Refining medicine can't save Doupo!

Chapter 696 The Soul Emperor, a Schemer Who Has Predicted the Ages!

Upon hearing the Soul Emperor's self-destruction, Jiang Lin couldn't help but frown. Wait... how come this isn't the script I imagined?

"You are very intelligent, and your perception is also very sharp." On the upper floor of the Mo Mansion, the Soul Emperor picked up his teacup and said calmly, "Many people don't know about this. The fact that you were able to discover it means that you have already surpassed everyone in the Soul Clan."

"I don't understand." Jiang Lin remained silent for a moment before finally choosing to ask the Soul Emperor, who seemed to have seen through everything.

“You’re not confused, you’re just hesitant to confirm. People from your lineage have a problem: when it comes to confirming something, you need to hesitate for a long time until you understand all aspects before you dare to draw a conclusion.” The Soul Emperor took a sip of tea to moisten his throat, and then continued, “Most of the time, this problem of yours is a good thing. But sometimes, it can still make people feel uncomfortable.”

"..." Jiang Lin remained silent. He realized that he might have underestimated the wisdom of the Soul Clan Chief, Soul Emperor. Of course, this was not Jiang Lin's fault. After all, the Soul Clan was full of unreliable eccentrics, and Jiang Lin had not expected that Soul Emperor would be so reliable.

"Here, you can say whatever you want without any worries. Although Void Devouring Flame is a nine-star Dou Sheng, in my eyes, he is just a double-edged sword that can be destroyed at will," Soul Emperor said calmly.

"The former clan leader has already made contingency plans?" Jiang Lin hesitated for a moment before finally choosing to change his form of address.

"Clan leader?" The Soul Emperor's deep eyes flickered slightly, and finally he shook his head: "No need to be so polite, you can just call me clan uncle."

“Understood, Uncle.” Jiang Lin’s eyes flashed, and he nodded.

“There aren’t that many trustworthy people in this world, and the Soul Clan will naturally prepare for the worst.” The Soul Emperor nodded slightly, then continued, “The example of the Xiao Clan is still fresh in our minds. The Soul Clan may be crazy, but as the clan leader, I need to consider more things.”

"The Soul Ink lineage is the Soul Clan's last resort?" Jiang Lin's expression shifted slightly. He had always regarded the Soul Clan as strange and unruly, but he hadn't expected to sense something different from the Soul Emperor.

"Soul Ink?" Upon hearing this name, the Soul Emperor's expression became slightly dazed. He then looked at the dragon-shaped figure amidst the chaotic battle in the distance, a trace of recollection flashing in his eyes: "Did you obtain this name from the Ancient Sea Secret Realm?"

Before Jiang Lin could answer, the Soul Emperor continued, "It's been a long time since anyone has mentioned this name. He was the first Soul Clan Battle Saint, or rather, the first Soul Clan Chief, Soul Mo. However, he later perished in the Ancient Sea Secret Realm, which is why there is an area in the Ancient Sea Secret Realm called the Ink Soul Domain."

"The Soul Ink Clan Chief perished before the Ancient Sea Secret Realm, leaving behind three offspring. These three offspring eventually formed the three main branches of the Soul Clan today. You, Soul Ke'er, and I are respectively descended from these three main branches."

"However, as time went on, the bloodlines within the Soul Clan began to mix, eventually giving rise to the Heavenly Soul lineage, the Profound Soul lineage, and the Ink Soul lineage. Yes, the Ink Soul lineage was separated out and later known as the Soul Craftsman lineage."

"The Heavenly Soul lineage emphasizes strength, and most of the strongest members of the Soul Clan throughout history have come from this lineage. The Profound Soul lineage is very complex, and it is a bloodline that was gradually distinguished thousands of years ago. Soul Ke'er is a bloodline returner of this lineage, and she may be classified into the Heavenly Soul lineage in the future, so her seniority is extremely high. The Ink Soul lineage pursues purity, and it is the purest bloodline of the Soul Clan, which was also actively distinguished thousands of years ago."

The Soul Emperor explained the internal structure of the Soul Clan to Jiang Lin. The Heavenly Soul, Profound Soul, and Ink Soul lineages were not originally separated, but rather actively created by the Soul Clan later. The purest Soul Clan bloodlines were gathered together to form the Ink Soul lineage. The strongest mutated bloodlines formed the Heavenly Soul lineage, and the rest were all incorporated into the Profound Soul lineage.

"The Ink Soul lineage is the purest and oldest bloodline of the Soul Clan, and they began severing ties with the Soul Clan thousands of years ago. Otherwise, do you think that a mere Soul Craftsman with the strength of a one-star Dou Sheng could have persuaded those old fogies of the Thunder Clan?" The Soul Emperor calmly revealed the Soul Clan's biggest strategic move.
"After the disappearance of Emperor Tuoshe, an imperial clan called the 'Spirit Devouring Clan' emerged, attempting to unify the world and devour all races in a rather sinister way by relying on their strange ability to devour bloodline power. This was during a period when the peak Dou Sheng powerhouses of various races were in decline." When Emperor Huntian spoke of this matter, some old scenes seemed to surface deep in his eyes.

"However, the Devouring Spirit Clan was too arrogant, and its name also clashed with the Spirit Clan. In the end, with the combined efforts of the major imperial clans, the Devouring Spirit Clan's bloodline was wiped out. It was at that time that Void Devouring Flame obtained the Devouring Spirit Clan's bloodline devouring ability, which enabled the Soul Clan's bloodline to remain strong."

"And the Ink Soul lineage was also separated at that time," the Soul Emperor said calmly.

Jiang Lin looked at the Soul Emperor in front of him with a slightly shocked expression. He had guessed some things correctly, but he had also guessed some things wrong.

He guessed correctly that the Soul Emperor wanted to protect the Soul Clan, but he guessed wrong about what the Soul Emperor truly meant by 'Soul Clan'!
"The Void Devouring Flame understands this, but I will not let it escape my control." The Soul Emperor's expression was calm, as if he were talking about a trivial matter.

"If I succeed, then the Void Devouring Flame is not necessarily unable to survive."

"If I fail, I will obliterate the consciousness of the Void Devouring Flame before I perish."

In just a few words from the Soul Emperor, Jiang Lin had already deduced an increasingly clear grand plan for the Soul Clan!
In the eyes of the Soul Emperor, sacrifice was inevitable. For the ultimate plan to become an emperor, the vast majority of the Soul Clan became 'sacrificial lambs.' If the Soul Emperor was driven to a dead end, then the Soul Clan and the Void Devouring Flame would all perish with him. Meanwhile, the Ink Soul lineage could quietly disappear.
Most importantly, the Soul Emperor's plan was almost flawless; he had anticipated every possibility.

For example, if the Soul Emperor were to extract all the power of the Soul Clan's imperial bloodline in order to become an emperor, just like Xiao Xuan did back then, and then the Void Devouring Flame suddenly betrayed them, the worst outcome for the Ink Soul lineage, which maintains good relations with many forces, would be that, like the Xiao family back then, they could still preserve their bloodline.

If the Soul Emperor ultimately chooses to extract the power of the Soul Clan's Emperor Blood and successfully breaks through to the Dou Di realm, then even if the Void Devouring Flame betrays and devours most of the Soul Clan, the Ink Soul lineage will still awaken its Dou Di bloodline and thus live in seclusion as a new member of the Soul Clan.

Given the current frenzied momentum of the Soul Clan, it's inevitable that the Soul Emperor will become an emperor; the only question is whether he will survive. However, regardless of his fate, the imperial bloodline of the Ink Soul lineage will be able to usher in version 3.0.

Version 1.0 features the first Emperor of the Human race.

Version 2.0 is Soul Emperor.

Version 3.0 is Soul Emperor.

The New Soul Clan is almost like the Celestial Dragons. With the continuous advancement of their imperial bloodline, as long as the spiritual energy of heaven and earth recovers, the New Soul Clan will find it easier to become emperors than other imperial clans.

Thus, the Soul Emperor completed the most terrifying maneuver. No matter what perspective you take, he will not lose, and neither will the Soul Clan.

"Why would my uncle tell me all this?" After deducing the Soul Emperor's plan, Jiang Lin fell silent. He felt that everyone had been included in the Soul Emperor's calculations, including the Soul Emperor's own life and death. Jiang Lin even suspected that the Soul Emperor's order to exterminate the Xiao Clan might have had other deeper meanings (in the original story, the Soul Clan's desire to exterminate the Xiao Clan wasn't actually that strong; otherwise, Xiao Yan would have been an orphan when his identity was exposed).

"Because you'll find out these things sooner or later. I don't like playing games. I'll tell you what I think you should know, instead of setting restrictions for you," the Soul Emperor replied casually, sipping his tea.

If the best possible outcome could be achieved, then everyone would be happy. However, the Soul Emperor was not so arrogant; he was the patriarch of the Soul Clan, and he needed to consider many other things. The Soul Emperor had to consider the Soul Clan's contingency plans; he could not allow the Soul Clan to be destroyed in his own hands.

"Among the Mo Hun lineage, you have the strongest potential. Even a Dou Sheng cannot confine you. If I become an Emperor, even if I perish, you will still be able to become an Emperor under the Emperor Bloodline advancement." The Soul Emperor seemed very confident about this.

"Why is Uncle so certain?" Jiang Lin asked, somewhat puzzled.

"Because if I were to perish, it would mean that things have reached the worst possible outcome, which would mean that the vast majority of the Soul Clan would be wiped out. In this situation, the power of the Soul Emperor Clan Mark would not be weakened, but would instead be strengthened in you, because your numbers are small enough."

At this point, the Soul Emperor seemed to have thought of something and said, "That's how it was with the Xiao Clan back then. The fewer people there were, the more their bloodline power recovered."

"Hmm??" Jiang Lin suddenly looked up at the Soul Emperor, only to see the Soul Emperor gazing calmly into the distance, seemingly unconcerned by Jiang Lin's surprised look.

"Has someone told you that Hun Tianjiang secretly protected the Xiao Clan?" Hun Tiandi asked calmly.

"Does your uncle know?" Jiang Lin felt his brain was starting to malfunction.

Then, the Soul Emperor simply said to himself in a low voice, "Soul Tianjiang did protect the Xiao Clan back then, but he was also the one who proposed to exterminate the Xiao Clan."

"...?!" Jiang Lin was stunned. He felt a sudden tremor in his heart, and many things in his mind shattered instantly!
"I do have some grudges with Xiao Xuan, but those grudges are not to the point of being irreconcilable. Every imperial clan has some gray income under its command. The ancient clan is like this, and so is the Xiao clan."

"Although there were many conflicts among the eight clans later on, they at least maintained some basic understandings, such as leaving bloodline inheritances for each other," the Soul Emperor said quietly.

"The bloodline of the Stone Clan has been passed on to the Ancient Sea Secret Realm, while the bloodline of the Xiao Clan has been left in a place that you cannot access for the time being."

The Soul Emperor looked at Jiang Lin, whose expression was becoming increasingly astonished, and said calmly, "As for the Spirit Clan, they are inhuman. Although I don't know how you managed to escape from those inhumane Spirit Clan members, the Soul Clan bloodline in your body cannot be faked."

The Soul Emperor was no stranger to Jiang Lin's background. He had witnessed the Soul Craftsman's tireless efforts to snatch people from the Spirit Clan. However, the Soul Emperor was somewhat surprised that Jiang Lin had managed to escape from those inhuman Spirit Clan members.

Those were a group of humanoid robots who would go to extremes in their pursuit of perfection.

"..." Jiang Lin didn't speak. What the Soul Emperor told him overturned many of his previous understandings.

"You are more suited to maintaining the status quo than Hun Tianjiang, because he has done a lot of things, and the consequences of those things will eventually come back to him, so he cannot become the leader of the Mo Hun lineage, but you can. That's why I'm telling you so much." Hun Tiandi looked into Jiang Lin's eyes and said calmly.

In the eyes of the Soul Emperor, Jiang Lin had already been designated as the 'only designated patriarch of the Soul Clan under the worst-case scenario', so the Soul Emperor was willing to explain everything to Jiang Lin to prevent him from being deceived by some people.

Furthermore, by making Jiang Lin the patriarch of the Mo Hun lineage, it would be difficult for any force to take action against him, thus ensuring the survival of the last bloodline of the Soul Clan.

"You seem puzzled by Hun Tianjiang's proposal to exterminate the Xiao clan? The answer is quite simple: Hun Tianjiang is protecting the Xiao clan's bloodline, but at the same time, he is also satisfying his own selfish desires."

"You didn't experience how Xiao Xuan extracted the bloodline of the Xiao clan, so you don't know how weak the Xiao clan was at that time. The Xiao clan couldn't defend the Xiao realm, and too many forces could have slaughtered the Xiao clan. Therefore, the other ancient imperial clans participated in the operation of annexing the resources of the Xiao clan, while the Soul Clan announced that it would completely hunt down the Xiao clan."

"The Soul Clan has committed too many evil deeds. All the forces on the Dou Qi Continent know that the Soul Clan has an eccentric personality. Therefore, even if they discover the remnants of the Xiao Clan, they will only report to the Soul Palace instead of taking direct action to avoid provoking the Soul Clan's displeasure."

Looking at Jiang Lin's complicated expression, Hun Tiandi said calmly, "You may wonder, since the Hun Clan has agreed to preserve the Xiao Clan's bloodline, why slaughter them? The reason is simple: Hun Tianjiang wants to see if the crippled power of the Xiao Clan's bloodline will awaken as the Xiao Clan's population decreases."

"Don't think that the ancient race are good people. They are also quietly paying attention to this experiment because everyone needs the results of this experiment to feel at ease."

"However, it seems that even with their bloodline crippled, as long as their numbers decrease to a certain level, the Xiao Clan, with sufficient resources, can still become Dou Zong or Dou Zun, and live a comfortable life even far from the Central Plains." The Xiao Clan that Soul Emperor referred to did not include Xiao Yan, but rather the Xiao family of the Jia Ma Empire. Xiao Yan's life trajectory was rather unique, having been greatly enhanced by Jiang Lin, and therefore he was not among Soul Emperor's observation targets.

"Alright, I've said everything I needed to say." The Soul Emperor slowly stood up.

"As for you, do whatever you want, no one can stop you."

The Soul Emperor took one last look at Jiang Lin before his figure slowly dissipated.

"After you break through to the Dou Sheng realm, go back to the Spirit Realm. There, the Spirit Race will give you a gift."

(End of this chapter)