Fights Break Sphere: Purple Thunder Emperor

Chapter 449 Guess
"Soul clan?"

Xiao Bai raised an eyebrow, signaling the Three Venerables to continue.

"That's right. This time, the order was indeed given directly by someone from the clan. The Palace Master attaches great importance to this matter and personally ordered us to set out as a group, split up and venture deep into the desolate ancient domain, sparing no effort to find the trace of the Bodhi Ancient Tree."

The Three Venerables dared not conceal anything and spoke frankly, like beans spilling from a bamboo tube.

"Big brother... the First Celestial Venerable and the Second Celestial Venerable have already led the strongest group of Soul Envoys into the core area of ​​the ancient domain to investigate. Our team is responsible for searching the outer area..."

Through the intermittent narration of the Three Venerables, Xiao Bai understood.

Just as he had expected, the Soul Palace's all-out effort was driven by the will of the Soul Clan.

However, the knowledge of these three Venerables was indeed limited; they were merely pawns carrying out orders and were unaware of the Soul Clan's deeper purpose in searching for the Bodhi Ancient Tree.

Xiao Bai felt a little disappointed, but quickly calmed down.

Not knowing the details doesn't matter; as long as it's confirmed that the Soul Clan is determined to obtain the Bodhi Tree, that's enough. He absolutely cannot let the Soul Clan get what they want!

After a moment's thought, he asked the crucial question:

"This desolate ancient domain is vast and boundless, and the Bodhi Tree has never appeared in the world. How did you sense its existence?"

Upon hearing this, the Three Venerables dared not delay and quickly took out an item from their robes. It was a jade slip about the size of a palm, its texture warm and smooth, with what appeared to be flowing blue waves inside.

His hands trembled slightly as he presented the jade slip, saying:

"By...by this item. The clan used some unknown means to deduce that the Bodhi Ancient Tree was about to appear in this desolate ancient domain. The Palace Master specially bestowed this jade slip, saying that as long as the jade slip generates a response, the message will be sent back to the Palace!"

Xiao Bai made a grabbing motion from a distance, and the jade slip fell into his hand.

With a slight probe of his soul power, he immediately sensed a drop of jade-green liquid sealed in the center of the jade slip, containing strange vitality and fluctuations of wisdom.

The liquid exuded the same aura as the bodhi seed in his hand, but it was purer and more concentrated!
"This is... the primordial liquid extracted from Bodhi seeds?"

A knowing glint flashed in Xiao Bai's eyes.

It seems that the Soul Clan went to great lengths to find the Bodhi Ancient Tree, somehow obtaining the Bodhi Seed and using its essence to create this sensing jade slip.

Having this as a guide is indeed much more efficient than searching aimlessly.

Seeing Xiao Bai accept the jade slip and seem thoughtful, the Three Venerables, feeling uneasy, mustered their courage and said:
"Palace Master Xiao... I have told you everything I know... Could you... could you let us leave?"

"Let you leave?"

Upon hearing this, Xiao Bai seemed to have heard something extremely ridiculous and burst into laughter.

Although he had a smile on his face, a chilling killing intent flickered in the corners of his eyes and brows.

The people of the Soul Palace felt a chill run down their spines from his gaze, as if they had fallen into an ice cave.

One of the celestial beings, seemingly unable to bear the oppressive atmosphere, spoke in a shrill voice, his tone fierce but his voice weak:
"Xiao Bai! Don't go too far! If you don't let us leave, the Soul Palace has our soul tablets! If all seven of us... no, all six of us perish here, the Palace Master and the Soul Clan will be furious and will never let you off! At that time, not only you, but the entire Zixiao Palace will face annihilation!"

"A catastrophe?"

Xiao Bai's smile faded, and his gaze swept over them indifferently.
"Just because of your Palace Master, Hun Miesheng? Or the Soul Clan behind your Soul Palace?"

Although his tone was arrogant, many thoughts flashed through his mind in an instant.

He didn't care about the man's threats, but the man's words reminded him of something—

Soul Tablet!

If all six Heavenly Venerables of the Soul Palace are killed here, the Soul Palace will immediately notice.

The seven Celestial Venerables perished in the Desolate Ancient Domain in a short period of time. The Soul Palace and the Soul Clan are not fools; they will inevitably intervene and conduct an in-depth investigation.

At such a sensitive time, if news of his demigodship into the desolate ancient domain were to become known, his purpose for this trip would be self-evident.

They must have come for the ancient Bodhi tree!

Once the Soul Clan confirms that he is searching for the Bodhi Tree, given their nature, they will never stand idly by.

At that time, whether the Soul Palace sends more people to obstruct him or the Soul Clan mobilizes its own forces, it will add countless variables and troubles to his search for the Bodhi Ancient Tree.

Having considered this, Xiao Bai immediately made a decision.

These people cannot all be killed for the time being.

The death of one or two could be attributed to the harsh environment of the desolate ancient domain, where they encountered misfortune.

But if the entire army is wiped out, then it will be too obvious.

He slowly stood up from the stone chair. As he did so, the hearts of the six remaining Celestial Venerables in the secret chamber tightened, and they subconsciously took a half step back. Their fighting spirits involuntarily began to circulate within them. They looked at him with fear and wariness, like lambs waiting to be slaughtered.

Xiao Bai ignored their reactions and gently swiped his hand across the empty space beside him.

"Shoot-"

A pitch-black spatial rift opened in response.

The edges of the crack shimmered with silver spatial power, its interior dark and deep, its destination unknown.

"Go in."

Xiao Bai's voice was calm, yet carried an unquestionable command.

The members of the Soul Palace looked at the suddenly appearing spatial rift, exchanging bewildered glances, their faces filled with hesitation and fear.

They hadn't entered the Dou Di Cave last time, so they didn't know where this crack led.

Is it a desperate situation? Or a prison?

"Those who do not advance within three breaths... die!"

Xiao Bai's icy voice rang out again, like the pronouncement of death, making their souls tremble.

The chilling killing intent was so palpable that it stung their skin.

The Three Venerables' expressions shifted constantly, but finally they gritted their teeth, a resolute glint flashing in their eyes.

Go inside; there might still be a glimmer of hope.
If we don't go in, we'll be dead instantly!
Without further hesitation, he moved and rushed into the spatial rift, his figure instantly swallowed by darkness.

The remaining five Celestial Venerables held their breath, their ears perked up, nervously sensing the movement behind the crack.

One breath, two breaths...

Silence reigned behind the crack; there were no screams, fighting sounds, or energy explosions as expected.

Everyone secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

It seemed this wasn't an immediately fatal trap. They exchanged a glance, both seeing helplessness and relief at surviving a close call in each other's eyes.

Under Xiao Bai's icy gaze, no one dared to hesitate any longer. They all gritted their teeth and flashed into the spatial rift one after another.

After the last of the Nine Heavenly Venerables disappeared into the crack, the stone chamber fell silent, leaving only Xiao Bai and the cold corpses of the Four Heavenly Venerables on the ground.

Xiao Bai raised his hand, preparing to close the spatial rift, but suddenly found that the rift rippled slightly and did not close as he usually would.

"Ok?"

He frowned slightly, a hint of surprise flashing through his mind. Given his control over spatial power, this situation was extremely rare.

Just then, a voice carrying a hint of helplessness and mockery suddenly rang out in the secret room:
"You little rascal, you really treat the Heavenly Tomb like your own backyard, throwing all sorts of things in there!"

The moment the sound rang out, a slightly ethereal yet extraordinary figure in a green robe silently appeared at the entrance of the spatial rift.

The newcomer had a handsome face and eyes as deep as the starry sky; it was none other than Xiao Xuan from the Heavenly Tomb!
"senior!"

Upon seeing Xiao Xuan, Xiao Bai smiled and greeted him with a cupped hand.

He was not surprised that Xiao Xuan could sense the movement at the entrance of the Heavenly Tomb and appear there.

Xiao Xuan waved his hand, his gaze sweeping over the corpses of the four Heavenly Venerables on the ground, then glancing at the still-open spatial rift. He raised an eyebrow and asked:
"Those guys just now, with their chilling aura, were very similar to the nauseating smell of the Soul Clan. Were they the so-called people from the Soul Hall that you mentioned?"

Xiao Bai nodded and admitted:

"It is the sixth of the nine Heavenly Venerables of the Soul Palace."

He then briefly recounted to Xiao Xuan how he had sensed the aura of the Soul Palace members, infiltrated to investigate, and learned from the Three Venerables that the Soul Clan was conducting a large-scale search for the Bodhi Ancient Tree.

"Why is the Soul Clan searching for the Bodhi Ancient Tree?"

Upon hearing this, Xiao Xuan was momentarily surprised. Of course, he knew about the Bodhi Tree. Although he had never seen it in person, the tree was extremely famous. Its Bodhi Heart, Bodhi Seed, and the "Three Treasures of Bodhi"—comprehending under the Bodhi Tree for a hundred days—were known to almost every major power on the continent.

"As far as I know, although the Bodhi Tree is miraculous, its main function is to help people achieve sainthood. For the Soul Clan, at most, only the younger generation might be interested; its appeal shouldn't be that great."

Xiao Xuan frowned. From the information he had just learned from Xiao Bai, the Soul Clan seemed to take this matter very seriously.

Xiao Bai's heart skipped a beat, and he asked in response:

"Senior, in your opinion, how badly was the Soul Emperor injured when he took a direct hit from Uncle Zhu and Uncle Gu in front of the Ancient Emperor's cave that day?"

Upon hearing this, Xiao Xuan pondered for a moment, then slowly said:
"Although the Dao injuries I sustained in my final battle a thousand years ago were not as severe, the combined attack from Zhu Kun and Gu Yuan was by no means ordinary. Without special methods, even with the assistance of some high-level pills, it would probably take several years, or even longer, to fully recover."

When one's cultivation reaches the peak of the Dou Sheng realm and touches upon the soul level of the Emperor realm, the physical body and soul begin to merge almost perfectly, making it difficult to get injured.

However, once seriously injured, recovery is extremely difficult without special opportunities or miraculous elixirs, often taking years to recover.

A knowing glint flashed in Xiao Bai's eyes, and his guess gradually became clear:

"That's right! The Soul Palace has gone to such great lengths for the Bodhi Tree this time, even the Soul Palace Master, a four-star Dou Sheng, is taking it so seriously. It's definitely not just about a few Bodhi seeds or a Bodhi heart. I suspect their fundamental goal is the Bodhi Tree itself! And their purpose is very likely to heal the Soul Emperor!"

"Healing?"

Xiao Xuan was taken aback at first, then a look of realization flashed in his eyes.
"That's it! It is said that the Bodhi Ancient Tree is a symbol of wisdom and life. Its vitality is as vast as the sea and almost infinite. If one can truly control or even devour the essence of the Bodhi Ancient Tree and use its vast vitality to repair injuries, it would indeed be more effective than any elixir! This time, the Soul Emperor is probably eyeing the Bodhi Ancient Tree itself!"

He paused, then said with a touch of emotion:

"However, the location where this Bodhi tree is hidden has been extremely difficult to find over countless years. If it were easily found, this tree would probably have disappeared from history long ago. That Soul Emperor was really lucky this time. Not long after he was injured, the aura of the Bodhi tree leaked out..."

After speaking, Xiao Xuan turned his gaze to Xiao Bai, his expression becoming serious, and instructed him:

"Xiao Bai, your search for the Bodhi Tree this time will likely not be peaceful. Since the Soul Clan has also set its sights on it, conflict between you two is inevitable. If you encounter the Soul Emperor's true form or a powerful avatar, you must be extremely careful! With your current strength, he will never give you another chance to open the Heavenly Tomb!"

A hint of seriousness flashed in Xiao Bai's eyes, and he nodded.

He knew all too well how terrifying a peak Dou Sheng expert was, especially someone like the Soul Emperor, who was cunning and ruthless.

"Don't worry, senior, I know what I'm doing."

"Well, it's good that you're prepared."

Seeing that Xiao Bai understood, Xiao Xuan said no more and turned his gaze back to the spatial rift.

"As for those six guys inside, I'll keep an eye on them for you. They'll be temporarily imprisoned within the outer barrier of the Heavenly Tomb. I'll make sure they can't cause any trouble or disturb your two girlfriends. You don't need to worry."

"Thank you, senior!"

Upon hearing this, Xiao Bai felt reassured and sincerely thanked him with clasped hands.

Xiao Xuan waved his hand, and suddenly, a kind expression appeared on his illusory face. His figure began to slowly dissipate, leaving only a lingering echo in the secret chamber:
"Alright, Qing'er is calling for me again. I have to go see her."

Watching Xiao Xuan run away at lightning speed, Xiao Bai was speechless.

My daughter is always well-liked wherever she goes!

After Xiao Xuan's aura disappeared, Xiao Bai waved his hand at the spatial rift once more.

This time, the crack closed instantly, as if it had never existed.

The sealed room fell into complete silence.

Xiao Bai glanced around and casually flicked out a wisp of golden lightning, which landed on the corpses of the Four Heavenly Venerables.

Lightning erupted, instantly turning it to ashes, evaporating the bloodstains on the ground and erasing all traces.

After doing all this, Xiao Bai's figure swayed slightly and then disappeared silently from the underground chamber like a ghost.

The next moment, his figure reappeared in the room on the top floor of the "Ancient Domain Rest Stop" inn.

Outside the window, as the night deepened, the roars of beasts coming from the direction of the desolate ancient domain seemed to become even more intense.

The warmth emanating from the Bodhi seed in my palm seemed to become even clearer.

Xiao Bai stood by the window, gazing at the dark forest that devoured everything, his eyes sharp as knives.

Originally, he planned to travel alone to the Desolate Ancient Domain a few years in advance, but the intervention of the Soul Clan made the trip quite lively.

"The Bodhi Ancient Tree... Soul Emperor..."

He muttered to himself, a cold smile curving his lips.

"It seems the plan needs to be changed!"

Without further hesitation, he sat cross-legged on the bed, holding his breath and concentrating, the vertical lines between his brows gleaming with a ghostly light.

A powerful soul force spread out like a tide, cautiously probing into the depths of the desolate ancient domain. Combining this with the faint sensation from the Bodhi seed in his hand, he began a careful search.

(End of this chapter)