Chapter 1094: Again Seeing Little Jasmine

Over the past few days, many astonishing rumors have gradually emerged in the Black琊 Realm, spreading wider and growing more intense.

“I heard that several thousand more Soul Sect disciples died at Ling Yun’s hands yesterday. In just over half a month, the Soul Sect has lost at least fifty to sixty thousand disciples. Yet, even though the Soul Sect deploys in large numbers daily, they haven’t even touched a single hair on Ling Yun’s head. I also heard that they don’t even know what Ling Yun looks like.”

“Hmph! What a load of nonsense! Ling Yun has already killed at least hundreds of thousands of Soul Sect disciples. Just yesterday, no less than fifty thousand died; it was a scene of bodies strewn everywhere and rivers of blood... My grand-uncle’s eldest nephew is a Soul Sect disciple, and he told me himself. Now, whenever Soul Sect disciples hear the name ‘Ling Yun,’ they tremble with fear.”

“Speaking of which, who exactly is this Ling Yun? The Soul Sect has truly provoked a living King of Hell this time.”

“Latest news! Just today, the Soul Sect issued a ban! All disciples must stay strictly within the sect and are forbidden from going out—it’s absolutely true! The mighty Soul Sect was actually scared into hiding like a turtle! It’s truly gratifying, fantastic! Hahahaha!”

“Shush! Lower your voice, or the Soul Sect people might hear you.”

“They’re so scared they won’t even leave their nests. What’s there to be afraid of?”

The Soul Sect, infamous and all-powerful in the Black琊 Realm, had large numbers of its disciples repeatedly killed and was even forced to issue a ban, causing widespread panic within the sect. For the profound practitioners of the Black琊 Realm, this was more than just gratifying. At first, they only dared to discuss it in secret, but gradually the discussions grew more fervent. When the news of the Soul Sect's ban spread, it was met with widespread jubilation. The entire Black琊 Realm was stirred into a wonderfully fervent atmosphere within just a few days... almost like a major festival.

As for the name 'Ling Yun,' it was already known by young and old alike, reverberating like thunder.

Black Soul Divine Sect.

Bang!! The stone table shattered with a crash. Lei Qianfeng's face was as dark as the bottom of a pot. “Who spread these rumors? This is outrageous!!”

“That must have been Ling Yun’s doing.”

“No,” Lei Tiangang shook his head. “These past few days, Ling Yun has definitely not left the thousand-li radius. And it’s impossible for one person alone to stir public opinion to this extent in such a short time. He might have accomplices! And these accomplices are people from the Black琊 Realm!”

“More precisely... these rumors seem to have started spreading from Black琊 City. His accomplices are highly likely to be a force within Black琊 City, and a considerable one at that!”

“The Grand Hall Master makes a good point! However, I can’t immediately think of any sect or power in the Black琊 Realm that would be so audacious!”

“Stop talking about useless things!” Lei Qianfeng roared. “Once we catch Ling Yun, those commoners will naturally shut their mouths! If he truly has any accomplices in the Black琊 Realm, then let them die without a burial place!”

“There’s only half a month left!” Lei Qianfeng’s gaze was sinister and terrifying. “No matter what methods you use, you must find him for me! I will personally crush every bone in his body, making his life worse than death!”

Lei Qiandu, the Grand Elder of the Soul Sect, said: “Judging from Ling Yun’s methods these past few days, he targets disciples below the Divine Tribulation Realm and never dares to attack those in the Divine Tribulation Realm. This indicates his profound energy is likely not high. He kills no more than two hundred disciples at a time, yet leaves no traces whatsoever. Considering all this, his profound cultivation is probably not high, but he is extremely skilled in concealment. Perhaps he can completely conceal his aura. The most astonishing aspect, however, is his spiritual power…”

“I’ve been consulting ancient texts these past few days and found many records of killing people invisibly using spiritual power. However, such methods are extremely difficult to cultivate, involve great risk, and all originate from the true god inheritances of upper and middle star realms. The ‘Mindless Pure Kill Curse’ from the Bodhi Zen Realm can erase all consciousness in a few breaths. The Flame God Realm has a special domain that can integrate flames into soul power to incinerate enemy souls over a wide area. And the ‘Ice Soul Absolute Domain’ of the Azure Dragon Realm in the Western Divine Region is even more…”

“I don’t want to hear about these useless things!” Lei Qianfeng interrupted roughly. “Even if Ling Yun isn’t from the Pure Moon Realm, he absolutely cannot originate from a middle or upper star realm; otherwise, he wouldn’t be so secretive. All I want to know is how much longer until you catch him!”

“Well…” Lei Tiangang said cautiously. “Sect Master, last night I arranged for the sixty-four halls to split into two hundred teams, with at least two Divine Tribulation Realm experts stationed in each. Then, under cover of night, they quietly set up ambushes in places where Ling Yun is most likely to appear. We should… have some success.”

Lei Tiangang’s last two sentences clearly lacked confidence. He then quickly added: “However, the best method would be to find Ling Yun’s family or some leverage to force him out. But the Pure Moon Realm isn’t the Black琊 Realm, and its territory is several times larger. Our dispatched personnel are investigating day and night, but there are no results yet. Please rest assured, Sect Master, I believe there will be good news in a few days.”

“It had better be.” Every word Lei Qianfeng uttered carried terrifying murderous intent. “Otherwise, when the Divine Martial Realm punishes us in half a month, I won’t have an easy time, and neither will any of you!!”

Black Soul Mountain Range.

Lei Kuangfeng and Lei Qinglie, the two Deputy Hall Masters of the Soul Sect’s Thirty-Sixth Hall, last night, by Lei Tiangang’s order, led a hundred elite disciples from the Thirty-Sixth Hall. Under the cover of night and thick fog, they quietly arrived at Black Soul Mountain, dispersing and concealing themselves in the dry grass. They then fully suppressed their auras and repeatedly issued strict orders not to make any sound.

In the darkness and silence, they waited the entire night.

Although this was akin to waiting for a rabbit by a tree stump, they had been tormented for half a month without even glimpsing their target’s shadow. They could think of no better method.

The morning light gradually brightened, and the grey fog began to dissipate. Without much surprise, they once again found nothing. However, Lei Kuangfeng and Lei Qinglie remained in their original positions until daylight fully broke and the fog completely cleared. Only then did the two transmit a message to each other and leap out of the grass.

“Gather the teams, return to the sect!” Lei Kuangfeng roared. However, what answered him was a terrifying silence. All the disciples’ auras were still present, yet when he roared, not a single person responded.

Lei Kuangfeng and Lei Qinglie’s expressions changed drastically. Lei Kuangfeng immediately soared into the air and struck down with a palm, instantly sending the grass in the surrounding several li area flying high. Along with it, the bodies of all the disciples they had brought were also sent flying.

Thud, thud, thud, thud… The bodies of the Soul Sect disciples fell like dumplings. Their eyes were all wide open, lifeless, like dead men, yet paradoxically, their auras were still completely present.

Lei Kuangfeng and Lei Qinglie froze simultaneously. Although Lei Kuangfeng had personally experienced similar events before, he still felt a chill run through his body. As for Lei Qinglie, even if the number of dead Soul Sect disciples were ten times greater, it would still not compare to the horror this scene brought.

“Could it be… truly… truly a ghost?” As a dignified Deputy Hall Master of a Soul Sect hall, Lei Qinglie’s voice was actually trembling.

At that moment, a faint scent of blood wafted from ahead. Lei Kuangfeng faintly perceived it, quickly stepped forward, and turned over a disciple’s body. On his back, he clearly saw several small lines of blood-red characters:

“Go back and tell Lei Qianfeng: I give him three days to cripple his profound energy and both his hands and feet as an apology! Otherwise, I will make him regret it for the rest of his life!”“—Ling Yun.”

“It… it really is Ling Yun!” Lei Qinglie still hadn’t recovered from the immense shock.

Lei Kuangfeng’s expression, however, darkened. “The blood hasn’t completely dried. He must have acted not long ago, which means he definitely hasn’t gone far! Let’s find him quickly!”

The two Deputy Hall Masters immediately soared into the air, releasing their spiritual senses and frantically scanning around… Everyone in the Soul Sect believed that ‘Ling Yun’ must possess extremely powerful aura concealment abilities, and was cunning and cautious, only acting when absolutely certain of safety, and immediately fleeing far away after striking… However, they would never have dreamed that Yun Che could not only perfectly conceal his aura but also completely hide his physical form.

The Moon-Shattering Phantom, a Divine Way profound art from the Ancient Ice Phoenix, whose level surpassed even the Ice Phoenix God Sealing Arts, was a technique even Mu Xuanyin couldn’t cultivate to the grand perfection realm where one could become invisible. How could profound practitioners of a lower star realm possibly comprehend it?

In the distance, an invisible shadow watched the two figures flailing like headless flies in the air, then let out a cold snort. He then unhurriedly moved westward. The gazes and spiritual senses of the two Soul Sect Deputy Hall Masters swept over his location without any pause.

After moving a safe distance away, Yun Che slightly raised his profound energy, accelerating his speed, and his figure reappeared.

“The first step is almost complete. It’s time to give the Soul Sect their second big gift.” Yun Che placed a hand over his heart and murmured, “He Lin, I will… make them pay back the blood debt they owe your Wood Spirit clan ten thousand-fold!”

Just as he revealed himself and prepared to speed away, he suddenly sensed a faint, yet familiar aura ahead.

This aura… could it be?

His figure shot forward, his gaze piercing through a patch of bushes below, and he instantly saw a petite figure skipping along, her vibrant rainbow-colored dress particularly eye-catching.

It was none other than Little Jasmine! What was she doing here!?

Coincidence or not, the very moment Yun Che saw her, Little Jasmine happened to look up, caught sight of Yun Che, and her eyes instantly lit up.

Oh no—Yun Che’s heart leaped. He swiftly plunged down, but it was too late. An extremely pleasant, childish shout echoed through the valley.

“Brother-in-law, I’m here!”

Although Lei Kuangfeng and Lei Qinglie were far away, they were currently in a state of full spiritual sense release. Little Jasmine’s shout was as clear as crystal colliding, loud enough for them to hear even if they hadn't been on high alert.

Yun Che swooped down like a fierce eagle, scooped up Little Jasmine, and firmly covered her lips with his right hand. Using Flowing Light Thunder Shadow, he instantly sealed her aura. Then, flying swiftly close to the ground, he glided silently with Little Jasmine into the crevice between two massive boulders, as far as his eyes could see.

“Don’t make a sound!” Yun Che gritted his teeth. He sealed her movements with profound energy to prevent her from struggling. While Flowing Light Thunder Shadow sealed her aura, his palm still nervously covered her mouth and nose.

Little Jasmine couldn’t move or make a sound. She could only widen her innocent eyes.

Undoubtedly, it wasn’t long before Lei Kuangfeng and Lei Qinglie arrived, carried by two storm-like currents of air. They landed precisely where Yun Che and Little Jasmine had been moments before.

“That sounded like a girl’s voice. How could it suddenly vanish?”“The girl was clearly calling out to someone… they must be nearby, find them immediately!”

Yun Che was frozen stiff, not daring to move an inch.

With the double concealment of Flowing Light Thunder Shadow and Moon-Shattering Phantom, even if the two came within ten zhang, he was absolutely confident he wouldn’t be discovered. But that was for himself! Flowing Light Thunder Shadow could be used on others, but Moon-Shattering Phantom clearly could not! Relying solely on Flowing Light Thunder Shadow, against individuals with profound energy more than one major realm higher than his, he absolutely could not guarantee not being discovered… or more accurately, that Little Jasmine wouldn’t be discovered.

However, their luck seemed good. Lei Kuangfeng headed south, and Lei Qinglie headed west, gradually moving further and further away from them.

Yun Che secretly breathed a sigh of relief. He glanced at Little Jasmine, whose star-like eyes were wide and pitiful, and whispered: “Those two are hunting me. If they find us, we’re both dead, understand! So don’t make a sound, not even a loud breath. If you understand, blink your eyes.”

Little Jasmine’s eyes blinked several times with great effort.

Only then did Yun Che slowly extend his hand, maintaining Flowing Light Thunder Shadow, preparing to quietly leave with Little Jasmine.

Little Jasmine indeed made no sound. She glanced at Yun Che with a look full of grievance, reached up to rub her small nose which seemed to ache slightly, and then…

“ACHOO!!”

An incredibly loud sneeze made all the hairs on Yun Che’s body stand on end instantly.

“I—!” Without thinking, Yun Che grabbed Little Jasmine with one hand, his profound energy erupting throughout his body, and shot away. At the same instant, two powerful auras, like soul-binding thunder chains, locked tightly onto him.