Chapter 771 Conflict with the Soul Palace

"Master Xiao Ling, please save my master!"

Nalan Yanran's voice was choked with barely suppressed sobs, and the air inside and outside the pavilion fell silent the moment she finished speaking.

Mu Qingluan paused slightly as she picked up her teacup, her almond-shaped eyes filled with surprise. She instinctively sat up straight, her gaze fixed on Nalan Yanran's tense profile.

Qinglin also stopped in her tracks, her little face full of confusion. She clearly did not expect that the usually aloof Steward Nalan would suddenly show such a discomposure.

Xiao Ling's fingertips, which were caressing the rim of the cup, paused for a moment. A hint of surprise flashed in his deep eyes, but he quickly concealed it, replaced by a serious expression.

He looked at the girl bowing respectfully before him, her shoulders trembling slightly, and softened his tone, his voice gentle yet carrying a comforting power:
"You said you wanted to save your master? Is it Yun Yun?"

Seeing that Nalan Yanran's eyes instantly reddened upon hearing this, and she subconsciously nodded, Xiao Ling raised his hand to signal her to stand up: "Stand up and talk first, don't rush."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over the girl's pale face and clenched fists, and added, "Tell me slowly, what exactly happened? Where is Yun Yun now? Was she ambushed by a powerful enemy, or did something go wrong in her cultivation?"

Nalan Yanran got up as instructed, hurriedly wiping away the tears that had seeped from the corners of her eyes with her fingertips. Her long eyelashes were still damp with tiny traces of moisture, and her voice still trembled slightly, but it was a little more composed than before.

"They are...the people from the Soul Palace." She took a deep breath, trying to calm her turbulent emotions, and looked intently at Xiao Ling, speaking quickly but clearly.

“A few days ago, my master, several other deacons from the sect, and I went out on a sect mission led by Venerable Tianhuo. Our destination was Black Wind Canyon on the northern border, and our mission was to track down a batch of stolen goods from the merchant alliance.”

"But we were ambushed by powerful figures from the Soul Palace as soon as we reached the depths of the canyon!" At this point, Nalan Yanran's voice suddenly rose, a hint of lingering fear and hatred flashing in her eyes.

"Those people's cultivation is unpredictable and their attacks are extremely ruthless, leaving no survivors. Although our group fought back with all our might, the enemy had a large number of people and two Dou Zun level experts in charge, so the difference in strength was huge."

She clenched her fists, her knuckles turning white, her voice filled with self-blame and anxiety.
"In the midst of the fierce battle, in order to cover my escape, my master deliberately drew the attention of the Soul Hall members to herself and took the heavy blow of a Soul Hall protector... I took advantage of the chaos and used all my strength to break through the encirclement, but my master... she was kidnapped by those people from the Soul Hall!"

Nalan Yanran's voice choked with sobs, and tears finally streamed down her cheeks.

"I rushed back to Starfall Pavilion through the spatial wormhole without stopping, and came straight here to find you, Master Xiao Ling! You are the only person in Starfall Pavilion who is capable of fighting against the Soul Palace. Please, you must save my master!"

As she spoke, she bowed deeply to Xiao Ling again, her posture extremely humble, her tone filled with desperate pleading, and even the fighting spirit around her was slightly disordered due to her emotional agitation.

After listening to Nalan Yanran's account, Xiao Ling slowly stopped rubbing the rim of the cup with his fingertips. The leisurely air between his brows completely disappeared, replaced by a solemn expression.

He quickly sorted through the information in his mind: Venerable Tianhuo led the team, the Black Wind Canyon in the Northern Region, the Soul Palace ambushed them, and Yun Yun and others were kidnapped. The seriousness of the matter had exceeded expectations.

He turned his gaze to Qinglin, who was standing by the pavilion, and asked in a calm tone, "Qinglin, do you know the itinerary of Venerable Tianhuo?"

Upon hearing this, Qing Lin tilted his head and thought carefully for a moment before replying confidently, "Young Master, I heard from the disciples on duty in the pavilion the other day that Senior Venerable Tianhuo did indeed leave Xingyun Pavilion a few days ago, saying that he was going to lead a team to the northern border to carry out a mission, and has not yet returned."

"As expected..." Xiao Ling murmured softly, his brows furrowing slightly.

In this way, the information brought by Nalan Yanran was completely confirmed. It was clear that Venerable Tianhuo, Yun Yun, and several deacons had encountered a deliberate ambush by the Soul Palace while on a mission.

With the combined strength of Venerable Tianhuo and the Starfall Pavilion stewards, even some veteran Venerable experts from the Central Continent would not be able to capture the group.

If the Soul Palace hadn't planned this all along, setting up a trap that was as inescapable as a net, how could they have forced this group into such a predicament?

Behind this must be a long-planned scheme by the Soul Palace, probably not just for the stolen goods from the Merchant Alliance.

The air around Xiao Ling seemed to become stagnant because of his concentration. A faint golden battle aura flashed in his eyes, carrying a hint of cold sharpness that was not easily detected.

The fact that the Soul Palace dared to provoke the Starfall Pavilion so blatantly, and even set its sights on Venerable Heavenly Fire, completely shattered Xiao Ling's peace of mind, and a chilling anger quietly spread through him.

Xiao Ling would never let this matter rest easily.

The Venerable Tianhuo had given him guidance in his early years, and no matter the cost, he had to rescue the person safely.

As the thought crossed Xiao Ling's mind, a thoughtful look flashed in his eyes. The Soul Palace was always secretive in its actions. If it were merely for the sake of the Merchant Alliance's goods or the Starfall Pavilion's influence, they might not have risked a complete falling out with him to plan such a meticulous ambush.

Their real target, perhaps from the very beginning, was not those mere goods, nor Venerable Tianhuo, but... him, Xiao Ling?

Once this guess surfaced, it spread rapidly through my mind like a vine.

After all, he had long been a thorn in the side of the Soul Hall. The Soul Hall's abduction of Venerable Heavenly Fire and his group might be a ploy to lure him out, or to use them as leverage.

Xiao Ling's fingers clenched slightly, and the golden battle aura around him fluctuated subtly, carrying a heavy, imminent pressure. However, regardless of the Soul Palace's true purpose, he would remember this debt.

Xiao Ling quickly concealed the coldness and contemplation in his eyes, and the heavy aura around him gradually subsided.

He looked up to meet Nalan Yanran's expectant and anxious eyes, his tone calm and resolute, carrying an undeniable power: "Don't worry, I will handle this matter personally."

"As long as Yun Yun is still alive, no matter where the Soul Palace takes her, I will bring her back safely and protect her."

As he finished speaking, his gaze swept over the lingering red marks in the girl's eyes and her weary expression, and he added, "You've traveled all the way from the northern border back to Starfall Pavilion without stopping, you must be exhausted, both physically and mentally. Go to the pavilion to rest and recuperate, and adjust your mood and state. There's no need to worry about this matter too much, just leave it to me."

Upon hearing this, Nalan Yanran's tense mind instantly relaxed, her eyes welled up, and tears almost spilled again. Looking at Xiao Ling's composed face, the despair and helplessness in her heart were replaced by a surge of immense hope. She quickly bowed deeply to Xiao Ling, her voice choked with emotion but filled with gratitude.

"Thank you so much, Master Xiao Ling! I am deeply grateful and will do my utmost to help you in the future!"

Xiao Ling nodded slightly without saying anything, then turned to Qing Lin beside him and instructed, "Qing Lin, please look after Miss Nalan for now. I'm going to discuss this matter with the Pavilion Master."

"Yes, young master." Qinglin immediately responded obediently and nodded to Xiao Ling.

Without further delay, Xiao Ling flicked his finger in the air, tearing open a dark blue spatial rift that surged with violent yet precisely controlled spatial energy. He stepped into the rift and vanished instantly.

……

Inside the elegant room, the fragrance of sandalwood wafted through the air, mingling with the scent of books and ink. Dappled sunlight filtered through the carved window lattices, illuminating the stacks of scrolls piled on the desk.

Feng Xian, dressed in a dark blue brocade robe, sat upright at his desk, his wolf-hair brush hovering over the paper as he intently reviewed the affairs of the Starfall Pavilion, his brows displaying the composure of someone in charge of the sect.

Suddenly, a subtle ripple appeared in the space beside him, and a dark blue rift suddenly tore open, precisely suppressing the violent spatial energy within a small area.

Feng Xian looked up and saw Xiao Ling's tall and slender figure stepping out in the flowing light, his clothes fluttering lightly and exuding a somewhat imposing aura.

He raised an eyebrow, put down his pen, and teased in a gentle tone, "You little rascal, you're getting less and less polite. You actually tore open a spatial passage to find me. Tell me, what's the important matter?"

Xiao Ling didn't reply, but stepped forward with a solemn expression and got straight to the point.
"Elder Feng, something has indeed happened. Venerable Tianhuo and his group were ambushed by the Soul Hall while on a mission in the Black Wind Canyon of the Northern Region..."

"The Soul Hall?" Feng Xian's smile vanished instantly, his expression turning serious, his fingers unconsciously gripping the edge of the table.

"Old Man Tianhuo did indeed take on the task of recovering the stolen goods from the Merchant Alliance. I thought it was just the work of ordinary bandits, but I didn't expect it to involve those persistent ghosts from the Soul Palace, which allowed them to take advantage of the situation."

"The Heavenly Fire Venerable and his group have now fallen into the hands of the Soul Palace. Only Nalan Yanran risked her life to break through and return to report the news."

Xiao Ling added, a cold glint flashing in his eyes.
"I plan to set off immediately to rescue him. I previously left a wisp of strange fire in Senior Tianhuo's body, and I can still sense his approximate location. This should save me a lot of trouble."

Upon hearing this, Feng Xian stroked his chin with his fingertips, pondered for a moment, and then slowly nodded, his tone solemn yet resolute: "The Soul Palace's actions are clearly a premeditated provocation, treating our Starfall Pavilion as a soft persimmon to be easily manipulated. We absolutely cannot tolerate this!"

He changed the subject, his expression showing some concern: "But the Soul Palace has a history of nearly a thousand years, and its foundation is unfathomable. There are countless Dou Zun and even Dou Sheng level experts hidden in the pavilion. It would be too dangerous for you to go alone."

He looked up at Xiao Ling and suggested, "How about I immediately send a message to the old man Yao, asking him to put aside his affairs at the Pill Tower and come over to help you? Even if the Hall Master of the Soul Palace personally takes action, the two of you working together should be able to escape unscathed."

Upon hearing Feng Xian's suggestion, Xiao Ling lightly tapped his palm with his fingertips, pondered for a moment, and then slowly shook his head.

His eyes were clear and his tone was firm: "No need, Elder Feng. Elder Yao is probably still handling matters at the Pill Tower. He's very busy, so there's no need to bother him."

"For this rescue, I'll take Qinglin and Xian'er with me," he added, a sharp glint in his eyes.
"If we encounter an emergency that is absolutely necessary, I will use my soul power to send a message to Elder Yao, and we can meet up then."

"Moreover, I always felt that the Soul Palace's operation this time, which seemed to be aimed at the Starfall Pavilion, was actually mostly aimed at me. However, they certainly did not expect that I have now broken through to the Dou Sheng realm. This operation may catch them off guard."

"What you said makes sense." Feng Xian nodded slowly, the worry in his eyes lessening slightly, but his tone still carried a hint of admonition.

"Since you have made up your mind, I will not try to persuade you any further. However, the Soul Palace is cunning and ruthless, so you must not be careless in anything you do."

He stood up and patted Xiao Ling on the shoulder, his expression solemn.

"If you encounter a danger that is difficult to deal with, remember to prioritize your own safety. Whether it is Old Man Tianhuo and his group or the Starfall Pavilion, your safety is of utmost importance. Never put yourself in danger because of a moment of impulsiveness."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Ling's lips curled into a calm smile, his eyes showing no fear, and his tone was relaxed yet full of confidence.
"Don't worry, Elder Feng. I've always valued my life. Besides, the Soul Palace can't hold me back now."

Xiao Ling's words were not empty talk, but based on solid confidence.

This confidence stemmed not only from his recent breakthrough to the Dou Sheng realm, but also from his years of dedicated study of spiritual power at the Great Talisman Sect level. Even when facing a top expert like Soul Hall Master Hun Miesheng, Xiao Ling was not afraid at all.

After exchanging a few more pleasantries with Feng Xian and finalizing the sect's subsequent defenses, Xiao Ling didn't linger. With a flick of his finger, a dark blue spatial rift opened once more, carrying his figure away from the elegant room.

When he reappeared, he had returned to the courtyard behind Lingyue Peak. He went straight into his room, the door closing quietly behind him, shutting out the tranquility of the outside world.

Xiao Ling sat cross-legged on the bed, his eyes slightly closed, his soul power like an invisible thread, quietly probing into the Myriad Soul Banner.

As the power of their souls surged, a series of subtle thoughts flooded the soul slaves lurking in the various branch halls of the Soul Palace, inquiring about the clues surrounding the Black Wind Canyon siege in the Northern Region.

In less than half an incense stick's time, a series of feedback messages were transmitted back along the soul threads.

Xiao Ling raised an eyebrow, piecing together the fragmented information. His suspicions were instantly confirmed; this matter was indeed related to him.

The reason why the Soul Slaves lurking in the Soul Palace branches were not warned in advance was because the operation was not led by an internal decision-maker from the Soul Palace, but by a Dou Zun powerhouse from the Soul Clan.

The opposing side directly dispatched a group of protectors from the main hall of the Soul Palace, making secret deployments throughout the entire process. The operation was extremely covert, with no prior notification given. Only after the deed was done did the Soul Palace vaguely learn of the situation. (End of Chapter)