Female Protagonist Assistance System

Chapter 83 : . Entering the Tiger's Den

Xiao Han had no intention of lingering. After speaking briefly, she left with Xiao Mei and the others, leaving the remaining matters to the Third Elder and others temporarily in charge.

Back in the Inner Court, everything continued as usual, but Xiao Mei spent all day in the Sky Burning Qi Refining Tower and the arena. She spoke much less, and her obsession and frenzy for cultivation startled even Wu Hao.

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Central Plains, Soul Clan.

As soon as Hun Jin returned to the clan, she began to inquire about the Soul Hall's attack on the Xiao family a few days ago. However, before she could find out anything, she was hauled back by her own grandfather.

In a spacious room, a middle-aged man in gray robes stood with his hands behind his back, facing away from Hun Jin, saying nothing.

Hun Jin was brought here and had been with her grandfather for nearly half an hour, but he hadn't said a word, which made her extremely anxious.

"Grandfather, why did you call me here?"

Finally, Hun Jin couldn't bear it anymore and spoke up.

Hearing Hun Jin speak, the middle-aged man slowly turned his head. His eyes were like an eagle's, making one feel tense.

However, Hun Jin had been raised by her grandfather, so she wasn't afraid at all.

Seeing Hun Jin's ignorant appearance, Hun Xun felt anger rising. He snorted coldly and said, "You're asking me why? Tell me, what have you done?"

Hun Xun's voice was too cold. It should be noted that although the Soul Clan's Fourth Elder was known for his impartiality and aloofness, he was very fond of his only granddaughter, especially since she had exceptional talent. It could be said that Hun Jin had never been scolded like this by her grandfather from childhood to adulthood.

For a moment, Hun Jin felt somewhat guilty, secretly thinking, could it be that grandfather already knows about me and Mei'er?

Coughing lightly, Hun Jin put on an innocent face and said, "Grandfather, what are you talking about? What have I done?"

Hun Xun snorted again and said slowly, "I know about you and that Xiao family girl."

Hearing this, Hun Jin's heart tightened. She was about to say something when Hun Xun stopped her.

"I know what you're worried about," Hun Xun said calmly. "You can rest assured on this point. I told you when you were very young that I wouldn't interfere with your love life. As long as the person has good character and is sincere to you, their family background and talent don't matter."

Hearing these words, Hun Jin's heart settled a bit, but she was still confused: "Then Grandfather, why did you call me here......"

"But you absolutely shouldn't have, at this special time, casually inquired about the Soul Hall's affairs!" Hun Xun's tone changed abruptly, his gaze suddenly turning cold.

Swept by this icy gaze, Hun Jin felt cold sweat breaking out. Although she knew Hun Xun's coldness wasn't directed at her, it didn't prevent her from being frightened.

"Grandfather, what's going on?" Hun Jin keenly sensed that something was amiss. She could feel that Hun Xun's dissatisfaction should be directed at the Soul Hall.

Could it be... something happened in the clan recently?

Hun Xun glanced around, then waved his hand. Strong Dou Qi burst forth, enveloping him and Hun Jin. Under this Dou Qi barrier, unless someone's cultivation was five stars higher than Hun Xun's, no one would be able to hear what they were saying.

And as Hun Xun was a six-star Dou Saint, it was impossible for anyone to be five star levels higher than him, unless they were a Dou God.

Seeing that Hun Xun had even set up a barrier, Hun Jin finally realized the seriousness of the matter and immediately became more solemn.

Hun Xun was silent for a moment, as if organizing his words, then finally said, "Jin'er, times have changed. The current Soul Hall is no longer the Soul Hall of the past."

Hun Jin frowned slightly and said, "What exactly happened, Grandfather?"

Hun Xun's expression was cold as he said, "I'm not too clear on what happened either. I only know that the Soul Hall has a new young hall master, and he's an outsider. And the Clan Leader seems to be trying to obtain the Ancestral Awakening Jade by any means necessary."

"Ancestral Awakening Jade... Could it be that the Clan Leader wants to..." Unlike the out-of-date Xiao family, Hun Jin naturally knew what the Ancestral Awakening Jade was. "But wasn't the Ancestral Awakening Jade divided into nine parts? Wait, did the Clan Leader massacre the Xiao family for the Ancestral Awakening Jade in their possession?"

Seeing Hun Xun nod, Hun Jin found it unbelievable: "But, leaving aside whether the Xiao family still has the Ancestral Awakening Jade after a thousand years of decline, even if they got the Xiao family's Ancestral Awakening Jade, what use would it be? The other jade pieces are in the hands of other families. Does the Clan Leader want to..."

"Jin'er, watch your words!" Hun Xun reprimanded, but obviously, he didn't refute Hun Jin's guess.

After a pause, he continued: "Currently, the Soul Hall is dominant, and no one in the clan is allowed to say anything negative about the Soul Hall. Moreover, for some reason, many people in the clan seem to have been brainwashed, completely changing their behavior, revering the Soul Hall like a deity. That fanatical appearance... tsk tsk, the Clan Leader too, has become increasingly unpredictable and ruthless. A few days ago, a clan member complained about the Soul Hall members being too domineering and arrogant within the clan. He just grumbled a bit, and the Clan Leader directly extracted his soul. Who knows what he did with it."

Hearing this, Hun Jin's expression changed. No wonder Hun Xun was so angry about her inquiring about the Soul Hall within the clan. So that's why.

"Why did it suddenly become like this?" Hun Jin murmured.

Hun Xun shook his head and said, "The temptation of becoming a Dou God is too great. The Clan Leader has been at the nine-star Dou Saint level for many years. It's just unclear why things have become like this now. And... the behavior of those clan members is too strange, almost fanatical to the extreme... Jin'er, it's not safe in the clan now. You'd better return to Jia Nan Academy and don't come back for the next few years."

Hun Jin's face changed slightly: "Then what about you, Grandfather..."

Hun Xun rarely smiled and said, "Don't worry about me. No matter what, I'm still a six-star Dou Saint and have considerable prestige within the clan. I believe that even if the Clan Leader loses his mind, he won't move against me. But you, Jin'er, you're the only descendant of our line. No matter what, you must survive."

Although very reluctant in her heart, Hun Jin still nodded. She was silent for a moment, then said, "When should I leave?"

"The sooner the better." Hun Xun said while casting his gaze into the distance, "No matter what, I won't let anything happen to the family. If the Clan Leader's actions end up harming the clan like the Xiao family's ancestor did a thousand years ago..."

The rest of the words weren't spoken, but Hun Jin immediately understood Hun Xun's meaning, and her heart tightened.

The Clan Leader's responsibility is to protect the clan members and lead the clan towards a better future. If he harms the clan's interests, then such a Clan Leader is better off gone.

Hearing the unquestionable resolve in Hun Xun's tone, Hun Jin fell silent, only nodding quietly.

Looking at his only granddaughter, Hun Xun's gaze softened slightly. He waved his sleeve and said, "Return to the academy. Don't come back unless you receive a letter from me."

Hun Jin lightly bit her lower lip, struggled for a moment, then cupped her hands in salute and lowered her head: "Yes, Grandfather."

As she was leaving the room, Hun Jin instinctively looked back once more. Hun Xun had his back to her, standing in the middle of the room, his gray robe fluttering slightly. For some reason, a sense of unease welled up in her heart.

Shaking her head, she suppressed the sudden feeling of unease before stepping out.

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This was Xiao Yan's first visit to the Soul Clan headquarters. Unlike the Xiao family confined to the small Wutan City, the Soul Clan occupied a vast area, including the surrounding endless mountain ranges and forests. The Soul Clan, like a city, was quietly nestled in the middle of the valley, like a sleeping lion—quiet yet not to be underestimated.

Walking on the streets of the Soul Clan, Xiao Yan was surrounded by Soul Hall guards. Their uniform attire made the Soul Clan members on the street instinctively avoid them, making way. This behavior made Xiao Yan's arrogance swell even more.

Indeed, a chosen one like him should receive such attention and reverence from all beings.

From afar, Hun Jin saw that group of people walking arrogantly down the street. Thanks to Xiao Yu and others, she recognized Xiao Yan, a man with little ability but sky-high ambition.

Frowning, Hun Jin felt puzzled. Wasn't Xiao Yan from the Xiao family? How did he end up here? And with the Soul Hall people.

Recalling what Hun Xun had told her today, Hun Jin felt a sense of gravity in her heart. Could the new foreign young hall master her grandfather mentioned be Xiao Yan?

Whether it was or not, Xiao Yan's appearance in the Soul Clan wasn't a good thing. Hun Jin quickly made a judgment in her mind and stepped back, making way like the nearby clan members.

Unexpectedly, in the next second, she saw Xiao Yan point at her from a distance: "Seize her for me!"

Hun Jin's heart suddenly jolted. Before she could react, she was pinned down by several clan members swarming around her.

"Thud!"

With a dull sound, Hun Jin was forced to kneel on one knee.

Looking up, she saw Xiao Yan approaching with his people.

The sense of unease in Hun Jin's heart suddenly surged, but she remained outwardly composed: "What is the meaning of this, everyone?"

Xiao Yan stood before her, looking down at her: "This young hall master has received information that Miss Hun seems to have some connection with the Xiao family's Ancestral Awakening Jade, so..."

Hun Jin's pupils contracted slightly: "The young hall master must be joking. Hun Jin is just an ordinary Soul Clan member. How could I be involved with such a supreme object?"

Xiao Yan smiled slightly, but his words made Hun Jin's blood run cold: "Whether there's a connection or not, we'll know after investigation. Take her away!"

At his command, two of the Soul Hall guards behind him stepped forward to apprehend Hun Jin.

Hun Jin struggled a bit, but how could she, merely a seven-star Dou Ling, match up to the Soul Hall's elite?

Xiao Yan waved his hand and said calmly, "Take her to the Soul Hall interrogation room. I want to question her personally."

"Yes."

Acknowledging the order, the two expressionless guards escorted Hun Jin away. Xiao Yan also lost interest in touring the Soul Clan further. After walking a bit more, he led the remaining guards back, heading towards the Soul Hall.

In fact, apprehending Hun Jin wasn't Xiao Yan's sudden idea, but the intention of the Heaven's Path within him. Honestly, Xiao Yan didn't even recognize this Soul Clan member he had never met before. If it weren't for the Heaven's Path suddenly speaking up and demanding that he must capture Hun Jin, he might not have even glanced at her.

"Now can you tell me why you wanted me to capture that woman called... Hun Jin?" Xiao Yan asked inwardly as he walked.

The Heaven's Path said calmly, "She has very dense karmic fortune on her."

Xiao Yan was slightly stunned: "Karmic fortune?"

"I should have explained to you before, karmic fortune is the key to whether a person can continue on their path for a long time. Generally, a world's karmic fortune is concentrated on the child of destiny, and a child of destiny with strong and dense karmic fortune will reach the pinnacle of the world."

"And I've also said that because of the bug that is Xiao Han, the karmic fortune on you is constantly draining away. If you don't take measures, you'll lose your position as the child of destiny."

Hearing this, Xiao Yan's face twisted slightly: "I know that."

"Xiao Han is just an external virus. She can't bear too much karmic fortune. The karmic fortune that flows away from you will be reclaimed by the world and then given to others."

Xiao Yan frowned heavily: "You mean, that woman's dense karmic fortune was all stolen from me?"

The Heaven's Path said calmly, "You can understand it that way."

"So you had me capture her to reclaim the karmic fortune that belongs to me?" Xiao Yan asked.

"Yes," the Heaven's Path said. "The karmic fortune on her is of no use to you, but it's crucial for our later plans. With this karmic fortune, my chances of eliminating Xiao Han will increase to ninety percent."

When he heard the Heaven's Path say this thing was of no use to him, Xiao Yan couldn't help but purse his lips. He was about to say something when he heard the Heaven's Path's later words, and immediately drew in a sharp breath, his eyes suddenly becoming fanatical.

"With the karmic fortune on that woman, we can eliminate Xiao Han?" Xiao Yan licked his lips, unable to resist confirming once more.

"Yes," the Heaven's Path gave an affirmative answer.

Trying hard to calm his excited heart, Xiao Yan took two deep breaths and asked, "What should I do?"

The Heaven's Path said calmly, "Kill Hun Jin and refine her soul."

Hearing this, Xiao Yan's gaze turned cold.

He looked into the distance for a long time, then revealed a cold smile.

"No problem," Xiao Yan said slowly. "What's wrong with taking back what's mine?"