Chapter 315: The Elder Mu Gu
"Soul Hall?!"
Upon seeing the sudden appearance of the black-robed figure, Mo Yu's eyes narrowed, his face darkening.
Across the Northern Plains, as everyone noticed the black-robed man, shock filled their eyes. The newcomer had shattered the void with ease, and with just a casual wave of his hand, he had destroyed the violet-gold serpent that had nearly killed Han Feng. Such immense power was terrifying, the kind spoken of only in legends.
Could it be...?
As this thought crossed their minds, many couldn't help but gulp nervously.
A Dou Zun expert! In the Black-Corner Region and even in the entire Northwestern Continent, such a figure was practically a legend. Even Su Qian and Elder Ying Shan, though major figures in the Black-Corner Region, paled in comparison to a Dou Zun. This level of power was renowned even in the mighty Central Plains, let alone in this remote area.
"Mo Yu actually attracted a Dou Zun expert... this is bad news," Su Qian murmured with deep concern.
For a Dou Zun, even a Dou Zong was just a slightly stronger ant. With a flick of their finger, a Dou Zun could likely obliterate Yuan Mansion completely. Even Jia Nan Academy, which had a significant reputation on the Dou Qi Continent, wouldn't hold much weight in the face of such a powerful being.
Meanwhile, members of the Black Alliance exchanged glances, their eyes gleaming with excitement. It seemed that victory was now assured. With this Dou Zun expert here to aid Han Feng, Mo Yu would surely be killed, and once Mo Yu was dead, Yuan Mansion would collapse. After that, there would be no more competition in the Black-Corner Region, and the Black Alliance would reign supreme!
While the Black Alliance was filled with joy, the hearts of Su Qian, Xiao Li, and the rest of Jia Nan Academy and Yuan Mansion's forces sank. Especially seeing the black-robed figure standing beside Han Feng, a deep sense of unease crept over them. Who could have imagined that this battle between two factions would attract a Dou Zun?
The black-robed man paid no mind to the different emotions around him. His gaze turned to Han Feng, and he spoke with a teasing smile. "Nephew Han Feng, I never expected you to end up in such a wretched state, hiding in the Black-Corner Region. You're truly a disgrace to your teacher's once-great name."
Hearing this, Han Feng's face turned red with embarrassment. As the mighty Medicine Emperor, he would have lashed out at anyone who dared to mock him like this. And mentioning his teacher, Yao Chen—especially the part about his betrayal—touched a nerve.
But in front of the black-robed man, Han Feng dared not show any sign of anger, maintaining a humble and respectful posture. The man wasn't just a senior elder of the powerful Soul Hall, but also a terrifying Dou Zun expert and an eighth-tier alchemist. Even Han Feng, with all his pride, knew he couldn't act out of line.
"Your lesson is well-heeded, Uncle. It's just that I had the misfortune of encountering a Dou Zun-level soul in this backward place. If not for your intervention, I would have perished here." Han Feng suppressed his fury, speaking respectfully.
"Haha, well, a Dou Zun-level soul is indeed a rare find, even in the Central Plains. It's a lucky break that you stumbled upon it. But remember, Han Feng, you still owe me the reward we agreed on." The black-robed man turned to Han Feng, his tone leaving no room for negotiation.
"This... Of course, Uncle. After this battle, I will certainly hand over the Sea Heart Flame as promised," Han Feng replied through gritted teeth, unwilling but knowing he had no choice.
Before the battle, Han Feng had made arrangements in case things went wrong, specifically to deal with Mo Yu's powerful soul spirit. He had reached out to the black-robed man, the mastermind behind his teacher's murder, for help. Although Han Feng feared and resented this "uncle," he had agreed to pay a huge price for his assistance—his most prized possession, the Sea Heart Flame, ranked 15th on the Heavenly Flame list.
Han Feng had initially believed that after breaking through to Dou Zong, he would be strong enough to handle Mo Yu and his soul spirit. The black-robed man was just a backup plan. However, Mo Yu's soul spirit had turned out to be far stronger than expected, even with Han Feng's new power and the Sea Heart Flame. Left with no choice, Han Feng had called for help, though the cost pained him deeply.
"Haha, well then, thank you for the gift, Nephew Han Feng."
The black-robed man smiled faintly, seeing the resentment and frustration hidden in Han Feng's eyes but not caring in the least. Han Feng's teacher had been an exceptional talent, one that the black-robed man had always envied. But in the end, Yao Chen had taken on such a disgraceful disciple—something the black-robed man despised.
Turning his attention away from Han Feng, the black-robed man fixed his gaze on Mo Yu and grinned. "Heh, so this is the famous Serpent Master? I've heard much about you. Why not come out and meet me properly?"
As his words echoed, Mo Yu remained silent for a moment. Then, the violet-gold light in his eyes slowly faded, and his deep voice responded, "Since the elder of Soul Hall has spoken, I'll give you that face."
A faint, somewhat ethereal figure—a dignified middle-aged man—slowly emerged from Mo Yu's body, floating in midair.
"What is that?"
When the crowd saw the figure floating beside Mo Yu, they were bewildered, unfamiliar with this mysterious figure.
Though the rest of the onlookers were puzzled, Cai Lin and Zi Huo showed no surprise at the appearance of the soul spirit. Xiao Li, Lin Feng, and others, upon seeing Mo Yu's trump card, finally felt some relief. This mysterious spirit might be their only hope against a Dou Zun expert.
Despite their hopes, they knew it was unlikely that even a powerful soul spirit could match a Dou Zun. But with the situation so dire, they had no other choice but to place their trust in him.
"To think that the once mighty Serpent Master, with the bloodline of the Seven-Winged Violet-Gold Serpent, would fall to such a state... how sad," the black-robed man said with a mocking tone, his cold gaze fixed on the Serpent Master.
"Fate is full of ups and downs, just like the phases of the moon. There's no use lamenting it," the Serpent Master responded calmly, unaffected by the black-robed man's words. His snake-like eyes flashed with a sharp, ghostly glint as he asked, "I've heard of the Soul Hall's reputation. With your strength, you must hold a high position. Who might you be?"
Sensing the chilling aura emanating from the Serpent Master, the black-robed man's expression grew more serious. Although this soul spirit was far weaker now, his fame in the Central Plains was undeniable.
Still, no matter how renowned he once was, the Serpent Master was now merely a weakened soul spirit. The black-robed man smiled coldly and said, "Names are just titles. They don't matter much. But in the Central Plains, they call me Mu Gu Elder."
"Mu Gu Elder?" Hearing this name, Mo Yu's eyes flashed with recognition. He thought, "So this man is Yao Chen's treacherous junior brother?"
Recalling the details from the original story, Mo Yu's silver eyes narrowed in concern. According to what he knew, Mu Gu Elder had been Yao Chen's junior disciple under their master, Han Shan Shan. However, he had been expelled for using live humans in his alchemy experiments.
After being expelled, Mu Gu had fought Yao Chen over the "Burning Flame Manual" in an ancient tomb but lost. He then orchestrated Yao Chen's betrayal by Han Feng, leading to Yao Chen's supposed death. Later, Mu Gu had relentlessly pursued Xiao Yan, trying to seize his flames and the Burning Flame Manual, but ultimately failed.
Mo Yu now realized that Mu Gu Elder was an eighth-tier alchemist and a three-star Dou Zun. With such strength, wiping out the entire Black-Corner Region would be child's play.
A sense of dread filled Mo Yu's heart. How could he, still growing in strength, face a monster from the Central Plains this early?
Mo Yu's thoughts turned to a possible escape. If he could lead Yuan Mansion to Jia Nan Academy, the combined strength of the academy's elders might be able to hold off Mu Gu. But escaping under the gaze of a Dou Zun seemed almost impossible.
As Mo Yu pondered his grim options, the Serpent Master spoke, "So you're Mu Gu Elder. If I recall correctly, you and the renowned Medicine Master Yao Chen were fellow disciples?"
The mention of Yao Chen caused Mu Gu's expression to darken instantly. He hated how Yao Chen had always outshone him. "Yao Chen? Hmph, he was just lucky to gain the title of Medicine Master. And now, who knows where he's rotting."
His eyes flickering with an unreadable emotion, Mu Gu turned back to the Serpent Master. "You, on the other hand, though you are now just a soul, if you join the Soul Hall, we could help you recover your strength. Perhaps you could even reach heights you never imagined. Our Soul Hall is always eager to recruit strong fighters. Why not join us?"
"Join the Soul Hall?" The Serpent Master was momentarily taken aback, considering Mu Gu's offer.
Seeing this, Mo Yu was stunned. Would the Serpent Master really join the Soul Hall? Mo Yu smiled bitterly, knowing he couldn't blame the Serpent Master if he did. The Serpent Master had helped him countless times already.
Even the members of Yuan Mansion were taken aback, their eyes dull with despair. If Mo Yu's mysterious protector joined the enemy, there would be no hope left for them.
Noticing the despair in the air, the Serpent Master frowned slightly. Then, he shook his head. "I appreciate the offer, but the ways of the Soul Hall do not align with my principles. I must decline."
"Hmph! Refusing a toast only to be forced to drink! You're just a mere soul, yet you dare criticize the Soul Hall!" Mu Gu's eyes turned icy. "Today, I will capture you and take you back to the Soul Hall. A Dou Zun-level soul will bring me great merit!"
As Mu Gu spoke, a terrifying aura exploded from his body. The skies above the Northern Plains darkened, even the distant Mo City felt an oppressive sensation. Those standing on the battlefield were struck with fear.
"So, this is the power of a Dou Zun? Truly terrifying..." Both Yuan Mansion and the Black Alliance members stared at Mu Gu in awe.
"Serpent Master, today I will capture you!" Mu Gu's voice rang out again. "And you," he said, turning his cold gaze to Mo Yu, "you seem to have something unusual about you. Since the Serpent Master values you, I'll take you as well!"
In that instant, Mo Yu felt like he was being stared down by a venomous wolf. A bone-chilling cold spread through his body.
(End of chapter)
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