Chapter 199: We Meet Again

Eyes fixed dead on the space half a meter ahead, he was actually able to detect some extremely faint folds. These folds were hidden within the space and extremely hard to spot. Following the faintly visible folds with his gaze, he finally discovered that these spatial folds formed almost like a wall, concealing the Soul Sovereign behind them!

Xiao Yan had once read about a Barrier called 'Space Lock' in his storage ring — an immensely powerful Barrier that only a Dou Zun-level expert could set up.

"That Wu Guardian can't be a Dou Zun, right? If he really is a Dou Zun, then that's bad — this Soul Token might not be enough to intimidate a Dou Zun expert." Xiao Yan's brows knit tightly, but after some thought, he dismissed this guess.

"It probably isn't. If he really were a Dou Zun, Yun Shan wouldn't have been making such a fuss. Then Yun Shan might also be a Guardian, just a lower-ranked one than Wu Guardian."

A Dou Zun can set up a Space Lock, but setting up a Space Lock doesn't necessarily require a Dou Zun — it can also be done with certain items and Secret Techniques.

"That Wu Guardian knows I possess a Soul Token, yet I stirred up such a ruckus in Yun Lan Sect, and even Yun Shan didn't come out even after crushing his Soul Jade. That proves the Soul Token Hun Xu Zi gave still carries some weight — it should rank higher than Yun Shan."

Xiao Yan naturally had his reasons for making such a scene. He didn't just want to enter the Life and Death Gate smoothly without arousing Ling Ying's suspicion — more importantly, he wanted to probe what attitude this Soul Sovereign hidden within Yun Lan Sect held toward him.

This isn't like going to school. If the Soul Sovereign is also divided into rival factions, he might end up in a hostile camp, and that would truly be a wrongful death.

Still, Xiao Yan only dared come to the Soul Sovereign because he had some confidence and basis. He remembered that three years ago, not long after Nalan Yanran came to break off the engagement, when Hun Xu Zi arrived, he said he had heard that a genius youth surnamed Xiao had appeared in this remote Jia Ma Empire, which was why he came — and in the end, he had Xiao Yan take his Soul Token to the Soul Sovereign in Wang Du.

From this, one could deduce that the reason Hun Xu Zi knew about Xiao Yan was because the people of this Soul Sovereign before him had reported to him, which prompted his arrival.

Then this Soul Sovereign might very well be under Hun Xu Zi's jurisdiction.

Xiao Yan's gaze hardened, and he didn't hesitate any longer. He had thought things through clearly before coming — he had calculated everything before coming to Yun Lan Sect.

Wearing the Soul Robe, Xiao Yan passed straight through the Space Lock and entered within. Only those wearing the Soul Robe could pass through this Space Lock.

Looking closely, within the slightly distorted space lay a stretch of blackened, polluted earth. The surface of the land occasionally exposed patches of ghastly white — clearly the Hai Shi of some creatures — and an eerie, chilling aura permeated the surroundings.

It was utterly different from the environment outside.

At the center of this stretch of mountain forest, a black great hall stood silently. The moment he saw that pitch-black great hall, the words 'Soul Sovereign' rose in his mind. Without needing any introduction, Xiao Yan knew — that was the Soul Sovereign of Yun Lan Sect!

Gazing at that pitch-black great hall, a sinister, terrifying aura slowly spread out and rippled through this sealed space.

Looking carefully at the black great hall, several extremely thick black Spiritual Energy Sealing Chains extended outward from it, plunging deep into the ground. Upon these Spiritual Energy Sealing Chains, clumps of black mist swirled, faintly coalescing into human shapes, and the chains themselves occasionally flickered with a faint luster.

Wearing the Soul Robe, Xiao Yan immediately blended into this stretch of land without the slightest sense of incongruity. Xiao Yan slowly circulated his Spiritual Heart Soul Gathering Art and discovered that the scattered soul light here was actually denser than in ordinary places.

"Could that black great hall have the effect of summoning souls and gathering spirits?"

Indeed, the Soul Sacrifice Old Shop he had entered back then wasn't a true Soul Sovereign — it was most likely a hidden shop of the Soul Sovereign!

After all, they're both called Soul Sovereign, so there ought to be a great hall, right? Besides, there wasn't even a single soul to be seen inside the Soul Sacrifice Old Shop.

Xiao Yan slowly walked toward the pitch-black great hall. After walking for a while, he finally spotted several people also wearing Soul Robes.

"Let's go. This time I'll definitely gather enough Soul Points." Among these people, a figure who appeared to be the leader said.

"Compared to going in a group to hunt Mo Shou in Mo Shou Shan Mai to collect Soul Points, going to the SnakeTribe Empire to wipe out SnakeTribe is easier to rack up Soul Points — the souls of the SnakeTribe are stronger than those of ordinary Mo Shou." Another person said.

The last person pulled an irregular black stone from his Soul Robe pocket and said: "Let me tell you, killing people is the fastest. Although low-level Cultivators and Alchemists can't produce Soul Bodies, Alchemists are born with strong Soul Force, so Soul Stones fill up quickly."

The leader said dismissively: "Nonsense — who doesn't know a mother is a woman? But we're only Da Dou Shi ourselves. Even a One-Rank Alchemist holds some status in a Dou Ling family — a lone Alchemist is hard to come by."

Hearing the conversation of the three Soul Envoys walking toward him, Xiao Yan's brow furrowed. These Soul Envoys were like bees gathering honey, collecting weak souls.

Xiao Yan's powerful Soul Force swept past.

Although the Soul Robes of these three also had shielding capabilities, Xiao Yan estimated they were merely the Soul Robes of the weakest Yellow Class Soul Envoys, capable of blocking only the perception of a Two-Rank Alchemist — naturally, they couldn't block Xiao Yan's Soul Perception.

"They're all Da Dou Shi, and these three, if I remember correctly, are from the enforcement squad this morning." Xiao Yan wasn't surprised that they were Disciples of Yun Lan Sect.

Even the Sect Master and the Grand Elder were members of the Soul Sovereign, so it was only natural that some elite Disciples of Yun Lan Sect and trusted confidants of several Elders had also joined the Soul Sovereign.

"Sigh, it's all that Xiao Yan's fault. The Grand Elder and the others were actually expelled from Yun Lan Sect — who knows what will happen from now on."

"Isn't this even better? The Grand Elder and the others can now operate under the identity of the Soul Sovereign. I'm even starting to want to break free from Yun Lan Sect — the resources the Sect gives out for missions are sometimes too meager."

Whoosh — Xiao Yan brushed past the three head-on. Xiao Yan neither struck to kill them nor said a word, simply ignoring the three of them.

Xiao Yan isn't some saint either. The Soul Sovereign branches are spread across the entire Dou Qi Continent — how much could he possibly manage?

As for the Grand Elder and the others, they're probably already waiting down below.

"Ordinary Soul Envoys without Soul Tokens rely on those Soul Stones to collect souls and exchange them for Soul Points? It seems Soul Points are still used as currency for Transactions here." Xiao Yan thought as he headed toward the great hall.

Along the way, Xiao Yan didn't encounter many people. The Soul Sovereign gave Xiao Yan a somewhat desolate feeling.

"Why are there so few people?"

The space hidden by the Space Lock wasn't all that vast. After walking for a short while, Xiao Yan arrived beneath the pitch-black great hall.

Xiao Yan looked up. In the center of the pitch-black great hall, the words 'Soul Sovereign' were carved with Soul Force. From those two characters, faint wailing sounds emanated. And upon those thick black Spiritual Energy Sealing Chains binding the great hall, several figures in black robes were actually seated.

Xiao Yan's perception could clearly sense that these people were all at Peak Dou Ling or even Dou Wang strength, and none of them were from Yun Lan Sect.

"Those Spiritual Energy Sealing Chains are releasing very strong Soul Force — could that thing accelerate the Cultivation of soul arts?"

This was merely a small branch hall in a remote area, yet it already possessed such depth. Those Dou Wangs were probably loose Cultivators who came out of the Jia Ma Empire and later passed the Trial to join as Soul Envoys of the Soul Sovereign.

Xiao Yan guessed that the Soul Sovereign itself had its own set of Trial methods for recruiting people.

Creak — suddenly, the great doors of the Soul Sovereign slowly opened. Xiao Yan smiled faintly and, without the slightest hesitation, walked straight into the Soul Sovereign.

After Xiao Yan entered the Soul Sovereign, thump — the great doors instantly shut. Candles lit one after another, instantly illuminating the entire great hall. A figure wearing a Soul Robe and a clump of black mist stood right in the center of the hall, as if they had long been waiting for Xiao Yan.

Slowly pulling off his Hood, Xiao Yan revealed a smile. His gaze turned to the person on the right, and he laughed: "Hehehehe, former Sect Master Yun Shan, we meet again."

(End of this chapter)