Gurgle… gurgle…
Inside a vast, pitch-black hall stood a central blood pool, its surface bubbling endlessly as if perpetually boiling. At its heart, atop a stone platform, loomed a statue of the Holy Emperor—its oppressive presence suffocating.
Scattered throughout the hall were numerous soul-engineered pillars, resembling ordinary stone columns yet glinting with an eerie, sinister chill. These pillars imprisoned countless souls—civilians, soul masters…
Their flesh and blood fed the pool; their souls fueled the pillars. Every part of them had become sustenance for evil soul masters.
"Follow me," a cold voice echoed from outside the hall.
The doors creaked open. Zhongli Wu entered, leading three youths toward the boiling blood pool.
Among them was Yan Feng. The other two were outstanding disciples of the Holy Spirit Cult—but not originally tournament participants.
Not yet.
"Master."
"Sect Master." ×2
"I trust you understand your mission," Zhongli Wu said, halting and turning to fix them with a chilling gaze—lingering longest on Yan Feng.
"We know," Yan Feng replied, his face twisting into a sinister smile. "Kill every non-Sun Moon soul master. Leave them mangled."
"Good." Zhongli Wu's eyes narrowed. "But the Holy Spirit team lacks strength. Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect has two Soul Saints—with one even capable of unleashing Title Douluo-level power. Even I admit our current win rate is only twenty percent."
Yan Feng stayed silent. It was undeniable.
Zhongli Wu continued, "To ensure success, your power must increase. These two will assist you."
"Them?" Yan Feng scoffed inwardly. They're mere Soul Kings—worse than Ji Li and Wang Xiaolei. No wonder they weren't selected.
"But they resonate with you perfectly," Zhongli Wu stated flatly, not even sparing the two disciples a glance. "I'll forcibly elevate them to Soul Saint rank. If they fail… they'll become your nourishment."
The last words were clearly meant for the two disciples. Yet they stood woodenly, as if their impending fate as sacrificial fodder meant nothing.
"Go in."
Plop! Plop! Plop!
All three plunged into the pool. Crimson liquid swallowed them whole. Their senses dulled; they sank into slumber.
Zhongli Wu stepped forward. Bubbles churned as he walked across the pool's surface, kneeling before the Holy Emperor statue. His face radiated devotion—the ultimate faithful servant.
"O Holy Emperor, may your divine light bless our sect."
He kowtowed thrice, then voiced his request.
Rising, he prepared to use the blood pool's power himself—this ritual was routine. Praying to the statue was merely protocol, especially since it hadn't responded in fifty years.
But this time… it was different.
As he turned to leave—
A tremor shook the hall. The statue's eyes flickered with light.
"What…?" Zhongli Wu's pupils contracted.
"A loyal servant's prayer has reached Me," boomed a majestic voice from the statue, echoing through the hall.
"Sect Master Zhongli Wu greets Lord Holy Emperor!" Zhongli Wu prostrated again, feeling the statue's gaze upon him.
"Your plea is granted. As My faithful, I shall fulfill your wish."
Before Zhongli Wu could respond, a beam of light shot from the statue's brow—plunging into the blood pool.
Unseen by him, beneath the crimson depths, the trio began to change.
Blood seeped through their pores at varying speeds. Yan Feng's cultivation rose steadily, but the other two guzzled it like whales—surging past Level 60 in minutes.
The influx didn't stop. Once they acquired sixth soul rings, their power would explode—hitting Level 70 instantly, becoming Soul Saints.
Unconsciously, all three activated their martial souls. A barrier of light enveloped them in a triangle:
- Bone Dragon (Yan Feng)
- Evil Spirit
- Flesh Demon
The Bone Dragon formed the core; Flesh Demon fleshed it out; Evil Spirit ignited its soulfire. Together, they fused into a demonic dragon phantom.
Above, Zhongli Wu saw only the pool's violent boil—then sudden calm.
"Your request is fulfilled," the statue intoned, violet-black light flashing in its eyes. "Now… hm?!"
Both the Holy Emperor and Zhongli Wu sensed it simultaneously.
Zhongli Wu whirled toward the entrance—just as Ye Xishui pushed the doors open, her eyes locking onto the glowing statue.
"Mother," Zhongli Wu hastily greeted.
Ignoring him, Ye Xishui bowed deeply. "Supreme Leader Ye Xishui greets Lord Holy Emperor."
"So it's you," the statue mused. "Perfect. Report—how fares the task I assigned your sect?"
"…We strive diligently," Ye Xishui replied carefully.
"Strive?!" The Holy Emperor's voice turned thunderous. "That means little progress! Explain!"
The hall trembled. Blood pool surged. Souls in the pillars wailed under the pressure.
Zhongli Wu scrambled to answer: "Lord Holy Emperor, we've worked tirelessly! Initial progress was swift, but setbacks in Great Star Dou Forest—"
He blamed Shrek Academy and Beast God Di Tian, twisting facts: even Di Tian's injuries to the sect's elders were framed as Shrek's conspiracy.
(Though that part was true.)
The real threat wasn't soul beasts. Despite Di Tian's supremacy, human factions like Shrek posed greater danger.
"Is that so?" The Holy Emperor's suspicion eased. "Then I shall heal you personally."
A beam entered Ye Xishui. Bliss flooded her—briefly. Within three breaths, it faded.
As she opened her eyes regretfully, the statue commanded: "From today, spend one hour daily here for My healing."
Violet-black light enveloped her.
An hour later, Ye Xishui and Zhongli Wu exited with the trio. All four radiated transformed auras—only Zhongli Wu remained unchanged.
Inside the hall, the statue glowed anew.
"Such terrifying power exists on Douluo Continent?" it murmured, wary. While purging Ye Xishui's wounds, it had sensed an energy far beyond the Holy Spirit Cult's reach.
"Perhaps I must shift focus. But aside from the ocean, nowhere rivals Great Star Dou Forest…"
"The ocean…" The Holy Emperor paused, sensing something. "This oceanic aura… belongs to a beast. And its power rivals Ye Xishui's. How fortunate—what I sought comes effortlessly."
An invisible ripple pulsed outward.
Outside the sect, Demon Empress appeared, glaring at the guards. "Your Supreme Leader summoned Me."
But as she spoke, her expression hardened—making the guards tense.
Then, just as suddenly, the killing intent vanished.
As if nothing had happened.
------------------------------------------------------
40+ Chapters Ahead: patreon.com/EphemeralShadow
There's something for free patrons too! Free Patrons receive 1 chapter in advance :)