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**
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
In the void above, several streaks of black light tore through the sky, shooting like lightning toward the sky-covering black storm ahead.
As they sped forward, Wei Yang and his group quickly closed in on the location of the black storm.
Looking up, they saw that the already dim sky had, without the slightest warning, plunged into complete darkness. This darkness was rapidly spreading toward them, expanding like a drop of ink falling into a bowl of clear water, silently and swiftly seeping outwards.
"Stay close later, and don't get separated. The depths of the void hold many unknowns, and I'm sure storms like this aren't rare. We have to be careful not to get lost in there. Ah Da, you'll take the lead. Xian'er, you'll guard the rear." Wei Yang issued instructions mid-flight.
"Got it." The others nodded in agreement.
Before long, even in high altitude, they were swiftly swallowed by the darkness, dragged from light into shadow in an instant.
—Hm?
Wei Yang's speed suddenly slowed, then he came to a gradual stop.
He frowned slightly, eyes fixed on the darkness ahead.
"What is it, Young Master?" Qing Lin asked.
"Brother Yang, what's wrong?" Xian'er's voice came from behind, noticing something off about him.
Wei Yang narrowed his eyes, silent for a moment before letting out a cold chuckle.
"Heh… looks like someone's come looking for us." His gaze was locked forward.
The others also focused their attention. Ahead, the wind howled and black mist churned, filling the dark expanse. This black mist didn't just obscure vision — it also disrupted and weakened soul perception.
Anyone inside would find their spiritual senses heavily suppressed, their detection range drastically reduced.
Still, Wei Yang's group was far from weak, and they quickly spotted something unusual within the darkness ahead.
"Come out. Stop playing ghost in the shadows," Wei Yang said coldly.
The darkness ahead was silent for a beat. Then, a dense, pitch-black fog began to stir. From within, a pair of scarlet eyes slowly lit up, staring indifferently at Wei Yang's party.
Jie jie jie~
A spine-chilling, hoarse laugh echoed out.
The next moment, a figure cloaked entirely in a loose black robe, its body wreathed in strange black mist, stepped slowly out of the darkness and into view.
The newcomer's appearance was completely obscured.
But the attire, the unsettling aura, and that hideous laugh — all of it made the identity clear.
"Jie jie jie~ You're Wei Yang?" The eerie figure's scarlet eyes locked tightly on him.
"That's me," Wei Yang nodded, then asked in return, "And you are?"
"You can call me… Qi Zun Zhe."
"Qi Zun Zhe?" Wei Yang raised a brow, though he wasn't truly surprised.
At a time like this, anyone daring to come straight for him could only be at the Dou Zun level.
Those Dou Zong-ranked Hall Protectors? They'd probably run for the hills at the sight of him, never mind picking a fight.
He just didn't expect the other party to arrive so quickly.
Wei Yang's heart sank.
It had barely been over half a year, and yet the Hall of Souls had already sent a Dou Zun-level powerhouse after him.
And this, even after he'd slipped quietly out of the Jia Ma Empire to hide. Clearly, they'd put in the effort to track him down.
This wasn't quite like the original story at all.
Even someone like Xiao Yan could run wild all over the place and still roam Central Plains unharmed.
So why was it that, for him, the moment he moved… he was already being hunted?
Strictly speaking, he did have some grievances with the Hall of Souls, but nothing that deep.
The Hall sends someone, not to find Xiao Yan and Yao Lao, but to come after him?This "lowered-intelligence protagonist halo" of Xiao Yan's was absurdly strong.
Was he really here taking the calamity meant for Xiao Yan?Wei Yang couldn't help feeling speechless.
Sure enough, if you're going to be friends with the child of destiny, you'd better have a sturdy enough fate yourself.
"I rushed here from Central Plains. The moment I arrived in the Black-Corner Region, I caught wind of your whereabouts. Jie jie jie, I'm curious — the one bold enough to ruin the Hall of Souls' plans, what does he look like?"
Qi Zun Zhe let out a strange laugh. "Young man, you've got guts. Still, that old fellow Yao Chen… his eye for talent isn't bad."
Wei Yang was utterly speechless.
As expected.
He really was taking Xiao Yan's place in this mess.
Their whereabouts must've been leaked in Black Emperor City, letting the other side follow the trail right to them. Otherwise, this Qi Zun Zhe probably would have gone straight to the Jia Ma Empire.
And in that case, Xiao Yan and Yao Lao might've really been in danger.
Still—
"You came straight to me? Didn't send anyone after Xiao Yan?" Wei Yang suddenly asked.
"Xiao Yan and Yao Chen? I sent a peak Dou Zong Protector their way," Qi Zun Zhe replied without hesitation.
"A peak Dou Zong Protector, huh?" Wei Yang frowned slightly, unable to keep a bit of worry from his heart.
Whether Xiao Yan and Yao Lao could handle that… he didn't know.
But it wasn't something he could control.
After all, he was already taking on the bigger threat — that was doing more than enough for Xiao Yan and Yao Lao.
The darkness churned with mist, the wind howling through it.
"Worried about them? Don't be. Once I've dealt with you, I'll pull out your soul, then head to the Jia Ma Empire. By then, you and your teacher will have a nice little reunion," Qi Zun Zhe said coldly.
"Pull my soul?"
Wei Yang let out a slow breath, shaking his head with a laugh. "I don't know what's wrong with you, coming after me instead of Xiao Yan, a target outside your mission. Honestly, you're pretty unprofessional… but I have to admit, you've got an eye for picking targets."
"Hehe, I chose you not just because it was on the way and for the strange flame you possess. In truth, it's not off-mission at all — the Hall Master is… somewhat interested in you," Qi Zun Zhe explained with surprising patience.
"Uh, your Hall Master's already got his sights on me?" Wei Yang rubbed his nose.
It's not like he'd done more than kill a few Protectors.
"You don't seem afraid of me. Or… are you stalling for time?" Qi Zun Zhe's tone grew curious, "Could it be there's someone in the Black-Corner Region who can come save you?"
"No. I doubt there's a Dou Zun here, and even if there is, they wouldn't dare provoke the Hall of Souls." Wei Yang shook his head.
"True enough." Qi Zun Zhe nodded. The black mist around him surged, his aura steadily rising. "So… are you going to surrender, or resist to the bitter end?"
"I've got one last question." Wei Yang raised a finger. "Mind telling me, how many stars is your Dou Zun cultivation?"
Qi Zun Zhe paused, "Two-star. Why?"
"Two-star, huh?" Wei Yang let out a small breath of relief and smiled.
"That's fine. Sounds like you're not entirely out of my league."
Two stars — maybe he wouldn't have to run. Though he'd only know for sure after they fought.
"What do you mean?" Qi Zun Zhe's scarlet eyes glowed, red light piercing half a foot through the black mist.
"Looks like you plan to resist?"
"Resist?" Wei Yang lifted a hand, slowly pulling back the hood that covered his head, revealing a young, handsome face. His gaze swept over Qi Zun Zhe, and he grinned.
"What I mean is… I've been looking for a Dou Zun-level body. And you… you've got one, right?"
"Body?" Qi Zun Zhe blinked at the young face, then suddenly laughed, as if he couldn't believe what he'd heard.
"Jie jie jie… of course I've got a body. Don't tell me… you want mine?!"
"Good. That makes things simple." Wei Yang's smile turned cold as his aura burst forth violently.
"Today… I'm going to slay a Zun!"
"Slay a Zun? Just you, a mere Three-Star Dou Zong?" Qi Zun Zhe scoffed, his voice chilling.
"Such arrogance!"
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