Chapter 318: Secret Techniques and Return
In a secondary headquarters of the Hall of Souls somewhere in the northwest of the continent, two elders were sitting face to face with a chessboard on the table, where the black pieces showed a dominant position.
The elder handling the black pieces smiled and said, "Who would have thought that a casual move made years ago would achieve something so great today?"
"Yun Shan's work has not been bad, it has also allowed the Hall of Souls to collect some souls, equivalent to the achievements of several years," replied the elder handling the white pieces with a smile.
"Indeed, war is the fastest way to collect souls. It's a pity that the headquarters in Zhongzhou is so restricted and cannot start a war there directly. Otherwise, with the quality of the strong in Zhongzhou, collecting a large number of souls would greatly accelerate the goal of the Hall of Souls."
The elder with the black pieces placed a piece, "Starting a war in this northwest continent is not so easy. What Yun Shan has achieved already far exceeds my expectations."
"Then we can consider increasing our support."
"Yes, although many of the achievements of the Hall of Souls in the northwest go to the headquarters in Zhongzhou, the remaining resources are enough to train more strong fighters."
"But Yun Shan is really ruthless with himself, willing to practice that secret technique to increase his level of douqi."
The elder handling the white pieces shook his head, "If I were at his level and my life was coming to an end with no possibility of advancement, I would also consider practicing that secret technique."
Hearing this, the elder with the black pieces narrowed his eyes and looked at his companion, making sure he was not joking, before shaking his head.
"Whatever you do, I couldn't do it. Devouring souls and bodies to increase my own power is too bloody."
The elder with the white pieces laughed softly, "Are you still worried about blood while being in the Hall of Souls? When the Great Soul Devouring Array turns thousands into blood, I haven't heard you say it's too bloody."
"Maybe. Perhaps at the end of the road, I would also use that secret technique."
The conversation between the two elders ended there, and the struggle on the chessboard became more intense.
At the front line of the Yun Lan Sect's expansion, the main camp was filled with a dense aura of blood, from which powerful energy waves emanated.
Figures in Yun Lan Sect robes were sitting in the palace, greedily absorbing the dense aura of blood in the air. As they absorbed it, their aura became stronger. These members of the Yun Lan Sect had been forced by Yun Shan to practice the secret technique of devouring souls and bodies. Having tasted the rapid growth of power, they became slaves to this technique. Each time they devoured a portion of the blood aura or soul force, their power increased, and the feeling of becoming stronger trapped them.
It was this technique that allowed the Yun Lan Sect to rise so quickly. Those who practiced the technique knew that once on this path, there was no turning back. Devouring souls and bodies is a technique unacceptable to most, and if they were defeated, none would escape death. To keep everyone practicing this technique, and with the allied forces already subordinate, the Yun Lan Sect had no choice but to constantly expand.
The two elders of the Hall of Souls, who orchestrated this change, knew well that the Yun Lan Sect was like a snowball growing bigger. Either the Yun Lan Sect rose and caused a massacre in the northwest of the continent, or it collapsed like a snowball crashing into a mountain, shattering.
But they didn't care because their goal was to collect large amounts of souls through war.
While the members of the Yun Lan Sect were immersed in pleasure, a figure slowly entered the great hall.
"Who dares enter the great hall?!"
An elder with a flushed face suddenly shouted, throwing a cup toward the figure, imbued with a considerable amount of douqi.
"Humph!" The figure let out a grunt, and the cup filled with douqi shattered.
"I didn't bring you to the front line to enjoy yourselves!"
The figure spoke and extended his hand into the void toward the elder who had attacked him.
"No! Sect Master, let me explain... Ah!"
Before the elder could finish, his body was crushed by an invisible force.
The others, seeing this, trembled in fear and suppressed their expressions of enjoyment, greeting the figure with reverence.
"Greetings, Sect Master!"
The figure who had arrived in the great hall was none other than Yun Shan, the Sect Master of the Yun Lan Sect.
"The Black-Corner Region is a lawless place and hard to conquer. I brought you here to work, not to enjoy yourselves."
"If you do well, you will be rewarded, but if you neglect your duties, don't complain about my harsh hand."
Yun Shan shouted coldly, and everyone responded with their heads down.
"We understand."
Yun Shan didn't stay in the great hall any longer and left with a wave of his sleeve.
Inside the hall, the strong members of the Yun Lan Sect couldn't help but look at the remains of the crushed elder, with flashes of greed in their eyes.
After leaving the great hall, Yun Shan arrived at the courtyard where he was temporarily residing, with a trace of crimson in his eyes that he couldn't hide.
"The Black-Corner Region is a tough nut to crack. According to the elders of the Hall of Souls, it seems that the Black Alliance is also a subsidiary, so we can join them to eliminate the forces in the region."
Entering his room, Yun Shan looked at a mirror and saw a figure he barely recognized. With his face full of blood, crimson eyes, and long, loose black hair, his aura was demonic.
"Have I changed this much?"
A trace of nostalgia crossed his eyes, but it was quickly replaced by ferocity.
"If I keep growing, the entire northwest of the continent will become my food. Even the elders of the Hall of Souls won't stop me."
A trace of ambition shone in his eyes, with thoughts about those elders of the Hall of Souls. Thinking about the secret technique, Yun Shan licked his lips, imagining the taste of the elders of the Hall of Souls.
...
In Tianya City, northwest of the continent, three visitors from Zhongzhou arrived. After leaving the spatial tunnel, without much hesitation, they headed directly to the Black-Corner Region. On the way, Xiao Ze and the other two had already discussed that, since they had to pass through the Black-Corner Region to reach the Jia Ma Empire anyway, they could visit the Academy and see if they had detailed information.
After all, Jia Nan Academy, located in the northwest of the continent, would have more accurate information about the changes in the region than the Alchemist Tower in Zhongzhou. Perhaps they could find out about the situation in the Snake People Empire. Therefore, without delay, they headed quickly to the Black-Corner Region.
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(End of the chapter)