342: Targeting the Valley Master of Yin Valley

Jiang Donghua raised his head, his gaze calmly meeting the stare that was capable of freezing a Dou Zong's soul, viewing the man as nothing more than an ordinary passerby.

He did not answer the other party's question. Instead, he directly countered with a question of his own, his tone flat yet carrying an undeniable sense of interrogation.

"You are setting an ambush here and refining such strange poison. What is your goal?"

The Sect Master of the Five Poisons Sect's heart tightened. Not only was the opponent immensely powerful, but his insight was also sharp, seeing through the location as a trap rather than a common herb garden instantly.

His mind raced, weighing the pros and cons.

A direct confrontation would likely result in slim chances of victory, but if he conceded easily, where would the Five Poisons Sect's reputation stand?

Perhaps he could use the name of his backer to intimidate the other party!

He let out a cold snort, deliberately projecting an air of confidence.

"Hmph! It won't hurt to tell you! We are here for a major objective! The target is the current Valley Master of the Sound Valley!"

"Sound Valley?"

Jiang Donghua slightly raised his brow.

He had heard of this name; it was a rather unique sect in the Central Plains, known for rare Dou Techniques or special physiques.

Why would a sinister sect like the Five Poisons Sect target her?

Seeing Jiang Donghua's subtle reaction, the Sect Master of the Five Poisons Sect assumed the opponent was moved by the Sound Valley's reputation. His heart settled slightly, and he continued to increase the stakes, his tone carrying a hint of provocation and testing, deliberately slowing his speech.

"That's right! It is the Sound Valley! As for why we are targeting her, haha, if you know what's good for you, you'd best not pry. Because the entity cooperating with us is likely someone you cannot afford to provoke!"

He paused deliberately, observing Jiang Donghua's expression, and then slowly enunciated the name that was enough to make countless experts in the Central Plains change color upon hearing it.

"The one cooperating with us is—the Hall of Souls!"

Having spoken, the Sect Master of the Five Poisons Sect stared intently at Jiang Donghua's face, expecting to see expressions of shock, fear, or even panic.

The Hall of Souls!

That was one of the most mysterious and massive forces on the continent; its strength was unfathomable, and its methods were ruthless and bizarre. Even ordinary Dou Zun Experts would be wary upon hearing that name!

However, he was disappointed.

When Jiang Donghua heard the words "Hall of Souls," his eyes did not flicker in the slightest, nor did the faint curve of his lips change, as if he had merely heard an irrelevant name.

He showed neither fear nor surprise, only looking at the Sect Master of the Five Poisons Sect with his eyes as deep as ancient wells, and calmly countered.

"The Hall of Souls? And?"

"And... huh?"

The Sect Master of the Five Poisons Sect's planned follow-up words instantly got stuck in his throat. He almost thought he had misheard!

And?

Just three simple, dismissive words?

This completely exceeded all his expectations!

This person was either so arrogant as to be ignorant, or his background or strength meant he fundamentally did not fear the Hall of Souls!

Either way, it meant the situation was worse than the worst-case scenario he had imagined!

The Sect Master of the Five Poisons Sect's heart instantly sank to the bottom, and cold sweat broke out on his back.

He had originally intended to use the Hall of Souls' name to scare the opponent away, but he hadn't expected to potentially run into a brick wall instead!

The opponent's extraordinary calm was more terrifying than any angry threat!

The scene fell into an eerie silence for a moment.

At this moment, Jiang Donghua seemed to find the confrontation somewhat boring.

He did not speak, but a translucent, illusory panel, visible only to him, silently unfolded in front of his vision.

[Host: Jiang Donghua]

[Realm: Six-Star Dou Zun (18 / 6000)]

[Main Cultivation Method: Purple Fire Illusory Spirit Art (Earth Rank High Tier)]

[AFK Income]

Clone 1: 2 points / hour

Clone 2: 2 points / hour

Clone 3: 2 points / hour

Clone 4: 2 points / hour

Clone 5: 2 points / hour

Clone 6: 2 points / hour

Clone 7: 2 points / hour

Clone 8: 2 points / hour

Clone 9: 2 points / hour

[Current Total Income: 18 points / hour]

He raised his eyes and looked once more at the Sect Master of the Five Poisons Sect, who was facing him like a formidable enemy in the air. His gaze now held a subtle indifference, like someone looking down upon an ant.

Previously, he had not fully revealed his aura. Now, he felt it necessary to let the Sect Master recognize the gap between them more clearly.

Thus, he stopped deliberately restraining himself.

A terrifying aura, far more majestic and vast than that of the Sect Master of the Five Poisons Sect, spreading out slowly from within Jiang Donghua's body like a sleeping giant dragon awakening!

This aura was condensed and heavy, carrying a majesty that surpassed all living beings, something that simple poisonous energy could not compare to.

Under the pressure of this aura, the cold, poisonous miasma Dou Qi surrounding the Sect Master of the Five Poisons Sect violently fluctuated as if ice and snow had met the blazing sun, showing faint signs of dissipation!

He felt as if he were a small boat in a storm, liable to be swallowed by the massive waves at any moment!

"A Six-Star Dou Zun?! How is this possible?!"

The Sect Master of the Five Poisons Sect cried out in alarm, his voice distorted by extreme terror!

As a Two-Star Dou Zun, he deeply understood how enormous the gap was between each star level.

Three-Star versus Two-Star was already a crushing defeat, let alone Six-Star versus Two-Star!

This was simply the difference between heaven and earth!

Only now did he completely understand where the opponent's extraordinary calm came from. It wasn't ignorant arrogance, but the confidence that came from absolute power, allowing him to look down upon everything!

Bringing up the name of the Hall of Souls in front of a Six-Star Dou Zun truly seemed utterly ridiculous!

While the Hall of Souls was formidable, distant water could not quench a nearby fire. Right now, he might not even be able to withstand a single move from the opponent!

All feelings of wishful thinking instantly collapsed.

The Sect Master of the Five Poisons Sect's face turned pale. Without the slightest hesitation, his body plummeted from the air, and he immediately knelt on one knee, disregarding his status, his voice trembling as he bowed low to beg for forgiveness.

"Senior, please quell your anger! This junior was blind and offended your heavenly might! This junior is willing to reveal everything he knows, only asking that Senior spare the lives of everyone in my sect!"

Jiang Donghua looked at him indifferently, not immediately withdrawing his pressure, but speaking calmly, his voice like eternal ice.

"Speak."

A single word, yet it weighed a thousand jun.

The Sect Master of the Five Poisons Sect knelt on one knee on the cold ground, his forehead pressed against the dirt, trembling uncontrollably.

Jiang Donghua's Six-Star Dou Zun pressure, vast like a sea of stars, was not a violent assault but an invisible, massive mountain, heavily pressing down on his soul, preventing him from raising the slightest thought of resistance, leaving only fear derived from basic instinct.

Only now did he realize with extreme clarity that in the face of an absolute difference in strength, any scheme or any backer was as fragile as foam.

"Senior, please quell your anger! This junior will tell you everything and hold nothing back! I absolutely dare not speak a single lie!"

His voice trembled, almost sounding like a sob, as he hastily began to confess, terrified that a moment's delay would result in his soul scattering.

"The Hall of Souls' plan this time is to capture the Valley Master of the Sound Valley, Mu Qingxian, alive!"

He dared not conceal anything further.

"Because Valley Master Mu possesses the rare Heavenly Sound Spirit Body! The sound-wave Dou Qi cultivated by this physique is supremely pure and clean, and it has an extremely strong suppressive and purifying effect on the many sinister soul arts practiced by the Hall of Souls, especially the secret techniques for collecting and refining soul origins!"

"The Hall of Souls views her as a major threat and is determined to eliminate her quickly or bring her under their control!"

Jiang Donghua's gaze slightly narrowed.

So that was the Heavenly Sound Spirit Body.

The Hall of Souls was wary of the restraining effect of this special physique and sought to either kill her or utilize her.

Seeing that Jiang Donghua showed no reaction, the Sect Master of the Five Poisons Sect dared not stop, continuing to reveal the core details.

"The one dispatched by the Hall of Souls this time is a Five-Star Dou Zun Expert named Blood River Heavenly Venerable! The plan is set for a few months from now, to ambush Valley Master Mu near the Illusion Sound Platform."

"At that time, our Five Poisons Sect will first secretly deploy the specially manufactured Soul-Corroding Miasma. This poison is colorless and odorless, capable of corroding Dou Qi, and is especially effective at disrupting the condensation and transmission of sound-wave Dou Qi."

"Once Valley Master Mu is poisoned and weakened, Blood River Heavenly Venerable will strike with the speed of lightning, aiming to capture her in a single move!"