The plaza was silent.
Even the howling wind seemed to hush.
Countless gazes, laden with varied emotions, fixed on the young man in the arena, awaiting his decision.
Yun Shan was powerless, his fate hanging by a thread. A mere pulse of force from Xiao Bai's hand, and the former Yun Lan Sect Leader, a Dou Zong powerhouse, would fall.
"Do you think… he'll kill that old man?" Jia Xing Tian's heart tightened, his emotions tangled. From the royal family's perspective, Yun Shan's death would neutralize the Yun Lan Sect's threat. But personally, he'd rather have a few old peers to banter with.
"Dream on! If he kills him, any chance with that woman over there is gone!" Hai Bo Dong squinted, shooting Jia Xing Tian an exasperated glance. He'd seen Xiao Bai's care for Sect Leader Yun that night—a mere rumor of an arranged marriage had enraged him. No way he'd do this!
Xiao Bai tilted his head, glancing at the cyan figure nearby.
Yun Yun's regal face was ashen, her bloodless lips bitten hard. Her clenched fists, pale as jade, dripped vivid red. Sighing inwardly, a flicker of pity crossed his eyes. He lowered his gaze, pondering, then seemed to reach a decision.
Raising his hand, he struck Yun Shan's forehead under the man's terrified stare.
Yun Shan's body stiffened, then slumped, the light in his eyes fading, devoid of life.
Before the crowd could react, Xiao Bai raised his hand again, striking Yun Shan's chest. No energy fluctuations remained—Yun Shan seemed a corpse.
Yun Yun's legs buckled, nearly collapsing. Her eyes brimmed with disbelief, a pained sob escaping her. "Why… why? You promised you wouldn't kill Teacher!"
Regret surged within her. She shouldn't have trusted Xiao Bai. This was the man who raised her, taught her everything! Despite recent conflicts, that was no reason to watch him die before her eyes.
"He actually killed Yun Shan?!" Hai Bo Dong gaped at the lifeless body, stunned.
"Sigh." Jia Xing Tian's mood was complex, a quiet sigh escaping. He'd thought Yun Shan's death would please him, but now, his feelings were muddled.
Clang!
A faint sword hum sounded. Xiao Bai's eyes flickered, sensing an approaching force. A chill pricked his skin, but he stood unmoved.
In an instant, a cold touch grazed his neck.
Ignoring the cyan sword in his peripheral vision, Xiao Bai's eyes were indifferent as he released Yun Shan, letting the "corpse" fall.
"You dare…" An enraged shout, thick with killing intent, thundered from the sky. "Touch a hair on his head, and this Queen will reduce your Yun Lan Sect to ashes!"
Concerned for Xiao Bai, Cai Lin had kept part of her focus on him. Seeing Yun Shan "die," she'd relaxed, turning her full attention to Protector Wu. But then she glimpsed a sword at Xiao Bai's neck. Her heart jolted, and recognizing the sword's wielder, fury blazed across her alluring face. Her narrow eyes burned with resentment—anger at the woman daring to threaten Xiao Bai, and frustration that, with his strength, he could've dodged, even if he didn't want to harm her.
Yet he stood still!
Is that woman so precious he'd let her kill him?
"Perfect chance!" Protector Wu, long on the defensive, seized Cai Lin's distraction. Glancing at Yun Shan's "corpse," a dark glint passed through his eyes. Useless! A Dou Zong killed by a measly Dou Wang—what a farce!
His aura shifted, forcing back the weakening Yao Lao. Seeing Cai Lin move to leave the fight, likely to save that mysterious Dou Wang, Protector Wu flickered, blocking her path.
"Get lost!" Cai Lin's face chilled. Her slender hand waved, vibrant seven-colored energy surging, slicing through space toward Protector Wu.
Below, sensing Protector Wu's move, a spark of satisfaction flashed in Xiao Bai's eyes. With Yun Shan useless to him, that guy's obsession with capturing Yao Lao means he won't miss this chance! Glancing at the sword on his neck, he sighed inwardly. This woman has zero trust in me! But he understood. In her place, he'd be even more unhinged. Yun Shan was like a father to her—nurturer, mentor. Watching him "die" was too cruel.
That's why he didn't dodge. This sword wasn't meant to kill—if she'd intended to, it wouldn't be hesitating at his neck. Letting her vent was better; dodging would only deepen her pain.
Yun Yun's frame trembled, her eyes wrestling with conflict. Each time she steeled herself to avenge her teacher, her sword refused to move. "From now on, we're done. I never want to see you again!" Her voice was cold, resolute. Sheathing her sword, she turned from Xiao Bai, heading toward Yun Shan's body.
"…" Xiao Bai rolled his eyes, about to step forward to stop her from approaching Yun Shan.
His face suddenly shifted. Without thinking, he lunged, wrapping an arm around Yun Yun's waist, spinning her as he threw a fist backward.
"What are you—" Yun Yun struggled, but her eyes caught a horrifying sight. Ripples of space pulsed, and a black chain, like a venomous snake, shot from the void, clashing with Xiao Bai's fist.
Clatter!
The chain rattled. Xiao Bai's body shuddered, using the collision's force to retreat rapidly. In a few flickers, he landed with Yun Yun before Hai Bo Dong and the others.
Pfft! Blood welled in his throat, a streak sliding from his lips.
"Brother Bai!"
"Xiao Bai!"
"Master Bai!"
Cries of alarm rose. Xiao Yan, Hai Bo Dong, and the others tensed.
Releasing Yun Yun, Xiao Bai waved them off, his gaze locking onto the black figure that appeared in the plaza.
"You…" Yun Yun looked at the man beside her, her expression complex, a trace of worry in her eyes, words caught in her throat.
Xiao Bai shook his head, his eyes shifting to the gold-red-robed figure beside him. Cai Lin's narrow eyes glared coldly, and he sighed inwardly, helpless.
Jie jie jie! "Not bad for a sixth-tier alchemist—your instincts are sharp!" Protector Wu's crimson eyes scanned Xiao Bai, a flash of greed passing through.
This man's soul, in his perception, was extraordinarily potent, tinged with a hint of the Spiritual Realm. And a Xiao, likely the strongest of Wu Tan City's Xiao Clan—a valuable target.
"My soul? Might burn your hand!" Xiao Bai popped a healing pill from his storage ring, sneering.
"Haha, burn my hand?" Protector Wu grabbed Yun Shan's body, scoffing, "To the Soul Hall, no soul is beyond our grasp!"
Xiao Bai was speechless. Even Hun Tian Di wouldn't dare say that, yet this guy spouts such nonsense!
"What are you doing?!" Yun Yun's face paled, fury surging as she saw Protector Wu's actions, her voice sharp with anger.
"Heh, what? Reclaiming the power I gave this trash!" Protector Wu cackled, his hand surging with black mist, striking Yun Shan's crown.
"No, stop him!" Yao Lao, now beside them, saw Protector Wu's move and paled.
"Stop him!" Xiao Bai echoed urgently, voice loud.
"…" Yao Lao. This brat, shouting so loud—why not let Cai Lin act? Why hold her back? Gripping both women tightly, Xiao Bai prevented any rash moves.
hah hah hah! "Stop me?" Protector Wu sneered. "Too late! Yao Chen, I said today, no matter the cost, I'll drag you back to the Soul Hall. This merit is mine!"
"What the hell is this?!" His hand yanked at Yun Shan's crown, black mist swirling, pulling something out. Staring at the glowing mark in his hand, Protector Wu was stunned. He'd aimed for Yun Shan's soul—why this?
Before he could react, the mark became a streak of light, burrowing into his body.
"Something to take your life!" Seeing his ploy succeed, Xiao Bai released Cai Lin, shouting coldly, "Yao Lao, Cai Lin, take him down!"
"You dare scheme against me!" Protector Wu's heart jolted as the mark vanished within him. He scanned his body, his vast soul force sweeping through. At his soul core, faint glowing lines formed intricate patterns, sealing it completely.
Sensing the barrier, he gasped in disbelief, "A… seal?!"
Protectors like him, bodiless, were crafted from souls with strong potential using Soul Hall secrets. Without a physical mind-sea, their soul core was their power source, akin to a dantian. Sealed, his strength plummeted.
"Haha, clever boy, you had a backup plan!" Yao Lao laughed, charging at Protector Wu, thrilled. He didn't know how Xiao Bai predicted Protector Wu's move, but this was a golden opportunity. He admired the boy's foresight, keeping a hidden move that paid off. No wonder he shouted but didn't budge, holding Cai Lin back—to lull that Soul Hall bastard into the trap!
Cai Lin glanced at Xiao Bai, her eyes flickering with admiration and pride. But seeing his hand still on Yun Yun's, her gaze chilled, a heavy huff escaping as she stepped forward, vanishing.
Xiao Bai smacked his lips, tasting bitterness. Once this is over, life's gonna be rough.
Protector Wu's face twisted as Yao Lao and Cai Lin closed in. He frantically channeled soul force to break the seal. "Damn it, this soul seal's too tricky!" Initially startled, he'd underestimated it. Given the cultivation gap and its indirect application, he thought a few tries would shatter it. But the seal only cracked slightly under his assaults.
Holding Yun Shan, he flickered, using the sliver of power from the crack to chip at the seal while dodging their attacks.
Xiao Bai watched, sensing something, his brow furrowing. "As expected, it's not enough." He'd hoped to control Protector Wu with the seal, but whether due to its indirect application or Wu's unique state, the connection was weak, control impossible.
Protector Wu, growing weaker and slower, glared darkly. Seizing a moment, a ruthless glint flashed in his eyes. "Capturing Yao Chen today's impossible. To survive and escape, I'll have to use this…"
His hand moved to Yun Shan's crown again, black mist surging, pulling once more.
"Bastard!" A thunderous, grief-stricken roar halted Yao Lao and Cai Lin. Protector Wu, as if bitten by a snake, flung Yun Shan's "corpse" away in terror.
Under the light, a mark appeared on Yun Shan's chest, spreading intricate patterns across his body.
That Dou Wang brat was despicably cunning, planting not one but multiple seals! Luckily, Wu reacted fast, or another seal would've entered him, sealing his doom.
His eyes darted, black mist surging, spreading rapidly. Yao Lao and Cai Lin's attacks struck the mist, eliciting no response.
"Damn it, we've been tricked!" Yao Lao sensed it, his face changing. He spun, shouting, "Xiao Bai, watch out!"
Near Xiao Bai, space rippled, and a black shadow emerged.
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