Join my Patreon to be 30 chapters ahead of the webnovel releases:
patreon.com/ZeroMoney
I would appreciate your help if you could join my Patreon and support me because it would keep me motivated.
******
In the Ancient Realm, after Qian Renhan departed, peace returned to the Gu Clan. Below the Half-Saint level, the cultivators sat cross-legged, consuming pills to restore their Dou Qi. Those above the Half-Saint realm didn't need to, as they cultivated Heaven Tier techniques, which could automatically absorb the spiritual energy of heaven and earth to recover. Meanwhile, several Dou Saints were repairing the spatial rifts left behind by the Ancient Emperor's Domain.
"Clan Chief, Honored Elders," a Half-Saint elder of the Gu Clan approached Gu Yuan and the Three Immortals of the Gu Clan and greeted them respectfully.
"How is it? Have the losses in the ancestral hall been tallied?" The furrow between Gu Yuan's brows relaxed slightly as he asked.
The two pieces of the Tuoshe Ancient Emperor Jade, which had been reclaimed earlier, had already been returned to the ancestral hall for safekeeping.
It wasn't that Gu Yuan didn't want to keep the jade pieces on his person for protection. But as soon as he suggested it, he was met with opposition from many of the clan's elders and the Three Immortals. They feared he might act impulsively and trade away such a precious item without the elders' collective agreement.
Gu Yuan couldn't argue against the elders or the Three Immortals—his seniors. After all, he had a previous record of questionable decisions. He had once sent Gu Xun'er to the Xiao Clan to steal their ancient jade, but she returned empty-handed. Worse, he had assigned an obscure Dou Huang nobody to protect Gu Xun'er, the Gu Clan's precious jewel and future hope. If that wasn't reckless, what was?
The Half-Saint elder, filled with anger, reported, "Clan Chief, all Heaven Tier intermediate and above Dou Techniques from the ancestral hall are missing—including our clan's and the Xiao Clan's ancestral techniques. That demon has stolen them all."
"That demon has gone too far!" One of the Three Immortals clenched his fists tightly. The Gu Clan was the foremost ancient race on the continent—when had they ever suffered such humiliation? Even with the entire clan mobilized, they had failed to stop Qian Renhan.
Gu Yuan was filled with deep regret. If only I had recovered faster... If I had gone to the Ancient Dragon Island sooner... If I had been more decisive...
The Half-Saint elder blinked and thought for a moment before speaking. "Clan Chief, Honored Elders, after much reflection, I find the destruction of the Shi and Ling Clans quite suspicious."
"What kind of suspicion?" Gu Yuan asked, turning his gaze to Gu Zhen.
Gu Zhen shared his thoughts. "Clan Chief, Honored Elders, based on everything so far, that demon came to our Gu Clan to steal our techniques. The technique he uses is the Medicine Emperor Technique of the Yao Clan, which is not known for combat prowess."
"If the Ling and Shi Clans were truly destroyed by that demon using the Soul Devouring Death Formation, then why didn't he cultivate the Shi Clan's Dou Techniques? The Shi Clan possessed Dou Di bloodlines, and their physical bodies were extremely powerful—no weaker than magical beasts. That same demon shattered your Dou Technique, Clan Chief, with nothing but brute force."
"Elder Gu Zhen, are you suggesting that the Shi and Ling Clans may have been destroyed by some other faction?"
Gu Yuan and the Three Immortals all furrowed their brows. Gu Zhen did make a valid point. If Qian Renhan had destroyed the Shi and Ling Clans, he could have cultivated their techniques to become even stronger. But if he wasn't the one who did it—what faction possessed such overwhelming power? Even the Gu Clan didn't.
Still, if Qian Renhan hadn't used the Soul Devouring Death Formation to blood-sacrifice the Shi and Ling Clans, how could their millions of people vanish without a trace? And how could Qian Renhan's cultivation soar so quickly? There were simply too many unanswered questions.
"Soul Heaven Emperor, since when have you become so sneaky?"
Gu Yuan suddenly looked up and smiled faintly, though his eyes gleamed sharply.
"Gu Clan, prepare for battle!"
The Three Immortals of the Gu Clan leapt into the sky almost simultaneously. Their sharp shouts echoed through the heavens and earth. Instantly, countless rays of light surged from the surrounding mountains as all the Gu Clan's powerhouses revealed themselves.
"Heh... Gu Yuan, looks like that brat caused quite the stir in your clan."
The Soul Heaven Emperor emerged. From the vortex behind him, several figures stepped out. Leading them was a man wreathed in black flames—Void Swallowing Flame. Behind him followed the infamous Four Demon Saints of the Soul Clan. Such a lineup was rarely matched anywhere on the Dou Qi Continent.
Gu Yuan locked eyes with the Soul Heaven Emperor and said slowly, "Soul Heaven Emperor, this is not a place you should be. Do you think that just because our strength was diminished after the battle with that demon, you can take advantage? Don't forget, just like me, you haven't fully recovered either."
"Heh... If I were the only Nine-Star Dou Saint, perhaps I couldn't destroy your Gu Clan. But unfortunately for you, my Soul Clan has more than one."
As his words fell, Void Swallowing Flame stepped forward. After absorbing the drop of Demon Saint essence blood from Qian Renhan, he had reached the peak of early Nine-Star Dou Saint level.
"Heh, Gu Yuan, it's been a thousand years. Thanks to you, I was nearly destroyed back then. But now, I've finally reached the Nine-Star Dou Saint realm."
Sensing the aura released by Void Swallowing Flame, everyone in the Gu Clan—including Gu Yuan—grew grim. Suddenly, Gu Yuan thought of something and shouted angrily, "Soul Heaven Emperor! Was it your Soul Clan that destroyed the Shi and Ling Clans? A Nine-Star Dou Saint does have the power to swallow an entire clan!"
"Some answers are best kept in the heart," the Soul Heaven Emperor replied nonchalantly. There was no longer a need for pretense. His gaze swept downward, and anyone it touched felt a chilling dread rise from the depths of their soul. Though his expression seemed calm, there was an inhuman, icy void beneath it—as if all life and creation were no more than ants in his eyes.
"So it was you. I can't believe I didn't realize it sooner. Everything was a performance—your so-called Demon-Slaying Alliance, your public announcement of personally hunting Qian Renhan—it was all a smokescreen to cover up your annihilation of the Shi and Ling Clans!"
"Gu Yuan, whether it was the fall of the Xiao Clan years ago or the destruction of the Shi, Ling, and Yao Clans, you've always been one step behind. Always dancing in the palm of my hand. And now, it's the Gu Clan's turn." The Soul Heaven Emperor let out a sinister laugh like a textbook villain basking in his master plan.
In the Soul Hall's Heaven Palace, a colossal phantom figure—thousands of feet tall—burst through the roof and hovered between heaven and earth. Its breathing rumbled like thunder, inhaling dense mist as if cloud dragons flowed into its nostrils. Its hair cascaded like a waterfall of black silk. With every flutter of its robes, waves roared across the seas. There was an unmistakable aura of dominion—like a king ruling the world—gradually emanating from its immense soul body.
It was the aura of a true soul emperor!
"This... is the soul of the Emperor Realm. Senior Huangquan Demon Saint, your 'Huangquan Heavenly Wrath' will finally unleash its might once more."
Qian Renhan was certain: once he had fully mastered all the Dou Techniques and cultivation methods stolen from the Gu Clan, he would be capable of defeating Gu Yuan at his peak—in a one-on-one battle.
(End of Chapter)