Chapter 178: Soul Refinement (Please Subscribe, Please Support)

“Do you realize he is my own brother? You brat, prepare to die!” The man in the black robe roared, gathering a ball of dark mist in his hand, ready to strike at Xiao Xie.

“What is this? Why can’t I move?!” The black-robed man suddenly found himself in a changed environment. He was nailed to a gigantic cross by four enormous spikes. He couldn’t move at all, nor could he muster any battle energy.

“Idiot!” Xiao Xie extended a finger, and a crimson flash, thick as a finger, instantly pierced through the black-robed man’s skull, killing him. The shuriken pattern in Xiao Xie’s eyes gradually faded away.

As a seventh-tier alchemist, Xiao Xie’s soul power far surpassed that of ordinary Dou Zong. Anyone below the Dou Zun level dreaming to escape Xiao Xie’s kaleidoscopic illusion was simply delusional. This black-robed man was merely an eight-star Dou Zong; the moment he saw Xiao Xie’s kaleidoscopic eyes, he had already lost.

“Trying to flee?” As Xiao Xie saw a white light fly from the corpse, he instantly appeared beside the energy cluster of the black-robed man’s soul, seized it with a claw, and devoured the soul. A flash of white light passed through his hand; he searched the corpse and retrieved a white treasure chest, then stored both the corpse and the chest away.

The nine souls enslaved by Xiao Xie’s Nine Lives Mysterious Cat had all been replaced with those above the Dou Wang level. Among them, two belonged to members of the Soul Hall, one a seven-star Dou Zong, one an eight-star Dou Zong; three were the souls of Jin Yin, Elder Han Feng, and the remaining four were Dou Wang souls slain during Xiao Xie’s conquest of the Black Corner Region.

Gu He, witnessing Xiao Xie effortlessly kill the black-robed man, felt cold sweat running down his back. Even though the black-robed man hadn’t managed a single move before being killed, the aura he released was unmistakably of Dou Zong rank. A Dou Zong-level expert had been killed in an instant—how terrifying was Xiao Xie’s combat strength?

Previously, Gu He might have harbored some thoughts about Yun Yun, but now those notions vanished instantly. He didn’t believe himself stronger than a Dou Zong, and for the sake of his own life, unless Xiao Xie died, he would never dare covet Yun Yun again.

“Yun’er, accompany Xiao Xie. I, your master, must go into seclusion.” Yun Shan, having seen Xiao Xie kill the black-robed man in an instant, felt greatly disturbed. Witnessing Xiao Xie’s overwhelming strength unsettled him deeply; he instructed Yun Yun and left the hall to cultivate in seclusion.

“Let’s go for a walk!” Xiao Xie took Yun Yun’s soft hand and left the hall, leaving the elders of the Cloud Mist Sect exchanging glances. Yet none dared say anything. After all, the black-robed man was a Dou Zong-level strongman, and he hadn’t survived even a single exchange with Xiao Xie. Who would dare speak up?

“Tea, let’s have some tea!” Grand Elder Yun Ling lifted his cup with a smile.

“Yes, yes, everyone, let’s drink tea!”

Accompanied by Yun Yun, Xiao Xie strolled around the rear mountain of the Cloud Mist Sect. The two informed each other of their circumstances over the past half year. Xiao Xie then used the corpse of the black-robed man to summon a skeleton of a seven-star Dou Zong, and with the Hellfire, strengthened it into an eight-star Dou Zong Bone Knight. The Bone Knight transformed into a bone ring, which Xiao Xie gifted to Yun Yun.

Finally, Xiao Xie helped Yun Yun inspect the Saintess Peak. Under Yun Yun’s bashful gaze, he left with a contented heart.

Xiao Xie stayed at the Miter family for three days, spending time with Ya Fei, then took Qing Lin and used the Earth Spirit Pearl to return to the Black Corner Region. The Earth Spirit Pearl allowed Xiao Xie to return to any place he had previously visited, so in the future, he could return to the Jia Ma Empire with a mere thought.

“Is Little Doctor Immortal still in seclusion?” After returning to Maple City with Qing Lin, Xiao Xie first sought out Little Doctor Immortal, only to find she was still cultivating in isolation.

“Sister Xian’er is probably preparing for a breakthrough to Dou Huang this time. Qing Lin must work hard too and strive to become a Dou Wang soon!” Qing Lin spoke resolutely, bade Xiao Xie farewell, and went into seclusion herself.

With the Barrier-breaking Pills provided by Xiao Xie, both Qing Lin and Little Doctor Immortal wouldn't have much trouble breaking through, though it would still take some time. Thus, Xiao Xie found himself alone once more.

Returning to his room, Xiao Xie shifted his mind into the Worship Space and opened the treasure chest obtained from the black-robed man. Inside was a special Dou Technique called Soul Refining, also known as a soul technique. Though it was only a low-tier earth-ranked Dou Technique, it could enhance soul power. The Soul Clan leader cultivated a heaven-tier soul technique, which was why the Soul Clan’s soul power far exceeded that of ordinary people.

After learning the Soul Refining technique, Xiao Xie left the Worship Space and, after some thought, headed alone to the outer courtyard.

“Mentor Ruolin, long time no see. You’ve become even more beautiful.” Xiao Xie had not been in the outer courtyard long when he encountered an old acquaintance—Ruolin, who had previously led Xiao Xie and friends to Canaan Academy.

“It’s been a while, but the name of Dragon Gate’s master, Xiao Xie, is one I hear often,” Ruolin, clad in her violet academy robes, turned and smiled at Xiao Xie.

“Sister Ruolin, you flatter me. I’m here to see Xiao Yan and the others.” Xiao Xie responded with a smile.

“Follow me,” Ruolin said, leading Xiao Xie to find the others.

At noon, Xiao Yan and his companions were not attending classes but sparring together. Xiao Yu was also present. Just as in the Inner Academy, the Outer Academy students formed factions; Xiao Yan and his group, all members of the Xiao family, naturally gathered together.

“Xun’er, Yu’er, someone’s here to see you.” Ruolin brought Xiao Xie to the residence of the Xiao family disciples and called out with a smile.

“Xiao Xie.”

“Cousin Xiao Xie!”

“Cousin Xiao Xie!”

The gazes of Xiao Yu and the others were instantly drawn to Xiao Xie at Ruolin’s side. They all crowded around him; even in the Outer Academy, they had heard of Xiao Xie’s legendary exploits in recent times.

“Cousin Xiao Xie, what brings you here?” Xiao Xun’er, dressed in pale blue academy robes, was the first to speak. As the young mistress of the Ancient Clan, she was well-traveled and thus not intimidated before Xiao Xie. Xiao Yu and Xiao Mei, on the other hand, hardly dared look him in the eye.

“Why shouldn’t I come to see all of you?” Xiao Xie instinctively ruffled Xun’er’s fine hair, smiling warmly.

Xun’er was startled by the affectionate gesture but sensed from Xiao Xie that it was merely instinctive, like a brother seeing his sister. Aside from her initial surprise, she didn’t react too strongly.

After ruffling Xun’er’s head, Xiao Xie realized he had acted a bit too familiarly; he had gotten used to ruffling Qing Lin and Zi Yan’s heads, so his hand had moved unconsciously upon seeing Xun’er.

“Ahem,” Xiao Xie coughed lightly, noticing Xiao Mei and the others’ odd looks, breaking the awkward atmosphere. He took out several advanced Xuan-tier techniques and Dou Skills from his storage ring and handed them to Xiao Yu and the others.

“Thank you, Cousin Xiao Xie.” Xiao Yan, accepting the techniques and skills, expressed his gratitude, for such advanced Xuan-tier techniques were invaluable to him at this stage.

“What about mine? Cousin Xiao Xie, why don’t I get anything?” Xiao Xun’er saw everyone else receive techniques and skills—even Ruolin—yet she was left empty-handed. She was not particularly interested in advanced Xuan-tier techniques, but everyone else had received something except her. What did that mean? Plus, Xiao Xie had just ruffled her hair—how could he so quickly forget her?

Xiao Xie looked at the seemingly pouty Xun’er and couldn’t help but laugh. “You little girl, do you really care for advanced Xuan-tier techniques and skills? With a Dou Huang as your protector, I doubt you’d need such things.”

Xun’er frowned at his words, then broke into a smile. “I don’t care. Whether I need them is my concern, but whether you give them depends on your sincerity, cousin.”

“You really are impossible, little girl. Fine, here you go!” Xiao Xie shook his head helplessly and handed two Dou Skills to Xun’er.

“Thank you, Cousin Xiao Xie!” Xun’er accepted the scrolls, her bright eyes narrowing happily as she saw Xiao Xie’s helpless expression, as if she had tasted honey.