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Elder Mu Zun, his sharp eyes in their deep sockets fixed on Amon, spoke, "I heard you voluntarily joined the Soul Hall and became an envoy under Protector Xiao, is that right?"
Starting from a Protector, one is considered a formal member of the Soul Hall, while Soul Envoys are forces developed by the Protectors themselves.
Generally speaking, a Honored Elder would not concern himself with the situation of a mere Soul Envoy.
However, judging by Protector Xiao's not-so-respectful attitude towards Elder Mu Zun just now, Amon guessed that Protector Xiao's identity must not be simple.
Elder Mu Zun was truly focused on Protector Xiao, and Amon was merely included as an observation subject.
So, Protector Xiao's situation is actually similar to a high-level company executive's child interning at the company? No wonder her demeanor seems out of place compared to other Law Protectors of the Soul Hall.
Amon looked at Elder Mu Zun and nodded, "Yes."
"Can you tell me why you joined the Soul Hall?"
"For power," Amon replied with a smile, without hesitation.
Elder Mu Zun nodded slightly, "You made a correct decision. My Soul Hall can give you power. Work harder…"
He's already crazy enough; if he works harder, he might just wipe out the Black-Corner Region… Protector Xiao opened her mouth, then closed it again.
Amon said seriously, "I will."
Ah… you really shouldn't, I don't want to be implicated and hunted by some powerful expert because of you… If this continues, the Soul Hall here will probably be universally reviled!
Elder Mu Zun lightly stroked the space ring on his index finger. A faint white light flashed, and a bronze token appeared in his hand.
With a slight lift of his wrist, space distorted, and the bronze token quietly floated before Amon.
"This is your Protector's token. From now on, you will no longer be subordinate to Protector Xiao, but will report directly to me. You can come here yourself to submit souls and exchange for rewards," Elder Mu Zun said little, appearing rather indifferent.
"If there's nothing else, you may leave."
"Yes." Amon slowly walked out along the path he had come.
After he left, only Elder Mu Zun and Protector Xiao remained in the hall.
"He's already like that, and you still encourage him to kill? This doesn't align with our hidden operational principle, does it?" Protector Xiao asked.
Elder Mu Zun smiled and replied, "This is an order from above, requiring us to accelerate the speed of soul collection, even if it means more exposure, even if it causes dissatisfaction and hostility from various forces, it doesn't matter."
After a brief pause, he continued, "A feeling of an impending storm… Within the Soul Clan, I can only be considered a middle-level personnel, so I don't know too much. Has your brother not told you? He should know more clearly."
"I snuck out while he was in seclusion," Protector Xiao said, almost giving Elder Mu Zun a heart attack.
Elder Mu Zun was silent for a long time before saying, "Why don't you return to the Soul Realm… Miss Hun Xiao, if even a small accident happens to you here, your brother will flay me alive."
"The Soul Realm is too stifling. I'll stay a bit longer… I heard my brother's bloodline wasn't very good back then, starting as a Protector and eventually becoming a high-level member of the clan. I also want to try and see if I can retrace his path," Hun Xiao said, not deliberately making her voice low and hoarse, but using her original clear voice.
"Something big has happened recently in the Soul Realm that I think you'll be interested in," Elder Mu Zun coaxed.
Hun Xiao became interested, "What is it?"
"Lord Hun Zhang, one of the Three Sword Saints, is going to challenge Lord Hun Jing, one of the Four Demon Saints. If I didn't have to be stationed here, I would also want to go back and watch the battle," Elder Mu Zun said with a hint of regret.
"Oh, he's itching for a fight again…" Hun Xiao seemed not at all surprised, nodding quite calmly.
...
In Soul Emperor City, Xiao Zhan Amon walked on the street, observing the various shops on both sides of the road, a slight surprise in his eyes.
Unlike the dead silence and desolation he had imagined, the lives of the Soul Clan people in the Soul Realm seemed no different from the outside world.
The shops on both sides didn't exclusively sell items related to cultivation; in fact, items like medicinal herbs, magic cores, and pills for cultivation were a minority. More often, they sold daily necessities: chairs, curtains, clothes, tableware…
Children ran around the streets with candy figures, occasionally bumping into cultivators who clearly looked powerful, but they wouldn't be met with violence or scolding. Often, those who were bumped into would have to comfort the children who had dropped their candy or fallen to the ground, crying loudly.
Xiao Zhan Amon stopped. Ahead, a man with a youthful appearance, dressed in black hunting attire, was looking helplessly at a little girl beside him who was crying and wiping snot and tears on his pant leg.
"Tsk, how interesting, your Soul Realm actually looks like this," Xiao Zhan Amon rubbed his right eye socket, saying with interest.
"Otherwise?" Hun Qiu, who was following behind him, retorted.
"I thought your Soul Clan was strictly hierarchical, with clear social strata, where those in high positions could arbitrarily bully the weak, and the lower classes were exploited and oppressed, living in constant fear."
Hun Qiu shook his head, "It is said that it was like that in the distant past, but ever since the Clan Leader took charge of our clan, that situation changed.
"He greatly values ordinary clan members and does not allow those in high positions to oppress them. Under his guidance, even those in the upper echelons don't mind giving these clan members more leniency.
"Of course, this is limited to protecting ordinary people; those who embark on the path of cultivation and strive to advance are not included in this category.
"Generally, with the Dou King as the boundary, those at Dou King and above need to report and register at the Soul Hall within the Soul Realm, becoming probationary members of the Soul Hall.
"On the path of cultivation, our Soul Clan still believes that the strong are kings, implementing a strict and even somewhat cruel competition system."
The young man ahead finally managed to pacify the little girl with two candied hawthorns, escaping her clutches. He turned around to look in Xiao Zhan Amon's direction and greeted him, "You're out of seclusion, Hun Qiu?"
"I've been out for a few days now, currently on a mission given by the Clan Leader," Hun Qiu said calmly, "I heard you're challenging Hun Jing?"
"Yeah, this time I definitely won't lose so badly… I just learned a Heaven-tier Dou Technique!" the young man replied with a chuckle.
He then continued, "When do you have time? Let's go for a drink. It's been two or three years since us Three Sword Saints gathered."
Hun Qiu shook his head, "Later… I still have a mission."
"A mission?"
"Hmm… He's the Xiao Clan Leader, and my mission is to keep an eye on him." Hun Qiu tilted his chin towards Xiao Zhan Amon.
"Xiao Clan Leader?" The young man's gaze fell on Xiao Zhan Amon, and he said suspiciously, "He looks very weak… Do you really need to keep an eye on him?"
"The Clan Leader's order."
"No need to be so rigid, just find a Dou Venerate to watch him," the young man said casually.
Xiao Zhan Amon looked at the young man, a smile playing on his lips, "Hello, I am Xiao Zhan. How should I address you?"
"Soul Clan, Hun Zhang." The young man did not ignore Xiao Zhan Amon because of his weakness, responding with a hint of arrogance.
"I see you're a talented individual. Would you like to be my son?" Xiao Zhan Amon smiled, extending his right hand, fingers spread.
"Huh? Me?" Hun Zhang pointed to himself, a confused expression on his face.
He looked at Hun Qiu, his eyes questioning.
Hun Qiu smiled, saying with a hint of teasing, "You decide for yourself."
Hun Zhang glanced at Hun Qiu, then at Xiao Zhan Amon, stroking his chin, a thoughtful expression on his face.
Hun Qiu's face showed a slight hint of surprise… No, are you actually considering it?
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