Douluo Continent: The Eternal Order of the Azure Sky.

Since he had promised Zhong Liyuan, he naturally wouldn't go back on his word. It was impossible to turn the Holy Spirit Cult into a family of truth, goodness, and beauty in a short time, but it was entirely possible to curb their evil deeds.

This group of people is different from the resources of the Moonflower Palace. They are a force that is completely under their control. Perhaps besides acting as henchmen, they can also play some other roles.

A purple glint flashed in Kong Tianxu's eyes. Although his biggest worry had been dealt with, he still had three martial souls, and having multiple options was never a bad thing.

"In that case, I will await Elder Ye's arrival at the Moonflower Palace."

Kong Deming's expression remained somewhat strange, but he still waved his hand to remove the soul-guided blockade that had been set up around them like a net. The Holy Spirit Cult members then transformed into streaks of light and vanished into thin air.

Clearly, Ye Xishui's explanation did not completely dispel his doubts, but since Kong Tianxu and the Sun and Moon Team were all safe and sound, there was no need to start a war. The important thing was to consider how to end the situation.

Thinking of this, even Kong Deming couldn't help but rub his temples. This time, he had practically revealed all his cards, and Xu Guoyi's recently dispelled fear was bound to surge again.

However, although this move was a bit too big and exposed his unparalleled control over Mingdu, it would also make Xu Guoyi more submissive in the short term. Kong Deming narrowed his eyes slightly.

As for the future... perhaps there's even less to worry about. He thought of the aura he had sensed within Kong Tianxu's body before, and his heart stirred slightly.

"Each Soul Master Corps, withdraw to your respective defense zones in an orderly manner. Return the experimental subjects to their original locations and install the Soul Guidance Devices... Just return a portion of them. Everyone, Kong Deming thanks you in advance."

He led Kong Tianxu back to the Soul Guidance Legion and addressed the titled Douluo.

"Master Confucius is too kind."

For a moment, many Soul Masters breathed a sigh of relief. In their view, it would be best if this battle could be avoided. Although they despised evil Soul Masters, rashly starting a war with them would be a waste of the empire's national strength, and avoiding it would be the best thing to do.

As for the other group, they were Kong Deming's loyal followers and naturally obeyed his orders.

In the blink of an eye, the Soul Master Corps, covering the entire mountainside, began to withdraw in an orderly manner.

"Master Kong." Jing Hongchen walked over, her face showing a mixture of displeasure and relief.

"What's the situation with the team members?" Kong Deming placed his hand on Kong Tianxu's shoulder and gently channeled his soul power into his body.

"Very bad,"

Zhong Gongfeng also came over, his voice tinged with doubt:

"Currently, among the regular team members, only Ma Rulong is in relatively good condition. The injuries of the others are not too bad, but their souls are unstable, as if they have been forcibly pulled out and stuffed back into their bodies. Although they can recover on their own, they will definitely not be able to use their martial souls for a short period of time. The reserve team members also have similar symptoms."

Their souls were unstable? It seems they all died during the adventure, only to be forcibly rescued by Zhong Liyuan. The Qiankun Questioning of Love is indeed the most dangerous of the three treasure troves; even with my warning, the casualties were still so heavy. In the original story, Shrek Academy members all passed; I wonder how much Ning Rongrong went easy on them.

Kong Tianxu pondered to himself, his complexion gradually regaining its rosy hue under the nourishment of Kong Deming's silver moon soul power.

"Who are the players who can still compete right now?"

Kong Deming's expression didn't change much, and he didn't seem too worried.

Kong Tianxu glanced at Cain and Xu Tianzhen beside him and said:

"We're fine."

"There are still the four of us, but Lan Xiu suffered some mental damage and may need to rest for a few days."

Ma Rulong walked over with a solemn expression, followed by Xiao Hongchen and his sister, as well as the noble youth named Lan Xiu. All of them bowed to Kong Deming.

As Meng Hongchen passed by Kong Tianxu, she blushed and stared at him for a long time. Every time Kong Tianxu looked back at her, she seemed to remember something extremely embarrassing and turned her face away.

What does this mean?

Kong Tianxu was puzzled by her stare. Wasn't it just that she had given him a taste of both ice and fire during their last sparring session? Why was she holding a grudge for so long?

There were exactly seven people.

Jing Hongchen's expression grew even more grim, and Elder Ma's face was also filled with worry. The once-luxurious lineup had suddenly been reduced to this state; no one could accept it.

But none of them noticed the intense confidence in everyone's eyes when they looked at Kong Tianxu.

"enough."

Kong Tianxu took a step forward.

"Seven people is seven people. There's nothing we can't fight. One Soul Emperor, three Soul Kings, and three Soul Sect Masters—we can still win."

Three Soul Masters?

Only then did everyone notice that Cain and Xu Tianzhen, who were standing next to Kong Tianxu, had both reached the level of forty in cultivation.

Cain was alright, he was already level 39, but Princess Naïve was only level 35 before! She jumped five levels in one go?

Jing Hongchen and Zhong Gongfeng exchanged a glance. The two, who had been somewhat skeptical of Ye Xishui's words, were now more convinced.

"Alright, then the seven of you can go ahead first. We've been delayed for a bit, and the start date of the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Battle Tournament is getting closer. Star Luo City is a long way away, so I'll just fly you there directly."

"Xiao Jing, try to find some backup forces from the academy."

Kong Deming gave Jing Hongchen a command, and two thin beams of blue light suddenly unfolded behind him. He dared not let Kong Tianxu out of his sight again. A layer of milky white light descended from the sky, enveloping the seven members of the Sun and Moon Team.

The next moment, the eight people's bodies soared into the sky as if riding on clouds.

"Xu'er, can you tell me now what's going on? What's wrong with your soul power, the blood energy in your body that even I can't dissolve, and all those strange things Ye Xishui did?"

"At an altitude of three thousand meters," Kong Deming asked anxiously.

Two enormous pale blue wings, each ten meters wide, flapped gently. A hazy white light membrane, like a cloud, enveloped everyone. At the very front, a barrier of soul power completely blocked out the sounds of Kong Deming and Kong Tianxu.

"Um, Grandpa, before answering these questions, may I ask if you brought any money with you?"

Kong Tianxu scanned his storage soul tool with his spiritual power over the gold soul card, which only had a few million in balance, and asked with a bitter face.

Originally, there was another opportunity to prepare his luggage after the sacrificial ceremony and before the official departure, so Kong Tianxu was in no hurry to bring the pocket money he had saved up over the years. However, he encountered the Qiankun Asking Love Valley incident, and the card that contained nearly two small goal gold soul coins was still lying in his room.

"What's wrong, Xu'er? Are you going to Xingluo City to buy something? You usually don't spend any money. You're not bringing much, just a little over two hundred million, I don't know if that's enough?" Kong Deming was very surprised.

“That’s enough, absolutely enough.” Kong Tianxu’s eyes flickered.

Shopping was the main focus of his trip to the competition.

……

Spirit world.

"Broken mirror!"

Ning Rongrong channeled her soul power into the mirror again, but it was like throwing a stone into the sea—there was still no response. Annoyed and embarrassed, she kicked it.

"what!"

The nine-colored goddess winced in pain, took off her jade-colored high heels, and rubbed her reddened toes. The Xuan Tian Treasure Mirror remained a blank white, without the slightest damage, only rippling with strange waves, as if mocking her powerlessness.

That damned Zhongli Yuan!

She clenched her teeth, but her mind was preoccupied with something else:

"The young people in Douluo Continent these days are just too freakishly talented. No wonder Third Brother told me to keep an eye on them. And the God of Destruction, he specifically sent the God of Life away from me. Did he really pass on the seed of divinity to that Kong Tianxu?"

With that thought in mind, she disregarded the still throbbing pain in her feet and flew towards a magnificent palace in the distance.

We need to tell Third Brother right away...

……

Holy Spirit Cult, Headquarters.

"Did you all understand?" Ye Xishui looked at the group of worshippers and elders who were dumbfounded in front of her.

"Mother!" Zhongliwu finally couldn't help but speak up.

"Hmm? I was just about to say that when discussing matters within the church, we use the title of 'holy authority'!" Ye Xishui looked at him coldly.

Zhongli Wu's imposing manner faltered, but he still spoke in a low, humble voice:

"Yes, Supreme Master. Negotiating with the Earth Dragon Sect and searching for things in the Sunset Forest are fine, but you're not allowed to actively capture people, otherwise everyone's cultivation will be affected..."

"You're not allowed to kill people, but can't you kill soul beasts?" Ye Xishui rebuked sharply.

Zhang Peng, who had been listening intently, finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Chapter 93 Strategizing and Planning: Shrek Academy and Huo Yuhao's First Meeting

Long Xiaoyao also looked at Ye Xishui with surprise. More than a hundred years have passed, has Xishui finally changed? Is it because of that so-called Holy Emperor?

Zhongliwu still tried to defend himself:

"But Mother, many people's martial souls are specialized in human souls. Although using a soul beast can barely meet the requirements, the effect might be..."

Zhongli Wu gradually lost his voice. Ye Xishui's gaze fell upon him without any emotion. He lowered his head, fine beads of sweat appearing on his forehead, as the shadows of his childhood resurfaced in his mind.

Ye Xishui's control over the Holy Spirit Cult is unparalleled. No matter how outrageous her decisions are, everyone can only carry out her will, not even her own son.

"Get to work, all of you. I don't want to hear another word of dissent from you. Wu'er, don't eat the original sin for now. Take him and the Holy Infant's gang back to headquarters. I still have a use for them."

Just now you were saying you wanted to be ordained as a priest...

"Yes." Zhongli Wu bowed and accepted the order, then led all the high-level forces of the Holy Spirit Sect out of the room.

Just before leaving, Ye Xishui's voice rang out again:

"By the way, Ming Lei is not allowed to go to the Earth Dragon Gate."

The smug expression on Ming Lei Douluo's face suddenly froze.

The hall doors slowly closed, and Long Xiaoyao finally had the opportunity to voice his doubts:

“Xi Shui, it’s a good thing that the Holy Spirit Cult’s evil spirit masters are not allowed to actively capture people, but why did you suddenly…”

"Xiaoyao, you want to ask about Kong Tianxu, right?" Ye Xishui chuckled and looked at him.

Long Xiaoyao nodded and said:

“No matter what you do, I will stand with you. But this matter is too strange. Wasn’t the Holy Emperor just a fabrication by Zhong Li Kui to fool those weak-willed evil spirit masters as a form of faith? And how did Kong Deming’s grandson become the Holy Emperor?”

“Xiaoyao,” a hint of reminiscence appeared in Ye Xishui’s eyes, “Do you remember when you said you would share the burden together, my presence vanished for a moment?”

"Actually, at that time, a powerful being led my soul to another world."

That wasn't an illusion? Long Xiaoyao's body trembled. Could it be that something could silently and effortlessly draw away the souls of Limit Douluos like them...?

"It was a world filled with clouds and mist, and there was a magnificent palace that could not be described in words. The concentration of the elemental energy of heaven and earth was dozens or even hundreds of times that of the Douluo Continent."

Ye Xishui spoke with great emotion, as if she had actually been there.

"And what draws my soul is a god."

Long Xiaoyao's pupils contracted sharply in shock.

"He claimed to be a priest under a powerful deity, tasked with finding a guide for that deity's successor—Kong Tianxu."