Chapter 243: The Soul Hall Protector: I Think Xiao Yuan Is More Like a Soul Hall Protector Than I Am
The excited shouts of Lin Xiuyuan and Xiao Yu echoed throughout the valley, leaving many people stunned.
Boom!
A flash of bluish-orange flame flared from Xiao Yuan's hand, and Xie Zhen—the once fearsome elder of Magma Flame Valley—vanished into ashes with a look of utter disbelief frozen on his face.
"Who are you? This is a matter between Magma Flame Valley and Canaan Academy. Are you declaring yourself our enemy by killing so ruthlessly?"
Two peak Dou Wangs from Magma Flame Valley narrowed their eyes in alarm. Though they tried to sound accusatory, their hearts were pounding—this newcomer had instantly obliterated their Fourth Elder. With strength likely at the peak Dou Huang level, he was far beyond their ability to handle.
"Hehe, Senior Lin, it's only been a few months, and the next time I see you, you're already this battered?"
Xiao Yuan ignored the Magma Flame Valley crowd, offering Lin Xiuyuan a hand and slipping him a healing pill with a cheerful grin.
"You brat. Good thing you got here when you did. Any later and you'd be collecting my body."
Lin chuckled weakly at Xiao Yuan's teasing. To instantly kill a peak Dou Huang—Xiao Yuan's strength was becoming unfathomable.
"Guess it wasn't your time to die."
Xiao Yuan's smile softened, then turned to the tall beauty in the red dress, his voice gentle: "Are you alright?"
Under his warm gaze, Xiao Yu felt her nose sting and tears welling up. After a long moment, she bit her lip and snarled through gritted teeth, "Don't let any of them get away! Three students were killed, and they tried to train me and the girls like some kind of livestock!"
Xiao Yuan's smile faded. His expression turned cold.
"Not a single one will live."
As soon as the words fell, the men of Magma Flame Valley scattered, trying to escape.
But Xiao Yuan didn't chase. He flipped his palm, and brilliant orange-red flames burst forth. In an instant, all except the two peak Dou Wangs turned to ash.
Those two stood dazed, smoke rising from their heads, their bodies trembling.
Xiao Yuan casually flicked his hand, and the fire split into two blazing swords that pierced their hearts effortlessly.
Though only a six-star Dou Huang, Xiao Yuan's normal combat strength was already at the peak of that level. Killing two Dou Wangs? As easy as slicing fruit.
Xiao Yu wasn't surprised. She was his woman, after all. Xiao Yuan had already taken down Dou Zong experts before—what were a few Dou Huangs and Dou Wangs to him?
Though... she noticed the way the younger girls were now watching Xiao Yuan. His effortless power, his devastatingly handsome face—no wonder their eyes sparkled with admiration.
Even she had to admit, watching him smile like that made her heart flutter.
The valley, once filled with dread, now buzzed with life again. Survivors gathered, whispering among themselves, their eyes inevitably drifting toward Xiao Yuan, giggles and admiring glances mixing with the mountain air.
"Are you alright?" Xiao Yuan asked Lin again.
"I'll be fine. With your pill, I should recover in a few days."
Lin nodded gratefully.
"Not bad—already a five-star Dou Wang."
Three figures descended from the sky—Zi Yan, cradling Instructor Ruo Lin and Qingning, landed beside them.
Lin nodded, then smiled when he saw Zi Yan. "Senior Zi Yan, you're here too."
"Hmph. Good thing you're polite, or I'd beat you up," she teased, clenching her fist playfully.
Lin smiled awkwardly. He couldn't argue—Zi Yan's strength and status far exceeded his.
"Your strength… it's reached Dou Huang, hasn't it?" Lin finally asked Xiao Yuan, unable to hold back.
At his words, everyone nearby turned to look. When Xiao Yuan nodded calmly, a collective gasp rippled through the group. For many of them, Dou Huang was a lifelong dream—yet Xiao Yuan, barely older than they were, had already reached it.
As hushed voices filled the air, a streak of light flashed in from outside the valley and landed beside Xiao Yuan.
A woman in a white dress—her presence powerful, her aura not weaker than the fallen Xie Zhen—smiled gently beside him.
"Enemies at the perimeter are cleared. I wanted to take some alive, but their poison resistance was crap—they all died."
Her soft voice sent a chill down everyone's spines. The people around Xiao Yuan were not just strong—they were terrifying.
Lin gave her a strange look. He had heard the stories—Xiao Yuan had once slain two Dou Zongs for a woman. He'd met that woman: Yun Yun, the Dou Huang and head of Yunlan Sect.
But this woman wasn't Yun Yun.
He glanced at Xiao Yu.
Xiao Yu remained calm. Xiao Yuan had already told her about Xiao Yixian. They had even trained together. She had accepted this calmly, though she couldn't help but feel a little disadvantaged compared to these other powerful women.
Thank goodness for Sister Ya Fei, she thought. Without her, how would she compete in the future?
"Senior Lin, Sister Xiao Yu—can you tell me what exactly happened? Why is Magma Flame Valley targeting the Academy?"
Xiao Yuan's question brought Xiao Yu back to focus. She smiled softly and walked up to hug him tightly.
"What's wrong?" he asked gently.
"I was afraid I wouldn't see you again."
Xiao Yuan hugged her back. "Don't worry. Once I flip the Black-Corner Region upside down, no one will dare touch you again."
His voice was warm, but his eyes burned with killing intent.
He would start with Magma Flame Valley—and if the rest didn't behave, he would drown the whole Black-Corner Region in blood.
But first, the Soul Hall… that was a greater threat he needed to solve.
"Mm." Xiao Yu nodded, calming down.
"This matter with Magma Flame Valley… it's partly because of Xiao Yan," she continued. She and Lin gave each other a solemn glance.
Magma Flame Valley was an old powerhouse in the Black-Corner Region. They had no real grudge with the Academy—until a few months ago. After various forces attacked the Academy, a retaliatory alliance formed.
They lacked leadership and were scattered—until they began targeting Academy students during training missions.
Xiao Yan had come across one such ambush. Alone, he slaughtered most of them while they were meeting. Some escaped, but the threat was crushed.
Unfortunately, among the dead was the grandson of Magma Flame Valley's First Elder, Fang Yan.
Ever since, tensions escalated. Now it was war.
Lin added, "The valley is too strong to destroy outright, even for the Academy. So every outing needs powerful guards. But this time, the news leaked. If you hadn't shown up… we wouldn't be here."
Xiao Yuan's expression darkened.
"How deep are their roots?" he asked.
"Deep," Lin replied. "Even with Elder Su Qian, we can't topple them easily. Their Valley Master is a Dou Zong, rarely seen, and extremely dangerous. The Black-Corner Region is full of hidden monsters. The Black Ranking doesn't reflect its true power."
Xiao Yuan nodded. "I remember hearing that the old ghost has an Ice-element Earth-tier technique. He's got bad blood with the Academy too. That means I can kill him with a clear conscience."
Lin chuckled darkly. "You think like a Soul Hall enforcer sometimes."
"But in just a few months, the Black-Corner Region has changed so much," Xiao Yuan muttered. "No matter. I've killed Dou Zong before. Is Xiao Yan back at the Academy?"
"Not sure. Last we heard, he was headed to a major auction for some rare herbs," Xiao Yu said.
"Do you know where?"
"Black Emperor City. Their Black Emperor Sect is old and powerful. Their sect master is a renowned Dou Zong."
"I'll escort you all to a nearby town, then head there myself."
"Alright." Xiao Yu nodded.
Lin called for everyone to move out quickly. Soon, they left the blood-soaked valley behind.
Half an hour later, black mist silently drifted into the valley.
After a long silence, a puzzled voice echoed through the empty gorge:
"No soul remnants at all… just who here is from the Soul Hall?"
A moment passed before the mist sped off in the direction Xiao Yuan had gone, the voice trailing behind:
"Flickering presence… about to advance? If the intel is correct… this Xiao Yuan might be even scarier than we thought."
(END CHAPTER)
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