Within Yellow Maple Valley.
Cultivation knows no seasons, and years pass without notice.
When Chen Xiao became familiar with the new cultivation technique and refined all the Ice Soul Talismans within his body, he opened his eyes again to find that half a month had already passed.
His tightly shut eyes slowly opened, and the first thing that entered his sight was a familiar, graceful figure.
"To create a Heaven Rank cultivation technique with Dou Venerate strength, Brother Chen Xiao truly surprises Xun Er."
Sensing Chen Xiao waking up, Xun Er also put down the scroll in her hand and looked over with a charming smile.
Chen Xiao returned her smile, not surprised by Xun Er's appearance.
He had sensed Xun Er's arrival ten days ago.
Otherwise, Chen Xiao wouldn't have allowed unrelated individuals into his cultivation courtyard.
Even though he was immersed in the process of converting his cultivation technique, he could still perceive the outside world.
"It was a fortunate coincidence, not solely my own doing."
Chen Xiao smiled, stood up, and walked towards Xun Er, explaining as he went.
He couldn't create a Heaven-Rank Advanced cultivation technique at his current level. Unfortunately, the real reason was difficult to reveal, so Chen Xiao could only explain it indirectly.
Xun Er chuckled softly, not agreeing with this explanation.
Regardless of the process, at least in the eyes of the general public in the Central State, Chen Xiao had created a Heaven Rank Dou Technique or cultivation technique, and that was a fact.
Moreover, in Xun Er's opinion, if the Elders in her clan learned of this, it would undoubtedly make them pay more attention to Chen Xiao, and his path within the Ancient Clan would be slightly smoother.
"Xun Er, are you the only one from the Ancient Clan investigating this matter this time?"
His soul perception quietly spread out, and Chen Xiao could sense many powerful individuals gathered outside the canyon.
However, within Yellow Maple Valley, only Xun Er's aura was added.
Upon hearing this, Xun Er shook her head slightly and smiled, "After the Valley Master of Yellow Maple Valley reported the matter, I guessed from his description that it might be Brother Chen Xiao, so I volunteered to take on this task. Two Elders from the clan also came with Xun Er to investigate."
"However, after arriving at the Ten Thousand Li Golden River, Xun Er discovered that the Hidden Sects in the vicinity seemed to have changed their ways, their style of conduct completely different from before. There were hints of the Soul Hall's involvement, so I had the two Elders go through the motions and return to the Ancient Clan first."
The Soul Hall again!
It truly seems to be everywhere...
"Xun Er intends to lure the snake out of its hole?"
"That's right. Although the Eastern Region is within our Ancient Clan's sphere of influence, the Ancient Clan usually doesn't interfere with these matters. After they discover the two Elders have left, they will likely continue with their plan. At that time, I will need Brother Chen Xiao's help, Xun Er."
"Naturally. I just didn't expect the Soul Hall's reach to extend so far, even into the Eastern Region."
"The Soul Hall's ambition has long been obvious. No one knows how many people from the Soul Hall are hidden across the entire continent, but what is certain is that there are their eyes and ears around every well-known force in the Central State Continent. Brother Chen Xiao's Purple Firmament Pavilion is certainly no exception," Xun Er said solemnly.
Chen Xiao nodded slightly. This was to be expected and not surprising.
Even the Ancient Clan couldn't avoid being schemed against by the Soul Clan, let alone a force the size of the Purple Firmament Pavilion.
Perhaps only forces like Dragon Island, drifting in the void, could escape the sight of the Soul Hall and the Soul Clan.
Sighing inwardly, Chen Xiao stopped thinking about it and asked another question that was on his mind.
"Xun Er, the matter of the Soul Hall collecting Soul Origins is now known to all the ancient races. While using the Pill Tower to clear out the Soul Hall's forces has been effective, such large-scale conflict, with countless casualties daily, is also accelerating the Soul Hall's collection of Soul Origins. I believe the six great ancient races can see this, so why do they still persist?"
Chen Xiao had had this doubt for a long time.
He knew the Soul Hall's problem was tricky, but he always had a feeling that these ancient races had deeper plans.
When Chen Xiao brought this up, Xun Er also frowned slightly.
"Brother Chen Xiao, I also asked my father about this question, but he only replied with two words: unsolvable."
"Unsolvable?"
"That's right. The Soul Hall's ambition is evident, and the six great ancient races cannot stand idly by. However, there has always been an unwritten rule among the ancient races: cultivators above Five-Star Dou Saint cannot make a move, otherwise, it will only trigger more terrifying conflicts."
"And without the intervention of Dou Saints above Five-Star, it is only possible to eradicate the Soul Hall step by step. Even if they cannot stop the Soul Clan's scheme to collect Soul Origins, they can at least clear out some of its claws, so it's not entirely without reward."
At this point, Xun Er lowered her eyes slightly and said, "This is my father's explanation, but knowing him as I do, it's not the whole story. Father must be hiding something from Xun Er. As for the deeper plans, Xun Er is not aware of them."
Even with Xun Er saying this, Chen Xiao became even more convinced that this matter was not that simple.
How could the six great ancient races stand by and watch the Soul Clan collect Soul Origins?
If the Nihility Devouring Flame also advanced to the Emperor Realm soul, the balance among the six great ancient races would be instantly broken.
They couldn't stand by and do nothing, yet they allowed the Soul Hall to accelerate the collection of Soul Origins. The more he thought about it, the more contradictory it became...
Seeing a hint of worry flash across Xun Er's brow, Chen Xiao suddenly had a very bold guess.
Could these six great ancient races be trying to snatch the Soul Clan's prize?
Since they couldn't stop the Soul Clan from collecting Soul Origins, they wouldn't dwell on it. Instead, they would change their approach and seize the Soul Origins collected by the Soul Hall!
This way, the Soul Clan's scheme would be in vain, and the six great ancient races could divide a considerable benefit!
Those Soul Origins, capable of advancing a soul to the Emperor Realm, were an irresistible temptation even when divided by six.
In this way, the infamy would belong to the Soul Clan, and the benefits would all go to the six clans!
As for the life and death of the common people in the Central State, in the eyes of those ancient races that transcended worldly affairs, it was truly insignificant.
Even, as long as the plan went smoothly, the more Soul Origin the Soul Hall collected, the larger the share the six races could divide!
Hiss…
Thinking this, Chen Xiao couldn't help but gasp.
Although it sounded like a conspiracy theory, once the thought arose, it became impossible to shake off.
After all, it wasn't impossible!
These ancient races might not have the same notorious reputation as the Soul Clan, but none of them were good people!
Take the Ancient Clan for example. If they were truly so righteous, could they have allowed the Xiao Clan to fall to its current state?
"Xun Er, are there any abnormalities in the Ancient Clan right now?"
Realizing that the plot might have deviated by a hundred thousand miles from its original trajectory, Chen Xiao felt his perception of these ancient races shatter into pieces in an instant.
Upon hearing Chen Xiao's question, Xun Er shook her head slightly. After a brief hesitation, she nodded again.
"After the representatives of the six races met at the Pill Tower last time, Father also met with the other five clan leaders. No one knows what they discussed. Afterward, Father basically stopped managing clan affairs, leaving everything to the Elders. I've only seen him four or five times myself. His main focus has been monitoring the Soul Clan."
Being watched by a peak Dou Saint, even with the Soul Clan's myriad methods, it wouldn't be easy to transfer the Soul Origin collected by the Soul Hall back to their clan.
With that bold conjecture, Chen Xiao found that everything seemed to make sense.
"Perhaps there's another reason."
From Xun Er's expression, Chen Xiao could tell that this girl likely had similar thoughts. He could only offer words of comfort.
Xun Er forced a smile, her emotions still not good.
If it were just about snatching things from the Soul Hall, everyone would be happy to see it.
But if the six ancient races were fanning the flames for their own selfish interests, that would be hard to accept.
The atmosphere in the courtyard, which had just turned heavy due to their speculation, was suddenly broken by a booming laugh that echoed through the sky.
"Hahaha, I wonder which senior is in seclusion in Yellow Maple Valley. I, Wu Xiao, Sect Master of the Azure Ocean Sect, have come to pay my respects!"
His voice, like a thunderclap, reverberated endlessly within the Ten Thousand Li Canyon.
People inside and outside the valley looked up, and saw a spatial rift quietly appear in the sky. More than ten figures stepped out from it.
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