Chapter 492: A Powerful Force, The Rescue Begins
"Heh, leave this Hall of Souls branch to Yuan Gate. We'll handle it," Mo Yu said with a faint smile.
Hearing Mo Yu's words, Xiao Yan and the Wind Venerable were momentarily stunned, surprise flashing across their faces. Was Yuan Gate really powerful enough to deal with five Dou Zuns?
"Are these the only Dou Zuns at that branch?" Xiao Li, as one of Yuan Gate's main commanders, was well aware of their strength. After a brief silence, he asked again.
"According to the information we've gathered, there should only be these five Dou Zuns. However, the branch will definitely have a number of Hall of Souls Protectors, and their combined combat power is nothing to scoff at," Xiao Yan said thoughtfully.
"Those Protectors are not much of a concern. What you really need to worry about is encountering a Hall of Souls Heavenly Lord," the Wind Venerable said gravely.
"Heavenly Lord..." Mo Yu's eyebrows rose at the mention of the title.
"The Hall of Souls has Protectors ranked by Earth, Heaven, and Man levels. Although their Elders aren't categorized as strictly, they are also divided by ranks. A Heavenly Lord is the highest-ranking Elder. As for their strength, I can't say for certain, but even someone like the Ice River Valley Master wouldn't qualify to be a Heavenly Lord," the Wind Venerable explained in a solemn tone.
Mo Yu squinted his silver eyes slightly and nodded.
The Ice River Valley Master had about four-star Dou Zun strength. If even someone of his caliber didn't qualify to be a Heavenly Lord, then the Hall of Souls' Heavenly Lords must be at least five-star Dou Zuns.
This didn't surprise Mo Yu. The Hall of Souls, being a subsidiary of the Soul Clan, had power far beyond the imagination of most people.
Still, for Mo Yu, while a five-star Dou Zun was formidable, they weren't unbeatable. With his recent breakthrough to Dou Zun, he was confident that he could slay a five-star Dou Zun if necessary.
"The Hall of Souls is indeed terrifying," Xiao Yan said with a sigh, clenching his fists tightly.
Such fearsome power was rare across the entire continent, rivaled only by ancient forces like the Gu Clan.
"No need to worry too much. Heavenly Lords hold extremely high positions in the Hall of Souls and rarely show themselves. The five Dou Zuns guarding Yao Lao are already a significant force. If a Heavenly Lord were there as well, it would be rather unusual," the Wind Venerable said, trying to comfort Xiao Yan.
Mo Yu also smiled and said, "Don't worry, Cousin Xiao Yan. Even if there is a Heavenly Lord at that branch, I will help you rescue Yao Lao."
With that, Mo Yu stood up and ordered the guards outside the hall, "Send word to summon Qing Zhi, Iron Sword Venerable, Mad Blade, and Lin Lang!"
"Yes, sir!" The guards nodded respectfully and left.
"Iron Sword? Could that be the same Iron Sword Venerable who single-handedly slaughtered the entire Jade Sword Sect five years ago? He's joined Yuan Gate?" The Wind Venerable's face showed a trace of surprise upon hearing the familiar name.
"Hehe, yes, Iron Sword Venerable joined Yuan Gate a year ago and now serves as one of our Elders," Mo Yu said with a light laugh.
"Oh, I've known Iron Sword for years and know his temperament is as stubborn as it gets. I never thought he'd join a faction," the Wind Venerable said, astonished.
If he'd had only a vague impression of Yuan Gate's strength before, learning that Iron Sword had joined as an Elder piqued his curiosity even more. And Mo Yu had just called out four names—were they all Dou Zuns as well?
"Master, the Elders have arrived!" A respectful voice echoed from outside, followed by several figures slowly entering the hall.
"We greet the Master!"
The newcomers were Qing Zhi, Iron Sword Venerable, and Mad Blade and Lin Lang, who had joined Yuan Gate after the battle with the Western Alliance.
"Four Dou Zuns?"
The Wind Venerable scanned the group, and the teacup in his hand trembled slightly in shock. He hadn't expected Mo Yu to summon four Dou Zuns with a simple gesture. After all, his Falling Star Pavilion had only one Dou Zun—himself.
Even with his experience, the Wind Venerable couldn't help but feel shaken. Xiao Yan's cousin was no ordinary person...
Xiao Yan, too, sensed the immense power of the newcomers. As a peak Dou Zong himself, only Dou Zuns could give him such a strong sense of pressure.
He was both surprised and thrilled. Mo Yu's powerful allies meant that the chances of rescuing his master had greatly improved. But he was also shocked by how quickly Mo Yu had built Yuan Gate into such a formidable force in just a few years, a feat that made Xiao Yan feel a little embarrassed.
At that moment, the usually stoic Iron Sword Venerable noticed the Wind Venerable and said in his raspy voice, "Wind Venerable, your Falling Star Pavilion is far in the Southern Region. I didn't expect to see you here in the Western Region."
"Yes, old friend, I'm just as surprised to see you joined a faction," the Wind Venerable replied, exchanging pleasantries with his old companion. However, both knew that now wasn't the time for catching up, so they quickly ended their brief chat.
Mo Yu then set down his teacup and explained to Iron Sword and the others the purpose of their gathering: the plan to rescue Yao Lao by attacking the Hall of Souls' branch.
As soon as Mo Yu finished speaking, Qing Zhi, who had no expression on his face, immediately said, "Master's orders are my duty."
Mo Yu nodded. Qing Zhi, as a puppet with its own intelligence, was always absolutely loyal.
"I never thought the famous Yao Zun would still be alive, let alone captured by the Hall of Souls," Iron Sword Venerable sighed before speaking with a deep voice, "Master, Yao Lao was very kind to me in the past. If it weren't for him, I wouldn't have been able to avenge my family's blood feud. Now that he's in trouble, even if you hadn't asked, I would have volunteered to join the mission."
Hearing Iron Sword's words, the Wind Venerable smiled knowingly, clearly aware of some old stories.
Mo Yu wasn't surprised by this response. He then turned to Mad Blade and Lin Lang.
Since these two weren't part of Yuan Gate's core, Mo Yu wanted to use this opportunity to test their loyalty.
Mad Blade and Lin Lang exchanged glances, feeling a bit nervous. After all, attacking a Hall of Souls branch was no small matter. Even as Dou Zuns, they had no desire to provoke such a terrifying force.
However, with Qing Zhi and Iron Sword having already pledged their support, refusing would make it difficult for them to remain in Yuan Gate. Over the past year, they had become quite attached to Yuan Gate, enjoying its benefits and developing a sense of belonging.
With their decision made, Mad Blade and Lin Lang cupped their hands respectfully and said, "We are willing to follow the Master and attack the Hall of Souls branch!"
"Good! You two are valuable assets to Yuan Gate!" Mo Yu smiled, then turned to Xiao Yan and the Wind Venerable. "Now we have four Dou Zuns plus myself, making five Dou Zuns from Yuan Gate. With this force, rescuing Yao Lao shouldn't be a problem."
Although Yuan Gate could deploy even more Dou Zuns, Mo Yu didn't want to bring along too many people, like Xiao Yi Xian or Qing Lin. It was better to leave enough strength behind to defend the home base.
If things went wrong during the rescue mission, Mo Yu would deeply regret it. Besides, if this group couldn't rescue Yao Lao, sending a few more lower-level Dou Zuns wouldn't make a difference.
"Thank you, Cousin Mo Yu!" Xiao Yan said, deeply moved, his face filled with excitement. Rescuing his teacher had been his dream for years, and now that dream was within reach.
"Hehe, there's no need to be so formal," Mo Yu said, patting Xiao Yan's shoulder.
Watching the deep bond between Mo Yu and Xiao Yan, the Wind Venerable couldn't help but think back to his own youth with Yao Lao. He sighed nostalgically before speaking.
"According to our intel, Yao Lao is currently being held in the Soul Burying Mountains in the northwest region. The Western Region isn't far from there, and we should be able to reach it within five days."
As he spoke, the Wind Venerable took out a sheepskin map from his storage ring and handed it to Mo Yu. "Here's a map of the Soul Burying Mountains. The Hall of Souls branch is located in the center of the mountain range."
Mo Yu took the map and spread it out, studying it carefully. The markings were detailed, and while the mountains were covered in thick, icy fog, navigating them with this map wouldn't be too difficult.
"Cousin Xiao Yan, when would you like to leave?" Mo Yu asked.
"I've already asked a Dou Zun to keep an eye on the Hall of Souls' movements in the Soul Burying Mountains to prevent them from moving my teacher. If possible, the sooner we go, the better," Xiao Yan replied in a serious tone.
"Oh, that Dou Zun must be the Heavenly Flame Venerable," Mo Yu thought to himself, then nodded. "In that case, we should move quickly. Let's depart tomorrow."
Now that their team was assembled, with Yuan Gate's five Dou Zuns plus the Wind Venerable, the Heavenly Flame Venerable, and Xiao Yan, who was as strong as an ordinary Dou Zun, their force had reached a total of eight Dou Zuns.
This lineup was quite powerful even by Central Plains standards. As long as there were no unforeseen events and the intel was accurate, Mo Yu was confident they could successfully rescue Yao Lao from the Hall of Souls.
The Wind Venerable was slightly startled but soon nodded. He knew that such missions couldn't be delayed. Striking swiftly would catch the Hall of Souls off guard, giving them a better chance of grabbing Yao Lao and retreating before reinforcements could arrive.
"Thank you, Cousin Mo Yu. We'll depart tomorrow!" Xiao Yan said, full of joy.
"I want to go too!" Zi Yan, who had been listening quietly, suddenly spoke up, pouting.
Mo Yu paused, then patted Zi Yan's head with a smile. "This isn't going to be fun, Zi Yan. Stay at Yuan Gate and wait for us to return triumphantly. Don't worry, Qing Lin and the others will keep you company, so you won't get bored."
Xiao Yan also nodded and said, "Yes, this mission will be very dangerous, and it's not suitable for you. Be good, and when we get back, I'll make some delicious pills for you."
Although both Mo Yu and Xiao Yan knew Zi Yan's true strength and status as a member of the Taixu Ancient Dragon Clan, Xiao Yan didn't want to put her in danger, especially after securing Mo Yu's powerful assistance.
Hearing their gentle persuasion, Zi Yan furrowed her brows. However, both Mo Yu and Xiao Yan were important to her, so she blinked her large eyes and quietly said, "Okay..."
Mo Yu and Xiao Yan exchanged smiles, shaking their heads.
At that moment, Xiao Li stood up, his expression serious.
"Yao Lao has been a great benefactor to the Xiao family, especially to you, Third Brother. Now that you and Cousin Mo Yu have made up your minds, while I can't offer much help, I wish you all the best for a successful mission."
"Thank you, Second Brother," Xiao Yan said with a smile, his dark eyes flashing with determination. He had worked hard for years for this moment, and now it was time to act.
"Teacher, wait for me. This time, with Cousin Mo Yu's powerful help, I will rescue you from the Hall of Souls!"
The next day, as the first rays of sunlight pierced the darkness and illuminated the land, several figures silently slipped out of Yuan Gate, disappearing into the sky without drawing anyone's attention.
On a mountain peak outside Ten Thousand Weapons City, several deep, powerful figures emerged from the void and landed softly at the summit.
"Cousin Xiao Yan, are you ready?" Mo Yu asked softly, looking at Xiao Yan, who wore a serious expression.
"I'm always ready, Cousin Mo Yu. Although this mission is to rescue my teacher, I trust you to take command," Xiao Yan replied.
The Wind Venerable did not object. Although he was a senior figure, Yuan Gate was providing the majority of the strength for this mission. As long as Yao Lao could be rescued, he didn't mind following the younger generation's lead.
"Very well, then I'll take charge. If everyone is ready, let's move out!" Mo Yu said, counting the group. With that, he transformed into a blur of black light, speeding toward the distant horizon.
Behind him, Xiao Yan, the Wind Venerable, Qing Zhi, and the others followed closely.
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