Qibao Glazed Sect, Main Hall.
"Fengzhi! Latest report from our scouts!"
Two sharp streaks of sword light sliced through the morning mist. Sword Douluo, Chen Xin, landed directly in the center of the hall before his voice had even finished echoing.
"Two days ago, Evil Soul Masters ambushed a group of Elephant Armored Sect disciples in the Spirit Beast Forest."
Ning Fengzhi immediately rose from his seat. "What's the current situation?"
"No sign of the disciples," Chen Xin replied grimly. "From the battlefield traces, they were most likely captured. Definitely the work of Evil Soul Masters."
He frowned deeply. What are they plotting this time?
These vermin never used to capture people—they slaughtered indiscriminately. Since when did they start taking prisoners?
"Where's Bone Elder?" Ning Fengzhi asked.
Chen Xin sighed. "Missing again, right after an incident like this."
Ning Fengzhi chuckled, shaking his head. "Ever since old Gu Rong promised to give away that spirit bone, little Yu has been pestering him day and night. The boy won't let him rest until he displays every single one of his spirit abilities."
"Hah!" Chen Xin couldn't help laughing. "A mighty Titled Douluo turned into a sparring dummy. I can't decide if that's tragic or hilarious."
If one listened carefully, faint booms could indeed be heard echoing across Qibao Mountain from Gu Rong's training arena.
"Uncle Jian, you adore Xiao Yuan, and Bone Uncle dotes on Xiao Yu. Seems evenly matched to me!" Ning Fengzhi chuckled. "Even though Xiao Yu hasn't awakened his martial soul yet, his potential's already remarkable."
Chen Xin shook his head, grumbling. "Talent is fine, but Lu Yuan… I can't stand that brat."
"Still mad about him?" Ning Fengzhi smirked.
"Mad?" Chen Xin's brows twitched. "I want to smack that boy eight times a day! Comes back, brags that he'll treat me to drinks, then disappears without a word!"
Ning Fengzhi could only sigh helplessly. "Forget that for now. Let's focus on the matter at hand—the Evil Soul Masters."
Chen Xin's mood sobered. "Fengzhi, what could they gain by capturing Elephant Armored Sect disciples instead of killing them outright?"
"In recent years," Ning Fengzhi said thoughtfully, "both we and Spirit Hall have rooted out and destroyed many Evil Soul Master cells. Yet, instead of dwindling, their numbers have grown."
"You mean…?"
"I suspect they've been corrupting ordinary soul masters from different sects—recruiting those with unstable or darker spirit attributes. It would explain their mysterious resurgence."
Chen Xin frowned. "That would be troublesome. But I've never heard of the Diamond Mammoth having any 'dark energy.' Still, this rumor will spread fast—other sects will panic again."
Ning Fengzhi nodded. "Unfortunately, speculation gets us nowhere. We need answers directly from the source."
Chen Xin sighed. "Good luck with that. Every Evil Soul Master we capture either dies fighting or bites their tongue before confessing."
He had barely finished the thought when raised voices echoed from outside.
"What's going on out there?" he barked.
A disciple rushed in. "Elder! Sect Master! Lu Yuan has returned—and he's brought back several Evil Soul Masters alive!"
Chen Xin's eyes widened. "That brat remembers where home is?" He grinned suddenly. "Come on, Fengzhi, let's go see!"
Before another word could be said, the two vanished in twin streaks of light.
Qibao Glazed Sect – Courtyard
Chaos filled the yard. A few captured Evil Soul Masters huddled in terror as Lu Yuan barked commands like a veteran officer.
"You two—squat there, hands on your heads! And this half-dead one, dump him right here!"
Had Zhu Zhuqing and the others not stopped him, Lu Yuan probably would've finished the job himself.
"Lu Yuan, you brat—" Chen Xin began, but his words choked as his gaze landed on the unconscious man lying facedown before them.
Recognition struck instantly. He turned toward Ning Fengzhi—both men's expressions mirrored the same stunned disbelief.
"Wait… you caught him?" Chen Xin's tone trembled.
That face—it was unmistakable. Even the Qibao Glazed Sect's internal archives carried it. Pu Yu, a Titled Douluo-level Evil Soul Master, one of the highest-ranking members of their organization.
A core figure. A nightmare made flesh for many sects.
Ning Fengzhi's lips curved into a slow, approving smile. "Xiao Yuan, splendid work as always."
Lu Yuan rubbed his nose, half-grinning. "So… how many jars of wine is this one worth, Uncle Ning?"
Chen Xin's eyebrow twitched violently. "This damn kid! Always thinking with his liver instead of his head!"
"You brat," he snapped, "where's your sense of justice?"
But Ning Fengzhi only chuckled. "You've done the sect a great favor today, Xiao Yuan. Go to Rongrong—she knows where I've kept two fine jars of aged wine."
"Wait, you mean the big red-glazed jars?" Lu Yuan asked innocently. "Rongrong took those out last time I came by. We already finished them that night."
"Hiss…" Ning Fengzhi pressed a hand over his heart. "You drank those?! All right, fine. You'll get two more—after we deal with this situation."
He turned to his guards. "Take this man to the interrogation chamber. Handle him carefully—I want him alive."
Chen Xin stood stunned, muttering under his breath. "A ninety-second level Titled Douluo of the Evil Soul Masters, taken alive… Just how far has this brat's strength grown?"
Deep in the Soul Beast Forest
Far from Qibao Mountain, two shadowed figures observed the scarred battlefield left behind.
A withered elder with sunken eyes crouched, brushing a burned piece of earth. "Old Demon, this destruction… it was Pu Yu's work. Looks like his opponent was Lu Yuan."
A shorter man cloaked in black hissed fiercely. "That arrogant fool. I told him not to underestimate Lu Yuan. Strength like that doesn't disappear in five years—it only gets worse."
"Then Pu Yu's dead?"
"Without question." The short man's tone sharpened. "We withdraw. This battle will draw Spirit Hall's eyes. If we linger, we'll be next."
The two vanished into the dense fog, leaving nothing but shattered trees and scorch marks where sword energy had torn the forest apart.
Qibao Glazed Sect – Main Hall
Pu Yu lay unconscious and covered in burns, chained with sealing talismans. Chen Xin paced back and forth like a restless tiger.
"Damn it, he won't speak! The boy nearly killed him—what kind of interrogation is possible now?"
Ning Fengzhi sighed, sipping calmly from his teacup. "Even if he could talk, would you trust a word he said? Men like this only know how to lie."
Chen Xin froze mid-step, sighed, then muttered, "…Fair point."
A heavy silence lingered—until loud footsteps echoed down the corridor.
Tonk… tonk… tonk…
"Uncle Ning! I'm here to collect my wine!"
Lu Yuan swaggered in, reeking faintly of alcohol and satisfaction. Behind him trotted an anxious Outer Sect caretaker, trying to keep up.
"You're filled with wine instead of sense!" Chen Xin barked. "Can't you behave for one morning?!"
The kid had barely returned and already the sect was in chaos—and not just that, he'd shown up with three new girls! If Gu Rong saw this, he'd faint from pride and fury combined.
"You old man only know how to yell," Lu Yuan shot back. "Why don't you listen for once?"
He dragged the caretaker forward. "Tell them."
The caretaker dropped to one knee. "Sect Master! Sword Elder! The Evil Soul Master, Pu Yu—he's confessed. Thanks to Young Master Lu Yuan!"
Chen Xin and Ning Fengzhi both froze.
"…What?"
The caretaker's voice trembled as he continued, awe written clear on his face. "I don't know what method he used, but… it worked. The prisoner started spilling everything! It was terrifying—and incredible. Truly…"
He hesitated a moment, then added with complete sincerity,
"...only Lu Yuan could come up with a method like that."
--
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