Douluo Continent: The Eternal Order of the Azure Sky.

In many towns, villages, and even on the outskirts of some larger cities, one can see newly built, peculiar buildings, all with a unified and solemn style, and each rooftop adorned with a unique sign.

Between light and darkness, above the dragon coiled among the stars, lies the symbol of the Holy Spirit Cult.

Some devout residents even hang small Holy Spirit Church symbols directly on their doorsteps.

"The Holy Spirit Cult enjoys a high reputation among the people now," Xu Tianzhen said softly, leaning against Kong Tianxu's chest. "They preach preferential treatment for commoners, purification of evil spirits, and protection of the weak. In many places, they have indeed helped the common people, exorcising soul beasts, treating diseases, and even teaching some basic knowledge of soul masters... They are very popular."

"However, Father and my elder brother do not seem to be very happy about this."

Upon hearing this, Kong Tianxu's lips curled into a faint smile as his gaze swept over the scattered churches and signs below.

"It seems that the strategy has been implemented very effectively."

Xu Tianzhen understood the deeper meaning in his words and felt a slight chill in her heart, but she did not ask any further questions. Instead, she pressed her body even closer to him.

In less than half an hour, a vast forest came into view in the distance.

The Star Dou Great Forest is located near the center of the Douluo Continent and has a temperate climate, while the forest in front of us is closer to the north, and as far as the eye can see, it is mostly coniferous forest.

Moreover, from the air, one can see that many of the branches and leaves in this coniferous forest are dark gray, a dark expanse that creates a sense of oppression even before one enters.

Any Soul Master with a modicum of common sense would not attempt to fly over a forest teeming with Soul Beasts; that would be tantamount to suicide. Yet Kong Tianxu did not even slow down, choosing a direction and continuing to charge forward.

This was his confidence in his own strength. Occasionally, some overconfident soul beasts would try to ambush him, but under the oppressive power of the sacred dragon that Kong Tianxu could release and then withdraw at will, they would fall back into the forest without even the power to resist.

They landed slowly in what appeared to be an ordinary forest clearing at the edge of the woods. Xu Tianzhen stared wide-eyed in astonishment at the dark and terrifying forest before her:

"The headquarters of the Holy Spirit Cult is actually here?"

"The most dangerous place is often the safest place."

Kong Tianxu chuckled lightly, retracted his Starry Wings, and beneath his feet, the seemingly ordinary ground quickly cracked open.

……

Holy Spirit Cult, Headquarters, a quiet room.

"Teacher Li, I'll leave the rest to you."

Tang Ya, who had just withdrawn the blue silver grass shrouded in black mist from a frowning, unconscious girl, wiped the fine beads of sweat from her forehead and turned to a white-clad man wearing a half-mask beside her.

The man in white replied calmly, "It's alright. But Tang Ya, I've already told you, if you continue to absorb the evil energy from others without restraint, you're very likely to die of exhaustion before you fall into the true evil soul master. Even my Tree of Life can't save you; your body is already riddled with holes."

Tang Ya stood up and shook her head, her face becoming even rosier, and said firmly, "It's alright, Teacher Li. I know my own body best."

“I hope you will take responsibility for your life,” the man frowned. “Also, remember to send over the agreed-upon share of rare metals later. Ye Nongfeng’s research materials are running low again.”

"Of course." Tang Ya forced a smile and waved goodbye.

Her Dark Blue Silver Grass, after being purified by Kong Tianxu's divine power, strangely evolved the ability to devour the evil aura within the martial souls of others. With the help of the large amount of evil energy she devoured, Tang Ya's cultivation speed advanced by leaps and bounds. Now, she has surpassed others among the younger generation of the Holy Spirit Cult, barely reaching the level of a seven-ring Soul Saint.

The Teacher Li she mentioned was none other than Li Zhuangyun, a former teacher at Shrek Academy's inner court, who possessed the top-tier healing-type martial soul, the Tree of Life, and was a Soul Douluo with a promising future.

Although Shrek Academy's Soul Guidance System was already at the top level among the three kingdoms of the Douluo Continent, it was still far behind the level of the Sun Moon Empire and could not meet the requirements of an eight-ring Soul Douluo like Li Zhuangyun.

Therefore, after Star Soul Hunt, Li Zhuangyun made a special trip to Kong Tianxu to inquire about learning about soul tools.

Kong Tianxu was too lazy to teach him, and casually dismissed him with the words "Sect secrets, not to be passed on to outsiders". Unexpectedly, the old guy packed his things and came to Kong Tianxu's door the next day, showing that he was determined to seek the Dao.

A healing-type Soul Master who is destined to become a Title Douluo or even a Super Douluo in the future would be a highly sought-after figure in any power on the continent. Kong Tianxu would certainly not refuse, and he directly provided him with a one-stop service, sending him to the Holy Spirit Sect to work as a barefoot doctor at the grassroots level.

Of course, he will still be taught how to use soul tools; the Sun Moon Royal Soul Master Academy and Mingde Hall are always open to him.

Now, although Li Zhuangyun's tone was calm, the look in his eyes beneath the mask no longer held the melancholy of the past. Instead, it revealed a focused and contented immersion in a completely new realm. He was clearly living a very comfortable life. Not only Tang Ya, but even Zhongli Wu treated him with great respect. In the Sun and Moon Folk, he was now practically a living bodhisattva.

After all, a Soul Douluo with the Tree of Life Martial Soul can bring the dead back to life, but restoring flesh and bones is a piece of cake for them.

In the development of soul tools, he and Ye Nongfeng, another genius soul tool master of the Holy Spirit Cult, were a perfect match.

One of them focused on developing various new soul tools with terrifying destructive power, while the other used the Tree of Life martial soul to ensure the survival of the experimental subjects as much as possible, so as to facilitate data collection.

In particular, Ye Nongfeng has been experimenting with aging rays that can instantly evaporate a large amount of life force in a living organism, causing the target to age and die. Li Zhuangyun can inject life force into the experimental subject to prolong their lifespan as much as possible. The process of slowly experiencing one's own life gradually withering away can be described as the ultimate pain.

As for the test subjects, they were naturally those unruly evil spirit masters. These evil spirit masters deserved to be paired with these two living devils.

Chapter 257 The Return of the Holy Emperor and the First Anti-Rightist Campaign

After closing the door, Tang Ya greeted several newly joined members of the Holy Spirit Cult with a warm smile. But when she returned to her simple room alone, the forced calm on her face instantly crumbled, replaced by deep pain and exhaustion.

She slumped into the chair, gripping the armrests tightly with both hands, the rosy glow on her face fading at an alarming rate, turning into an unhealthy paleness.

The evil devouring power within the Dark Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul was far more domineering than she had imagined. In just a few years, the divine purification power that Kong Tianxu had left in Tang Ya's body had already been almost entirely depleted.

Her frequent and proactive assistance to other evil spirit masters in suppressing or removing evil energy further accelerated this process.

At this rate, it won't be long before that wisp of divine power completely dissipates.

At that time, the Blue Silver Grass, which has long been deeply intertwined with darkness, will be free from all constraints, and she will inevitably slide into the abyss of evil soul masters once again, perhaps even more thoroughly twisted than before.

"Xiaoya! Wake up, we're going to a meeting."

A sweet and lively voice broke the silence in the room. The door creaked open, and Nan Qiuqiu, dressed in a pink outfit that perfectly captured her youthful energy, strode in.

The two women had very compatible personalities, and their relationship had grown quite close over the years. Seeing Tang Ya's pale face, Nan Qiuqiu immediately knew what was wrong, and sat down beside her with heartache, holding her cold hand.

"Xiaoya, how are you?"

"Qiuqiu, it seems my time is running out." Tang Ya leaned softly against Nan Qiuqiu's firm belly and sighed, "Like my father and mother, although I want to do something, my strength is far from enough. I can't even save my own future. In the end, I will inevitably fall into the true evil soul master."

Nan Qiuqiu's small nose twitched. She wanted to say something comforting, but found that the words she could think of were pale and powerless, and she couldn't even convince herself.

In the end, all she could manage to say was, "Xiaoya, don't be too sad, there will definitely be a way."

After thinking for a moment, she turned indignant and said, "It's all Lu Genggeng's fault! That fat pig! Just because his grandfather is a Title Douluo, he knows how to stir up trouble, form cliques, and cause chaos! I really don't know what they're thinking. Aren't they afraid of being punished by the elders above?"

Since news of Kong Tianxu's death began to spread a year ago, the existing contradictions within the Holy Spirit Church have intensified, and undercurrents have been surging.

While the upper echelons of Contra and above can maintain a semblance of calm, cracks among the younger generation are gradually emerging and even becoming public.

The Holy Emperor Faction, centered around Tang Ya, Nan Qiuqiu, Ye Guyi (who possesses the Angelic Martial Soul), and Yu Mengdi, is engaged in a fierce battle with the Evil Soul Faction, led by Lu Genggeng (grandson of the Hateful Douluo) and Tang Dai (a direct disciple of Zhang Peng, the Scorpion Tiger Douluo).

Although the latter group is smaller in number, most of them are elite soul masters who act extremely arrogantly and have openly clashed with the Holy Emperor's faction on multiple occasions. The two sides can be described as irreconcilable enemies.

Finally, a group led by Yan Feng, the direct disciple of the sect leader Zhongli Wu, maintained a neutral attitude, remaining silent and observing the struggle between the two factions with an ambiguous stance.

"Qiuqiu, is it possible that Lu Genggeng and his group's arrogance was tacitly approved by those who worship them? Or even that Lu Genggeng and his group were originally completely corrupted evil spirit masters?"

Before anyone knew it, Nan Shuishui appeared at the door, her face extremely grave. She glanced at her daughter, then looked at Tang Ya, and sighed deeply.

Nan Qiuqiu's face turned pale: "Mom, you mean... but how could that be? Haven't we been doing good deeds all along?"

Tang Ya remained silent, and the last glimmer of light in her eyes seemed to dim.

Nan Shuishui's face showed deep regret: "The Holy Spirit Cult has changed. Today's annual gathering will probably announce a clear turning point. Back then, Mom made a hasty judgment, thinking this was a way out... Fortunately, Kong Tianxu did not take back the resources sent to Dragon City, and the foundation of the Earth Dragon Gate is still there. Qiuqiu, you should go back. I can't leave."

"I'm not leaving!" Nan Qiuqiu retorted, her eyes red-rimmed. "If we're going, we'll go together! Mom, let's go find the Supreme Master, let's find His Majesty the Dragon Emperor!"

"Silly child, things are not that simple."

Nan Shuishui wanted to persuade her again, but Nan Qiuqiu wiped away her tears, suddenly opened the door, and ran straight to the central hall.

Outside in the corridor, a series of unusual commotions and faint gasps came from the corridor, which made Nan Qiuqiu even more annoyed. She suddenly turned around and then "bang".

Staggering back half a step, Nan Qiuqiu looked up—

The first thing that catches the eye is a perfectly fitted, deep black brocade robe, as dark as the night sky. The fabric is of luxurious quality, shimmering with a dim sheen under the corridor lamps. Most striking is the majestic eight-clawed dragon embroidered in gold thread on the chest. The dragon's body is in motion, its scales and claws outstretched, making the wearer's already tall and upright figure appear even more slender and imposing, without making him appear thin in the slightest.

Especially since Nan Qiuqiu had just had "intimate contact" with that solid chest and her forehead was still throbbing, she was all too aware of the formidable power contained within that body.

The gaze followed the intricate and magnificent dragon pattern upwards. The moonstone inlaid in the ceiling emitted a soft, clear light, illuminating the visitor's silver hair, which resembled the finest silk, interspersed with a few faint strands of gold, dazzlingly bright.

With a defined jawline, handsome and sculpted features, and beneath his dark, sword-like eyebrows, a pair of deep, purple-gold eyes as vast as the starry sky.

All of these combined to create the only truly handsome man Nan Qiuqiu had ever seen in her life.

"Kong...Tianxu?"

"Hmm? Nan Qiuqiu?" Kong Tianxu lowered his eyes slightly, looking at the pink-haired girl who had bumped into him and was now covering her forehead in a daze. His face was expressionless. He simply stretched out two fingers and gently brushed away her hand that was unconsciously about to touch his cheek. "Remember to watch where you're going."

He's not dead?! Nan Qiuqiu's eyes widened instantly, her mouth slightly agape, and she stood there dumbfounded.

All the grievances and worries, mixed with immense joy, surged up like a tide at this moment. Nan Qiuqiu's lips trembled, her nose stung, and tears almost welled up again.

In the end, she couldn't say anything. She just took a step forward, opened her arms, and hugged Kong Tianxu's waist with all her might, burying her burning cheeks deep into his firm chest.

Well... this development is really not his fault.

Kong Tianxu turned his head away with a helpless look and gave Xu Tianzhen, whose eyebrows were raised in anger, a look that said, "I'm a victim too."

"Qiuqiu! You...you're not dead?"

Nan Shuishui followed closely behind, and the moment she saw Kong Tianxu, she was struck dumb, her face filled with shock.

Kong Tianxu gently patted Nan Qiuqiu's back, then looked at Nan Shuishui and greeted her in a calm tone, "Sect Leader Nan, it's been a long time. Take good care of Qiuqiu."

Looking at her daughter tightly hugging Kong Tianxu, and then meeting Kong Tianxu's calm yet seemingly all-seeing eyes, Nan Shuishui felt a mix of emotions. Some scenes from the past uncontrollably flashed through her mind, making her cheeks inexplicably hot. She quickly and awkwardly stepped forward to pull her daughter away.

Nan Qiuqiu was pulled away by her mother, still somewhat unwilling, and muttered as she tried to get behind Kong Tianxu again, but was grabbed by Nan Shuishui.

"Qiuqiu, don't cause trouble for Tianxu or the Holy Emperor."

Nan Qiuqiu was taken aback at first, then looked at Nan Shuishui's submissive, wifely movements, and then noticed the rare blush on her face and her evasive eyes. A thought flashed through her mind, and she revealed a strange expression that was both shocked and mischievous:

"No way, Mom? You...you..."

"Shut up! What nonsense are you talking about! I, I did it all for you!" Nan Shuishui was both ashamed and anxious.

"Holy...Emperor?"

A slightly hesitant voice came from the back of the corridor. Tang Ya, holding onto the door frame, stepped out of the shadows.

Years have passed, and the boy who saved her from the brink of darkness has grown into a tall and composed young man.

Perhaps even Tang Ya herself did not realize that the initial source and support for her choice to embark on this path of helping other evil soul masters fight against their evil nature was the light that the person in front of her had planted in her heart.

Kong Tianxu turned around at the sound and looked at her.

The corner light was dim, casting its glow on the girl. Compared to a few years ago, her appearance hadn't changed much; she still had that pure and exquisite face, only her figure seemed to have grown taller, making her appear more slender.

However, at this moment, her face was sickly pale, her lips pale, and in the contrast of light and shadow, she appeared exceptionally fragile and pitiful. The lingering dark blue in her large, bright eyes seemed to have deepened, and she stood there still, as if trying to blend into the surrounding shadows.

What surprised Kong Tianxu even more was that although Tang Ya's soul power was extremely strong, reaching the level of a Soul Saint, it was mainly filled with evil energy, while her own spiritual and life essence was not particularly powerful. It could be said that although she was the user of this soul power, the evil power she mobilized had firmly overwhelmed the Blue Silver Grass itself and taken the dominant position.

Because the Blue Silver Grass itself was too weak to fully bear the power of the evil aura, this evil aura had begun to combine with her body, devouring her own life force.

Through the innate ability of her physical spirit, Kong Tianxu could clearly see that Tang Ya's ribs below her chest were faintly tinged with an ominous dark blue, and even most of her body was pale, which contrasted sharply with the healthy pink and white bodies of Nan Qiuqiu and Nan Shuishui.