Zhang Peng suppressed the fear and shock that had not yet dissipated from his chest and tentatively asked: "Senior... are you also a member of the Holy Spirit Cult?"
The person opposite him did not answer immediately. He was silent for a moment, then slowly raised his hand and lifted the hood covering his head.
The moment the hood fell, it revealed an extremely handsome face with deep features and distinct contours. His skin presented an unnatural pallor, as if caused by not seeing the sun for many years.
Two clusters of golden spirit fire burned in his pupils, dancing ceaselessly in the dim light, shrouding his entire face in an eerie, flickering play of light and shadow.
The person appearing before Zhang Peng now was naturally not some Senior expert from the Holy Spirit Cult, but Yun Ming, who had transformed into the body of a lich.
After Yun Ming determined that he had experienced Transmigration to the Douluo Continent Ten Thousand Years ago, he made a decision: he would infiltrate the Holy Spirit Cult and completely eradicate this Evil Soul Master organization that was plaguing the continent.
And the reason Huo Yuhao brought Yun Ming along when coming to the Sun Moon Empire this time was to seek an opportunity to approach the Holy Spirit Cult.
Huo Yuhao telling Zhang Peng just now that "there are no experts from the Spirit Pagoda accompanying me" was not a lie; Yun Ming was indeed not a person from the Spirit Pagoda.
Yun Ming frowned slightly, his gaze sweeping over Zhang Peng, his tone carrying a hint of perfectly timed confusion: "Holy Spirit Cult? This seat has been in seclusion for many years and has never heard of any Holy Spirit Cult. It just so happened that I sensed the aura of an Evil Soul Master at the Titled Douluo level here, so I came to take a look."
This sentence fell into Zhang Peng's ears, causing his heart to jump suddenly.
First, this expert did not seem to have any malice toward him.
Second, the phrases "in seclusion for many years" and "never heard of the Holy Spirit Cult" from the other party meant that this Senior with unfathomable strength before him was very likely a "wild" Evil Soul Master.
Zhang Peng's thoughts stirred, and he quickly stepped forward: "Senior, you may not know, but currently Evil Soul Masters are highly ostracized on the continent and have almost no place to stand within the original Douluo Three Kingdoms. The Holy Spirit Cult is an organization founded by Evil Soul Masters and is the true home for all Evil Soul Masters!"
"Oh?"
Yun Ming raised an eyebrow, his tone carrying a hint of imperceptible interest.
Zhang Peng struck while the iron was hot and continued: "With your cultivation, Senior, if you are willing to join the Holy Spirit Cult, the Cult Master will surely welcome you with open arms."
The reason Zhang Peng was so enthusiastically inviting him was naturally not to strengthen the Holy Spirit Cult, but because he had his own small agenda.
Although he was ranked as a Venerable in the Holy Spirit Cult, he had always been marginalized because his cultivation method was incompatible with other Evil Soul Masters.
If he could invite such a powerful Evil Soul Master to join the Holy Spirit Cult, it would first be a great merit, and the cult's attitude toward him would surely change.
More importantly, since the other party was introduced by him, their relationship would naturally be closer. With such a backer, he would be able to have an easier time in the cult.
Yun Ming remained calm on the surface, but inwardly, he felt a slight relief.
He had appeared here waiting for exactly this opportunity.
Originally, he had prepared several plans to approach the Holy Spirit Cult, but he didn't expect that before he even had to show his methods, the person before him had actively paved the way for him.
He did not agree immediately, but instead put on a thoughtful appearance, frowning slightly, his gaze looking into the distance, as if weighing something.
After a moment, Yun Ming slowly opened his mouth: "This seat is somewhat interested in your Holy Spirit Cult. Since you are so hospitable... then I will go with you to take a look."
Zhang Peng was overjoyed upon hearing this and quickly bowed with cupped fists, his voice filled with irrepressible excitement: "Rest assured, Senior, you will definitely not be disappointed!"
...
The more than two months of sailing at sea finally came to an end on a calm afternoon.
The cruise ship of the Federal Exchange Delegation slowly docked. Everyone disembarked in an orderly fashion. After half a year, they finally stepped onto the land of the Douluo Continent again.
The members of the exchange delegation were a motley crew, coming from all over.
Now that the exchange was over, it was naturally time for everyone to return home.
Han Tianyi piloted the Divine Rank mecha and took Huo Yuhao and Gu Yue directly back to the Spirit Pagoda.
Huo Yuhao's Spirit Power had already passed the level 80 Breakthrough mark back in the Star Luo Empire, but because he was in a foreign country at the time and had no suitable Spirit Soul to fuse with, he had been unable to add his eighth spirit ring.
Now that he had returned to the Douluo Continent, he naturally couldn't wait a single moment, his heart set only on finalizing his eighth spirit ring as soon as possible.
Actually, the Qiluo Tulip Spirit Soul could have provided Huo Yuhao with his eighth spirit ring, but Huo Yuhao didn't think much of the Spirit Ability it provided, so he did not agree.
With his mental force, he didn't need to worry about being unable to bear having too many Spirit Souls, so naturally, he wanted a stronger one.
Leng Yaozhu's office was in the high-level area of the Spirit Pagoda. When Huo Yuhao pushed the door open and entered, Leng Yaozhu was sitting behind her desk looking through a stack of files. Seeing him enter, she raised her head, a gentle smile appearing in her eyes.
Having not seen each other for nearly half a year, the two exchanged a few pleasantries first.
Afterward, Huo Yuhao could no longer hold back. He leaned forward slightly, his tone carrying unconcealable urgency: "Aunt Leng, what exactly is the Spirit Soul you said you prepared for me?"
Leng Yaozhu looked at his impatient appearance and couldn't help but laugh: "What, can't wait?"
Huo Yuhao scratched his head, a rare flash of the shyness only a young man could have appearing on his face: "Aunt Leng, please don't tease me. From Star Luo until now, I've been waiting for a long time."
Upon hearing this, the smile on Leng Yaozhu's face slowly faded a little.
She put down the files in her hand, leaned back into her chair, looked at Huo Yuhao with a calm gaze, and her tone became much more serious.
"Then I'm afraid you'll have to wait a while longer."
"Ah?!"
Huo Yuhao couldn't help but exclaim, his body straightening up a bit.
He had originally thought that after returning, he would be able to immediately perform the Fusion with the Spirit Soul and complete his Breakthrough, but he hadn't expected Leng Yaozhu to pour a bucket of cold water on him right from the start.
He asked somewhat urgently: "Why? Aunt Leng, I've been looking forward to it ever since I was in Star Luo."
Leng Yaozhu looked at his appearance and said seriously: "Because the Spirit Soul prepared for you this time is the number one ranked Unyielding Soul Spirit—a three-hundred-thousand-year cultivation Phantom Heart devil spider."
The moment these words fell into his ears, the urgency on Huo Yuhao's face slowly faded, replaced by a solemn calmness.
In the entire Spirit Pagoda system, Spirit Souls over hundred-thousand-year cultivation were already among the top-tier treasures. Each one was on record and strictly guarded, and they were never used for non-core matters.
And the number one ranked Unyielding Soul Spirit was an existence several times more precious than ordinary hundred-thousand-year Spirit Souls, the true foundation and treasure of the Spirit Pagoda!
Leng Yaozhu watched Huo Yuhao's gradually calming expression and continued: "After you were attacked by the Holy Spirit Cult in the Star Luo Empire, the conflict between me and Qiangu Dongfeng has been completely brought out into the open."
"So now, if you want to use the most precious inventory in the Spirit Pagoda, he will definitely intervene to stop it."
Huo Yuhao frowned slightly upon hearing this.
Based on his understanding of Qiangu Dongfeng, the other party was indeed capable of doing such a thing.
However, Huo Yuhao's brows soon relaxed, because he noticed that when Leng Yaozhu said this, she didn't show any anxious expression, so there must be a solution.
Sure enough, Leng Yaozhu subsequently said: "But you won't have to wait too long. One month from now, the annual Spirit Pagoda meeting will be held. At that time, I will announce the results of your Spirit Soul research at the meeting."
She paused, and her tone became more emphatic: "By that time, even if Qiangu Dongfeng is the Pagoda Master, he will not be able to stop you from performing the Fusion with the Phantom Heart devil spider."
Huo Yuhao was stunned for a moment, then slowly nodded.
So Aunt Leng had already arranged everything. From the very beginning, she had not intended to go head-to-head with Qiangu Dongfeng, but instead chose to push this matter to the end in an open and aboveboard manner within the scope permitted by the rules.
Huo Yuhao was silent for a moment, then raised his head, a smile appearing on his face, and his tone also lightened somewhat: "Then I will listen to Aunt Leng. I will wait another month."
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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.