Xiao Xue thought carefully but couldn't recall when she had provoked a Dou Zong.
"If I get delayed, and Medusa catches up, that would be troublesome."
"Then a quick battle it is, resolve him swiftly." Xiao Xue quickly made a decision.
She was in a hurry to escape, which was why she had reservations.
No matter the situation, since the opponent wanted to kill her, they would definitely not let her leave easily.
The longer it dragged on, the more disadvantageous it would be for her.
What's more, it was just a One-Star Dou Zong. Ahri was already a Half-step Dou Zong and possessed a Heavenly Flame.
Especially, Ahri's combat awareness was at the Dou Venerate level.
Even if she was a bit silly now, a One-Star Dou Zong couldn't possibly contend with her.
Who was the prey, and who was the hunter?
Heh, who could say for sure?
Outskirts of Chuyun Imperial Capital.
A Black Robed Man was waiting there like a spider in its web.
"Jie jie jie, just a Dou Ling, yet her Soul Power is already close to Six-Grade."
The Black Robed Man chuckled strangely, "It's been many years since I've seen such a high-quality Soul body."
"Moreover, for a Dou Ling to have such speed, she might even have more valuable remnant souls on her, jie jie jie..."
That shadowy figure was none other than the Iron Protector, a Soul Hall Protector from the Izumo branch.
Of course, as a One-Star Dou Zong, he was only considered the lowest-level Human-Grade Protector among the Protectors.
For example, the Jiama Branch, perhaps due to its potential connection with the former Xiao Clan, had Protector Wu, a Five-Star Earth-Grade Protector, in charge.
—Doesn't seem like much.
It just goes to show that the system of layered outsourcing of responsibility had deeply permeated the Hall of Souls.
Even with the suspected existence of the Xiao Clan, a Dou Venerate was unwilling to come to this remote Northwest branch, assigning it instead to a subordinate Dou Zong.
There wasn't even a High-Tier Dou Zong, only a Mid-Tier Dou Zong, and the other Empires only had One-Star and Two-Star individuals just passing the time.
And although the Iron Protector was the lowest-ranking Protector in the Hall of Souls, he was already considered an extraordinary expert in these Empires of the Northwest Continent.
Since he was a member of the Hall of Souls, the Iron Protector naturally knew much more than the natives of the Northwest Continent, and he was aware of the existence of remnant souls.
After all, they made their living by hunting Soul bodies.
"To actually encounter such a rare Soul body in this Northwest Continent."
The Iron Protector sighed with emotion as he guarded Xiao Xue's inevitable path.
If this wave succeeded, he would strike it rich!
Fortune favors the bold!
After all, the Iron Protector could deduce many things from Xiao Xue's speed.
Xiao Xue, or rather Ahri's current speed, was about on par with a Peak Dou Huang.
Moreover, she still needed to use Dou Qi Wings, which indicated that her strength was definitely below Dou Zong.
Not to mention, the Hall of Souls had specialized methods for dealing with Soul bodies.
With the Iron Protector's methods, it was not impossible to deal with a Soul body one star stronger than himself.
Therefore, the Iron Protector was not flustered in the slightest.
Previously, when helping Medusa evolve, Ahri had consumed a large amount of Soul Power to activate the Ten Thousand Beast Spirit Fire.
Although she was awake now, she was not in her Peak state.
—She was slightly weaker than when she was fully fed before.
Moreover, although Soul Power could shield others' perception, Xiao Xue was currently traveling at night.
Her pink Dou Qi Wings were incredibly conspicuous; it would be hard not to attract attention up close.
Thus, she was targeted by the Iron Protector.
Ordinary people in the Izumo Empire wouldn't dare to easily provoke a Peak Dou Huang.
Even the native experts of Izumo would turn a blind eye as long as you didn't actively cause trouble.
But people from the Hall of Souls wouldn't care who you were.
Not to mention, this was clearly a fat sheep.
On the other side, Xiao Xue did not let Ahri take a detour.
Because she knew that if it was fortune, it wasn't misfortune—
It couldn't be avoided.
As she approached the [coordinate] area on the map, Xiao Xue gently closed her eyes, then slowly opened them.
Xiao Xue's eyes had already turned a shade of pink.
She softly called out in her heart, "Ahri, it's time to kill."
---
The Iron Protector crouched in the shadows, already able to see that streak of pink light.
Just as he was about to make his move, a faint sigh reached his ears:
"Isn't it good to be alive?"
This voice completely bewildered the Iron Protector, who was hiding in the dark.
As a Protector of the Hall of Souls, his stealth techniques were absolutely top-notch.
Even experts of the same rank might not be able to discover him.
But who would have thought that today, his disguise would be seen through.
Had a stronger expert with higher cultivation passed by?
Yes, the Iron Protector, who thought of himself as the hunter, had this as his first reaction.
"Who!?" The Iron Protector's hairs stood on end, and he immediately felt an endless sense of vigilance.
Who on earth is it! Damn it!
But the next scene plunged the Iron Protector into endless shock and helplessness—
Because a delicate pink and white Fire Lotus flew towards him from that distant streak of light at an unbelievable speed!
---
A few minutes ago, Xiao Xue's perspective.
The special black robes of the Soul Hall Protectors had the effect of shielding perception, but the Iron Protector was, after all, only the lowest-ranking Protector.
Under Ahri's immense Soul Power, the Iron Protector naturally had nowhere to hide.
"This attire... seems to be from the Hall of Souls?"
With the help of Ahri's Soul Power, Xiao Xue also "saw" the enemy in the dark.
Upon guessing who the opponent was, Xiao Xue couldn't help but sigh.
The next moment, the pink Ten Thousand Beast Spirit Fire rose from her left hand.
The bone-white Bone Chilling Flame also coiled around her right hand.
Even if Ahri's Soul Power was strong, her Dou Qi cultivation was only that of a Half-step Dou Zong.
It would probably take her a considerable amount of time to face a One-Star Dou Zong, and Xiao Xue couldn't afford to waste it.
However, she naturally had a trump card that could severely injure a Dou Zong—
Buddha's Fury Fire Lotus!
When considering refining three Heavenly Flames with water and fire attributes in the future to support the Heavenly Flame Three Mysterious Transformations, Xiao Xue had already thought of the Buddha's Fury Fire Lotus.
This was a Dou Technique akin to a bug-level ability.
Xiao Yan, at the Dou Master and Great Dou Master levels, using a two-colored Fire Lotus, could even threaten a Dou Zong.
Moreover, this move was simply about balancing two types of flames, using their opposing nature to generate an extremely powerful explosion.
As long as your Soul Power is sufficient, anyone can learn it!
As long as they are different flames, the repulsion between them can be used to form immense explosive power!
Although the number of Heavenly Flames she could refine was limited, this move was definitely a killer move in the early stages.
Therefore, after deciding to refine Heavenly Flames, Xiao Xue began to research the Buddha's Fury Fire Lotus.
After all, Heavenly Flames were hard to find, but finding two Beast Fires was much simpler!
Xiao Xue had previously made many Fire Lotuses using some second-tier and third-tier Beast Fires.
Her Six-Grade Soul Power allowed her to quickly grasp the method, securing the 'copyright' for the Buddha's Fury Fire Lotus before Xiao Yan.
And this time, using two Heavenly Flames and Ahri's Spirit Realm Soul Power;
This Fire Lotus would be terrifying like never before!
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