Word Count: 2,694 Words

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Of course, Xiao Yan had no intention of butting heads with a Dou God. What he needed, at minimum, was a way to preserve his own life.

In truth, though, he wasn’t especially worried about Hun Tiandi reaching that realm. As a bystander, he understood that stepping into the Dou God realm was not necessarily a blessing.

’I really don’t understand what drives that fellow Hun Tiandi’s obsession with becoming a Dou God.’ Xiao Yan couldn’t help but grumble. If he actually succeeds and his fixation vanishes, won’t there be nothing left but emptiness?

Of course, no amount of thinking would change anything. The Pill Tower Old Ancestor had said Xiao Yan could influence the course of the Dou Qi Continent, but in reality, Hun Tiandi at the peak of 9-star Dou Saint was already almost invincible. Only Gu Yuan could truly contend against him.

Moreover...

...

One day later. The Burial Mountain Range.

The Burial Mountain Range lay at the core junction of the Central Plains’ Western and Southern Regions. The terrain caused Yin Qi here to gather in oppressive concentrations, mingled with dense, rotten Corpse Qi. For thousands of miles around, most families buried their dead in this place. Over time, it had become a bizarre mountain range composed entirely of graves. Under normal circumstances, one could hardly find a single human figure here; no one was willing to linger in such a ghostly place.

It was, for all intents and purposes, the Dou Qi Continent’s equivalent of a boundless mass grave.

And this was where the Man Hall of the Hall of Souls was located.

Originally, according to the Hall of Souls’ normal structure, the three halls of the Tian Gang Hall—Heaven, Earth, and Man—were overseen respectively by Hall Chief Hun Mie Sheng, Deputy Hall Chief Hun Zhu, and First Tianzun Ming Jin. But because of the deal between Xiao Yan and Hun Tiandi, the Heaven Hall, originally suspended above the Xiao Realm to monitor whether the Xiao Clan had left any hidden means that might flare back to life, had been reclaimed by Xiao Yan!

As a result, Hun Mie Sheng now managed the Earth Hall, while Deputy Hall Chief Hun Zhu and First Tianzun Ming Jin jointly managed the Man Hall.

Therefore, if one followed the logic of ’whoever manages the Heaven Hall is the Hall Chief,’ then Xiao Yan, this Tenth Tianzun, was actually the Hall of Souls’ true Hall Chief in the shadows!

Of course, the Hall of Souls valued strength over who controlled the Heaven Hall. So on the surface, Xiao Yan’s identity remained that of the Tenth Tianzun. Naturally, the Man Hall became the place where he ’clocked in for work.’

He had arrived outside the Burial Mountain Range to do precisely that.

This Tenth Tianzun had not turned in soul bodies for quite some time. His Soul Command Token held no small number of them: several powerhouses from the Nine Serene Deep Ground Python Tribe, Jiu Feng, the Profound Sky Sect’s Vice Sect Leader, and others. All of them were sealed inside.

More importantly, he now had the pill recipe in hand. It was time to collect his payment.

Less than a hundred days remained before the Demon Flame descended. Xiao Yan had been at the late stage of 2-star Dou Saint for quite a while now. He intended to leverage the Hall of Souls’ resources and break through to 3-star Dou Saint!

’It seems this is my first time coming to the Man Hall.’ A helpless laugh escaped him. He had been a newly promoted Tenth Tianzun for four years and had never once come in to clock a shift. That was some serious absenteeism.

A soft whoosh sounded as Xiao Yan drew his ’work uniform’ from his storage ring and shrugged it on. He took out his ’work badge’ and hooked it at his waist. Both hands rose to grip the edge of his hood, and as he pulled it slowly over his head, a razor-keen glint flashed through his eyes.

He, the Tenth Tianzun, had arrived!

Xiao Yan stepped into the Burial Mountain Range. A ripple of Spiritual Strength swept past him immediately. A perception barrier set by a Dou Saint shrouded this area; anyone entering would be detected.

His Soul Command Token hummed softly and released a wave of Spiritual Strength in answer. The Space Lock reacted like an automatic door, quietly sliding open to reveal the other side of the Burial Mountain Range: a small independent world hidden amid countless corpses.

He walked slowly through the slightly distorted space. The first thing that met his eyes was a vast expanse of black earth. Here and there, patches of ghastly white protruded from the ground. These were broken bones, scattered like bleached stones and exuding a cold, eerie chill.

At the center of this enormous region, a colossal black hall stood in silence, like some ancient ferocious beast crouched low against the earth. A sinister, chilling aura seeped slowly from it, spreading through the sealed space in heavy waves.

From within the giant hall, innumerable massive black chains extended outward, plunging deep into the ground. On each chain, a cluster of black mist coiled, faintly shaping itself into a human figure. From time to time, a lustrous glow flickered along the metal, then shot into the black mist, making the fog more and more solid.

The entire region was oppressively still. A strange atmosphere draped over the place, pressing in on the heart and raising goosebumps along the skin.

Every Hall of Souls branch had its own style. The one built by Venerable Qing Hai lay deep within an ocean trench, while the first branch Xiao Yan had encountered atop the Misty Cloud Sect had long since been remade by Xiao Li into a beautiful fairyland wreathed in clouds. That black hall looked anything but eerie now.

Naturally, Xiao Yan was already used to this sort of bone-chilling Hall of Souls that loomed like the Palace of Yama amid ten thousand corpses.

...

Clatter!

No one knew how long that silence lasted before, suddenly, over a dozen clusters of black mist rose from the chains. The fog condensed, revealing over a dozen figures with cold, indifferent faces. They glanced at one another, shifted, and gathered together.

"Let’s go. We’ve absorbed some soul essence, and our soul points are spent. Time to move out and take on some missions," rasped the man who seemed to be their leader.

"Mm. Hopefully we can bring back enough soul bodies this time."

"Jie Jie Jie, if only a large-scale war would break out somewhere. Then we could pick up piles of soul bodies for free."

"You can always start a war yourself." The leader gave a cold chuckle and nodded slowly. He waved his hand, and the dozen figures dissolved into a mass of black fog that shot toward the edge of the space like lightning.

They were just about to surge out of the exit when Xiao Yan happened to enter from the outside. The group dropped their gazes and caught sight of the Soul Command Token at his waist. In an instant, every one of their eyes shrank to pinpoints.

The split second they recognized his identity, every figure treading on the void dropped down and landed on one knee with a theatrical thud, faces drained of color.

"Greetings, Tenth Tianzun!!"

Cold sweat poured from their foreheads like rain. In the Hall of Souls’ environment, who knew how many Tianzuns had eccentric tempers? Some didn’t even permit anyone to stand higher than themselves. If someone dared stand in their presence, they might be struck down on the spot!

And just now, all of them had been flying! They had gotten cocky!

Naturally, Xiao Yan was not the kind of weirdo who killed indiscriminately at the slightest slight. He didn’t say a word and simply walked straight through the group. They were nothing but small fry. Aside from the leader, who was a Dou Venerate, the rest were merely high-rank Dou Ancestors.

Only after he had walked for several minutes did the few Hall of Souls Honorable Elders and Heaven Grade Protectors finally let out sighs of relief, glancing at one another with trembling hearts.

"It was the Tenth Tianzun!"

"Mother above. Since the Grand Ceremony four years ago, this is the first time the Tenth Tianzun has appeared in the Man Hall, isn’t it?"

"The Tenth Tianzun... The Hall of Souls used to have only the Nine Great Tianzuns. I heard the Hall Chief specially granted him the title of ’Ten,’ and even Fourth Tianzun Xue He is wary of him. Maybe at the next Grand Ceremony, he’ll seize Fourth Tianzun’s spot."

"Think he could break into the top three?"

"Impossible. The top three Tianzuns are all Dou Saints. How could he rise that fast?"

"True enough."

...

Xiao Yan was in no hurry. Hands clasped behind his back, he strolled leisurely through the Man Hall. Along the way, every Protector and Honorable Elder coming and going dropped to their knees, respectfully welcoming the Hall of Souls’ most mysterious Tenth Tianzun!

He did not respond much to the people kneeling before him. Inside the Hall of Souls, he couldn’t afford to appear too mild.

"Tenth Tianzun!" × 2

Two somewhat familiar cries rang out from up ahead. Xiao Yan slowly lifted his head. Before the giant black hall two figures, one in black and one in white, were staring at him with shock written across their faces. It was the Black and White Tianzun he had once defeated.

"Black, White... your strength hasn’t improved much. Four years have passed, and you’ve only advanced to the level of 7-star Dou Venerates." A single glance was enough to see through their cultivation. Both had broken through from their previous peak 6-star Dou Venerate level to 7-star.

If Mo Yu was still stuck at peak 7-star Dou Venerate, the two of them working together might really be able to defeat him now. Of course, to Xiao Yan, such petty squabbles at the Dou Venerate level weren’t worth a second thought anymore.

His precise assessment of their cultivation sent a jolt through both their hearts. They traded a look and saw naked fear reflected in one another’s eyes. They both understood. After four years, Xiao Yan’s strength had certainly grown even more terrifying!

What they could not possibly imagine was that his rise had been so exaggerated they could no longer even see his back.

"We welcome the Tenth Tianzun." × 2

Although the Black and White Tianzun still resented him for shattering their dream of joining the Hun Clan back then, and although the difference in rank between a Tenth Tianzun and themselves was not huge on paper, they were not fools. They understood that his actual strength was now something they could never afford to provoke!

"Open the door."

"Yes, Tenth Tianzun." × 2

The moment he spoke, they moved like doormen. One to the left, one to the right, they pushed open the heavy gates of the Man Hall. At the end of the day, that was all the Black and White Tianzun really were: glorified gatekeepers for the Ten Tianzuns. Nothing but minor characters.

Xiao Yan allowed a faint smile to touch his lips. He paid them no further attention and simply stepped through the doorway. His black-clad figure merged into the darkness within.

Once he disappeared inside, the Black and White Tianzun exhaled in unison.

"His strength seems far greater than before..."

"I’m afraid even Xue He is no match for him now."

"He hasn’t come to the Man Hall in four years. I wonder what he’s here for this time."

"No idea. I have a feeling he didn’t appear just to turn in soul bodies."

"When has anything ever been peaceful where he shows up?"

The two of them wore bitter smiles. Whether as the current Tenth Tianzun, or back when he had been Yan Tianzun or Protector Yan, every place Xiao Yan appeared would inevitably see the winds and clouds thrown into chaos.

This fellow could stir up the Dou Qi Continent even more than the Hall of Souls itself.

...

Xiao Yan had just entered the Man Hall when a burst of strange laughter drifted down from above.

"Jie Jie Jie, Old Ten. Haven’t seen you in four years."

He slowly looked up. The ceiling of the great hall was strung with over a dozen thick black Soul Chains. Each one plunged down into the depths far beneath the floor. Wisps of soul essence flowed along the metal links, traveling upward toward their ends.

Several black figures sat cross-legged atop those Soul Chains, absorbing soul essence to cultivate. The one who had just spoken was among them.

"Qiu Di... four years, and your cultivation progress isn’t much to speak of." Xiao Yan pulled back his hood, revealing the face of Hun Yu Cun. His gaze landed on Eighth Tianzun Qiu Di, who was cultivating at the very edge.

Four years ago, Qiu Di had already been a peak 8-star Dou Venerate. Now, he was still at peak 8-star. Of course, compared to back then, he was considerably stronger. Given another month or two, he would likely break through to 9-star.

One shouldn’t underestimate the time it took. At the Dou Venerate realm, this speed was already extremely fast, and that was only thanks to the Man Hall’s soul essence. Without it, progress would be even slower.

Not everyone could be like Hai Bodong and Venerable Tian Huo, following Xiao Yan into Saint Zhao Hua’s remains and to the Bodhisattva Ancient Tree to drink the soup, then receiving the pills he refined to boost their cultivation. For an ordinary Dou Venerate, gaining one star in ten years was already worth laughing over in secret.

Besides Qiu Di, the figures on the Soul Chains included Seventh Tianzun Yin Rong, Sixth Tianzun Lei Mo, Fifth Tianzun Ya Zi, and Fourth Tianzun Xue He. All of them were 9-star Dou Venerates, with only Xue He having reached peak One-Change Dou Venerate.

It could be said that, barring some great heaven-sent fortune, they would be stuck at the Dou Venerate realm for life. Even breaking through to Half-Saint would likely remain forever out of reach.

"Jie Jie Jie, Old Ten, you’re as overbearing as ever. This kind of man, I quite like." Seventh Tianzun Yin Rong revealed a ruined face and licked her lips as she gazed at Xiao Yan with that strange smile. Even disfigured, the shape of her bones made it clear she had once been a great beauty.

Fourth Tianzun Xue He narrowed his eyes. Even without Xiao Yan using his Soul Robe to conceal his aura, he still couldn’t see through Xiao Yan’s strength.

"Have you already reached the Half-Saint realm?" His voice carried a note of uncertainty.

Every Tianzun present sucked in a sharp breath. Their gazes fixed on Xiao Yan, eyes wide with shock.

No way!

How is that possible? Four years ago, he was only a 3-star Dou Venerate!

The incredulous looks on his ’colleagues’ faces only made Xiao Yan smile. He shook his head slowly.

"No."

Xue He and the others let out quiet sighs of relief. They silently berated themselves for overthinking.

Of course not. How could he possibly be Half-Saint already?

"Old Ten, what brings you to the Man Hall this time?" Fifth Tianzun Ya Zi narrowed his eyes slightly. No one present truly understood Xiao Yan, but judging by this mysterious Tenth Tianzun’s conduct, he was definitely the sort who wouldn’t visit the temple without a reason.

Disappearing for four or five years, then suddenly appearing... there was no way this was simple.

Xiao Yan plucked his Soul Command Token from his waist and waved it lazily. "What else can a Hall of Souls Tianzun do at the Hall of Souls besides handing in soul bodies?"

Everyone glanced around at one another. It was an utterly normal thing to do. Yet they all felt the same way... A normal thing happening to an abnormal person was, in and of itself, profoundly abnormal!