The soul guide train pulled into Mingdu Station, where Xuan Ziwen was already waiting on the platform for Jiang Shengyu and the others. He had already learned from Jing Hongchen about Huo Yuhao's coma.
Because of this, he had even specifically invited Tianyin Douluo to wait with him.
As the train slowly entered the station, Xuan Ziwen clenched his fists, his expression growing tense.
At his side, Tianyin Douluo reassured him, "Ziwen, don't worry. Hall Master Hongchen said that Yuhao is only unconscious, so there shouldn't be any major problem."
Xuan Ziwen nodded, sighing. "Thank you for the comfort, Tianyin Douluo. It's just… Yuhao is my disciple. This child's fate has been harsh, yet he works so hard. Something like this happening… of course it pains me!"
When Jiang Shengyu and his group disembarked, Xuan Ziwen and Tianyin Douluo immediately stepped forward to greet them.
After a brief exchange of greetings, Tianyin Douluo examined Huo Yuhao's condition. She confirmed that there was nothing wrong with his body, and that there was no damage to his spiritual level either. Only after receiving this confirmation did Xuan Ziwen finally breathe a sigh of relief.
But soon, he voiced another doubt. "If that's the case, then why hasn't Yuhao woken up yet?"
"Perhaps it's because Yuhao's martial soul is a spiritual-type body martial soul, so his case is rather unique?"
Tianyin Douluo speculated, "After all, we know very little about the situation of body martial souls—let alone one with the rare spiritual attribute."
"That must be the only explanation," Jing Hongchen nodded in agreement with her guess. He then said to Xuan Ziwen, "Ziwen, I plan to have Tianyin Douluo take Yuhao back with her so she can watch over him every day. What do you think?"
"Of course I have no objection! I'll have to trouble you, Tianyin Douluo."
"It's no trouble! As a healer, treating and saving people is my duty. Besides, it wouldn't be the first time my home has been turned into a convalescent ward." Tianyin Douluo waved her hand with a smile; she was already quite accustomed to such matters.
Xuan Ziwen and Tianyin Douluo left the station together, carrying the still-slumbering Huo Yuhao.
Jing Hongchen turned to the others and said, "Because you won the championship, His Majesty the Emperor intends to hold a celebration banquet in your honor. The Crown Prince, Xu Tianran, will personally preside over it."
Hearing this, Ma Rulong and the others could barely contain their excitement.
However, Jiang Shengyu and Xiao Hongchen cared little for a celebration banquet. After visiting Kong Deming, the two immediately began preparations to strike at the Sun Moon Empire's Holy Spirit Cult branch located in Mingdu.
For safety's sake, Jiang Shengyu even invited Elder Hong to sit in as backup.
Although Elder Hong's cultivation was only at level 91, the true power of a Rank 9 soul engineer's Titled Douluo-level combat strength came not from their cultivation, but from their soul tools! Moreover, this branch had no particularly powerful evil soul masters—Elder Hong would be more than enough.
A few days later, Huo Yuhao awoke from his rest under Tianyin Douluo's care. Once she confirmed there were no problems with his health, he was allowed to move about freely again.
When he heard about Jiang Shengyu's planned operation, he immediately hurried to the Soul Hall.
At that moment, Jiang Shengyu and Xiao Hongchen were in Elder Hong's office discussing the operational details, while Nana—the victim in question—sat off to the side, quietly listening in.
Huo Yuhao suddenly burst into the office and said, "I want to join!"
Everyone looked at him in surprise.
"Yuhao? You just woke up not long ago. Shouldn't you rest for a few more days?"
Xiao Hongchen said, "Don't worry, we've got this. Worst case, we have Elder Hong—nothing will go wrong."
"But with my Spiritual Detection sharing, things would go more smoothly, wouldn't they? We are dealing with evil soul masters here. The incident where Shrek Academy lost so many people to a single Soul King-level evil soul master happened not long ago!"
Huo Yuhao then turned to Jiang Shengyu. "In any case, Cousin, please let me take part in this operation!"
This wasn't just Yuhao's own wish—it was also Electrolux's request.
To Electrolux, such forces were intolerable. To him, necromancy was noble, and so were souls. The Holy Spirit Cult's actions were nothing less than a desecration of the noble soul!
"Then let him come," Elder Hong said confidently. "As long as this branch doesn't have a Titled Douluo, there's nothing to worry about with me here."
"The strongest there is a seven-ring Soul Sage. There isn't even a Soul Douluo, let alone a Titled Douluo," Nana shook her head.
Jiang Shengyu didn't press the refusal any further. He nodded. "In that case, you can join."
"Thank you, Cousin!" Huo Yuhao said gratefully.
After finalizing the operation details in the office, Jiang Shengyu summoned the Soul Hall members.
In the drill grounds, Jiang Shengyu stood on the podium, looking down at the gathered Soul Hall members.
"Comrades of the Soul Hall, I know the recent soul beast hunting operations by the Star Luo Empire have put you under a lot of pressure. Today, I've gathered you here for one purpose: we are going to destroy a Holy Spirit Cult branch right here in Mingdu."
At his words, the crowd below exchanged looks.
In the original course of events, the Holy Spirit Cult had cooperated with the Mingde Hall. But Jiang Shengyu and Jiang Qingtong had given Kong Deming and the others new hope, so Jing Hongchen had not bet everything on that cooperation.
They also knew the Holy Spirit Cult was not a good organization.
As such, those allowed into the Soul Hall were all carefully vetted according to Jiang Shengyu and Kong Deming's standards. Even Xu Tianran found it difficult to plant his own people, let alone the Holy Spirit Cult.
"You must all be wondering—what exactly is the Holy Spirit Cult? I can now tell you: they are an evil soul master sect! This branch here in Mingdu has committed countless atrocities, capturing people's souls at will to threaten others!"
"This young woman here, Nana, is a student at the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy. Her parents' souls were captured by this organization and are tortured daily. She herself has been coerced by them into committing misdeeds! Fortunately, we uncovered this in time!"
"Our Soul Hall has always been dedicated to upholding fairness across the continent. Now, someone is playing with souls right under our noses. This is an insult to our Hall!"
"Everyone—bring every soul tool you can carry! We will smash this den of soul slavers! At the same time, I hope every one of you returns alive!" Jiang Shengyu said with a decisive wave of his hand.
"Yes!"
The crowd answered in unison, quickly moving to prepare.
It wasn't that Jiang Shengyu's words had been particularly stirring—in fact, they were quite formal and formulaic.
Rather, everyone here knew well how dangerous evil soul masters were. Most of them also had families in Mingdu, and with Nana's firsthand account, they couldn't help but worry they might face the same fate one day.
In short, destroying this organization would benefit them as well.