Golden Crocodile Douluo was deeply shaken.
This kid's luck was simply outrageous.
After a hundred-thousand-year soul beast transformed into human form, it would usually hide itself in a city near a soul beast forest—places that might never see a Soul Douluo or Title Douluo in their entire existence.
Yet Yin Zhang had not only encountered one, he had successfully killed it and absorbed its soul ring.
What was even more unbelievable was Tang Zhen's report from back then: that transformed Crimson Flame Roaring Tiger King had fled with another Crimson Flame Roaring Tiger that was already close to eighty thousand years old.
Jin E looked at Yin Zhang with complicated emotions. The more time passed, the more he felt that his disciple carried an astonishing secret.
But as a teacher, Jin E had no intention of probing further.
Because of Yin Zhang, he himself had already broken through to Rank Ninety-Nine. That alone was more than enough. As for becoming a god… Jin E had never once entertained such thoughts.
He had no descendants. With Yin Zhang around, he had nothing to worry about.
He would simply wait for the natural end of his lifespan—or fall in battle one day.
Whether that day was near or far no longer mattered.
---
Meanwhile, the battle between Yunshan and Qingluan Douluo continued.
After several minutes of fierce exchanges, the situation gradually became clear.
Yin Zhang had witnessed Yunshan fight multiple times before, so he was very familiar with his combat style.
Yunshan was clearly fighting seriously—but Yin Zhang also noticed something else.
Yunshan was deliberately holding back.
Perhaps even Yunshan himself could not understand why the Third Elder, who was also a Rank Ninety-Seven peak Douluo, was so much weaker than him in actual combat strength.
Every one of Yunshan's soul skills was terrifyingly powerful.
In fact, Yunshan's third soul skill had directly suppressed Qingluan's sixth soul skill.
Soul skills derived from pure combat techniques were truly frightening.
Yin Zhang couldn't help but think so.
Qingluan Douluo quickly realized that Yunshan was restraining himself.
Over the past minute or so, every soul skill Yunshan released seemed slightly "off." At critical moments, Yunshan would subtly pull back, causing attacks that should have been unavoidable to instead become something Qingluan could partially evade.
This restraint was so precise that ordinary people would never notice it.
Qingluan felt helpless.
This Yunshan, who had appeared out of nowhere, was simply too strong.
Not only did he join the Spirit Hall, he immediately challenged the position of Third Elder—and did so openly, under the gaze of all the other elders and even the juniors.
Even if Qingluan wanted to fight dirty, he couldn't.
Of course, he had no intention of doing so.
Yunshan's strength was undeniable. Cheating against such an opponent would only make him a fool.
In the end, Qingluan had no choice but to concede.
If the fight continued until one side was completely defeated, Yunshan might not mind—but Qingluan himself would lose all face.
A loss was a loss.
Qingluan's only regret was that Yunshan had challenged him directly, instead of first challenging the elders ranked below him.
Qingluan withdrew his martial soul and spoke frankly, his tone sincere:
"Yunshan, I'm convinced. From now on, you are the Third Elder. I will step down to Fourth Elder."
Golden Crocodile Douluo was stunned. He immediately sent a voice transmission to Yin Zhang:
"Where did you find this Yunshan? Even I would need to put in real effort to defeat him."
Yin Zhang smiled faintly.
"Teacher, I already explained it in the Hall of Offerings. Senior Yunshan was looking for a force to join after I saved him, so I recommended Spirit Hall. I didn't expect him to agree so readily."
Jin E felt both amused and helpless.
Based on his understanding of Yin Zhang, the truth was definitely not that simple.
But it didn't matter anymore.
Even if Yin Zhang truly intended to seize control of Spirit Hall one day, Jin E didn't care. By then, he might already be dead, and none of it would concern him.
---
From that day on, Yunshan officially became the Third Elder of the Hall of Offerings.
The news spread quietly among the upper echelons of Spirit Hall.
Yin Zhang, however, did not act immediately.
The plan was to formally begin in about two months.
During these two months, Yin Zhang still had things to do.
First, he needed one final attempt to persuade Yue Guan and Gui Mei. The two of them were genuinely talented—if they could be won over, it would be best.
Second, he needed to review the follow-up arrangements he had already set in motion.
Strictly speaking, none of it was particularly difficult.
With Bibi Dong's strength restricted, she was no match for the Hall of Offerings. Even without Jin E stepping in, Yunshan alone would be more than enough to suppress her.
With Yunshan's combat power, he was already comparable to a standard Rank Ninety-Eight peak Douluo.
The original records were clear: Jin E's prestige and strength within Spirit Hall had always been sufficient to completely suppress Bibi Dong.
The only concern was whether Bibi Dong would fight to the bitter end.
Once stripped of the papacy, she was bound to take extreme actions.
After all, Yin Zhang remembered clearly that the Rakshasa Nine Trials required Bibi Dong to complete a specific task—one that could only be accomplished while she held the position of Pope.
---
A few days later, Qian Gu Yunying returned.
The first thing she did after arriving in Wuhun City was not to return to her family's residence—where her brother, father, sister-in-law, and nephew lived just a street away—
But instead, she went straight to Yin Zhang's large estate in the city center.
Yin Zhang saw Qian Gu Yunying once more.
The moment he met her indifferent gaze and sensed the thick, blood-soaked killing intent surrounding her, he froze slightly.
Yin Zhang was familiar with the Killing City.
Before transmigrating, he had read countless original works and fanfictions describing it. But those were only words on a page.
This was the first time he had seen the result with his own eyes.
After just a few months, the change in Qian Gu Yunying was astonishing.
And it made perfect sense.
The Killing City was a place Spirit Hall used to exile heinous criminals—or a refuge for desperate individuals who entered voluntarily to avoid capture.
For those who entered willingly, the experience was even more brutal.
"Xiao Zhang, you've grown even stronger," Qian Gu Yunying said with a faint smile.
Although the bloody, murderous aura still lingered around her, it had already faded significantly.
Yin Zhang carefully sensed the soul power fluctuations coming from her.
Her aura was clearly much stronger—but her soul power level itself had not increased by much over these past few months.
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