Chapter 219: Destruction of the Soul Hall Branch

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A flash of blood-red light appeared in Qian Renhan's hand. The Shura Sword materialized, and with a single slash, blood-red sword energy swept outward. Several Soul Envoys were instantly decapitated, their heads flying through the air. A distinct sword mark appeared across the massive black hall, which seemed to tremble from the impact.

The next moment, more than twenty powerful experts—each with a pair of wings—soared out of the hall. They were at the Dou Wang and Dou Huang level.

Qian Renhan raised his eyebrows in mild surprise, then smirked. "Including these... I didn't expect a branch hall tucked away in a place like the Black Horn Region to house nearly thirty experts above the Dou Wang level. What a windfall."

"Someone has invaded! Sound the alarm!"

A shadowy figure barked in a deep voice. Immediately, a sharp soundwave burst from his mouth and echoed throughout the giant hall, which resembled a prehistoric beast.

Inside the great hall, Zi Yan was imprisoned within an iron cage. Her body was tightly bound with chains, and a collar was fastened around her fair neck. Her wounds had only just stopped bleeding. Upon hearing the commotion, her eyes lit up. She silently murmured, "Senior, is that you coming to rescue me? You must be careful—the people here are very powerful."

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!

As soon as the warning sounded, several dark figures darted out from within the massive hall. These black silhouettes walked on air—each one a Dou Zong-level powerhouse. Their appearances resembled that of Protector Xuan, their entire bodies cloaked in dense black mist. Faintly visible within the shadows were a pair of dim, blood-red eyes staring out from the darkness.

"Soul bodies," Qian Renhan observed. He quickly realized that these figures had no physical forms. Their soul power was far stronger than that of typical cultivators at the same level. The black mist surrounding them was their Dou Qi—soul-attribute Dou Qi, indicating soul-based combat techniques!

"Dou Zun powerhouses!"

A guardian with strength around the eight-star Dou Zong level—likely having worked for a higher-level Soul Hall division and possessing some discernment—stepped forward. "Who are you? Don't think that just because you're a Dou Zun, you can act with impunity. As a Dou Zun, you must have heard of our Soul Hall. Killing our Soul Envoys like this—aren't you afraid of enraging the Soul Hall Elders?"

Qian Renhan chuckled calmly. "I've already killed three Dou Zuns from the Ancient Clans. Why would I care about your Soul Hall? In my eyes, you're nothing more than precious medicinal materials waiting to be harvested."

Upon hearing this, the guardian's pupils contracted sharply. He roared, "All Soul Envoys, heed my command—form the Ten Thousand Souls Devouring Array!"

As his voice fell, black mist surged from the Soul Envoys' bodies like a tidal wave, quickly enveloping the entire massive hall. The mist darkened the sky like a black cloud. Several seething masses of dark mist rose into the air, faint halos flickering within them. From these clouds, ghostly soul bodies with blood-red eyes erupted like malevolent spirits, letting out piercing, blood-curdling screeches as they swarmed toward Qian Renhan.

"Delusional."

There was no way Qian Renhan would let these Soul Hall members use such vast soul power against him. To him, soul energy, life force, and Dou Qi were all nutrients he could absorb to enhance his cultivation. Such a rich feast—he had no intention of letting it go to waste.

Inside the giant hall, near the iron cage, slow footsteps echoed. Zi Yan, who had been silently cheering Qian Renhan on in her heart, opened her eyes the moment she heard the sound. When she saw the figure in black robes and white hair, her gaze lit up brightly.

"Senior!"

"Don't move."

Qian Renhan broke open the iron cage and used the razor-sharp Shura Sword to cut through all the chains binding Zi Yan, leaving only the collar around her neck.

Zi Yan grabbed at the collar with both hands, trying to force it off, but it didn't budge. Not even a crack appeared, and her face flushed from the effort.

"Senior, you'd better aim carefully when you cut this! If you hurt my neck, you'll have to make me lots and lots of free pills before I'll forgive you."

Qian Renhan nearly laughed aloud. When had this little girl started acting as if they were so close?

Still, despite his thoughts, his swordsmanship was exceptional. With a single precise strike, the collar around Zi Yan's neck split cleanly in two—without leaving even a scratch on her fair skin.

As the collar hit the floor, the previously composed Zi Yan's eyes turned red with emotion. Deeply moved, she said, "Thank you for coming to save me, Senior. My name is Zi Yan—Zi as in colorful, Yan as in blossoming."

Qian Renhan gave a slight nod but did not mention that he had come after being informed by Grand Elder Su Qian. He had no intention of wasting words on trivial details.

"I've eliminated everyone in this Soul Hall branch. Go find yourself some medicine to treat your injuries, then return to Canaan Academy. I'll be going into seclusion here for a while."

Zi Yan grinned playfully. "Senior, I'll just use a tiny bit of the medicinal herbs to heal my injuries. I'll gather the rest and give them all to you."

As soon as she finished speaking, Zi Yan vanished through space to search for herbs. Qian Renhan's figure flickered, and he reappeared in the plaza where thirty corpses lay.

Each Soul Hall Protector commanded ten Soul Envoys. This branch of Soul Hall had three Dou Zong-level Protectors guarding it—hence, thirty corpses were scattered across the ground.

Besides the bodies, countless ethereal soul forms hovered in the plaza, all of them trapped by Qian Renhan's spatial seal. These souls were the result of Soul Hall's years of accumulation in the Black Horn Region.

With a flash from his storage ring, a ball of black mist appeared in Qian Renhan's hand. As the mist dispersed, three soul bodies emerged—none other than the three Protectors of this Soul Hall branch, including Protector Xuan.

Without hesitation, Qian Renhan erased the consciousness of the strongest one among them, then shoved the soul directly into his mouth and began chewing. Just like before, knowledge of Soul Hall could be extracted from a single Protector. The remaining two were better used as nourishment for his cultivation.

The sound of crunch, crunch echoed eerily. Protector Xuan was so terrified that his tongue tied itself in knots. How could such a person exist? Eating souls—how is that even human? Will this be my fate too? After a lifetime of capturing souls, am I now to be eaten myself? Is this karma?

Taiyi Soul Technique (Upper Volume):

A mid-tier Earth-rank cultivation method of the dark attribute. Focuses on spiritual cultivation. Minimum requirement: Dou Zong realm.

Once cultivated, soul power increases at an astonishing rate. At the Dou Zong level, the strength of the soul body may even surpass that of the physical body.

Only upon reaching the Dou Zun realm and contributing significantly to Soul Hall can one receive the second half of the Taiyi Soul Technique—and with it, a promotion to Elder.

It had to be said: Soul Hall had truly mastered the methods of capitalists. With generous benefits, a clear hierarchy, and rich rewards, it was no wonder the organization had flourished.

As for justice? In the Dou Qi Continent, where the strong preyed on the weak, what justice was there? Which powerful cultivator didn't have blood on their hands? Strength was justice—whoever had the bigger fist ruled.

After devouring this Protector's soul, Qian Renhan also gained knowledge of the locations of two other Soul Hall branch halls. With the technique already in hand, he planned to completely absorb the resources of this branch, then devote himself to cultivating the Heavenly Nether Calamity Art. Once he survived the first wave of pursuit from the Ancient Clan, he would leave the Black Horn Region, consume the remaining two branch halls, and continue growing stronger.

A day later, Qian Renhan had fully absorbed the entire Soul Hall branch. After devouring an uncountable number of souls, his cultivation had finally reached the peak of eight-star Dou Zun.

(End of Chapter)