122: Chapter 122 High-Ranking Officials of the Dragon Kingdom

Principal Gongsun withdrew his hand, but his brows did not unfurl in the slightest; instead, they furrowed even deeper. He swept his gaze across the direction where Ye Chen had self-destructed and said in a deep voice.

"The soul fiend Fusion is so thorough; it seems he has been defecting to the Soul Devouring Hall for quite some time."

"As an important combat force on the Dragon Kingdom's border, the Zhenxi Army has actually been infiltrated by the Soul Devouring Hall to this extent. This matter must be reported to the Military Department immediately and investigated thoroughly."

Lin Mo also put away his previous urgency, nodding with a grave expression.

"That's right. Ye Chen was just a general in the Zhenxi Army; there must be a higher-level mole behind him."

"If we don't root them out as soon as possible, it may lead to a catastrophe in the future."

Zhang Wen leaned on his sky-splitting startling thunder spear, easing the roiling Qi and blood in his body, and spoke.

"The Cloaked Figure that Zhao Meng and I encountered earlier also used methods similar to the soul fiend; perhaps the two are connected."

"Now that Ye Chen is dead and Zhao Meng and the others are still imprisoned in the Black Wind Stockade, we must go rescue them as soon as possible."

Upon hearing this, the Principal turned his gaze toward the Black Wind Stockade, his tone softening slightly.

"You rest and recover for a moment first; I will have Zhao Wu go investigate the situation. Lin Mo, you stay behind to look after Zhang Wen to avoid any lurking remnants of the Soul Devouring Hall."

"Yes!"

Zhao Wu immediately responded, circulating his spiritual power, and his figure sped toward the Black Wind Stockade like a gale.

Lin Mo walked over to Zhang Wen's side, gathered gentle spiritual power at his fingertips, and slowly injected it into his body to help him straighten out his damaged Meridians.

"You just experienced a great battle and sustained quite a few injuries; don't push yourself."

Feeling the Qi and blood in his body gradually calming down, Zhang Wen smiled gratefully.

"Thank you, Teacher Lin Mo, I'm fine. As long as the Captain and the others are safe, these injuries are nothing."

The Principal stood to the side, gazing deeply into the depths of Black Wind Ridge, his fingers rubbing together unconsciously.

He knew very well that Ye Chen's death was just the beginning. The fact that the Soul Devouring Hall could reach into the Zhenxi Army and even make a general perform a soul fiend Fusion meant that a much larger conspiracy was inevitably hidden behind it.

And the nether crystal core that appeared in Black Wind Ridge this time, as well as the secret of the bronze coffin, might also be inseparable from the Soul Devouring Hall.

Not long after, Zhao Wu's figure sped back, a hint of ease on his face.

"Principal, the guards at the Black Wind Stockade are mostly ordinary soldiers. Once Ye Chen died, they were leaderless. I have already rescued Zhao Meng and the others; apart from some superficial wounds, there is nothing serious."

"Good."

The Principal nodded, his tone finally softening a bit. "Since everyone is safe, let's return to Qinglan University first. I will personally coordinate with the Military Department regarding the subsequent investigation into the Soul Devouring Hall."

Hearing the news that Zhao Meng was safe, Zhang Wen completely breathed a sigh of relief and stood up with Lin Mo's support.

The group did not linger any longer and headed in the direction of Qinglan University.

Under the setting sun, the shadows of Black Wind Ridge gradually lengthened, but everyone understood that this contest with the Soul Devouring Hall had only just begun.

And Qinglan University would also become an important force in resisting this evil power.

...

"That is the situation. Does anyone have anything to say?" Principal Gongsun Hongyi of Qinglan University said in an icy tone.

The people outside the electronic screen looked at each other, none daring to step forward first.

And just as the atmosphere was so tense, an aged but dignified voice sounded.

"This matter is of great importance. Those of you present are all high-level officials of the Dragon Kingdom; is there really nothing to say?" After finishing, he looked toward the direction of the Grand Commander of the Zhenxi Army.

"This is a problem with the internal management of my Zhenxi Army. Old Marshal, rest assured, I will definitely manage it strictly!"

Grand Commander Li Jun was stared at until he broke into a cold sweat, suppressing the fear in his heart as he spoke.

"Hmph, with such a major matter involving the Soul Devouring Hall, you want to gloss over it with a single phrase of 'manage it strictly'?"

Dongmo University Principal Gu Wangshu slammed the dark jade teacup in her hand onto the table, causing tea foam to splatter.

Her dark red, gold-trimmed magic robe billowed without wind, and the fierce look in her eyes was like a knife.

"Ye Chen's Fusion with the soul fiend was by no means a one-day achievement. Is the Zhenxi Army's spiritual power monitoring network just a decoration? Or is it that someone is intentionally paving the way for the Soul Devouring Hall, allowing this evil object to breed within the army!"

Gu Wangshu's words pierced into the conference hall like ice picks. The afterimage of the black Qi from when Ye Chen died had not yet dissipated on the electronic screen, weaving with the solemn expressions of everyone present, making it hard for people to breathe.

Grand Commander of the Andong Army, Mu Yuanzheng, stroked the tiger-head sabre at his waist, his mouth curling in mockery.

"Old Li, our Dragon Kingdom's two major ace armies, north and south, have always been the border shield. But now that such a mole has appeared in the Zhenxi Army, let alone a shield, I'm afraid even your own camp has become a 'fiend breeding ground' for the Soul Devouring Hall."

"If this gets out, the Northern Barbarians and the Western Border demon cultivators will probably laugh at our Dragon Kingdom for having no one!"

He changed the subject, turning to the Old Marshal in the main seat, his tone suddenly respectful.

"Old Marshal, in my opinion, the Zhenxi Army must thoroughly investigate the spiritual power roots of everyone from generals to scouts."

"soul fiends entering the body will inevitably leave behind evil aura. As long as we investigate carefully, we will definitely be able to root out more lackeys of the Soul Devouring Hall!"

Li Jun's face alternated between green and white, his knuckles clenched until they turned white.

How could he not know about the monitoring lapses? But Ye Chen was a general he had personally promoted, and with Domain Realm cultivation, he was considered a leader in the army. How could he have defected to the Soul Devouring Hall without a sound?

And how could he have deceived layers of spiritual power detection and achieved such a thorough Fusion with the soul fiend?

"Commander Mu's words are true, but what needs to be investigated more is the 'source'."

Principal Gongsun Hongyi of Qinglan University suddenly spoke, taking a fragment glowing with black Qi from his bosom.

That fragment was only the size of a fingernail, yet it caused the temperature in the hall to plummet.

"This is the soul fiend ember I collected from the scene after Ye Chen died."

"Testing revealed that in addition to the evil power of the Soul Devouring Hall, this soul fiend was also mixed with a special kind of 'Qi-concealing powder'."

"It is precisely this medicinal powder that allowed the soul fiend aura to be temporarily hidden, avoiding conventional spiritual power detection."

Everyone's pupils constricted as they stared at that fragment.

The Old Marshal's eyes beneath his white hair were as sharp as a hawk's. He looked at the fragment and then said in a deep voice.

"'Qi-concealing powder' is a controlled medicinal material in the army; only the general level can apply for it. That Ye Chen could obtain it shows that the person behind him is at least a mid-level officer in the Zhenxi Army!"

As soon as these words were spoken, Li Jun's legs went weak, and he nearly collapsed. He lifted his head abruptly, his voice trembling.

"Old Marshal, this subordinate has failed in his duty! But my Zhenxi Army will absolutely not allow the Soul Devouring Hall to cause trouble. Please give me a chance, and I will definitely root out the mole!"

"A chance?"

Gu Wangshu sneered, "What your Zhenxi Army lost is the Dragon Kingdom's defense line! Ye Chen colluded with the Black Wind Stockade and used the soul fiend to control the bandits in the stockade, clearly building an external force for the Soul Devouring Hall."

"If it weren't for Principal Gongsun taking action, I'm afraid Black Wind Ridge would have already become a 'fiend breeding den' for the Soul Devouring Hall!"

The Old Marshal raised his hand and said in a deep voice, "Li Jun, effective immediately, you are relieved of your post as Grand Commander of the Zhenxi Army, and the Vice Commander will temporarily take over defense duties."

"You will personally lead a team to cooperate with the Military Department's Inspection Division to investigate thoroughly—starting with the application records for 'Qi-concealing powder' from the medicinal warehouse, and then to all the personnel Ye Chen has been in contact with over the past three years. Not a single one can be missed!"

"This subordinate... obeys!"

Li Jun gritted his teeth and accepted, the cold sweat on his forehead having already soaked his collar.

"Principal Gongsun." The Old Marshal turned to Gongsun Hongyi, his tone softening slightly.

"Qinglan University has the deepest research on the soul fiend; the subsequent analysis of this fragment will be left to you."

"Additionally, that kid Zhang Wen has clashed with the Soul Devouring Hall several times and was even able to escape from the Cloaked Figure; perhaps he can provide key clues—once his injuries improve, I want to see him personally."

"Yes."

Gongsun Hongyi nodded, his gaze falling on the fragment, thinking to himself.

Ye Chen was just a pawn. The fact that the Soul Devouring Hall could obtain controlled military medicinal materials and turn a general meant that the forces behind it had likely long since infiltrated the core of the Dragon Kingdom's military and political affairs.

"Principal Gu, Commander Mu!"

The Old Marshal's voice sounded again, carrying an unquestionable dignity.

"Dongmo University is to immediately deploy Talisman masters to assist the Zhenxi Army in recasting the spiritual power monitoring formation, ensuring that there is 'one inspection per person, one formation per battalion'."

"The Andong Army is to mobilize 30,000 elites to blockade a hundred miles around Black Wind Ridge. Anyone carrying evil aura is to be detained and investigated without exception!"

"Understood!" the two replied in unison.

The Old Marshal finally swept his gaze over everyone, his tone grave: "For the Soul Devouring Hall to dare reach into the Dragon Kingdom's army and academies, they must be treating us as soft persimmons!"

"From today on, the entire Dragon Kingdom enters a Level 2 alert. Whether in the army or among the public, anyone found with traces of the soul fiend or remnants of the Soul Devouring Hall is to be executed on sight!"

The people in the conference hall stood up solemnly and shouted in unison: "Swear to defend the Dragon Kingdom to the death, and eliminate the Soul Devouring remnants!"

The electronic screen went dark. Gongsun Hongyi put away the soul fiend fragment on the table, his fingertips tightening unconsciously.

He knew very well that Ye Chen's death was not the end, but the first knife the Soul Devouring Hall had unsheathed against the Dragon Kingdom.

The mole hidden in the shadows, the special Qi-concealing powder, the bandit forces in Black Wind Ridge... this game of chess was far more dangerous than he had imagined.