113: Fierce battle in the square, a palm strike to suppress the soul.

In Quicksand Plaza, the atmosphere instantly dropped to freezing point.

The appearance of the Soul Hall Protector, along with his undisguised greed and killing intent, made the originally noisy trading area become so quiet that a pin drop could be heard. Everyone subconsciously backed away, clearing a large area, afraid of being caught in the impending conflict.

The Scorpion Emperor's face was extremely grim, and the hand holding the jade box containing the blood soul branch trembled slightly. On one side was the Grade Seven Divine Pill that could save the Grand Elder, and the unfathomable Li Ao; on the other side was the notorious and ruthless Hall of Souls. Choosing either side could bring disaster upon his Tribe!

Facing the threat of the Soul Hall Protector, Li Ao's expression remained calm, though an icy killing intent had already condensed deep within his eyes. He slowly put away the jade bottle in his hand, glanced at the black-robed Protector, and said lightly:

"Scum of the Hall of Souls, you truly are like flies, omnipresent and annoying."

He actually dared to directly insult the Soul Hall Protector!

Everyone was shocked! Even the gaze beneath the Soul Hall Protector's hood suddenly became incomparably frigid!

"You are courting death!" the Soul Hall Protector roared, and the majestic aura of a Three-Star Dou Zong erupted. Dense Netherworld Death Qi swept out like a tide, causing the temperature of the entire plaza to drop sharply! His withered hand suddenly shot out, five fingers curled, and five condensed black finger rays, like venomous snakes leaving their holes, shot straight toward Li Ao's vital points, accompanied by an ear-piercing Soul shriek!

Netherworld Ghost Finger! Its speed was like lightning, specializing in breaking through Dou Qi defenses and directly injuring the Soul!

Facing this vicious attack, Li Ao did not even move his feet. He merely slowly raised his right hand, which was covered in a faint bronze luster, and clenched it in the Void Realm toward the five finger rays.

"Return to Stillness."

An invisible intent, seemingly capable of bringing all things to an end, quietly spread out from the center of his palm.

When the five sharp Netherworld Finger Rays entered the three-zhang radius around him, they were like objects thrown into an invisible swamp, their speed drastically reduced. The Netherworld Death Qi on them seemed to have encountered its nemesis, emitting 'chi chi' sounds as it rapidly dissolved and disintegrated, finally being completely annihilated about a foot in front of Li Ao's palm, failing to even stir up a ripple!

With a casual gesture, he once again neutralized the attack of a Three-Star Dou Zong!

"What?!" The Soul Hall Protector's pupils shrank, and the horror in his heart was beyond measure! Even a Dou Zong of the same level would not dare to directly take his Netherworld Ghost Finger, yet this person neutralized it so easily?! What kind of power was that?!

Not only him, but all the surrounding onlookers, including the Scorpion Emperor, watched dumbfounded! They had originally thought this would be a fierce Dragon-Tiger struggle, and that Li Ao might even be at a disadvantage, but they never expected the situation to be so one-sided!

"Is that all there is to your attack?" Li Ao withdrew his hand, his tone carrying a hint of mockery. "If so, then it's my turn."

Before his voice fell, he took a step!

The Thunder Sound Steps exploded! Only a slowly fading azure afterimage remained on the spot, while his true body had appeared like a phantom in front of the Soul Hall Protector! The speed was so fast it far exceeded the opponent's reaction time!

"So fast!" The Soul Hall Protector was greatly alarmed. In haste, he condensed Netherworld Dou Qi, setting up layers of gray-black Soul barriers in front of him!

"Break."

Li Ao joined his fingers like a blade. The wisp of Return to Stillness Qi, restrained to the extreme, wrapped around his fingertip, and he lightly slashed toward the layers of barriers.

"Chi—!"

It was like a hot knife slicing through grease.

The Soul barriers, which were sufficient to withstand the full attack of a Dou Zong of the same level, were easily split open in front of the Return to Stillness Finger Blade, like they were made of paper! The Finger Blade's momentum did not decrease, heading straight for the Soul Hall Protector's throat!

The Soul Hall Protector was so frightened that his Soul Flying Away and Spirit Scattering. He let out a strange cry, and dense black mist erupted from his body. His figure retreated rapidly like a phantom, while simultaneously whipping out several pitch-black Soul chains to coil around Li Ao, attempting to obstruct him!

However, it was useless!

The Finger Blade swept past, and the Soul chains silently snapped and were annihilated!

The edge of the Finger Blade continued to pursue relentlessly!

"Puchi!"

Although the Soul Hall Protector dodged with all his might, the Finger Blade still left a bone-deep wound on his scrawny chest, its edges smooth as a mirror! There was no blood at the wound, only a strange, grayish color rapidly spreading, fiercely corroding his vitality and Soul!

"Ah! Nirvana Corrosion!!" The Soul Hall Protector let out a shrill scream. Feeling the destructive rule, which was more overbearing and fundamental than Netherworld power, ravaging his body, his eyes finally revealed a look of terror identical to that of the Iron Protector before! This Young Master was invincible!

Escape! He must escape!

He fiercely crushed a pitch-black jade talisman, and a powerful spatial fluctuation instantly enveloped him!

"Trying to leave? Leave something behind!"

Li Ao's eyes turned cold. Maintaining the gesture of fingers joined like a blade, he slashed through the air at the Soul Hall Protector, who was about to be teleported away by the spatial fluctuation!

"Nirvana Slash!"

A subtle, silver-gray thread, seemingly capable of severing Karma, arrived first despite being launched later, instantly sweeping past the Soul Hall Protector's fading body!

"Er Ah—!"

A more agonizing shriek, containing endless pain and malice, came from the spatial fluctuation just before it vanished! Subsequently, everything returned to calm.

The Soul Hall Protector... escaped.

But on the spot, he left behind an arm—withered, gray, and seemingly weathered by ten thousand years of time!

It was precisely the left arm of the Soul Hall Protector!

Although Li Ao's long-distance Nirvana Slash failed to keep him, it forcibly severed one of his arms!

The entire venue fell into dead silence!

All the onlookers, including the Scorpion Emperor, looked as if they had been immobilized, staring dumbfounded at the severed arm belonging to the Soul Hall Protector on the ground, and at the young man who slowly withdrew his fingers, his azure robes still spotless and dust-free.

With a wave of his hand, he forced back a Three-Star Dou Zong Soul Hall Protector and severed one of his arms!

What terrifying strength was this?!

Those who had previously harbored doubts or other intentions toward Li Ao now only felt boundless awe and fear in their hearts!

The Scorpion Emperor swallowed hard, his gaze toward Li Ao filled with relief. Fortunately, fortunately, he hadn't wavered because of the Hall of Souls' threat just now! This Senior's strength was simply unfathomable! He could even sever the arm of a Soul Hall Protector just like that!

Li Ao was expressionless. He waved his hand, shaking the severed arm into dust, and turned his gaze toward the Scorpion Emperor: "Now, can we trade?"

"We can! Of course, we can!" The Scorpion Emperor jolted, quickly and respectfully presenting the jade box containing the blood soul branch in his hand. "Senior, this blood soul branch is yours! Thank you, Senior, for bestowing the Medicinal Pill!"

He had no hesitation now. To be able to exchange the blood soul branch for a Grade Seven Divine Pill that could save the Grand Elder's life and also forge a connection with such a powerful expert was an immense stroke of luck!

Li Ao took the jade box. After confirming it was correct, he tossed the jade bottle containing the soul fiend barrier-breaking pill to the Scorpion Emperor.

The transaction was complete.

The Scorpion Emperor carefully put away the Medicinal Pill and bowed deeply to Li Ao: "Senior's great kindness, the Flame Scorpion Tribe will never forget! If you ever need anything in the future, our Flame Scorpion Tribe will do our utmost!"

Li Ao nodded slightly, said no more, exchanged a glance with Medusa, and prepared to leave this troublesome place.

After this battle, he had completely established his authority in Quicksand City and even the entire desolate region. He assumed that, for a short time, no one foolish enough would dare to provoke him again.

However, just as they turned around, Medusa suddenly stopped, her violet eyes looking toward a corner of the plaza, and her cold voice rang out:

"You've been watching for so long, it's time to come out."

Everyone was startled and followed her gaze.

They saw the shadow in the corner twist. A woman dressed in a plain white long dress, her face covered by a light veil, and her temperament ethereal like a lily of the valley, slowly revealed her figure. She did not deliberately release her aura, but the natural harmony she exuded, blending with the surrounding environment, made people dare not underestimate her.

Her gaze bypassed everyone and landed directly on Medusa, her clear eyes holding a trace of surprise and scrutiny.

"I didn't expect to encounter an existence with such a condensed Soul and such noble Bloodline in this desolate region." The white-robed woman's voice was melodious and pleasant, like a clear mountain spring. "This humble one is White Plain. I mean no harm; I was merely curious and observed from the side. Please forgive me for the disturbance."

Her appearance and unfathomable aura caused the plaza, which had just calmed down, to ripple once more.

Li Ao's eyes narrowed slightly. From this woman, he sensed a unique aura, different from that of the Hall of Souls and different from the Cultivators of the desolate region. It seemed... closer to nature's flora, fauna, and the Soul Origin.

Medusa looked at her indifferently with her violet eyes, not lowering her guard because of the other party's politeness: "What do you want?"

White Plain smiled faintly and turned her gaze toward Li Ao: "The technique this Young Master just demonstrated contained the supreme true intent of Nirvana; it was truly breathtaking. May I be so bold as to ask, Young Master, have you ever heard of 'Fairy Qinghua'?"

Fairy Qinghua?!

Li Ao's heart suddenly stirred! Wasn't this the Loose Cultivator Medicinal Pill Grandmaster, proficient in restoring the Soul Origin, whom Hall Master Mu had mentioned to him in the Hall of Hundred Herbs in Pill City?!