"Did I say you could leave?"
Hun Miesheng's cold voice rang out inside the grand hall. A surge of overwhelming soul force swept across the five Heavenly Venerates. Everyone's expression changed.
The Great Heavenly Venerate clenched his fists and locked eyes with Hun Miesheng.
"Remember your place. I am the Hall Master of Soul Hall."
Hun Miesheng snorted coldly and slammed his palm onto the table.
A wave of Dou Qi turned into a fierce wind that shattered the floor and roared past the Great Heavenly Venerate, lifting his robes.
Boom.
The Dou Qi storm surged out of the grand hall. The massive doors slammed shut, trapping everyone inside.
"Hall Master..."
"What is going on...?"
Gu You, Blood River, and the others shifted uncomfortably. None of them knew what Hun Miesheng was planning.
Ding. System notification: Villain Points +500.
"Take your seat, Great Heavenly Venerate."
Hun Miesheng returned to his usual lazy tone, as if nothing had happened just moments ago.
The Great Heavenly Venerate gritted his teeth and sat down.
With his Two-Star Dou Sheng strength, a door was nothing. Besides, with his background, Hun Miesheng shouldn't dare touch him.
"Let's see what kind of act you're putting on."
The other Heavenly Venerates saw Hun Miesheng's firm stance and didn't dare push further.
This was clearly a banquet with ill intentions.
"Now then."
"The show begins."
Hun Miesheng's gaze turned sharp. With a wave of his sleeve, endless black Dou Qi surged out and engulfed half the Soul Hall.
"Hall Master, what are you doing?"
The five Heavenly Venerates were shocked and almost prepared to strike.
Clatter—
Jie jie jie jie...
Within the black Dou Qi, countless chains coiled into the form of a massive dragon. Wailing spirits clung to its body, letting out eerie shrieks.
Boom.
Chains smashed into the hall's ceiling.
Space cracked open.
Black chains crisscrossed the air before everyone's eyes.
Each chain imprisoned a soul body.
One after another, Soul Hall's black-robed Protectors whipped the soul bodies mercilessly with those chains.
Black soul flames roasted the spirits.
"Ahhh—!"
"Oohhh—!"
"Hun Miesheng, I won't forgive you even in death!"
"You'll die a terrible death, Hun Miesheng!"
"Please, have mercy, I beg you—"
"Just kill me! Kill me!"
This place was no different from hell.
Mournful screams echoed through the Soul Hall, grating against everyone's nerves.
Ding. System notification: Villain Points +2000.
The blade is in the butcher's hand. The rest are just meat.
Was this meant to intimidate them?
The Great Heavenly Venerate and the others looked grim.
Hun Miesheng saw it all clearly.
Now was the time.
He gave a subtle nod to Gui Lao, who had silently appeared at his side.
Gui Lao immediately stepped into the air, stopping in front of the soul bodies.
"You may all leave," Gui Lao said in his hoarse, aged voice.
"Yes, sir!"
The Soul Hall Protectors bowed and exited.
The five Heavenly Venerates glanced at each other, unsure what Hun Miesheng was planning.
"Fifth from the left."
"Third from the right."
Hun Miesheng spoke calmly.
Black Dou Qi surged in Gui Lao's hands. He grabbed two soul bodies, one in each hand.
Crack. Crack.
Two chains shattered.
In an instant, the two soul bodies were tossed onto the ground.
Hun Miesheng nodded. Gui Lao turned and retreated silently.
The two spirits curled up on the floor, trembling.
"Stand up."
Hun Miesheng's voice exploded in their minds.
The two soul bodies trembled as they slowly rose to their feet.
Both were extremely weak, barely holding together.
Judging from their age and cultivation:
One was a middle-aged man, peak Dou Huang.
The other was a young child, around eight or nine years old, at One-Star Dou Shi.
"Hall Master, this is..." Blood River couldn't help but speak.
Hun Miesheng swept his gaze over the five Heavenly Venerates, fingers tapping rhythmically on the throne.
He looked at the two spirits, then raised his hand. With a flick, he pulled them into the air before him.
Soul force surged from his body and imprinted two names onto them.
The middle-aged man—
Hun Tiandi.
The child—
Hun Miesheng.
"What?!"
All five Heavenly Venerates sprang to their feet, faces turning pale.
"Place your bets. One lives. One dies."
Hun Miesheng sat on his throne, eyes cold.
"Gentlemen, cast your votes."
This was a death question.
(End of Chapter)