"Hall Master, Second Heavenly Venerate requests an audience."
A Heaven-Rank Protector of Soul Hall appeared from the shadows like a phantom, kneeling on one knee to report.
Soul Hall's Protectors were divided into three ranks: Heaven, Earth, and Human.
This Heaven-Rank Protector before him was at the peak of Dou Zong.
Hun Miesheng exchanged a glance with Gui Lao. Gui Lao nodded, and his figure quietly disappeared from the Soul Hall amidst a ripple of spatial fluctuation.
Hun Miesheng waved his sleeve and turned to sit upon the throne.
"You may withdraw. He's already here."
"What?" The Protector was startled. He looked around but saw no one.
Hun Miesheng chuckled lightly and looked toward a shadowed corner of the hall.
"Second Heavenly Venerate, you've come from afar. This glass of wine shall welcome you."
Unhurriedly, he filled a cup with wine and flicked his finger to send it flying.
Whoosh—
The wine cup, wrapped in Dou Qi, burst through the air with a sonic boom, even distorting the surrounding space. It hurtled toward the corner of the hall like a falling meteor. Just as it was about to crash into a golden dragon-phoenix pillar—
Clap!
A pale, withered hand extended and caught the cup midair.
The wine within trembled slightly, a few drops spilling onto the floor.
A figure slowly emerged from the shadows, his green glowing pupils eerie and sharp. His entire body was gaunt and skeletal, almost corpse-like in appearance.
"Second Heavenly Venerate, Gu You, greets the Hall Master."
Gu You downed the wine in one gulp and tossed the cup back onto Hun Miesheng's table. Then, he respectfully cupped his fists toward the throne.
"Hall Master summoned me. What are your instructions?"
Hun Miesheng smiled and gestured to the side.
"No rush, Venerate Gu You. The others haven't arrived yet."
"There are others?" Gu You paused, glancing sideways to see several empty seats arranged nearby.
"Has the Hall Master summoned more Heavenly Venerates?"
He frowned slightly, but since Hun Miesheng clearly didn't want to explain, he could only sit down quietly.
Under his sleeves, Gu You's hands trembled faintly. Catching that cup of wine had not been as easy as it seemed.
The Dou Qi hidden within it was strong enough to kill an ordinary Dou Zun.
'Was that a show of strength?'
A bad feeling crept into Gu You's heart.
He didn't know exactly what Hun Miesheng was planning, but he had a guess—
Soul Hall… was about to change!
Hun Miesheng didn't care what Gu You was thinking. He sat lazily on the throne, half-closing his eyes as he gazed toward the hall's entrance.
Half a cup of tea's time passed. Then, his lips curled slightly.
"He's here."
Though the voice wasn't loud, Gu You, as a Half-Saint, heard it clearly.
'Could it be the one the Hall Master is waiting for?'
Just then, the Dou Qi in the sky outside began to violently swirl.
Thunderous explosions echoed across the heavens as dark clouds blotted out the sun.
In the blink of an eye, wind and storm churned.
A deep, hoarse voice came from the void.
"Jie jie jie… Looks like this venerable one is late."
"Tsk, tsk… Gu You, you got here fast. Even beat me here."
A black whirlwind swept through as a black-robed middle-aged man appeared outside the hall.
His features were sinister, with sunken eyes and a smirking expression aimed at Gu You.
"Great Heavenly Venerate!" Gu You's heart trembled.
He hadn't expected that the person Hun Miesheng awaited was the Great Heavenly Venerate.
Though both were Heavenly Venerates, Gu You was a Half-Saint, while this man was a genuine Two-Star Dou Sheng.
Their status wasn't remotely the same.
Just as Gu You was about to respond, a rough shout echoed from the distant sky.
A surge of blood-colored clouds formed by Dou Qi roared across the heavens, blotting out everything.
"Great Heavenly Venerate, with our Hall behind you, how could you be late?"
Three figures stepped out of the void and landed outside the hall, following behind the Great Heavenly Venerate and entering the main hall.
"Looks like Great Heavenly Venerate commands quite a presence."
Hun Miesheng smiled thoughtfully.
"Fourth Heavenly Venerate, Blood River. Sixth Heavenly Venerate, Hun Jun. Eighth Heavenly Venerate, Qiu Di."
"Tsk tsk, Hall Master's invitation must've reached all corners. Have you called all Nine Heavenly Venerates here?"
The Great Heavenly Venerate looked toward Hun Miesheng and chuckled.
There was mischief in his smile, a touch of surprise, but not the slightest hint of respect.
Hun Miesheng remained relaxed and unbothered, showing no reaction to his insolence.
'You think the Soul Clan is united? Only fools would believe that.'
Soul Hall's internal structure was complex.
Most of its high-level members were appointed by the Soul Clan. A few were trained from childhood.
As for the mid and lower tiers — most of them were Dou Zong or Dou Huang, raised with pills into dead soldiers whose strength would never rise beyond that.
According to his memory, the Great Heavenly Venerate's name was Hun Xie. He was not only the highest-ranking Heavenly Venerate of Soul Hall, but also a member of the Soul Clan's Four Saints — personally recommended to Soul Hall by Elder Hun Tu.
He was also at mid-stage Two-Star Dou Sheng. Even the original Hun Miesheng had to show him some respect.
But too bad… Hun Miesheng wasn't the same man anymore.
"Fourth Heavenly Venerate, Blood River, greets Hall Master."
"Sixth Heavenly Venerate greets Hall Master."
"Eighth Heavenly Venerate, Qiu Di, greets Hall Master."
Each of them bowed one after the other.
Only the Great Heavenly Venerate gave a shallow nod.
"What does the Hall Master wish of us?"
The Great Heavenly Venerate swept his eyes over the group and asked.
"The last time all Heavenly Venerates gathered was during the extermination of the Chen Clan, wasn't it?"
"Two Three-Star Dou Shengs and one peak One-Star Dou Sheng… Took seven Heavenly Venerates to wipe them out."
The Eighth Heavenly Venerate, Qiu Di, crossed his arms and spoke flatly.
"Are we targeting another major power or clan?"
Blood River licked his lips, bloodlust glinting in his eyes. He looked eager.
"Can't a Hall Master just call his Venerates together for a little chat?"
"How boring."
The Great Heavenly Venerate stood and turned to leave the hall.
"If that's all, this venerable one will take his leave."
"Stop."
A cold voice echoed throughout the hall, and a terrifying soul pressure fell over everyone.
The relaxed and arrogant expressions on everyone's faces changed instantly.
"Did I say you could leave?"
(End of Chapter)