Chapter 248: Take One Step Further, and the World Will Turn Upside Down!
"Lei Yun, what are you doing here?" Gu Yao's voice was low and cold, his powerful aura surging and pressing down upon Lei Yun.
"Aiya… Gu Yao, you've really reached the Dou Zun realm," Lei Yun's expression shifted slightly under the oppressive aura, but his tone remained as annoyingly cocky as ever.
"Lei Yun…" Lu Bu's eyes narrowed as he studied the smug, cocky member of the Lei Clan. The name sounded familiar. If memory served him right, Lei Yun had made a brief appearance in the original story.
After the annihilation of the Yao Clan, when Xiao Yan flew to the Gu Clan seeking help, both the Lei Clan and Yan Clan patriarchs were present. This brat, Lei Yun, had used the prestige of his clan's genius, Lei Dong, to throw his weight around. His arrogance got him beaten up by Xiao Yan.
Later, during the chaos in the Gu Realm when Hun Tiandi appeared, the Gu Clan patriarch fought over the Tuoshe Ancient Emperor Jade, and the entire realm descended into chaos this small fry didn't even get a mention.
"Hahaha…" Lei Yun laughed while taking a few steps back, saying, "No need to get so worked up, Gu Yao. I was just nearby, heard that some friends from the Gu Clan were in a bit of trouble, and thought I'd drop by to check things out. No need for hostility."
Given that his bloodline and strength were inferior to Gu Yao's, if a fight broke out, Lei Yun would only end up taking a beating.
"Who told you about this?" Xiao Xun'er asked flatly, her golden eyes gleaming. The air around her began to twist as a fiery heat radiated from her presence.
Lei Yun's pupils shrank. He recognized Gu Yao's name, but who was this woman? Her strength was on par with Gu Yao's. Was she a newly risen genius of the Gu Clan?
"Hehe… Black Armored Army's Grand Commander, there's no need to be so hostile." At that moment, a playful voice interrupted. Two figures appeared, one old and one young it was none other than Yao Yi and the elder Yao Ming from the Yao Clan, whom they had encountered a month earlier.
"Lei Yun is a friend of mine," Yao Yi said with a laugh. "I might have accidentally let slip your predicament while drinking with him. My apologies, my alcohol tolerance is not very good."
Hearing this, the Black Armored Army's eyes collectively turned icy. Yao Yi's actions were a blatant disregard for the Gu Clan.
"Oh, so this woman is the Grand Commander of the Black Armored Army?" Lei Yun looked at Xiao Xun'er with a curious expression. "I've never heard of her before. It seems she's not just any ordinary woman. Impressive!"
"Hahaha, a pleasure to meet you. Forgive my rudeness, Grand Commander. I, Lei Yun, am straightforward by nature." Lei Yun laughed heartily, taking a few more steps back, positioning himself behind Yao Yi.
The relationships among the Ancient Clans were far from harmonious. While the elders cherished their younger generation, they rarely forbade conflicts between them. If you had the strength, fights even deadly ones were tolerated.
Within the Ancient Clans, everyone understood one thing: talent without the tempering of blood and battle was meaningless. Thus, though the clans didn't encourage conflict, they didn't prevent it either except in the case of rare bloodlines like the Nine Grade or Divine Bloodlines.
Lei Yun was well aware of this. If Gu Yao lost his temper and struck him, he'd be in serious trouble.
"Hehe… Lei Yun, you don't seem straightforward to me. You seem more like a troublemaker."
Another mocking voice sounded. A flash of firelight appeared in the distance, and a young man in white robes, with a red flame rune glowing at his brow, strode into view.
Another one… Lu Bu raised an eyebrow. It seemed like all the well known talents from the Ancient Clans were gathering here. Things were getting interesting.
"Fire Xuan, this is none of your business!" Lei Yun snapped back angrily.
"You two have truly outdone yourselves," Fire Xuan retorted, frowning. "The fact that the Black Armored Army is trapped here has spread across half of the Southwestern Region. What are you trying to do?"
Among the Ancient Clans, reputation was paramount. Being surrounded by enemies was already an embarrassment. Yet Yao Yi and Lei Yun had spread the news far and wide, tarnishing the Gu Clan's dignity.
Such behavior was disgraceful. Were it not for Xiao Xun'er, the Gu Clan's Grand Commander, still being safe, the Gu Clan would undoubtedly hold the Yao Clan accountable.
"Yao Yi, you owe me an explanation!" Gu Yao's expression darkened as he turned to Yao Yi, his aura flaring with murderous intent.
Regardless of intent, this act had crossed the Gu Clan's bottom line. Even though it was the Yao Clan, Gu Yao needed an answer.
Faced with Gu Yao's reprimand, Yao Yi's face turned red and pale in quick succession, clearly flustered.
"Hmph! I don't need to explain myself to you!" Yao Yi sneered, though his voice carried a hint of guilt.
"You don't represent the Yao Clan, you despicable snake!" Xiao Xun'er scoffed coldly, her words decisively cutting through the tension.
Since the Yao Clan had chosen to behave dishonorably, the Gu Clan wouldn't show any kindness in return. The Yao Clan was nothing more than a group propped up by their alchemy. Did they really think the Gu Clan feared them?
"Haha! Well said, Grand Commander of the Black Armored Army. Yao Yi, you're nothing but a scheming rat. How dare you claim to represent the Yao Clan?" Fire Xuan burst out laughing, clearly enjoying the situation. Yao Yi's face turned an ugly shade of green as anger flared in his eyes.
"Silence, you " Yao Yi began to shout furiously, but his words were cut short by a deafening roar.
Boom!
Six waves of Dou Zun level auras surged into the sky, rolling like a tidal wave.
Yao Yi's face turned red as the oppressive force struck him. He clenched his fists, clearly infuriated but unable to retaliate.
The Gu Clan still held the upper hand in strength and numbers.
Lu Bu, watching the chaos unfold, smirked to himself and discreetly took a few steps back.
This was a squabble among the prodigies of the Ancient Clans. Lu Bu had no intention of getting involved.
If Zi Yan were here, she'd be loving this. She always enjoyed a good fight. Her big eyes would be glued to the action right now.
"Hahaha! What a lively scene!"
At that moment, a boisterous laugh echoed, accompanied by a fierce gust of wind. A dark figure appeared in the distance, quickly materializing into a handsome young man with a warm smile. Four elders followed close behind.
"Soul Yu!?" Gu Yao's face changed drastically. This wasn't someone like Soul Huai or Soul Li. Soul Yu was a supreme talent of the Soul Clan, rumored to possess a Nine Grade Bloodline or perhaps even a Divine Bloodline.
Regardless of which, his strength was not to be underestimated.
"Hahaha… Greetings, friends of the Black Armored Army," Soul Yu said with a slight bow, his tone friendly and his smile radiant. "I hadn't planned to meet you all so soon. I wanted to wait another month or two until the time was right to extend my invitation…"
Xiao Xun'er and Gu Yao's expressions grew icy. Another month or two?
Had it not been for Lu Bu's efforts, they would've been crippled within that time frame!
"Ah, my apologies. There was a slight miscalculation in our plans," Soul Yu said with a wave of his hand, his smile never faltering.
"So… I must invite you to the Soul Realm a little earlier than expected. Please, come with me."
Upon hearing these words, Lei Yun and Yao Yi, who had merely come to watch a spectacle, instantly paled. They never imagined that Hun Yu would go so far. If all the members of the Black Armored Army were taken back to the Soul Realm, it would spell big trouble!
Huo Xuan's expression also flickered with uncertainty. He had only come here to express his disdain for Lei Yun and Yao Yi's shamelessness, but he had no intention of involving himself in the conflict between the Gu Clan and the Soul Clan. The Yan Clan, as a great clan, could not afford to casually take sides. Any alignment with one faction was a decision made solely by their clan chief and elders he had no say in it.
After hesitating for a moment, Huo Xuan silently retreated, choosing not to meddle further in the matter.
Tch... this is getting messy.
Lu Bu's lips twitched as his hidden right hand instinctively brushed against the black jade token he had obtained from Protector Wu. For a moment, he had the sudden impulse to shout, "Don't shoot! I'm one of you!"
Hearing Hun Yu's declaration, Gu Yao paused before responding with a cold laugh, "You think you alone can handle all of us? Aren't you worried you'll choke on such ambition?"
"Hehehe… Commander Gu Yao, I know all about you," Hun Yu said with a warm smile. "And besides… I'm not alone."
As he spoke, the space behind him distorted, and six dense black clouds surged forth. From within the depths of these shadows, sinister crimson eyes glowed eerily.
"So, will you come with me willingly, or shall I make a move?" Hun Yu chuckled softly, exuding the calm demeanor of a refined gentleman rather than the usual brutishness of the Soul Clan.
"You're welcome to try!" Gu Yao sneered, his expression unchanged.
"Elders, attack!"
Hun Yu wasted no time, and with a single command, four Soul Clan elders rushed forward. His goal was clear: to capture the Black Armored Army's female Grand Commander and the eight commanders. With them as hostages, the Soul Clan would have countless ways to pressure and manipulate the Gu Clan.
By then, the Gu Clan would have no choice but to watch helplessly as the Soul Clan consumed everything.
"Hmph! Do you think the elders of the Gu Clan are mere decorations?" Elder Guan and the other three Dou Zuns let out furious roars. Boundless Dou Qi erupted from their bodies, and they shot forward to meet their enemies head on.
"Jie jie jie… Lin Hao, our Young Master Hun Yu knows all about you!" one of the Soul Clan elders sneered as he unleashed a massive palm attack. The black Dou Qi coalesced into a massive handprint that blotted out the sky, pressing down with overwhelming force.
"Five star Dou Zuns?!" Xiao Xun'er and Gu Yao's expressions shifted. Without hesitation, they joined the fray, flying forward to assist the Gu Clan elders.
"Jie jie jie… I told you, our Young Master Hun Yu knows all about you!" The Soul Clan elders cackled wickedly as their auras surged. They immediately dragged Xiao Xun'er and Gu Yao into battle.
Xiao Xun'er bit her lip lightly and glanced deeply at Lu Bu before surging with golden light, joining the fight against the Dou Zuns of the Soul Clan.
Lu Bu rolled his eyes. Big sister, you're expecting me to help without even paying me?
"When did the world become so generous?"
"Form the battle formation!" Gu Zhen and Lin Xiu shouted in fury, rallying the Black Armored Army into formation. However, while the poison from the Dissipating Qi Mist had been cured, the Dou Qi that had been lost had yet to be fully recovered. As a result, their combat strength was greatly diminished.
"Capture them!" Hun Yu said casually as he waved his sleeve. Five shadowy Soul Puppets surged forward, instantly entangling the Black Armored Army. Chains shot out from the shadows, easily pulling soldiers from their ranks as if Hun Yu knew their weaknesses like the back of his hand.
"It's not the formation's weak points he's exploiting it's the individuals' weaknesses," Huo Xuan muttered, his eyes flickering. The Soul Puppets targeted the weakest members of the formation, pulling them out and collapsing the formation's structure.
"The Black Armored Army is in serious trouble!" Huo Xuan hesitated. Was he really just going to stand by and watch as the Gu Clan's forces were captured by Hun Yu?
In mere moments, only Lu Bu was left standing on the battlefield, facing Hun Yu alone.
"Hahaha… Xiao Yan, is it?" Hun Yu's warm smile lingered as he looked at Lu Bu.
"Black Armored Army Commander, I heard you defeated Gu Yao. Truly impressive. Come with me to the Soul Realm. Your reliance on the Gu Clan is useless now."
"I'm curious… how did your broken Xiao Clan produce someone like you, a mere Dou Huang? Could it be… that the Dou Di bloodline has been restored?"
Hun Yu chuckled derisively. How could that be possible? If it were, Xiao Xuan wouldn't have had to sacrifice the entire Xiao Clan in a desperate last stand.
"Don't even think about running away," Hun Yu continued with a faint smile, black Dou Qi swirling in his hand to form a lifelike lion's head. The oppressive killing intent locked onto Lu Bu.
"Xiao Yan?" Huo Xuan was taken aback. The fallen Xiao Clan?
"Commander of the Black Armored Army?" Lei Yun and Yao Yi exchanged glances, disbelief written all over their faces. This kid looks like he's only at the Dou Huang level. How could he have defeated Gu Yao?
Is this a joke?
If the ruined Xiao Clan could produce someone capable of beating Gu Yao, then what's the point of having a Dou Di bloodline at all?
So, there's no way to avoid this, huh… Lu Bu's eyes flickered as he discreetly slipped the Soul Hall jade token into his interspatial ring.
"I have to admit, for someone from the fallen Xiao Clan, you're quite the genius," Hun Yu said with a smile, as if speaking to prey already caught in his net.
"Any last words? This will be the last breath you take on this continent."
"Hun Yu, was it?" Lu Bu said indifferently. "In war, the victor is determined by fate. But using underhanded methods like poisoning? Truly shameless."
"You poisoned my subordinates and then waited to attack. If you had left it at that, it might have ended here. But if you take another step…"
Lu Bu's eyes glinted coldly. "…then the world as you know it will be turned upside down."
"Hahaha! A mere Xiao Clan remnant dares talk about shaking the heavens?" Hun Yu laughed uproariously. "Do you think you're Xiao Xuan?"
Boom!
Before Hun Yu's laughter could fade, a deafening explosion rang out within his soul.
In that instant, a violent storm erupted, sweeping across the heavens and earth!
Lu Bu took a single step forward as an immense and overwhelming soul force surged forth.
Above, a massive tornado formed, its sheer force warping the space around it.
"What terrifying soul power!" Huo Xuan gasped, his pupils contracting. The difficulty of cultivating the soul was well known across the continent.
Except for the Ling Clan, whose specialty lay in souls, and the Yao Clan, due to their alchemical expertise, few could achieve such mastery. Even the Soul Clan, for all their name implied, excelled more in manipulating others' souls than in cultivating their own.
"This… this is monstrous!" Lei Yun stumbled back, his steps unsteady. Even without using Dou Qi, this man could likely defeat him effortlessly.
"Well, well… it seems I underestimated you," Hun Yu admitted, his face darkening as the soul storm bore down on him, its pressure almost unbearable.
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