"Elder Sect Master Yun, do you believe there's such a thing as a free lunch in this world? Or do you think the Hall of Souls is here to do charity, helping you break through your bottleneck without expecting anything in return?"
Yan Qingshan looked Yun Shan in the eye. A hint of a sneer appeared on the corner of Yun Shan's mouth, but he didn't reply. He was an old fox; how could he not have considered that the Hall of Souls' help was problematic?
However, he was confident in his own methods and the advantage of his established foundation, believing he could keep everything under control.
"You took their benefits, and sooner or later, you'll have to pay them back. And the price of the Hall of Souls' things isn't easy to repay—it'll cost you your life."
Seeing his reaction, Yan Qingshan continued, "You may not have noticed it yourself, but you have already been placed under a restriction by the Hall of Souls. As soon as they feel you are disobedient, your life and death will no longer be your own to decide."
Yun Shan's expression changed slightly, but he still appeared calm. "Your words are baseless. Do you think this old man would believe them?
It's been a while since I broke through to Dou Ancestor. As a Dou Ancestor powerhouse, how could I be completely ignorant of my own body? I am absolutely certain that there is no restriction on me as you claim."
"Elder Sect Master Yun, don't speak so absolutely. Compared to the Hall of Souls, a force with a long history and profound foundation, your Misty Cloud Sect is just an ant. If their people want to plant a method on you, do you really think you'd be able to find it?"
Yan Qingshan responded coolly. Yun Shan was definitely placed under a restriction by the Hall of Souls. During the future battle on Misty Cloud Mountain, Xiao Yan had originally struck Yun Shan down. Yet, Protector Wu directly acted on Yun Shan, devouring his soul and increasing his own strength greatly, then proceeded to capture Yao Lao.
Although Yun Shan's soul was drawn out by Protector Wu after he was on the verge of death, even a deceased Dou Ancestor's soul body would still possess combat power. If a method hadn't been planted on him early on, how could his soul have been so easily devoured without any resistance?
One must know that devouring a soul is no small matter. If done improperly, it could easily trigger the other party's soul to self-destruct. Not to mention, Yun Shan had just died at that time. His soul and consciousness were at their strongest and most unwilling point, yet he was devoured so easily. It would be strange if there was no trick to it.
"If Elder Sect Master Yun doesn't believe me, you can try investigating your Sea of Consciousness. Don't just sweep it with your spiritual sense, but slowly immerse yourself in it to find the differences..."
Yan Qingshan gave a confident smile, telling Yun Shan a method. This was a technique he had obtained from that old fox, Yao Lao.
According to him, this was a common method used by the Hall of Souls to control people. One of his rivals was an elder of the Hall of Souls, and after several clashes, he had gained some understanding of their methods.
After Yun Shan confirmed that there were no hidden dangers in the method Yan Qingshan taught him, he slowly closed his eyes and began to circulate his spiritual sense. He wasn't worried about Yan Qingshan launching a sneak attack. The difference in strength between a Dou Ancestor and a Dou Emperor was immense. Even if he let his guard down, he was not someone a typical Dou Emperor could ambush.
"Bastard!!!"
Only a few seconds passed before Yun Shan opened his eyes, a dark expression on his face. He had discovered some of the Hall of Souls' subtle work.
This method was not within his body, but a strange energy rooted in his soul, almost integrated with it. He didn't know the specific form, method, or effect, but it was definitely not a good thing.
Although he had long suspected that the Hall of Souls' help wouldn't be so simple, when he actually discovered the anomaly within his body, the anger in his heart was still impossible to suppress.
"The Hall of Souls, I'll remember this debt. But now that this sect master knows about their methods, they will naturally no longer be a threat."
Yun Shan was still a bit stubborn, or rather, he was prepared to use this as leverage to gain even greater benefits from the Hall of Souls.
Seeing this, Yan Qingshan continued, "Among the top-tier forces on the surface of the Central Plains, the Hall of Souls is on par with the Pill Tower, the Holy Land of alchemists.
This force is extremely powerful, with its tentacles reaching into every corner of every continent. They continuously gather dark souls from all over the continent. Sometimes, to get enough dark souls, they will provoke conflicts and wars between different factions…
Elder Sect Master Yun, what do you think their purpose was in helping you? If your Misty Cloud Sect recklessly provokes a conflict, and countless sect members and disciples die, is that the result you want?"
Yun Shan had no intention of changing his mind. "If I want to bring glory to the Misty Cloud Sect, conflict with other forces is inevitable. This matter cannot be avoided. Even the Misty Cloud Sect of today cannot avoid conflict!"
Yan Qingshan tried to persuade him. "Elder Sect Master Yun, you know that the Hall of Souls is a malicious and malevolent tiger, yet you still choose to conspire with it?
Do you remember what I just said? One misstep now, and you will be doomed forever."
"Hahahaha..."
Yun Shan let out a hearty laugh. "Young man, I do have to thank you for informing me of the Hall of Souls' methods, but I must say, you are still too young. You don't understand that in this world, only benefits are truly real.
You may not have witnessed the darkness of the world yet, thinking that it is a world of black and white. You believe that cooperating with a force like the Hall of Souls is like a tiger conspiring with its prey, but with sufficient strength, one can also gain enormous benefits.
As for being doomed forever, I only believe that man can triumph over heaven. Even if I take a wrong step, as long as I have the strength, I can carve my own path through the abyss. Besides, in the Jia Ma Empire, who can doom me forever? Are you suggesting it's you?"
He looked at Yan Qingshan with a smile but showed no intention of attacking, and even retorted with that final question. Yan Qingshan didn't respond but pointed behind him.
"He can't, but what about me?"
Behind Yun Shan, a robed elder had appeared at some point. He also walked slowly, stepping on the void. "Jia Xingtian, it's been a long time!"
"Jia Xingtian!"
Yun Shan turned around abruptly. A hint of shock flashed in his eyes when he saw this person; he couldn't quite believe it. "You've actually broken through to Dou Ancestor."
"If you can break through, why can't this old man?"
Jia Xingtian, also known as Robe-robed Jia Lao, was the head of the top ten powerhouses of Jia Ma and a guardian of the royal family. He had once fought against Queen Medusa and emerged unscathed.
At this moment, the Robe-robed Jia Lao quietly stared at his old friend and said in a deep voice, "Yun Shan, your breakthrough to Dou Ancestor is originally a good thing for the Jia Ma Empire. After all, our Jia Ma Empire has been weak for a long time, relying on us old fellows to hold it together.
If you had come to my royal family immediately after breaking through, this old man would have welcomed you with fine wine, and your Misty Cloud Sect could have become our Jia Ma Empire's Guardian Sect. But you've been blinded by greed, trying to collude with an outside force to bring chaos to the empire. This old man will absolutely not let you succeed."
"Jia Xingtian, why the pretense? This old man has long seen through the true faces of you in the royal family."
Yun Shan sneered coldly. "A Guardian Sect? When my Misty Cloud Sect was first established, Venerable Yun Potian's power dominated the Northwest Continent. Didn't your Jia Ma royal family become afraid and respectfully offer my Misty Cloud Sect the title of Guardian Sect?
But my Misty Cloud Sect protected the Jia Ma Empire for many years, and as soon as our Ancestor Yun Potian died, you in the royal family broke your promise and secretly suppressed my Misty Cloud Sect. Now you say you'll honor my Misty Cloud Sect as the Guardian Sect? Do you think I'll still believe your royal family's lies?"
"Yun Shan, even if you are dissatisfied with the royal family, there's no need to invite a wolf into the house!"
Jia Xingtian said in a deep voice, "Mr. Yan has already explained the nature of the Hall of Souls very clearly. Are you really so set on starting a great war, causing our Jia Ma Empire to run with blood and its people to suffer?"
"Heh heh..."
A powerful aura erupted from Yun Shan's body. "If my Misty Cloud Sect wants to rise again, how can it do so peacefully? Blood will be shed and the people will suffer, but what does it matter as long as my Misty Cloud Sect is revived and shines brightly in the world?"
"Yun Shan, your actions will only lead the Misty Cloud Sect to eternal damnation. This old man will not sit back and watch you provoke conflict and drag my Jia Ma Empire into endless strife."
Jia Xingtian took a deep breath, pointing to the foot of the mountain and saying in a solemn voice, "Before this old man came up the mountain today, I had already secretly mobilized an elite army to encircle the Misty Cloud Sect. Not just Yun Leng, but many of your mid-to-high-level elders have been knocked unconscious by me.
As soon as I give the order, the army will immediately storm the mountain and conquer it. The Misty Cloud Sect will be doomed forever. Are you truly still going to make such a decision?"
Yun Shan's gaze hardened, and his powerful aura, like a giant dragon awakening from its slumber, stared intently at Jia Xingtian. "Are you threatening me?"
Jia Xingtian did not back down. "You can think of it that way. The fate of the Misty Cloud Sect, whether it survives or perishes, is in your hands."
The tension was palpable, and neither of them would yield. However, Yun Yun suddenly rushed between them. "Master, please don't be so stubborn. The Misty Cloud Sect is now in an extremely precarious position. You must think this through carefully."
She truly hadn't expected the situation Yan Qingshan had described to be so dangerous. Among the higher-ups like the First Elder, she was the only one who was still conscious.
Many disciples were still asleep and couldn't form a viable resistance. If tonight went wrong, the entire Misty Cloud Sect could be wiped from existence.
"Yun Yun, as the Sect Master of the Misty Cloud Sect, you must know that we do not accept such threats. Remember this. As long as I am here, and you are here, and the foundation of the Misty Cloud Sect remains, even if our mountain gate is breached and our disciples are scattered, the Misty Cloud Sect will still be able to rebuild."
Yun Shan spoke in a deep voice. The dou qi around him stirred up the wind and clouds. A storm burst from the ground, scattering the dark clouds above, and the bright moonlight shone down on this tempestuous scene. "I don't believe this old fellow would dare to take such a risk.
If he truly commits this treacherous act, then this old man will abandon all dignity and become an assassin. As long as I live, I will relentlessly kill the bloodline of your royal family, until only you, Jia Xingtian, are left as a lone person."
"Yun Shan, how dare you!"
Jia Xingtian's face immediately turned ashen. A Dou Ancestor making such a declaration was something he could absolutely follow through on. If he really became an assassin, the Jia Ma royal family wouldn't be enough for him to kill.
"Elder Sect Master Yun, do you think that with the plan I laid out today, you would still have the chance to do that? If you are still deluded today, you won't be leaving."
Yan Qingshan's voice echoed in the air. Yun Shan's gaze narrowed, locking onto Yan Qingshan, but then his expression suddenly changed again.
"Old fellow, what this little scoundrel said is true!"
A cool, enchanting voice that almost made a man's bones go numb slowly echoed through the air. Several sharp gazes followed the voice.
An alluring and captivating figure had appeared behind Yun Shan at some point. There were only a few steps between them, so close that she seemed within arm's reach.