Deep within the Hun Realm, inside a vast black hall, several dozen elders gathered.
"Damn it! What are the Gu Clan people up to? They're targeting the Hall of Souls at every turn. Could it be that they've discovered something?" an elder roared, his hatred for the Gu Clan evident.
Recently, the Gu Clan had destroyed two of the Soul Hall's main bases and caused them to lose several Dou Saints. Before they could even seek revenge, the Gu Clan had made yet another move.
The Hall of Souls' forces, sent to assist the Profound Lion Sect in conquering the North-Western Region, had all been eliminated by Dou Saint powerhouses dispatched by the Gu Clan. This had severely crippled the Hall of Souls' efforts to collect souls, reducing their efficiency to less than a third of what it once was- a result the Hun Clan could not accept.
"If they're provoking us, why don't we start a war?" one aggressive elder suggested. "Let's make those arrogant Gu Clan people understand that we're not to be trifled with!"
His proposal garnered the support of many Hun Clan elders, as if the battle was inevitable.
"We must indeed have a showdown with the Gu Clan, but not now..." A calm voice suddenly interrupted. At this sound, the once unruly and powerful elders immediately adopted respectful expressions.
"Greetings, Clan Leader!"
The crowd in the hall bowed in unison.
This figure, dressed in gray and white, appeared to be about thirty years old. His handsome face was adorned with strikingly bright eyes that seemed capable of seeing through one's soul. His appearance gave off an impression of refinement, like a scholar holding a scroll. Yet this man held an unmatched reputation across the entire continent.
He was the leader of the Hun Clan, Hun Tiandi, one of the few peak Dou Saints on the continent.
In recent years, he had entertained thoughts of gradually wiping out smaller ancient clans. However, due to some uncertainties, he had prudently postponed his plans.
"Clan Leader, reports suggest that the Gu Clan's recent actions are largely influenced by that renowned young genius, Gu Fei. It seems he has deduced something," some elders informed him.
Hearing this, Hun Tiandi's expression remained unchanged, but a surge of killing intent arose within him.
It had been many years since anyone had caught his attention. Yet Gu Fei, under thirty years old and already a Four-Star Dou Saint, was a monstrous prodigy, a natural-born saint. If given another few decades, he might become a Nine-Star Dou Saint, a top-tier powerhouse in the Gu Clan.
"From now on, if any of our members encounter Gu Fei, kill him on sight!" he decreed.
Gu Fei had now firmly entered the sights of one of the continent's most powerful figures.
"Hun Tiandi, your efficiency worries me..." A voice echoed in the hall after the elders departed, as the space above twisted, and black flames appeared.
"Greetings, Lord Nihility!"
The black flames twisted and morphed into a human figure surrounded by black fire, covered in strange, dark runes, and with eyes like black holes exuding terrifying power. Due to the flame's shroud, his face was somewhat obscured. However, the presence of this figure brought an ancient, eerie aura into the hall.
It was none other than the Nihility Devouring Flame, ranked second on the Heavenly Flame List, with the power of a Nine-Star Dou Saint.
"Nihility, know that I've been planning this for a long time, longer than you, and I am even more anxious," Hun Tiandi remarked, his tone carrying deep meaning.
He had intended to quietly eliminate the Ling or Shi Clans, both considered weak among ancient clans, but unexpectedly, Gu Yuan had become increasingly active lately. Gu Yuan was the only person on the continent capable of making him wary- not out of fear, but because it would be impossible to strike against those weak ancient clans without drawing his attention.
"A millennium of planning, now disrupted by a mere youngster! Truly infuriating," Nihility Devouring Flame shook his head, clearly referring to Gu Fei, harboring his own killing intent. In their view, someone as monstrously talented as Gu Fei could not be allowed to mature unchecked.