The battle ended quickly, faster than anyone could have imagined.

When Xu Jiushi roared "Kill!" and the elites of the four major clans pounced into the mountain gate like wolves and tigers, the resistance of the Xuan Shui Sect was almost negligible.

Their minds had already been completely shattered by the purple-gold divine lightning that descended from the sky.

This kind of mental collapse is far more deadly than physical torture.

Screams, the clash of weapons, and the explosion of soul skills rose and fell, but quickly subsided into silence within a very short time.

Within the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, there wasn't a single person left standing and resisting within the entire Xuan Shui Sect's mountain gate.

A faint smell of blood filled the air, mixed with the acrid smell of lightning strikes—pungent and eerie.

...

Xuan Shui Sect, main hall.

Ning Liu casually sat on the large throne that belonged to the sect leader of the Xuan Shui Sect.

Inside the main hall, the four clan leaders, Xu Jiushi, Dugu Bo, and Yang Wudi, stood on the left and right, their auras heavy and solemn.

Beneath their feet, on the cold floor tiles in the center of the hall, Elder Xuanlin and the other three Soul Douluo elders who had miraculously survived were bound by specially made chains and knelt in a row in a sorry state.

Just then, a figure as swift as the wind flashed in from outside the hall.

"My lord!"

The newcomer was Bai He, his face beaming with barely suppressed excitement.

"We've struck it rich! My lord, we've really struck it rich this time!"

He walked quickly to Ning Liu.

"This Xuan Shui Sect is simply a gold mine! You would never guess how many treasures they have hidden away!"

"oh?"

Ning Liu raised his head, a look of interest on his face.

Bai He is now a member of Liuli Heaven, and has seen the world, so why does he think he has made a small fortune?

"Explain in detail."

The white crane swallowed.

"Our initial count of the stored gold soul coins alone shows at least 80 million!"

"A whole warehouse is filled with all kinds of rare herbs and soul beast materials, some of which are at least a thousand years old!"

"There are also all kinds of finished pills, with all kinds of effects, and the quantity is frightening!"

At this point, Baihe paused.

"But these aren't the most outrageous ones!"

He paused for a moment, then dropped a bombshell.

"What shocked us the most were the soul tools! Besides the temporarily disabled Azure Wave Divine Light Shield, we also found hundreds of soul tools of all sizes and for all kinds of purposes!"

"Hundreds of items?"

Titan spoke, his tone full of disbelief.

"How is this possible? The technology for making soul tools has long been obsolete. Where did this reclusive sect get so many?"

Baihe shrugged, looking equally puzzled.

"I just can't understand this! Moreover, these soul tools, though from different years, are roughly similar in style, almost like..."

"It's like it was built by myself!"

After Bai He finished speaking, he respectfully handed a ring to Ning Liu.

"My lord, this is your Spiritual Star Ring. I have had everything that was inventoried temporarily stored here."

Ning Liu took the ring with some confusion, put it back on his hand, and then slowly turned his gaze to the people kneeling below.

"Now that things have come to this, what else do you have to say?"

"I have nothing to say..."

Upon hearing this, the three elders, apart from Xuan Lin, trembled violently.

"Sect Leader Ning, spare me! Sect Leader Ning, spare me!"

Elder Wang with the goatee was the first to break down, kowtowing with tears streaming down his face.

"We...we were all forced by Xuan Yi! Yes, it was all him! He's the mastermind, we were just following orders!"

"Yes, yes, yes!"

Another elder also screamed.

"We are willing to surrender! Everything the Xuan Shui Sect has is offered to Liu Li Tian, ​​we only ask Sect Master Ning to give us a way to live! We are willing to serve you like cattle and horses, and we have no other intentions!"

The cries for mercy, explanations, and sobs mingled together in the main hall, creating a clumsy performance.

Only Xuan Lin kept his head down and remained silent throughout.

He kept repeating the same sentence over and over again, his voice so low it was almost inaudible.

"If only I had known this would happen..."

Ning Liu had no interest in the elders' performance; instead, he focused his attention on Xuan Lin.

“You, lift your head.”

Xuan Lin's body stiffened, and he slowly raised his head, his eyes filled with lifelessness.

"I think you can answer the question that Chief White Crane was asking earlier."

Ning Liu's voice was very soft.

"Hundreds of soul tools, such a large fortune, cannot be accumulated quietly by a so-called hidden sect."

"Speak, tell me all the secrets of your Xuan Shui Sect."

"Perhaps I will be more merciful to your disciples."

That last sentence, like a glimmer of light, pierced the deathly silence in Xuan Lin's heart.

A glimmer of hope appeared in his cloudy eyes.

Then, he took a deep breath, as if using all his strength.

"I said..."

His voice was hoarse and dry.

"I'll tell you everything."

Xuan Lin closed his eyes, his face full of pain.

"Sect Master Ning is right. The wealth of the Xuan Shui Sect did not come from the righteous path."

"Within our sect, there is a special soul tool that has been passed down through generations, called the Illusion Mirror."

"This mirror can create illusions over a wide area, and it can even change our appearance and the aura of our martial spirits."

“Each time, Sect Master Xuan Yi would use the Illusion Mirror to disguise us as other forces, or even some notorious Soul Master gangs, and then…”

My dear reader, there's more to this chapter! Please click the next page to continue reading—even more exciting content awaits!