Evil Demon Forest — the main headquarters of the Holy Spirit Cult.
Zhongli Wu gazed at Ma Xiaotao, whose entire body was wreathed in black fire. Her eyes, which had briefly cleared during her battle with Yan Shaozhe, now showed faint traces of lucidity again. Without hesitation, Zhongli Wu thrust the threads of the Death God Marionette into her head, forcibly seizing control of her spirit.
Ma Xiaotao's expression immediately twisted in agony as her eyes were once again swallowed by darkness.
"Cult Master, the brainwashing has been done too many times. If this continues, she might completely lose her mind and become an idiot," Feng Ling cautioned, frowning as she watched Zhongli Wu cleanse Ma Xiaotao's spirit yet again.
"Relax, Feng Ling. With the strength I possess now, my control over the Death God Marionette is far beyond what it once was! I'm merely erasing a few thoughts that shouldn't exist in her mind."
Zhongli Wu shook his head, his tone full of confidence.
Seeing his certainty, Feng Ling's eyes flickered slightly as if she wanted to say something, but in the end, she held her tongue.
Before long, after Ma Xiaotao's condition was stabilized, Ye Xishui and Long Xiaoyao also returned.
Zhongli Wu immediately stepped forward. "Mother, Elder Long — how are things? Has the Sun Moon Empire fallen under our control? Where are those Jiang siblings? I intend to make them the Holy Son and Holy Maiden of our cult!"
Ye Xishui's expression turned cold as she said sharply, "If you want them, go and catch them yourself! By now, they're likely the Emperor and Empress of the Sun Moon Empire!"
"What?"
Zhongli Wu froze, staring in disbelief at Ye Xishui. "Mother, what exactly happened in Mingdu? Wasn't the Sun Moon Empire's Crown Prince that fool Xu Tiannan?"
At the mention of Xu Tiannan, Ye Xishui's face grew even darker. The pressure radiating from her body made it difficult for both Feng Ling and Zhongli Wu to breathe. Feng Ling's face went pale, and she fell to her knees, trembling uncontrollably.
She was only at rank ninety-seven—before the might of an Ultimate Douluo like Ye Xishui, she had no power to resist.
Cold sweat beaded on Zhongli Wu's forehead as well. Though he was only a step away from becoming an Ultimate Douluo himself, Ye Xishui had dwelled in that realm for many years. The gap between them was like heaven and earth.
Ye Xishui cast him a cold glance, then flicked a crystal toward him. "Inside this crystal are the souls of those who perished in the great explosion of Mingdu's imperial palace—over a hundred thousand souls in total. That soul power should be enough for you to break through to Ultimate Douluo. Take it."
Hearing her words, Zhongli Wu stared at the crystal in his hand, his expression trembling with excitement. Bowing deeply, he said, "Thank you, Mother! I will not disappoint your expectations. I will become the third Ultimate Douluo of the Holy Spirit Cult!"
Long Xiaoyao watched Zhongli Wu, whose excitement was bordering on mania. After a brief silence, he turned to Ye Xishui and said, "Xishui, let's go."
Zhongli Wu watched the two depart before turning to Feng Ling. "I'm going into seclusion to condense my second soul core. During my retreat, you will handle all matters of the cult."
"Yes, Cult Master," Feng Ling replied respectfully.
At the same time, Niu Tian brought Wang Dong'er back to the Clear Sky Sect. He immediately issued the order for all sect disciples to go forth into the world and join forces with the three nations of the former Douluo Continent and Shrek Academy.
Only after the survivors of the three nations returned did the truth of what had happened in Mingdu spread across the continent. The Heavenly Soul Empire was the first to act, dispatching troops to surround Tang Sect headquarters—yet Tang Sect had already received advance warning and evacuated in time.
The Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, aided by the Spirit Hall, also fled their ancestral grounds before the Dou Ling Empire's army could arrive.
Representatives of the three great empires all hurried to Shrek Academy, seeking their aid.
When Xuanzi received the news, he nearly fainted on the spot.
Over three years of painstaking effort — and in the end, it had all come to nothing! Worse still, they had lost two of their most gifted students, Jiang Nannan and Xiao Xiao!
"Elder Mu… the Academy has truly been swindled this time," Xuanzi sighed heavily, gazing up at the golden tree towering above him.
"Elder Xuan, envoys from the three empires have arrived!" Cai Mei'er came up behind him and said, "Representatives from other sects are here as well — they're all waiting for you in the Sea God Pavilion."
Hearing this, Xuanzi drew in a deep breath, then turned and followed her toward the pavilion.
Inside the Sea God Pavilion, the atmosphere was chaotic — representatives from every major force were quarreling loudly. But when Xuanzi entered, silence fell instantly.
Though he had yet to break through to the realm of an Ultimate Douluo, as the current Master of the Sea God Pavilion, he was nonetheless the spiritual pillar everyone relied upon.
Each of the representatives bowed respectfully.
The envoy from the Star Luo Empire was the first to speak. "Your Excellency the Gluttonous Douluo, the Sun Moon Empire's ambition is now beyond question. What should we do?"
"Yes," said another representative from the Dou Ling Empire, nodding anxiously. "Those soul tools are terrifying! Just hearing about the explosion of a ninth-tier stationary soul cannon is enough to make me shudder."
A few of those cannons had obliterated an entire royal palace and taken over a hundred thousand lives. One ninth-tier stationary cannon was comparable to a full-powered strike from an Ultimate Douluo. How could they possibly defend against such a weapon?
Xuanzi raised his hand, attempting to calm their panic, but before he could speak, someone rushed in from outside.
"The Clear Sky Sect—people from the Clear Sky Sect have arrived!"
At that, Xuanzi's eyes lit up. "Quickly, let them in!"
Niu Tian stepped into the hall, and immediately, Xuanzi felt an overwhelming aura pressing against him.
An Ultimate Douluo!
Xuanzi cupped his hands respectfully. "May I ask, sir—are you the current Clear Sky Douluo?"
Niu Tian gave him a single glance, then shook his head. "No, I am not."
Xuanzi froze in astonishment. Could it be that the Clear Sky Sect possessed another Ultimate Douluo besides the Clear Sky Douluo himself? That level of power was terrifying!
Niu Tian scanned the room, taking in the faces of all present. Then, in a calm voice, he said, "There's no need for alarm. The Clear Sky Sect will fully support your efforts to resist the Sun Moon Empire's invasion."
"But one Ultimate Douluo alone isn't enough to turn the tide," someone muttered.
At that, Niu Tian chuckled. "The Sun Moon Empire has unleashed demonic evil upon the world, and those Jiang siblings now seek to seize the destiny of the entire continent. They must be condemned by all humanity! Therefore, the Clear Sky Sect has received a divine oracle."
"A… divine oracle?"
At those words, everyone's pupils contracted sharply. Xuanzi's eyes widened with excitement. "Was it from the Sea God himself?"
Niu Tian nodded solemnly. "Indeed. It is the Sea God's divine oracle."
As he spoke, he extended his hand, revealing three radiant spheres of azure light. "These are the Sea God's blessings — the power of the Sea God's protection. Each can elevate a Super Douluo directly to the realm of an Ultimate Douluo. One will be granted to each of the three empires."
Elder Song's eyes widened as she recognized the familiar blue glow. It was the same divine power she had once carried — the very one that had vanished when they fled.
So it hadn't been exhausted after all… it had simply been reclaimed.
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