Chapter 131: Crafting a Soul Communication Tool

Hai Bodong looked at Xiao Yan, his eyes filled with a hint of doubt, for according to Nalan Yanran and Mo Li, Xiao Yan should have come from a remote family in a distant city of the Jia Ma Empire.

Yet Gu He and others had been defeated by Xiao Yan, causing Yun Yun to return empty-handed—indicating that Xiao Yan indeed had powerful backers behind him.

Hai Bodong had once left the Jia Ma Empire and traveled to Zhong Zhou; though his stay was brief, it broadened his horizons, yet he had never heard of the Soul Sect—only of mighty top-tier organizations like the Wind and Thunder Pavilion, the Underworld River Sect, and the Dan Tower.

It was no surprise Hai Bodong had never heard of it; though the Soul Sect spread across the entire Dou Qi Continent, its methods were treacherous and cruel, always striking from the shadows, and those who knew of it never spoke of it aloud.

"Soul Sect! Are you from the Soul Sect?" The Eight-Winged Black Snake King's face instantly changed—he dreaded hearing this most.

After all, the Soul Sect's depths were too great; while most Soul Envoys were weak, even a single Guardian of the Soul Sect could effortlessly turn them both into specimens.

Though organizations other than the Soul Sect also possessed Soul Techniques—Dan Tower's Alchemists had obtained some ancient Soul Decrees and Soul Techniques from Ruins—since Dan Tower was an organization that openly opposed the Soul Sect, it didn't care whether the Soul Sect would retaliate.

Xiao Yan, who had never been to Zhong Zhou, naturally didn't know that major Sects and great clans forbade the external transmission of their exclusive Cultivation Methods and Dou Techniques; anyone caught learning them without permission would be hunted to the ends of the earth.

That was why the woman called Lv Man had been so astonished upon seeing Xiao Yan use a Soul Technique.

Xiao Yan smirked, mocking: "What, can't the Soul Sect have handsome men?"

Lv Man and the Eight-Winged Black Snake King exchanged a glance, as if silently communicating through some Serpent Technique.

In truth, they already half-believed him—mainly because Xiao Yan was merely a Great Dou Master in cultivation, yet the Soul Technique he wielded had shaken Lv Man, who possessed Dou Huang strength.

Even if only for an instant, it was still a shake—and though Lv Man's Soul Force as a demon beast was weaker than a human's, she was still a Dou Huang.

This meant Xiao Yan's Soul Force was at least as strong as that of a Fifth-Rank Alchemist.

Such an astonishing Soul Force, spanning two major cultivation tiers, was something even Dan Tower might not be able to cultivate—only the Soul Sect, which specialized in Soul Force, had such potential.

Moreover, it was perfectly natural for the Soul Sect to covet the Qi San Hua Tong—it was one of the top two strongest body types on the Dou Qi Continent.

"Qing Lin is my servant. If you try to take her, next time you won't face just me alone," Xiao Yan said calmly.

Sensing the moment was right, Xiao Yan used the same trick that had once intimidated Hai Bodong—borrowing another's prestige. He took a Soul Token from his space ring and fastened it to his waist.

Hai Bodong's eyelid twitched—he had been intimidated by this very thing before.

Though Lv Man and the Eight-Winged Black Snake King didn't know what the Soul Token was, they still sensed the character "Soul" carved upon it; its unique Soul Force resonance left them both trembling with unease.

But this time, it backfired on Xiao Yan.

Lv Man didn't release Qing Lin—instead, she hid behind the Eight-Winged Black Snake King, who stepped forward defiantly, blocking the way.

Xiao Yan's eyes narrowed—this time, the bluff didn't work!

"The Qi San Hua Tong is the key to inheriting the Yao Sheng Legacy and opening the Yuan Gu Tian She Ling Mu. We will never hand it over," the Eight-Winged Black Snake King declared resolutely.

Xiao Yan frowned—he understood the implication in the Eight-Winged Black Snake King's words. The Eight-Winged Black Snake King refused to give up Qing Lin, but had subtly hinted he would treat her well, even grant her a powerful legacy, and wished to avoid a direct confrontation with Xiao Yan.

Even Hai Bodong understood the signal the Eight-Winged Black Snake King had sent, his heart leaping in shock—was it a Sage Emperor's Legacy?!

After a moment of silence, Xiao Yan said to Lv Man: "Wake Qing Lin. I have a few words to say to her."

The Eight-Winged Black Snake King nodded to Lv Man, who gathered a green glow in her palm and pressed it against Qing Lin's forehead—a cool sensation slowly awakened the sleeping girl.

Qing Lin opened her eyes, dazed, looking around; when she saw Xiao Yan nearby and realized she was captured, she struggled violently and cried out: "Young Master!"

Xiao Yan waved his hand, signaling Qing Lin to calm down, then turned to Hai Bodong: "Hai Lao, wait here for me."

"Hmm, be careful—those are two Dou Huangs."

"Don't worry, I won't get hurt."

Xiao Yan spread his wings, flew past the Eight-Winged Black Snake King, and walked up to Qing Lin: "Qing Lin, can you control these two?"

!!!!?

Lv Man and the Eight-Winged Black Snake King froze, stunned—You just walked over and asked that?!

Lv Man replied irritably: "Though the Qi San Hua Tong can, through blood, forcibly establish contracts with or even control serpent demon beasts, Miss Qing Lin's Qi San Hua Tong remains unawakened—she cannot yet control ancient aberrant beasts like me or Bai Ya."

It made sense—if the Qi San Hua Tong could control any serpent demon beast with just a glance, it would be invincible.

If even an ancient aberrant beast like the Eight-Winged Black Snake King couldn't be controlled, then controlling the pure-blooded Seven-Colored Devouring Sky Serpent, Medusa Queen, would be pure fantasy.

Qing Lin, unwilling to accept it, tried—but the result was indeed impossible.

"It's fine, Qing Lin. Listen carefully now. You'll travel alone to a place to learn how to use the Qi San Hua Tong and strengthen your cultivation," Xiao Yan patiently explained to Qing Lin.

Though young, Qing Lin quickly understood the situation—she sensed the strength of those around her and the faint helplessness in Xiao Yan's tone, grasping her current predicament.

"Yes, Qing Lin understands. Qing Lin will surely master it," Qing Lin said, nodding firmly, suppressing her fear of the unknown and her tears.

Xiao Yan sighed softly, stroking Qing Lin's head: "Before you leave, Young Master gives you something—if you can't hold on, contact me."

Xiao Yan took from his space ring a Fifth Rank Magic Core—he had "taken" it from the HolyCity's treasure vault.

Whoosh—the blood-red Wan Shou Ling Huo erupted from his palm, instantly enveloping and refining the Magic Core.

"Spiritual Flame?!" The Eight-Winged Black Snake King gasped—Xiao Yan possessed a Spiritual Flame!!

Soon, the Magic Core shrank continuously, its energy compressed and preserved by Xiao Yan. With a hum, he infused a thread of Soul Force, fashioned a cord into the shape of a Jade Token, and hung it around Qing Lin's neck.

"This is a Soul Jade. Crush it, and you can contact me. If anyone threatens you, crush it—no matter where you are, I will come to save you."

Soul Communication Tool—days ago, when Xiao Ding and Xiao Li were attacked, Xiao Yan had wanted to make one for each of them.

Xiao Yan, with his Mortal Realm Late Stage Soul Realm, could naturally craft it—though it required consuming some Soul Force.

(End of Chapter)