Chapter 56: Capturing the Sinister Laughter!

As the continuously burning soul body dwindled, the oppressive force emanating from the black clouds gradually faded and ceased. The black clouds churned, with shrill screeches echoing from within.

"Kekekeke, boy, don't celebrate too early. My methods are not as simple as you think." At this moment, a sinister laugh from the Protector Xuan echoed from within the black clouds.

"Soul Devouring Chains!"

A ghastly voice akin to the screech of crows echoed from within the black mist, followed by the mist contracting suddenly. From within emerged a gaunt old man clad in black robes, with crimson eyes glowing inside his hood.

With a flick of his hand, several chains extended from his palm, coiling around him like venomous snakes. With a shake of his arm, the chains shot towards Jiang Yun and his group at lightning speed.

"Impertinent!"

Seeing Protector Xuan daring to take on them alone, the group immediately showed signs of anger. He was merely a four-star Dou Zong, yet he dared to challenge five Dou Zong experts. Did he think they were made of clay?

"Earth-Shattering Fist!"

"Heaven-Splitting Wind Sword!"

"Purple Gold Dragon Spear!"

Feeling belittled, Su Qian and the others launched their attacks fueled by Dou Qi, unleashing powerful Earth-ranked Dou Techniques towards Protector Xuan. His face changed drastically as he waved his hand once more. Ten dark chains, filled with strange runes, extended from the void, intertwining and enveloping in black energy, moving to intercept the attacks in a defensive counter.

In the blink of an eye, a radiant clash burst forth.

"Boom——" 

"Ah——" 

A colossal explosion rocked the sky, followed by a miserable scream. Protector Xuan, being the closest, suffered greatly from the close-range detonation of the powerful Earth-ranked Dou Techniques.

Under the group's combined assault, the black shroud blanketing the sky quivered, and moments later, cracks emerged, allowing blinding sunlight to pierce through, driving away the darkness.

Protector Xuan's form now came into view. Hovering in the void, his figure was grievously damaged, missing an arm and a leg. His face, contorted with malice, glared venomously at Jiang Yun and the others, as though etching them deep in his memory.

"I'll remember this humiliation!" Protector Xuan spat out each word with gritted teeth. Then, he abruptly detonated himself, transforming into a mass of black mist that fled in all directions rapidly.

"Stop him!" Su Qian shouted urgently. Leaving a protector of the Soul Hall with a grudge was dangerous, especially if he called for more protectors or elders to Canaan Academy's detriment.

Shouting in urgency, Su Qian pursued a portion of the dispersing black mist himself. The others, aware of the gravity, attacked the mist in their designated directions with solemn expressions.

Zi Yan, her long purple hair flowing in the wind, displayed a spark of eagerness in her gem-like eyes.

"Little girl, seeking death!" A hoarse voice from the mist, then a surge of black fog rushed out.

"Take my punch, Void Punch!" With her gaze locked on the incoming black mist, Zi Yan's eyes filled with vibrant purple light, an extraordinary air of dragon might emanating from her tense body. Purple light concentrated on her arms, forming strange purple crystal layers resembling a dragon's head. With an overwhelming force capable of shattering mountains, her punch exploded forth.

"Boom——"

With Zi Yan's punch, the air compressed into an invisible concave arc with a sharp wind-breaking sound. The air cannon, compressed by the force, shot towards the black mist like a projectile!

No one could fathom how such terrifying strength erupted from such a slender figure.

"Bang——"

A muffled explosion, the red eyes in the black mist shattered, revealing it was not the entity.

"Damn, it's a fake!" Zi Yan's delicate brows furrowed as she spoke with frustration at the dispersed mist from her punch.

"Bang, bang, bang!" Simultaneously, multiple explosions resounded. Black fireworks rained down, revealing no entities, much to the dismay of the team.

"Damn, they're all fakes!"

"We let him escape!"

"This is trouble now!"

Voices of frustration echoed as Su Qian and the others' faces darkened.

"Escaped? I'm not so sure!" Jiang Yun's face bore a peculiar smile, his gaze fixed below. His terrifying soul power had already locked onto the target underground. The methods of the Soul Hall were indeed impressive but could not escape Jiang Yun's perception!

With a raising of his right hand, fiery energy rapidly condensed. This was the same mid-tier Earth Dou Technique, Burning Heaven Palm Strike!

In the hands of one harnessing a Heavenly Flame, the technique's potency surged further.

Burning Heaven Palm Strike: Scorching mountains and rivers, breaking the heavens!

Those nearby felt the fire attribute energy converging on Jiang Yun's right hand. Protector Xuan, hiding below, still hopeful, saw the fiery giant palm shift and rush towards his hiding spot.

Whizzing quickly, the flaming palm zoomed towards the location. Spotting the fleeing figure, Jiang Yun smirked, redirecting the fiery hand towards Protector Xuan.

"Too much!" Feeling the pursuit of the fiery hand locking onto him, and the spatial disturbance caused by its energy, Protector Xuan roared. "Soul Funeral!" Black fog rapidly condensed into a gigantic skull which rushed at the fire hand.

"Boom——"

A terrifying explosion erupted. Jiang Yun moved gracefully with intricate steps, reappearing in front of Protector Xuan, his fist wrapped in white flames, thrusting forward.

This was the low-tier Earth movement technique, Flying Phoenix Step, enhanced by space power, providing an almost teleportation effect over short distances.

Protector Xuan's pupils shrank, dodged clumsily under thunderous explosions amidst the dense black fog. Finally, an immense white palm shattered the black fog, a wretched figure emerged.

The now visible Protector Xuan, his black fog significantly thinned, was severely weakened. Surrounded by vigilant foes, fear emerged in his heart for the first time.

"I'm of the Soul Hall! Kill me, and the Soul Hall will never let you go!" He yelled in a mixture of bravado and fear.

"He understood eradication better than anyone from the Soul Hall, didn't he?" Wu Tianlang scoffed, seeing the desperation.

Seeing no mercy, Protector Xuan roared again, black fog surged as he tried a final escape. "Run? Not a chance!" Jiang Yun's mocking gaze followed, while three figures quickly overtook and struck him down, binding him like a cocoon. Despite desperate struggles, he couldn't break free, roaring like a cornered beast.

"Jiang Yun, he's all yours!" Wu Tianlang handed the bound enemy to Jiang Yun. "Thanks!" Jiang Yun smiled, a flame chain leapt from his palm, binding Protector Xuan. "Aargh——" Amid sizzling sounds, Protector Xuan screamed in anguish as the flames eroded his body's black fog, revealing a translucent, ghostly figure.

"It's— a soul body?" Elder Huo questioned, his shock reflecting on Su Qian and others.

"Elder Huo knew strong souls survived with severe injuries, but to see a Dou Zong's soul body— how strong was he alive?" Su Qian pondered aloud. "A Spirit-Gatherer!" Elder Huo interjected. "Such power is beyond a seven-tier Pill Refinist! Only an eighth-tier master with spirit-gathering alignment could manage this."

"Spirit-Gatherer!" They echoed, stunned. Such power was too far-fetched for them if Soul Hall's protectors wielded such terrifying histories.

"Enough! That protector, in life, didn't achieve such spirit levels. The Soul Hall, a long-standing top force, has equally formidable methods!" Jiang Yun explained, calming their fears. Jiang Yun captured Protector Xuan's fading soul into an emerald bottle, sealed with flames.

"Let's go, they've been waiting," announced Su Qian. They nodded, darting away, only two pairs of Dou Qi wings among them visibly prominent in the sky.

In a dense forest in the Black-Corner Region, gathered elders awaited Su Qian's group. Qin Xuan, face composed, stepped forward with a smile. "Finally, Great Elder, another moment and we'd have come for you!"

"Nothing to worry about among five Dou Zongs!" Su Qian retorted sternly. "Are all gathered?" "Seven in ten of our Dou Huang elders came, all eager for Jiang Yun's hefty reward," Qin Xuan replied, smirking at Jiang Yun, who smiled back.

Su Qian continued, "The heads of Feng City, Blood Wolf Gang, Black Emperor Sect, and Devil Flame Valley are dead. We'll hit these forces swiftly, keeping threats to Canaan Academy at bay for the next twenty years." "Yes!" the group affirmed.

Su Qian then designated three pairs of Dou Zong and Dou Huang to attack, Jiang Yun and Zi Yan volunteered for Devil Flame Valley.

Agreed, they departed, confident in their formidable force.