"Why can't I control myself? Why do I keep wanting to speak?" Gu Yuena exclaimed in shock.
"What do you think?" Yun Ze laughed helplessly.
"It's the effect of the Truth Pill," Gu Yuena blurted out, then immediately covered her mouth with both hands, her eyes widening in alarm.
"Mm. After taking the pill, you can't control your mouth at all. Even if you try to suppress it, it's useless."
"As long as someone questions you, you'll speak the truth," Yun Ze explained. "The effect lasts for one hour."
"So amazing," Gu Yuena exclaimed in amazement.
Then she looked at Yun Ze warily. "Don't ask me anything else, or I won't have any secrets left."
Yun Ze couldn't help but smile. "Actually, you don't really have many secrets anymore."
"You just said it yourself—most of this time you've been sleeping, only waking up three times."
"And during those three awakenings, you didn't really do anything special. In simple terms, you slept for more than five hundred thousand years."
"During that long slumber, aside from what you dreamed about—which is a secret—what other secrets could there be?"
"That's not true," Gu Yuena retorted shyly, her face faintly red.
"I still have many secrets, like secrets of the God Realm, and hidden matters related to the Dragon God."
"Then I suppose I was wrong," Yun Ze said with a smile. Strictly speaking, those were the Dragon God's secrets.
Gu Yuena hadn't personally experienced those events—she had merely inherited the Dragon God's memories.
However, to Gu Yuena, these still counted as her own secrets, since they existed in her mind. What she had said earlier was indeed the truth.
"Exactly," Gu Yuena said proudly.
"Oh right, when are we going to investigate?"
"Late at night," Yun Ze replied. "It'll be dark and windy, and they'll all be at their residences. That'll make it easier to investigate."
"Okay," Gu Yuena nodded, then seemed to recall something. "I've already reminded my teacher."
"Mm. Have Di Tian notify Qian Gu Dongfeng and the others two days from now," Yun Ze said.
"These two days should be enough for her to gain control over some hundred-thousand-year soul spirits. That way, they can be used for negotiation."
He hadn't had Di Tian immediately inform Qian Gu Dongfeng and the others about the Hundred-Year Life-Extending Pill.
Instead, he had Gu Yuena inform Leng Yaozhu first, allowing her to secure some soul spirits in advance so she wouldn't be too passive later on.
This was a well-intentioned reminder. Of course, gaining control of some soul spirits early would bring benefits to Leng Yaozhu—but also trouble.
After their conversation ended, Gu Yuena returned to her room to rest and wait for the Truth Pill's effect to wear off, while Yun Ze stayed in the workshop to study soul tools.
Shrek Academy, Sea God Island, Sea God Pavilion.
Inside the ancient wooden house, the members of the Sea God Pavilion sat around a square table. Sitting at the head seat, Pavilion Master Yun Ming was speaking:
"Four days from now, Elder Song, Elder Yang, Feng Wuyu, Zhuo Shi, and Sister Yue—you five will come with me to Mingdu."
"Since the Dragon Phoenix Hall is unwilling to hand over the pill formula voluntarily, then we'll use force."
As Yun Ming spoke, a cold glint flashed through his eyes. Targeting the Dragon Phoenix Hall so aggressively was due both to hatred and to the pill formula.
"Agreed," the five responded without objection.
"I've already contacted the Federal Police Department, the Federal Medical Bureau, and the Mingdu City Defense Center," Yun Ming continued.
"Under government pressure, they'll cooperate with us."
"This time, we'll be serious. Apart from the alchemists, who can be spared, everyone else must die," Yun Ming said coldly.
His hatred for the Dragon Phoenix Hall was overwhelming. Because of them, he lived every day immersed in guilt.
The scene of Li Lao's body being pierced by the Sky-Piercing Spear was still vivid in his mind. Every time he recalled it, he felt unbearable pain.
If he didn't avenge this, he would be trapped by it forever—his spirit tormented, and his cultivation possibly unable to advance further.
And there was also Tang Lao's death. That grudge had to be repaid as well; it couldn't be left unanswered.
Tang Lao was the Super Douluo who had been slain by Xiong Jun last time. In Shrek Academy, he had also been a highly senior elder.
"Yun Ming, although that Yun Tian is still on the Star Luo Continent, there are quite a few powerful experts within the Dragon Phoenix Hall," Long Yeyue said.
"There's an extreme-level Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear soul master, and an extreme-level healing-type soul master."
"If only six of us go, the battle probably won't be easy. We should bring more people," Long Yeyue suggested.
With her and Yun Ming—two Extreme Douluo—the victory was assured, but if the enemy had a numerical advantage, it would still be very difficult.
The truly strong experts from the Federal Police and the Mingdu City Defense Center were few. They had numbers, but mostly just to fill the ranks.
Yun Ming shook his head. "No need. I've contacted Guan Yue. He'll personally lead several War Gods to cooperate with us."
"He himself is level ninety-nine, close to the quasi-god tier. Together with several Super Douluo-level War Gods, that's more than enough to deal with the Dragon Phoenix Hall."
Hearing that the War God Hall would intervene, everyone felt relieved. Even Long Yeyue stopped insisting on bringing more people.
"Haha, Guan Yue really is loyal. Whenever we need help, he comes," Feng Wuyu laughed.
Guan Yue had once studied at Shrek Academy. After graduating, he joined the Federal War God Hall, and was now its second-in-command.
The War God Hall was under the Federal Government and represented its strongest combat force.
Alongside Shrek Academy, Tang Sect, and the Spirit Transmission Pagoda, it was known as one of the Federation's four great super organizations.
Being the second-in-command of such an organization showed just how extraordinary Guan Yue was.
Within the War God Hall, he had already been designated as the successor to the Hall Master. Once Chen Xinjie stepped down, Guan Yue would take over.
"He really is loyal," Zhuo Shi also laughed. They had once been classmates and were on very good terms.
It was just that, due to differing ideals, they stayed at the academy while Guan Yue joined the War God Hall.
"Actually, him coming to help also required Elder Chen's approval," Yun Ming said.
"Otherwise, he wouldn't dare bring War God Hall's experts to assist us."
As he spoke, he glanced at Long Yeyue beside him with a hint of mischievous amusement.
The "Elder Chen" he referred to was naturally Chen Xinjie, the Hall Master of the War God Hall. His strength was on par with Yun Ming's, but his seniority was higher.
How could Long Yeyue not understand Yun Ming's meaning? She shot him an annoyed glare and remained silent.
"Haha, seems we all need to thank Elder Chen," Zhuo Shi suggested. "How about inviting him to Sea God Island as a guest?"
"Do you want to die?" Long Yeyue stood up, glaring viciously at Zhuo Shi.
Zhuo Shi instantly backed down, frightened into retreating a step, waving his hands repeatedly.
"My mistake, Elder Long, my mistake!"
Seeing Zhuo Shi's reaction, everyone smiled. Knowing full well about Elder Long's grudges with Chen Xinjie, he still dared to joke like that?
"Alright," Yun Ming waved his hand. "Let's get back to serious matters."
"At that time, we'll need to find a way to lure the Dragon Phoenix Hall's people out of Mingdu City. We can't fight within the city."
"That's easy," Feng Wuyu said.
"We'll have some of us hide outside the city, while others go to the Dragon Phoenix Hall to provoke them with words."
"That Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear Extreme Douluo is all brawn and no brains. If we provoke him with harsh words, he'll definitely rush out."
(End of Chapter)