After Wang Yan decided to pursue the fleeing Golden Eagle Soul Emperor, Chen Yu turned back toward the convoy.
By the time Chen Yu reached his friends, it was already dawn. The battle had long since ended, and his companions had already resumed their journey. Catching up, Chen Yu quickly explained everything—the ambush, the soul bone, and Wang Yan's pursuit of the fleeing Soul Emperor.
After listening, the group agreed unanimously: their first priority was the shipment. Protecting it and ensuring its safe delivery came above all else. With that decision made, they traveled steadily throughout the day, vigilant but focused on completing the mission.
By evening, after a full day of travel, the convoy arrived at the Lingyun City auction house and delivered the shipment safely. With the mission complete, all that remained was to wait for Wang Yan's return.
They waited for a long time, but Wang Yan did not return. Concern slowly settled over the group. By the next morning, they could wait no longer and decided to search for him.
The team organized themselves into several groups, each led by trusted members of their Iron Guards, and they set out in different directions to cover more ground. Their goal was to trace Wang Yan's path from the point where Chen Yu and Wang Yan had split, hoping to find any clue that could lead them to his whereabouts.
They searched tirelessly for three days and three nights, scouring every possible route and area, but found no trace of Wang Yan. There was also no sign of the Golden Eagle Soul Emperor. With each passing hour, their hope dimmed, and a heavy sadness settled over the group. They were regretting of their decision of shipment's delivery over their friend's protection.
Disheartened and exhausted, they had no choice but to return to Lingyun City. Their faces were grim, reflecting the weight of their failure, and they came back empty-handed, still unsure of what had happened to Wang Yan.
.....
Meanwhile, far from their group, the Bloodscale Clan Patriarch received troubling news. His servant, dispatched to track the soul bone and retrieve it if possible, had not returned for several days. Realizing that the mission might have failed, the Patriarch immediately deployed his agents throughout Lingyun City, ensuring that someone would report back as soon as the soul bone arrived at the auction.
Sure enough, his men soon confirmed the shipment's fate: the soul bone had been sold at the auction to the Second Minister of Lingyun City. Knowing he could not attack the city directly without risking confrontation with the empire as the Lingyun kingdom is under Tian Dou empire, the Patriarch began planning carefully. His goal was simple but dangerous: lure the Second Minister outside the city walls to a remote location and strike decisively. Every step was calculated—timing, location, resistance, and contingencies—all designed to leave no chance for failure.
When the plan was executed, it was carried out with flawless precision. The Second Minister was killed swiftly and without witnesses, leaving the soul bone firmly in the hands of the Bloodscale Clan. Within hours, the news of the minister's death spread across the Lingyun Kingdom.
After the Second Minister was killed and the soul bone was safely in his hands, the Bloodscale Clan Patriarch allowed himself a brief moment of satisfaction. Yet, unease lingered. His servant, sent to retrieve the soul bone, had not returned for several days, and the possibility that he had failed or been intercepted could not be ignored. Concerned about what might have happened, the Patriarch began to deploy his agents and spies throughout Lingyun City, quietly observing the Iron Guards and anyone connected to the shipment, ensuring he would know if any unexpected developments occurred.
As days passed, the Patriarch received further reports. It became apparent that the person who had pursued his servant—the one who had confronted him—was also missing. That person was Wang Yan. The realization shifted his strategy: there was no need to watch all the members of the convoy or the Iron Guards constantly. Instead, he focused surveillance only on the core individuals, those most likely to have knowledge of Wang Yan's whereabouts or movements. His agents were instructed to report immediately if any sign of Wang Yan appeared.
From then on, the Patriarch maintained a quiet vigilance. Though the soul bone was in his possession and the Second Minister eliminated, he knew that the moment Wang Yan reemerged, he could uncover the truth of what had happened. By carefully monitoring the main core members, he ensured that he would have early warning of Wang Yan's return, allowing him to act swiftly and decisively to protect his plans and retain control over the coveted soul bone.
.....
On the other side, Chen Yu, Liu Ming, Zhao Qing, and the Iron Guards had done everything in their power to search for any trace of Wang yan. Yet, despite their tireless efforts, every lead ended in frustration, and no hint of his whereabouts emerged.
Days passed, then weeks, and months slipped by. Even as more than one and a half years went by, there was still no sign of Wang Yan. The Iron Guards continued their searches diligently, but every attempt to uncover information proved futile. Over time, doubt began to creep into their minds. They could no longer be certain whether Wang Yan was still alive or ... The mystery of his fate remained unsolved, leaving the group with a mix of hope and lingering fear for their friend.
.....
More than one and a half years had passed since Wang Yan had entered into the world of Slaughter. In that time, he had fought relentlessly, testing his strength against countless opponents who hungered for battle. Each fight honed his reflexes, sharpened his sword, and strengthened his resolve. The killing intent within him grew sharper, more refined, until it became a tangible force that even the faintest presence of life could not escape.
Over these years, Wang Yan had already won ninety-nine battles, each victory leaving him more feared and respected in the underground arenas. His aura, once wild and unpredictable, had solidified into a dense, suffocating presence—a living embodiment of death and dominance. By the time his hundredth fight came, he faced opponents far more powerful than any he had encountered before, cultivators whose strength rivaled even seasoned soul masters.
In that fight, Wang Yan's killing intent manifested fully. His aura erupted outward, taking the form of a dragon-shaped surge of pure death energy, coiling and striking like a predator unrestrained. Those in the arena felt it immediately: the dragon of his intent was not just a manifestation of skill—it was the essence of his blood-soaked victories, his relentless pursuit of dominance. Every slash of his sword carried the weight of his hundred fights, overwhelming his opponents with the inevitability of death.
After his hundredth victory, Wang Yan stood victorious, his dragon-shaped killing intent settling around him. Without a word, he turned toward the Hell Slaughter Road, the ultimate trial of blood and strength. Ready and resolute, he stepped forward, leaving the arenas behind to face the challenges that awaited.
End of chapter.