stonecrandall 700. Hidden Matters
700. Hidden Matters
"Mr. Xiao Yan, what method did you use to make that Soul Hall elder treat you with such respect?"
After leaving the Soul Palace's control, the three members of the Yan Clan finally breathed a sigh of relief. Yan Jun, being particularly curious, couldn't contain himself and immediately began questioning Xiao Yan as soon as they stopped to rest.
Xiao Yan slowly opened his eyes, having recovered from his cross-legged position. His deep eyes seemed to still retain the fluctuations of his immense soul power.
Looking at Yan Jun, whose eyes were filled with curiosity, and at the girl who, though she didn't ask, was also casting inquiring glances at him, Xiao Yan revealed a faint, slightly weary smile. Without keeping anyone in suspense, he answered succinctly, "Just a clever use of a bit of soul power."
His voice was soft and his tone was even, as if he were talking about a trivial matter.
However, Yan Jun felt that Xiao Yan in front of him had a truly unfathomable quality, a feeling he only had when facing his elders.
The young man couldn't help but sigh, "If I were to reach Mr. Xiao Yan's level, I wonder how long it would take..."
In fact, Xiao Yan did not intentionally hide it from Yan Jun. The core of the method he just used was really just soul power. However, what Xiao Yan did not explain was that if one wanted to achieve the same level as him just now, one would at least need to be at the peak of the early stage of the Heaven Realm.
The reason why the Soul Palace Venerable was so respectful to him was simply because he was controlled by Xiao Yan's soul power and was acting under Xiao Yan's command.
This miraculous soul-controlling technique wasn't acquired out of thin air. Before the Pill Gathering in Saint Pill City officially began, Xiao Yan had a long battle with Ling Zhuo of the Spirit Clan, ultimately emerging victorious. Besides the Spirit Fusion Cauldron already crafted into materials for the Nine-Colored Pill Lightning, the prize also included the right to choose a scroll of soul skills.
Xiao Yan was not lacking in offensive fighting techniques and soul skills, so he chose a soul skill that leaned towards special abilities—Soul Control Puppet Technique.
Xiao Yan had already mastered this soul skill while escorting the three members of the Yan Clan. After his soul entered the Heavenly Realm, he had become quite adept at cultivating this type of soul skill. That's how cultivation is; as you advance in the later stages, the huge gaps between each level become extremely difficult to bridge.
However, fighting skills and soul skills are basically the same. Xiao Yan has grown to an eight-star Dou Zun and an eighth-grade alchemist. As long as it is not a top-level soul skill or fighting skill, the difficulty of cultivating it can be ignored.
"The Soul Control Puppet Technique can control people's minds and souls and seize their wills silently. Although it has strict limitations, if it gains momentum, its uses are beyond description."
Although the description of this soul skill is incredibly flowery, its most important effect is the use of superior soul power to bully the weak.
It requires the release of an extremely subtle portion of the soul to control a specific target; however, the effectiveness ultimately depends on the difference in the levels of the souls of both parties. In the past three years, Xiao Yan's soul had unintentionally transcended the Spirit Realm and directly entered the Heavenly Realm.
To be absolutely certain, Xiao Yan even used the Soul Transference Technique to further enhance his soul power. After all, this soul skill was given to him by the Spirit Clan; it couldn't be said to be completely useless, but its limitations were significant.
First, neither side could be in an extremely intense fighting state, eliminating the possibility of directly controlling the opponent during combat. Second, there had to be a significant difference in their soul power; in other words, the so-called Black Intent Venerable of the Soul Palace only possessed a mid-stage Spirit Realm soul power. This vast difference in soul power gave Xiao Yan the opportunity to exert control silently.
It must be said that although this soul skill has many limitations in its use, once successful, the effect is extraordinary. The Venerable of the Soul Hall was completely controlled by Xiao Yan, and even subconsciously treated Xiao Yan as a high-ranking Soul Hall Dou Sheng level expert.
Ultimately, this is something the Spirit Race has brought out. Since they dared to include it as a significant reward, how could it possibly be without flaws?
After surviving this crisis, Xiao Yan took the opportunity to cultivate and restore his Dou Qi. Although the Soul Transfer Technique was powerful, it also had significant limitations, requiring him to completely empty his Dou Qi.
Once Xiao Yan finished his cultivation, he was ready to start anew.
"Elder Yan, we have now arrived at Sand City. Which part of the city are you going to?" Xiao Yan had not forgotten the ultimate purpose of his trip.
Faced with Xiao Yan's direct question, Yan Chao's old face stiffened almost imperceptibly.
He coughed a few times, his movements making it seem like he was having trouble breathing, but in fact he cleverly concealed the momentary slurred speech and the panic that flashed in his eyes.
"Ahem, cough, young friend Xiao Yan, the situation is like this. Actually, our real purpose for this trip is not Sand City."
Yan Chao forced a rather strained smile: "Young friend Xiao Yan... cough cough... the situation is like this, actually, the place we're really going to isn't... this Sand City in front of us."
"What we really want to go to is Los Angeles, which is next to Sand City."
For their own safety, the two began to communicate through telepathy.
Xiao Yan's originally calm and composed gaze met Yan Chao's eyes, and the latter felt somewhat guilty under his gaze.
According to the information Xiao Yan obtained, the distance between Shacheng and Luocheng is not far. He can easily tear through space with his bare hands, open a hidden short spatial passage, and take the three people there. It won't take much time, and at most it will consume a little bit of Dou Qi.
However, these objective "eases" could not dispel the intense displeasure that suddenly rose in Xiao Yan's heart.
"Elder Yan Chao, I believe that our cooperation should be based on information sharing. If you continue to keep this from me, I will leave on my own."
Yan Chao gave a helpless wry smile upon hearing this, and said to Xiao Yan, "I guarantee that our destination this time will be Luo City, and there will be absolutely no more accidents!"
"Elder Yanchao, it's not just about the end of this journey that you need to explain. I also need to know why you came here." Xiao Yan's tone became increasingly firm.
"Don't tell me it's all because of these two little babies; that's definitely not the whole story!"
Upon hearing this, Yan Chao's bitter smile deepened. He realized that the young man in front of him wouldn't let him manipulate him so easily.
"I can explain, but may I first ask how young friend Xiao Yan discovered my unusual behavior?"