Chapter 163: The Soul Hall's Retaliation!
"Father, don't beg him. We don't need this pill. You are the Valley Master of Burning Flame Valley—how can you lower yourself like this?" Watching Tang Zhen humbling himself, Tang Huo'er's clear, melodious voice rang out.
At this moment, as she looked at Jiang Yun, it was no longer with curiosity and admiration. Her beautiful eyes were brimming with fury.
Tang Zhen looked at Tang Huo'er and let out a soft sigh, his face full of tender affection. Shaking his head, he said, "Huo'er, say no more. This old man will definitely secure this pill. You are my only daughter—I will absolutely not allow anything to happen to you."
Looking at the resolute Tang Zhen, Tang Huo'er's eyes reddened.
Seeing this scene, Xiao Yi Xian glared indignantly at Tang Zhen and his daughter. This time, her heart held some regret—why hadn't she just blasted the two of them out earlier?
A transaction was supposed to be a matter of mutual consent. Now they were making Jiang Yun out to be the villain.
And as for Jiang Yun, he was simply watching all of this coldly from the sidelines, even calmly taking a sip of the fine tea on the table.
"Grandmaster Jiang, Tang Zhen was offensive just now. Within the valley, I once fortuitously acquired the Mountain-Melting Cauldron, which is ranked upon the Heavenly Cauldron List. As the saying goes, a treasured sword deserves a hero. Tang Zhen is no alchemist—the Mountain-Melting Cauldron in my hands is like a bright pearl gathering dust. It can serve as compensation for Grandmaster's efforts this time!" Looking at Tang Huo'er, whose eyes were slightly red, Tang Zhen's heart ached. His tone softened once more.
As his voice fell, Tang Zhen waved his sleeve. An enormous object flew out from his ring and landed heavily in the center of the room. The weighty mass made even the floor tremble.
It was a medicinal cauldron a full zhang in size. The entire cauldron was fiery red. On its round walls were patterns resembling volcanic eruptions. At a single glance, a violent, ferocious aura immediately rushed forth to meet one's face.
"The Mountain-Melting Cauldron!" Jiang Yun glanced at this cauldron. Comparing it carefully, he found it had its own unique merits alongside the Black Demon Cauldron and the Ten Thousand Beast Cauldron in his possession.
He turned his gaze toward Xiao Yi Xian at his side and asked, "Do you like it?"
Xiao Yi Xian was briefly taken aback by the question, then smiled and shook her head. "Where would I ever need so many cauldrons?"
Hearing Xiao Yi Xian's answer, Tang Zhen was slightly shaken. Could it be... that Jiang Yun also possessed a cauldron ranked on the Heavenly Cauldron List?
"How about this—I won't ask for the Nine Dragons Lightning Flame itself, only a single wisp of its child flame. In addition, the Mountain-Melting Cauldron!" Jiang Yun chuckled lightly. Turning his head to look at Tang Zhen, he spoke in an even tone.
To him, the Nine Dragons Lightning Flame wasn't enough to significantly boost his strength—at most, one star. It wasn't worth going to great lengths for. What he truly wanted was the principles and laws formed by this heavenly flame.
That would allow him to study the profound mysteries of the Myriad Flames Imperishable Body!
"This..." Hearing Jiang Yun's conditions, hesitation and conflict flickered in Tang Zhen's eyes. However, glancing at Tang Huo'er beside him, resolve surged through his heart.
"Fine! I agree!" As his voice fell, Tang Zhen retrieved a ring and handed it to Jiang Yun. "Inside are the pill formula for the Fire Bodhi Pill and three sets of ingredients. Once the pill is complete, the child flame of the Nine Dragons Lightning Flame will be delivered into your hands with both of mine."
Accepting the ring, Jiang Yun swept his gaze over it. Looking at the father and daughter, he spoke in an indifferent tone: "Come back to collect the pill in three days."
Hearing this, Tang Zhen cupped his fists toward Jiang Yun, then pulled the still-displeased Tang Huo'er along and quickly departed.
"Jiang Yun, why agree to refine a pill for them?" The moment the two left, Xiao Yi Xian couldn't resist asking.
"Burning Flame Valley has a Dou Sheng. The Ancient Dragon Clan should avoid exposure as much as possible—we can't push them too hard. Besides, I've also gotten what I wanted."
Jiang Yun explained. At the same time, he tapped his finger lightly. Instantly, a dense mass of medicinal ingredients flew out from his ring in an endless stream, hovering in the air before him. Judging by their numbers, there were at least several hundred kinds.
The moment the ingredients appeared, a rich medicinal fragrance immediately suffused the air.
"Perfect timing—let's see what differences there are!" Taking out the pill formula for the Fire Bodhi Pill, Jiang Yun swept his soul power over it, committing every step to heart. Then, looking at the Mountain-Melting Cauldron, he chuckled lightly.
As he spoke, he flicked his finger. A pristine white flame ignited within the fiery-red Mountain-Melting Cauldron. Ingredient after ingredient danced into the air, flying into the cauldron under his control.
Refining a seventh-tier pill was an exceedingly tedious matter. And this so-called Fire Bodhi Pill was, moreover, high-grade seventh tier—making its refinement exceptionally tricky.
Yet now, in Jiang Yun's hands, it seemed so relaxed and effortless. Ingredient after ingredient was tempered into medicinal liquid under the calcination of the Undying Sacred Flame, and slowly began to merge...
Within a towering, pitch-black great hall, figures appeared one after another. The black-robed figure seated at the very highest position radiated a baleful aura that chilled the heart. The crowd below did not dare to breathe loudly.
He was precisely the man who struck terror into countless hearts across the Central Plains—the Hall Master of the Soul Hall, Hun Mie Sheng!
Ever since the decline of the Pill Tower and Burning Flame Valley a thousand years ago, the Soul Hall had, under the Hun clan's support, developed at breakneck speed. It was during this period that Hun Mie Sheng had displayed his terrifying methods and forged his illustrious, awe-inspiring name.
Back then, it was he who had, in a single night, bathed dozens of sects in blood. Five experts with strength reaching the level of two-star Dou Sheng had fallen by his hand.
This had forged the Hall Master of the Soul Hall's fearsome reputation and made the Soul Hall the undisputed overlord on the surface of the Central Plains. Even the Pill Tower, when facing the Soul Hall, retreated step after step and dared not easily oppose it.
At this moment, this overlord of the Central Plains radiated an icy chill from his entire body. Looking down at the crowd below, a voice utterly devoid of emotion rang out.
"Four of my Soul Hall's branch halls have been eradicated in succession. After so many years, someone has actually dared to challenge the Soul Hall's prestige again. And what's more—you only just now received word! The culprit hasn't even a shadow of a clue! Hahaha..."
"Good! Very good indeed!"
"What exactly do I keep you for?!"
Hun Mie Sheng, his fury turning to laughter, let out an enraged roar. His voice echoed throughout the entire Heavenly Hall. A howling storm swept past. Among the many experts present, all trembled as they bowed and pleaded.
"Hall Master, please quell your anger!"
Facing the furious Hun Mie Sheng, no one dared to show any unusual expression at this moment.
Hun Mie Sheng bellowed, "In a single night, one branch hall in each of my four directions—east, west, south, and north—was eradicated! And the soul origins stored underground were all plundered! You tell me—such a premeditated operation, and you tell me you still don't even know who did it! How do you expect me to quell my anger?!"
The Vice Hall Master of the Soul Hall spoke up: "Among those on the surface of the Central Plains with such capabilities, I fear only the Pill Tower remains. Be it the Netherworld Sect or the Flower Sect—neither has the ability to strike at four of our branch halls simultaneously. Only..."
"Only what?" Hun Mie Sheng looked at the Vice Hall Master.
"Hall Master, this matter likely has something suspicious about it. Such an obvious display—it clearly wants to tell us that the Pill Tower did this. The Pill Tower... I fear they do not have the guts to provoke us so brazenly!"
"Are you saying it's a frame-up?"
"Whether it's a frame-up or not, the fact remains—we've lost the soul origins of four Earth Abyss Halls. We should consider how to handle the subsequent fallout. If the enemy comes again..." the Vice Hall Master spoke gravely.
Hun Mie Sheng fell silent. Then, he said coldly, "Have all the soul origins from the remaining Earth Abyss Halls gathered and transferred to the three great Heavenly Halls. I refuse to believe the scoundrels have the audacity to come and run wild in my three great Heavenly Halls."
"This matter—I leave it to you, Vice Hall Master!"
"Yes!" Meeting Hun Mie Sheng's gaze, the Vice Hall Master cupped his fists.
"Next, the Soul Hall needs to stir a little!" After speaking, Hun Mie Sheng leaned back in his seat. His gaze was dark and deep, his voice icy.
"Hall Master, where shall we strike?" A Heavenly Venerable of the Soul Hall spoke eagerly. At this moment, they, too, had a fire pent up in their chests. Having lost the soul origins of four branch halls and facing an inevitable scolding upon reporting to the clan, they urgently needed to vent.
If we're not having a good time, then none of you in the Central Plains should expect to have a good time either!
"The soul origins the Soul Hall has lost cannot be written off just like that. Since there are no suspects, then we'll simply confirm the one most capable!" Hun Mie Sheng chuckled coldly, his voice dripping with ice.
Hearing these words, the hearts of everyone in the great hall were jolted. An eager, restless anticipation surged within them. The Pill Tower, huh...
The biggest 'fat sheep' on the Dou Qi Continent! A single bite, and let alone the losses of four branch halls—even if the losses were doubled, it would be more than enough to make up for it!
"Hall Master..." Unlike the others, whose joy was written plainly on their faces, the Vice Hall Master had clearly thought of something. Hesitation lingered between his brows.
"Speak!" Seeing this, Hun Mie Sheng swept a glance at him and spoke indifferently.
"Hall Master, no one knows where that old fellow of the Pill Tower has gone off to. However, he absolutely will not sit idly by and watch the Pill Tower suffer damage!" As the Vice Hall Master spoke, worry flickered through his eyes. The Pill Tower Ancestor was a six-star Dou Sheng—an existence even more formidable than Hun Mie Sheng.
"Hmph—" Hearing this, Hun Mie Sheng let out a cold snort and spoke sternly: "No need to worry about him. Within the clan, there will naturally be someone to deal with him!"
Hearing Hun Mie Sheng say this, the Vice Hall Master of the Soul Hall said no more. Subsequently, after receiving Hun Mie Sheng's orders, the crowd left the great hall one after another to mobilize their forces.
After everyone had left, silence returned to the Heavenly Hall once more. Just then, an aged, low sigh echoed through the void.
"Hun Mie Sheng, this time, you've somewhat disappointed the clan!"
"Tch—"
A spatial rift abruptly appeared. An elder clad in gray robes, with a pair of exceedingly long black eyebrows, stepped out from within.
"Elder Mo, it's meaningless to speak of this now. Hun Mie Sheng will give the clan an explanation!" Staring at the old man, Hun Mo, Hun Mie Sheng shook his head and spoke quietly.
"Let us hope so." The old man, Hun Mo, gave an eerie smile and spoke indifferently.
"Tap, tap, tap..."
From within the spatial passageway came the sound of footsteps. Clearly, there was still someone else about to emerge. Hun Mie Sheng looked over with some curiosity. A young man dressed in white, with an aloof, detached bearing, followed closely behind and stepped out.
"It's you!" Seeing the newcomer, Hun Mie Sheng exclaimed with some surprise.
"Mm." Yun Yi glanced at Hun Mie Sheng, nodded, then looked at the two of them and said, "This time, I will act together with you. Within the Pill Tower lies the Three Thousand Burning Flame. It is also time to retrieve it."
"Rest assured, Young Master. With me here, the Three Thousand Burning Flame will inevitably be in our grasp!" The old man, Hun Mo, looked at Yun Yi with a faint smile. His attitude was markedly different from how he had treated Hun Mie Sheng just moments ago.
"I hear that recently, a so-called number one genius has emerged in the Central Plains?" Nodding, he gave preliminary acknowledgment to Hun Mo's words. Then, Yun Yi turned his gaze toward Hun Mie Sheng beside him and asked curiously.
Hun Mie Sheng was momentarily taken aback by the question. He was occupied with countless affairs every day—why would he concern himself with some minor figure?
But since Yun Yi had asked, Hun Mie Sheng extended his soul power outward. A moment later, understanding dawned on him. He said, "A rather remarkable genius has indeed appeared. His name is Jiang Yun, or something like that. Barely past twenty, yet already a Dou Zun and an eighth-tier alchemist!"
"Oh?" Hearing this, the old man, Hun Mo, asked with great interest, "Which clan does he belong to, to possess such natural talent?"
"He is not of the imperial clans. I crossed paths with him once in the Northwest Continent. He's a troublesome character," Yun Yi slowly shook his head. A rare flicker of battle intent flashed through his eyes.
Seeing this, Hun Mo grew even more curious. It had to be known that Yun Yi had already ascended to the throne of the Hun clan's number one genius. Just one month ago, he had even broken through to an eight-star Dou Zun, pulling ahead of everyone behind him in both cultivation and combat prowess.
Hun Mo never imagined that a 'penniless pauper' from the Northwest Continent could actually make Yun Yi take such notice.
"When the time comes, I'll go meet him personally," Yun Yi swept a glance at the two and spoke, brimming with fighting spirit.
"Jie, jie, jie... I fear yet another genius is about to have his confidence shattered and be left doubting his very existence!" Having never witnessed the two's prior clash, Hun Mo cackled strangely as he looked at Yun Yi.
Seeing this, Hun Mie Sheng did not say much further. In any case, it was merely a Dou Zun. Since Yun Yi was in such high spirits, he wouldn't intervene to stop him. He was simply a bit curious—exactly what level had the young man before him reached by now?
"Boom—"
A beam of light, a mixture of cyan and red, suddenly shot forth violently from within the medicinal cauldron. Like a pillar of light reaching the heavens, it extended a full hundred meters outward.
Tang Zhen, who had been waiting outside the entire time, saw this and his face lit up with joy. "That's the phenomenon of pill completion! Has it succeeded?!"
Beside him, Tang Huo'er's face showed a conflicted expression. She stared blankly at the heaven-reaching pillar of light, and at the tightly shut door beyond.
At that moment, a low, muffled sound came from within the room. An exceptionally fierce wave of energy heavily slammed against the inner wall of the cauldron, producing clanging, crisp sounds. The surrounding heaven-and-earth energy suddenly began to fluctuate violently.
From within the cauldron, a pill fragrance suddenly wafted out.
"Rumble!"
In the sky above, without the slightest warning, a mass of dark clouds abruptly appeared. Within those dark clouds, thunder rumbled and rolled. Silver snakes darted about in all directions, a terrifyingly awe-inspiring sight.
"Pill lightning! It truly succeeded!" The pill lightning in the sky made Tang Zhen tremble with excitement. Then, he swept Tang Huo'er beside him into a fierce embrace, his eyes reddening. "Huo'er, you're saved..."
At this moment, Tang Huo'er tilted her beautiful face upward to gaze at the dark clouds in the sky. Her slender, delicate frame also trembled uncontrollably with overwhelming emotion.
By now, the dark clouds in the sky had condensed to their absolute limit. Silver lightning darted in all directions like silver serpents.
After his excitement passed, Tang Zhen looked at the pill lightning in the sky and spoke gravely: "This pill lightning—let me, your father, handle it on behalf of Grandmaster Jiang!"
"Weng—"
Just then, from within the room, a profound, mysterious heaven-reaching giant finger shot skyward, drawing in the pill lightning from the heavens above. The giant finger radiated a profound, mysterious aura—it was the scent of death qi.