Profound Heaven Soul Sovereign

"He’s... he’s dead? The Li family’s old Patriarch is dead?"

Everyone present watched the scene unfold, their faces filled with shock and horror.

The Li family’s old Patriarch, Li Jiuran, was a powerhouse who had made his name in Celestial Capital Prefecture nearly a century ago. A Tier Eight Third Layer Martial Emperor, his formidable reputation was known to all.

Yet now, this top-tier expert of Celestial Capital Prefecture had fallen so easily, leaving everyone unable to believe their own eyes.

"Patriarch!"

But the most horrified of all was Li Rucheng. His face was twisted beyond recognition in absolute terror, and he turned to flee.

SWOOSH!

Zuo Yuan gave a cold smile and waved his right hand. The three beams of sword light, having just slain Li Jiuran, now enveloped the rapidly fleeing Li Rucheng.

If these three beams of sword light could slay even Li Jiuran, how could a mere Second Layer Martial Emperor like Li Rucheng possibly resist? As terror filled his eyes, the light shattered the defenses he raised and instantly pierced through his skull.

After slaying Li Jiuran and Li Rucheng, the three beams of sword light returned to the Sword Box before Zuo Yuan.

Zuo Yuan calmly put away the Sword Box, his expression placid.

The entire exchange had taken but an instant. Everyone stood frozen like statues, staring at the carnage. They let out sharp gasps, their faces etched with utter horror.

The once-imposing experts of the Li family, along with Tower Master Qi Liming of the Ancient Pill Tower, had been turned to ash in an instant. The sudden reversal of fortune was so drastic that no one could wrap their minds around it.

’These were the top experts of the Li family, one of the six great powers of Celestial Capital Prefecture. And they were finished, just like that?’

Su Xiuyi and Elder Dong were also completely stunned, feeling their hearts pound wildly in their chests.

"Young Master Ye, the Li family’s old Patriarch is dead. Do you have any further instructions?" Zuo Yuan asked, his expression serious.

Ye Xuan frowned. "Li Jiuran may be dead, but the Li family remains. I wonder..."

GASP!

Everyone gasped. ’It sounds like Xuan Ye intends to exterminate the entire Li family!’

Zuo Yuan understood Ye Xuan’s unspoken meaning and nodded. "Young Master Ye is absolutely right. Since the Li family’s Patriarch and core elders were of such character, how could the rest of them be any better? When dealing with evil, one must pull it out by the roots."

As soon as he finished speaking, Zuo Yuan quickly produced a signal flare. FWEET! A streak of rainbow-colored light shot into the sky and exploded.

The expressions on Yu Chi Bugong and Xiao Wuji’s faces changed drastically. They stepped forward together and said, "Tower Master Zuo Yuan, this incident was entirely the fault of Li Jiuran and Li Rucheng. Since both of them are dead, shouldn’t we let the matter drop? To go after the rest of the Li family seems a bit..."

"Oh?" Zuo Yuan shot them a cold glance. "Are you two Patriarchs attempting to order my Soul Master Tower around?"

The faces of Yu Chi Bugong and Xiao Wuji darkened. Zuo Yuan’s tone was completely disrespectful, but frustratingly, he had the authority to back up his words. They could only try to explain, "Tower Master Zuo Yuan, you misunderstand. It’s just that the Li family is, after all, one of the six great powers of Celestial Capital Prefecture. To be exterminated over such a small matter, isn’t that a bit..."

Zuo Yuan waved his hand, cutting them off. "I don’t care if the Li family is one of the six great families or the eight great families," he said coldly. "Since they have offended my Soul Master Tower, they must be prepared to face our wrath."

Yu Chi Bugong and Xiao Wuji were left speechless. ’When did the Li family ever offend your Soul Master Tower? Weren’t they targeting the Profound Light Pavilion?’

As they spoke, WHOOSH! WHOOSH! WHOOSH! Figures exuding terrifying auras streaked over like lightning, landing before Zuo Yuan. They bowed respectfully. "Lord Tower Master, what are your orders?"

This group consisted of nearly twenty people, every one of them a Martial Emperor. The weakest among them was a Tier Eight First Layer Peak Martial Emperor, while the strongest was a Tier Eight Third Layer Martial Emperor. They were the guards of the Celestial Capital Prefecture’s Soul Master Tower.

Zuo Yuan waved a hand and declared in a chilling voice, "The Li family of Celestial Capital Prefecture has run rampant, committing evil deeds and murdering the Vice Tower Master of our Soul Master Tower, Rongyang. Their crimes are heinous and unforgivable. On behalf of the Soul Master Tower, you are to immediately apprehend all direct descendants of the Li family and imprison them. I will then report to the Divine Capital and await their final judgment. Remember, if any member of the Li family resists, kill them without mercy."

"Yes, sir!"

Receiving their orders, the group of experts took to the air again, streaking toward the Li family’s estate and completely ignoring Celestial Capital Prefecture’s so-called no-fly zone.

’It’s over. The Li family is finished.’

Witnessing this, the hearts of everyone present pounded wildly, their minds filled with a mixture of awe and melancholy.

Meanwhile, the faces of Yu Chi Bugong and Xiao Wuji were ashen. During his time in Celestial Capital Prefecture, Zuo Yuan had rarely gone out, preferring to focus on his research. As a result, neither of them knew him well. Only after today’s encounter did they realize he was incredibly domineering and utterly impossible to reason with.

Had it been an ordinary Soul Refiner, even one from the Divine Capital, Yu Chi Bugong and Xiao Wuji might have dared to confront them. But Zuo Yuan’s background was anything but ordinary. He was rumored to have profound connections even within the Divine Capital, leaving the two of them utterly helpless.

After giving these orders, Zuo Yuan turned to Ye Xuan with a smile. "Young Master Ye, do you have any other instructions?"

His attitude was so respectful and humble that many in the crowd couldn’t bear to watch and turned their heads away.

’A Soul Refiner they considered supreme in their hearts was acting so warm and deferential... Was this... was this really the foremost Soul Refiner in Celestial Capital Prefecture?’

If not for the terrifying power he had just displayed, no one would have believed it.

Ye Xuan smiled. "That’s all. Thank you, Tower Master Zuo Yuan. If my Profound Light Pavilion needs help in the future, I will come looking for you. I trust the master won’t turn me away."

"Of course not!" Zuo Yuan waved his hands hastily. "Young Master Ye is the descendant of my master’s old acquaintance. If you need anything at all, you can come to the Soul Master Tower to find me. I will never refuse."

With that, Zuo Yuan took out a token and handed it to Ye Xuan. "Young Master Ye, this is a high-level Token from my Soul Master Tower. With this Token, you can enter the Soul Master Tower at will and come see me anytime without being announced. Furthermore, you can purchase any item in the Soul Master Tower and receive a thirty percent discount."

Ye Xuan’s eyes lit up. ’This is a great thing to have.’ He immediately put it away. "Then I thank you, Tower Master Zuo Yuan."

"Oh, right," Ye Xuan said, as if suddenly remembering something. "My Profound Light Pavilion has a Peak of Sixth Grade Soul Refiner who, for various reasons, doesn’t have a Soul Refiner badge. I was wondering if Tower Master Zuo Yuan could help issue one."

"Don’t even mention such a small matter." Zuo Yuan waved his hand dismissively. "Just have your Profound Light Pavilion’s Soul Refining master come directly to my Soul Master Tower. As long as it’s a Sixth Grade Soul Refiner badge, I have the authority to issue it. Even if they’re higher than Sixth Grade, it’s no problem. I can apply to the Divine Capital on their behalf."

"That’s wonderful."

Ye Xuan was overjoyed. ’Neither he nor Elder Dong had Soul Refiner badges that matched their true level. Even if they did, the ones they had were issued in the Dream Realm Plain and couldn’t be revealed here. Getting new badges in Celestial Capital Prefecture would be perfect; it would make their future endeavors much more convenient.’

Watching from the side, Yu Chi Bugong and the others grew even more curious about Ye Xuan’s background.

The strength the Profound Light Pavilion had shown recently made it clear that they had a powerful backer, but they had never imagined their background would be so immense as to command such respect from Tower Master Zuo Yuan of the Soul Master Tower.

"Elder Lin Bo, Elder Xu Zhen, and Senior Hawkeye Emperor, thank you all for your help just now." Ye Xuan approached Lin Bo and the others to express his gratitude.

"You’re too kind, Young Master Ye. We simply couldn’t stand the Li family’s arrogant and domineering attitude," Lin Bo and the others replied, bowing respectfully.

’This was a person whom even Tower Master Zuo Yuan of the Soul Master Tower had to treat with reverence.’ Thinking back on their own actions, they all felt a wave of relief and good fortune.

They had stepped forward to help Ye Xuan simply because they owed him a debt of gratitude; they hadn’t given much thought to his background or identity.

’Who could have known his background was so formidable that even Tower Master Zuo Yuan of the Soul Master Tower treated him with such deference? What did their own Lin family or Xu family amount to in comparison? Hadn’t they just seen the Li family being wiped out on a whim from the Tower Master?’

’Thankfully, they hadn’t made a foolish mistake and had managed to gain his favor.’

Su Xiuyi and his companions had been standing silently to the side, at a complete loss for words.

He had toiled in Celestial Capital Prefecture for over twenty years just to scrape by. When faced with pressure from one of the six great families like the Li family, it had felt as if the sky were falling, leaving him completely helpless.

Who would have thought that with a single appearance from Young Master Ye, even a behemoth like the Soul Master Tower would act with such deference? The dramatic turn of events left them speechless.

Right now, what they wanted to know most was what on earth Ye Xuan had said to Zuo Yuan earlier. They were already prepared to interrogate him as soon as they got back.

At this point, the matter concerning the Profound Light Pavilion had finally come to an end.

Just as the crowd was beginning to disperse, planning to head to the Li family’s estate to watch the show, Ye Xuan stepped forward and announced in a clear voice, "Everyone, I’m sure you all witnessed my match against Rongyang earlier. It has been almost two hours since this Black Shining Vine Martial Soul was refined. It must be implanted into a Martial Artist’s body as soon as possible, or it will dissipate. Therefore, I’ve decided to hold an impromptu auction right here, right now. Any Martial Artist interested in this Black Shining Vine Martial Soul may place a bid. The highest bidder wins."

Once a Black Shining Vine Martial Soul was refined, it had to be implanted into a Martial Artist, or it would become useless. Ye Xuan had expended a great deal of effort to create it; naturally, he wasn’t about to let it go to waste.

As Ye Xuan’s words fell, the entire crowd erupted into a frenzy.

Only then did everyone remember: Ye Xuan still had a Black Shining Vine Martial Soul to auction off.

Everyone had just witnessed the power of the Black Shining Vine Martial Soul with their own eyes. It had defeated even the legendary Undying Firebird Martial Soul, completely shattering their understanding of Plant Element Martial Souls. In an instant, the entire crowd went wild.