175: Test, reject!

On the other side, Xiao Zhuo, with Qiao Zimo, had already followed Chu Xiao into a three-story wooden building.

Ascending the spiral staircase to the top floor, Xiao Zhuo saw Immortal Master Profound Bone, who was brewing tea.

Xiao Zhuo naturally recognized Profound Bone, but he showed no hint of it.

He simply sat down slowly opposite the tea table, his face calm and unreadable: “Fellow Daoist, for what purpose have you invited me here?”

The fragrant steam of tea filled the top floor. Immortal Master Profound Bone pushed a cup of verdant Spiritual Tea towards Xiao Zhuo, his movements unhurried, his gaze as unfathomable as a deep pool.

“Fellow Daoist, please.” Immortal Master Profound Bone’s voice was placid, betraying no ripple of emotion. “The thunderous methods Fellow Daoist displayed in the market just now, instantly killing Miao Kun, an Inner Sect Elder of the Desolate God Dao… truly, what courage.”

Xiao Zhuo picked up the teacup, his fingertips feeling the warm rim, his expression indifferent: “He disturbed the peace, so I simply dealt with him. People of the Desolate God Dao are quite noisy.”

His tone was flat, as if he hadn't crushed an Inner Sect Elder of the Desolate God Dao, comparable to the Early Tribulation Crossing Stage, but merely an ant.

“Haha, Fellow Daoist’s decisive actions are admirable.” Immortal Master Profound Bone chuckled, but his words subtly shifted like a venomous snake. “However… Fellow Daoist’s final strike, condensing Soul Power into a blade, annihilating the Primordial Spirit invisibly, was truly exquisite. This kind of technique, this old man vaguely remembers, seems to have only been seen on a prodigiously talented individual in legends…”

His gaze locked tightly onto Xiao Zhuo’s eyes, attempting to catch any ripple of emotion: “That would be the Soul Power Weaponization technique once used by the Third Holy Son of the Blood Palace, Lord Xue Hai.”

The air seemed to solidify for a moment.

Qiao Zimo stood behind Xiao Zhuo, his heart tightening slightly, his gaze vigilantly assessing Profound Bone.

Xiao Zhuo, however, didn’t even twitch an eyebrow. He took a small sip of the Spiritual Tea, allowing the pure Spiritual Qi to dissolve within his body, before finally raising his eyes and calmly meeting Profound Bone’s scrutinizing gaze: “Oh? Immortal Master Profound Bone is quite knowledgeable. How many Soul Dao secret arts are there in the world? A slight similarity is nothing unusual. Could it be that Fellow Daoist believes I am that Holy Son Xue Hai?”

A faint, almost playful curve appeared at the corner of his mouth, but his eyes were as cold as ice: “Or is it that the Soul Refining Sect pays exceptional attention to the movements of the Holy Son of the Blood Palace?”

The last sentence carried a subtle hint of warning.

Immortal Master Profound Bone’s heart slightly chilled. The Blood Palace is the foremost sect of this era; how could its Holy Son’s whereabouts be casually spied upon by others?

He immediately reined in his overly direct probing and chuckled: “Fellow Daoist misunderstands. What status does Holy Son Xue Hai possess? His whereabouts are unpredictable; how dare this old man presume to guess? It’s just…”

He paused, his tone growing deeper, carrying a whisper almost like an enchantment, “That Soul Power Weaponization, its core essence, seems to have intricate connections with a great Opportunity my Soul Refining Sect has pursued for many years—the supreme Legacy of the Sacred Soul Sect. Since Fellow Daoist can wield such a Divine Ability, surely… you are blessed with profound fortune?”

Finally, he revealed his true purpose! The Legacy of the Sacred Soul Sect!

Xiao Zhuo sneered inwardly. As expected, it was for this.

These old devils of the Soul Refining Sect had coveted the inheritance of the Sacred Soul Sect for a long time.

He set down the teacup, the bottom of the cup making a crisp, light sound against the tea table.

“Sacred Soul Sect?” Xiao Zhuo’s voice remained calm, yet it seemed to instantly carry an indifference that overlooked all beings. “An ancient ruin, vanished into thin air, its Legacy even more elusive. Immortal Master Profound Bone, could it be that you wish to seek such an ethereal thing from a mere Loose Cultivator like myself? If so, I’m afraid I will disappoint you.”

Although his words humbly referred to himself as a “Loose Cultivator,” the aura of a supreme expert, emanating from his very bones and looking down upon the world, silently spread with the action of him setting down the teacup.

It wasn't an intentional release of pressure, yet it made Immortal Master Profound Bone, a Peak Tribulation Stage cultivator, feel a slight stagnation of his Primordial Spirit, as if facing an unfathomable ocean churning with monstrous blood waves! This was definitely not the demeanor of an ordinary Loose Cultivator!

Immortal Master Profound Bone’s heart was greatly shaken; he no longer had any doubts!

The person before him was, nine times out of ten, that ominous star, Holy Son Xue Hai, the Third Holy Son of the Blood Palace, who had almost publicly annihilated Old Demon Tian Tu of the Slaughter Demon Palace!

He forcefully suppressed his slightly turbulent emotions, his smile unchanged, his tone becoming a few shades more polite: “Fellow Daoist is too modest. The matter of Opportunity is profound and difficult to explain. This old man’s presumptuous invitation today is truly out of a desire for friendship, and also to discuss a matter. The Myriad Ages Evergreen Realm is about to open, and the dangers within are unpredictable. Although Fellow Daoist possesses vast Divine Abilities, if my Soul Refining Sect provides support and convenience in the shadows, wouldn’t Fellow Daoist’s actions be even more unhindered?”

He leaned forward slightly, his voice lowered even further, with a whisper that was almost enticing, “Fellow Daoist only needs to… under possible circumstances, if you truly have a connection with that Sacred Soul Legacy, provide a little guidance, or allow my sect… to observe the secrets of the Legacy through the ‘Soul Seed Parasitism’ method. My Soul Refining Sect, from top to bottom, will be deeply grateful for Fellow Daoist’s great kindness and will repay it with all our strength! We would never dare to show the slightest disrespect or offense!”

“Soul Seed Parasitism?” A cold glint flashed in Xiao Zhuo’s eyes and then vanished. The playful curve at the corner of his mouth completely disappeared, leaving only icy indifference.

This method is dangerous and insidious; the caster can plant a Soul Seed deep within the recipient’s Primordial Spirit, peering into their core memories and even insights.

This old fox, Profound Bone, wanted to obtain the Legacy but dared not completely break ties with the Blood Palace, so he came up with such a compromise.

But how could Xiao Zhuo be someone easily bullied? Not to mention his backing from the Blood Palace, even if he were truly a Loose Cultivator, with his panel, he would soon be able to rule this realm. How could he accept such an outrageous request?

“Immortal Master Profound Bone,” Xiao Zhuo slowly rose, his posture as tall and straight as a solitary peak. The invisible pressure seemed to dim the light throughout the entire top floor.

“This Lord appreciates your ‘kindness’.” He finally stopped concealing himself, directly using “this Lord,” a self-address belonging to a Saint!

Immortal Master Profound Bone’s pupils contracted sharply, his last shred of hope vanished, and he quickly stood up as well.

“The Sacred Soul Legacy has its own karmic connections; forcing it is useless.” Xiao Zhuo’s voice was cold, carrying an undeniable decisiveness. “As for my actions… this Lord has his own judgment and needs no one else’s interference.”

His gaze was like a knife, sweeping over Profound Bone: “If the Soul Refining Sect wishes for peace, then do what you ought to do. Do not extend your hand too far. Some things are not for you to touch.”

With that, without looking at Immortal Master Profound Bone’s instantly grim face, Xiao Zhuo turned, his robes fluttering without wind.

“Zimo, let’s go.”

Qiao Zimo immediately followed.

Immortal Master Profound Bone stood rooted to the spot, fine cold sweat beading on his forehead. That invisible Dao Principle aura, which seemed capable of freezing the Primordial Spirit, had made even him, a Peak Tribulation Stage cultivator, feel the suffocating grip of death.

He watched Xiao Zhuo’s departing back, his eyes filled with extreme complexity: apprehension, fear, and even deep unwillingness. He didn't even notice the faintly glowing Soul Jade in his sleeve.

“Holy Son Xue Hai… it really is him! He’s grown much stronger than a few months ago. The Sacred Soul Legacy…” Immortal Master Profound Bone murmured to himself. In the depths of his eyes, a very subtle hint of greed and calculation, like a poisonous vine buried deep underground, quietly began to sprout.

Given Holy Son Xue Hai’s attitude, it would likely be difficult to obtain the Legacy from him.

But since he came, he wouldn't waste his effort.

For a moment, Profound Bone’s mind began to constantly ponder how to subtly take down this young man. However, after much thought, he still felt it was impossible to do it alone.

Just then, two figures slowly ascended the stairs from below the wooden building.

It was Old Demon Tian Tu and Zou Yulang.