The Holy Spirit Cult's attack on Huo Yuhao caused hundreds of casualties in Star Luo City. Regarding this matter, the Holy Dragon Douluo Saint Dragon stated that he would investigate it to the very end to provide an explanation.
But how could it be easy to investigate and find definitive results for such an affair?
Ultimately, after several days of commotion, the only explanation they could offer was a public proclamation from Emperor Dai Tianling.
The wording of that proclamation was indeed resounding, declaring that the Star Luo Empire and the Holy Spirit Cult could not coexist under the same sky.
From the civil and military officials down to the common citizens, anyone associated with the Holy Spirit Cult would be prosecuted for treason.
Meanwhile, far away in Shrek City, when Han Tianyi contacted Leng Yaozhu, she was reviewing the implementation status of the Spirit Pagoda's Branch Pagodas for the next quarter.
Upon hearing that her sister had joined the Holy Spirit Cult, coupled with the three Evil Soul Masters attacking Huo Yuhao, a terrifying aura instantly erupted from her body.
With a freezing expression, she stood up, pushed open the door, and walked straight down the corridor all the way to the door of Qiangu Dongfeng's office.
She didn't knock; she kicked the door open.
Qiangu Dongfeng was sitting behind his wide office desk. Hearing the loud bang of the door being kicked open, he looked up. Seeing Leng Yaozhu's face, which was cold enough to scrape frost from, his brow first furrowed, but then he seemed to guess something.
His tone was quite steady: "Yaozhu, what is so important that..."
"Qiangu Dongfeng!"
Leng Yaozhu did not let him finish speaking. She took a few steps to stand in front of Qiangu Dongfeng and said coldly, "I told you, as long as anything happens to Yuhao, I will assume you did it."
Qiangu Dongfeng put down his pen and leaned back in his chair. "Oh? Something happened to Huo Yuhao?"
Leng Yaozhu snorted coldly. "Disappointed you again. Yuhao is completely unharmed!"
Hearing this, a flash of disbelief crossed Qiangu Dongfeng's eyes. He thought to himself, 'Even after I gave such instructions, the Holy Spirit Cult still failed?'
His face darkened as he looked at Leng Yaozhu and said, "Do not talk nonsense without evidence."
"I don't need evidence." Leng Yaozhu took a step forward. "I only need to know that in this Spirit Pagoda, the person who wants him dead the most is you."
Over the next half-cup of tea's time, the sounds coming from the office alarmed almost everyone on the entire floor.
The two argued fiercely. Leng Yaozhu's interrogations came one after another, pressing him at every step. At first, Qiangu Dongfeng could still maintain his posture and refute her one by one, but later, his temper was also ignited, and his voice rose as well.
In the end, the two almost came to blows. Fortunately, several Elders of the Spirit Pagoda arrived upon hearing the news, pulling them apart and advising them, barely managing to stabilize the situation.
As Leng Yaozhu was escorted out by two Elders, she turned her head and coldly spat out, "Qiangu Dongfeng, you had better pray that the Holy Spirit Cult never slips up."
When Qiangu Dongfeng closed his office door, his face was so dark it looked like it could drip water.
He stood by the window, his back to the messy room. He just stood there, hands propped on the windowsill, his knuckles turning white from his tight grip.
Failed again!
The Holy Spirit Cult failed again!
He took a deep breath and slowly exhaled it, but the gloomy frustration in his chest did not dissipate; instead, it grew even thicker.
In his heart, he cursed the Holy Spirit Cult from top to bottom.
Useless trash!
All of them are useless trash!
After this day, the same rumor spread privately throughout the entire Spirit Pagoda: Vice Tower Master Leng and Tower Master Qiangu had completely fallen out.
Although there was no evidence, the rumors of Qiangu Dongfeng colluding with the Holy Spirit Cult were like wild weeds sprouting in a spring field, growing everywhere overnight.
Some believed it, some did not, but everyone began to watch closely.
Huo Yuhao was unaware of what had transpired at the Spirit Pagoda.
A dozen or so days later, the exchange activities between the Douluo Federation and the Star Luo Empire were also quietly completed in tranquility.
Huo Yuhao followed the Federation delegation and once again boarded that ocean-going giant vessel.
The cruise ship's whistle sounded at the pier, and the white hull slowly left the shore. The outline of the Star Luo Continent gradually shrank and blurred in their field of vision, finally turning into a faint gray line that melted into the horizon.
Next would be another voyage of more than two months at sea!
...
Since the Spirit Pagoda's debut, its fame had spread rapidly across the Douluo Continent like wildfire.
However, those who had actually witnessed a Spirit Soul with their own eyes were still a minority.
Some said that a Spirit Soul was a living spirit ring that could fight alongside a Spirit Master and even grow independently.
Others said that the Spirit Pagoda was simply a scam, and the so-called Spirit Souls were merely some kind of trick performed using Spirit Tools.
In any case, all kinds of rumors were circulating.
But no matter how chaotic the rumors were, one thing was universally acknowledged by everyone.
The Spirit Pagoda had already become the most watched rising power on the entire continent.
Thus, in major cities across the continent with dense populations and frequent traffic of Spirit Masters, construction sites for various Spirit Pagoda Branch Pagodas began to break ground.
Huo Yuhao's plan of using others' resources to achieve his own goals had successfully taken root.
However, as the 'instigator' behind all this, Huo Yuhao did not remain in Star Luo City at this moment to enjoy his 'fruits of victory.'
He was heading south, traveling toward the Sun Moon Empire.
The words he had spoken to Ma Zhong back in Star Luo City about 'going to Radiant City for an inspection' were not a mere excuse to brush him off; he was truly going.
Although the Sun Moon Empire did not guard its borders with absolute tightness against entrants from the original three Douluo nations, entering the Sun Moon territory was still not that easy.
However, this was not a problem for Huo Yuhao. This southern trip to the Sun Moon Empire had its itinerary confirmed through official diplomatic channels.
Under the name of a Spirit Pagoda exchange activity, it had received the approval of the Sun Moon Imperial Family, so it was naturally given the green light all the way, completely unobstructed.
For this southern journey, Huo Yuhao brought a dozen or so people to accompany him.
These people were all talents selected and trained through various channels since the establishment of the Spirit Pagoda a year ago.
Logically speaking, given the attraction of Spirit Souls to the Sun Moon Empire's Spirit Master's world, this trip to the Sun Moon Empire should not pose any danger.
After all, what the Spirit Pagoda brought was a brand-new resource capable of changing the Spirit Master cultivation system.
Even if the Sun Moon Empire was wary of the original three Douluo nations, they would not go so far as to make a move against good things delivered right to their doorstep.
Furthermore, Huo Yuhao's visit this time was a perfectly legitimate exchange mission. If something were to truly happen to him within the Sun Moon borders, it would be a major diplomatic incident.
But Huo Yuhao knew in his heart that this trip might not be as peaceful as it appeared on the surface.
According to the historical trajectory he knew, the Holy Spirit Cult's lair was currently hidden within the borders of the Sun Moon Empire.
Those Evil Soul Masters acted without any bottom line and were capable of doing any crazy thing.
Before their departure, Jin Li had found him and firmly requested to accompany him, but Huo Yuhao refused without a second thought.
Jin Li's identity was far too sensitive. If anything were to go wrong with her in the Sun Moon Empire, the entire Star Dou Great Forest would probably go mad.
However, on this southern journey, someone did come along with him—none other than Wang Donger.
That's right, she had officially graduated from Shrek Academy.
Along the journey south, the horizons of Huo Yuhao and his group were constantly being expanded.
From the border checkpoints to the inland towns, and then to the several medium-sized cities they passed along the way, the ubiquitous applications of Spirit Tools within the Sun Moon Empire made almost everyone sigh with a feeling of,'So it can actually be done like this!'
Even Wang Donger, who had always possessed a visceral aversion to Spirit Tools, had to admit the convenience they brought.
And when the group finally arrived in Radiant City, that feeling of having their understanding redefined surged over them once again like a tide.
This 'modern' city without city walls exceeded their understanding of traditional cities.
The Sun Moon Empire clearly attached great importance to this visiting delegation from the Spirit Pagoda. From the border to Radiant City, special personnel had been arranged to guide them at every city along the way.
Upon arriving in Radiant City, the commander of the garrison at the city gate personally came out to welcome them, subsequently leading the group through the urban area toward their destination: the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineer Academy, located in the southeastern corner of Radiant City.
This academy held a transcendent status in the Sun Moon Empire; almost all the famous and powerful Soul Engineers of the Sun Moon Empire had graduated from this academy.
The front of the academy's main gate was already packed with people. Aside from the academy's teachers, there were also many Students, though these Students were all 'elites' who had been meticulously selected.
Standing at the very front of the crowd, however, was not Dean Jing Hongchen, but a grey-haired Elder.
He stood there with an easy posture, his gaze gentle yet carrying a natural majesty.
This person was indeed the Prime Minister of the Sun Moon Empire—Prime Minister Du Qian.
His personal presence was enough to show the importance attached to Huo Yuhao's group.
Prime Minister Du Qian lowered his head slightly, leaning close to the ear of Jing Hongchen who stood beside him, and asked, "Is this Spirit Soul really that miraculous?"
Jing Hongchen indeed had not seen a Spirit Soul with his own eyes, but during this period, Ma Zhong had repeatedly told him about it countless times after his return.
Furthermore, his grandchildren's eyes would light up whenever they mentioned Spirit Souls, wishing they could break down every single detail to explain it to him.
He fell silent for a moment, then nodded.
"Spirit Souls are capable of fighting independently, which can completely change the combat methods of existing Soul Engineers. This is extremely important for the Sun Moon Empire!"
Among the surrounding crowd, various discussions were also rising and falling.
Some were full of curiosity, wanting to quickly see what a Spirit Soul actually looked like.
Others did not think much of it, feeling that making such a big fuss was not worth it.
And just as everyone was harboring different thoughts, the carriage carrying Huo Yuhao's group slowly drove over from the end of the distant street.
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A/N:
I hope all of you are enjoying this story so far. I would appreciate some Power Stones if you can spare any. Leave a review if you like the story. Thank you.