[Some Announcement: I Currently sitting for my Semester Exam because of this expect chapters being delayed.]
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Underground MingduHoly Spirit Sect
The usual cold and sinister headquarters of the Holy Spirit Sect—home of the notorious Evil Soul Masters—was now brightly lit. Countless Evil Soul Masters were feasting and drinking, celebrating the arrival of the Holy Son.
Xu Cheng walked step by step down the stairs, glancing at the robed figures indulging in the banquet. A faint smile tugged at the corner of his lips."Second Elder, everyone seems very happy."
"Hehe..." Nangong Wan's pupils contracted slightly, and he swallowed hard."Indeed. After three years, seeing the Holy Son in person again... of course, everyone is too excited and honored to hide it."
Xu Cheng smiled, saying no more.
With his nearly peak-level spiritual power and his dual-pupiled martial soul, how could he not sense the seething hatred and greed in the eyes of these "true" Evil Soul Masters? Their eyes were filled with malice.
Naturally, he knew. After all, he'd issued a series of imperial decrees that had all but cut off the future of the Holy Spirit Sect.
So this ambush banquet came as no surprise to him.
But who was the mantis, and who was the oriole? That remained to be seen.
The two of them walked through a dimly lit corridor for an unknown amount of time before stopping at a door.
"Please!" Nangong Wan bowed slightly, fully displaying his smooth, unctuous personality.
Even now, he revealed no flaw.
A true actor!
Xu Cheng smiled and nodded, pushing open the door.
Inside was the most secretive chamber of the Holy Spirit Sect's headquarters—the hall where top-level meetings were held.
Today, every major figure of the Holy Spirit Sect was present: one Supreme Elder, both Vice Sect Masters, ten Worship Elders, and eight Elders. As Xu Cheng opened the door, dozens of eyes immediately locked onto him.
Xu Cheng smirked.
In that moment, the unfiltered gazes—suspicious, hostile, angry, mocking—watched him like predators eyeing a trembling prey.
"The Holy Son has arrived!" Zhongli Wu raised his wine cup high, his face glowing with the joy of victory.
It wasn't just him—his entire faction wore satisfied smirks. In contrast, Xu Cheng's allies looked solemn. Wu Yun and Zhang Peng exchanged a grave glance. Ye Cheng appeared calm, but his clenched fists under the table told a different story.
This tableau reminded Xu Cheng of a famous painting from his past life.
Surrounded by wolves.
Unlike the brightly lit banquet hall outside, the council chamber was dimly lit by a few candles, seemingly to enhance its solemnity. Shadows flickered across Xu Cheng's face, making his expression unreadable.
"Holy Son, please!" an old man in gray gestured to a seat.
Xu Cheng nodded slightly and sat beside Zhongli Wu.
Next to him, Wu Yun's face was dark, as if ready to rise, but Qi Mu beside him stopped him.
Though they didn't know why Xu Cheng had come, it was clear the nature of this banquet had shifted.
Even without the 800 hidden assassins, the presence of top figures like Long Xiaoyao, Ye Yexi, Zhongli Wu, and the leaders of the opposing faction made it impossible to rescue Xu Cheng by force.
"I trust the Holy Son..." Zhang Cheng tried to speak up.
"Never thought the Holy Son would really show up. Hahaha. Truly an honor," Zhongli Wu laughed heartily.
That "honor" was clearly mocking.
More than that, he was ridiculing Xu Cheng for being naive enough to attend this trap alone, basking in the smugness of a victor.
As a level 98 peak Super Douluo—not a fraud like Xuanzi—Zhongli Wu could clearly sense Xu Cheng hadn't brought any powerful support.
Just you? Then you're mine to crush.
He had worried for days, considering countless scenarios...
But never imagined it would be this easy.
Oh, Holy Son.
You, who built an empire, unified the factions, suppressed Shrek until it gasped for air. A figure deemed flawless by outsiders—a god among men—yet you believed my words and came to this banquet prepared just for you?
"Could it be that the wine is poisoned?" Xu Cheng asked with a bright smile.
"Of course not," Zhongli Wu shook his head.
"I merely invited you for an important discussion." He lifted his hand, accepting a document from a servant with a smile. "I hope Your Highness will revoke the previous decree."
"Decree?" Xu Cheng raised an eyebrow. "Oh?"
"Exactly! You might not know this, but our Holy Spirit Sect was founded by Evil Soul Masters. In the early days, murder, arson, robbery—those were just routine. Massacring entire villages and towns is what made us famous across the continent. Now we can't even traffic humans! How are we supposed to grow?"
Zhongli Wu laughed.
His words drew laughter from the other leaders as well.
"That's right, Holy Son. We've waded through blood and corpses. If you want us to suddenly become monks, that's too much to ask."
"I still miss the days of raiding and looting with my brothers."
"…"
"Really?" Xu Cheng feigned surprise.
He glanced at the paper on the table.
It was an edict written in his name, abolishing all restrictions on the Holy Spirit Sect within the Sun-Moon Empire, naming them the state religion and granting them supreme authority.
All it needed was his signature and the imperial jade seal to become effective.
Nana glanced coldly at Zhongli Wu with a trace of disdain but remained silent, standing behind Xu Cheng.
Her fearless gaze swept the room. After two years of harsh training in the Temple of Destruction, she had advanced to Title Douluo, formed a soul core, and gained two god-gifted 100,000-year soul rings—strong enough to overpower most here, especially the eight Elders.
Once a mere "vase" who owed her status to Xu Cheng, she now had genuine power of her own.
"Yes…" Zhongli Wu played along with a fake bitter expression.
"You're forcing a bunch of Evil Soul Masters to obey the law—that's just cruel. Since you once promised to make the Holy Spirit Sect the state religion, why not sign the agreement at this banquet?"
He poured out his complaints.
"Well, that does sound inappropriate," Xu Cheng nodded thoughtfully.
"Hahaha…" Zhongli Wu couldn't help laughing, looking at Xu Cheng with scorn.
Still too green to challenge me.
But the next second—
"Well then, all of you might as well go back to the original continent. Perhaps they'd tolerate such actions there," Xu Cheng said softly.
"..."
The entire hall fell silent.
The Elders stared in disbelief.
Where did Xu Cheng get the nerve to defy Zhongli Wu under such obvious disadvantage?
Didn't he understand that signing or not, he wouldn't be allowed to leave?
Yet he dared to rip the pretense apart so directly?
"..."
Zhongli Wu also looked surprised but soon chuckled and shook his head.
"Looks like our Holy Son really wants to play the saint?"
"Then let's not waste time—sign, or don't sign!" His tone turned cold, and a faint terrifying aura began to emanate.
As the masks fell, the room filled with tension.
Everyone began secretly circulating their soul power, preparing for a fight.
Especially Ye Cheng, who was already being restrained by two Worship Elders.
Zhang Peng, Wu Yun, and others were similarly under threat.
"..."
Just as everything seemed to be in Zhongli Wu's favor, he suddenly frowned.
Something felt… off.
Xu Cheng was too calm. The girl behind him stood with arms crossed, expression stable, not a trace of panic.
Just a mere Soul Saint. In three years, that growth was fast—but not enough to show off in front of him.
"And that Cain…"
His gaze shifted to Ming Yuzong's princess.
She stood on Xu Cheng's other side, lazily cleaning her nails. Her face was pale but exquisite. In her beautiful eyes gleamed a craving for blood.
"This attitude… doesn't add up."
Zhongli Wu narrowed his eyes, hesitant to act.
"What are you waiting for?!!"
A shrill voice cut through the tension.
Long Xiaoyao entered the hall, supporting Ye Yexi.
"Supreme Elder! Grand Worship!"
Everyone stood respectfully.
Ye Yexi's sharp eyes locked onto Xu Cheng as she slowly approached. Though frail, her aura still carried the pressure of an Ultimate Douluo.
She glared coldly at Xu Cheng.
"You… are the reason the Holy Spirit Sect has fallen so far!"
"Xu Cheng, you have betrayed the sect's expectations!"
"How did you manage to sustain the Law of Death's cycle? The powerful Evil Soul Masters whose souls were forcibly stripped of power—they trusted you, believed in you, and revered you as the Holy Son of the Holy Spirit Sect!"
"..."
Everyone was shocked upon hearing those words.
They began whispering among themselves.
After all, no one had expected that the strange phenomenon which had drastically weakened the Holy Spirit Sect's power had actually been caused by Xu Cheng.
"Senior Ye, I recall that three years ago, you had a great deal of trust in me," Xu Cheng said with a light smile. "But now, your attitude truly chills my heart…"
"The past is the past. The present is the present," Ye Yexi said coldly. "Your actions have already forfeited the Holy Spirit Sect's trust!"
"I will say this one last time!"
"If you agree right now to relinquish that damned Authority of Death and allow souls to remain in this world—and accept Wu'er's earlier request—you will still be the Holy Son of the Holy Spirit Sect. If not…"
Ye Yexi let out a cold snort, and a wave of vast soul power surged from her body.
"I'm not dead yet!"
Glancing at Long Xiaoyao—expressionless and silently supporting her—Wu Yun felt a chill run down his spine.
Even if Xu Cheng had laid a trap outside…
With this lineup, escaping would be nearly impossible.
"In that case…" Ye Yexi sneered when Xu Cheng remained expressionless. She waved her hand.
"Bow before the Holy Sovereign!"
"..."
A collective sigh echoed through the hall.
The Holy Sovereign, naturally, referred to the "god" revered by the Holy Spirit Sect.
Although not a real god, it was more akin to a rural deity—essentially a founding ancestor of the Sect.
Bowing to the Holy Sovereign signaled that blood would soon be spilled beneath that statue.
Zhongli Wu, Ye Yexi, and their faction all bowed in unison toward the idol on the high platform. Long Xiaoyao stood motionless, but his brow furrowed slightly, as if sensing something strange in the atmosphere. Still, he quickly shook his head.
As an Ultimate Douluo, his faith in his own power overrode all else.
"Gentlemen, may I interrupt for a moment?"
Xu Cheng's voice suddenly echoed from above.
It resonated throughout the hall, coiling like a serpent.
"You all…"
Ye Yexi and the others jerked their heads upward, a trace of horror flashing in their eyes.
Above them was the statue of a man seated leisurely on a golden throne—and that man's appearance… was identical to Xu Cheng!
When did that happen?!
They turned back toward the original Xu Cheng—only to find that he had vanished.
His figure was nowhere to be found.
And that statue above them—it seemed to have come alive.
As pieces of golden lacquer flaked off Xu Cheng's form, revealing fair skin beneath, he looked down upon the crowd like an emperor, a faint smile in his eyes."Why are you bowing to me?"
"BOOM!"
It felt as if the space around them collapsed—
Then immediately reassembled.
The dimly lit Holy Spirit Sect council chamber was gone.
In its place appeared a glorious royal palace, surrounded by towering mechas, and countless fully armed Soul Device troops, watching them like cats toying with mice.
"Ye Yexi! Attempting to imprison the Emperor of the Sun-Moon Empire—do you truly not know what death means?!" Fire Qing shouted, clad in heavy armor, her eyes filled with killing intent.
She had personally witnessed Xu Cheng rise to become emperor of the Sun-Moon Empire.
And now the Holy Spirit Sect dared try and steal that fruit of victory?
Unforgivable!
Around them, nearly a thousand Fire Phoenix Legion elite guards stood with lethal intent.
The terrifying pressure made even the highest elders of the Sect tremble in fear.
At this point, even a fool could understand:
They had been utterly played by Xu Cheng.
Zhongli Wu glanced at the throne, where Xu Cheng now lounged, propping up his head with one hand as he mockingly looked down at them. A cold sweat ran down Zhongli Wu's back.
Something's wrong!
Xu Cheng was a genius, sure. But how could his illusion technique reach this level?
That he fooled Zhongli Wu alone was already shocking enough.
But this?
Now it seemed like the entire Holy Spirit Sect had fallen into an illusion.
Including even Uncle Long and his own mother!
An illusion that could trap two Ultimate Douluos?
This couldn't even be called illusion anymore—it felt eerily real.
Even if the illusion shattered now, Zhongli Wu no longer believed it was merely trickery. The realism was beyond what illusion should allow.
"You're not just a Soul Saint!!!" he cried in disbelief.
"Pfft…" Nana couldn't help it—she burst out laughing from behind Xu Cheng.
"That's right. You figured it out," Xu Cheng clicked his tongue, feigning surprise. "Well done."
Zhongli Wu: "..."
"Die!"
Ye Yexi roared in fury, her face twisted. Overhead, the Death God Tower slowly materialized.
Though it now lacked the tormented, screaming souls it once held, it was still imbued with the full force of this Ultimate Douluo's might.
"Protect His Highness!" someone shouted.
Within the hall—
Countless blazing figures instantly formed a Soul Device formation.
But Xu Cheng merely said calmly:
"I bet your gun… doesn't have any bullets."
A line so baffling it left everyone stunned.
And in the very next moment—
Ye Yexi felt it.
The Death God Tower, which had just finished forming, suddenly felt hollowed out.
Her full-power attack vanished into thin air.
???
(End of Chapter)