Douluo Continent: I, Long Aotian, will not be a supporting character.

That devastating explosion seemed to have completely torn apart the area dozens of kilometers underground beneath Mingdetang.

When the raging energy storm finally subsided, the core area of ​​Mingde Hall had been transformed into a hellish ruin. Broken alloy steel beams crisscrossed like the fangs of a giant beast, molten iron flowed across the shattered ground, and the pungent smell of burning metal mingled with the domineering venom of Poison Must Die, forming a suffocating miasma.

Amidst the thick smoke and flames, a massive and towering green figure stood proudly. It was Poison Must Die. Although the green giant phantom on his body was slightly dim, with the strength of a Limit Douluo as a foundation, and despite the power of Mirror Red Dust's attack, it did not reach the level of a tenth-grade soul tool, Poison Must Die ultimately blocked the most fatal shockwave. Not only that, he also pulled the five elders to his side, protecting them.

Jing Hongchen and the four level-nine soul masters were not so lucky; under the impact of the powerful explosion, their fates were unknown.

With their target in sight, Du Bisi gave a deep and authoritative command to the Body Sect members: "Go!" The voice, though not loud, clearly pierced through the echoing boom and reached the ears of every Body Sect disciple.

Upon hearing the order that poison would surely kill, Long Yuanba tightly protected his wife Ao Yumou with one hand and grabbed his son Long Aotian with the other, rushing out from the depths of Mingde Hall.

Led by Du Bisi, the five elders and Long Aotian and his family of three rushed into the depths of the dark tunnel like arrows released from a bow.

Just as everyone was about to be completely swallowed by darkness, Long Aotian, at the back of the group, suddenly noticed something. His yin-yang eyes, shimmering with an arcane aura, sharply turned to the right at a half-collapsed laboratory ruin. There, a middle-aged researcher in a white lab coat was clutching his bleeding forehead, staring blankly at the mess, muttering to himself, "My research... my research results..."

Long Aotian took a closer look and saw that the personal nameplate on this person's lab coat clearly bore the name "Xuan Ziwen".

Upon seeing his name, Long Aotian immediately thought of Xuan Ziwen, the genius soul master of the Sun Moon Empire in the original work. He was a creative talent who excelled in the research and invention of soul tools. Such strategic-level scientific talents were hard to come by.

Moreover, this person is a typical "scientist without borders," meaning he only has a passion for and research on soul tools and no concept of country. In the original work, he was attracted by the Tang Sect's unique skills and joined the Tang Sect.

The development of soul tools is now a major trend in the future of Douluo Continent. However, the Body Sect has virtually no experience in soul tools. Xuan Ziwen's research results are the prototype of the two core technologies that will enhance the combat power of soul masters: soul-guided mechs and battle armor. Both soul-guided mechs and battle armor are unique advantages for the Body Martial Soul. The importance of this person to the Body Sect is self-evident.

"Dad, this guy is a treasure. It will be of great use to the sect if we bring him back!" Long Aotian said to his father.

Long Yuanba had no doubt about his son. In an instant, he was in front of Xuan Ziwen. Before Xuan Ziwen could react, Long Yuanba's fingers, sharp as knives, precisely sliced ​​across Xuan Ziwen's carotid artery. Xuan Ziwen didn't even utter a sound before collapsing limply to the ground. Long Yuanba hoisted him onto his shoulder and turned to plunge back into the endless darkness.

The members of the Body Sect followed the underground passage they had come from and left the area covered by the Mingde Hall.

After several days of trekking, they finally shook off all possible pursuers and successfully retreated back to the Body Sect.

This trip was incredibly fruitful. Not only did they obtain the planned "Soul Beast Transformation Embryo," but they also acquired many precious Soul Guidance Device blueprints, metal materials, and the scientific talent Xuan Ziwen, among other Soul Guidance Resources. The development of the Body Sect is about to enter a new stage.

Meanwhile, deep within the imperial palace of the Sun Moon Empire, the atmosphere was extremely oppressive.

Inside the magnificent, golden hall, the Emperor of the Sun and Moon Empire sat on his dragon throne, his face so somber it seemed as if water could drip from it. To his left was Kong Deming, the Chief Temple Master of the Sun and Moon Empire's Hall of Worship, and to his right sat Xu Tianran, the Crown Prince of the Sun and Moon Empire, in a wheelchair.

Meanwhile, Jing Hongchen, who was inside the hall, had disheveled hair and was wrapped in bandages all over her body. Her eyes revealed a deep-seated hatred and resentment.

"Your Majesty, Your Highness, Elder Kong, our Mingde Hall has suffered heavy losses this time. Not only was the national treasure, the '100,000-year-old transformed soul beast embryo,' which we acquired at auction recently, stolen, but even the core warehouse, which contains research results related to the future development of soul tools for our Sun Moon Empire, was looted. These thieves from the Holy Spirit Cult have blatantly attacked Mingde Hall; this is simply a provocation against our Sun Moon Empire!" Jing Hongchen gritted his teeth, shifting all the blame onto the Holy Spirit Cult and even extending the losses to the imperial level.

Upon hearing about the Holy Spirit Cult, the Emperor of the Sun Moon Empire and Kong Deming couldn't help but look at Xu Tianran, clearly knowing that Xu Tianran had been getting quite close to the Holy Spirit Cult in recent years.

After a moment, Kong Deming broke the silence, his deep gaze sweeping over Jing Hongchen, and said calmly, "Hongchen, are you sure it was the Holy Spirit Sect who did this?"

"Absolutely true! Who else but those rats in the gutter would resort to such despicable means?" Jing Hongchen said confidently.

However, the hall fell into a brief silence once again. Neither the Emperor of the Sun Moon Empire, nor Xu Tianran or Kong Deming, were fools. After their initial anger subsided, they quickly realized the suspicious nature of this attack.

"Master Jing," Xu Tianran said slowly, his voice tinged with amusement, "If it really was the Holy Spirit Cult that made the move, why would they so blatantly leave behind the characteristics of an evil soul master? An attack should be carried out in secrecy, why would they be so afraid that others wouldn't know they are evil soul masters? This actually suggests that the real culprit is very likely framing us."

Upon hearing this, Jing Hongchen's heart skipped a beat. Yes, how could he not have thought of this? His mind raced, frantically recalling the attacker's characteristics. Suddenly, a terrifying thought struck him: what the eyes see isn't necessarily real; it could be a deception, a simulation.

A name flashed into his mind like lightning—Huo Yuhao!

He recalled his grandchildren, the Hongchen siblings, reporting back after returning from the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Battle Tournament. At that time, Huo Yuhao from Shrek Academy demonstrated a miraculous "simulation" soul skill, which could not only perfectly simulate any martial soul and soul skill, but even make the aura indistinguishable from the real thing.

If it's a simulation skill used to fake the aura and attacks of an evil spirit master, then everything makes sense!