BTTH : I am Thunder Emperor

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**

"A member of Hall of Souls?"

Upon seeing the sudden appearance of the black-robed man, Mo Yu's eyes narrowed sharply, his expression dark and grim.

On the vast Northern Desert Plains, the arrival of this figure left everyone stunned.

This man could shatter space with ease and had effortlessly dispersed the purplish-golden serpent, which had nearly killed Han Feng, with a casual wave of his sleeve. Such overwhelming power was terrifying beyond words, a level only the legends spoke of.

Could it be…

The thought left everyone swallowing nervously.

A Dou Zun-level expert was a mythical existence for those of the Black-Corner Region, and even the Northwest Continent.

Even Su Qian and Elder Ying Shan, figures of great renown in the Black-Corner Region, found their expressions turning grave. While they were major figures capable of influencing the region's balance, they were insignificant compared to a Dou Zun expert.

A Dou Zun could dominate a region even in the Central Plains. For such a figure to appear in the remote Black-Corner Region was unimaginable.

"Mo Yu... he actually managed to draw out a Dou Zun. This is troublesome," Su Qian muttered under his breath, his brows furrowed in concern.

To a Dou Zun, a Dou Zong was nothing more than a slightly sturdier ant. With a snap of his fingers, this one could annihilate the entire Yuan Manor.

Even the reputation of the Jia Nan Academy on the Dou Qi Continent would mean nothing to such a powerhouse.

At that moment, the Black Alliance leaders exchanged glances, their eyes gleaming with hidden delight. Today's battle was clearly turning in their favor.

If the Dou Zun Han Feng had invited could eliminate Mo Yu, the Yuan Manor would collapse without a fight. The Black-Corner Region would then belong solely to the Black Alliance, with no opposition remaining.

But while the Black Alliance brimmed with joy, Su Qian, Xiao Li, and the rest of the Jia Nan Academy and Yuan Manor were weighed down by despair.

Especially when their gazes fell on the black-robed man standing beside Han Feng, an overwhelming sense of unease crept over them. Who would have thought that a battle between two factions would attract a Dou Zun?

The black-robed man, however, remained indifferent to the crowd's reactions. His gaze shifted to Han Feng, and he spoke with a playful tone.

"Han Feng, my junior nephew. I didn't expect you to hide in the Black-Corner Region, living in such a sorry state. How disgraceful—utterly unworthy of your master's once-illustrious name."

Han Feng's face flushed red at these words. As the renowned Medicine Emperor, if anyone else dared to mock him like this, he would have retaliated without hesitation.

Mentioning his master, Yao Chen, was especially a sore point for him. The memory of his betrayal haunted him like a curse.

But in front of the black-robed man, Han Feng didn't dare show his anger. Instead, he maintained a respectful and humble posture.

This man was not only an elder of a powerful Central Plains faction but also a terrifying Dou Zun and an eighth-tier alchemist. In his presence, Han Feng dared not act out.

"You are right to chastise me, Master-Uncle. I was simply unlucky enough to encounter a Dou Zun-level soul body in this backward region. Without your intervention, I would have perished here." Han Feng suppressed his fury, bowing respectfully.

"Heh, a Dou Zun-level soul body, no less. Such things are rare even in the Central Plains, let alone here. That you encountered one is indeed unfortunate."

The black-robed man turned his gaze toward Han Feng, his tone carrying a hint of amusement. "But don't forget, regardless of your report, you must fulfill the conditions we agreed upon for my assistance."

"This..." Han Feng clenched his fists tightly, gritting his teeth in frustration before replying. "As you say, Master-Uncle. After this battle, I will present you with the Sea Heart Flame as promised."

Before the battle with the Yuan Manor, Han Feng had reached out to the black-robed man as a precaution against Mo Yu's soul body.

For Han Feng, this man represented both fear and awe. As one of the masterminds of the plot against Yao Chen, the black-robed man's presence filled him with dread.

The cost of inviting this man was steep—the Sea Heart Flame, ranked fifteenth on the Heavenly Flame Ranking.

Han Feng had only agreed because he believed his strength as a Dou Zong, combined with the Heavenly Flame, was sufficient to deal with Mo Yu. The black-robed man was merely a contingency.

But Mo Yu's soul body turned out to be far more formidable than expected, forcing Han Feng to call for aid at the cost of his most prized possession.

"Heh, I must thank you for your gift, Nephew Han Feng."

The black-robed man saw the unwillingness and anger in Han Feng's eyes but dismissed it with a faint smile.

He had always looked down on his elder brother for taking on such an unworthy disciple. That genius Yao Chen, with all his talent, had been tarnished by his choice of students.

Shaking off the thought, the black-robed man turned his attention to Mo Yu, a curious smile forming at his lips.

"Heh, She Zun-Zhe. Though we've never met, I've heard of your name. Why not reveal yourself so we can speak face to face?"

Silence followed his words until, at last, the purple-gold hue faded from Mo Yu's eyes. His deep voice echoed across the battlefield.

"Since an elder of the Hall of Souls has spoken, I shall grant you this courtesy."

As the black-robed figure's words faded, a translucent, elegant middle-aged man's silhouette floated out of Mo Yu's body, hovering in midair.

"What is that?"

The sudden apparition of this illusory figure left everyone dumbfounded, their faces painted with shock and confusion. This mysterious presence was unfamiliar to them all.

While others were puzzled, Cai Lin and Zi Huo exchanged brief glances, their faces reflecting no surprise. They had clearly expected the soul form accompanying Mo Yu.

As for Xiao Li, Ling Feng, and the others, they felt a sense of relief as Mo Yu's strongest trump card was finally revealed.

"Maybe... with his help, we can withstand a Dou Zun," someone whispered, though the hope was faint. They all knew that no matter how formidable a soul form could be, it was almost impossible to rival a Dou Zun. Still, in their dire situation, this was the only straw they could clutch at.

"I never imagined that the mighty She Zun-Zhe, once renowned across the continent for bearing the bloodline of the ancient Seven-Winged Purple-Gold Serpent Medusa, would fall to such a state. How lamentable."

The black-robed man's sinister gaze gleamed as it fixed on the She Lao, his voice laced with mockery.

"Fortune and misfortune are unpredictable, much like the waxing and waning of the moon. It is all destiny; there's no need for lamentation." She Lao's expression was indifferent, unperturbed by the provocation. Yet, a chilling glint emerged in his serpent-like eyes as he stared back at the black-robed figure.

"I've heard of the Hall of Souls' reputation. Given your strength, you must not be an insignificant figure there. May I know which venerable member I'm addressing?"

The chilling aura emanating from She Lao momentarily made the black-robed man's expression grow more serious. Despite She Lao's current state as a soul form, his name had once resounded through Central Plains, far exceeding the black-robed man's own fame.

Still, no matter how renowned the She Zun-Zhe once was, he was now nothing more than a weakened soul form. With that thought, the black-robed man sneered.

"Names are just labels, unworthy of mention. However, in the Central Plains, they used to call me Elder Mu Gu."

"Elder Mu Gu?" Hearing this name, Mo Yu's silver eyes flickered with a sharp glint of surprise. He stared at the black-robed man in astonishment, his mind racing.

So this is Yao Lao's traitorous junior brother?

Recollections from the original story surged through Mo Yu's mind. Elder Mu Gu had once been a fellow disciple of Yao Chen under the same master but was expelled for his sinister habit of using living humans to refine pills.

After his expulsion, Elder Mu Gu had competed with Yao Lao for the Flame Mantra in an ancient ruin. Failing to obtain it, he later conspired with Han Feng to frame Yao Lao, which led to Yao Lao's 'fall.'

In later events in Central Plains, Elder Mu Gu repeatedly sought to capture Xiao Yan, desiring his Heavenly Flame and Flame Mantra. However, as the protagonist of the world, Xiao Yan consistently thwarted him.

Even at the Pill Gathering, where Elder Mu Gu was tasked by the Hall of Souls to seize the Three Thousand Burning Flame, his plans ended in failure. Eventually, during a bloodbath initiated by the Hall of Souls, he lost the Sea Heart Flame—sacrificed by Han Feng—to Xiao Yan before being killed.

Elder Mu Gu's life was one of persistent failure against Xiao Yan, serving as a reliable source of experience points and even gifting the protagonist a final boon upon his demise.

However, faced with this "helpful character," Mo Yu felt anything but relief.

Unlike Xiao Yan, who had encountered Elder Mu Gu in the latter part of the story, Mo Yu was just starting his journey. He lacked the strength and allies needed to contend with such a powerful foe.

"Elder Mu Gu, is it? I seem to recall that you and the renowned Yao Zun-Zhe were fellow disciples, correct?" She Lao's eyes flickered with thoughtfulness before his deep voice cut through the tension.

At the mention of Yao Chen, Elder Mu Gu's face darkened. His lifelong resentment of being overshadowed by Yao Chen surged to the surface, prompting a cold laugh.

"Yao Chen? That man merely rode on luck to earn the title of Yao Zun-Zhe. Now, he's vanished without a trace. So much for his fame."

The sinister gleam in his eyes sharpened as Elder Mu Gu turned his gaze back to She Lao. "But you, even as a soul form, could achieve unparalleled heights with the Hall of Souls' assistance. My master treasures talents like yours. Why not join us? On behalf of my master, I extend this invitation to you, She Zun-Zhe."

"Join the Hall of Souls?" She Lao hesitated at Elder Mu Gu's proposal, his expression turning contemplative.

Seeing this, Mo Yu froze momentarily. She Lao… considering joining the Hall of Souls?

A bitter smile tugged at Mo Yu's lips. Deep down, he didn't want She Lao to side with such a nefarious faction. Yet, if She Lao truly chose to accept the offer, Mo Yu wouldn't blame him.

After all, over the years, She Lao had already done so much for him. For that, Mo Yu was immensely grateful.

If this was fate's inescapable decree, Mo Yu certainly didn't wish for She Lao to perish alongside him.

The members of Yuan Manor, too, were visibly shaken by the scene. Their eyes dulled as despair crept in. If the mysterious powerhouse backing Mo Yu defected to the enemy, Yuan Manor's slim hope of victory would completely vanish.

Noticing the grim expressions around him, She Lao furrowed his brows slightly before shaking his head. "Thank you for the invitation, but I have no interest in the Hall of Souls. Your methods and principles are not to my liking, so I must decline."

"Hmph! Refusing a toast only to drink a forfeit!" Elder Mu Gu's gaze turned cold and menacing as he growled, "A mere soul form dares to insult my Hall of Souls?

Today, I shall capture you and present you to the Hall! A Dou Zun-level soul form is a tremendous merit!"

As his words fell, a terrifying aura erupted from Elder Mu Gu's body. Its overwhelming intensity caused the skies above the Northern Desert Plains to darken, and even in Mo City, thousands of miles away, an inexplicable sense of dread stirred within those who looked toward the distant horizon.

For those present, whether from Yuan Manor or the Black Alliance, Elder Mu Gu's oppressive might was like a suffocating blanket, leaving them trembling in awe.

"So this is the might of a Dou Zun... truly terrifying," many muttered, eyes wide with shock and fear.

"She Zun-Zhe, today I'll personally drag you back to the Hall of Souls!" Elder Mu Gu declared, his voice brimming with sinister authority.

His gaze then shifted to Mo Yu, lingering as a cold smile played across his lips.

"As for that little boy next to you... there's something unusual about him. If he has earned your attention, he must be far from ordinary. Fine, I'll take him along as well!"

With those words, Elder Mu Gu's aura surged once more, a chilling, oppressive force descending on Mo Yu.

In that instant, Mo Yu felt as though he had been targeted by a venomous wolf. A bone-deep chill surged into his heart, sending shivers down his spine.

I've been marked! Mo Yu thought, dread engulfing him.

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