"Destroy the Holy Spirit Cult?"
Ning Fengyu's face was a picture of shock. She patted her towering chest, setting off a series of surging waves that could make anyone's eyes linger. Ye Guyi, by contrast, couldn't hide the gleam of excitement that flashed through her turquoise eyes. She had long anticipated the day the Holy Spirit Cult would be wiped from existence.
"If they want to smash plates, we'll flip the entire table," Ling Bai said coolly. "This Spirit Master Tournament and Spirit Guidance Tournament are opportunities we can't afford to waste."
The Spirit Master Tournament was the Sun Moon Empire's kill-trap targeting Spirit Masters from the three great empires. The Spirit Guidance Tournament served as the imperial family's chess move to eliminate underground smuggling forces through the Holy Spirit Cult's hand. And the Holy Spirit Cult harbored its own agenda: the elimination of Ling Bai.
Three fronts advancing simultaneously. There was room to maneuver.
Condensing Yin-Yang Complement dual spirit cores demanded immense reserves of spirit power. Ling Bai possessed neither Jianmu Douluo's century of accumulated foundation nor external aids like Manifold Mysterious Ice Essence or dragon pills. He could only devise his own methods.
The Seraphim killing Evil Spirit Masters to harvest spirit power was the simplest approach, and one with tremendous future benefits. The Holy Spirit Cult would serve as Ling Bai's wellspring of spirit power!
Achieving dual spirit cores meant ascending to heaven in a single leap, an unobstructed path all the way to Rank 99. This took absolute priority over everything else!
Beyond that, Linglong Pavilion was doomed under the Sun Moon imperial family's crackdown. The Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Clan would lose its most crucial rare metal supply channel. The mountains of metal stored in the Holy Spirit Treasury would provide the perfect replenishment!
Evil Spirit Masters, exterminated.
Resources, packed up and taken away.
Saying it was simple enough. Execution would still demand meticulous, step-by-step planning.
The three discussed strategies well past midnight. Only when dawn broke did Ling Bai finally depart, but not before leaving Ye Guyi a crystalline immortal herb that resembled a pale lotus root with the luster of white jade.
Daffodil Jade Flesh Bone. It nourished tendons, strengthened bones, and allowed qi to flow freely through all seven meridians and eight vessels.
Ye Guyi's spirit power had already reached Rank 68. After absorbing the Daffodil Jade Flesh Bone, she would shatter the Rank 70 bottleneck in one surge. Once the tournament concluded, Ling Bai would accompany her to Jialing Pass to complete the Rakshasa First Trial.
Angelic Sanctuary's second elimination round drew Heavenly Gate, the same sect they had encountered en route to Mingdu. Their captain was a mere Spirit King. Ling Bai skipped the match entirely and let the others fight to their hearts' content.
Golden Dragon + Fire Dragon + Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda. If that lineup somehow lost to Heavenly Gate, Ling Bai would lead the way and all seven of them could hang themselves in order.
…
Evildemon Forest outskirts. The Holy Spirit Cult headquarters' underground chambers.
"Deputy Leader Death Abyss, it's been far too long!"
The instant Ling Bai appeared, Second Elder Nangong Wan rushed over with excessive enthusiasm. The other Evil Douluo could only curse him inwardly as a bootlicker.
Death Abyss Douluo held the position of Holy Spirit Deputy Leader, Zhongli Wu's most trusted confidant, a Super Evil Douluo wielding Ultimate Death. Fearsome battle prowess and youth made him a rising star whose demonic reputation echoed across the Douluo Continent. Wherever he passed, children dared not cry at night.
Blue Silver Saintess Tang Ya and Bone Dragon Yan Feng couldn't even dream of comparing themselves to Death Abyss Douluo. Put simply, should Zhongli Wu die, Death Abyss Douluo stood as the most likely candidate to lead the Holy Spirit Cult's next generation.
Wherever people gathered, politics followed. Evil Spirit Masters proved even more cunning than their ordinary counterparts. Many had been releasing goodwill toward Death Abyss Douluo, some even pledging their loyalty in secret. Second Elder Nangong Wan stood as the foremost among them.
Nangong Wan's Duskwater Alliance controlled countless resources, which he lavished upon Death Abyss Douluo like flowing water. He himself served as Death Abyss Douluo's most devoted supporter, and every "Deputy Leader Death Abyss" rolled off his tongue dripping with warmth and familiarity.
"Brother Nangong."
Ling Bai landed before him. His overwhelming evil aura drew a click of the tongue from Nangong Wan:
"The Deputy Leader's strength has advanced yet again. Breaking through to Rank 97 surely can't be far off."
"Several months of training abroad. I should have something to show for it."
"Congratulations in advance, Deputy Leader!"
Nangong Wan cupped his hands, unable to suppress the envy flooding his eyes. Evil Spirit Masters cultivated at lightning speed in the early stages. With sufficient flesh and blood to devour, reaching Spirit King or Spirit Emperor within three to five years was hardly a problem.
After Titled Douluo, the situation reversed dramatically. Every single rank became excruciating for an Evil Douluo to achieve. Any Super Evil Douluo was inevitably a demon among demons, a genius among geniuses.
"Everyone..."
A sinister wind stirred without warning. A hoarse voice echoed through the underground space as endless shadows coalesced into Zhongli Wu's form.
Every Evil Spirit Master fell silent the moment he materialized. Some Evil Douluo who hadn't laid eyes on Zhongli Wu for days felt a chill of alarm. Their Cult Leader seemed increasingly unfathomable, like a dark, depthless black hole.
His life-bound beast soul, the Bone Dragon King, had advanced to the Limit level. Through the insights he gained from it, Zhongli Wu's own strength had climbed another step. He was now preparing to assault the Limit Douluo realm.
Three Limit Douluo in a single sect. An omen of the Holy Spirit Cult's coming prosperity!
"Follow me."
Zhongli Wu led the Evil Douluo into the conference room and arranged them by rank. As Holy Spirit Deputy Leader, Ling Bai took the seat at Zhongli Wu's immediate right: one person above him, ten thousand below.
Zhongli Wu's gaze swept across the assembled Evil Douluo, and an uncharacteristic touch of sentiment entered his expression. Five years ago, the Holy Spirit Cult had boasted a Cult Leader and Deputy, a Supreme Leader, eight Elders, and twelve Worships, over twenty Titled Douluo-level experts in total.
Then the Seraphim had emerged and gone on a rampage, slaughtering Evil Spirit Masters and killing seven of the Holy Spirit Cult's core pillars in succession. The Holy Spirit Cult's foundation had been shaken to its roots. Had Death Abyss Douluo not joined to provide some consolation, Zhongli Wu might well have been driven mad with fury.
The thought softened his gaze toward Ling Bai. Goosebumps erupted across Ling Bai's skin in response. An almost two-hundred-year-old widower staring at you with a doting smile. Put anyone in my shoes and they'd feel just as creeped out!
"I've summoned all of you back because the Holy Cult faces an unprecedented turning point," Zhongli Wu began. "Sun Moon Crown Prince Xu Tianran harbors strategic brilliance and the ambition to unite the world. This is an absolute opportunity for our cult. The Supreme Leader and I have decided to support Xu Tianran's ascension to the throne."
The Evil Douluo nodded in silence. Unifying the world carried another meaning: war.
War = flesh and blood + souls = Evil Spirit Masters ascending.
The Holy Spirit Cult supporting Xu Tianran's rise was only natural.
"Our cult has already finalized plans with Xu Tianran," Zhongli Wu continued. "Once the Spirit Master Tournament concludes, we encircle and eliminate the Spirit Masters from the three Douluo nations.
The three nations are teeming with experts. According to Xu Tianran's intelligence, the imperial families, Shrek Academy, the Body Sect... every major power has sent formidable figures to Mingdu. Our cult's mortal enemy, the Seraphim, dares to compete openly in the tournament. Jianmu Douluo, who backs him, has almost certainly infiltrated Mingdu as well."
"A Limit Douluo!"
"Request Worship Dragon Emperor to act!"
"Last time, Worship Dragon Emperor couldn't handle Jianmu Douluo. The Supreme Leader will have to emerge from seclusion..."
The Evil Douluo whispered among themselves, though fear was notably absent. After all, the Holy Spirit Cult possessed two Limit Douluo of its own, and both Cult Leader Zhongli Wu and Deputy Leader Death Abyss Douluo were strong contenders for the title of strongest beneath the Limit rank.
"Xu Tianran has established Spirit Guidance Legion positions to the east, south, and north of Mingdu. Each direction fields three Class 9 Spirit Guidance Masters and no fewer than five Class 9 Stationary Spirit Cannon shells," Zhongli Wu said. "Surround three sides, leave one open. The vacant west is a killing ground. Firepower from three directions will herd the three nations' Spirit Masters into our net while minimizing our own casualties."
"Cult Leader, I fear this plan may be flawed."
Ling Bai rose to his feet, his expression grave. "Leaving one side so obviously open is far too transparent. There's no guarantee that experts like Jianmu Douluo won't see through the trap and rally everyone to break through one of the three main fronts instead."
Zhongli Wu considered this for a moment. "Then what would you suggest, Death Abyss?"
"Strengthen firepower on all three sides. Ideally, have the Supreme Leader, Worship Dragon Emperor, and you, Cult Leader, each personally oversee one position. Deploy a slightly weaker layer to the west as well, so that our arrangement appears truly seamless..."