Chapter 109: Soul Hall Intervenes

"Qianfeng Gang!"

Xiao Li blocked the first move, but Yunshan showed no surprise; his palm spun rapidly, five strands of spiral sword qi formed from wind‑type Fighting Qi coalesced at his fingertips in an instant. With a light shout, five sharp sword qi shot out, intertwining into a thin blue line that hissed as it cut the wind, and it shot toward Xiao Li like lightning.

The five sharp spiral swords pierced the air in an instant, appearing before Xiao Li; the blue light quivered, then the five spirals split from the center and slammed toward the five vital points on Xiao Li's body. The fierce wind they generated made Xiao Li's eyes narrow.

Three thousand thunder strikes erupted, Xiao Li's figure vanished, leaving five bottomless small holes where he stood.

Xiao Li was about to counterattack when a chill brushed his back; he swiftly shifted again and appeared beside Xiao Yan.

"Who dares to ambush!"

Xiao Li let out a booming shout, and the scene fell eerily silent; everyone's gaze converged on the spot where Xiao Li had been, and a wisp of black smoke rose slowly.

"Jie Jie Jie!"

A sinister, bitter laugh echoed, and Xiao Yan's heart sank. "Second brother, they're from the Soul Hall."

That familiar laugh, Xiao Yan had heard from Xuan Protector before; the Soul Hall's presence together with that laugh left a deep impression on him.

In the main hall of the Yunlan Sect below, massive black mists surged up, quickly coalescing in the sky and finally forming a deep‑colored mist cloud about a zhang wide and long.

Combined with the black smoke from Xiao Li's former position, there were two terrifying auras.

"Iron Protector, who let you appear now? You've wasted a perfect ambush."

A wisp of black smoke materialized, and a Wu Protector in a black hood appeared, his power reaching a terrifying Three‑Star Fighting Sect.

Another figure, not to be outdone, wore a similar outfit and possessed a fearsome Two‑Star Fighting Sect level.

"Jie Jie Jie, they're just a bunch of Fighting Emperors; we should have dealt with them earlier."

The Iron Protector was unfazed; their target this time was Xiao Yan carrying Yao Dust, and they paid no heed to anyone else.

In the next instant, four chains shot out; Xiao Li's expression changed, and he hurried to shield Xiao Yan. He instantly activated Five Steps to Heaven, unleashing the peak power of a Fighting Emperor.

He used all his strength to swing the chains away, and Xiao Li sneered.

"A bunch of rat‑like monsters—those protectors who once helped Han Feng died at my hands, and you two still dare to strike me!"

Xiao Li let out a cold snort; though his palm trembled slightly from the recoil, he was not outmatched, and he still had strength left.

The Wu Protector and Iron Protector exchanged a glance and gave a strange grin, "Kid, take a look behind you first!"

"Behind?"

Xiao Li paused, sensing trouble, and thrust his long spear backward without looking; the clash of metal rang out, and his figure was forced to retreat repeatedly.

Qi Protector retracted his chain, about to mock Xiao Li, "Don't you know war hates no deceit?" Meanwhile, a cold white flame flickered silently in Xiao Yan's eyes.

Bone Spirit Cold Fire erupted instantly, and the heavy Xuanzhong Staff struck Qi Protector, sending him back to the Yunlan Sect's main hall.

The two Wu Protectors in the sky froze, casting wary glances at Xiao Yan's figure.

"Bone Spirit Cold Fire, Yao Dust, you really are here."

Yao Lao possessed Xiao Yan; during this time he had consumed many soul‑restoring items, and his power had recovered to a Three‑Star Fighting Sect.

"Your Soul Hall has not been eradicated; I cannot possibly die," Yao Lao said coldly, his gaze fixed on the Iron Protector, his voice filled with fury and murderous intent.

"You have a body; this protector may still fear you a bit, but for a soul‑form, Jie Jie, the Soul Hall has plenty of ways to deal with you!" The black mist contracted, and under everyone's eyes, the Wu Protector lunged at Yao Lao.

Xiao Li did not hesitate; his four wings fluttered, and he stepped in front of the charging Iron Protector.

"Your opponent is me!"

The Iron Protector's face darkened, "You still‑wet kid dares to brag? Watch me kill you in ten moves!"

Xiao Li gave a cold smile; at the moment they were about to clash, his aura burst forth fiercely.

"Two‑Star Fighting Sect!"

"Six Steps to Heaven!"

The limit of the Wild Thunder Body: Six Steps to Heaven.

A look of disbelief flashed in the Iron Protector's eyes, and the force of his chain unintentionally weakened by three points.

Xiao Li timed it perfectly; Blood‑Killing Heaven Thunder flashed across the sky.

"Unfortunately for you, I also have some methods to counter souls!"

The blood‑colored thunder spear swung away the chain; in front of Xiao Li, a blood‑killing aura surged, and resentful thunder light formed a pillar that shot toward the Iron Protector.

"Ah!!!"

Resentment tore at the Iron Protector's soul, and Xiao Li seized the moment, thrusting a spear into his chest.

The Iron Protector's gaze changed, feeling the electric charge of the Thunder Scale Spear, his ferocity swelling.

"Kid, meet your death!"

The Iron Protector's body suddenly swelled, and the next moment a terrifying blast swept across the sky; even the distant Cloud Mountain sensed the imbalance.

"Second brother!" Xiao Ding, fighting elsewhere, changed color and rushed fiercely toward Xiao Li's position.

The Two‑Star Fighting Sect detonated its own body, and Xiao Li, being so close, took the brunt of the damage.

"Big brother, I'm fine!"

Amid the lingering energy in the sky, a figure appeared, his garments shredded, blood gushing from seven orifices, and he carried a phantom soul in his hand.

"Heh."

A dark grin spread across Xiao Li's blood‑stained face; he seized the Iron Protector, who had no chance to flee, shoved his soul into a jade bottle, and sealed it with Blood‑Killing Heaven Thunder.

Having done all that, Xiao Li's aura dropped back to Five‑Star Fighting King, settling in the center of the Thunder Sect's main force.

Normally the Wild Thunder Body can sustain Six Steps to Heaven for only a short time, about ten minutes, and this Iron Protector self‑destructed over a trivial dispute; fortunately he had practiced Body‑Refining techniques, otherwise Xiao Yan might have had to forge a new body for him.

Xiao Li gasped, glancing at Yao Lao; he had dealt with the Iron Protector, but Yao Lao still had two stronger ones.

And there's Cloud Mountain as well.

Cloud Mountain's strength isn't weak, reaching half a step of Fighting Sect; within the Thunder Sect, aside from Xiao Li and Yao Lao, no one can stop them.

However, Xiao Li still has cards up his sleeve; after all, the Demon Flame Valley has methods to forge puppets.

Xuan Protector is dead, but his body remains; before arriving, Xiao Li and Xiao Yan even deliberately tortured Han Feng to death.

The physical body of the Xuan Guardian plus Han Feng's soul plus various good things—although it can't forge something at the original work's level, having the body of a Second Star Fighting Sect and the soul of a Fighting Emperor‑level alchemist is hardly far off.

(End of chapter)