"To think such a thing actually exists..."
A trace of madness inadvertently crept into the somewhat somber female voice. Killing intent surged bit by bit, but she quickly suppressed her emotions entirely.
"...I understand. I will have someone handle it. You need not worry about it further."
Hearing this, Zhong-Li Wu nodded.
He knew that his mother's "someone" most likely meant sending the Chief Enshrinement to deal with the matter.
With a Level 99 Limit Douluo handling it, Zhong-Li Wu could only say: It's settled! Everything is settled!
With a great weight lifted from his heart, Zhong-Li Wu didn't linger. After saying his goodbyes, he swiftly departed. He knew his mother was currently pouring most of her energy into constructing the Death God Tower and didn't have much time for him.
Silence returned to the hollow underground space, until suddenly, Ye Xishui's voice rang out again:
"Long Xiaoyao! You heard what Wu'er just said, didn't you?!"
In silence, a figure dressed in a dragon-patterned black robe emerged slowly from the darkness. He looked like a middle-aged man, yet his hair and beard were completely white.
He looked up, his gaze piercing through the gloom toward the woman deep in the shadows, his eyes filled with the passage of time and unmitigable sorrow.
"I heard it, Xishui..."
"Long Xiaoyao, if you still love me, then go and utterly eradicate that Spirit Transmission Pagoda and everything related to the 'Purification Device.' Leave no trace behind!
"Mu En is currently heavily injured. Even with the Golden Ancient Tree, he cannot stop you! Don't let me see your indecisiveness again!"
"...I understand, Xishui."
Long Xiaoyao lowered his eyes as he gave his answer. Ye Xishui had used this tactic countless times over the past century, and every single time, she got exactly what she wanted.
His guilt had not lessened through a hundred years of atonement; instead, it had grown deeper. By now, as long as she invoked this reason, he was completely unable to refuse Ye Xishui's requests.
Maintaining his silence, Long Xiaoyao's figure faded back into the darkness.
Everything fell still once more.
...
A few days later, inside Huo Yuhao's private laboratory.
Huo Yuhao was calmly recording experimental data.
Since returning from the Holy Spirit Cult headquarters, his mornings were spent at the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Tool Engineer Academy, being squeezed and teased between Ju Zi and Meng Hongchen.
Afterward, he would have the two of them help him test the "Prototype External Full-Coverage Soul-Powered Battle Armor"—or "Soul-Powered Armor" for short.
In the afternoons, he would return to the Spirit Transmission Pagoda to perform physical examinations for Ling Luochen, followed by nourishing the Ice Emperor's body.
To be honest, compared to Sister Skydream, who bit, kissed, and nibbled on him in his arms every time while her hands wandered, the Ice Emperor was much better behaved. She only required him to quietly nourish her body.
And at night, Huo Yuhao would return to the Star Constellation Great Forest to feed the gluttonous Dragon King and the big golden kitty. This had become a mandatory daily routine.
He could only say it was lucky that, at his current level, he normally didn't need sleep to recover his spirit; otherwise, he wouldn't have been able to keep this up.
Unfortunately, it was precisely because of this that he had strayed further and further down the path of a "Time Management Master," gradually becoming an expert at it.
His azure eyes lowered slightly. Huo Yuhao's pen paused, and he suddenly let out a sigh.
"Though I expected someone, why is the one who came... you?"
Huo Yuhao shook his head slightly and looked toward the figure standing in the shadows nearby.
"...The Dragon Emperor Douluo, Long Xiaoyao."
Huo Yuhao softly spoke the identity of the figure in the dragon-patterned black robe.
"So... why haven't you made a move?"
Huo Yuhao expressed a hint of confusion.
According to his calculations, the bait he had laid out—the "Purification Device"—should have attracted four or five Titled Douluo, or perhaps one of the two Limit Douluo of the Holy Spirit Cult.
In either case, Huo Yuhao would have welcomed them. After all, they were all experimental subjects, and he wasn't picky.
Yet, this Dragon Emperor Douluo hadn't attacked. This was quite interesting.
"The issue with the Evil Soul Master martial souls... can you solve it?"
Long Xiaoyao spoke calmly.
"I can, but I won't help you."
A flash of pleasant surprise appeared on Long Xiaoyao's face, only to be quickly replaced by gloom.
"Are you not afraid I might kill you?"
Long Xiaoyao stared fixedly at Huo Yuhao, who merely shook his head gently.
He knew exactly why Long Xiaoyao was asking this; it was nothing more than wanting him to save Ye Xishui.
Unfortunately, Ye Xishui had long been on his must-kill list. The only difference was whether she died sooner or later.
As for Long Xiaoyao, he was a devoted fool. His feelings for Ye Xishui were a mixture of love and guilt. Such emotions were sigh-worthy, but they did not merit sympathy.
Over the last century, Long Xiaoyao had followed Ye Xishui's orders to do countless things; his hands had long since been stained. Killing him would bring Huo Yuhao no psychological burden whatsoever.
Having no desire to chat further with Long Xiaoyao, Huo Yuhao spoke calmly:
"Sister Nana, that's enough. Take him."
"Mhm."
An ethereal voice suddenly rang out, and a girl with silver hair and purple eyes appeared soundlessly beside the youth.
With just one look, Long Xiaoyao felt an indescribable bloodline suppression emanating from the girl!
It was the absolute suppression from the depths of one's martial soul and bloodline that a subordinate feels when facing a superior!
Instinctive terror spread like wildfire. Long Xiaoyao tried to flee almost without thinking, but no matter how his consciousness tried to command his body, it only trembled in accordance with instinct, unable to move an inch.
His consciousness began to fade. Looking at the youth and the girl nearby, a final thought flashed through Long Xiaoyao's mind: I'm really done for.
A portal emitting an aura of death appeared abruptly. The silver-haired girl waved her hand casually, tossing the completely unconscious Long Xiaoyao inside.
"Thanks, Sister Nana."
Huo Yuhao thanked her softly. With his current strength, he naturally couldn't control a Limit Douluo in an instant.
But who told him to live off a woman... cough, who told him he had helpers?
Aside from the fact that Long Xiaoyao, whose martial soul was the Darkness Holy Dragon, was naturally countered into submission by Gu Yuena in her capacity as the Silver Dragon King, Gu Yuena's transcendent strength alone meant dealing with a Long Xiaoyao was a simple task.
Gu Yuena shook her head gently. Her amethyst-like eyes naturally fell upon Huo Yuhao, showing a hint of predatory aggression.
As time passed and the unique emotional power transformed him, Huo Yuhao's body became increasingly irresistible to her. She was starting to... lose her restraint.
She was simply craving his body!
"Let's go, Sister Nana. I promised I'd cook you a feast."
The youth's voice, tinged with a smile, rang out. The content of his words caused Gu Yuena to involuntarily visualize certain scenes in her mind.
The temptation of gourmet food actually managed to offset part of the temptation coming from Huo Yuhao at that moment, allowing Gu Yuena to cool down slightly.
Suppressing her inner emotions, Gu Yuena nodded with a calm face.
"Let's go..."
Just a little longer... anyway, he will eventually be mine.