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Translate the entire Chapter 5 carefully
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Fix the paragraph breaks, especially after "?", "!" and transition lines
Boom!
Just as Yao Chen tried to break free from the chains, he grunted and slammed heavily into the golden pillar inside the main hall!
The Bone Spirit Cold Flame, completely out of his control, was forcefully driven back into his body.
"Heavenly Realm Great Perfection soul force!" Yao Chen's expression changed drastically.
As an alchemist, cultivation of soul power was far more important than physical training.
His soul force was far above average. When he earned the title of Central Region's Number One Alchemist, he had already reached mid-stage Heavenly Realm!
Unfortunately, no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't break into the late stage.
Yet now, this young man in front of him was not only a Dou Sheng, but his soul force had already reached Heavenly Realm Great Perfection!
Yao Chen felt like he had aged another ten years on the spot, crushed by overwhelming frustration.
[Ding! Congratulations, Host. You've inflicted a Mental Lash on Medicine Venerable. Villain Points +1000.]
Already weakened, Yao Chen's soul body took another hit, becoming even more transparent—almost as if it would break apart and vanish at any moment.
"If your physical body were still intact, a peak Dou Zun combined with the eleventh-ranked Bone Spirit Cold Flame might barely catch my attention."
"Unfortunately, right now, you're nothing more than meat on my chopping board."
Hun Miesheng raised his hand, and countless black chains burst from all corners of the Soul Hall.
Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!
"Ahhh—!"
Yao Chen's soul body was pierced again and again. Fierce winds howled as spectral spirits swarmed him, biting and tearing at his essence.
The Soul Hall's Tiangang Main Hall transformed into a scene from the deepest level of hell.
Miserable screams echoed through the Soul Hall.
The guards shuddered, their loyalty values rising steadily.
Hall Master... was terrifying.
Gui Lao nodded slightly. Now this was the Hall Master he recognized.
"Devil… a true devil… Daddy, come save Xun'er…"
In a dark dungeon, hearing the blood-curdling screams echo from the grand hall, Gu Xun'er curled up in a corner, trembling as she silently wept.
[Ding! Villain Points +500]
[Ding! Villain Points +800]
[Ding! Villain Points +1000]
Three system prompts rang out in succession. In just half a cup of tea's time, Hun Miesheng had earned 4400 Villain Points.
Adding that to the 4200 he had left, he was now just 1400 points short of exchanging for the Elemental Heavy Water.
Looking at the nearly obliterated Yao Chen, Hun Miesheng finally stopped.
"Hun Miesheng... if you still consider yourself the master of this hall, then kill me."
"I, Yao Chen, will not suffer this humiliation!" Yao Chen's bloodshot eyes glared forward.
"Better that dust settles on unused medicine than to let it rot in disgrace."
"Medicine Venerable… what spirit!"
Hun Miesheng genuinely praised him this time — no sarcasm, no mockery.
Yao Chen had lived a life worthy of respect. Upright in character, dutiful as a teacher. Without him, Xiao Yan would never have had the qualifications to become a Dou Di.
"Such a pity... I'm just a villain."
Hun Miesheng sighed softly and reached for the Bone Flame Ring.
Yao Chen's expression changed.
"The ring has my soul imprint. Without me, the Bone Spirit Cold Flame inside—"
Boom!
Before he could finish, the ring shattered in Hun Miesheng's hand. The spatial force inside should have torn everything apart, but Hun Miesheng forcibly stabilized it.
A pile of spirit herbs, scrolls, and jade slips scattered across the floor.
"You forgot—I'm a Dou Sheng."
Hun Miesheng didn't even glance at the mess. He reached straight for a black scroll.
"What? The Hall Master of Soul Hall is this focused on a mere Low Yellow-Rank technique?"
Yao Chen forced a calm tone, but cold sweat formed on his forehead.
He just hoped Hun Miesheng wouldn't discover anything strange about that scroll.
If the Flame Mantra fell into Soul Hall's hands, it would be over.
"Heaven-Tier Technique, 'Flame Mantra'... and it looks so ordinary. What a surprise."
Hun Miesheng gave Yao Chen a casual smile.
"How did you know it was with me?"
Yao Chen lowered his head, despair filling his eyes.
Hun Miesheng shrugged.
"One day, when you understand how metal machines can fly through the sky and people with no Dou Qi can destroy entire worlds with ease, you might just figure out how I knew."
"Hahaha…"
"I, Yao Chen, spent my life defying the heavens, fighting against fate. And now… I end like this?"
"Farewell, Hun Miesheng!"
Yao Chen suddenly looked up.
His soul body twisted violently, and the surrounding Dou Qi boiled.
"Not good! He's trying to self-destruct!" Gui Lao's expression changed.
A peak Dou Zun's soul, combined with the eleventh-ranked Heavenly Flame — the explosion could flatten the entire Tiangang Hall!
"Soul self-destruction?"
"Heh."
Hun Miesheng sneered coldly. He stepped forward and appeared directly in front of Yao Chen.
With a single motion, he placed his palm on the old man's skull.
"I won't let you die — so you won't die."
The Chaos Heaven Devouring Art activated, exuding a majestic, ancient aura that suppressed all directions like a monarch descending upon the world.
Chaotic Dou Qi, Heavenly Flame, and soul energy were helplessly devoured into Hun Miesheng's body.
His gaze sharpened.
Heavenly Realm Great Perfection soul force surged straight into Yao Chen's spirit.
Soul Search!
Yao Chen's memories held too much valuable knowledge to ignore.
This was a chance Hun Miesheng could not let slip.
Yao Chen's soul, already weakened by torture and completely outclassed in realm, couldn't resist at all.
A massive flood of information poured into Hun Miesheng's spiritual sea.
Had he not experienced this once before, he might have been overwhelmed again.
The memories included his travels across the continent, lifetime of alchemy knowledge, cultivation techniques — and the entrance to the Medicine Clan!
Nine Serenity Wind Flame, Tortoise Spirit Earth Flame — both were in the Medicine Clan. Hun Miesheng would have to make a trip there sooner or later.
After the soul search, Yao Chen's soul was barely hanging on — faint and leaking energy.
"He won't survive."
Hun Miesheng shook his head and raised his hand. A black flame surged out and incinerated Yao Chen's soul completely.
The once-number-one alchemist on the continent was gone.
From the very beginning, Yao Chen's fate was sealed.
Between the Soul Hall and Yao Chen, only one could live. Even with Puppet Control Art, Hun Miesheng never intended to keep him alive.
The grudge was too deep. Letting him live would only invite future disaster.
Hun Miesheng weighed the scroll in his hand.
He poured in his soul force and memorized all its contents before crushing it into powder.
Flame Mantra no longer held great value to him. The Chaos Heaven Devouring Art was far superior in every way.
Still, better it be in his hands than anyone else's.
"Huo Zun" Han Feng, Fallen Heart Flame, Sea Heart Flame…
He still needed to make a trip to Black-Corner Region.
[Ding! Congratulations! You've killed an important plot character. Villain Points +5000!]
"5000 Villain Points! As expected of a protagonist's golden finger!"
Hun Miesheng was thrilled.
That Elemental Heavy Water? He could get it now!
"I wonder how powerful this innate divine water really is? Heh… I'm looking forward to it."
Hun Miesheng rubbed his hands, eager, and stepped up to the Main God Boundary Stele, ready to redeem it.
Just then, a black-robed figure rushed in and knelt on one knee.
"Hall Master! The branch hall's Heavenly Venerate has arrived!"
There's still one more chapter today!
(End of Chapter)