Four days later, with the sun already high in the sky, over twenty li north of Spirit City, atop a barren mountain, Mu Yang idly spread out his spiritual sense to probe his surroundings.
As expected, four days earlier, he had failed to catch Chrysanthemum and Ghost.
After all, the two had fled for more than two hours. At the speed of Titled Douluo, after two hours, who could possibly know where they had gone?
After searching fruitlessly for half a day without finding any trace of Chrysanthemum and Ghost, Mu Yang rushed overnight to the outskirts of Spirit City.
He might not know exactly where the two had gone, but one thing was certain: those two degenerates would return to Spirit City sooner or later.
And with Mu Yang's current level of spiritual power, as long as they did not deliberately conceal their aura, and they didn't purposely take a roundabout path, but returned through any of the northern, northwestern, or northeastern gates of the six gates of Spirit City, he would definitely be able to intercept them.
Suddenly, within the range of Mu Yang's perception, two powerful auras approached from the north, flying through the sky. Among them, one carried a chilling, sinister feeling.
Finally found you two!
Sensing that both auras belonged to individuals at roughly the 95th Level, Mu Yang's eyes lit up. At once, his Spirit Gold Battle Armor manifested. The wings of his battle armor spread wide on his back, and with a flap he soared toward them.
The one whose aura exuded a dark, sinister sensation and stood at level 95 Titled Douluo level — outside Spirit City, who else could it be but Ghost?
"Old Ghost, after this mess, how do you think we should explain ourselves to Her Holiness the Pope when we return?"
In midair, Yue Guan's face was full of worry as he spoke to Ghost.
These past two days, Yue Guan had been feeling particularly depressed.
Two days ago, they had received the news that the Clear Sky Sect had already been annihilated some time ago.
Her Holiness the Pope had ordered them to abduct the prodigy students of the Elemental Academy and pin the blame on the Clear Sky Sect, thereby provoking conflict and strife between the Elemental Academy and the Clear Sky Sect.
But unexpectedly, before they had even carried out the mission, the Clear Sky Sect had already perished. Yet because they had not received this information in time, they had failed to cancel the scheme of framing and sowing discord — a plan that had been doomed from the very beginning.
And now look — the scapegoat they had chosen was long gone. As long as the Elemental Academy had even a shred of intelligence, they would realize immediately that the Clear Sky Sect couldn't possibly be behind this, and that someone was deliberately stirring up trouble.
And as for who the mastermind was — wasn't it obvious?
Putting himself in their shoes, Yue Guan had no doubt the Elemental Academy could guess that the hand behind this was their very own Spirit Hall.
"Ahh, it's not a fault of ours. It was simply beyond our control! I just hope Her Holiness the Pope will understand."
At his words, Ghost glanced sideways at his old comrade, then sighed helplessly.
The plan had failed, but it wasn't due to their incompetence. It was because the external conditions had made success impossible. This framing scheme was never destined to succeed in the first place!
Now, the only thing they could pray for was that Bibi Dong would not blame them, and that when the Elemental Academy investigated, for the sake of their years of service — if not merit then at least toil — Spirit Hall would not cast them aside.
After all, ever since they had learned that Mu Yang could use a Martial Soul Fusion Skill to slay Tang Hao, they had realized that those five unknown experts who had intercepted the three Hundred-thousand-year soul beasts in the Star Dou Great Forest were actually Mu Yang and Huo Lie's group of four Douluo in fusion state.
With such formidable beings backing the Elemental Academy, if things came to light, the two of them dared not guarantee they wouldn't face retaliation in the future.
"Understanding? Hmph~ Have you prepared yourselves to bear the brunt of her wrath?"
A voice suddenly echoed in their ears. In the next moment, Mu Yang's figure flashed into view. After consecutively activating the instant-movement ability of his soul bone several times, he appeared directly in front of Chrysanthemum and Ghost.
"Mu… Mu Yang?!"
Seeing Mu Yang appear suddenly not far ahead, Chrysanthemum and Ghost's eyes widened instantly, terror flooding their faces.
One must know, though Mu Yang was young — one could even say very young — he was the one who had slain Tang Hao!
And the Clear Sky Douluo Tang Hao was someone the two of them together could not hope to contend with. Now, with guilty consciences already weighing them down, how could they not be afraid?
"Hmph~ Soul Seizure!"
With a cold snort, Mu Yang directly unleashed the secret technique of Soul Seizure.
A vast torrent of spiritual power surged forth, instantly crossing several dozen meters and diving straight into Yue Guan's sea of consciousness.
In only moments of mental struggle, Yue Guan was completely overpowered. His will was forcibly rewritten, and he became a temporary thrall under Mu Yang's control.
"Ghost, Possession! Seventh Soul Skill, Ghost—"
Even as Mu Yang subdued Yue Guan with Soul Seizure, Ghost did not hesitate. His Martial Soul possessed him as his seventh soul ring blazed — he was about to unleash his Martial Soul True Body.
Ghost's calculation was simple: they weren't far from Spirit City. As long as he caused enough commotion and held out for a short while, their comrades would certainly investigate. At that point, Mu Yang would have no choice but to flee.
Otherwise, if he lingered until Spirit Hall's true powerhouses arrived, Mu Yang would never escape.
But unfortunately, plans were plans — reality was reality. Ghost's calculations failed.
Releasing a Martial Soul required time. Activating the Martial Soul True Body required even more time. As soon as Mu Yang had controlled Yue Guan's mind, he immediately unleashed his Real Illusion secret art toward Ghost, who was in the middle of transforming.
Before Ghost could fully manifest his Martial Soul True Body, his consciousness was dragged into Mu Yang's Real Illusion.
"Pfft—"
His True Body shattered, and the backlash of his own soul skill struck him. With his consciousness forcibly pulled into Real Illusion, Ghost vomited a mouthful of blood uncontrollably, his face turning deathly pale.
Gazing coldly at the fully subdued pair, Mu Yang's hand glowed with soul power, and in front of him four ice-blue Extreme Ice Arrows instantly condensed into being.
"Swish, swish, swish, swish—"
The next second, faint whistling sounds cut the air. The four arrows shot forth like streaks of icy light. With four bursts of crimson blood, the razor-sharp arrows pierced through Ghost's limbs.
Afterward, Mu Yang released his Real Illusion technique.
In truth, he had no desire to completely turn Spirit Hall into his enemy. He hadn't gone for a killing blow — merely a punishment.
"Ungh—"
As Ghost's consciousness returned from the illusion, the searing pain in his limbs instantly engulfed him. He groaned in torment despite himself.
Still, he was indeed a strong man. With his limbs run through by soul power arrows, suffering agony beyond measure, Ghost did not scream aloud. He merely stared at Mu Yang with a face full of pain and despair.
Casting him a cold glance, Mu Yang said evenly:
"Since you have erred, you must pay the price.
I'll be taking Yue Guan with me. Go back and tell your superiors this: let Qian Renxue come to the Elemental Academy within one month to reclaim him. If she doesn't come by then, he stays with us.
Of course, if Spirit Hall doesn't care about Yue Guan, then you don't need to bother coming at all."
With that, Mu Yang's battle armor wings flapped once more. Carrying the mind-controlled Yue Guan, his figure disappeared into the northern sky.
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