54: The storm is brewing again, is Emperor Yan in danger?

In the underground crack seam, there was a deathly silence, only the intensely vibrating cyan Jade Slip in his arms emitted a faint but urgent hum, like a persistently urge of Talismanic Incantation, striking Lin Chen's mind repeatedly.

He held the Jade Slip, his fingertips even feeling the anxiety and urgency transmitted from within! This was by no means an ordinary greeting, but a distress signal from a moment of extreme peril!

Xiao Yan was in trouble!

Lin Chen's expression changed erratically, countless thoughts flashing through his mind instantly.

Did something go wrong with his Cultivation? Impossible, with Elder Yao protecting him, this possibility was extremely low.

Did he encounter a powerful enemy? In the Black-Corner Region, with Jia Nan Academy's power already established and Grand Elder Su Qian overseeing things, who could threaten Xiao Yan? Unless… it was the Hall of Souls?!

Lin Chen suddenly remembered Elder Yao's vast Soul Power probe in the Demon Flame Valley's depths, and his solemn expression regarding the black hole's aura that appeared afterward.

Could the Hall of Souls have made a move against Xiao Yan and Elder Yao? Was it because of the earth core soul marrow? Or because of Elder Yao himself?

Regardless of the reason, it meant that Xiao Yan was currently facing a life-or-death crisis!

To go, or not to go?

Reason told him that he should continue to conceal himself.

Having just disrupted the Hall of Souls's shocking scheme there, the other party would undoubtedly be enraged and would certainly conduct a frantic search and retaliation.

Returning to the Black-Corner Region now would be tantamount to walking into a trap.

Moreover, although his strength had improved rapidly, facing a crisis that forced Xiao Yan to use a Jade Slip for help, his seven-star Dou Ling Cultivation would probably not even qualify him to intervene; going would likely be suicide.

The best choice was to immediately flee far away, completely leave this area, find an uninhabited place to quietly Cultivate, and then plan other things when his strength was sufficient.

But…

Lin Chen's eyes flashed with Xiao Yan's seemingly sincere smile when they first met; he recalled Xiao Yan's 'take care' when he gave him the Jade Slip upon parting outside Demon Flame Valley; and he even thought that his ability to successfully obtain the earth core soul marrow was, to some extent, due to using Xiao Yan to attract attention…

Although both had reservations and calculations, the superficial friendship and multiple assists were not false.

Furthermore, he knew deeply that Xiao Yan was the Son of Luck of this world; if he truly fell prematurely, the future pattern of the entire continent would be completely changed, the Hall of Souls's arrogance would surely become even more rampant, and how much living space would he, burdened with strange Dou Qi and having formed a mortal enmity with the Hall of Souls, have in the future?

“Damn it!” Lin Chen cursed in a low voice, a hint of resolute determination flashing in his eyes after a struggle.

He was not a saint, but he was certainly not a cold-blooded, ungrateful person.

Some risks were worth taking!

Moreover, he had now comprehended “Shadow Erosion · Body Fusion”, greatly increasing his stealth ability, so he might not be unable to fish in troubled waters and act according to the situation!

More importantly, he faintly felt that this might also be an opportunity! An opportunity to further gain Xiao Yan and Elder Yao's trust, and even… to observe the Hall of Souls's methods up close!

“Fortune favors the bold! I'll risk it!” He no longer hesitated, his Soul Power immediately sinking into the violently vibrating Jade Slip.

Inside the Jade Slip, there was no specific verbal information, but an extremely blurred and fragmented energy map, pointing to the central area of the Black-Corner Region, and a constantly flashing red mark representing extreme danger! In addition to this, there was a faint but tenacious Soul fluctuation, which was Xiao Yan's aura, becoming increasingly unstable!

“The location is near Black Seal City?” Lin Chen roughly judged the direction based on the map, his heart sinking further.

Black Seal City was a famous large city in the Black-Corner Region, a mixed bag of people and forces, and a considerable distance from Jia Nan Academy.

Why would Xiao Yan go there and encounter such a crisis?

He dared not delay, immediately rushed out of the underground crack seam, identified the direction, increased his speed to the maximum, and shot towards the center of the Black-Corner Region!

Along the way, he fully activated the Dark Shadow Soul Binding Art, pushing the “Shadow Erosion · Body Fusion” technique to its Peak, his entire being transforming into a faint phantom that almost didn't exist in this world, avoiding all possible sight and perception.

At the same time, he continuously swallowed Medicinal Pills, recovering the Dou Qi consumed during his previous escape and interference with the Formation, adjusting his state to the best.

The closer he got to the center of the Black-Corner Region, the more unsettling the atmosphere became.

The energy in the air became restless, and he often saw some Cultivators fleeing outwards with panicked expressions, occasionally hearing energy explosions and shouts of battle from afar.

“Have you heard? Something big happened in Black Seal City!” “Not just Black Seal City! The entire Black-Corner Region is about to fall into chaos! It seems several major forces suddenly started fighting!” “More than that! I heard that a super-strong expert is in a duel! It seems to be Xiao Yan, who destroyed Demon Flame Valley before; he must have provoked some terrifying existence and is now surrounded in the Black Wind Mountain Range outside Black Seal City!” “Hiss… Hurry, let's go, stay far away, don't get caught in it!”

The sporadic discussions he overheard caused Lin Chen's heart to sink continuously.

It was indeed a great battle! And the scope of impact was extremely wide! Xiao Yan was besieged!

He became even more cautious, pushing his stealth skills to the extreme, like a slippery loach, weaving through the chaotic crowds and mountain forests, rapidly approaching the Black Wind Mountain Range area.

A few days later, he finally arrived at the edge of the Black Wind Mountain Range.

Looking from afar, the entire mountain range was covered by a huge energy barrier in the sky, obviously sealed by a powerful Formation! Outside the barrier, countless figures in uniform black robes were vaguely visible, their auras cold and powerful, surrounding the mountain range impenetrably! It was the Hall of Souls's forces!

And inside the barrier, terrifying energy fluctuations continuously erupted, the roar deafening, and various colored Dou Qi lights flashed madly, clearly indicating an extremely fierce battle was underway! A familiar violent flame aura and a bone-white cold flame aura intertwined, belonging to Xiao Yan and Elder Yao! But their auras seemed to be firmly suppressed by at least three powerful auras no weaker than Elder Yao's, their situation precarious!

“Three Dou Zongs?! The Hall of Souls actually deployed such a large force!” Lin Chen gasped, his heart filled with horror.

This lineup clearly intended to completely capture Xiao Yan and Elder Yao!

He hid in the shadow of a towering ancient tree, his sharp gaze sweeping across the battlefield and the surrounding Hall of Souls arrangements.

Forcing his way through the blockade was impossible.

He had to find a way to sneak in silently.

He carefully observed the huge sealing barrier.

The barrier's energy was vast, clearly set up by the combined efforts of Hall of Souls powerhouses, but such a large-scale Formation would inevitably have relatively weak points in energy flow, or… small passages for personnel to enter and exit!

His Soul Power, like invisible tentacles, carefully extended towards the barrier, sensing the energy distribution on it.

Indeed! At the entrance of a valley in the southeast direction, the barrier's energy fluctuations were relatively weaker, and there were subtle spatial fluctuations there, seemingly a temporarily opened entrance and exit, guarded by two Hall of Souls Dou Kings and more than ten Dou Wangs, heavily fortified.

That was the only opportunity!

But how to get past the two Dou Kings' guard?

Lin Chen's eyes flickered, his brain rapidly calculating.

Forcing his way through was the worst option; he had to create chaos and lure the tiger away from its den!

His gaze fell on a temporary Hall of Souls camp a few miles away from the valley entrance, where some supplies seemed to be stacked, and many low-level Hall of Souls personnel were active.

A plan instantly formed.

He silently stealthily approached the camp, finding the best position.

Flipping his palm, a black bead, obtained from a Hall of Souls Dou King's Storage Pouch, containing violent and cold energy, appeared in his hand.

This seemed to be a one-time attack item, with considerable power.

He calculated the angle and timing, injected a trace of dark shadow Dou Qi into the bead, and then fiercely threw it towards the pile of supplies in the center of the camp!

Whoosh!

The black bead traced a graceful arc.

“Enemy attack!” The Hall of Souls personnel in the camp immediately noticed and cried out in alarm!

However, it was too late!

The black bead accurately landed in the pile of supplies—

Boom!!!

A deafening roar!

The violent cold energy, mixed with other ignited supplies, instantly formed a small mushroom cloud, soaring into the sky!

A terrifying energy shockwave swept out, and the entire camp was instantly thrown into disarray, a scene of chaos and wailing!

“What's going on?!” “The camp is under attack!”

The two Dou King guards at the valley entrance in the distance changed their expressions, subconsciously turned their heads to look, their minds drawn by the sudden explosion.

Now!

Lin Chen increased his speed to the maximum, pushing “Shadow Erosion · Body Fusion” to its Peak, his entire being transforming into a nearly non-existent distortion of light, as if teleporting, taking advantage of the moment when the two Dou Kings' attention was diverted and the guards' attention was drawn, he narrowly passed through the relatively weak energy entrance of the barrier, silently merging into the Black Wind Mountain Range!

The entire process happened in a flash, perfectly utilizing the chaos and time difference created by the explosion!

Entering inside the barrier, an even more terrifying energy pressure and battle aftermath rushed over!

Lin Chen could even clearly hear Xiao Yan's furious roar and Elder Yao's urgent reminders.

He dared not stay for a moment, immediately stealthily heading towards the core area of the most intense battle.

The closer he got, the more his heart trembled.

At the center of the battlefield, it was a mess.

Xiao Yan was covered in blood, holding the xuan heavy ruler, his Three Thousand Lightning Movement pushed to the extreme, frantically maneuvering with two Peak Hall of Souls Dou King powerhouses, but he was clearly at a disadvantage, in constant peril.

And high in the sky, Elder Yao's Soul body appeared, the Bone Chilling Flame sweeping across the world, but he was being besieged by three Hall of Souls Elder Zuns in purple robes!

The strength of those three Elder Zuns was all above Three-star Dou Zong!

Their combined efforts formed a strange triangular Formation, cold chains like poisonous snakes, constantly coiling and whipping, greatly restricting Elder Yao's movements and continuously eroding his Soul Power!

Elder Yao's Soul body was already much dimmer than when he was in Demon Flame Valley!

The situation was far more critical than imagined!

Lin Chen hid behind a cracked boulder, his heart pounding.

At this level of battle, he was completely unable to intervene directly.

What should he do?

His gaze rapidly scanned the battlefield, looking for any subtle opportunity that could break the balance.

Suddenly, his gaze fixed on one of the three Hall of Souls Elder Zuns besieging Elder Yao.

That person seemed to have been injured before; his aura was the weakest among the three Elder Zuns, probably around the Peak of a One-star Dou Zong.

When he manipulated the chains to attack, there was an extremely subtle and unsmooth energy flow in his left shoulder!

Moreover, that person's position happened to be with his back to Lin Chen's direction!

An extremely crazy and adventurous thought, like wild grass, rapidly grew in Lin Chen's mind.