Chapter 197: We Meet Again

    ?

    Xiao Yan''s eyes were fixed intently on the empty space half a meter before him. He actually discovered extremely faint wrinkles hidden within the space that were extremely difficult to detect. Following the trail of those barely discernible wrinkles with his gaze, he was startled to find that these spatial folds almost formed a wall-like barrier, concealing the Hall of Souls behind it.

    He had once read about a barrier in his storage ring that was called ''Space Lock''. It was an exceptionally powerful barrier that only a Dou Venerate expert could establish.

    ''Could that Protector Wu be a Dou Venerate? If he truly is, then that would be problematic. This Soul Command Token might not be enough to bluff an elite Dou Venerate.'' Xiao Yan furrowed his brows, but after pondering for a moment, he dismissed this conjecture.

    ''It''s probably not the case. If he truly were a Dou Venerate, Yun Shan wouldn''t have been shouting like that. It''s more likely that Yun Shan is also a Protector, just of a lower rank than Protector Wu.''

    While a Dou Venerate could indeed set up a Space Lock, arranging one didn''t necessarily require a Dou Venerate. It could also be achieved using certain items and secret techniques.

    ''That Protector Wu knows I possess a Soul Command Token. Despite the commotion I caused in the Misty Cloud Sect, he didn''t appear even when Yun Shan crushed his soul jade piece. This proves that the Soul Command Token bestowed by Hun Huzi still holds significant status, likely higher than Yun Shan''s.''

    Xiao Yan naturally had his reasons for causing such a scene. Not only did he want to enter the Gate of Life and Death in a manner that wouldn''t arouse Ling Ying''s suspicions, but more importantly, he wanted to gauge the attitude of the Hall of Souls hidden within the Misty Cloud Sect toward him.

    This wasn''t like attending school. If the Hall of Souls was divided into factions and he inadvertently ended up in an opposing camp, then he would truly meet a wrongful death. However, he dared to come to the Hall of Souls because he had a certain level of confidence and basis. He recalled that three years ago, not long after Nalan Yanran came to annul their engagement, Hun Huzi had mentioned that he came upon hearing about a genius young man surnamed Xiao emerging in this remote Jia Ma Empire. In the end, Hun Huzi even let him take his Soul Command Token to the Hall of Souls in the imperial capital.

    From this, it could be deduced that the reason Hun Huzi knew about him was because the people of this Hall of Souls had reported it to him, thus prompting his arrival.

    Therefore, it was plausible that this Hall of Souls was under Hun Huzi''s jurisdiction.

    Xiao Yan''s gaze sharpened as he proceeded without hesitation. He had carefully considered everything before coming to the Misty Cloud Sect.

    Clad in his Soul Robe, he walked straight through the Space Lock and entered. This Space Lock could only be accessed by those wearing Soul Robes.

    Upon closer inspection, within this slightly distorted space lay a stretch of polluted black land. The surface occasionally exposed some pale white objects. Startlingly, they were the skeletal remains of various creatures. The surroundings exuded an eerie and chilling atmosphere.

    It was a stark contrast to the environment outside.

    In the heart of this mountain forest stood a silent black hall. At the sight of that pitch-black structure, the words ''Hall of Souls'' surged into Xiao Yan''s mind. Without any introduction, he knew that this was the Hall of Souls within the Misty Cloud Sect!

    Gazing at the jet-black hall, a sinister and terrifying aura slowly permeated the area, rippling through this sealed space.

    Upon closer examination, several exceptionally thick black chains extended from the hall and plunged deep into the ground. Swirling clusters of black fog enveloped these chains, vaguely forming human-like shapes. The chains occasionally flickered with a faint luster.

    to kill them nor uttered a word, simply ignoring them.

    He wasn''t someone with a saintly heart. The Hall of Souls had branches spread extensively

    across the Dou Qi Continent; how much could he possibly control?

    As for the First Elder and the others, they were probably already waiting below.

    ''So ordinary Soul Envoys without Soul Command Tokens rely on those so-called soul stones to collect souls and exchange them for soul points? It seems that soul points are still used as currency for transactions here,'' Xiao Yan pondered as he made his way toward the hall.

    Xiao Yan didn''t encounter many people along the way. This Hall of Souls gave him a

    somewhat desolate feeling.

    ''Why are there so few people?''

    The space concealed by the Space Lock wasn''t very vast. He arrived at the foot of the pitch- black hall after walking for a short while.

    He raised his head and gazed upward. In the center of the black hall, the words ''Hall of Souls'' were engraved using Spiritual Strength. These characters seemed to emit faint wailing sounds. A few black-robed figures were actually sitting on those thick black chains that bound

    the Hall of Souls.

    Xiao Yan''s perception clearly sensed that these individuals were all at the peak Dou Spirit or even Dou King realm, and none of them were from the Misty Cloud Sect.

    ''Those chains are releasing very strong Spiritual Strength. Could those things accelerate the cultivation of Soul Training Methods?''

    This was merely a small branch hall in a remote area, yet it already possessed such a foundation. Those Dou Kings were likely rogue cultivators from the Jia Ma Empire who had passed trials to become Soul Envoys of the Hall of Souls.

    Xiao Yan surmised that the Hall of Souls had its own system of trials and recruitment

    methods.

    The door of the Hall of Souls suddenly opened with a creaking sound. Xiao Yan smiled faintly and, without the slightest hesitation, stepped directly into the hall.

    The door slammed shut with a resounding thud the moment he entered the Hall of Souls. One candle after another lit up, instantly illuminating the entire hall. A figure wearing a Soul Robe and a mass of black fog stood in the center, as if they had been waiting for him all along. Xiao Yan revealed a smile as he slowly removed his hood. His gaze fell on the person to the right and chuckled, "Jie Jie Jie, Old Sect Leader Yun Shan, we meet again."