As the winds shifted, a day passed in a flash.
Zhongli Wu led his group, using the cover of night, to cross the Heavenly Soul Empire's border and infiltrate the Dou Ling Empire's territory, making their way to a pre-arranged stronghold.
Their Holy Spirit Church was deeply rooted, with hidden strongholds and operatives throughout the Four Great Empires. They had long prepared contingency plans for a decline in power, including retreating to the Dou Ling Empire, the weakest of the Four Great Empires.
Though Evil Soul Masters were powerful, they couldn't withstand the united front of orthodox Soul Masters across the land. Zhongli Wu deeply understood that the Douluo Continent was full of hidden masters; besides the overt powers, there were also many Hidden Sects with profound foundations. The Holy Spirit Church's strength was barely enough for self-preservation, so they had to seek protection from an empire to ensure long-term stability.
It was no surprise that old monsters like the Level 98 Mu En, from the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Family, were hidden away. And with powerful forces like the Clear Sky Sect, Xuanming Sect, and Body Sect, even with two Limit Douluo, the Holy Spirit Church couldn't act entirely as they pleased.
After the battle in Star Luo City, the Holy Spirit Church was severely weakened. Its two Limit Douluo had to enter seclusion to heal, and the surviving members, including Zhongli Wu himself, were all still injured. They couldn't contend with the Sun Moon Soul Engineer faction in the short term, so they had no choice but to abandon their old base.
If they couldn't defeat Kong Deming, Ye Yulin, and Jing Hongchen, could they at least defeat these weaklings in the Dou Ling Empire? The Old Emperor of Sun Moon was unwilling to grant them the status of a national religion, but becoming the national religion in the Dou Ling Empire would be just as good!
With thoughts of rebuilding their strength in a few years of quiet development, and the joy of gaining three future Super Douluo, Zhongli Wu walked directly to Long Xiaoyao and Ye Xishui's secluded chambers. He respectfully said:
"Mother, Uncle Long, Little Wu has brought back Senior Taotie, a Supreme Elder of our sect, from Heaven Dou City. He also brought back a future Holy Maiden and a Level 94 Titled Douluo. I've come to share this good news with both of you."
From within the secluded chambers, a cold, surprised female voice soon responded.
"Supreme Elder Taotie? You mean Xuan Zi of Shrek?"
"Yes, when I was leading the team to rest in Heaven Dou City, I suddenly sensed the aura of someone from our sect. We went to investigate and discovered the whereabouts of the Blue Silver Saintess, Beast King Gong Changlong of Shrek, and Old Xuan himself."
With that, Zhongli Wu winked at Zhang Peng and Crow, who were carrying Xuan Zi on a stretcher behind him. The two gently set Xuan Zi down, then transformed into black streaks of light and retreated.
Zhongli Wu continued his introduction: "Old Xuan is the greatest contributor to our sect. Hearing about our troubles, he tirelessly brought two future Super Douluo to join us. This matter is of great importance, so Little Wu had to report it to the two elders. Please, both of you, heal his injuries and restore his cultivation."
"When we arrived, we already understood that the Blue Silver Saintess is Mu En's great-grandson's girlfriend. Old Xuan even sent such a genius to our sect, which shows how diligently he has dedicated himself during his two hundred years undercover. His loyalty is truly evident to heaven and earth—."
As he spoke, Zhongli Wu couldn't help but marvel at his deceased father's knack for recognizing talent. He had seen Old Xuan, a loyal and peerless genius, and had him infiltrate Shrek.
On the way, he reviewed Old Xuan's various deeds. Old Xuan's wisdom was indeed as deep as the sea. He had infiltrated Shrek to become its second-in-command, serving as the deputy head of the Supervision Group with real power. He easily destroyed a large number of geniuses, and Shrek couldn't do anything about him.
From Yan Shaozhe's generation to the current Inner Courtyard, Shrek hadn't produced a single respectable Titled Douluo for decades. This showed the immense contribution of Old Xuan; he had eliminated dozens of future Titled Douluo!
After realizing the Xuanming Sect's extraordinary strength, Old Xuan decisively targeted the Xuanming Sect's core members, instigating a deadly conflict between the Xuanming Sect and Shrek.
If he hadn't underestimated Xu Xiaoyun's strength, the Xuanming Sect and Shrek would have both suffered heavy losses, and the Holy Spirit Church would have effortlessly eliminated two major threats without attracting any suspicion.
It was pitiful that he had to sacrifice himself, his cultivation crippled by Xu Xiaoyun, and even the essence of his Gluttonous Divine Ox Martial Soul nearly dissipated.
The Godly Taotie Bull naturally possessed the talent to devour vast amounts of food. With just a little guidance, it could become the most powerful evil Martial Soul in the world, capable of devouring heaven and earth. Zhongli Wu even doubted if his Death God Demon Puppet could compare.
If Old Xuan hadn't gone undercover but stayed in the Holy Sect, he might have already achieved Limit Douluo status. For such great courage and contribution, the Holy Spirit Church must show its appreciation!
"...Little Wu believes that in this time of crisis for the Holy Sect, we must unite and give Old Xuan enough status and respect. We absolutely cannot dishearten the experts within our sect. This matter can greatly boost our sect's morale."
After Zhongli Wu finished speaking, the secluded chambers fell silent for a long time, then Long Xiaoyao's deep sigh echoed.
"...You're right. I haven't made any great contributions these past years; I'm far inferior to Xuan Zi. From this day forward, he will be the First Supreme Elder of this sect. Everyone will treat him as they would me."
"He was the second-in-command at Shrek, so his position in our sect cannot be lower."
Ye Xishui's voice then rang out: "Xuan Zi's injuries are for me and your Uncle Long to handle. You should first send people to capture rare Soul Beasts with the Taotie bloodline and devouring talent, as well as earth-attribute Soul Beasts. The more, the better. I will personally heal him."
As her voice faded, a black Soul Light swept through the secluded chambers, enveloping Xuan Zi's body, and vanishing.
Zhongli Wu's face lit up with joy as he said "Yes" and happily departed.
"Heheheh, Shrek fellows, when you learn the truth, I wonder what kind of despair you'll fall into. This Sect Master looks forward to it—"
Inside the secluded chambers, the pale-faced Long Xiaoyao stood up, looking at the evenly breathing Xuan Zi lying on the ground with a complicated expression. He let out a long sigh.
"Xuan Zi, you're a ruthless one. You've hidden deeper than anyone!"
Just now, Zhongli Wu had laid out all his conjectures. Even though Long Xiaoyao felt that Mu En wouldn't have failed to see Xuan Zi's true nature for over two hundred years, he had to admit that Xuan Zi, this old fellow who was half a generation younger than them, was an absolute, peerless ruthless man.
Xu Xiaoyun's disciple was killed by him, and his great-grandson nearly lost his life. Mu En was even worse off; his life was taken by him, and his great-grandson's wife was sent to the Holy Spirit Church.
Shrek and the Xuanming Sect, the two most powerful transcendent forces in the original Douluo Three Kingdoms, were now at each other's throats, locked in a brutal internal struggle.
And all of this was orchestrated by Xuan Zi, hidden behind the scenes! Long Xiaoyao, confident in his own insight, hadn't seen the truth beneath the surface.
A Level 98 Super Douluo had manipulated two Limit Douluo like puppets. He and Ye Xishui felt ashamed in comparison.
Long Xiaoyao was curious what kind of promise the Holy Spirit Church's former Sect Master, Zhongli Laogui, had made to make Xuan Zi persist as an undercover agent for over two hundred years, returning to the embrace of the Holy Spirit Church even on his deathbed with a gift, dedicating his entire life to the Holy Spirit Church.
Ye Xishui stepped forward and said coldly, "Long Xiaoyao, it's a good thing you know you haven't truly exerted yourself for the Holy Sect all these years. Xuan Zi's cultivation is only Level 98, but his contributions to the Holy Sect are more than ten times yours!"
Long Xiaoyao let out a bitter laugh. "So I'm stepping aside, aren't I? If you have the ability to restore his cultivation, he can command the Hall of Worship to do his bidding."
"However, the old turtle's methods are impressive. If you had acted sooner to save him, you might have salvaged his cultivation. Now, it might not be easy."
Ye Xishui extended her hand, closed her eyes, and sensed Xuan Zi's internal state for a moment. She frowned, "His Soul Core is shattered, his cultivation is nearly gone, and his Martial Soul has been forcibly obliterated, leaving only some bloodline power. It truly isn't easy."
"But perhaps it's for the best. His body is now in a relatively pure state, allowing me to easily corrupt his bloodline and activate the Taotie bloodline."
"Afterward, with our sect's secret techniques and vast resources, we can repair the foundation of his body. Returning to Titled Douluo is just around the corner, and Super Douluo isn't a problem either!"
Long Xiaoyao said in a low voice, "I see that his Dantian was destroyed by the old turtle, and the position of his Soul Core is broken. To re-condense a Soul Core, it could only be in his forehead or chest. Wouldn't that be difficult?"
Ye Xishui said coldly, "The Godly Taotie Bull possesses the Taotie bloodline, and devouring energy is its instinct. How can you say he can't succeed? Are you perhaps jealous of his talent?"
Long Xiaoyao gave a bitter laugh. "Look, Xishui, what are you talking about? I didn't mean that—"
"Good, as long as you didn't mean that."
Ye Xishui interrupted Long Xiaoyao. Her pale hand, unusually fair for her age, pulsed with purplish-black soul light that enveloped Xuan Zi. The Taotie bloodline remaining in Xuan Zi's blood and bones was quickly drawn out, transforming into a faint, earthy yellow glow that encased Xuan Zi's body.
Ye Xishui clenched her five fingers, and the earthy yellow light rapidly contracted and converged, forming a ghostly image of a Taotie Bull, about an inch in size.
It was ethereal and faint, rising into mid-air.
The next moment, Ye Xishui bit her fingertip, and several drops of dark, profound essence blood dripped onto the Taotie Bull's ghostly image. The essence blood melted upon contact, merging with it.
Under their tense gazes, the earthy yellow Taotie Bull swiftly began to turn dark and profound. The Taotie bloodline seemed to be stimulated; its bull horns gradually transformed into ram horns, and its majestic face shifted towards an evil, violent appearance, quickly becoming unrecognizable.
The new Taotie Bull lost many of its bovine characteristics. Its expression was greedy and frenzied, and its spiraling ram horns resembled two dark whirlpools, exuding a terrifying aura that could seize souls.
"Good!"
Ye Xishui pressed her palm down, and the evilized Martial Soul's ghostly image entered Xuan Zi's Dantian. The unconscious Xuan Zi let out a muffled groan, his body immediately trembling, his bones clattering repeatedly.
*"Ga~ Aiyo!"*
Amidst the trembling, Xuan Zi's weak and boundless aura began to rise rapidly, quickly breaking through the Soul Elder's limit, surpassing Soul Ancestor.
Soul King, Soul Emperor, and finally Soul Sage—it only began to slow down at the Soul Sage level.
This wasn't because the power Ye Xishui gave him could only reach Soul Sage, but because his body still needed a period of adaptation.
As his strength recovered, Xuan Zi's deeply furrowed old face even began to show signs of rejuvenation. At the same time, clusters of black mist surged from between his eyebrows, shrouding his facial features.
This aura wasn't strong, but the potential it contained made Long Xiaoyao secretly acknowledge its extraordinariness, even sensing a faint, hidden pressure from a higher rank.
He knew this was Xuan Zi's Taotie bloodline manifesting externally. Not to mention Long Xiaoyao, even the Golden Eyed Black Dragon King Di Tian would be suppressed by it in terms of bloodline.
Xuan Zi has a full set of six Soul Bones. His current Martial Soul is stronger than even mine. Once he returns to Level 89, he'll be able to contend with a Super Douluo. Should I send a message to that old turtle, Zhongli Laogui, and have him come kill this old fellow? This is tough to handle—
Long Xiaoyao felt troubled. He didn't want the Holy Spirit Church to grow powerful, but he was worried about Ye Xishui. However, if Xu Xiaoyun came, he might kill Xuan Zi and then turn his deadly hand on Ye Xishui.
They were injured by the Hall of Worship Master's self-detonation before his death and wouldn't recover for three to five years. It was truly difficult.
Just then, Ye Xishui's voice sounded in Long Xiaoyao's ear. "Long Xiaoyao, your black dragon essence blood can also help his bloodline. Why not drop a few drops?"
Hearing this, Long Xiaoyao fixed his gaze on Xuan Zi, whose Martial Soul had been completely evilized. His eyes flickered slightly, and he forced out two drops of essence blood, which fell towards Xuan Zi's Dantian.
Alright, I'll mess with you a bit and see how things play out—
While Long Xiaoyao was troubled, someone in the Sun Moon Empire was equally troubled.
In the Crown Prince's Residence, Xu Tianran stared at Xu Guozhong, who had visited late at night, his gaze dark and uncertain.
"Imperial Uncle, you've made such a huge mistake, and Hongchen Hall Master has even caught you with evidence. For this prince to bail you out, it won't be easy, will it?"
"Good nephew, hear your Imperial Uncle out. As long as you save your Imperial Uncle this one time, your Imperial Uncle will be yours from now on! Whatever you want, your Imperial Uncle will give it to you!"
Xu Guozhong gritted his teeth and knelt down, performing a grand kowtow ceremony.
"Long live Your Majesty, please accept this subject's bow, long live, long live, long live!"
Xu Tianran's chin lifted slightly, and a satisfied smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.
"Then this prince will have to consider it carefully—"
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Translation by: randomtranslator.com
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