"Hundred Souls Locking Heavenly Python!"
Opening a scroll at random, several large, dark, and sinister characters immediately caught Lin Feng's eye, causing him to involuntarily frown.
"As expected of the Soul Palace, the aura is exactly the same. However," Lin Feng observed intently for a moment, his face lighting up with joy, "if I cultivate this technique, my weakness in soul attacks will be compensated."
"It's a pity, if only I had a secret technique for soul defense!"
Lin Feng thought for a moment, then realized he was being greedy. Even for an imperial clan like the Soul Clan, which specializes in researching souls, it's hard to say how much of their inheritance they could possibly possess after so many years without a Dou Di being born.
Moreover, the Soul Palace is merely a tool used by the Soul Clan to collect souls; even if they possessed such a technique, it would be far beyond the reach of a small fry like Protector Iron.
Without opening each scroll one by one and storing them in his storage ring, Lin Feng looked at the Iron Protector, whose scarlet eyes were flashing. He smiled slightly at the expectant look in the Iron Protector's eyes.
"Iron Protector, after some thought, I still feel that given your personality, if I don't kill you, I probably won't sleep peacefully tonight!"
"You actually went back on your word?"
Hearing Lin Feng's ruthlessness, the Iron Protector almost spat out blood on the spot, his expression gradually turning desperate, even bordering on madness.
"You untrustworthy bastard! Even if I have to self-destruct, I will severely injure you!"
The Iron Protector shouted desperately, the black mist violently shaking. Lin Feng sensed that the energy around him was rapidly increasing.
"Wait!"
Seeing this, Lin Feng thought it was time. A person on the verge of despair, if given a chance to survive, even with harsh conditions, was not unacceptable.
"Guardian Iron, there's no need to rush," Lin Feng slowly stepped forward, revealing his conditions amidst the Guardian Iron's despairing yet hopeful expression. "If Guardian Iron can allow me to plant a mark deep within your soul, you can serve as my inside agent within the Soul Palace, and I may live."
Hearing Lin Feng's condition, Guardian Iron's face, hidden beneath the black mist, began to struggle. If Lin Feng planted a mark deep within his soul, he would become Lin Feng's puppet.
However, this way, he could survive; as long as he was alive, he could always find a way to survive.
Guardian Iron hesitated for a long time, a lingering apprehension remaining in his mind. The Soul Palace's punishment for traitors was extremely severe.
"Hasn't Protector Tie considered it yet? Life is only once. If you perish now, whatever revenge you seek will vanish into thin air. Hasn't Protector Tie thought it through?"
With
a soft exhale, Protector Tie subconsciously suppressed the strange laughter of the Soul Palace members, slowly dispelling the black mist around him, revealing a pale face resembling that of a middle-aged man. His voice was dry as he spoke.
"Master, I, Tie, am willing to serve as your inside agent in the Soul Palace. Please plant the mark!"
Seeing Protector Tie lower his guard, Lin Feng remained vigilant. A ball of emerald-green flame, radiating intense heat, rose from his palm and slowly floated before Protector Tie.
Protector Tie looked at the flame before him. Without Lin Feng needing to say more, he understood his meaning. A bitter smile flashed across his lips, quickly replaced by a resolute expression. With a gritted tooth, he absorbed the flame deep into his mind.
Watching Iron Protector's actions, Lin Feng carefully sensed his surroundings until he clearly confirmed that Iron Protector's soul was completely controlled by the Azure Lotus Earth Core Flame. Only then did he relax.
"Having gained a protector, I can help him transfer to the Central Continent and obtain more positions in the Soul Hall. Whether his soul power can improve rapidly in the future depends on this step."
"Master, no, Master!"
After sensing the power of the flame, Iron Protector completely abandoned any remaining hope. With the ferocity of this strange fire, even a Dou Zun-level elder would likely struggle to save his life.
Moreover, even if an elder could remove the restrictions in his mind without injury, what qualifications did a mere protector like him have to warrant such an action? Years of experience in the Soul Hall had taught him its cold-blooded nature. If you achieved your goals, the rewards would be substantial; otherwise, the punishments would be extremely cruel.
Most members of the Soul Hall are shrouded in black mist year-round, not only to conceal their identities but also because they bear scars from unfulfilled performance targets, making them unseen.
This reveals the Soul Hall's ruthlessness; they are cruel not only to outsiders, capturing souls but also to their own people.
"Perhaps, this might be an opportunity,"
Iron Protector thought, contemplating his future after deciding to surrender.
"This guy's ability to reach the Dou Zong realm at such a young age, and simultaneously be a peak sixth-grade alchemist, is definitely not something a force like Canaan Academy could cultivate."
He glanced at Lin Feng discreetly. "He must have a teacher at least at the eighth-grade alchemist level behind him, and with his talent, he might even become an eighth-grade alchemist in the future."
"Leaving the Soul Palace is completely impossible, but if I reveal a little information about the Soul Palace, not only can I save my life, but they might even reward me with some top-grade pills if they're in a good mood."
"After all, with my current level, I can't obtain any secret information."
"Master, I have something else to report!"
After deciding to surrender, Protector Tie also decided to tell Lin Feng about the Soul Palace's secret techniques, lest he be exposed if Lin Feng were captured.
"Oh?"
A hint of interest appeared in Lin Feng's eyes. He wanted to know what secrets Protector Tie could reveal. After all, he had just surrendered, and the information he was about to share would surely attract his attention and earn him merit.
"Master, you absolutely must not cultivate the Soul Hall's secret techniques. Because if you do, your aura will be completely exposed in front of a powerful individual who has cultivated higher-level techniques. We Soul Hall members are fine, but if you cultivate them, you will surely face endless pursuit from the Soul Hall!"
After saying this, the Iron Protector, having gathered his black mist, knelt on one knee, respectfully bowing his head, awaiting Lin Feng's instructions.
"I see!"
Lin Feng, with his hands behind his back, had his doubts resolved. No wonder this mere Human-level Protector Iron could carry so many Soul Hall secret techniques to learn; it turned out these techniques had an automatic location function.
"What a pity. I originally thought I could obtain some soul attack techniques to make up for my lack of soul abilities!"
Hearing Lin Feng's mutterings, the kneeling Iron Protector couldn't help but feel uneasy. "Wouldn't he be furious? No, I must find a way to salvage this."
The Iron Protector's brain raced. "That's right, perhaps that person has what this guy wants!"
"Master, there is one more thing I need to report."
"Guardian Iron, don't be so formal. As long as you sincerely serve me, I won't treat you unfairly."
"Yes!"
Guardian Iron replied, but inwardly he was speechless. "Easy for you to say, then let me get up!"
"Master, when I was lured to Canaan Academy by Han Feng, I sensed a powerful soul force among the people traveling with me."
As he said this, Guardian Iron's thoughts gradually became clearer, and his heart gradually became excited. He knew that he was about to make a contribution.
"I know about the past of that Dou Zong named Old Man Eagle Mountain. Twenty years ago, he was an unknown figure in the Black Corner Region. However, after disappearing for more than ten years, he reappeared having reached the Dou Zong realm."
"Moreover, his soul power gives the impression of being even stronger than Han Feng's. Han Feng, after all, is a seventh-grade alchemist; his soul power is unimaginable!"
"What's even stranger is that Han Feng seems unaware of his powerful soul power. If I hadn't cultivated the Soul Palace's secret technique for detecting soul power, probably no one would have known his soul power was so strong."
At this point, Protector Iron paused, slowly raising his head, his expression excited, seemingly quite concerned for Lin Feng.
"Master, Old Man Eagle Mountain must have received some powerful inheritance, and with such strong soul power, he must be cultivating a soul technique. If you capture him, the matter of the soul technique might be resolved."
"Hmm!"
Lin Feng hadn't expected to receive such valuable information from Protector Iron.
However, Lin Feng didn't hold out much hope. He had already reached the advanced stage of the Yellow Rank in soul cultivation techniques, and in this Northwest Continent, no, even in the entire Dou Qi Continent, how many secret techniques related to the soul could still be passed down?
Whenever he thought of this, Lin Feng hated those who didn't know how to cherish the wisdom of their predecessors.
"I have my own arrangements for this matter. You should find an opportunity to leave Canaan Academy! Remember, if you are asked about this after returning to the Soul Hall, just answer what you can. Don't talk about Yao Chen's matter."
"Yes."
"Within a year, you should find an opportunity to advance to the Central State. At that time, inquire about the news of the Soul Hall's headquarters."
"This..."
Hearing this, Protector Tie did not immediately agree, but hesitated, as if he had some difficulty.
"Get up and speak."
Lin Feng glanced at Protector Tie, who was still kneeling on one knee. Considering that he had brought good news, he didn't press him any further.
"Thank you, sir," Protector Tie first clasped his hands, then stood up, looking troubled.
"My lord, you may not know this, but the Soul Hall has its own set of rules for promotion. First, one must obtain a sufficient number of soul bodies; second, one's own cultivation level must rise. To go to the Central Continent, one needs two low-level Dou Zong souls or to rise to a high-level Dou Zong."
"My lord, with my strength, it is indeed difficult to accomplish this within a few years!"
At this point, seemingly afraid of Lin Feng's wrath, Protector Tie knelt on one knee again, awaiting Lin Feng's instructions.
"Protector Tie, there's no need for this. This is indeed a bit difficult for you; it was I who failed to consider it thoroughly."
"I dare not!"
Hearing Lin Feng's words, Protector Tie quickly clasped his hands, admitting his mistake. This was his way of survival in the Soul Hall; superiors were never wrong.
"I remember that the two elders, Jin and Yin, who came this time, have already reached the Dou Zong realm, haven't they?"
Lin Feng, with his hands behind his back, cast his gaze towards the two elders outside the barrier, who were fiercely fighting with Wu Tianlang, the leader of the enforcement team, and Hu Qian, the vice-dean of the outer courtyard, as if they were his prey.
This gaze sent a chill down the spine of the Iron Protector beside him. "Although this guy hasn't uttered a single word of the Soul Hall's exclusive language—hehehe—his actions and demeanor are entirely in line with the Soul Hall's style. He's truly too sinister."
"What does Your Excellency mean?"
"You guessed right. Leave this matter to me. You find an opportunity to leave later. I will contact you in three days." Lin Feng made his decision after a brief moment of thought. "Step down!"
"Yes, Your Excellency!"
After the Iron Protector disappeared, Lin Feng did not immediately dispel the barrier but remained hidden in the shadows, waiting for an opportunity to launch a sneak attack. Although with his current strength, dealing with these few low-to-mid-level Dou Zongs would be a piece of cake, he only bled during training. When truly fighting an enemy, he didn't mind using some despicable means.
"These two little grasshoppers, Elder Jin and Elder Yin, aren't in a hurry to be dealt with. Han Feng and Elder Yingshan will require more effort."
Lin Feng observed the four battlefields at the Dou Zong level and found that Elder Jin and Elder Yin were evenly matched with the leader of our enforcement team and the vice dean, while Elder Su Qian was somewhat at a disadvantage. Although the two were of similar cultivation levels, the rhythm was clearly controlled by Elder Yingshan.
This scene was obviously very abnormal.
Lin Feng had been to the academy's library before, and there were so many high-level Earth-rank cultivation techniques alone. Compared to cultivation techniques, Dou Techniques, which were relatively easier to obtain, were naturally even more abundant.
After the departure of the former dean, Elder Su Qian, as the true pillar and head of the academy, naturally had the right to cultivate top-level Dou Techniques that matched his own Dou Qi attributes.
Yet, the elder, who possessed such powerful Dou Techniques, was being controlled by Elder Yingshan. In fact, if Elder Yingshan hadn't been wary of the possible hidden cards that Canaan Academy might have, the elder might already be beheaded.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the battlefield where Yao Chen and Han Feng were locked in their fateful duel, the scene was incredibly intense and exceptionally dazzling. Crimson white flames and azure sea-blue flames each occupied half the sky, painting the entire horizon in two colors.
Their identical fire control techniques surprised the people of the Black Corner Region. However, Han Feng, in peak condition, ultimately prevailed, making him even more arrogant.
Lin Feng, observing from the sidelines, noticed that although Yao Chen was at a disadvantage, his expression remained completely calm, as if he possessed some hidden trump card.
"So, who should I ambush?"
The experience of just graduating is: money is hard to earn, and life is tough!!! I hope those who haven't yet entered the workforce cherish their student days!
(End of Chapter)