Battle Through The Heavens : I Am The Thunder Emperor

chapter 341: The Hidden Power of the Soul Hall, Unfazed

The attitude of Yin Gu Lao and his two companions toward Mo Yu caused the entire city to fall into silence.

Even though they were Mo Yu's subordinates, as Dou Huang (Battle Emperor) experts, they held extremely high status and were highly regarded in any faction. In Yun Lan Sect, even the sect leader had to show significant respect to the Dou Huang elders. The fact that Yin Gu Lao and the others had just defeated Yun Du and his comrades demonstrated their immense strength, making them some of the top five strongest fighters in the Jia Ma Empire.

And yet, such powerful individuals bowed so humbly before Mo Yu, leaving everyone to wonder just how powerful and influential Mo Yu had become.

The royal family, Nalan Clan, Mu Clan, and other factions also found themselves reassessing their perception of Mo Yu, elevating his importance even further in their minds.

What they didn't know was that Yin Gu Lao and the others had their own bitter reasons. In the Black-Corner Region, Mo Yu's name carried tremendous weight. Even Dou Zong (Battle Ancestor) experts like Eagle Mountain Elder and Mo Tian Xing did not dare to show arrogance in his presence.

Moreover, Yin Gu Lao and the others had participated in the battle at the Mo Bei Plains and knew Mo Yu's hidden connections and his formidable background. Even a Dou Zun (Battle Saint) expert like Mang Tian, a commander in the Black Demon Army, had stood by Mo Yu's side. This further deepened their fear and respect for him.

After Xiao Li had warned the three major factions that refusing to join the Yuan Clan would lead to their destruction, Yin Gu Lao and the others hadn't hesitated to pledge their loyalty. And having done so, they were determined to redeem themselves after their previous betrayal on the Mo Bei Plains.

This time, they had gone all out to defeat Yun Du and his comrades. Although they were injured, receiving even a simple acknowledgment from Mo Yu—his brief comment of "Well done"—filled them with joy.

After all, Mo Yu, as the leader of the Yuan Clan, was not only highly regarded, but his reputation within the clan was deeply rooted. Receiving praise from him was something every member of the Yuan Clan dreamed of. Their victory in this first battle in the Jia Ma Empire earned them significant credit in Mo Yu's eyes, which would help them fully integrate into the clan.

Mo Yu, too, was pleased with their efforts. This battle had been a test to see if Yin Gu Lao and the others would betray him again. Had they retreated during the battle with Yun Lan Sect, Mo Yu would not have hesitated to deal with them. His Black Lotus Soul Lightning, strengthened after absorbing the souls of many Dou Wang (Battle King) and Dou Huang experts during the Mo Bei Plains battle, was now powerful enough to control and enslave even Dou Huang experts.

But fortunately, Yin Gu Lao and the others had proven their loyalty, averting another crisis.

In the imperial capital, after the deaths of Yun Du and his comrades, the large-scale attack on the Mittel Clan came to an unexpected and decisive end, witnessed by the countless people in the city.

Yun Lan Sect, which had arrived with such force, suffered a devastating blow. All of their elite fighters who had come were killed. Most of the ordinary disciples also perished, while the survivors were imprisoned in the Mittel Clan's dungeons. Without a doubt, Yun Lan Sect had not only been defeated but had suffered an utterly humiliating loss.

It was certain that in a few days, the news of what had happened in the capital would spread like wildfire throughout the empire.

As the battle drew to a close, the Mittel Clan members who had been filled with despair finally breathed a sigh of relief. Under Ya Fei's guidance, they began cleaning up the ruined manor.

Accompanied by Yin Gu Lao and the others, Mo Yu descended into the manor, noticing a smiling Xiao Ding seated in his wheelchair. Mo Yu paused for a moment, then walked over and greeted him with a smile. "Brother Xiao Ding, it's been a long time."

Hearing this, Xiao Yan and Xiao Li, who had retracted their Dou Qi wings, also stepped forward with smiles on their faces. Xiao Yan asked, "Big brother, are you alright?"

"I'm fine." Xiao Ding's gaze shifted from Xiao Li to Mo Yu and Xiao Yan, his face full of pride. "Cousin Mo Yu, third brother, you both did well. Our Xiao Clan is truly blessed to have two dragons among us!"

Mo Yu chuckled lightly. "Brother Xiao Ding, you're too kind. Any success we've had is thanks to the clan's nurturing and the guidance of Uncle Xiao."

Xiao Yan scratched his head and said, "Big brother, the clan has been relying on you for all these years. You've worked so hard."

Xiao Ding smiled warmly at his brothers. Then, his eyes turned to Xiao Li, whose face was leaner and more hardened than before. "You've worked hard too. I'm glad you remembered my advice and kept Cousin Mo Yu and our third brother safe. If something had happened to them, I'd have never forgiven you."

Xiao Li scratched his head but didn't seem bothered by his brother's mild scolding.

"Big brother, your legs..." Xiao Yan's eyes suddenly fell on Xiao Ding's wheelchair. His face darkened, and he asked anxiously, "What happened?"

Xiao Ding smiled. "It's nothing. My legs were poisoned and are completely paralyzed, but at least my hands and mind are still working."

Seeing the faint smile on his brother's face, Xiao Yan clenched his jaw, his dark eyes reddening with emotion.

"Big brother, you've suffered so much." Xiao Yan hugged his brother tightly, his voice hoarse with emotion.

Xiao Ding gently patted Xiao Yan's head, his voice soft and comforting. "Third brother, I'm not the only one who has suffered. Over these past three years, haven't you, Cousin Mo Yu, and our second brother endured just as much?"

Mo Yu also stepped forward, looking at Xiao Ding's crippled legs. His expression hardened as he said, "Brother Xiao Ding has indeed suffered, but from now on, the Xiao Clan will never have to endure such hardships again!"

"Exactly!" Xiao Yan stood up and turned toward the north, his voice cold and resolute. "Cousin Mo Yu, second brother, and I have returned this time to destroy Yun Lan Sect!"

Xiao Ding smiled at their determination. "I believe in you. The Xiao Clan's Twin Dragons will always be our greatest pride!"

Then, looking at Xiao Li, he said with a hint of surprise, "Cousin Mo Yu and third brother's talents are extraordinary, even by the standards of the Northwest Continent. But you, Xiao Li, how did you reach the Dou Wang level in just two years?"

Xiao Li froze for a moment, then quickly responded with a grin, "That's all thanks to Cousin Mo Yu's help. Without him, I'd still only be at the Dou Ling level."

As he spoke, he subtly exchanged a glance with Xiao Yan and Mo Yu, signaling that he didn't want to mention the life-draining Devouring Life Pill that had helped him gain power.

Understanding the signal, Mo Yu and Xiao Yan smiled but said nothing.

"Hehe, let's continue catching up inside. The Mittel Clan may be in shambles right now, but I'm sure we can still find a clean place to sit." Hai Bodong, standing nearby, chuckled and led everyone inside.

The group entered the manor's hall and found their seats. Despite being Dou Huang experts, Yin Gu Lao and the others remained humble and stayed close to Mo Yu, while Lin Yan and the others followed behind, forming a pyramid-like structure with Mo Yu at the top.

Observing the scene, Hai Bodong couldn't help but feel curious about Mo Yu's experiences over the years. To command such powerful experts, Mo Yu must have more than just strength; he must possess exceptional leadership and charisma.

Once everyone was seated, Hai Bodong dismissed the servants, then turned to Mo Yu with a serious expression. "Brother Mo Yu, I assume your return this time means you intend to completely settle things with Yun Lan Sect?"

Mo Yu smiled lightly. "Did you think I came back just to play?"

Hai Bodong's face grew solemn. "If that's the case, I should tell you about Yun Lan Sect's current strength. Over the past three years, their growth has far exceeded expectations. You probably know that three years ago, apart from Yun Shan, only Yun Yun was a Dou Huang expert in the entire sect. But now, even after you killed Yun Du and Yun Sha, there are still at least three Dou Huang experts remaining in the sect, and probably several Dou Wang experts as well."

"As for Mulan Valley, their strength is slightly greater than Yun Lan Sect's. Though their main forces are based in Mulan Empire, they might send even more experts if news of your return spreads to the surrounding empires."

Hearing this, Mo Yu raised an eyebrow but remained unfazed.

Neither Yun Lan Sect nor Mulan Valley could compare to the Black Alliance or Black Emperor Sect he had already dealt with. Not to mention, Mo Yu had already made plans to destroy the Demon Flame Valley, so these two sects were hardly a concern.

Still, Yun Lan Sect's sudden increase in powerful members did raise some suspicion in Mo Yu's mind. In the original story, the sect's alliance with the Soul Hall allowed them to grow rapidly, as they borrowed strength from this powerful organization, leading to their ambitions of conquering the Jia Ma Empire.

Now that Mo Yu had disrupted the timeline, even encountering the Soul Hall Elder, Mu Gu, in the Black-Corner Region, he couldn't rule out the possibility that there had been changes in the Jia Ma Empire as well.

However, Mo Yu doubted that the Soul Hall would send its experts in force, as they operated under the careful watch of the Soul Clan. The Soul Clan had been planning in secret for millennia to achieve their ultimate goal: reviving the ancient emperor. To avoid drawing attention from rival clans, they had always acted with extreme caution.

Mo Yu had connections to one of the top three ancient clans—the Thunder Clan—so the Soul Hall would likely avoid provoking him openly. If they were foolish enough to target him in secret, Mo Yu's hand brushed over the Black Thunder Talisman hidden in his sleeve, a cold smile forming on his lips.

Even if the Hall Master of the Soul Hall himself appeared, Mo Yu would ensure he tasted the full wrath of an eight-star Dou Saint's thunderous attack.

As the hall fell into a brief silence, just as Hai Bodong was about to speak again, the space inside the hall began to ripple. In an instant, three figures appeared out of thin air.

The figure on the left was a tall woman in a red dress, her enchanting face radiating an icy allure that made her both irresistible and untouchable.

The figure on the right was equally tall, wearing a green dress with a delicate, beautiful face. Her emerald eyes gleamed with a unique charm.

In the center stood a small girl in a white dress, her large, gem-like black eyes curiously scanning the surroundings.

Seeing the three newcomers, Mo Yu's expression twitched. The little girl was holding a small, ornate jade box, the faint scent of medicine drifting from within.

It was clear that while the battle had raged outside, these three had sneaked off to steal herbs.

While Mo Yu stared at them with a frown, Hai Bodong's face paled with fear. His body trembled slightly as if he had seen a ghost.

"B-B-Queen Medusa?" Hai Bodong stammered, his voice a mix of disbelief and terror.

Without noticing Hai Bodong's shock, Mo Yu strode forward, grabbed the hands of Zi Yan and Qing Lin, and took the jade box from them.

With a stern voice, he asked, "What's going on? Where did you sneak off to this time?"

Zi Yan quickly shut her mouth, clutching Mo Yu's sleeve, while Qing Lin, following her example, pulled on his other sleeve, both of them putting on innocent expressions to avoid punishment.

Seeing them surrender so quickly, Medusa sighed in exasperation. Even though she had joined them in the mischief, she found herself left to take the blame.

Though tempted to argue her case, Medusa felt too proud to beg for forgiveness in front of everyone. Shifting her gaze slightly, she tried to explain. "We noticed that the battle didn't need us, so we decided to explore a bit. We just happened to come across a few interesting items."

Mo Yu blinked, wondering if they had stolen from the Mittel Clan. That wouldn't do—he was friends with Ya Fei and Hai Bodong.

With a resigned shake of his head, Mo Yu turned to Hai Bodong and offered a sheepish smile. "I'm sorry about this, Brother Hai. These three troublemakers must have gotten into your clan's treasures."

As Mo Yu held out the jade box to return it, Hai Bodong quickly waved him off. "No need, no need. If she likes it, she can have it. We were going to auction it off anyway. Consider it a gift."

Seeing how eager Hai Bodong was to give it away, Mo Yu could only offer a weak smile. Just as he was about to speak, a messenger rushed into the hall.

"Sir, representatives from the royal family, the Mu Clan, the Nalan Clan, and the Alchemist Association have arrived to offer their greetings!"

(End of Chapter)

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