Chapter 231: The Old Ghost Star Reacher and the Elder Bone Collector
A desperate roar erupted. At the brink of death, Soul Cliff let out a furious scream, and a pitch black vortex instantly appeared at the center of his forehead.
The moment the vortex and its accompanying runes emerged, Soul Cliff's aura skyrocketed, surging upward at an astonishing rate. In the blink of an eye, his strength rose from a five star Dou Ancestor, almost stepping into the realm of a Dou Venerate.
Lu Bu's eyes gleamed sharply. This bloodline power was indeed impressive, but in the face of overwhelming strength, all fancy tricks were futile illusions!
Boom!
The iron fist descended, carrying the force of an avalanche or an earthquake, smashing down mercilessly on Soul Cliff.
"Arghhh!"
Soul Cliff's body trembled violently. He opened his mouth, spitting out mouthfuls of bright red blood.
The oppressive aura that had momentarily surged to the level of a half step Dou Venerate dissipated in an instant, leaving him utterly weakened.
"He wants to kill me. He's going to kill me!" Soul Cliff's heart filled with terror as he realized for the first time how close death was.
This white robed man before him not only had the capability to kill him but also the intent and worse still, the resolve to do so.
"No, I must call for reinforcements!" A new thought surged through his mind, and he clenched his fingers tightly. A black jade slip appeared in his palm, which he was about to crush to send a distress signal to his clan.
"Hah… the Soul Clan always resorts to the same old tricks, don't they?"
Before Soul Cliff could act, a chilling voice echoed. Suddenly, a sharp pain ran through his arms. Looking down in horror, he realized his connection to the jade slip was gone because his arms had been severed.
Splurt!
Blood sprayed through the air as two pale arms fell to the ground.
Lu Bu appeared in front of him, his figure a blur. His right hand was formed into a blade, burning with an eerie, invisible flame, while his left hand held the black jade slip.
"I was waiting for that," Lu Bu sneered coldly, prepared from the start to intercept any distress calls.
"Ahhhh!"
Soul Cliff screamed in agony, his face contorted in terror.
Lu Bu raised an eyebrow, somewhat unimpressed. The Soul Clan still has cowards like this? Or has this brat never been properly tempered by hardship?
No matter Soul Cliff had to die. If he didn't, it would bring endless trouble for Queen Medusa and Yun Yun.
Boom!
With a thought, the Heaven Demon Puppet flashed forward. Its golden fist pierced through Soul Cliff's chest, shattering his heart.
"You can't kill me! My soul imprint is with the clan!" Soul Cliff cried out in desperation. "If I die, they'll know! You can't "
Shlick!
A black soul chain suddenly shot through the air, piercing his forehead. Invisible spiritual flames spread along the chain, consuming Soul Cliff's body and soul in mere moments, reducing him to nothingness.
"Finish up quickly. Something feels off," Lu Bu said gravely. With a flick of his wrist, a black spatial ring was yanked into his grasp by the soul chain.
He joined the fray, his spiritual flames blazing as they incinerated the remaining Soul Hall Protectors.
Hearing Lu Bu's warning, Medusa, Yun Yun, and Venerable Tian Huo grew tense. They let out fierce battle cries, their attacks intensifying as they slaughtered the remaining defenders with ruthless efficiency.
Yun Yun, her expression cold and resolute, shifted her hand seals. A peculiar wave of energy radiated from her position at the core of the formation. Suddenly, torrents of heart flames surged forward.
Caught off guard, the already struggling Soul Hall Protectors crumbled entirely, their screams fading into silence.
In Central Plains...
A dark, eerie hall flickered with strange firelight, casting twisted and grotesque shadows across the chamber. Below, the occasional wails of tormented souls mingled with the clinking of chains and sharp, unsettling laughter, sending chills down anyone's spine.
At the head of the hall sat a man dressed in black robes. His eyes were half closed as if he were resting, and his entire being exuded an indescribable aura. At times, it was as soothing as a gentle spring breeze; at others, it was as menacing as a tiger poised to strike.
Suddenly, the firelight flared violently, and the man's eyes snapped open. A flicker of confusion crossed his face.
"Hall Master?" someone cloaked in black mist called out from below.
"Soul Cliff is dead," the Hall Master said flatly.
"What? That boy? But he possessed a seventh grade bloodline. Few in the clan surpass him," the figure responded, surprised.
"The clan reported that he was in the Northwestern Continent," the Hall Master explained. "Soul Ash mentioned that after destroying a Black Abyss Army squad, Soul Cliff received a transmission from within the hall and headed to the Northwestern Continent in pursuit of the 'key.'"
"Fool!" The voice from below carried a hint of mockery. Among the Soul Clan, seventh grade bloodlines were not particularly rare, and few would genuinely mourn Soul Cliff's death.
"What does the clan suggest?"
"They want an investigation, but not at the cost of the greater plan."
"That complicates things. We can't spare many resources right now."
"I'm more curious," the Hall Master chuckled, "about who in the impoverished Northwestern Continent managed to kill him. Could it be the fallen Xiao Clan?"
At this, the Hall Master let out a cold laugh.
"Send Star Reacher and an available Dou Venerate to investigate. Oh, and keep an eye on the Black Abyss Army while they're at it."
"Understood. Great Heavenly Elder, assist me in opening the space passage to send them over."
"Yes, Hall Master!"
With that, the other figure stood. Mysterious energy rippled outward from the two of them, gradually forming a deep, swirling silver spatial wormhole that led into a pitch black void.
Back in the Misty Thorn Swamp...
Boom!
With a deafening explosion, the majestic black hall of the Soul Hall collapsed, reduced to rubble that scattered across the swamp in a cloud of dust.
"You three go ahead. I have something to take care of," Lu Bu said firmly.
He reached out, grabbing a massive orb of light nearly half his size and stowing it into his spatial ring.
"Xiao…" Yun Yun hesitated, her tone filled with confusion as she was about to speak, but Medusa tugged on her sleeve and led her away, flying swiftly into the distance.
Underneath his white robe, Lu Bu's face was cold and stern. He slowly raised his palm, releasing a surge of spiritual flames. Within moments, the flames transformed into a massive sea of fire, engulfing the entire site of the Soul Hall.
However, something unusual occurred. At the spot where Soul Cliff's severed arms had fallen, a few drops of blood remained, untouched by the blazing spiritual fire. The blood sat there quietly, seemingly immune to the flames.
Simultaneously, a few grains of black powder fell gently into the soil, blending into the surroundings without drawing any attention.
Elsewhere, a light breeze rustled the treetops as Yun Yun and Medusa swiftly left the Misty Thorn Swamp, arriving in a lush forest filled with towering trees.
"Why did he just…?" Yun Yun's delicate brows furrowed as confusion clouded her face.
"Something was off. His expression changed there must have been an unexpected development," Medusa replied, her tone serious. This was the first time she had seen Lu Bu display such an expression, and a heavy feeling settled in her heart. What had gone wrong?
"An unexpected development…" Yun Yun's chest tightened. "Could it be that young man?"
Before the fight, Lu Bu had meticulously planned every detail, with countermeasures for each opponent. Yet, the young man who had appeared alongside the Soul Hall elder hadn't been part of the plan.
"Do you remember what Lu Bu said about the Eight Great Ancient Clans?" Medusa's crimson lips pressed into a thin line. "Those clans rely heavily on their bloodline powers. When facing a formidable enemy, they can forcibly activate their bloodline abilities to fight back…"
"The clan markings!" Yun Yun's expression darkened, her heart sinking further. If that man truly belonged to one of the Ancient Clans, then killing the younger one might bring retaliation from the elders.
Both women, intelligent and perceptive, pieced the situation together quickly with just a few exchanges. However, their conclusions left them feeling even more apprehensive.
They vividly remembered Lu Bu's descriptions of the Ancient Clans where Dou Ancestors were as common as dogs, Dou Venerates roamed like clouds, and only Dou Saints could barely hold any sway.
The thought chilled both women to the core. Against such opponents, what could they possibly do?
Whoosh!
Before they could dwell further, Lu Bu appeared at their side. Seeing the worry etched on their faces, the corner of his mouth twitched slightly. Having smart wives is such a pain!
If it had been the simpler minded Zi Yan or Qing Lin, Lu Bu could have easily brushed the matter aside without them even realizing it.
"What's the plan now, Lu Bu?" Yun Yun asked anxiously.
"No need to worry," Lu Bu reassured them with a smile. "The Soul Clan is preoccupied with their own plans and can't afford to send any Dou Saints."
However, his words did little to ease their concerns. If not Dou Saints, what about nine turn Dou Venerates? Or high level Dou Venerates?
"I left something behind at the site to mislead any Soul Hall pursuers," Lu Bu added confidently. "Next, you two will return to the Jia Ma Empire. I'll lure the pursuers out of the Northwestern Continent."
"What!?" Both Yun Yun and Medusa were alarmed, their expressions shifting drastically.
"Relax, I've already planned everything," Lu Bu said with a smile. "With my new flying Dou Technique, I can easily outrun them. There's no need to worry."
As he spoke, Lu Bu waved his hand, and his spatial ring emitted a flash of light, producing several items.
Holding a multicolored stone, Lu Bu handed it to Medusa. "Your Majesty, this is a Rainbow Origin Stone. Take it back and absorb its power."
The stone was something he had found in Lion Sky's spatial ring. After thorough inspection, Lu Bu confirmed that it held no traps or hidden dangers left by Lion Sky. In hindsight, Lion Sky's death had been entirely justified he'd dared to target Lu Bu's wife, so becoming a puppet was the least he deserved.
Medusa accepted the stone with a heavy heart, unsure of what to say. With her current strength, forcing her way into Lu Bu's plan would only hinder him. Yun Yun, too, knew that her involvement would add no significant value.
Lu Bu already possessed two Dou Venerate puppets and a Dou Venerate corpse. An additional eight star Dou Ancestor wouldn't make much of a difference.
Ignoring the worry etched across the women's faces, Lu Bu extended his sleeve. Spiritual flames surged forward, enveloping a strange transparent orb of light he had retrieved earlier. The intense heat began to refine the soul essence he had worked so hard to obtain.
Although Medusa and Yun Yun didn't understand what he was doing, they didn't question him. Instead, they stepped aside, standing guard as he worked.
Inside the pale white spatial ring, Venerable Tian Huo watched the soul essence with a look of barely concealed greed. No wonder Lu Bu believes this can help him ascend to the Spirit Realm of souls this soul essence is truly enticing.
However, despite his amazement, Venerable Tian Huo had no thoughts of claiming it for himself. He spread his soul power outward, vigilantly scanning the surroundings.
Lu Bu had done far too much for him already, and he wasn't the kind of person to betray someone who had helped him.
An hour later, under the scorching refinement of Lu Bu's spiritual flames, faint black wisps began to escape from the transparent orb. The dark energy dissipated into the air, vanishing completely.
As the flames continued to burn, the transparent soul essence grew purer and clearer, resembling a floating orb of crystalline water that shimmered faintly.
Lu Bu's expression remained calm and focused. With a wave of his sleeve, his soul power surged outward, dividing the purified soul essence into seven portions.
Stepping lightly, Lu Bu activated a formation underfoot. Silver threads shot out from the void, wrapping around the seven portions of soul essence before sealing them into seven separate scrolls.
"Take these back to Xiao Yi Xian and Zi Yan. Each of you will get one portion," Lu Bu said with a smile, handing the scrolls to Medusa and Yun Yun.
"Xiao Bu, isn't this what you were planning to use to break through to the Spirit Realm of the soul?" Yun Yun bit her lip lightly and asked.
"There's no time for that right now. I'll deal with it later it's not urgent." Lu Bu shook his head and said, "You two head back to the Jia Ma Empire. Leave the rest to me."
"You… how will we find you later?" Medusa's expression shifted as she bit her lip and asked.
She didn't believe this would be a farewell forever. She believed in her husband, the man destined to become a Dou Di. He would not perish so easily!
"Hmm… one year from now, in the Central Plains' Pill Region. I'll go there," Lu Bu said after a moment of thought.
"Xiao Bu, be careful…" Yun Yun's eyes filled with mist. She had only just begun spending time with Lu Bu.
"Don't worry, I'll be fine!" Lu Bu smiled reassuringly.
Medusa took Yun Yun's hand and, with worry weighing on her heart, ascended into the sky and flew away. How was she supposed to explain this to Zi Yan and Xiao Yi Xian?
Watching the two leave, Lu Bu rubbed his chin and began erasing the traces left behind by Medusa and Yun Yun.
…
Five days later!
Two streaks of light streaked across the sky, racing toward the Misty Thorn Swamp.
From the Central Plains to the Northwestern Continent spanned tens of millions of miles. Even with spatial wormholes, it took considerable time to traverse such distances.
But this time, the matter was urgent. The Soul Hall's Hall Master and the Grand Heaven Elder had worked together to tear open space, constructing a spatial channel that allowed the two figures to reach the Northwestern Continent within days.
Whoosh!
Two black robed figures descended upon the former site of the Soul Hall's branch. What had once been a grand hall had now been reduced to a flat, barren wasteland.
"Such clean handiwork… It's been dealt with thoroughly," the Heaven Grasping Old Ghost remarked coldly as he scanned his surroundings.
"Not clean enough," the other black robed figure replied indifferently.
"Oh? Mu Gu, what have you found?" The Heaven Grasping Old Ghost asked, surprised. Though his Dou Qi cultivation far surpassed Mu Gu's, his soul abilities were far inferior.
"There!" Elder Mu Gu pointed to a spot on the ground.
The Heaven Grasping Old Ghost stepped forward. The space around him warped, and in an instant, he appeared at the location Mu Gu had indicated, as though he had traversed the distance in a single step.
On the dull yellow ground, there were two dark red bloodstains.
The Heaven Grasping Old Ghost sneered, his fingertips brushing against the surface as a faint glow flickered between his fingers. After a moment, the bloodstains floated into the air, forming a translucent blood screen.
Within the screen, a figure appeared a man dressed in white robes, his entire body engulfed in an intangible flame. A faint golden light flashed as if another figure had appeared briefly.
The Heaven Grasping Old Ghost frowned, puzzled. But before he could examine further, Boom! The blood screen exploded, and the scattered bloodstains dissolved into nothingness.
"A Heavenly Flame?!" Elder Mu Gu exclaimed, his voice filled with astonishment and delight.
But he quickly shook his head. "No, it's not a Heavenly Flame. It lacks the kind of destructive and chaotic energy typical of such flames. However… it's still a rather impressive fire!"
"Don't get too excited just yet," the Heaven Grasping Old Ghost said grimly, pressing his finger into the sand. When he raised it, a small, black crystal grain gleamed faintly.
"This is… a Black Army insignia?" Elder Mu Gu's pupils contracted sharply. He instantly recognized the material used for the Black Army's insignias, even if this one was shattered.
"Reports say that before entering the Northwestern Continent, the envoy killed a small squad of Black Army soldiers. It's normal for someone to come after him," the Heaven Grasping Old Ghost said. Could this be the Black Army's work?
But something about it didn't sit right.
If it were the Black Army, they would have decapitated the envoy and hung his head at the Soul Hall as a warning. This complete erasure of evidence? It didn't match their methods.
"Can you track the enemy?" Though puzzled, the Heaven Grasping Old Ghost turned to ask Elder Mu Gu. If they returned empty handed, they would undoubtedly face severe consequences.
After all, both the Hall Master and the Grand Heaven Elder had worked together to send them here. Such an honor came with immense expectations.
"Yes," Elder Mu Gu said solemnly, picking up another dried bloodstain. He unleashed his soul power, and faint yellow flames flickered in his palm.
The dried bloodstain began to melt, transforming into a fine mist that drifted toward a particular direction.
But after a single breath's time, the blood mist dispersed, vanishing completely.
"Let's go. It's in that direction," Mu Gu said, gesturing for the Heaven Grasping Old Ghost to lead the way.
The Heaven Grasping Old Ghost's lips twitched, but he obediently took the lead. In the Soul Hall, five star Dou Venerate level elders were plentiful, but there weren't many eighth tier alchemists like Mu Gu.
…
In a secluded forest, Lu Bu slowly opened his eyes, a solemn expression settling on his face.
"They've arrived…"
…
Southern Northwestern Continent
As the Black Army group moved swiftly through the dense wilderness, they suddenly stopped.
Before they could raise an alarm or go on alert, the space in front of them began to warp and twist, forming a spatial wormhole.
The next moment, two elderly figures stepped out of the wormhole.
"Elder Lin? What brings you here?" Xiao Xun'er asked, her tone filled with surprise as she looked at the two who had emerged.
"The Soul Hall has dispatched a Heaven Elder and a three star Dou Venerate. The clan was concerned about you…" Elder Lin said, bowing slightly.
Behind Xiao Xun'er, the Black Army soldiers exchanged bewildered looks.
(End of Chapter)
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