Douluo Continent: Little Huo Niang Taken Away by Di Tian

The "Soul Bone Mountain" before his eyes almost made Zhang Peng's vision blur.

He suppressed his racing heartbeat and began to scan the area with sharp eyes, quickly locking onto two soul bones that best suited him.

The first piece was a skull radiating a dark purple glow. It possessed 80,000 years of cultivation and was of the mental attribute.

As an undercover agent, his powerful mental strength not only allows him to gather intelligence more keenly, but also helps him better disguise himself as an evil spirit master.

The second piece was a right leg bone covered in golden leopard spots. It belonged to a 50,000-year-old leopard-type spirit beast, renowned for its speed and explosive power.

The faster you run, the longer you live. If his undercover identity is ever exposed, this thing will be his last trump card for escaping.

The Evil Emperor chuckled and teased, "You have good taste, Xiao Zhang. The Spirit Skull will allow you to hide even better under Ye Xishui's nose, and the Leopard Leg Bone will let you run faster than Zhongli Wu's blade. It seems you have a clear understanding of your own position—if you can't beat them, hide; if you can't hide, run."

Zhang Peng blushed and coughed lightly, "Your Majesty the Evil Emperor is joking. I was just... acting within my capabilities."

Next, he selected several soul bones from "Soul Bone Mountain" that were around ten thousand years old and had relatively common attributes. These were sincere works to "deliver" to the Holy Spirit Cult.

"Alright, that's enough to get things done." The Evil Emperor waved his hand. "Go and absorb them now. Remember to conceal your breakthrough aura and don't let anyone know that you absorbed two soul bones in a short period of time."

For the next three days, Zhang Peng secluded himself in a hidden cave on the edge of the core area.

He first refined the 80,000-year-old spiritual skull. A massive surge of spiritual power flooded his mind, and the intense pain almost made him faint. But after enduring it, his spiritual sea expanded by nearly double, and his control over spiritual power reached a completely new level of refinement.

He then refined the right leg bone of a 50,000-year-old leopard. A power combining extreme speed and explosive force instantly filled his right leg, granting him a soul skill called "Phantom Leopard Strike"—a short burst of super-fast movement that leaves behind three deceptive afterimages.

As the power of the last piece of soul bone completely merged into his body, Zhang Peng opened his eyes, a flash of brilliance in them.

He clenched his fist, feeling the surging power within him, which gave him a lot more confidence.

Now, even if he were to encounter an ordinary elder of the Holy Spirit Cult head-on, he would be confident that he could escape unscathed.

The day after he finished absorbing the energy, the Evil Emperor summoned him again.

This time, the Evil Emperor's tone became unusually serious:

"Xiao Zhang, how well you act directly affects whether you can live to see Brother Di Tian's wedding."

Zhang Peng's expression turned solemn, and he cupped his hands, saying, "Your Majesty, the Evil Emperor, please speak. I am all ears."

"Once you get back, you must make those people in the Holy Spirit Cult firmly believe that I, the Evil Emperor, am truly plotting against Di Tian. You must remember everything I'm about to tell you."

Every piece of information was extremely tempting, and every piece of information was a carefully designed trap.

After listening, Zhang Peng said, "However... what if our identities are exposed..."

"Afraid of death?" The Evil Emperor rolled his eyes. "Don't worry, I'm not that heartless."

He raised his hand, and a tiny purple light condensed at his fingertips, which he gently touched between Zhang Peng's eyebrows.

"This is a spiritual imprint of mine. Detonate it if you encounter mortal danger. Although I may not be able to get there immediately, it can at least buy you a chance to survive. Besides, Brother Di Tian knows that you are one of our people. Even if you are chased by the Holy Spirit Cult and run to the Star Dou Great Forest, they will not treat you as an enemy."

The moment this spiritual imprint entered my body, it felt like a reassuring pill.

"Thank you, Your Majesty the Evil Emperor!" This time, Zhang Peng bowed deeply with genuine gratitude.

"Alright, stop being so sentimental." The Evil Emperor waved his hand, patting his shoulder with his tentacle. "Go back soon. Those brats are waiting for you to come back and play cards. They've won quite a few soul coins while you were gone. I'm keeping track of the score for you."

Zhang Peng was both amused and exasperated. He cupped his hands in greeting and turned to walk out of the Demon Forest.

The moonlight remained cold and clear, and the desolate path still stretched endlessly.

This time, however, Zhang Peng's steps were much lighter than before.

When Zhang Peng returned to the Holy Spirit Church headquarters, it was nearly dusk.

Zhang Peng took a deep breath, adjusted his mindset, and pushed open the door to enter.

"Master, the Scorpion Tiger seeks an audience."

Inside the council hall, Zhongli Wu and Ye Xishui, upon hearing the announcement, said, "Let him in."

Zhang Peng entered the main hall, his voice carrying just the right amount of weariness: "I was sent to the Demon Forest by the leader, and I have fulfilled my mission. I have returned today to report back."

Zhongli Wu's gaze swept over Zhang Peng like a knife. "Tell me, what's the situation on the Evil Emperor's side?"

Zhang Peng raised his head, his face filled with the relief of surviving a calamity. He took out the wooden box from his pocket and presented it with both hands: "Master, this is the 'sincerity' bestowed upon our sect by His Majesty the Evil Emperor. I met with the Evil Emperor in the core area, and he personally selected these few ten-thousand-year-old soul bones from his inventory and ordered me to bring them back as a sign of our sincere cooperation."

Zhongli Wu took the wooden box, opened it, and saw that the three soul bones were of solid age and had clear attributes. They would fetch a sky-high price in any auction house.

"Hmm, you're quite willing to part with it." Zhongli Wu snorted coldly, but the corners of his mouth had already turned up slightly.

These three soul bones, though not top-tier for him, were enough to arm three core elders of the sect.

Ye Xishui didn't look at the soul bone; her gaze remained fixed on Zhang Peng's face: "Where is the Evil Emperor himself? Did he say anything useful?"

Zhang Peng felt a tightness in his chest, but he remained outwardly calm, feigning a reluctance to speak.

"Speak," Ye Xishui's voice turned colder.

"Yes..." Zhang Peng seemed to have made a great decision, "The Evil Emperor revealed a lot of information, such as..."

"Good...very good!" Ye Xishui's expression changed from cold to fanatical, and then to an almost greedy excitement, progressing layer by layer, which made Zhang Peng feel a chill in his heart.

Zhongli Wu's eyes gleamed with an unprecedented light. "Every single piece of this intelligence is crucial!"

She turned and walked deeper into the main hall, her voice echoing in the empty council chamber:

"Issue the order—all retainers and elders, assemble within three days. I will personally devise the hunting plan."

"Yes!" The crowd inside the hall responded in unison, their voices filled with barely suppressed excitement.

The fish has taken the bait.

That night, Zhang Peng returned to his residence and set up a barrier to isolate mental energy.

He leaned back in his chair, gazing at the cold moon outside the window, his heart filled with mixed emotions.

How will Ye Xishui plan her strategy? How many people will the Holy Spirit Church mobilize? And what backup plans have the Evil Emperor and Di Tian prepared?

Then he closed his eyes and began to regulate his breathing, conserving his energy for the coming storm.