Evil Demon Forest.
Holy Spirit Cult Headquarters.
"Tsk, not bad—really not bad. Snow lotus, hehe."
Masked Douluo had just returned to the Holy Spirit Cult when he saw someone walking toward him head-on.
His eyes flicked, and Masked Douluo took out the snow lotus Jiang Jue had bestowed upon him from his storage ring. Chuckling softly, he strode forward.
The person approaching him, upon seeing Masked Douluo, had his eyelid twitch violently, and his pace unconsciously quickened.
"Hey! Isn't that little brother Wuyun? Why are you walking so fast?"
As the distance between the two closed, Masked Douluo took the initiative to speak.
Upon hearing this, Wuyun Douluo's face darkened, and he sped up even more.
From past experience, he had learned one thing clearly—whenever he ran into Masked Douluo, nothing good ever happened.
But since Masked Douluo was now a favorite around Zhongli Wu and had even become the vice leader of the external Xishui Alliance, Wuyun had no choice but to regard him with greater respect.
Still, Wuyun was a consecrator of the Holy Spirit Cult. He didn't need to grovel before Masked Douluo—but seeing how well Masked Douluo was doing left him feeling rather sour.
As he thought this, he was just about to brush past Masked Douluo when the latter stretched out a hand to block him.
"Masked, what are you doing? I still have urgent matters to attend to. I don't have time to chat with you here."
Wuyun Douluo frowned deeply, his brows twisting into a knot, as he looked at Masked Douluo with impatience.
"Oh come on, little brother Wuyun—what urgent matters could you have? Nothing more than completing some sect tasks for a bit of resources. Why risk your life for such a small amount?"
Masked Douluo stared straight at him, seeing right through Wuyun Douluo.
Wuyun Douluo had been stuck at level ninety-four for a long time, unable to break through to level ninety-five no matter what. In order to advance to Super Douluo, aside from the resources granted to him as a consecrator, he would also proactively take on missions.
"Yes, I'm not like you—holding multiple important positions and swimming in wealth."
The corner of Wuyun Douluo's mouth twitched as he spoke with thinly veiled sarcasm. The main business of the Xishui Alliance was soul tool smuggling—there was a massive amount of profit to be made.
Masked Douluo's cultivation had already risen from level ninety-one to ninety-two.
"Then little brother Wuyun, do you want more resources? I've got a path here—one that'll guarantee you ample supplies."
Masked Douluo narrowed his eyes and spoke mysteriously, deliberately letting the ten-thousand-year snow lotus in his arms peek out a little.
"Really?! Masked, you've got a connection? Hurry up and tell me!"
Wuyun Douluo's eyes flashed. He glanced at the ten-thousand-year snow lotus in Masked Douluo's arms and spoke excitedly.
He desperately wanted to improve. To say he didn't envy Masked Douluo would be a lie.
"Ahem! When working, address me by my title."
"Besides, this is me giving you an opportunity."
Masked Douluo cleared his throat twice.
"Elder Yue, I was being presumptuous. Please go on—go on."
Wuyun Douluo plastered on a smile. For the sake of breaking through, he endured it.
"Ahem. As for this path—this Masked one can guarantee that as long as you join, your future will be bright beyond measure…"
Masked Douluo draped an arm over Wuyun Douluo's shoulder and led him toward his own residence.
When they reached the entrance to Masked Douluo's house, Wuyun Douluo looked at him with suspicion.
"Elder Yue, you're not tricking me, are you? Is this path really that good? At least tell me what it actually is."
"Ahem. You know, opportunities like this attract a lot of people. Competition is fierce. Even though we're close, you still have to…"
As he spoke, Masked Douluo rubbed two fingers together meaningfully.
Wuyun Douluo's expression stiffened.
"Little brother Wuyun, opportunities like this—once you miss them, they're truly gone."
Masked Douluo released his arm from Wuyun Douluo's shoulder, said this softly, and then walked into the house.
"Elder Yue—does this path really deliver? Can it truly guarantee me enough resources?"
At the final moment before Masked Douluo entered the house, Wuyun Douluo stopped hesitating and asked.
"With our relationship, would I really lie to you?"
"See that ten-thousand-year snow lotus in my arms? I just got it."
"You only need to think about resources—there's a lot more I have to think about."
Masked Douluo turned around, his face somewhat displeased.
"Alright. Take this."
Wuyun Douluo clenched his teeth and reluctantly handed over the storage ring in his hand.
"Ah! That's more like it. Come in, come in."
Masked Douluo took the storage ring, swept it with his spiritual sense, and his expression instantly brightened. He pulled Wuyun Douluo inside.
"So this counts as me recruiting fresh blood for the Saint Son's Great Love Alliance. The Saint Son will surely be pleased—maybe he'll even reward me with a bit more benefit."
The more Masked Douluo thought about it, the more excited he became.
He was basically eating from both ends—taking a cut from Wuyun Douluo while also earning favor with the Saint Son.
"Elder Yue, can you tell me now?"
Wuyun Douluo asked eagerly.
"Don't rush. Take it slow."
"Hearing is believing—but seeing is knowing. Tomorrow, I'll take you to see this 'path' yourself. It's a road filled with great love!"
Masked Douluo said calmly.
Once Wuyun Douluo saw the Saint Son, even if he didn't believe, he'd have no choice but to believe…
And Masked Douluo felt he could even establish a slogan for it all:
I join. I believe. I recruit. I gain!
…
Three months later.
Inside Jiang Jue's room.
Jiang Jue sat cross-legged on the large bed, his spiritual power plunging deep into the Soul-Refining Banner.
Within the banner, a deathly gray-and-crimson throne floated in the void. Compared to three months ago, it had clearly become much more solid.
Jiang Jue had also issued a new command to the souls within the Soul-Refining Banner: they were to offer prayers of faith to him three times every day.
These souls were like a massive perpetual-motion machine, continuously supplying Jiang Jue with faith power.
"The future looks promising."
Jiang Jue sighed, withdrawing from the Soul-Refining Banner and returning to his physical body.
Over the past three months, aside from cultivating his soul power, he had spent most of his time seated upon the Throne of Faith inside the banner.
Although the current amount of faith power was still too small to have a significant effect, Jiang Jue discovered that as long as he sat upon the throne, his consciousness would enter a special state—one of overlooking all under heaven and pressing forward without hesitation.
Thus, he tried to maintain this state, merging this mental will into his soul power, attempting to see whether he could successfully achieve Mu En's famed technique—"Ruling the World."
Bang bang bang!
Not long after Jiang Jue's consciousness returned to his body, there came a knock at the door.
"Young Master, the Sect Master has arrived! He's currently at the small courtyard and has summoned us to go over."
Langya's voice came from outside the door.
Hearing this, a sharp glint flashed in Jiang Jue's eyes.
"So he's here…"
He knew that the arrival of Du Busi meant only one thing—
The Body Sect's operation was about to begin!
(End of the chapter)