Chapter 1171: A Stab in the Back (Part One)
At this moment, Ding Tianhua was already extremely weak; how could he possibly withstand a single palm strike from Yang Haoran? When that strike landed, there was no surprise: Ding Tianhua perished on the spot.
Yang Haoran had already resolved to kill Ding Tianhua, and in this situation, no amount of pleading from Ding Tianhua would have made any difference. As Yang Haoran had said, he had given Ding Tianhua chances, more than once, but Ding Tianhua had failed to cherish them, which ultimately led to Yang Haoran's decision to end him.
In truth, Yang Haoran had considered killing Ding Tianhua even when he first learned that Ding Tianhua was a friend of Huo Laoban. However, that initial killing intent wasn't strong, and he had even actively dismissed it shortly thereafter.
After all, Ding Tianhua was an expert at the mid-stage Earth Soul realm. Even if he had only just entered it, while the Underworld Office had quite a few such experts, their numbers were minuscule compared to the vast multitude of Underworld Officials.
It was precisely because Ding Tianhua's strength was not insignificant that Yang Haoran, considering the bigger picture, suppressed his killing intent towards Ding Tianhua. He even saved Ding Tianhua's life at a critical moment, hoping to sway him and make him switch allegiances.
As long as Ding Tianhua was willing to sever his ties with Huo Laoban and side with Yang Haoran, not only would Yang Haoran not harm him in the slightest, but he would also let bygones be bygones regarding Ding Tianhua's past actions. Furthermore, he would invest resources into cultivating Ding Tianhua. While he wouldn't nurture him as a trusted confidant, he certainly wouldn't treat Ding Tianhua unfairly.
Alas, Ding Tianhua's actions deeply disheartened Yang Haoran. He realized that Ding Tianhua was an untameable sort, which ultimately led him to abandon Ding Tianhua and once again harbor killing intent towards him.
His second surge of killing intent towards Ding Tianhua was completely different from the first. The first time, his killing intent was not severe, leaving room for reconsideration. But the second time, his killing intent towards Ding Tianhua was exceedingly strong, with no room for reversal. He had lost all hope and trust in Ding Tianhua, so no matter how Ding Tianhua begged, it could not alter his decision. Ding Tianhua was doomed to die.
However, when Ding Tianhua's soul was forcibly extracted, the smile on Yang Haoran's face involuntarily faded somewhat. This change occurred because Ding Tianhua's soul was unexpectedly entangled with numerous black threads.
These black threads rapidly covered Ding Tianhua's soul at an extreme speed, then quickly began to devour it, seemingly intending to ensure Ding Tianhua's complete Soul Transformation.
Witnessing this, the first thing Yang Haoran did was to activate his Ghost Eye. Without the slightest delay, he decisively acted on Ding Tianhua's soul.
His action, of course, was not to disperse Ding Tianhua's soul, but to dispel these black threads clinging to it. Ding Tianhua's soul still held great use for him, and he certainly didn't want his objective to be unfulfilled because Ding Tianhua's soul vanished first. That was not the outcome he desired.
To prevent this situation, he had no choice but to act to dispel these black threads from Ding Tianhua. The subsequent scene surprised him somewhat, as his Spirit Power was unable to dispel these black threads from Ding Tianhua's soul.
If he exerted his full power, Yang Haoran would have some confidence in dispelling these black threads from Ding Tianhua's soul. However, at present, he dared not unleash his full strength against them. If he truly did so, Ding Tianhua's soul would undoubtedly suffer immense damage, and it was highly probable it would result in Soul Transformation.
This was no exaggeration, as these black threads not only appeared on the surface of Ding Tianhua's soul but had also permeated its interior. If it were merely surface threads, they would be easier to remove, but eliminating the threads within the soul was no simple task. If he didn't pay attention to the method and simply used brute force to clear the internal threads, Ding Tianhua's soul would surely be unable to withstand Yang Haoran's potent Spirit Power, and a Soul Transformation would be a perfectly normal outcome.
What Yang Haoran desired was Ding Tianhua's soul, and specifically an undamaged soul. Therefore, he would naturally not do anything that would harm Ding Tianhua's soul. It was precisely for this reason that he didn't directly use brute force to clear the black threads from Ding Tianhua's soul.
Unable to use brute force didn't mean Yang Haoran intended to give up. His mind raced, searching for a way to resolve the current predicament, but the black threads didn't afford him that time.
In just one or two breaths, Ding Tianhua's soul was completely devoured by the black threads. Subsequently, these black threads also seemed to reach their end, bursting apart one after another and dissipating into thin air as Yin Qi. Yang Haoran, in such a short time, had not yet conceived a viable solution, and could only watch helplessly as Ding Tianhua suffered Soul Transformation.
Had it not been for Yang Haoran's intervention, Ding Tianhua's soul wouldn't have lasted even that brief moment; it would have been instantly devoured by the black threads. Although Yang Haoran's intervention didn't successfully dispel the black threads, it did delay Ding Tianhua's Soul Transformation. However, the delay was so short that even Yang Haoran couldn't devise a solution in such a limited time.
Moreover, judging by the speed at which the black threads devoured Ding Tianhua's soul, even if Yang Haoran had thought of a feasible solution, he might not have had the time to execute it. In other words, even if Yang Haoran had found a solution, it would still have been difficult to change Ding Tianhua's fate of Soul Transformation.
This was not due to Yang Haoran's incompetence; it was because the mastermind had made thorough preparations long ago. Once Ding Tianhua chose this path, it was a dead end, and his soul was no exception, falling within the mastermind's scope of attack.
Although Ding Tianhua's soul had undergone Soul Transformation and he could no longer speak, Yang Haoran was not entirely empty-handed. Through his Ghost Eye, he still managed to glean much of the information he sought from Ding Tianhua's soul.
Earlier, when Yang Haoran extracted Ding Tianhua's soul from the corpse, he initially hadn't thought to open his Ghost Eye. It was only when he saw the mysterious black threads covering Ding Tianhua's soul that he immediately activated his Ghost Eye.
He did this because he realized something was amiss upon seeing those strange black threads on Ding Tianhua's soul. At that moment, he didn't know what these black threads were, but one thing he was certain of was that their presence on Ding Tianhua's soul was absolutely not a good thing for Ding Tianhua; it was highly likely they existed to eliminate Ding Tianhua's soul.
If that were truly the case, even he might not necessarily be able to dispel these black threads and preserve Ding Tianhua's soul. Considering this, he decisively activated his Ghost Eye to extract some information he wanted from Ding Tianhua's soul.
This was, of course, the safest approach. Even if he ultimately failed to preserve Ding Tianhua's soul and couldn't obtain the information he sought from Ding Tianhua's mouth, at least his Ghost Eye could still gather a considerable amount of information.
Facts proved his cautious approach was entirely correct. Had he not had the foresight to immediately open his Ghost Eye, with Ding Tianhua now having suffered Soul Transformation, he would have been unable to obtain any useful information from him.
Yang Haoran's earlier action had only allowed for a brief moment of contact with the black threads, but that fleeting instant was enough for him to gain some understanding of them. These black threads were formed from Spirit Power. As for how Spirit Power was condensed into these soul-devouring black threads, he couldn't be sure; it might have been a Ghost Art, or some secret art unknown to him. However, one thing he was certain of was that the appearance of these black threads was definitely related to the Death God Pendant he had shattered earlier.
Yang Haoran's judgment wasn't solely based on his own speculation, but also on an analysis derived from information obtained through his Ghost Eye. Through his analysis, he could be one hundred percent certain that these black threads had an absolute connection with the shattered Death God Pendant.
Moreover, from the moment Ding Tianhua began to absorb the Spirit Power within the Death God Pendant, he had already embarked on a path of suicide. Whether Yang Haoran intervened or not, the final outcome would remain unchanged; only a dead end, a path of Soul Transformation, awaited him.
Yang Haoran's action of shattering the Death God Pendant merely allowed him to live for a little while longer. Even if Yang Haoran hadn't killed him, hadn't extracted his soul from his body, he would have still suffered Soul Transformation not long after.
Tragically, Ding Tianhua himself initially had no idea that the Death God Pendant was, in fact, a harbinger of death. He naively believed that this Death God Pendant could grant him a rapid and immense power boost in a short amount of time, so he regarded it as one of his most powerful trump cards. At the last moment, he used this Death God Pendant, hoping to turn the tide, but he never dreamed that he would ultimately meet his end in Soul Transformation because of it.
Although Ding Tianhua's soul had undergone Soul Transformation, Yang Haoran, by opening his Ghost Eye in time, still successfully acquired a considerable amount of information. This information not only allowed him to determine the mastermind behind Ding Tianhua's actions but also revealed the full story.
To truly understand this matter, one must go back to when Tongyou City was attacked by Spirit Masters.
On that day, the Spirit Masters' attack on Tongyou City had a clear objective: to eliminate the Tongyou City Underworld Office and remove its name from Tongyou City. This was intended to deal a greater blow to the Ninth District of the Jingling Continent Underworld Office, while also creating influence to make more observing forces weigh the pros and cons, choosing to side with the Spirit Masters.
Because the Spirit Masters were well-prepared and brought a number of experts far exceeding those of the Tongyou City Underworld Office, the Tongyou City Underworld Office quickly fell into a disadvantage shortly after the conflict began.
Since the Spirit Masters wanted to bait a larger fish, they didn't completely eliminate the Tongyou City Underworld Office in one go that day, but rather gave it a little breathing room. If they hadn't deliberately given the Tongyou City Underworld Office a respite, the Tongyou City Underworld Office might very well have been wiped out by the Spirit Masters on the very day of their attack.
It was precisely because the Spirit Masters granted the Tongyou City Underworld Office a moment to breathe that Ding Tianhua had time to seek reinforcements. His first target for assistance was none other than Huo Laoban, the Guardian of the Seventh District of Jingling Continent.
Ding Tianhua sought help from Huo Laoban for obvious reasons. Huo Laoban had been his friend for many years, and in his eyes, seeking Huo Laoban's help when facing an insurmountable problem was surely the most correct choice. After all, Huo Laoban had both strength and intelligence; seeking assistance from Huo Laoban could not go wrong.
Before Huo Laoban opened his Earth Soul and became a Guardian, if Ding Tianhua encountered problems that required strategic thinking, he would almost always seek out Huo Laoban for consultation. Each time, the advice Huo Laoban gave him genuinely helped him. It was precisely because of this that their relationship grew stronger, and he, who was usually arrogant, never looked down on Huo Laoban, instead willingly treating Huo Laoban as his equal, placing the Huo Laoban who had yet to open his Earth Soul on the same level as himself.
This time, with such a major crisis unfolding, he naturally didn't forget his old friend, Huo Laoban. Therefore, he regarded Huo Laoban as his primary target for seeking assistance, secretly left Tongyou City, and then met with Huo Laoban as quickly as possible.
In fact, when secretly leaving Tongyou City, Ding Tianhua had another idea: if time ran out, or if Huo Laoban didn't recommend a desperate fight in Tongyou City, he would directly abandon Tongyou City. After all, compared to his life, a Tongyou City Underworld Office was certainly less important. He certainly didn't want to lose his life in Tongyou City.
Ding Tianhua continuously tore through space, without any stop, and finally, in the shortest possible time, successfully met Huo Laoban, the Guardian, in the Seventh District's Guardian District.
When Ding Tianhua arrived at the Guardian District, he looked quite disheveled. In contrast, Huo Laoban was immaculate, his Funeral Director's Death God uniform exuding dominance and nobility.
Huo Laoban did not slight Ding Tianhua's arrival; he even personally greeted him at the main gate of the Guardian District. This gesture from Huo Laoban made Ding Tianhua feel immensely honored.
"Brother Huo, are you, a dignified Guardian, standing here at the main gate just to personally greet your older brother?"
Ding Tianhua laughed heartily, looking at Huo Laoban standing at the gate. His voice was not quiet; both the guards at the Seventh District's main gate and the patrolling guards who passed by clearly heard Ding Tianhua's words. Some guards even couldn't help but cast glances at Ding Tianhua.
Seeing that a single sentence had attracted so many gazes, Ding Tianhua greatly enjoyed the feeling. Had it not been for his Funeral Director's Death God uniform and his dusty, disheveled appearance, he might have been mistaken for a Guardian of the same rank as Huo Laoban.
Huo Laoban smiled, not showing the slightest displeasure at Ding Tianhua's words. Not only did he not show displeasure, but he actively welcomed him, his attitude exceptionally warm.
"Haha, with you here, Brother, of course I must come out to greet you personally. Could I just wait for you inside the Guardian District?"
Huo Laoban said with a smile, extending a welcoming gesture to Ding Tianhua, completely devoid of any Guardian's airs.
Ding Tianhua didn't stand on ceremony, accepting Huo Laoban's invitation cheerfully and entering the Guardian District with a broad smile.
"Brother Huo, your elder brother has truly encountered trouble this time. I've already explained it clearly in the Communication Talisman. Why did you insist that I make a trip to your Guardian District? You know, my Tongyou City Underworld Office is currently under attack from both sides. If I, the Funeral Director, leave and am not in Tongyou City to confront the Spirit Masters, the Tongyou City Underworld Office might very well be annihilated by them."
Ding Tianhua walked boldly ahead, unable to help but complain. His trip to the Seventh District's Guardian District to seek assistance from Huo Laoban was entirely at Huo Laoban's insistence. Before coming here, he had already successfully contacted Huo Laoban via Communication Talisman. According to his original plan, he wanted Huo Laoban to simply select a few experts from the Seventh District to come and support him; as long as his side had a few more experts, he wouldn't be passively beaten.
However, Huo Laoban did not agree to his suggestion, instead demanding that he personally come to the Seventh District's Guardian District. He had no choice, and coupled with his unwillingness to lose his life in Tongyou City, he secretly left Tongyou City and rushed to Huo Laoban's Guardian District at top speed.
Given that Ding Tianhua didn't want to lose his life in Tongyou City, why would he rush to Huo Laoban's Guardian District at top speed? It was because he hadn't entirely given up on Tongyou City. If he could bring back powerful reinforcements from Huo Laoban, not only would he not lose his life upon returning to Tongyou City, but completely annihilating the invading Spirit Masters would also be a great meritorious deed, which he naturally didn't want to miss. However, if he were left alone in Tongyou City, or couldn't find strong support, he certainly wouldn't do something that was clearly suicidal.
As for his current complaints, they were merely polite formalities.
"Heh heh, I didn't directly send people to support Tongyou City, but rather asked you to make a trip to my Guardian District. There's definitely a reason for my consideration. This isn't the place to talk. Let's go inside, sit down, and I'll slowly explain the reason to you."
Huo Laoban did not immediately reveal the reason to Ding Tianhua. Although Ding Tianhua was somewhat displeased with Huo Laoban's coy demeanor, seeing Huo Laoban's confident expression, he became somewhat interested. Thus, he didn't ask further questions and, led by Huo Laoban, arrived at a secret chamber.
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