Chapter 188: Xiao Yan: I Am the Leader of the Holy Gate, Lu Bu!
Whoosh, whoosh!
The air filled with ghostly wails and howling winds. Black mist spread across the area, turning the forest into a shadowy, suffocating abyss where visibility was nonexistent. The eerie laughter of the Hall of Souls' protectors echoed in the void, sending chills down everyone's spines.
The Hall of Souls!
It was actually the Hall of Souls!
Xiao Yan's pupils shrank in an instant, and an icy chill spread throughout his limbs, freezing him in place. He couldn't move.
He had underestimated them.
For far too long, Xiao Yan had grown complacent.
His heart sank, beating heavily against his chest. During the battle against the Black Alliance, he had unleashed Dou Zong level combat power in full view of countless onlookers. There was no way he wouldn't have drawn attention.
After his overnight breakthrough to the Dou Wang level, he had grown overly confident in his strength, thinking that the Hall of Souls' protectors were nothing to fear. But now, he realized how terrifying they truly were.
"Damn it! That so called Protector Xuan wasn't this strong!" Xiao Yan gritted his teeth, struggling to hold his ground under the crushing aura of the two Heaven ranked protectors. His hands slowly began forming seals, preparing to unleash the Three Mysterious Manifestations of Heavenly Flame to escape.
Escape. I need to get out of here immediately!
He had to retreat and regroup with Lu Bu only by teaming up with him could they stand a chance.
"Don't act rashly!"
Suddenly, Yao Lao's low, commanding voice thundered in Xiao Yan's mind, instantly shattering his focus and interrupting the seal formation for the Three Mysterious Manifestations of Heavenly Flame.
"Teacher?" Xiao Yan's thoughts cleared momentarily, but he was confused. If he didn't act now, he would be doomed once the Hall of Souls' protectors turned their attention to him.
"Their auras are locked onto all of you collectively, not just you alone!" Yao Lao's voice was faint, barely a whisper. His soul power was reduced to a mere flicker as he worked to conceal his presence.
Yao Lao's sharp instincts immediately picked up on something strange about the protectors.
Xiao Yan's heart skipped a beat. An unsettling thought flashed through his mind: Could the Hall of Souls' target not actually be me? Or perhaps they don't know my true identity?
"Don't act recklessly. Wait for the right moment to flee, and I'll help you break free from their restraints!" Yao Lao's voice resounded again. Xiao Yan's tension returned, and his hands once more began forming seals, the Three Mysterious Manifestations of Heavenly Flame building momentum.
The next second, cold chains slithered out from the ground, binding Xiao Yan and the five Jia Nan Academy instructors in an instant.
"Jie jie jie jie… That was close, little ants! You almost got away!"
Black mist swirled as crimson eyes lit up within the fog. The protectors hovered above Xiao Yan and the others, their mocking gazes bearing down like a predator toying with prey.
As Xiao Yan and the Dou Wang instructors regained their sight and senses, they looked around in panic, struggling to unleash their Dou Qi to break free from the sinister chains.
"Jie jie jie… Do you think my Hall of Souls' soul chains can be broken by mere ants like you?" The protector sneered, his tone dripping with condescension as he watched their futile attempts.
In truth, the two protectors had meticulously monitored Jia Nan Academy's response after launching their ambush.
They had executed their plan perfectly, leaving no trace that would raise suspicion. To the academy, it looked like an ordinary attack, with their rescue team dispatched as expected.
Everything had gone according to Wu Ma Protector and Shen Tu Protector's plan.
Clang, clang, clang!
The black chains rattled as Xiao Yan was lifted off the ground, pulled in front of the dense black mist.
"Jie jie jie… You're quite cautious, boy. State your name. You seem talented I might just be merciful and let you join me as a soul envoy," Wu Ma Protector cackled.
"Lu Bu!" Xiao Yan sneered. "A true man walks with his head held high I am Lu Bu, leader of the Holy Gate at Jia Nan Academy!"
Behind him, Elder Ge and the other four instructors exchanged awkward glances. Why is this kid pretending to be Lu Bu?
"The leader of the Holy Gate? Jie jie jie… Such arrogance!" Wu Ma Protector laughed darkly.
"Hmph! My subordinates all have the potential to become Dou Shengs. How is that arrogance?" Xiao Yan retorted coldly. "You've targeted me because of that Protector Xuan, haven't you?"
Xiao Yan's mind raced. He had to take the initiative to probe for information. One wrong move could cost them everything he needed to tread carefully.
"You know about Protector Xuan?" Wu Ma Protector's crimson eyes narrowed. The chains around Xiao Yan tightened abruptly, sending searing pain coursing through his body.
Xiao Yan gritted his teeth, his entire body wracked with agony.
"Speak! Or I'll make you wish you were dead!"
Wu Ma Protector's voice boomed as his aura erupted, sending a violent windstorm tearing through the forest. The ground cracked under the pressure, leaving jagged black scars.
"Xiao Yan! Protector Xuan was killed by Xiao Yan!" Xiao Yan forced out, feigning anger and desperation.
"Impossible! You're only at the Dou Wang level, and your subordinates are no stronger than that. How could you possibly defeat Protector Xuan?" Wu Ma Protector roared, but this time, the chains didn't tighten further they neither loosened nor constricted.
Clearly, the information pleased him.
In fact, Wu Ma Protector was almost certain Xiao Yan wasn't lying. The boy's soul fluctuations reflected fear and pain but lacked the telltale signs of deceit.
"That bastard is always so damn crafty!" Xiao Yan grimaced. "Despite being a Dou Wang, he can unleash Dou Zong level soul power. If it weren't for that, I would've beaten him to a pulp ages ago. That smug bastard just screams for a beating!"
Wu Ma Protector was elated. Xiao Yan's words rang true not only did his soul fluctuations remain consistent, but even his expression matched his claim.
In reality, Xiao Yan was merely venting his genuine frustration. He still couldn't figure out how Lu Bu managed to wield such terrifying power it was infuriatingly envi… no, infuriatingly ridiculous!
"Why can Xiao Yan unleash such power? Does he have a soul residing within him?" Wu Ma Protector pressed further, his crimson eyes gleaming with excitement.
Could it really be Yao Chen?
"I don't know… But I did hear him call that soul 'Yao Lao,'" Xiao Yan replied with a strange expression. During that battle, he had indeed overheard Lu Bu addressing the soul as "Yao Lao."
If Lu Bu hadn't later clarified, Xiao Yan might've thought that bastard was deliberately trying to impersonate his teacher.
"Jie hahahaha… So it really is Yao Chen!" Wu Ma Protector threw his head back in laughter.
Everything aligned perfectly with their earlier investigations. Yao Chen had lent his power to Xiao Yan, using him to kill Han Feng and clean house, as well as to defeat Protector Xuan.
It all made sense!
Xiao Yan's heart sank. Their target is Teacher?!
"Damn… Good thing I was smart enough to probe first," Xiao Yan thought with a hint of relief. Lu Bu's name really comes in handy. I'll have to use it again next time it's too convenient!
"Boy, so your name is Lu Bu?" Wu Ma Protector sneered. "Not bad. You're far more cooperative than those two Dou Wangs!"
"Bastard! What did you do to them?" Xiao Yan roared, his eyes bloodshot in feigned fury.
"Of course, I killed them!" Wu Ma Protector laughed coldly. "They were nothing but ants!"
"Damn you! You Hall of Souls scum!" Elder Ge bellowed, his rage boiling over at the news of his comrades' deaths.
"Well, you're different. You're smart enough to understand the situation. Here's the deal lure Xiao Yan out, and I won't kill you. I might even grant you an opportunity and allow you to join our Hall of Souls." Wu Ma Protector completely ignored Elder Ge's furious curses and continued speaking to "Lu Bu."
Hearing this, a fleeting trace of joy and desire flickered across Xiao Yan's face, but he quickly clenched his teeth, feigning anger as he roared, "Don't even think about it! I, Lu Bu, a true man of honor, would never betray my brothers like some petty coward!"
His expression shifted seamlessly, smooth and natural, without the slightest hint of awkwardness. This guy could've been an award winning actor.
Above the forest, the real Lu Bu sat atop a four winged unicorn beast, his face expressionless as he calmly watched the scene unfolding below.
You little bastard… dragging my name into this mess now, huh?
Gu Luan and Gu Zhen exchanged odd glances. What's going on here? Both of these guys seem to enjoy impersonating each other's identities?
If they hadn't seen Xiao Yan's portrait beforehand, they might not have been able to tell who was Lu Bu and who was Xiao Yan.
"Ahem… Lu Bu, esteemed commanders, isn't it time for us to make a move?" Su Qian cleared his throat and tried to bring their attention back to the matter at hand. Though no lives had been lost yet, the situation was dire and demanded immediate action.
"There's no rush," Lu Bu snorted coldly. "That kid has the luck of the devil. I want to see how far he can take my name."
"…" ×3.
You're just doing this to get revenge, aren't you? ×3.
Su Qian, Gu Luan, and Gu Zhen all cast sidelong glances at Lu Bu, their thoughts perfectly aligned.
Still, Gu Luan and Gu Zhen waved their hands to signal the Black Abyss Army soldiers behind them. The troops quickly spread out, their auras intertwining and forming a unified front. Together, they stood like a sharp, indomitable spear, ready for combat at a moment's notice.
As Gu Luan and Gu Zhen grew more solemn, their minds lingered on an unsettling thought: their intel mentioned two Heaven ranked protectors, yet only one had shown up so far. Where was the other?
Neither dared to extend their senses carelessly. With their cultivation levels, they risked alarming the enemy if they tried to probe too far.
In their group, the only one with the skill to handle such a situation was Lu Bu. His earlier display with the soul spear had already proven the strength of his soul power.
Just as the Black Abyss Army and Su Qian prepared for Lu Bu to search for the second protector, a sudden shift occurred below.
"Jie jie jie… As expected of Jia Nan Academy's students, so arrogant. Just like those two foolish Dou Wangs!" Wu Ma Protector cackled maliciously.
The sinister laughter barely ended when Xiao Yan's otherwise ordinary face suddenly flushed crimson. A sickening crackling sound of grinding bones echoed from his body.
"Ah… ah…" Xiao Yan's eyes bulged as he involuntarily let out cries of agony.
"Jie jie jie jie jie…" Wu Ma Protector sneered wickedly, reveling in the sight of his victim's suffering. The sound of bones grinding, muscles shredding into pulp what a symphony of beauty!
If not for this boy's usefulness, Wu Ma Protector would've long since crushed him into dust.
"Ah… wait! I agree to your terms!" Xiao Yan roared, his blood red face twisted in pain.
With a dull thud, Wu Ma Protector loosened his grip, allowing Xiao Yan a moment to gasp for air.
Xiao Yan's chest heaved violently, rising and falling like a bellows. Although the name he gave was fake, the pain he endured was undeniably real.
"Release your soul. I will plant a restriction on it," Wu Ma Protector demanded coldly. There was no way he would allow this boy to leave without ensuring control.
Before Xiao Yan could respond, the rattling sound of chains echoed again. Black mist rose from the ground, reforming into chains that once more bound Xiao Yan tightly.
"Damn it! Didn't you say you'd let me go? You liar!" Xiao Yan cursed angrily.
"Jie jie jie… Save your breath, kid. Stop pretending!"
Before Wu Ma Protector could respond, another cold voice emerged from the shadows of a nearby tree. Threads of black mist coiled together, and an ominous laugh followed.
Xiao Yan's pupils contracted sharply. Two Hall of Souls protectors?!
Two protectors?!
The Hall of Souls has always acted individually!
That numbing sensation of icy fear swept through Xiao Yan's limbs again. From Protector Mu to Protector Xuan, each one had always operated solo. Every single one of them had terrifying Dou Zong level strength. Why were there suddenly two of them now?
What happened to their pride as experts?! Damn it!
"Shen Tu, why are you here?" Wu Ma Protector's crimson eyes flashed with displeasure. "We agreed one in the open, one in the shadows. It's not time for you to reveal yourself yet!"
"Kid, I think… you're not Lu Bu. You're Xiao Yan, aren't you?" Shen Tu Protector sneered, the chains in his hands clinking menacingly.
"What Lu Bu? I don't know him. But I do know this there are very few people in this world who can reach the Dou Wang level at your age," Shen Tu Protector continued coldly. "Without Yao Chen's medicinal assistance, no one at your age could achieve such a breakthrough."
"Unless… there's another Yao Chen in this world?" Shen Tu Protector's sneer deepened. "Lu Bu is just a name you fabricated, isn't it? If I'm not mistaken, such a person doesn't even exist!"
"Could there really be a second Dou Wang among Jia Nan Academy's students? Your true identity… must be Xiao Yan, correct?"
Xiao Yan: "…"
Your reasoning is all wrong, but why is your conclusion right?!
Xiao Yan's eye twitched as a string of curses filled his mind. Damn these Hall of Souls idiots! Overconfident, self righteous fools!
And yet, they'd hit the nail on the head!
"Jie hahaha… What an idiot! Serves him right for overthinking!"
High above, Lu Bu burst into laughter, slapping his thigh in delight. Watching Xiao Yan's plan go awry was far more entertaining than achieving victory himself.
Gu Zhen and Gu Luan's expressions grew increasingly bizarre. The Hall of Souls truly has a special talent for getting everything wrong but somehow landing on the right answer. Is this dumb luck or some twisted form of genius?
Below, Xiao Yan's face turned green. His lips parted, but no words came out. He had no idea how to explain it Lu Bu really wasn't relying on anyone to achieve his Dou Wang cultivation, and yet here he was at Dou Wang peak!
But the reality was, he had reached Dou Wang. Based on what Xiao Yan knew about him, Lu Bu had done it on his own!
"Xiao Yan… hehe. What a stroke of luck!" Wu Ma Protector sneered. "So close. I almost let you trick me, you little rat!"
"Lu Bu… no… I am Lu Bu!" Xiao Yan stammered, desperately clinging to his lie. "I'm a living, breathing person! How can you say I don't exist?"
"Enough talk. Kill him!" Shen Tu Protector snarled, jerking the chains tight.
But just as he moved, a pale white flame erupted.
The searing cold and blistering heat surged, shattering the black chains that bound Xiao Yan.
"Bone Chilling Flame… So you really are Xiao Yan!"
Both Shen Tu and Wu Ma Protectors hissed, their cold voices ringing out.
"Yao Chen! Stop hiding and show yourself!"
Thank you for the support, friends. If you want to read more chapters in advance, go to my Patreon.
Read 20 Chapters In Advance: patreon.com/Johanssen