Earth Demon Old Ghost?
No!
Chen Xiao hadn't truly interacted with the Earth Demon Old Ghost, but based on his memories, he knew a little about that old fellow's methods and personality. Appearing so stealthily, like a rat in a gutter, didn't seem to fit the Earth Demon Old Ghost's style.
Thoughts flickered in his mind, but Chen Xiao's expression remained unchanged. He sat down cross-legged on the spot and began to regulate his breathing and meditate.
It wasn't until an hour later that he suddenly stood up.
Beneath his sleeve, an Ice Soul Talisman shimmering with mysterious patterns materialized. Without the slightest hesitation, he abruptly shot it towards the shadowy area.
*"Explode!"*
As the word fell, a deafening roar tore through the sky, as if the heavens and earth trembled.
Terrifying energy comparable to a Dou Huang expert's self-detonation surged out like a raging tide, transforming into a howling hurricane that swept across the wilderness. The continuous mountain ranges shook violently under this force, the earth collapsed with a boom, and a giant, bottomless pit appeared.
At the same time, a bone-chilling cold spread with destructive force. In just a few breaths, the vast mountain hollow was covered by a layer of crystal-clear ice.
This scene was exactly like the day Cao Ying refined the Sea Heart Flame, but even more spectacular. The frozen area had expanded by more than thirty percent. The ice valley, covered in silver, reflected a cold light under the sun, as if even the air had been completely frozen.
Chen Xiao's fingertip touched the Nether Sea Storage Ring, and the Heavenly Demon Puppet instantly shot out. It shattered the ice covering the pit with a punch and rushed in without hesitation.
*"Boom!" "Boom!" "Boom!"*
The next moment, a series of muffled collision sounds came from the giant pit, until a strange black mist spread out from it.
The Heavenly Demon Puppet followed closely behind, preparing to attack again, but Chen Xiao stopped it with a thought, recalling it to protect him.
Chen Xiao slowly raised his chin, his gaze fixed on the swirling, entangled black mist in the sky.
The other party's appearance seemed both unexpected and within reason.
It was unexpected because he hadn't thought this force would appear and contact him so early.
As for being within reason, it was because of this force's nature.
These Soul Hall Protectors always liked to collude with local forces. It was like this with the Yun Lan Sect in the Jia Ma Empire, and it was like this in the Chu Yun Empire. Even in the original trajectory, when the Little Fairy Doctor became the Sect Master of the Poison Sect, a Soul Hall Protector had come knocking on her door.
In the Black-Corner Region, there were also many forces that had been involved with them.
The Purple Firmament Pavilion now had a considerable reputation in the Black-Corner Region. With the style of these Soul Hall Protectors, it would be strange if they didn't come to make contact.
"Hehehehe..."
A sinister and eerie laugh pierced the stagnant air, drilling into Chen Xiao's ears like a venomous snake flicking its tongue.
"This Protector kindly hid in the dark to protect the Pavilion Master, but was met with a killing move. This kind of hospitality is truly chilling."
The voice was wrapped in the swirling black mist. The thick, ink-like mist began to recede like a tide, dissipating bit by bit into the air.
When the last wisp of black mist vanished, a mysterious figure completely shrouded in a black robe, walking with unsteady steps, slowly appeared before Chen Xiao.
The wide black robe swayed gently in the wind, but not a hint of a face could be seen. Only a pair of scarlet eyes flickered with cold, bloodthirsty light in the shadows.
"Protector?"
"Hehehehe, being too curious is not a good thing. Pavilion Master Chen can just call this one Protector Xuan."
A sinister and eerie laugh came from under the black robe, as grating as fingernails scraping against a stone wall.
Protector Xuan...
As expected, it's this guy.
Chen Xiao wasn't surprised. The Soul Hall Protectors in the Jia Ma Empire, Chu Yun Empire, and the Black-Corner Region had significant roles in the original work, and he had a deep impression of them.
"I don't care where Your Excellency comes from, but my Purple Firmament Pavilion has no connection with you."
The Soul Hall was indeed very strong, unbelievably strong.
However, before the Soul Clan's millennium plan was launched, they acted relatively low-key, rarely participating in open conflicts between various forces, and basically never attacking living people. They always walked in the shadows, diligently capturing soul bodies.
Don't look at how frequently they appeared in the original trajectory. If you look back carefully, you'll find that every time, Xiao Yan forced them into a corner, and they were only forced to fight.
Take the Little Fairy Doctor and the Black Emperor Sect, for example. They both refused the Soul Hall's recruitment, but still didn't fight with the Soul Hall. At most, the rejected Protector would turn to secretly support other forces.
Therefore, facing this Protector Xuan, Chen Xiao didn't need to worry too much, let alone humble himself.
After all, this level of Protector was everywhere in the Soul Hall. Even if a hundred or so died, the Soul Hall wouldn't feel any pain.
"Hehehehe, just because there was no connection before doesn't mean there won't be in the future. With the current relationship between the Purple Firmament Pavilion and the Demon Flame Valley, a great battle is inevitable. As this Protector knows, that Earth Demon Old Ghost is a six-star Dou Zong. Even if Pavilion Master Chen has this puppet, plus that Great Elder from Jia Nan Academy, and that Medusa Queen, at most you can only protect yourselves. It's impossible to kill him!"
"And this Protector can help you quickly increase your strength, including the Medusa Queen, who is close to you. This Protector can also help her increase her strength by at least one star before the decisive battle!"
It was undeniable that, without considering Cao Xi, the situation between the Purple Firmament Pavilion and the Demon Flame Valley was indeed as Protector Xuan said; it would be difficult for them to defeat each other in a short time.
Moreover, the conditions he offered were indeed quite attractive.
Especially for those whose potential was exhausted and found it difficult to break through, they were very likely to be tempted for the sake of increasing their strength.
Unfortunately, Chen Xiao and the people around him didn't need such trouble. All they needed was a little time.
"Is Protector Xuan treating me like a three-year-old? If I accept your benefits, the price I have to pay will probably not be low. Moreover, since Your Excellency can contact me, you can naturally also contact the Demon Flame Valley. How do I know what agreement you have reached?"
Chen Xiao didn't believe a single word Protector Xuan said.
After all, the Soul Hall was not a charity organization.
Across the entire Dou Qi Continent, only Jia Nan Academy seemed to engage in philanthropy. Not only did they not charge tuition, but those who performed well could also receive many resources and focused training...
"This protector won't hide it from you. The Earth Demon Old Ghost's current strength is indeed partly due to my efforts, but this has nothing to do with our cooperation. This protector will not interfere in your conflict. I don't care who lives or dies."
Hearing Chen Xiao's questioning, Protector Xuan chuckled and replied indifferently.
He truly didn't care about this. In fact, the more fiercely Purple Firmament Pavilion and Demon Flame Valley fought, the better.
This way, he could easily capture more souls.
"Oh? Then what are Protector Xuan's conditions?"
"Heh heh heh, I just want to know if that Medicine Emperor Han Feng has truly fallen. Other than that, Pavilion Master Chen doesn't need to do anything."
On the day Han Feng fell, Protector Xuan had also gone to the scene to investigate. Unfortunately, he hadn't found Han Feng's soul.
Therefore, he wanted to know if Han Feng's soul had been completely annihilated, if his soul had escaped, or if he had been captured.
The soul of a peak sixth-grade alchemist, one who even had the ability to refine seventh-grade pills, was a huge prize.
In terms of soul power alone, no one in the Black-Corner Region could compare, including those few Dou Zong experts.
It was precisely because of this that Protector Xuan was quite concerned about it. He was very interested in Han Feng's soul.
As for what he said about Chen Xiao not needing to do anything else, that was purely to deceive a child.
If Chen Xiao truly took the pill he provided, his life or death would be entirely up to him. He wasn't worried about Chen Xiao being disobedient.
"So it's for Han Feng. Then I might have to disappoint Protector Xuan. Han Feng's soul has already been completely annihilated. Even the Sea Heart Flame within him has been dealt with by me. If you don't believe me, you can inquire in Central State, and you will definitely hear news about the Sea Heart Flame."
Chen Xiao showed a look of realization and immediately replied without any hesitation.
He didn't know if this Protector Xuan knew about his relationship with the Cao family, but there was no need to deliberately hide the Sea Heart Flame.
Something like this couldn't be hidden as long as Cao Ying refined medicine.
And in the Pill Domain, which was the headquarters of the Pill Tower, they weren't afraid of the Soul Hall pulling any tricks.
Protector Xuan stared at Chen Xiao's face. His expression didn't seem feigned. Since he dared to speak so confidently, Han Feng was likely truly gone. There was no need to tell such an easily exposed lie.
Thinking of this, Protector Xuan couldn't help but feel a little disappointed.
"That's truly a pity. However, what this protector just said is still valid."
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