Batian Martial Soul

Chapter 14368 Puppet City
Just then, as if sensing the tense atmosphere, the figure of the Xuantian Temple Master appeared silently in front of Ling Xiao like a ghost.

He was dressed in a black Taoist robe, embroidered with mysterious runes that fluttered in the wind.

His expression was grave, his eyes revealing his awareness of the seriousness of the matter. He cupped his hands and said:

"Emperor Batian, we have spent a great deal of effort to gather intelligence through our spies planted near the Temple of Annihilation in the Realm of Annihilation."

“Those undercover agents risked their lives, traversing the perilous Realm of Annihilation, to bring back these messages.”

"Based on preliminary assessments, the person who took His Majesty away is most likely from the Temple of Annihilation!"

"The Sanctuary of Annihilation?"

Ling Xiao frowned, feeling completely unfamiliar with the name. He quickly searched his mind for any information about this force, but found nothing.

His gaze was piercing, fixed intently on the abbot of Xuantian Temple, as he pressed for an answer:

"Do you have more detailed information about this Temple of Annihilation?"

"How strong are they?"

Where is the base?

"We must understand the situation as soon as possible in order to formulate a response."

Upon hearing Ling Xiao's persistent questioning, the abbot of Xuantian Temple looked troubled. His tightly furrowed brows seemed capable of holding a pen. He slowly shook his head and said solemnly:

"Reporting to the Overlord, this 'Hall of Annihilation' is an extremely mysterious existence even in the Realm of Annihilation."

"They are like a group of ghosts hidden in the darkness, hardly involved in any worldly struggles, their whereabouts are elusive, like an unpredictable wind, making it difficult to find their traces."

"However, no one in the Silent Realm dares to underestimate them, just as no one dares to belittle the giant beasts hidden deep in the sea."

"It is rumored that the people of the Silent Annihilation Temple are the ones who consistently occupy the top spot and the top few positions on the 'Silent Annihilation Ranking,' which measures the ranking of the top experts in the Silent Annihilation Realm."

"The 'Annihilation Ranking' is a universally acknowledged touchstone for the strong in the Annihilation Realm. Those who can rank at the top are all people with extraordinary strength and extraordinary methods. The Annihilation Holy Hall has been able to occupy a high position for many years, which shows how terrifying its strength is."

He paused, lowered his head slightly, and spoke with deep apprehension, as if the prestige of the Temple of Annihilation was an invisible mountain pressing down on him, making it hard to breathe:
A saying circulates in the Realm of Nirvana:

"The Temple of Annihilation may not be the largest sect with the widest sphere of influence on the surface. They do not have the vast territories and numerous affiliated forces that those powerful forces possess. However, even the recognized largest power would never dare to provoke the Temple of Annihilation."

"It's like a seemingly docile dragon. Though it doesn't flaunt itself, once it's provoked, its destructive power is enough to obliterate any challenger."

"The depth of its foundation and the number of its masters are evident."

The Sanctuary of Annihilation!

These four words weighed heavily on Ling Xiao's heart like a boulder, making him feel sluggish.

With such a mysterious behemoth involved, Ling Bi's situation is likely to become even more complicated, as if she were caught in an invisible and dangerous giant net, where every step could be fraught with peril.

Ling Xiao's gaze sharpened, like two razor-sharp swords, and he pressed on:

"Not even a single concrete clue?"

"Shouldn't there be some trace of their presence?"

"Even the slightest clue can be crucial to us."

The abbot of Xuantian Temple hesitated for a moment, a struggle in his eyes, as if he was weighing the pros and cons of revealing this information.

But in the end, he gritted his teeth, as if making some kind of decision, and said:

"Yes, we do... but the price we paid was too high."

"Our undercover agents in the Realm of Annihilation, in order to obtain these clues, some nearly had their identities exposed and lost their lives on the spot; others were forced to carry out extremely dangerous missions, and their fates are unknown."

"The last clue our people tracked pointed to a place called 'Puppet City'."

"This city isn't particularly far from our Overlord Empire, but it's like a time bomb hidden nearby."

"The people from the Temple of Annihilation seem to have appeared there before; their figures flashed by like ghosts in the shadows of Puppet City."

“We suspect that although that place is not the core stronghold of the Temple of Annihilation, it must be deeply connected with them, like a venomous snake lurking in the shadows, ready to strike a fatal blow at any moment.”

His face was shrouded in gloom, revealing an unconcealable sorrow that surged like a raging tide in his eyes.

"However, we sent out three groups of elite spies in succession."

"These spies are all elites carefully trained by our Xuantian Temple. They are all highly skilled and have rich experience in stealth and reconnaissance. They are our sharpest weapons."

"Let alone infiltrating the mysterious and unpredictable Puppet City, they would mysteriously disappear without a trace just by trying to get close to that area..."

"It was as if it had been wiped away in an instant by an invisible hand, like a drop of water merging into the ocean, disappearing without a trace, without even a ripple."

Puppet City!

The name seemed to carry a mysterious and dangerous magic, causing Ling Xiao to frown slightly.

He remained silent for a moment. During this brief silence, countless thoughts flashed through his mind, including worries about the unknown dangers of Puppet City and a firm determination to find Ling Bi.

Gradually, his gaze hardened, like a cold star shining in the night, and he said resolutely:

"Now that we have a lead, we can't let it go."

"I must go myself this time!"

“Ling Bi is in a dangerous situation. Every moment of delay could plunge her into a deeper crisis. As her family member, I cannot stand idly by.”

Upon hearing this, the abbot of Xuantian Temple was greatly alarmed. His eyes widened instantly, like copper bells, and his face was filled with fear. He quickly stepped forward, waving his hands frantically, trying to dissuade him:
"Emperor Batian, please reconsider!"

"Puppet City is too strange and dangerous. That area is like a huge black hole, hiding countless unknown horrors."

"You are the pillar of the Overlord Empire, the mainstay of this great edifice. If you were to also... then the Overlord Empire would surely be plunged into utter ruin!"

"Now that His Majesty is not here, the entire Batian Empire relies on you alone to deter all sides. Your existence is like a high-flying flag, preventing those with ulterior motives from making any rash moves."

"If something happens to you, those potential forces within the organization will probably jump out and stir up trouble immediately!"

"They are like venomous snakes lurking in the shadows, always ready to strike when you're vulnerable. The human heart is unpredictable!"

Ling Xiao naturally understood Xuan Tianzi's concerns. A hint of understanding flashed in his eyes, but he quickly regained his resolve.

He simply smiled slightly, a smile as warm and confident as the spring sunshine.
"Don't worry, I have my own measure."