Chapter 49: Zhongli Wu’s Madness

"Wuyun, this sect leader advises you to think it over carefully, otherwise…"

Zhongli Wu spoke coldly as the silver chains binding Wuyun emitted a purple electric glow.

This was a ninth-level soul tool, commonly used by the Holy Spirit Cult for interrogating and torturing powerful outsiders.

Wuyun had once used it to torture others, but never had he imagined that one day it would be used on him.

The sensation was beyond words.

And according to the law of conservation, when the soul tool lamp in the interrogation room ran out of power, the electric charge in the silver chains binding him would begin to surge.

As dawn broke, the first light shone through the thin clouds, casting a warm glow on the vast expanse of snow. The entire icy plain seemed to glisten with radiance.

"Whew."

Jiang Jue exhaled softly, his eyes slowly opening with a faint green glow flashing within them.

Here in the Extreme North, he dared not truly sleep, substituting rest with cultivation instead.

Even so, under the effect of the Life Gold, his body felt completely rejuvenated, all fatigue washed away.

Jiang Jue stepped out of his tent.

"Ah, Cold Night, why do you think we're so unlucky? We came out to obtain a spirit ring and ended up being used as laborers…"

Outside, a group of people was murmuring in hushed voices.

These four young individuals consisted of two men and two women.

"Shh!"

An Lengye covered the mouth of the girl beside her, signaling for silence.

Jiang Jue, stepping out at that moment, showed no reaction—his expression as calm as still water.

These four youths were students from Qianling Academy. The two Soul Emperors among them were senior instructors, while the elderly Soul Sage was the deputy director of the academy's Martial Soul Department.

Their journey to the Extreme North was to help one of the male students obtain his fifth spirit ring—the wielder of the Thousand Strikes Spear, Shen Ce.

As for why they had brought along additional students, it was naturally to give them experience and prepare them for the upcoming Continental Advanced Spirit Master Academy Tournament.

These four were the main members of Qianling Academy's participating team. However, on their very first night in the Extreme North, they had been forcibly enlisted as laborers.

"Good morning, Holy Son."

Zhang Peng emerged from another tent, greeting Jiang Jue with a smile.

"Heh, Elder Zhang, you're finally awake."

Masked Douluo stood up from his spot on the ground, where a small pile of spirit beast heads lay at his feet. He glanced at Zhang Peng with a hint of sarcasm in his tone.

The tent? Masked Douluo had snatched it.

The laborers? He had captured them.

The night watch? He had stood guard.

Was there no justice? No fairness?

Could a Super Douluo really do whatever he pleased?

Zhang Peng cast a sidelong glance at Masked Douluo, black soul power slowly gathering in his hand.

Seeing this, Masked Douluo immediately darted behind Jiang Jue, cautiously eyeing Zhang Peng.

"Let's go."

Jiang Jue ignored the antics of Masked Douluo and spoke to Zhang Peng.

"Holy Son, should we deal with these people?"

Masked Douluo's voice reached Jiang Jue's ears as he made a throat-slitting gesture.

Jiang Jue smirked slightly and shook his head, storing away his soul tool tent.

He was still looking forward to seeing Qianling Academy act as Shrek's gatekeeper. After all, he had taken away so many of Huo Yuhao's opportunities—could Huo Yuhao still defeat Qianling Academy?

In this year's Continental Advanced Spirit Master Academy Tournament, thanks to the Holy Spirit Cult's "Supreme Elder" Xuanzi's interference, Shrek Academy had encountered the "Strongest Ten-thousand-year Soul King" even before the tournament began.

This resulted in severe casualties.

Most of Shrek's main team members were injured, and two had even died, forcing them to rely on substitute members in the early stages.

Now, with Jiang Jue's interference and Huo Yuhao no longer possessing his original strength, would the "Strongest Ten-thousand-year Soul King" achieve even more impressive feats?

Seeing Jiang Jue shake his head, Masked Douluo didn't mind. To him, these people were inconsequential.

Zhang Peng took Jiang Jue into the sky, and the three quickly departed.

"Phew!"

Once they were gone, the remaining people let out a collective sigh of relief.

They had all seen Masked Douluo's gesture—it was obvious who it had been directed at.

"Cold Night, do you think that Honored One was telling the truth about the existence of the Holy Spirit Soul Master Academy?"

The girl beside An Lengye whispered.

An Lengye slowly shook her head. She wasn't sure either.

During the night watch, Masked Douluo, bored out of his mind, had them roast spirit beast heads for him.

As they interacted, Masked Douluo's twisted sense of humor surfaced, and he casually mentioned that they came from the Holy Spirit Soul Master Academy.

He even added: "The Holy Spirit stage awaits. If you have the courage, come. As long as your talent is sufficient, you'll never lack spirit rings or spirit bones."

Hearing this, they all felt a bit tempted.

After all, the Holy Spirit Soul Master Academy already had two known Title Douluos backing it, so what Masked Douluo said could very well be true.

If Jiang Jue knew what these people were thinking, he would have certainly encouraged them to go.

As for what would happen once they got there… well, that was another matter entirely.

Five days later.

Outside the Evil Demon Forest.

Jiang Jue and his two companions descended from the sky.

Gazing at the still-dark expanse of the Evil Demon Forest, Jiang Jue felt a wave of nostalgia.

It had been over five years since he joined the Holy Spirit Cult.

In these short five years, everything had changed, yet at the same time, nothing had.

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

Suddenly, tremors erupted from within the Evil Demon Forest.

A wave of invisible pressure surged outward, violently pressing down on the surrounding trees.

Masked Douluo and Zhang Peng instinctively moved to shield Jiang Jue, their brows furrowed.

Moments later, nearly a hundred people emerged from the forest.

All of them were dressed in black robes, with more than fifty of them floating in the air.

Each of these black-robed figures was at least a Soul Sage!

The remaining fifty were all Soul Emperors.

The ten individuals at the forefront radiated overwhelming auras—had it not been for the presence of the Evil Emperor within the forest suppressing their strength, their power would have been even greater.

"Are we… going to war?"

"Or are we attacking Shrek?"

Masked Douluo was stunned, muttering in disbelief.

These people were all from the Holy Spirit Cult.

Leading them was Zhongli Wu, with Feng Ling at his side, followed by four inner elders and four enshrined elders.

Jiang Jue was equally taken aback.

Such a large mobilization…

Could it be that the Sun-Moon Empire was declaring war?

"Hmm?"

"Disciple, you're alive?!"

At the forefront, Zhongli Wu's previously dark and somber eyes lit up with astonishment. His face filled with emotion as he instantly appeared beside Jiang Jue.

Placing his right hand on Jiang Jue's shoulder, a gentle soul power surged into Jiang Jue's body, circulating through his meridians.

"Master, what are you doing?"

By this time, Zhongli Wu had calmed down, though traces of excitement remained on his face.

"Wuyun said you were dead." Zhongli Wu spoke indifferently. "So I was leading these men to avenge you—to kill that Ice Empress and exterminate the Ice Jade Scorpion Clan!"

Although his tone was calm, the sheer presence of the forces behind him proved he wasn't bluffing.

Jiang Jue's eyes flickered with complex emotions.

He had no doubt Zhongli Wu was serious.

With this force, unless some other beast intervened, the Ice Jade Scorpion Clan would truly be wiped out.

(End of Chapter)