Chapter 202: Of Course, Forgive Him!
"Ouch… hiss… What's going on?" The green robed elder's hand trembled as he tugged at his long, white beard, yanking out an entire strand in frustration.
His aged face flushed briefly before the color quickly faded. The Falling Heart Flame's strange ability to ignite Heart Fire was impressive, but it was too far away to significantly affect someone of his formidable cultivation level. However, for the members of the Hall of Souls, the situation was disastrous!
A gloating expression crept onto the green robed elder's face. Being so close to the source while fighting a four star Dou Zun? If it didn't kill them outright, it would still leave them severely injured or worse!
No, wait! The elder snapped back to his senses. He had a disciple nearby!
Too preoccupied with his schadenfreude, he had almost forgotten about her. He quickly turned to look at Qing Lin, only to see her delicate face flushed red. However, she didn't panic. A chilling aura surged from her body as her Dou Qi circulated. Before long, she had completely neutralized the effects of the Falling Heart Flame and slowly opened her eyes.
"Uh… Qing Lin, have you come into contact with or heard of this Falling Heart Flame before?" The green robed elder was dumbfounded. His disciple had managed to escape the flame's influence on her own?
After all, the Falling Heart Flame directly ignites Heart Fire. Most people, when faced with the sudden emergence of strange flames in their hearts, would at least be flustered if not outright panicked.
Just look at that cocky Qin Tian from the Hall of Souls. The moment he was caught by the Heart Fire, he panicked and was immediately ambushed, losing his heart in the process.
"Yes… I've heard of it before," Qing Lin replied softly, her cheeks slightly reddened. It was the young master who had told her about it. Back then, she often helped him apply medicine to his Burning Blood, and they would occasionally chat about various topics, including exotic flames like the Falling Heart Flame.
The young master had explained the method to counter the Heart Fire, though this was her first time encountering it personally.
"Hahaha… Excellent, excellent! My disciple is indeed extraordinarily talented far superior to those so called prodigies from Jia Nan Academy!" The green robed elder was thoroughly pleased. This trip was worth it not only had he witnessed an exciting spectacle, but his disciple had also proven her exceptional abilities. It was immensely satisfying!
Most importantly, the Hall of Souls had taken a serious blow this time!
"Hehehe…"
"Hehehe… Hall of Souls' Qin Tian, you didn't expect this, did you?" Elder Bai Lie sneered, casually brushing off the dust and sand from his robes. He had been hiding inside the Dou Qi Earth Dragon conjured by Lin Hao all along, waiting for the perfect opportunity to strike.
Yet he hadn't anticipated that this opportunity would come from Lu Bu!
This guy… is truly a savior to me!
"Cough… cough… good move," Qin Tian muttered, blood spilling from his mouth with each word.
Bai Lie's sneak attack had not only shattered his heart but also unleashed a violent burst of fire attribute energy that burned through his dantian and severely damaged his soul. He was alive only because he was clinging to his last breath.
"Jie jie jie… But if you want to kill me, you'll have to pay the price!" The next moment, Qin Tian let out a sinister smile as the surrounding world's energy became wildly turbulent.
Bai Lie's pupils contracted sharply. Self detonation!?
He's going to self detonate!?
"Jie jie jie, let's die together!" Qin Tian laughed maniacally, blood covering his body. His chest muscles contracted, trapping Bai Lie's arm that had pierced through his chest. Meanwhile, the energy in the surrounding heavens and earth reached a boiling point, signaling his impending explosion.
Bai Lie's pupils shrank further. He couldn't break free there was no escaping the desperate retaliation of a three star Dou Zun!
"Damn it…" Under his black robe, Bai Lie's face turned grim.
"Hiss… the situation escalated so quickly. This is truly eye opening…"
"This is bad. That newly revealed Dou Zun might get dragged down with him!"
"Well, maybe that's for the best. If Jia Nan Academy had two Dou Zuns, how would anyone else survive?"
"Exactly, thankfully the Hall of Souls is here. Now I can finally avenge my father. Jia Nan Academy has bullied me for too long this is unforgivable!"
"Huh? Weren't you the one saying just a moment ago that avenging your father wasn't worth it?"
"Shut up! When did I ever say that?"
"What a spectacular show this is who would've thought we'd see two Dou Zuns fall in one battle… Hehehe…"
As the wild energy in the battlefield spiraled out of control, everyone's expressions changed. A Dou Zun self detonating?
They all instinctively retreated. No one dared to intervene it was impossible to stop a Dou Zun level self destruction. Among those present, only Lin Hao had the ability to act, but he was locked in combat with another Dou Zun, and there was no time to save Bai Lie…
A sharp glint flashed in Bai Lie's eyes. Under the current circumstances, his only option was to sever his arm and escape while Qin Tian had yet to fully detonate his Dou Qi.
Boom!
But just then, a sudden explosion erupted from the still intact head of the massive Dou Qi Earth Dragon.
Yellow sand filled the air as a silver streak flickered within the dust cloud.
Bang!
A dragon like punch tore through the air, its terrifying momentum smashing directly into Qin Tian's face.
Crack!
A crisp sound echoed as Qin Tian's head twisted 180 degrees, cutting off the self detonation just before it began.
Everyone felt a chill run down their spines, their necks going cold. The pain of that strike must have been unimaginable!
"Dammit! Let's die together!" Qin Tian roared into the sky. The turbulent energy within him flared up again as he prepared to use his Hall of Souls' secret technique to detonate his Dou Qi this time without fail.
Clang!
At that moment, the crisp sound of a chain rang out!
A pitch black chain inscribed with strange runes shot through the void, piercing directly into Qin Tian's forehead.
"Jie jie jie… Didn't see this coming, did you, Elder Qin Tian?"
At the other end of the chain stood a black robed figure with a mask covering his face Lu Bu, disguised as Elder Bai Lie. His eerie laughter echoed as black mist shrouded his arm. With a flick of his wrist, the chain jerked violently.
Swish!
A faint, ghostly soul was forcibly pulled out of Qin Tian's body. Its features were unmistakably those of Qin Tian!
"You… how do you know the Hall of Souls' secret techniques?" Qin Tian's soul let out a sharp cry, his powerful soul force striking against the chain.
As a Hall of Souls elder, he was well aware of the chain's weaknesses. Given enough time, he could break free from its soul binding effects!
"Jie jie jie… Trying to escape? Not so easy!" Lu Bu sneered as the Falling Heart Flame surged down the chain, enveloping Qin Tian's soul in an instant.
"Ah !!"
"What… what is this flame? It burns even the soul… Ah !"
Qin Tian howled in pain, his soul rapidly weakening. Unlike Yao Lao, he wasn't an alchemist, nor had he ever faced an exotic flame before. With no defenses against the Falling Heart Flame, his soul quickly succumbed.
"Collect!"
Lu Bu jerked the chain, pulling Qin Tian's soul into a strange black sack.
"That's… that's a Hall of Souls soul sack…" Qin Tian gasped, but before he could finish, the sack's mouth was sealed shut.
His unfinished words became the last trace of his existence in the world.
Bai Lie froze mid motion, his severed arm plan forgotten as he stared blankly at Lu Bu. If he didn't already know who was under that black robe, he might have thrown a punch at him by now.
Is this really someone from Jia Nan Academy?
The soul sack, soul chain, soul capturing techniques, and that trademark sinister laughter… This was no different from a Hall of Souls Protector!
The battlefield fell silent, and the spectators were left dumbfounded, unable to process what they had just witnessed.
The rapid twists and turns were far too shocking!
In the blink of an eye, a Hall of Souls Dou Zun had been taken out. His self detonation failed, his soul was captured, and he was defeated using his own faction's secret techniques.
Beneath his mask, the corners of Lu Bu's mouth curled into a sly smile as he stored the corpse into his Nether Sea Storage Ring. Brilliant! With this, the Heavenly Demon Puppet is secured! A Dou Zun as a puppet what was there to fear?
This was precisely why Lu Bu targeted the Hall of Souls they had too many valuable resources, and they excelled at delivering themselves to him! Just look at this a Dou Zun level puppet had practically been gifted to him.
Had it been any other Dou Zun level faction, Lu Bu wouldn't have dared act so brazenly.
In front of him, Medusa flicked her tail lazily, her crescent shaped eyes shining with admiration. Her little man was truly amazing, managing to eliminate even a Dou Zun. Tonight, she resolved to properly reward him and help him restore his Dou Qi.
The Hall of Souls' secret techniques were insidious, and the side effects must be significant. Tonight, she would aid him through dual cultivation to heal his injuries.
Elder Bai Lie cast a strange glance at Lu Bu before vanishing in a flash of movement. The remaining three peak Dou Zong level Protectors were his prey now.
"Awoooo!"
At that moment, shrill cries echoed as blood mist burst across the void. A figure cloaked in blood red light streaked through the air, disappearing from everyone's senses.
Lin Hao's face darkened, but there was nothing he could do. The Hall of Souls' unique Spatial Blood Escape technique was extraordinarily fast. A single lapse in focus had allowed one of them to escape. How infuriating!
The strongest fighter on the battlefield, and yet he had contributed nothing he hadn't even claimed a single head. It was absolutely maddening!
Shifting his gaze, Lin Hao locked onto the remaining three peak Dou Zong Protectors from the Hall of Souls, his eyes gleaming with murderous intent.
Elder Qian Mu, Yao Chen, Xiao Yan, and Su Qian exchanged glances before retreating simultaneously. The tide of the battle had turned those from the Hall of Souls were as good as dead.
"Teacher, that Lu Bu guy actually used the Falling Heart Flame?" Xiao Yan glanced enviously at the Falling Heart Flame in Lu Bu's possession. He believed it was the same flame from the Heavenly Flame Refining Qi Tower.
"It makes sense. Considering the Hall of Souls was the enemy, it was only natural to use it. But… why wasn't it Bai Lie who used it?" Yao Lao frowned.
The seamless coordination they had witnessed earlier was nothing short of perfect. Lin Hao's words had shaken the two Hall of Souls elders to their core, giving Lu Bu the opportunity to use the Falling Heart Flame for a surprise attack. Bai Lie had capitalized on that moment, securing the victory in one decisive move.
The entire sequence had been so fluid, the teamwork impeccable. However, if the Falling Heart Flame had been in Bai Lie's hands, there wouldn't have been so much drama afterward. The moment the sneak attack succeeded, Qin Tian would have been reduced to ash, leaving no chance for a self detonation.
"How did this kid convince the others to take such risks for him…?" Yao Lao murmured, his voice filled with puzzlement. That series of maneuvers had been perilously close to disaster losing even one Dou Zun would have been a terrifying outcome.
On the other side, Elder Bai Lie and Lin Hao made quick work of the three remaining Hall of Souls Protectors. The invaders had either died or escaped, with the remaining souls captured by Jia Nan Academy and the Black Submerged Army.
Buzz, buzz, buzz…
Suddenly, the faint distortion of space dissipated, and several figures appeared in the sky. They clasped their fists toward Bai Lie, offering congratulations for his breakthrough to Dou Zun and for Jia Nan Academy's rise in power.
Bai Lie nodded slightly, accepting the gesture without hesitation. Had Qian Mu been luckier and succeeded in advancing, Jia Nan Academy would now boast two Dou Zuns. In the Northwest Continent, who would dare underestimate them?
Elsewhere, Lu Bu's eyes lit up as he noticed a familiar figure in the distance. Although it had been a while since their last meeting, he recognized them at a glance.
"You all carry on. I'll be back shortly," Lu Bu said with a chuckle before disappearing in a flash.
Bai Lie froze for a moment, glancing toward the direction of the Heavenly Snake Mansion with a flicker of thought in his eyes. Lu Bu was, after all, the benefactor who had helped him advance to Dou Zun!
"Su Qian, handle the aftermath. I'll check on something," Bai Lie said before vanishing as well.
Yuan Yi Empire, Misty Bramble Swamp
A streak of blood red light tore through the sky, cutting through the heavy mists and dense forests before plunging into a massive hall.
"R Respected Elder!?" Within the hall, Protector Gongyang gasped in shock. This was Elder Xiu Tu, his direct superior, but his condition was beyond miserable. His muscles were emaciated, his skin clung to his bones, his eyes were dull, and his aura was so weak that he looked like a skeleton wearing human skin.
"What… what happened?" Protector Gongyang cried out, hastily summoning his subordinates to retrieve medicinal pills from the hall and administer them to Elder Xiu Tu.
After swallowing several pills, Xiu Tu's skeletal appearance improved slightly, looking marginally less dire.
"Respected Elder…" Protector Gongyang spoke cautiously, fearful of angering him in his current state.
"Send word to Central Plains Qin Tian has fallen. The four Heavenly Protectors are all dead," Xiu Tu said coldly.
"What!?" Protector Gongyang exclaimed, his body trembling as black mist swirled around him. Thank goodness he hadn't gone otherwise, he'd surely be dead. But wait, how could so many powerful figures have been wiped out? Was Jia Nan Academy really that strong?
"Inform Central Plains that we encountered an unexpected Dou Zun. Jia Nan Academy has two Dou Zuns. Qin Tian was killed in a sneak attack," Xiu Tu continued. "Jia Nan Academy was founded by Mang Tian Chi, an elder of the Thunder Clan. Yao Chen deliberately concealed the presence of an additional Dou Zun to lure us in. That Dou Zun is suspected to be a member of the Thunder Clan, and his strength is terrifying."
"Qin Tian was caught off guard and had his heart pierced by this suspected Thunder Clan expert. His soul was then extracted and sealed by someone from the Gu Clan. His fate is likely grim," Xiu Tu added, his tone icy.
The best way to deflect responsibility? Emphasize the difficulty of the mission. Highlight the insurmountable obstacles.
If, after hearing this, headquarters still placed blame on him, it would be unreasonable and demoralizing they wouldn't dare.
With an indifferent expression, Xiu Tu spun the narrative effortlessly. Whether Bai Lie and Lu Bu were truly members of the Thunder Clan or Gu Clan didn't matter. Qin Tian was dead, the four Protectors were dead, and he alone held the power to explain what had transpired.
Sometimes, the dead were more useful than the living. Qin Tian and the Protectors' deaths were a convenient shield. The mission's failure wasn't their fault; the enemy was simply too powerful.
After all, how could they succeed when the enemy had Gundam level power?
The fault lay not with him or Qin Tian but with headquarters for not listening to his suggestion to send a Tian Zun instead of Qin Tian, who was merely a three star Dou Zun.
Moments later, Protector Gongyang sent the message to Central Plains and quietly awaited a reply.
However… days passed without any response. It was as if the event had never occurred, as if the Hall of Souls had lost its famed thirst for vengeance.
In truth, the Hall of Souls' headquarters was at a loss. Who could have predicted that Jia Nan Academy was backed by the Thunder Clan? Who could have imagined that the outcast Yao Chen had allied with both the Thunder Clan and the Gu Clan?
Faced with three ancient clans Gu, Thunder, and Yao what could the Hall of Souls do but grit their teeth and swallow the loss?
What else could they do? Of course… forgive him!
Black Corner Region
The green robed elder, having thoroughly enjoyed the spectacle, left with Qing Lin in high spirits. The Hall of Souls had suffered a catastrophic defeat losing a three star Dou Zun outright. It was enough to brighten anyone's mood. Tonight, he decided he'd drink to his heart's content.
Just then, a blazing heat wave surged from the distance. The green robed elder raised an eyebrow was someone courting death?
Behind him, Qing Lin's bright eyes sparkled as a familiar aura struck her heart, sending a sweet shiver through her.
"Master…" she murmured softly.
(End of Chapter)
Thank you for the support, friends. If you want to read more chapters in advance, go to my Patreon.
Read 20 Chapters In Advance: patreon.com/Johanssen