"Next is the cluster attack mode. After holding the trigger for three seconds, it will switch to cluster attack. Releasing the trigger will fire a cluster cannon shot, with its power depending on the charge time and amount of soul power stored."
Huo Yuhao held down the trigger. All of his soul power gathered at the cannon's muzzle, gradually forming a brighter and brighter glow. Finally, after storing up half of his soul power, he released the trigger. A powerful beam of energy blasted from the cannon, once again striking the metal plate.
The metal plate was blasted off its stand, dented deeply and visibly deformed.
The fallen plate landed over ten meters away.
The performance stunned the crowd. Anyone could tell how powerful the Zhuge Divine Crossbow Cannon was—it had clearly surpassed the assessment standards.
And this was only a test—not a real battle scenario—and not even its full power.
Jing Hongchen personally inspected the metal plate and was shocked to find a crack in the center of the dent.
That crack signified the attack had exceeded the metal plate's durability threshold. This meant the cannon's power had likely approached that of a Grade 9 soul tool!
"Zhuge Divine Crossbow Cannon, huh?" Jing Hongchen realized that this Grade 8 soul tool was far more valuable than other tools of the same level.
If it could be mass-produced for the military, its destructive power would be unimaginable.
"I hereby declare that His Highness the Third Prince has successfully passed the Grade 8 soul engineer assessment! From this day forth, His Highness is officially a newly ranked Grade 8 soul engineer of the Sun Moon Empire!" Jing Hongchen announced on the spot.
The audience erupted in cheers. The atmosphere became electric.
Even Lin Jiayi was shocked. Before this, hardly anyone had believed the Third Prince would pass the exam—let alone in such a fashion.
After all, there's a huge gap even among Grade 8 engineers.
"Fake talents" like Fan Yu—who earned his Grade 8 rank in the original Douluo Alliance—sat at the bottom of the pecking order. Those who could imitate existing models and successfully create Grade 8 tools were considered standard or above average. But only engineers who could invent new Grade 8 soul tools were true geniuses with the potential to reach Grade 9.
Fan Yu could only taste bitterness. A Grade 8 engineer in his twenties, who could even invent a powerful new tool like that—the talent was unmatched even in the Douluo Three Nations.
And Fan Yu himself had been among the most gifted in the alliance. If even he couldn't compare, who else could?
Not his own disciples, not even He Caitou.
The talent gap was already enormous, but there was also a fundamental divide in resources and knowledge. That's why the exchange program existed in the first place.
Xian Lin'er narrowed her eyes as she watched the Third Prince. Ideas stirred in her mind, but she quickly pushed them down. She had come to the Sun Moon Empire with an important mission—it would be best not to stir up complications.
Especially since he was a prince of the Sun Moon Empire!
But someone else didn't care about that—Xu Tianran.
He had already made up his mind: this boy must not be allowed to live.
Such terrifying talent could not be left unchecked.
More importantly, the Third Prince had upstaged him—in front of his face.
After the assessment, Jing Hongchen didn't even bother with Xu Tianran. Instead, he went straight to Huo Yuhao, clearly enthusiastic.
"Your Highness the Third Prince, congratulations!"
This time, Jing Hongchen's tone felt much more sincere.
"You flatter me, Hall Master Hongchen."
"Hahaha! Having such a remarkable genius in the Sun Moon Empire is our nation's good fortune. Since Your Highness was able to develop such a soul tool, I imagine you've studied the field diligently. I wonder if you'd be willing to visit Mingde Hall and share your insights? While you're there, I can also issue your official certification as a Grade 8 engineer."
"If Hall Master Hongchen is inviting me, how could I possibly refuse?"
"No time like the present—how about we go today?"
"Then I'll be in your care."
"No trouble at all."
Jing Hongchen's eagerness was, of course, for the technology behind the Zhuge Divine Crossbow Cannon, especially its soul power storage system.
But he failed to notice Huo Yuhao turning to look at Xu Tianran, giving him a provocative smirk.
Huo Yuhao: "Looks like the sweetheart can't compete with the newcomer, huh?"
Xu Tianran crushed the armrest of his wheelchair in rage.
The prize he never managed to obtain had now fallen into the hands of this blonde upstart!
Soon after, Jing Hongchen exchanged a brief greeting with Xu Tianran and quickly led Huo Yuhao away—rejecting Xu Tianran's request to accompany them.
Jing Hongchen: "We're discussing confidential matters. Outsiders are not allowed."
Xu Tianran: "Damn it. I've been labeled an outsider now!"
Qingci Douluo and Moying Douluo also followed them out.
Xu Tianran was left behind to deal with the post-assessment formalities—like cleaning the sheets after watching an affair.
Within a single day, news of the Third Prince inventing the new Grade 8 Zhuge Divine Crossbow Cannon and passing the assessment spread like wildfire across Mingdu.
From the imperial court to the common folk, everyone was talking about it.
Clearly, someone had helped fan the flames—none other than the prince's backer, who had been fully supporting Huo Yuhao. Though Huo Yuhao only asked for support in action, the prince had used his initiative to spread the news logically and effectively.
As the story grew, it began to spread beyond Mingdu.
Even the Blue Silver Saintess and the Blue Silver Knight from the Xishui Alliance received the news and were stunned.
Inside a secret room, the two sat alone, staring at the intel with dazed expressions.
"Zhuge Divine Crossbow? Zhuge Crossbow? Is this just coincidence... or something more?" Tang Ya murmured.
"Was there really only one surviving heir of Tang Sect?" Bei Bei asked solemnly.
"Only me." Tang Ya replied sadly. "But I can't be sure if there were other members who might have escaped... Or if there's some surviving legacy outside."
They both fell silent.
They were still young when Tang Sect was destroyed, and no one could say for sure if the sect's legacy had truly vanished.
"I will get to the bottom of this," Bei Bei said firmly. "The power of Tang Sect must not fall into the hands of the Sun Moon Empire and be used for evil!"
"But… he's the Third Prince," Tang Ya said worriedly.
"It doesn't matter. I'll ask the elders for help. And don't worry—I won't act recklessly," Bei Bei replied as he stood to leave.
"Then I'll go too. I'm still the Tang Sect's Sect Leader!" Tang Ya said, quickly getting up.
She also cared deeply about the Tang Sect's legacy and was worried for Bei Bei's safety.
"No need. You just focus on being the Blue Silver Saintess. Aren't you busy trying to take control of the Xishui Alliance?" Bei Bei said bluntly, not giving her a chance to object.
Tang Ya could only stand there silently, clenching her fists.
But she quickly recovered.
The timid girl that was once driven out of Shrek was gone. Now she was the Blue Silver Saintess.
Once she took complete control of the Xishui Alliance and its Mingdu division, she would rebuild the Tang Sect herself.
She still needed to grow stronger to do it—and she was the true successor of Tang Sect!
However, the Xishui Alliance wouldn't be so easy to tame. It contained not only members of the Holy Spirit Church but also various outsiders who had been recruited.
It was precisely because she hadn't yet solidified control that she hadn't gone after the Mingdu branch yet—but that time was coming soon.
The next phase of her plan was about to begin.
Mingde Hall.
The authority on soul tool research in the Sun-Moon Empire. Its current Hall Master is Jing Hongchen, a Level 94 Title Douluo and a Level 9 Soul Engineer, who also serves as the principal of the Sun-Moon Imperial Soul Engineering Academy. Out of respect, most refer to him as "Hall Master" rather than "Principal."
Mingde Hall, along with Sea God's Pavilion and the Body Sect, is one of the Three Great Powers, highlighting its status on the continent. Contrary to appearances, Mingde Hall does not belong to the Academy; rather, the Academy exists to recruit talent for the Hall—similar to how Shrek Academy operates with the Sea God's Pavilion.
These Three Great Powers represent the three main professional paths of the Douluo Continent:
The Sea God's Pavilion's Soul Master path, the foundation of all powers, focusing on Martial Souls and soul rings.
The Mingde Hall's Soul Engineer path, emphasizing the use of external tools to overcome natural limitations, aspiring to surpass Soul Masters.
The Body Sect's Body Soul path, focusing on physical development, bloodline potential, and combat techniques.
If left undisturbed, these paths are destined to eventually converge, each compensating for the weaknesses of the others.
The one destined to unify them all was supposed to be Tang Wulin, the son of that lord.
But if Huo Yuhao's growth proceeds smoothly, Tang Wulin may never even be born. The fate of the continent—and its professional paths—would change entirely.
Now, under the guidance of Jing Hongchen, Huo Yuhao had arrived at Mingde Hall, one of the continent's Three Great Powers.
Located at the core of the Sun-Moon Academy, Mingde Hall seemed unremarkable on the outside. But upon entering, one would realize its true immense scale, far exceeding expectations.
Like the Starlight Auction House in the Star Luo Empire, Mingde Hall was built underground. But in terms of size, the auction house was nothing in comparison—it was the difference between heaven and earth.
Entering the modest-looking 500-square-meter building, Jing Hongchen led Huo Yuhao through three levels of security—some guarded by Soul Masters, others by soul tools.
Huo Yuhao observed everything curiously.
Even as the Third Prince, he had rarely entered Mingde Hall. Only those who passed rigorous examinations could take up residence here, as it held many imperial secrets. Even royalty couldn't come and go as they pleased.
Both Mo Ying Douluo and Qing Ci Douluo were left waiting outside.
The previous Third Prince had not passed the tests, nor was he considered a prodigy, and he never focused on soul tool research—hence he never had access to Mingde Hall.
At most, he had been allowed inside a few times during his Academy years to observe. Some instructors from Mingde Hall also taught at the Academy and occasionally brought students for visits.
Fan Yu and his group dreamed of getting into Mingde Hall for this very reason.
Inside, twenty metallic elevators were arranged in a circular formation, each capable of holding ten or more people.
"Your Highness the Third Prince, this way please," said Jing Hongchen with a smile, guiding Huo Yuhao to one of them. At this moment, Jing's calm demeanor had returned, and he now carried an aura of unquestioned authority.
Don't think this "chubby man" is easy to deal with.
He only maintained his gentle demeanor around the princes and nobles—out of respect for the Empire. Within Mingde Hall, however, he commanded true awe and fear.
"Many thanks, Hall Master Hongchen," Huo Yuhao replied cheerfully, following him into the lift.
But as Jing turned his back, Huo Yuhao subtly swallowed.
This place reeks of fortune!
Mingde Hall was saturated with powerful destiny energy. With the Empire's backing, its fortune was much richer than the Body Sect's—though not quite on par with the Sea God's Pavilion. However, unlike the Pavilion, Mingde Hall lacked the fortune-suppressing Golden Ancient Tree.
To Huo Yuhao, this place was like an unlocked granary!
As heir to both the Sea God's Pavilion and the Body Sect (secretly), he had already harvested much of their destiny energy. Now, only Mingde Hall remained.
"No rush. This clone in the Sun-Moon Empire will butter up the royal family first. Once my main body arrives in my most loyal empire, Mingde Hall's fortune won't escape me."
"Once I have the destiny of the Pavilion, Body Sect, and Mingde Hall in hand, then I can move on to the Four Empires. After that, the sects, the Five Forbidden Zones, the oceans... and finally, the God Realm."
The recipe has already been written. No need to rush. Impatience won't just ruin the tofu—it might choke you too.
The next Soul Master Tournament hosted by the Empire would be in about three years. That was the time frame for Huo Yuhao's clone to shine—and for the main body to solidify his foundation.
The beast of ambition inside him was once again locked in its cage, and Huo Yuhao quietly followed behind Jing Hongchen.
Jing activated one of the soul tools inside the elevator—scanning his identity card and injecting soul power into the central column. The lift began slowly descending.
The Sun-Moon Empire had its share of modern technology, but Huo Yuhao wasn't amazed. To him, it was half-baked mimicry, and besides, he didn't seek technology.
Mingde Hall being underground also explained how the Body Sect in the original story managed to sneak attack from below. The Hall also stored a lot of military weaponry below.
In fact, the centipede-foot clones had already begun tunneling in.
When to use this underground passage? That would depend on how things played out.
Soon, the elevator stopped.
But Jing Hongchen didn't bring Huo Yuhao to the usual study or lab areas. Instead, he led him to a guest hall.
It was a spacious room, its entire decor metal-themed in light gold tones. Though not luxurious, it radiated quality and strength. At the entrance hung a plaque with "Mingde Hall" in dark gold characters, radiating intimidating authority.
Jing didn't linger here either. He led Huo Yuhao into a side room, activated a soul tool to seal off the space, and ensured no secrets would leak.
Then, with barely restrained excitement, Jing turned to Huo Yuhao and asked:
"Your Highness, please, let me see the Zhuge Divine Crossbow Cannon!"
Huo Yuhao: "..."
Why does that sound like something a total nerd would say?
Huo Yuhao: Hall Master, not like this~
Jing Hongchen looked like a man in his forties. He wasn't tall, but he had a broad frame—short and stout, to put it bluntly.
That kind of stocky figure definitely wasn't suited for long hair, yet he insisted on growing it out. His reddish-brown locks hung down his back, making his already thick neck nearly invisible.
The overall effect made him resemble a toad wearing a flashy wig. And especially now, with that eager expression on his face, he gave off the unmistakable vibe of "a toad lusting after swan meat."
Luckily, Xiao Hongchen and Meng Hongchen didn't take after his looks.
Of course, what Jing Hongchen longed for wasn't swan meat, nor was it the "delicate flower" that was the Third Prince. What he craved was the technology behind the Zhuge Divine Crossbow Cannon.
And he wasn't planning to get it for free.
"Your Highness the Third Prince, please rest assured. I won't disappoint you, and neither will the Mingde Hall," Jing Hongchen said while patting his chest as he sat on a spacious sofa, full of sincerity.
"Oh? So does that mean Hall Master Hongchen plans to bring the Mingde Hall over to support me?" the Third Prince asked.
"Cough cough cough…" Jing Hongchen nearly choked and quickly changed the topic. "Mingde Hall belongs to the Sun-Moon Empire. We are loyal only to the Empire and the Emperor."
In other words, Jing Hongchen and Mingde Hall weren't loyal to any one person—they supported whoever held the throne.
"Haha, Hall Master Hongchen, I was only joking," the Third Prince said with a grin. "Unlike my elder brother, who's already forming factions while Father's still alive, I care only about talents that benefit the Empire. Even if I were to give up all my technology and receive nothing in return, I wouldn't mind at all."
His voice was so fake and oily that it made Jing Hongchen's skin crawl.
He remembered the old Third Prince—arrogant but upright. What happened to him?
If it weren't for the soul spirit and aura scan back at Mingde Hall confirming his identity and ruling out any disguise, Jing Hongchen would've thought this person was an impostor.
Jing Hongchen couldn't make sense of it. Eventually, he guessed the Third Prince had recently gained some powerful support and, after passing the Level 8 Soul Engineer assessment, had simply gotten a bit carried away.
After all, his son Xiao Hongchen had done the same in the past.
Cough cough "Your Highness is too kind. Mingde Hall never forces any Empire soul engineers to contribute. In fact, rewarding those who contribute is our core principle," Jing Hongchen replied, quickly steering the conversation back on track.
He didn't mention Xu Tiannan at all—that was a taboo topic, even for the Hall Master himself.
Huo Yuhao didn't continue teasing him either. Instead, he got straight to the point and brought out a stack of blueprints from his storage ring, handing them over.
"These are the full schematics of the Zhuge Divine Crossbow Cannon," he said. "They include detailed development ideas, full array inscriptions, as well as downgraded models—Level 4, 5, 6, and 7—plus conceptual plans for a Level 9 version."
Jing Hongchen was dumbfounded.
Wait, what?
They'd already developed downgraded versions?
And there was potential for a Level 9 upgrade?
Hissss…
He sucked in a deep breath, contributing to global warming on Douluo Continent, before eagerly taking the schematics and ignoring Huo Yuhao completely as he began to pore over the designs.
Huo Yuhao didn't mind. He casually brewed himself a pot of tea and sipped away.
Combining the Third Prince's memories as a Level 7 Soul Engineer, the experience of Qinci Douluo and Moyi Douluo, and the manufacturing diagrams of the Zhuge Divine Crossbow, then developing them using the Eye of All Laws, it had only taken about a week to finish the schematics with ease.
Not only was his clone working on it—his main body was also hard at work.
In fact, the original model they developed was just the Level 4 version, and it could only fire physical projectiles in a single attack mode.
After continuous iteration and refinement, they eventually produced versions for Level 5, 6, and 7.
Creating the Level 8 model was significantly harder. Huo Yuhao had to break through several soul array technologies and incorporate elements from cultivator formation techniques—and it actually worked.
Ultimately, formation arrays don't require a cultivator's power to function. As long as an array is properly constructed using materials imbued with energy, it can still produce effects.
Because formations, at their core, harness the power of heaven and earth—the focus is not the cultivator's power, but how well one can leverage external forces.
Using one's small strength to move the vastness of the world.
This method worked in Douluo Continent, which had an abundance of natural energy.
The problem was that cultivators lacking sufficient insight often couldn't perceive these forces, and thus couldn't leverage them. It was like having a long enough lever to move the Earth, but lacking the ability to find the fulcrum.
However, all the schematics Huo Yuhao gave Jing Hongchen were purely soul tool versions.
Since soul formations could now borrow from cultivator formations, then crafting soul tools as if they were magical artifacts wasn't a stretch.
In fact, the Zhuge Divine Crossbow Cannon Huo Yuhao made today had at its core a basic artifact embryo.
This was why the one in Huo Yuhao's hands was vastly more powerful than standard versions of the same grade. It could unleash bursts rivaling a Level 9 soul tool and had far greater range.
A 50-meter-range crossbow cannon might be deadly in the hands of low-level soul masters or on the battlefield, but it wasn't worth much in high-level soul master duels.
As for the Level 9 version, although there was a conceptual blueprint, what Huo Yuhao didn't write down was this: the true Level 9 model would have to be a real magical artifact to unleash its full power.
"Once this clone has free time, I'll have it craft one just for fun," Huo Yuhao thought to himself.
Even though his clone wasn't a Level 9 soul engineer, crafting a Level 9 Zhuge Divine Crossbow Cannon didn't require that skill—it needed artifact refining techniques.
Equipping it with a dedicated weapon was a way to boost the clone's strength.
Not just to fend off enemies, but also to prepare for the worst-case scenario—dragging others down with him if needed.
After all, what's a clone for, if not for self-destruction?
Finally, after a long while, Jing Hongchen finished reviewing the schematics. He was visibly trembling with excitement.
"Exquisite… utterly exquisite…" he muttered.
The sealing technology he had paid most attention to was clearly recorded, seemingly perfected and feasible. Though the soul array used in the sealing technique looked vaguely familiar, there were many parts he didn't understand—but thanks to the detailed annotations, he was able to grasp it using his Level 9 expertise.
And it was this understanding that made him even more impressed.
He was itching to begin testing immediately.
Because he had a strong feeling that this was a brand-new path, one unlike any the soul tool world had walked before!
A path that could elevate soul tools to an entirely new level!
What was precious wasn't just the sealing technology. Even the mechanical structures in the low-level crossbow cannons—things he'd never encountered—indicated a real possibility for ordinary people to use them.
And the Third Prince had handed all of this over without reservation, laying it out right in front of him.
How could he not be moved?
But he quickly suppressed his emotions, looked up seriously at Huo Yuhao, and asked, "Your Highness… These schematics… surely you weren't the one who developed them?"
Who would believe that a previously mediocre prince in soul tool tech could come up with all this?
Even if he had licked a toad and was hallucinating, he wouldn't believe that.
Huo Yuhao calmly put down his teacup.
"Regardless, the technology is mine now."
"…Could you introduce me to the creator?"
"No. The Master has no fondness for Mingde Hall."
"This… this…"
Jing Hongchen was speechless.
Huo Yuhao smiled faintly.
Tang Sect hidden weapons, the Master... What next?
Maybe a Sun-Moon Seven Devils team?
And have the Third Prince be the third?
Regarding the matter of the Great Master (大湿), Huo Yuhao explained that back then, the Great Master's ideology differed from that of his colleagues at the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy. Therefore, he conducted research alone and gradually lost all goodwill toward the academy.
Jing Hongchen didn't probe further.
After all, digging too deep into something that can't be resolved would only create awkwardness.
In any case, the Great Master had now joined the third prince's faction and would serve the empire in the future—so no harm done.
However, Jing Hongchen didn't grow any closer to the third prince just because of this so-called Great Master. After all, one Great Master alone wasn't enough to help the third prince secure the throne.
Unless that Great Master had a disciple capable of becoming a god.
Afterward, Huo Yuhao and Jing Hongchen had a pleasant conversation.
Jing Hongchen promised the third prince many benefits, including rare materials, advanced soul tool blueprints, and even access to Mingde Hall. He arranged an independent lab for the third prince inside Mingde Hall.
The treatment level was equivalent to that of a Level 9 Soul Engineer!
In addition, Jing Hongchen said he would report this matter to the Emperor.
That alone was a kind of help. With Jing Hongchen's recognition and praise, the third prince's standing in the Emperor's eyes—and among the upper echelons of the Sun Moon Empire—would improve.
However, Huo Yuhao wasn't interested in empty fame.
He cared more about tangible results.
With the third prince's rising status, more fortune and fate would converge upon him.
And this was just the beginning.
With this matter wrapped up, Huo Yuhao returned to his residence and shut his doors to all visitors, leaving the nobles who came to call empty-handed.
In fact, several other princes had also wanted to visit the third prince—partly to gather intel—but due to his behavior, they had to give up. Still, they all wondered: What exactly is he planning?
They thought he was messing around, as if giving up the fight for the throne.
But none of them truly believed that was the case.
After all, the third prince was second only to the crown prince in status. He had no reason to give up on the throne. Moreover, none of his actions had caused objection from the royal duke who supported him—another point of mystery.
And now, with him having passed the Level 8 Soul Engineer assessment, the other princes started to feel the pressure.
So, what was the third prince doing?
Huo Yuhao: "Keep the music going, keep the dancing going!"
Then Huo Yuhao resumed his revelry with his concubines and dancing girls—like a man riding a wild pendulum ride.
By the time their "battle" ended, it was already midnight.
The beauties were completely spent. Never in their lives had they experienced such indulgence as they had in the past week. Their minds were barely able to function. Even in unconsciousness, their faces bore broken, euphoric smiles.
However, a closer look revealed their complexions and vitality were significantly diminished compared to a week ago—pale faces, drained life force—a sign they'd been thoroughly exhausted.
In the future, at best, their cultivation would stagnate; at worst, they would die young.
But Huo Yuhao made sure they felt no pain, and he kept them around the third prince's side.
After pushing aside the unconscious women, Huo Yuhao stepped out of the palace to breathe some fresh air and check on the third prince's condition.
His soul power level hadn't increased, and his potential only slightly improved. The effects were starting to weaken.
"These cauldrons are low quality. They won't last long. If I want the third prince's aptitude to improve further, I'll need more cauldrons," Huo Yuhao concluded.
The cultivation plan Huo Yuhao had arranged for the third prince was a life-burning fast-track plan, but even burning life depends on one's potential.
With poor talent, burning life might only get one to Titled Douluo. With great talent, perhaps Transcendent Douluo.
Once the third prince reached Transcendent Douluo level, his inner balance of yin and yang would be disrupted, and he'd be at constant risk of exploding. That would be the time to harvest him.
Ordinary Titled Douluo didn't interest Huo Yuhao anymore. A Transcendent Douluo, however, would be a fresh and tasty meal—so naturally, he wanted to raise this "ingredient" to the limit before reaping.
Plus, the third prince was absorbing the royal dragon aura and the luck of the Sun Moon Empire. The stronger his status, the more fortune he would draw in.
High-quality cauldrons weren't worth wasting on this clone of his, so he'd use ordinary cauldrons in bulk to cultivate the third prince.
After all, burning life for cultivation could also mean burning other people's lives.
After stepping outside, Qingci Douluo and Moying Douluo appeared respectfully, dressing Huo Yuhao in fresh robes and serving him tea to rinse his mouth while reporting on the situation.
"Many people visited today, including other princes and various nobles. But as you ordered, all were turned away," Moying Douluo reported. "No word yet from the palace."
"Mm." Huo Yuhao nodded calmly.
Rather than waste time arguing with those people, he preferred grinding his "account" (i.e., cultivation). Compared to nobles, the royal family held far more value. From now on, his focus would be on them.
"Master, there are many spies watching us from outside the estate. How shall we handle them?" Qingci Douluo asked.
Though Qingci and Moying were not particularly powerful, they were keenly self-aware and never acted without orders.
They hadn't removed the spies.
"Do we know whose spies they are?"
"Some are from the royal family and nobles. Others we can't identify—likely from underground forces," Qingci Douluo replied, lowering his head.
Huo Yuhao pondered briefly, then leapt to the highest point of the estate and activated his aura-sensing technique, scanning the surroundings to see if any interesting characters were watching.
He had time to kill, after all.
It felt like sitting at the window and watching what cars were parked below.
If he spotted someone with a good bloodline, he might just pull them in for a bite.
"As expected of spies—their martial souls are all great for reconnaissance."
"Owls, falcons, hounds, Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragons… Hm? Wait, Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon?"
Huo Yuhao focused on the aura of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon and suddenly smiled with a sense of release.
Was there another person with this martial soul in the entire Sun Moon Empire?
"Is this the guidance of fate?"
If he hadn't stepped out for air… if he hadn't looked for spies… how could he have discovered his dear big brother?
"Brother Beibei, since fate has arranged this meeting, how could I refuse?"
"What heaven gives you and you do not take, you will be punished for."
Unfortunately, there was no sign of the Dark Blue Silver Grass aura.
Through his soul link, Huo Yuhao contacted Eunuch Gao.
Eunuch Gao, who was using fresh blood to preserve the body of the Death Messenger, immediately possessed the Death Messenger upon receiving the message.
"Brother Hao's command—this old servant will complete it with all due speed~"
Midnight.
Beibei, wearing a blue-silver mask and disguised as a regular soul master, was keeping watch outside the third prince's residence, hiding in the shadows and contemplating Tang Sect's affairs.
As a high-ranking prince, the third prince's residence took up the entire street, isolated from outside noise, making the street eerily quiet. Though there were soul-powered street lamps, they gave off a dim glow.
All the spies had to remain hidden in the darkness.
But they couldn't get too close, or it would be seen as a provocation.
That's how Beibei was able to blend in.
Still, it was hard to uncover anything significant.
At most, he could observe if anyone entered or exited through the front gate.
Huo Yuhao: "A dear big brother delivered to my doorstep? Of course I won't let that go to waste!"
Just as Beibei was hiding in the shadows, waiting for the Third Prince to leave, a pungent stench of blood suddenly pierced his nose, causing his heart to tighten.
After more than a year of training in the Holy Spirit Cult, Beibei's expression immediately changed dramatically. Without even looking back, he instinctively ducked and rolled to the ground in an extremely awkward posture.
But it was incredibly effective.
A foul gust of wind brushed past Beibei's cheek and struck the ground, leaving five small holes behind.
Having dodged just in time, Beibei quickly pulled back, activated his martial soul, and readied himself to flee or fight back. But when he turned to see his attacker, his pupils constricted in the next second.
"Death God Envoy!"
Beibei's voice was filled with shock, mingled with boundless rage and killing intent.
"Keh keh keh—little brother, are you coming with me willingly, or should I take you by force?" Eunuch Gao sneered. The Death God Envoy he controlled slowly retracted his clawed right hand.
The five holes in the ground were clearly the result of his five-fingered strike.
Huo Yuhao had already told Eunuch Gao about Beibei and the Death God Envoy—naturally to help him better impersonate the Envoy.
Previously, thanks to several attacks from Huo Yuhao, the Death God Envoy's soul had been damaged. Even if he regained consciousness now, he'd be reduced to a madman, better off still being controlled by Eunuch Gao. Gao had also taken over the corpse-refining duties.
"You dare touch me?" Beibei barked coldly, though his tone lacked conviction.
He already knew the Death God Envoy had surpassed the Soul Douluo rank, and he was clearly not his match anymore.
The Envoy's growth rate was absurd. Still, considering the techniques of evil soul masters, it seemed somewhat reasonable. Beibei assumed the Death God Envoy must've sacrificed many innocents to grow so quickly.
The Holy Spirit Cult truly deserved to be destroyed!
This was, in fact, one of the reasons Beibei had grown distant from Tang Ya.
Every time he thought of the Death God Envoy, Beibei saw a possible future for Tang Ya—it left a shadow in his heart he couldn't shake.
"It might not be possible in the Holy Spirit Cult," Eunuch Gao taunted, "but this is Mingdu~"
Sure enough, even through his mask, he could sense the change in Beibei's expression—it had darkened.
But Gao wasn't here just to tease the boy. He had already sensed someone observing them from a distance, and there was also a hidden presence nearby that made him uneasy.
There was no more time for games.
Without another word, Eunuch Gao suddenly struck, reaching out to grab Beibei.
Beibei instantly tried to activate his soul skill, intending to pretend to resist and find a chance to escape. But to his shock, his body stiffened, his blood and energy seemingly frozen. He couldn't move—his soul power barely flowed.
Just like that, Eunuch Gao seized him.
"You're still too green, boy!" Gao mocked, tapping Beibei once, causing him to lose consciousness and undo his martial soul possession.
Naturally, a proper abduction required preparation—poison was the method of choice.
That earlier strike was merely a feint. The true weapon was the poison smoke hidden within the scent of blood.
The blood masked the poison's smell, and Beibei didn't notice a thing.
Suddenly, a powerful aura erupted in the distance, approaching at high speed. Eunuch Gao immediately recognized it as a Super Douluo's presence.
It was the powerful expert who had been secretly watching over Beibei—he had only now realized something had gone wrong.
Without access to his Ghost Banner martial soul's full power, Eunuch Gao couldn't take on a Super Douluo. And now that he had his target, he fled without hesitation, diving into Mingdu's underground sewer system and vanishing.
From the moment he appeared to the moment Beibei was taken, only a dozen heartbeats had passed.
And just as Gao disappeared, that explosive Super Douluo aura crashed down—it was the Holy Spirit Cult's enshrined elder who had been tasked by Long Xiaoyao to keep an eye on Beibei.
He hadn't expected Beibei to be abducted so brazenly, and right near the Third Prince's residence!
Precisely because it seemed so unlikely, the elder hadn't monitored Beibei closely and failed to react in time, giving Gao his chance.
Only after Beibei activated his martial soul did the enshrined elder sense something wrong.
"Leave the boy!!"
Without hesitation, the elder dove into the sewers after them. But he hadn't anticipated how complex the layout was.
Eunuch Gao had also taken precautions to erase his tracks.
In the end, the enshrined elder failed to catch either Gao or Beibei.
He had no choice but to leave for now and relay the news back to the Holy Spirit Cult as fast as possible.
This elder wasn't Long Xiaoyao's subordinate, nor was he Beibei's protector. He had merely agreed to Long Xiaoyao's request to help watch over Beibei while stationed at the Xi Shui Alliance.
Since Beibei had left the Alliance on his own and gotten himself captured, the elder couldn't be blamed.
He had fulfilled his duty.
What came next was for Long Xiaoyao to handle.
Still, the elder was humiliated by the incident and had no intention of letting Eunuch Gao off. He would hunt Gao down and wash away this disgrace.
Outside the Third Prince's estate, the Super Douluo aura had stirred up commotion. Azure Porcelain Douluo and Shadow Douluo appeared instantly, locking down the area and interrogating everyone nearby.
All the spies and informants suffered terribly.
The Mingdu city guard also arrived on the scene immediately to investigate.
The earlier explosion case was still unresolved. Although the emperor hadn't brought it up again, everyone was under immense pressure.
If anything else happened, they would likely be scapegoated.
Fortunately, Azure Porcelain Douluo and Shadow Douluo didn't arrest everyone—only those without confirmed affiliations. The rest were left to the city guard.
The informants could only curse their luck.
They were just monitoring the area—how could they have expected something like this? And to think another faction's spy would provoke a Super Douluo? If you've got that kind of power, what are you doing playing at being a spy?
Trying to "experience life"?
Now that they were in the hands of the city guard, those with powerful backers might survive. But the weak? They'd be lucky to escape with their skins intact.
Huo Yuhao stood with his hands behind his back, calmly watching the chaos outside the estate, and let out a soft chuckle.
"If someone bombed my estate now and killed a few hundred people, maybe the Holy Spirit Cult would take the blame... But nah, it's not worth it. I actually like living here."
After all, even if he pinned the blame on the Cult, the emperor still couldn't act against them. The Sun-Moon Empire didn't even know where the Cult's headquarters was, nor who its top brass were.
At best, they could wipe out the Xi Shui Alliance and the Mingdu branch—and maybe mistakenly hit the White Lotus Cult too.
With that, Huo Yuhao turned back into the palace.
"It's time to go check on big brother Beibei."
At the same time, Eunuch Gao, still masquerading as the Death God Envoy, issued orders to White Lotus Cult members to lie low. All core members went into hiding.
Only a few new recruits stayed behind at the branch base to handle routine affairs. These newcomers only knew they had joined the Holy Spirit Cult and knew nothing of the White Lotus—glorified temps.
The temp workers were all low-level thugs and riffraff. They had no skills and were left out front as bait. No one would miss them if they got wiped out.
—
In an underground base, within a secret chamber—
Huo Yuhao's consciousness descended into the Death God Envoy's body. Eunuch Gao respectfully hovered nearby as Huo Yuhao examined the unconscious Beibei lying on a stone bed.
"Hmm? The Holy Spirit Cult actually has some real tricks. In just over a year, he's already reached five soul rings?"
Beibei's rapid progress wasn't just due to abundant resources. Several brushes with death had also caused his bloodline to begin awakening, making his talent even more remarkable!
The Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon was evolving—toward the Radiant Holy Dragon!
"Awakening bloodline, huh? Heh, let me give you a helping hand... but—"
"A Radiant Holy Dragon doesn't belong in the Holy Spirit Cult."
"Gao, contact An Litong. Tell him to send over the materials."
"We're preparing for our Cult's sacred baptism!"
The so-called Holy Spirit Cult Baptism—
Could also be called:
The Ritual of Corruption!