However, in a place where the Ghostly Nether Douluo couldn't see, a blood-red cicada mark flashed briefly on the back of Yan Feng's neck.
The Ghostly Nether Douluo shook his head slightly, though a peculiar emotion flickered in his gaze as he looked at Yan Feng.
When he first took Yan Feng under his wing, he had already noticed the boy's great ambition. But now, after his defeat at the hands of the Holy Son, perhaps that burning ambition had been mostly extinguished.
To the Ghostly Nether Douluo, this was actually a good thing. Within the Holy Spirit Cult, Jiang Jue, as Zhongli Wu's final disciple, along with his exceptional talent, was undoubtedly the future leader of the cult.
Yan Feng bowing his head to Jiang Jue could only mean that his future path had broadened.
Sometimes, understanding the ways of the world was just as important…
On the other side, Jiang Jue, standing atop the high platform, had a flicker of light in his eyes.
He had just received information from the Six-Faced Phantom Dream Cicada—it was about Yan Feng's actions.
Who would have thought that in just those few minutes, Yan Feng had already become his devout follower?
Among those present, there were quite a few Title Douluos and even Hyper Douluos, yet when they saw Yan Feng collapse, they simply assumed he had been caught in Jiang Jue's domain, wounded, and then fallen.
None of them realized that Yan Feng had been drawn into an illusion and had experienced so much.
That was natural. Jiang Jue's Boundless Sea of Resentment domain was inherently a spiritual-type domain, and with the layer of spiritual fluctuation masking his actions, combined with Jiang Jue's status, as long as Zhongli Wu remained silent, no one would dare to question him.
"Next, I just need more fanatics."
Jiang Jue mused, gazing at the young cultivators before him, who were shouting slogans.
He hadn't forgotten that within the Holy Spirit Cult, there were many Evil Soul Masters who had lost control over their martial souls and had instead become slaves to their own power.
Jiang Jue didn't care what these Evil Soul Masters did; what he cared about was what their uncontrolled martial souls could offer him.
"I still need to refine this method further. The efficiency is still too low."
Jiang Jue rubbed his fingers together, deep in thought.
The only reason he could monitor Yan Feng's actions through the Six-Faced Phantom Dream Cicada was that Yan Feng wasn't too far from him. Additionally, in the illusion, that thread of energy drifting out of Yan Feng's body…
The road ahead still needed to be paved carefully.
That Night
Mingde Hall
Hall Master's Office
"Why do I have guests at this late hour?"
Jing Hongchen, clad in luxurious robes, lightly adjusted his golden spectacles and spoke indifferently.
A terrifying aura emanated from him, sending out ripples of golden energy that filled the entire room. Everything inside trembled violently—if not for the walls being constructed from a special metal, they might have already cracked.
At the same time, a flicker of anger surfaced in Jing Hongchen's eyes.
Did they think he, Jing Hongchen, had no dignity?
One after another, people just waltzed into his office without so much as a greeting. Did they really believe that the Hall Master of Mingde Hall and the Principal of Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy was easy to bully?!
"Why the hostility, Hall Master Hongchen?"
A cold, detached voice rang out, chilling as an eerie spring.
Then, amid the swirling golden ripples, a figure clad in black robes appeared out of thin air.
That figure did nothing in particular, yet the overpowering golden ripples, upon reaching him, could not advance even half a step further. They dissipated one after another.
"Cough cough, so it's Cult Master Zhongli."
Jing Hongchen gave a couple of light coughs, and his imposing aura instantly retracted as if nothing had happened.
He promptly discarded his previous irritation—after all, against these lunatics from the Evil Soul Masters, it was sometimes wiser to adopt a more measured attitude.
A few days prior, during his court attendance, he had personally witnessed Duke Xu Guozhong openly siding with Xu Tiannan.
It was worth noting that before this, Xu Guozhong had never shown Xu Tiannan any kindness. He had even repeatedly petitioned the late emperor to strip Xu Tiannan of his position as crown prince and replace him with another prince. The two were practically at each other's throats—so how had they suddenly aligned themselves?
Upon returning, Jing Hongchen had mobilized his forces to investigate the matter.
It turned out that the Holy Spirit Cult had intervened.
Xu Guozhong, after just one day under the "care" of the Holy Spirit Cult, had completely yielded.
And this was a man who not only had royal blood but was also a Rank Nine Soul Engineer! If even he couldn't last a day against them, then what chance did Jing Hongchen have?
What puzzled him, however, was why his master, Kong Deming, had not stepped in to stop it. Or perhaps he had tried but failed...
"May I ask what brings Cult Master Zhongli here today?"
Jing Hongchen waved his hand, and a finely crafted chair appeared behind Zhongli Wu, signaling him to take a seat.
"Hall Master Hongchen, I hear from my disciple that he has been chosen as a reserve team member for your Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy's delegation to the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Tournament?"
Jing Hongchen frowned slightly. The mention of Jiang Jue annoyed him.
After all, he had nurtured his dear little granddaughter for so many years, only for this brat to swoop in and take her away. Now, Meng Hongchen rarely visited him anymore.
At this point, he even suspected that the valuable rare metals Zhongli Wu had given him back then were not Jiang Jue's tuition fees but rather Meng Hongchen's betrothal gift.
"That is indeed the case. Jiang Jue is not only exceptionally talented but also possesses combat strength far beyond his peers. After the grand melee, I personally asked him if he wanted to join the reserve team, and he agreed."
Jing Hongchen answered truthfully. There was no reason to hide this. Even though he didn't particularly like Jiang Jue, he had to admit that the boy's talent was extraordinary.
"In that case, I have a favor to ask of you, Hall Master Hongchen."
Zhongli Wu leaned slightly forward in his seat, his pitch-black eyes locking onto Jing Hongchen. A surge of oppressive energy, belonging to a Rank 98 Hyper Douluo, erupted from his body.
"Hmm?"
Jing Hongchen let out a muffled grunt, and his Golden Toad martial soul manifested behind him.
"Is this how Cult Master Zhongli asks for a favor?"
Jing Hongchen said coldly.
Though he was unwilling to provoke these lunatics, he wasn't someone to be trifled with either—especially not in his own domain.
His office was equipped with the Sun Moon Empire's most advanced and powerful linked soul tool array. Moreover, aside from himself, Mingde Hall housed three other Rank Nine Soul Engineers.
If Zhongli Wu dared to start trouble, Jing Hongchen was at least seventy percent certain he could take him down—no one would be able to save him. And he, Jing Hongchen, would stand by his words!
"Hahaha, I was just joking."
Zhongli Wu retracted his aura with a chuckle.
"Madman!"
Jing Hongchen cursed inwardly but maintained his composure.
"This time, as your academy travels to the Star Luo Empire for the tournament, I hope the appointed leader of Mingde Hall's delegation is not too weak. Of course, I will also assign people to follow in secret."
Zhongli Wu said coolly, his gaze never leaving Jing Hongchen.
(End of Chapter)