About three breaths later, the scene fell into an eerie silence. A flock of crows flew past quietly in the distance.
"Tsk tsk tsk, are you performing as a clown?" Xiao Tian looked at Protector Wu, who was still laughing and shouting madly, and mocked him.
"Useless," Yun Shan said coldly from the side.
"I'll wait for you to come down and join me."
Protector Wu finally realized that the soul mark he had left behind had been removed. Otherwise, Yun Shan would never have cooperated with someone else so easily. Knowing resistance was pointless, he gave up his final struggle.
"Are you talking about this?"
Xiao Tian waved his hand, and a faint wisp of soul energy appeared in his palm.
"How is that possible? This is impossible… I don't believe it!"
Protector Wu stared at the soul fragment in Xiao Tian's hand. It was exactly the wisp of his soul he had secretly separated earlier.
"I have already sealed this entire space. All your methods are futile," Xiao Tian said with a light smile, his voice full of disdain.
Seeing Protector Wu in such a broken state, Xiao Tian couldn't help but hum a casual tune.
"Kill me… Quickly kill me!" Protector Wu cried out in humiliation. He could no longer endure the torment and only wished for a swift death.
Yun Shan's face was covered with black lines. He had always thought Xiao Tian was a serious and steady person, but he never expected him to be so devious—killing someone by crushing their spirit in such a humiliating way.
Having achieved his goal, Xiao Tian began interrogating the nearly collapsed Protector Wu. However, he didn't obtain any truly valuable information, only the location of a small branch hall of the Hall of Souls.
It made sense. Protector Wu was merely an Earth-rank protector, not a core member of the Hall of Souls. At best, he was just a runner. Only after capturing Yao Lao had his status risen, allowing him to enter the inner circle.
Xiao Tian did not kill Protector Wu immediately. Instead, he used a specially made jade bottle to contain the soul body, constantly burning it with the Fallen Heart Flame to prevent any recovery. This kept Protector Wu in a half-dead, weakened state.
He then placed the jade bottle into the system space. Even if Protector Wu managed to break the bottle, he would still be trapped inside the system space.
As for why he didn't kill him outright—it was simply not the right time. Who knew if the Hall of Souls had left any special soul tokens to confirm whether a member had truly died? After all, the Hall of Souls and the Hun Clan were masters at manipulating souls.
Xiao Tian didn't want to attract more experts from the Hall of Souls over a mere Earth-rank protector.
Suddenly, a powerful aura erupted from Xiao Tian's body.
Yun Shan felt the overwhelming pressure and immediately shivered. A powerful chill ran down his spine. He became wary, fearing that Xiao Tian might discard him now that he had served his purpose.
Xiao Tian paid little attention to Yun Shan's reaction. He spread his energy consciousness across every inch of the cave and the surrounding area, carefully checking for any abnormalities.
After confirming there were no problems, he withdrew his senses.
"Oh? What are you so nervous about? Don't worry, I wouldn't go so far as to kill you after you've served your purpose. I have no conflict of interest with you," Xiao Tian said calmly.
Yun Shan was his wife's master, after all. Killing him would make future matters difficult to handle. Moreover, Yun Shan wouldn't dare leak what happened today—otherwise, the vast Cloud Mist Sect would become the first target for destruction.
Seeing that Xiao Tian truly had no intention of attacking, Yun Shan finally breathed a sigh of relief.
This terrifying half-step Dou Zun realm was no joke. A casual slap from Xiao Tian could probably beat a Dou Zong who had taken shortcuts like him into the ground.
"Since everything is settled, I'll take my leave first. You can handle the rest yourself," Xiao Tian said. With nothing left to do, he had no desire to stay with this old man any longer.
Just as Xiao Tian was about to turn and leave, he suddenly noticed something strange about Yun Shan. The old man seemed to have changed entirely.
"Why does this old man feel… a bit more benevolent?" Xiao Tian thought, his eyes scrutinizing Yun Shan carefully.
Yun Shan felt a chill run down his spine under Xiao Tian's intense gaze. He inexplicably sensed danger in his lower regions.
"What… what are you trying to do?" Yun Shan asked nervously.
"Get lost. I'm not interested in men. I only like beautiful women," Xiao Tian replied, immediately understanding the old man's wild thoughts.
"Hehe, that's good… You scared this old man to death," Yun Shan said, instantly relaxing with a chuckle.
Hearing Xiao Tian's last sentence, a strange glint flashed in Yun Shan's eyes as an idea suddenly popped into his head.
Xiao Tian didn't pay much attention. He lifted the spatial seal and left directly.
"Fortunately, I had the World Piercing Needle. Otherwise, he really might have escaped," Xiao Tian muttered. Then he paused. "Wait… Could it be that old man Yun Shan changed because I use Red Lotus Flame Petal too forcefully?"
The more he thought about it, the more likely it seemed. Xiao Tian almost laughed out loud. Perhaps the ambitious Yun Shan, who was full of schemes to conquer other forces and expand his territory, was gone forever.
In his place was now a benevolent, indifferent Yun Shan who would focus only on diligently developing his own sect.
Xiao Tian couldn't help but show a strange expression. He wanted to laugh but felt it would be too awkward.
Half an hour after Xiao Tian left, a graceful figure appeared at the spot where he had previously stood. She was recalling the change in Yun Shan's aura.
"Is this the aura of that little scoundrel?"
The figure was none other than Yun Yun, who had just returned from her mission. Sensing a familiar aura in the back mountain, she had come to investigate.
"Yun'er, why have you come to your master's place?" Yun Shan asked, sensing her arrival.
"Yun'er sensed the aura of another person in the forbidden area, so I came to take a look," Yun Yun replied respectfully as she arrived in front of the cave.
The cave door opened, and Yun Yun walked inside.
She immediately noticed that the floor of the cultivation cave was covered in spiderweb-like cracks. There was also a strong lingering aura of Xiao Tian mixed with a cold, sinister presence, but no traces of blood.
This proved that a fierce struggle had occurred here. A hint of worry appeared on Yun Yun's face.
"Master, this…?"
"It's nothing. I simply had a sparring session with someone. He's fine. If there's nothing else, you may go back first. Do not let what happened here leak out," Yun Shan said indifferently, though his voice carried a strange undertone.
"Yes, Master. Your disciple bids farewell."
Hearing this, the heavy stone in Yun Yun's heart finally lifted. She let out a sigh of relief and didn't even notice the odd tone in her master's voice.
"Hehe…"
Yun Shan watched Yun Yun's departing figure with a meaningful smile on his lips.
…
After dealing with Protector Wu, Xiao Tian returned directly to the room arranged for him by the Mittel Family. The effect of the experience card had not yet worn off. Although he wasn't openly radiating his full aura, Hai Bodong, who was not far away, still felt a powerful sense of oppression.
Hai Bodong soon came to Xiao Tian's room and knocked on the door.
"Xiao Tian, what is this…?"
Hai Bodong was very curious about how Xiao Tian had suddenly used a secret method to boost his strength so dramatically.
"I just went out to handle something," Xiao Tian replied casually.
"Is everything settled? Is there anything this old man can help with?"
As soon as he finished speaking, Hai Bodong shook his head with a wry smile. "Never mind. My words are superfluous. If you can't solve it, then I certainly can't. Hehe."
"Elder Hai, this is just concern. I understand your loyal nature very well, and I also like your character," Xiao Tian said with a smile, praising him sincerely.
The two chatted for a few moments before Hai Bodong left, offering that if Xiao Tian needed anything, he could arrange for the Mittel Family to assist.
Xiao Tian watched Hai Bodong's departing figure for a while, lost in thought.