"Haha, who would've thought the Soul Hall would meet such a fate today!"
"Well done! The people of the Soul Hall have been arrogant for too long; they deserved to be taught a lesson..."
"But who could it be that destroyed the Soul Hall's branch?"
"Could it be the Pill Tower?"
"Yes, only the Pill Tower could pull off something like this!"
The news of the destruction of the Soul Hall's branch, though not officially announced by the Soul Hall, couldn't be kept secret. Such shocking news spread across Central Plains within a week, causing a widespread stir.
The powers in Central Plains knew the strength of the Soul Hall well. This behemoth had stood tall over the region for a long time. Even the Pill Tower, in its multiple clashes with the Soul Hall, had often come out on the losing end.
So, while many forces had suffered at the hands of the Soul Hall, they didn't dare to retaliate, keeping their hatred buried deep within. Now, hearing this news, many couldn't help but feel a sense of justice served.
However, the question lingered among the various forces in Central Plains: who had the power to wipe out a branch of the Soul Hall? Such a feat of destroying one of the three Tiangang Halls was something even the Pill Tower hadn't achieved before.
Despite this, many still suspected the Pill Tower to be behind it...
---
Holy Pill City, Top Floor of the Pill Tower
"Xuan Kongzi, I didn't expect someone would step up and teach the Soul Hall a lesson this time. It's so satisfying!" In the grand hall, the dark-skinned Tian Leizi was visibly excited.
"Indeed, after so many years, the Soul Hall has finally taken a big hit! This also shows the world that the Soul Hall isn't as invincible as it seems!" Xuan Kongzi nodded in agreement.
"While this is exciting news, it does bring us some trouble! Word is spreading across Central Plains that the Pill Tower is responsible for this massacre at the Soul Hall's branch. The Soul Hall might come after us because of it..." Xuan Yi, who had been silent until now, finally spoke, her eyes filled with concern.
"It is a problem, but if the Soul Hall really wants a fight, we have no choice but to face it head-on. After all these years of fighting, are we supposed to be afraid of them now?" Xuan Kongzi's tone grew serious.
"Of course, I'm not afraid! No matter how many of them come, I'll kill them all!" Tian Leizi, with his fiery temperament, declared his intent to fight to the bitter end.
However, after saying this, he spread his hands in an innocent gesture, adding, "But this really wasn't something the Pill Tower did!"
"It doesn't matter whether we were used as a pawn. As long as the target is the Soul Hall, the ones behind it are on the same side as us!" Xuan Yi expressed her stance.
At this moment, Xuan Kongzi frowned slightly, "This aura... it feels so familiar!"
"I sense it too!" Tian Leizi added, looking puzzled. "Could it really be that old guy?"
Standing nearby, Xuan Yi's gaze became unfocused, a mix of emotions swirling within her...
---
"Teacher, who would've thought the Soul Hall would suffer such a loss? The elder who wiped out their branch is truly admirable. I wonder which high-ranking member of the Pill Tower was responsible?" Outside the Pill Tower, Xiao Yan followed Venerable Feng Xian through a series of checkpoints, communicating with Yao Lao's soul in his ring.
"It's not that simple. It might not be someone from the Pill Tower!" Yao Lao responded.
"If not the Pill Tower, then who?"
"Central Plains is vast. There might be some hidden expert who holds a grudge against the Soul Hall!" Yao Lao speculated. With his understanding of the Pill Tower, if they had done it, they wouldn't have kept it hidden but would have announced it openly.
---
"Old man, I didn't expect it to be you!" Not long after, Xiao Yan and Venerable Feng reached the top floor of the Pill Tower.
Three figures stood before them. As Xuan Kongzi spoke, Yao Lao's soul floated out of the ring, surprising the three leaders of the Pill Tower, who thought Yao Chen had perished years ago.
"Back then, that traitor Han Feng..." Yao Lao began recounting the events of the past.
"So it really was Han Feng! What a beast! You treated him like a son, and he repaid you with treachery. If only I'd known back then, I would've killed him on the spot!" Xuan Kongzi was furious upon hearing this, eager to find Han Feng.
"I questioned Han Feng back then, but he tricked me!" Venerable Feng gritted his teeth.
"And Mu Gu... he was the one who instigated Han Feng!" Yao Lao continued.
"That scoundrel Mu Gu got what he deserved; someone already took care of him!"
"Mu Gu is dead? How did he die?" Yao Lao asked, surprised.
"A few years ago, a young man from the Gu Clan came to Holy Pill City and took the Three Thousand Burning Flame. Mu Gu tried to target that young man and met his end..."
"That young man has a powerful background, with Dou Saint experts from his clan guarding him!"
Hearing the description, Yao Lao pondered, "Could it be him?"
"Only he would go after so many Heavenly Flames..."
"You know him?" Xuan Kongzi asked, surprised.
Yao Lao nodded, "That young man visited the North-Western region of the Continent; I've met him a few times. I'd guess he has acquired two Heavenly Flames already!"
"Mu Gu trying to steal his Heavenly Flame was really asking for death!"
"By the way, I heard on the way here that one of the Soul Hall's Three Tiangang Halls branch was wiped out. Was this done by the Pill Tower?" Yao Lao suddenly shifted the topic.
"Why does everyone think it was us?" Xuan Kongzi couldn't help but groan.
"Teacher's guess was right!" Xiao Yan was quite surprised, unable to fathom which force would strike the Soul Hall so ruthlessly.
"Never mind that. The more we explain, the more unclear it becomes... By the way, old man, you're just a soul now. Is there any way to fix this?" Tian Leizi brought up a crucial issue.
"There is a way, but I need someone who possesses multiple Heavenly Flames to help me forge a body!" Yao Lao sighed.
"Multiple Heavenly Flames?"
Xuan Kongzi suddenly thought of something, analyzing, "Isn't Young Master Gu Fei in possession of several Heavenly Flames? If we could get his help, it would be much easier!"
"Right, I hadn't thought of that before!" Xiao Yan's eyes lit up with excitement.
"Such a prodigy would likely demand a high price for his assistance!" Venerable Feng said gravely. "With the resources of our Falling Star Pavilion, what we offer might not even catch his eye!"
"He's so fond of Heavenly Flames; when the time comes, I'll offer him the Bone-Chilling Flame to exchange for his help!"