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**
"Feng Xian, I didn't expect that guy to show up too. Since he's here, let's hurry and go."
Hearing that his old friend had also come, Yao Chen's expression brightened slightly, and he urged again. As soon as he finished speaking, his illusory body flashed out, rushing toward the outside ahead of everyone.
After all, he hadn't seen his close friend for decades, and he truly missed him.
"Hehe."
Seeing his master become so happy the moment he heard Feng Zun Zhe's name, Xiao Yan couldn't help smiling as well. But the next second, his gaze swept to the many glowing clusters floating above the hall.
A cold glint flickered in his eyes as he muttered inwardly, "Since I can't take these soul bodies away, I definitely can't let Hall of Souls benefit from them either. I'll just destroy this place and let these souls scatter."
With that thought, Xiao Yan tightened his palm, and brown flames shot out, twisting into a long fiery whip.
With a flick of his wrist, the whip arced through the air and lashed fiercely toward the black chains crisscrossing the ceiling of the hall. However, just as the fiery whip was about to strike those black chains, the space in front of it suddenly froze solid.
The frozen space made the whip feel as if it had slammed straight into an invisible wall. A crisp snap rang out, then the whip was forcefully bounced back.
"There's another Hall of Souls expert hidden here. Master, go!"
The moment that hidden person's emotions fluctuated and his aura leaked even a trace, Xiao Yan sensed his presence. He immediately shouted toward Yao Chen near the exit. After shouting, he instantly turned his head toward a seemingly ordinary patch of empty space.
"Hehe, Yao Chen, you've taken quite a good disciple. He actually dared to come into my Hall of Souls to snatch people. Such guts… even I have to praise him."
Just as Yao Chen heard the voice and turned toward it, a faint laugh echoed through the entire hall.
At the same time, the space Xiao Yan had been glaring at suddenly split open, revealing a pitch-black crack. From within, an old man dressed in grey-white robes stepped out, smiling faintly as he looked at them.
"Judging from the faint fluctuations coming from him, his strength is likely no weaker than Five-Star Dou Zun."
Staring at this unfamiliar old man, Xiao Yan's heart sank slightly as he thought with a grim expression.
"Old Ghost Zhai Xing, I didn't expect you to show up here too?"
When Yao Chen saw the grey-robed elder, his expression changed drastically and his voice sank.
"Jie jie, not just me."
Before his voice finished echoing, another sinister chuckle erupted in the great hall.
Hearing that familiar voice, Xiao Yan and Yao Chen instinctively turned toward the sound. They saw that beside the Old Ghost Zhai Xing, a black-robed figure slowly walked out from the void, entering their line of sight.
"Mu Gu! Old Mu Gu!"
Seeing the black-robed figure, both Yao Chen and Xiao Yan growled through clenched teeth.
For this long-time enemy, the master and disciple both wished they could skin him alive to vent the hatred in their hearts. For Yao Chen, his hatred stemmed from everything involving Han Shanshan and Han Feng.
As for Xiao Yan, it was simply because Mu Gu had repeatedly tried to kill him in the past, and on top of that, he knew about the secret of the Flame Mantra. That alone made Xiao Yan want to eliminate him for revenge — and to silence him forever.
"Mu Gu, we agreed already. The boy is yours, but the key and Yao Chen's soul are not something you're allowed to touch."
Looking at the two below, the Old Ghost Zhai Xing immediately spoke toward Mu Gu.
"Haha, rest easy, Zhai Xing. I only want the kid's Heavenly Flame. I'm not interested in the other things, they're all yours."
Hearing that, Mu Gu immediately put on an expression that said I only care about the flame, nothing else.
Old Ghost Zhai Xing didn't suspect anything.
After all, Mu Gu was a mid-grade eighth-tier alchemist, and being greedy for Xiao Yan's Heavenly Flame was completely normal.
"This old thing really is like chewing gum, sticks to everything and never lets go."
Although Old Ghost Zhai Xing didn't sense anything wrong, Xiao Yan instantly understood Mu Gu's true intention. But when he thought a bit more, and remembered the "key" Old Ghost Zhai Xing had mentioned earlier, his expression instantly changed drastically.
Because for something to be valued that much… and for it to be called a key…there was only one thing: The Tou She Ancient God Jade, the one said to guide the way to the Tou She Ancient God Mansion once all pieces were gathered.
"Oh? So you've guessed what it is?"
Noticing Xiao Yan's sudden flash of realization and then his drastic change of expression, Old Ghost Zhai Xing chuckled.
Then he continued, "Since you've already realized it, there's no need to hide anything anymore. As for why Xuan Kongzi and the others knew Yao Chen was here, it's because we leaked that information on purpose."
"Because this time, you, Xiao Yan, are the real catch. The Hall Master is far more interested in you than in Yao Chen. Even though your father refused to say a word, before the Xiao Clan's fall, the most outstanding person was you. And after the tragedy, only you returned to visit the Xiao Clan. So the likelihood of the 'key' being on you is the highest."
"Father…"
Hearing this, Xiao Yan's heart trembled violently, and icy killing intent surged in his eyes. Everything—his clan's destruction, his family's suffering—was the doing of Hall of Souls. Now these people dared to flaunt it before him… how could he not be driven toward slaughter?
"Don't fight him! Leave this place first!"
Seeing Xiao Yan's expression turning murderous, Yao Lao immediately shouted from the entrance.
Hearing his master's warning, Xiao Yan clenched his teeth hard, then nodded. Even though Old Ghost Zhai Xing always looked gentle and harmless, Xiao Yan could clearly feel it…this person's combat strength was absolutely not on the same level as Old Mu Gu.
If he charged in recklessly here, the two of them might not leave this place alive.
"Bastard… once I regroup with Elder Feng and the others, I'll come back and settle the score with you trash!"
Thinking this, Xiao Yan quickly shouted to Yao Chen at the doorway, "Master, go out and meet up with Elder Feng first. I'll cover the rear!"
"Alright."
Hearing that, Yao Chen didn't waste a single word.
He immediately sped up, sprinting toward the outside. After all, his soul origin had been heavily drained by Hall of Souls, and his remaining soul power was extremely low.
Staying here would only drag Xiao Yan down, not help him. In that case, it was better to regroup outside with Feng Xian and the others, then return with reinforcement to rescue Xiao Yan.
"Hehe, since I've already shown myself, how could I possibly let you leave safely?"
Watching Yao Chen flee, Old Ghost Zhai Xing smiled faintly, making no move to chase.
**
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