it wouldn't be far off.
A Seven-Star Dou Zun was nothing but an ant in front of a Nine Revolutions Dou Zun—one that could be extinguished with a single breath.
"This Venerable's strength alone is indeed insufficient against Boundless Heaven Hall's Nine Revolutions Dou Zun, but that doesn't mean my Hall of Souls cannot deal with her."
Upon hearing this, Thunder Venerable stared intently at Nine Heavens Venerable. The two men faced each other in a silent standoff.
Inside the tower, the glow of lightning and moonlight stones intertwined, elongating their shadows, which twisted and swayed on the cold stone walls.
After a long pause, the sharp glint in Thunder Venerable's eyes slowly receded, and his taut shoulders relaxed imperceptibly. He snorted coldly, his voice low and hoarse. "Go on."
The strange smile on Nine Heavens Venerable's lips deepened, as if he had long anticipated this outcome.
"A Nine Revolutions Dou Zun is indeed incredibly powerful, and throughout the entire Northern Region, she truly has no opponents. But…" Nine Heavens Venerable's tone shifted, a sinister glint flashing in his eyes. "My Hall of Souls never makes deals without certainty. She will naturally be dealt with. This time, I am not the only one who has come."
Thunder Venerable's pupils contracted slightly. Combining this with what he knew about the Hall of Souls, he had a slight guess in his mind. "Who else?"
"Hehehe…" Nine Heavens Venerable did not answer directly, only emitting a series of spine-chilling chuckles.
"To deal with a Nine Revolutions Dou Zun, thorough preparation is naturally required. Thunder Venerable only needs to know that we have enough power to completely wipe her, along with her Boundless Heaven Hall, from the Northern Region. And you, Wind and Thunder Pavilion, will reclaim everything that belongs to you—and even… more."
His words were like a venomous snake's hiss, full of temptation and deadly danger.
Thunder Venerable's breathing hitched slightly. The scene Nine Heavens Venerable described was exactly what he had longed for day and night but found unattainable: the former glory of the Northern Region's overlord and his lost dignity.
But he was, after all, a formidable figure. He forcefully suppressed the agitation in his heart and said in a deep voice, "Your Hall of Souls never makes a losing deal. What do you want for helping me like this?"
"It's simple. Once the matter is concluded, everything in Boundless Heaven Hall—including its people—will belong to my Hall of Souls. All the territory in the Northern Region will revert to you, Thunder Venerable. We will not encroach upon it in the slightest," Nine Heavens Venerable said with a confident smile. "I wonder if Thunder Venerable is satisfied with this condition."
Thunder Venerable was silent for a moment.
He knew that the other party was using him as a pawn, but the benefits and advantages of being this pawn were something he couldn't refuse and desired most.
Weighing the pros and cons, the desire for revenge and to revive his power ultimately took precedence. After all, with the other party's strength, destroying his Wind and Thunder Pavilion would be an effortless task.
"Very well," Thunder Venerable slowly uttered two words, his eyes becoming sharp and cold. "But this Venerable demands to personally witness your sincerity and strength. If you dare to toy with Wind and Thunder Pavilion…"
In truth, after Nine Heavens Venerable stated his purpose, he no longer had any right to refuse. All he could do was maximize his benefits.
"Hehehe, rest assured," Nine Heavens Venerable chuckled several times, his laughter filled with confidence and cunning. "Naturally. Moreover, that esteemed adult has already arrived. You only need to cooperate with our actions. So, a pleasant cooperation, Thunder Venerable."
Nine Heavens Venerable's figure slowly merged into the shadows of the hall, disappearing like a ghost and leaving only his chilling, strange laughter echoing long in the empty Thunder Hall.
Thunder Venerable stood alone, his expression shifting between dark and light.
Outside the tower, a clap of thunder exploded, and the silver electric light instantly illuminated half of his face, alternating between bright and dark, as if foreshadowing that the decision he had just made would lead Wind and Thunder Pavilion to an unknown abyss—or… its former glory.
...
In the northwest region of the Central Plains, Falling Soul City.
In a bustling restaurant within the city, a man and a woman, both appearing quite ordinary, sat by the window.
The two were Nalan Yanran and Xiao Yan after disguising themselves.
After dealing with the Wind and Thunder Southern Pavilion Master, Xiao Yan continued to take Nalan Yanran to seek opportunities.
During this period, both of them found many opportunities, and their strength also improved significantly. Xiao Yan was now a Four-Star Dou Zong.
As for Nalan Yanran, with the opportunities, Xiao Yan's elixirs, and the bonus from her physique, she had already reached the peak of Six-Star Dou Huang and was on the verge of breaking through to Seven-Star Dou Huang at any moment.
However, while searching for opportunities, they encountered a Dou Zun-level elder from the Heavenly Underworld Sect.