Chapter 317: I, Lu Bu, Never Trick Anyone!
The Dan Tower!
As the grand spectacle of the Dan Conference concluded, Saint Dan City gradually returned to its usual calm. While the streets were still bustling with activity, they were no longer as crowded and chaotic as during the event.
Inside a towering black tower that seemed to pierce the heavens, a hidden meeting chamber lay nestled within.
The three giants of the Dan Tower were seated within, and across from them sat Xiao Yan alone. Even Cao Ying, who often accompanied Xuan Kong Zi, had not been permitted to enter this time.
Seeing Xiao Yan's taut body and sharp gaze, Xuan Yi shook her head slightly. "Xiao Yan, you must not let your mind become unsettled. Breaking into the Soul Hall and rescuing Yao Chen is no simple task. You can't afford to lose your composure."
Hearing this, Xiao Yan instinctively pressed his lips together. Taking a deep breath, he forcibly suppressed his tension and responded respectfully, "Understood. Thank you for the guidance, Aunt Xuan."
Beside her, Tian Lei Zi nodded in approval. Confronting the Soul Hall was no small matter, and even seasoned warriors would feel anxious. Xiao Yan's composure was already commendable.
Creak~
At that moment, the large doors to the chamber slowly opened, and Lu Bu walked in, holding a letter in his hand. "Greetings, esteemed elders."
"Now that everyone's here, let's get started," Xuan Kong Zi said as he lightly tapped the table. His voice grew serious. "Ever since we learned that Yao Chen had been captured by the Soul Hall, we began investigating his whereabouts. It didn't take long for us to pinpoint his location."
"However, at the time, the defenses were incredibly strong, with even a Half Saint stationed there. Even if I personally took action, I would not have been their match."
Hearing this, Xiao Yan's pupils shrank. A Half Saint? That was a near legendary figure, a supreme expert who had undergone nine cycles of refinement as a Dou Zun to ascend to that realm!
"Oddly enough, about half a year ago, the Soul Hall began withdrawing its forces, and Yao Chen's location was frequently moved. I suspect their defenses have weakened as well."
"Xiao Yan, this rescue mission must not fail. If it does, and the Soul Hall regains its strength, the consequences will be dire," Xuan Kong Zi warned solemnly.
"I understand!" Xiao Yan replied in a deep voice. "Where is my teacher being held now?"
"He was initially imprisoned in Nether City in the Western Region of Central Plains. He has since been moved to the Suoyu Mountain Range in the Northeastern Region of Central Plains," Xuan Kong Zi explained.
"Nether City in the Western Region?" Xiao Yan froze and glanced at Lu Bu in surprise. He clearly remembered that when Lu Bu had traded the method to ascend to the Spirit Realm with him, he had also mentioned that Nether City was where Yao Chen was being held.
"Why are you looking at me like that?" Lu Bu retorted grumpily. "When have I ever lied to you? When have I ever deceived you or played tricks on you?"
"I, Lu Bu, have access to a unique intelligence network. My sources are 100% accurate!"
"Ha… ha…" Xiao Yan awkwardly scratched his head, embarrassed. He had always regarded the method for advancing to the Spirit Realm as payment for enlisting Lu Bu's help, not as part of the deal for obtaining information about Yao Chen.
It seemed he had misjudged Lu Bu and underestimated his sincerity. Not only had Lu Bu not profited from the transaction, but he had actually gone out of his way to help.
"So… What do we know about this Soul Hall branch in the Suoyu Mountain Range? How many Dou Zuns are stationed there?" Xiao Yan quickly changed the subject, hoping to avoid further questions about the past.
"This branch is no ordinary one," Xuan Kong Zi said gravely. "Among the Soul Hall's many branches, there are twenty seven of particular importance."
"These include twenty four Earth Fiend Halls and three Heaven Fiend Halls. The branches in Nether City and the Suoyu Mountain Range are both among the Earth Fiend Halls."
As expected… Xiao Yan's heart sank, and the pressure mounted. "The Suoyu Mountain Range branch… is it guarded by one of the Soul Hall's Heavenly Lords?"
"Yes," Xuan Kong Zi nodded. "The guardian is known as the Star Reaching Old Ghost, a peak five star Dou Zun. In his early years, he was infamous throughout Central Plains, with techniques like the Netherworld Star Hand and Shattering Star Blade. After joining the Soul Hall, his reputation only grew more fearsome."
"Additionally, the Suoyu Mountain Range branch is home to several other powerful Dou Zuns from the Soul Hall. According to our intelligence, there are at least three or four."
"Four or five Dou Zuns, with one of them being a peak five star…" Xiao Yan clenched his fists, feeling an immense weight pressing down on him.
With his current strength, he could hold his own against a two or three star Dou Zun at full power, but against a five star? That would be a life and death struggle.
"Elder Xuan, I'm more curious about this Yunyu Sect," Lu Bu interjected, lightly tapping the palm of his hand with the letter. "Is this sect colluding with the Soul Hall?"
"Yunyu Sect?" Xiao Yan was surprised. "What's wrong with this sect?"
"Heh… This sect is utterly depraved," Lu Bu sneered. "It exclusively recruits gifted girls, not to nurture them into true experts, but to turn them into cultivation furnaces."
"The Scorpion Demon Three Ghosts grant these girls high grade techniques and resources, allowing them to cultivate quickly. However, once they reach a certain level, the Three Ghosts use the Yunyu Sect's twisted dual cultivation techniques to absorb their Dou Qi. Afterward, these girls are left completely drained and die within days."
"All their Dou Qi is transferred to the Scorpion Demon Three Ghosts."
Hearing this, Xiao Yan's expression turned icy. "Such a sect deserves nothing but destruction!"
"By the way," Lu Bu added with a smirk, "your teacher has quite a bit of history with the Scorpion Demon Three Ghosts. He injured one of them long ago but was later ambushed by the other two and forced to flee with serious injuries."
"Really?" Xiao Yan frowned, his face darkening further.
"Oh, one more thing. The strongest of the Scorpion Demon Three Ghosts is a nine turn Dou Zun, only a step away from becoming a Half Saint, comparable in strength to Elder Xuan Kong Zi. The weakest of the three is a six turn Dou Zun, stronger than the Soul Hall's Four Heavenly Lords," Lu Bu added with a chuckle.
Xiao Yan's face turned pale. If Yunyu Sect were truly in league with the Soul Hall, the mission to rescue his teacher wouldn't just be difficult it would be a death sentence.
"You don't need to worry about Yunyu Sect," Xuan Kong Zi interjected. "The Suoyu Mountain Range has long been their domain, but the Soul Hall forcibly established a branch there, which has already angered the Scorpion Demon Three Ghosts."
"While the Three Ghosts fear the Soul Hall's Dou Shengs and dare not act rashly, the Soul Hall has also refrained from eradicating the sect due to the high cost of mobilizing a Half Saint. As a result, the two factions coexist begrudgingly, eyeing each other with disdain."
"During your assault on the Soul Hall, the Scorpion Demon Three Ghosts won't interfere they'd probably be delighted to see the Soul Hall suffer."
Relieved, Xiao Yan exhaled deeply. At least the worst case scenario hadn't come to pass.
Lu Bu, however, furrowed his brows. Yunyu Sect couldn't be entirely trusted. For such a sinister and bizarre sect to survive for so long, its power must extend beyond what was visible.
He decided to prepare for the worst: the possibility of facing both the Soul Hall and Yunyu Sect simultaneously.
"The Dan Tower has provided all the assistance it can. The rest is up to you," Xuan Yi said, her tone serious. She handed Xiao Yan a sheepskin map that detailed the layout of the Suoyu Mountain Range.
"Thank you, Aunt Xuan, and thank you, elders. This is more than enough!" Xiao Yan accepted the map with gratitude.
"When will you set out?" Xuan Kong Zi asked. Though the Dan Tower couldn't openly oppose the Soul Hall yet, he was willing to lend a hand as a "passing by" Dou Zun, perhaps to keep an eye on Yunyu Sect.
"I need to contact Venerable Feng first," Xiao Yan replied.
Hearing this, Lu Bu glanced at Xuan Kong Zi's slightly contemplative expression and couldn't help but wonder was this elder planning to step in too?
"Venerable Feng… That's a good idea. He was the one closest to Yao Chen," Xuan Yi nodded in approval.
Xiao Yan then crushed a pale green jade token in his hand, releasing a faint and mysterious ripple.
Once the meeting ended, Xiao Yan and Lu Bu left the Dan Tower together.
"With Venerable Feng's speed, he should arrive in the Dan Region within ten days," Lu Bu said. "He might even gather additional reinforcements. In the meantime, prepare some pills ones that restore Dou Qi or provide a short term power boost. Stock up."
"Understood!" Xiao Yan replied with a resolute nod. With his soul now in the Spirit Realm, refining pills would be a breeze a perfect opportunity to sharpen his skills.
"What are you doing then?" Xiao Yan asked curiously.
"Hmph… Don't tell me you expect me to refine pills for you?" Lu Bu replied irritably. "You think I'll put in the effort and resources for free? Dream on."
"Haha…" Xiao Yan scratched his head awkwardly, feeling a little embarrassed.
"I'm leaving. During this time, I'll refine a Heavenly Demon Puppet for you. Come pick it up when it's done," Lu Bu said, waving his hand casually.
"You… You're being this generous?" Xiao Yan asked, clearly shocked. Lu Bu, known for never doing anything without a return, was suddenly acting uncharacteristically magnanimous.
"Don't want it?" Lu Bu tilted his head slightly, feigning surprise.
"No, no! Of course I do!" Xiao Yan quickly waved his hands with a forced smile. "I understand your point. The more strength we have, the better our chances. How could I refuse such an offer?"
"Alright then, come find me in ten days," Lu Bu said, waving him off as he tapped his toes on the ground, his figure flying back toward his estate.
Lu Bu had plenty of materials in his possession more than enough to refine a Heavenly Demon Puppet. Both Yunyu Sect and the Soul Hall were not forces to be trifled with, so careful preparation was necessary. Not only would Lu Bu refine the Heavenly Demon Puppet, but he would also set up teleportation arrays.
Although the teleportation arrays wouldn't cover vast distances, they could at least help escape pursuit temporarily and create a slim chance of survival. And if one teleportation array wasn't enough, then two or three would be set up. For something as life saving as this, the more, the better.
In a secluded chamber, the spirit of Qing Hai Venerable, the corpse of Mu Gu, and an ice blue eighth tier magic core lay quietly on the ground.
The magic core had been part of Mu Gu's collection, one of many seventh and eighth tier cores in his storage ring. Some were hunted by him, while others were payments for refining pills.
"Let's begin…" Lu Bu's face grew serious as he waved his sleeve. Violet black flames began to rise, engulfing the corpse of Mu Gu to refine it.
Elsewhere, in the Star Pavilion's residence within Saint Dan City, Xiao Yan also waved his sleeve. Dark black flames flared up as he began refining the medicinal ingredients inside his cauldron. He, too, had to prepare.
As time passed, the Star Pavilion residence frequently radiated beams of powerful light, accompanied by the rich aroma of medicinal herbs. Occasionally, clouds of Dan Lightning gathered, only to be dispersed by streaks of gold and silver light shooting from within the residence.
Ten days flew by in the blink of an eye. As in the original story, Venerable Feng arrived in the Dan Region, bringing with him Iron Sword Venerable.
At the same time, Xiao Yan, accompanied by Nalan Yanran, made his way to Lu Bu's estate. While Xiao Yan and Lu Bu were heading to the Suoyu Mountain Range, Nalan Yanran would temporarily stay in Lu Bu's estate with Yun Yun, Xiao Yi Xian, and the others.
"Lu Bu, thank you so much!" Venerable Feng said, clasping his fists in gratitude as he looked at Lu Bu.
Over the past few days, Venerable Feng had reached out to many old acquaintances, all of whom had benefited from Yao Chen's kindness in the past. Yet, as soon as they heard that the mission involved rescuing someone from the Soul Hall, almost none dared to join. Only Iron Sword Venerable had agreed to help.
Venerable Feng knew exactly how much courage it took to oppose the Soul Hall. For Lu Bu to offer his assistance in this endeavor was no small favor it was a tremendous show of generosity.
"You flatter me, Venerable Feng," Lu Bu said with a light smile, offering no further explanation.
Beside him, Medusa, dressed in white robes and wearing a white mask, gently squeezed Lu Bu's hand. As his closest confidante, she understood exactly what Lu Bu was after.
For this mission, Lu Bu had only brought Her Majesty and Zi Yan along. The others Qing Lin and Yun Yun were in seclusion, while Xiao Yi Xian was left to oversee the estate and guard the others.
Currently, Zi Yan, being small in stature, was nestled atop Medusa. The loose white robes they shared covered both their figures, making it difficult to spot Zi Yan unless one looked carefully.
Xiao Yan cast a nervous glance at his companions: Venerable Feng, Iron Sword Venerable, Lu Bu, and Medusa. That made four Dou Zuns, plus himself a half step Dou Zun and Lu Bu's newly crafted golden Heavenly Demon Puppet.
The odds of victory in this battle seemed promising!
"Everyone's here. Let's move," Lu Bu said, motioning with his chin.
"Right. Let's go!" Xiao Yan said with determination. He rose into the air and took the lead, heading toward the northeast.
…
The Suoyu Mountain Range
The skies were gloomy and oppressive. A cold drizzle fell intermittently, making the atmosphere damp and chilling to the bone.
Within the Soul Hall branch, faint black mist swirled in the air. Eerie wails of tormented spirits echoed from the depths, creating a harrowing atmosphere.
At the center of the grand hall, five figures sat in their respective positions, their powerful auras rising and falling with each breath, radiating an intimidating presence.
Hiss… Hiss…
Suddenly, a small snake appeared out of nowhere, flicking its tongue and curiously slithering into the hall, its black eyes glinting with curiosity.
Bang!
A dull thud resounded as blood sprayed into the air. An old man slowly opened his eyes, frowning deeply. "What's going on? How did a snake get into the hall?"
"It's just a snake. What's the fuss about?" another man replied indifferently, raising his hand. A faint silver glow flickered in his palm. After inspecting it briefly, he said, "The spatial sensor hasn't detected anything. It's safe."
"Call a guardian to clean this up."
Boom!
Before the words were fully spoken, a deafening explosion shook the ground. The grand hall trembled violently, and with a thunderous crash, half of the structure collapsed as the defensive formation was obliterated.
"Enemy attack!"
The five figures leapt to their feet, their faces darkening as they roared in unison. The air was suddenly filled with ferocious energy ripples.
All five were Dou Zuns!
But before they could react further, a flash of golden light streaked through the air. A terrifying force descended upon them like a roaring meteor.
"Watch out!"
The five Dou Zuns' faces twisted in alarm as they shouted warnings, hastily crossing their arms to channel their Dou Qi into defensive barriers. The attack bore the weight of a full strength blow and could not be taken lightly.
Bang!
At that moment, space seemed to solidify as a terrifying spatial force intercepted the devastating attack. An elder with a dark, brooding expression emerged from the shadows.
"Star Reaching Heavenly Lord!"
The five Soul Hall Dou Zuns were elated at the sight of the elder.
"Who dares invade my Soul Hall?" the Star Reaching Old Ghost roared furiously.
Before he could finish speaking, space distorted once more, and five figures materialized simultaneously, unleashing their overwhelming auras in unison.
Boom!
The entire Suoyu Mountain Range was rocked by flying debris and rolling waves of pressure.
"Hahaha! Soul Hall scum, today will be your grave!" Xiao Yan's voice rang out as he let out a defiant laugh. With a single thought, his Heavenly Demon Puppet stomped forward, its golden fists smashing toward the Star Reaching Old Ghost.
"Xiao Yan? Wait… Damn it! Is this puppet yours?"
The Star Reaching Old Ghost's face twisted in fury. His anger erupted like a volcano as he bellowed, "You… So, you're the one responsible for destroying my branch hall?"
Xiao Yan blinked, confused. Am I not currently in the process of destroying it?
"Kill them all!" Xiao Yan shouted, charging toward the shattered remains of the Soul Hall. He had to rescue his teacher.
"Three Thousand Lightning Movement! So, it is you who destroyed the branch hall!" the Star Reaching Old Ghost roared with bloodshot eyes, his rage nearly driving him mad. He raised his palm to strike at Xiao Yan.
"You brat, prepare to die! Today, you'll pay with your life for my severed arm!"
"Ahem… About that, Star Reaching Old Ghost… Your opponent is me."
Lu Bu's voice rang out as he coughed lightly and casually stepped in front of the furious elder.
Truthfully, this time, Lu Bu really hadn't meant to throw Xiao Yan under the bus.
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