Devouring Soul Emperor

Seeing the reactions of those around him, Chu Qingyun nodded inwardly.

Initially, he had indeed wanted to work with Zhou Wushang and the others.

But seeing so many people gathered here, he changed his mind on the spot and decided to reveal everything about the Martial Soul Hall.

The vast majority of these people were from the areas surrounding Blood Abyss City.

No one would place more importance on this matter than they would.

And the result was just as Chu Qingyun had predicted: almost everyone here was stirred.

’It seems that even without Zhou Wushang and Huo Yuguang, if I can get these two or three hundred Earth Spirit Realm cultivators to act, there’s still a chance to solve the Martial Soul Hall problem.’

Seeing this, Mu Xiaoxiao was pleasantly surprised and even felt a hint of admiration for Chu Qingyun.

She hadn’t expected Chu Qingyun to be so quick-witted, instantly figuring out how to galvanize the people from the area around Blood Abyss City.

’This way, not only will more people be working to thwart the Martial Soul Hall’s plans, but it also creates a powerful momentum. The Martial Soul Hall becomes the common enemy. If everyone else goes to fight them, but Zhou Wushang and Huo Yuguang don’t, they’ll undoubtedly draw everyone’s ire. Morally, they won’t have a leg to stand on.’

’If word of this gets out, it will even tarnish the reputations of the Celestial Sword Sect and the Saint Extreme Sect.’

’That’s something they can’t afford to ignore.’

However, a dissenting voice suddenly cut through the air.

"Hmph! You say people from the Martial Soul Hall are here, and we’re supposed to believe you? I think you’re just trying to scare us off so you can take all the treasures in this main hall for yourself!"

The speaker was an Examiner from the Land of Hundred Dynasties.

"That’s right! How can you prove that members of the Martial Soul Hall have snuck in?"

"Are we supposed to just take your word for it, ignore the treasures, and search the entire ruin for members of the Martial Soul Hall?"

Immediately, more voices of doubt rose up.

Most of the dissenters were Examiners from the Land of Hundred Dynasties. They had no sentimental attachment to the Blood-soaked Land.

Those from the vicinity of Blood Abyss City, however, were conflicted. They leaned toward the idea that it was better to be safe than sorry.

After all, even experts at the Martial Spirit Realm were still people.

They had homes, families, and friends. If what Chu Qingyun said was true, then all of that would truly be annihilated!

Seeing someone challenge Chu Qingyun, both Zhou Wushang and Huo Yuguang broke into sinister smiles.

Huo Yuguang glanced around, then led the few Celestial Spirit Realm experts at his side and quietly advanced on Chu Qingyun.

Zhou Wushang did the same. However, aside from the one remaining Celestial Spirit Realm expert from the Qianshui Dynasty, no one else was willing to follow him; the other four Celestial Spirit Realm experts hesitated.

"Hmph. Don’t forget, you all tacitly approved when we drove Chu Qingyun away and sent people to kill him. If he gets out of here, none of us will escape unscathed!" Zhou Wushang threatened in a low voice.

Left with no choice, the four Celestial Spirit Realm experts reluctantly followed Zhou Wushang, closing in on Chu Qingyun and his two companions.

"Zhou Wushang! Huo Yuguang! Are you really going to start infighting when we’re facing a powerful enemy?!" Chu Qingyun barked upon seeing their movements.

He was utterly disappointed in Zhou Wushang and Huo Yuguang.

He had assumed that as leaders, they would at least be able to tell right from wrong. He never imagined that even with the grave threat of the Martial Soul Hall looming, they would still put their personal grudges first.

"Hmph! What Martial Soul Hall? That’s just a load of crap!"

"You’re just spouting nonsense to stir up trouble! Don’t think you can fool us!"

Zhou Wushang and Huo Yuguang were of the same mind. ’Who gives a damn about the Martial Soul Hall? We’ll kill Chu Qingyun first and deal with the rest later.’

’As for whether the seal gets broken or the Blood-soaked Land is destroyed, that’s not our problem.’

’The sects from the Northern Domain will deal with it eventually anyway.’

"Hold on, what if he’s telling the truth?"

"The stakes are too high. I think we should be cautious and investigate this thoroughly!"

"That’s right!"

Many in the crowd voiced their agreement.

"Are you all trying to make an enemy of our two major sects?" Huo Yuguang threatened fiercely.

Just then, a group of over thirty people approached. Their leader burst out laughing. "Haha! We haven’t even arrived, and you’re already at each other’s throats. Don’t you know that shedding blood is forbidden before the main and side halls in these ruins?"

At the sight of this group, everyone’s expressions flickered, and they became warier.

These were the local powers of Blood Abyss City, the strongest team to have entered the ruins—the men from the No-Life Gang.

The No-Life Gang had as many as ten Level Seven Martial Spirits, and over twenty peak Level Six Martial Spirits.

And unlike Examiners from the Land of Hundred Dynasties like Zhou Wushang and Huo Yuguang, the members of the No-Life Gang had lived in the Blood-soaked Land for a long time. Their hearts were darker, their methods more vicious.

"What’s going on? You, tell me," the No-Life Gang’s leader said, casually pointing to an Earth Spirit Realm cultivator.

The man didn’t dare to refuse and cautiously explained, "Yes, Lord Ma. A moment ago, those three..."

The man recounted everything that had happened since Chu Qingyun’s arrival, telling the whole story to the leader of the No-Life Gang, Ma Tairen.

Hearing of the Martial Soul Hall’s plan, Ma Tairen was inwardly startled.

’Blood Abyss City is our No-Life Gang’s turf,’ he thought. ’It’s *my* turf.’

"Kid, is what you said true?" Ma Tairen asked, staring at Chu Qingyun with a heavy voice.

Chu Qingyun nodded, his expression composed.

’The Six Imperial Demon-Sealing Array... six Array Bases in total... located near this main hall. With no obstructions, we could reach them in half an hour...’ Ma Tairen muttered to himself.

Upon hearing this, many in the crowd, including Mu Xiaoxiao, showed looks of joy.

Zhou Wushang, however, frowned and asked, "Ma Tairen, how could you possibly know about something so confidential?"

"How could I know? HAHAHA..." Ma Tairen suddenly roared with laughter, and behind him, the other members of the No-Life Gang joined in.

"We got lucky right after entering the Blood Sect ruins. We found a complete layout map."

"Who do you think discovered this main hall, the most important location here? And who do you think spread the news of its location?" Ma Tairen said with a smug look.

"You intentionally leaked the location of this main hall?" Zhou Wushang’s face suddenly turned ugly.

"If I hadn’t intentionally leaked the main hall’s location, how would all you idiots have come rushing over? And if you didn’t all rush over here, how could we have leisurely plundered all the surrounding halls?"

"Haha! Bet you were all dumbfounded when you got here! With your strength, you can’t possibly break this seal!"

Ma Tairen and the other members of the No-Life Gang laughed with even greater satisfaction.