Chapter 656: The Soul Heavenly Emperor Appears, The Ancient Jade is Stolen
Gu Yuan's voice thundered like a sudden clap of lightning, causing everyone present to freeze in place.
In an instant, all eyes shot toward the seemingly empty sky. At the same time, the Ancient Clan's Black Abyss Army released a torrent of Dou Qi, their energy surging in every direction.
"Ancient Clan, stand alert!"
The Three Immortals of the Ancient Clan shot into the sky simultaneously, their voices booming across the landscape. From the enormous mountain range, streaks of light rushed out as all the Ancient Clan's warriors appeared, ready for battle.
The sky was filled with the overwhelming energy of countless strong fighters, a display that showcased the true might of the Ancient Clan.
Amidst the turbulent Dou Qi, Gu Yuan hovered calmly in midair, his hands clasped behind his back, his gaze locked on the void in the sky. Though there was nothing there, he showed no signs of moving his eyes.
"Clan Leader Gu Yuan, what's going on?"
Both Yan Jin and Lei Ying, their expressions tense, asked in concern. The name "Soul Heavenly Emperor" rang in their ears like a dreadful bell.
Gu Yuan didn't respond, his gaze remaining fixed on that part of the sky. His silence spread to the entire mountain range, which became eerily quiet after a moment of chaos.
Everyone knew that if the Soul Clan was truly here, today would be unlike anything that had happened in the past—far more devastating than the conflicts involving the Medicine Clan.
Only Mo Yu seemed to have an inkling of what was happening. His brow furrowed as his gaze swept across Gu Yuan, Lei Ying, and Yan Jin.
If his guess was right, the Soul Clan wasn't launching a full-scale attack just yet. The Soul Heavenly Emperor's appearance was likely a diversion, meant to lure all the Ancient Clan's strongest fighters to the forefront while the Soul Clan's agents stole the Tuoshe Ancient Jade from within.
The Soul Heavenly Emperor's mind was indeed meticulous, plotting for thousands of years. Every step of his plan had unfolded methodically. If not for the unexpected rise of Xiao Yan, he might have truly become the ruler of the Dou Qi continent. He might have even extended his reach into the Greater Thousand Worlds and established his own dominion.
But even though Mo Yu had figured out their strategy, it was too late to stop it. Even if Gu Yuan believed his warning, the Soul Heavenly Emperor was present to block them. The traitor within the Ancient Clan had likely already made their move on the jade.
"Heh, Gu Yuan, it's been many years since we last met, and your senses are still as sharp as ever," a calm voice said.
As the tension hung in the air, a ripple spread across the void. A vortex slowly formed, and from within, a slender hand reached out, resting against the swirling energy. A figure then walked out calmly, drawing the attention of everyone present.
The man who stepped out of the vortex wore simple gray-white robes and appeared to be in his thirties. He had a handsome face, with bright, piercing eyes that seemed to see right through people. His appearance gave off a sense of elegance and refinement, as though he could be mistaken for a scholar holding a book.
However, the moment this scholarly-looking man appeared, both Lei Ying and Yan Jin grew extremely tense. Even Gu Yuan's gaze sharpened as it fixed on him.
"So, this is the Soul Clan Leader, the Soul Heavenly Emperor…"
This was Mo Yu's first time seeing the Soul Heavenly Emperor, one of the strongest individuals on the continent.
Mo Yu would describe him as the greatest schemer in the land. Even the cunning Void Swallowing Flame had been tricked by him in the end.
The Soul Heavenly Emperor's appearance was gentle and cultured, a stark contrast to the sinister and eerie reputation of the Soul Clan.
After the Soul Heavenly Emperor emerged, several more figures stepped out of the vortex behind him. Leading them was none other than Void Swallowing Flame, wreathed in black flames—the same Void Swallowing Flame that Xiao Yan had faced in the Medicine Clan.
Behind him were the Four Demon Saints of the Soul Clan, a force nearly unmatched on the Dou Qi continent.
As these figures appeared, the faces of the Ancient Clan elders tightened. Defensive barriers began to rise from the mountains, casting brilliant, radiant patterns across the sky.
"Hehe, it seems quite lively in the Ancient Clan today. Gu Yuan, Lei Ying, Yan Jin, it's been thousands of years since the four of us have gathered, hasn't it?" The white-robed man spoke softly, his voice calm as though he were chatting casually.
"Soul Heavenly Emperor, this is not a place you should be," Gu Yuan said coldly, his gaze locked on the man.
"There's no place in this world I shouldn't be," the Soul Heavenly Emperor replied with a soft smile, as if they were simply having a casual conversation.
"Soul Heavenly Emperor, were the disappearances of the Spirit, Stone, and Medicine Clans the work of your Soul Clan?" Lei Ying shouted, his voice filled with anger. Though he already suspected the truth, he still wanted to hear it directly.
"There are some answers that you already know," the Soul Heavenly Emperor said indifferently, his cold eyes showing little emotion, as though all life meant nothing to him.
"So it was you!"
Upon hearing this, Lei Ying and Yan Jin's faces darkened with rage.
"Soul Heavenly Emperor, if you've come today to attack the Ancient Clan, this force you've brought won't be enough," Gu Yuan said calmly, showing no fear.
"Mmm, I suppose it's not enough," the Soul Heavenly Emperor chuckled, not bothering to argue.
Gu Yuan, Lei Ying, and Yan Jin frowned slightly. They couldn't understand why the Soul Clan had gathered here in such force, but wasn't making any overt moves.
"Uncle Gu, be careful of the Tuoshe Ancient Jade!" Mo Yu called out.
The moment Mo Yu's warning left his lips, Gu Yuan's expression changed dramatically. Just as he was about to shout, a loud alarm suddenly echoed from the depths of the mountain—the signal from the ancestral hall!
Woooo!
The shrill sound of the alarm pierced the air, rapidly spreading throughout the area. All the faces of the Ancient Clan members turned pale with shock.
"Soul Heavenly Emperor!"
Gu Yuan's face grew icy, and his gaze bore into the Soul Heavenly Emperor. The sky dimmed as vast amounts of energy began to swirl behind him, linking heaven and earth like a massive tide that roared endlessly.
Energy tides—the mark of a Nine-Star Dou Saint!
"Clan Leader, Elder Gu Yang has injured the guardians of the ancestral hall and stolen the Ancient Jade!"
From deep within the mountains, a figure shot out, looking disheveled and shouting in a panic.
"What?!"
The entire Ancient Clan erupted into chaos, the air filled with disbelief.
"Elder Gu Yang? How is that possible?!"
Xun'er's face paled, and she cried out in shock.
"What's going on? Could Gu Yang be a spy for the Soul Clan?" Xiao Yan's expression turned dark as he asked, his voice full of tension.
"Elder Gu Yang has guarded the ancestral hall for over a hundred years and has always been loyal to our clan. How could he steal the Ancient Jade and flee?" Xun'er murmured in disbelief. She had known Elder Gu Yang personally and had always held a good opinion of him.
"Is this your doing?" Gu Yuan asked coldly, staring at the smirking Soul Heavenly Emperor.
The Soul Heavenly Emperor smiled but didn't speak. Nor did he make any move to leave. His purpose was clear—to keep Gu Yuan occupied.
Gu Yuan understood this well. Despite the gravity of the situation, he quickly regained his composure. At his level, his mind was as solid as a rock, unaffected by the theft.
"Seal the Ancient Realm! Gu Dao, take the Black Abyss Army and search every inch of the mountain. Find Gu Yang and recover the jade!" Gu Yuan ordered.
"Yes!"
The Three Immortals of the Ancient Clan responded immediately. Just as they were about to move, the Four Demon Saints of the Soul Clan floated forward, clearly intending to block them.
"Hehe, Gu Yuan, I'm afraid I can't let them leave," the Soul Heavenly Emperor said with a smile.
"You don't get to decide that!" Gu Yuan growled.
He stepped forward, and the vast energy tide behind him surged into a massive hand, tens of thousands of meters wide, which slammed toward the Soul Heavenly Emperor.
The sheer force of the attack caused the space around it to tremble violently, threatening to tear it apart.
"A futile gesture," the Soul Heavenly Emperor said with a chuckle. He raised his palm, and a black hole formed in his hand, expanding rapidly until it grew to tens of thousands of meters, swallowing up the surrounding space.
The massive hand of energy collided with the black hole in silence. There was no earth-shattering explosion, only the quiet collapse of space as destructive energy spread across the void. If not for the thousands of years of reinforcement in the Ancient Realm, this clash would have torn the space apart.
Seeing Gu Yuan and the Soul Heavenly Emperor engage, both Lei Ying and Yan Jin's faces twitched. Lei Ying then remembered something, and his expression darkened. "Damn! Could it be that the Soul Clan has stolen our Tuoshe Ancient Jade as well?"
Mo Yu had warned him earlier to be careful with the jade, but Lei Ying had trusted the clan elders guarding it. Now, seeing the Soul Clan infiltrate even the Ancient Clan, he feared his own clan might be compromised too.
Yan Jin was similarly startled by Lei Ying's realization. His face darkened as he muttered, "If they've stolen the jade from your Thunder Clan, then our Flame Clan's Tuoshe Ancient Jade is likely at risk as well."
Gu Yuan's expression changed slightly. Could the Soul Clan have planted spies within all three clans? What a massive plot!
"Soul Heavenly Emperor, do you have spies in my Thunder Clan too?" Lei Ying bellowed, his towering frame radiating killing intent.
"Oh? What do you think?"
The Soul Heavenly Emperor raised an eyebrow in mock surprise, then smirked. He didn't confirm nor deny it, but his attitude only deepened Lei Ying and Yan Jin's unease.
"Enough! Whatever the case, we'll deal with the Soul Clan first!" Lei Ying shouted, his face shifting through emotions before he let out a furious roar. He and Yan Jin shot forward together, their terrifying Eight-Star Dou Saint auras surging to the skies, causing the air to tremble under their power.
The two clan leaders were no weaklings. If you excluded Gu Yuan, the Soul Heavenly Emperor, and Void Swallowing Flame, they were among the strongest on the continent.
"Heh, why the rush? If you want to fight, I'll keep you company," Void Swallowing Flame chuckled. With a single step, he crossed the void and appeared before the two clan leaders, his body surrounded by several massive black flame dragons.
"Hmph!"
Both Yan Jin and Lei Ying snorted coldly. Although Void Swallowing Flame had reached the Nine-Star Dou Saint level, he was still only at the early stage. Together, they had no reason to fear him.
"Xun'er, lead a team to search the mountains. Gu Yang couldn't have escaped yet—find him and retrieve the jade!" Gu Dao shouted, his face filled with urgency. "All elders, prepare the defensive array and seal off the Ancient Realm! Don't let the Soul Clan have any opportunity!"
Hearing Gu Dao's command, the elders responded in unison, their faces filled with tension. Though the clash in the sky was still in its early stages, they had to be vigilant against any hidden tricks the Soul Clan might have.
"Brother Qingyang, begin the search!"
Xun'er, her face serious, turned to Gu Qingyang and the others.
"Yes!"
The Black Abyss Army officers responded quickly, sending a swarm of shadowy figures into the mountains to begin the search.
This search continued for nearly half an hour. Just as Gu Qingyang and the others were about to widen their search, Mo Yu, his semi-Emperor-level soul sensing something, slammed his palm onto the ground.
Suddenly, a distant mountain exploded, spewing molten lava. From within the lava, a figure was sent flying, looking slightly disheveled.
"It's Gu Yang!"
Seeing the figure, Xun'er's face turned cold.
(End of Chapter)
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