Zhongli Wu reached out and picked up the Ten-Grade Purple Ganoderma, carefully sensing it. His eyes suddenly lit up.
The medicinal power contained within this spiritual mushroom far surpassed anything he had ever encountered among heavenly treasures. Faintly, even his martial soul—the Death God Demon Puppet—produced a trace of desire to devour it.
If he consumed this ganoderma, there was a strong possibility it could make up for the loss of his origin suffered years ago. And that meant—he would finally have the confidence to break through to the Ultimate Douluo realm.
At this thought, a flash of burning excitement passed through Zhongli Wu's eyes, and he asked somewhat eagerly:
"Disciple, where did you obtain this ganoderma?"
"Master, I found it by chance when I broke through to Soul Emperor and went to the Sunset Forest to obtain my soul ring. I thought it might be useful to you, so I brought it back."
After a brief moment of consideration, Jiang Jue replied softly.
"The Sunset Forest? Isn't that a soul beast habitat that's gradually declining? I never expected such a heavenly treasure to exist there."
Zhongli Wu frowned deeply and sighed.
"But disciple—this kind of treasure was given to me. Why didn't you consume it yourself?"
"If Master's cultivation breaks through, the Holy Spirit Cult will only grow stronger. When the continent is unified in the future, we'll have even greater strength to plan everything."
"Besides… without you, Master, there wouldn't be the me I am today."
Jiang Jue said sincerely.
Hearing this, Zhongli Wu's expression froze. He looked deeply at his beloved disciple, placed the Ten-Grade Purple Ganoderma back into the jade box, closed the lid, and sighed inwardly.
"So it turns out… the opportunity for me, Zhongli Wu, to break through to Ultimate Douluo actually lies with my own disciple. Fate truly toys with people."
With that thought, Zhongli Wu stopped hesitating and directly put away the jade box.
"Since you have such intentions, disciple, I won't refuse any longer. From this day forward, your status within the cult will be second only to mine."
"You may freely command the elders and consecrated elders of the cult. Whether it's the headquarters or the branches scattered across the various nations—seeing you will be the same as seeing me."
"This order will be issued tomorrow."
Zhongli Wu spoke solemnly.
Over the years, he had gradually absorbed the internal structure of the Consecration Hall into the Holy Spirit Cult. Aside from Long Xiaoyao, the Supreme Consecrated Elder, all other consecrated elders now fully belonged to the cult.
As for the most vocal opponent among them—Bloodflame Douluo—he had already "accidentally" died at Mu En's hands during the previous trip to the Extreme North.
Upon hearing Zhongli Wu's words, Jiang Jue's pupils shrank sharply.
Those words were essentially a declaration—naming him as the future successor of the Holy Spirit Cult.
Moreover, nearly everything within the Holy Spirit Cult would now be under his authority.
"Master—"
Before Jiang Jue could finish speaking, Zhongli Wu waved his hand to interrupt him.
"No need to say more. I've already made my decision."
Seeing this, Jiang Jue suppressed the joy in his heart and nodded in agreement.
From now on, the manpower he could mobilize would increase dramatically—both in number and strength.
"Oh, right. Show me your soul rings."
Suddenly, Zhongli Wu seemed to remember something and spoke.
"Alright."
Jiang Jue's gaze shifted.
He clearly remembered that within the Holy Spirit Cult, there existed methods to enhance the age of soul rings.
Back then, after graduating from the Holy Spirit Cult, Ma Xiaotao had gone directly from a six-ring Soul Emperor with two yellow, two purple, and two black rings—to a nine-ring Title Douluo with seven black and two red rings.
Ye Xishui's soul ring configuration was even more outrageous: six black and three red.
That alone proved that the Holy Spirit Cult definitely possessed a way to increase soul ring age.
The reason Jiang Jue had not used the origin power of the Heaven Dream Ice Silkworm to enhance his soul rings before was precisely because of this. That origin power still needed to serve his spiritual power growth—wasting it would be a massive loss.
"Buzz—buzz—buzz!"
Jiang Jue summoned the Soul-Refining Banner with his left hand, and one soul ring after another rose into view.
Sensing that Jiang Jue's fifth soul ring was no less than fifty thousand years old, Zhongli Wu nodded in satisfaction.
"So the Body Sect really did cultivate him seriously."
But when his gaze fell upon Jiang Jue's final crimson soul ring—one hundred thousand years old—his expression shook violently.
"A hundred-thousand-year soul ring?! That Poison Immortal really did an outstanding job—raising my disciple so well!"
"When he learns the truth one day, he'll probably go mad with rage."
Zhongli Wu narrowed his eyes slightly, secretly reveling in the thought.
Using another faction's resources to cultivate one's own people—this feeling was truly exhilarating.
"Disciple, your body has already reached the level where it can absorb a hundred-thousand-year soul ring."
"Yes. The secret techniques of the Body Sect allowed me to further develop my body-type martial soul, strengthening my physical endurance. That's why I could absorb a hundred-thousand-year ring as my sixth soul ring."
Jiang Jue replied with a slight curl of his lips.
"Indeed. Being taken away by the Body Sect back then might not have been a bad thing after all."
Zhongli Wu stopped walking and spoke softly.
Just as the Holy Spirit Cult had profound research into evil martial souls, the Body Sect's research into body-type martial souls had also reached an extremely deep level.
"This works out perfectly. If you seize the opportunity later, you'll gain even more."
As soon as he finished speaking, Zhongli Wu appeared beside Jiang Jue. A flash of black light passed—and the two vanished from the spot.
Moments later, Zhongli Wu brought Jiang Jue into the Holy Spirit Cult's headquarters.
"Hm?"
A trace of surprise flashed in Jiang Jue's eyes.
He had stayed within the Holy Spirit Cult for so many years, yet he had never once been to this place.
He now stood within a long passageway. On both sides were walls made of some unknown black stone, upon which murals were carved.
When Jiang Jue swept them with his spiritual power, he saw figures in black robes depicted on the murals, raising their hands above their heads as if worshipping something.
"Let's go."
Zhongli Wu's gaze turned faintly profound as he led Jiang Jue further downward.
Below lay the very foundation upon which the Zhongli Clan had risen.
Jiang Jue followed, and the murals grew increasingly dense as they descended.
The black-robed figures gathered together around a circular altar. Above it hovered a black fragment, emitting a dim, eerie glow.
"Enhancing soul ring age and granting soul rings to soul masters are clearly things human soul masters shouldn't be able to do… What kind of secret lies down here?"
Jiang Jue pondered silently.
At the same time as anticipation grew in his heart, he also awakened Electrolux within the Soul-Refining Banner—the one researching the power of faith.
Anything that transcended conventional understanding had to be treated with extreme caution, because it very likely involved the gods.
Soon, the two arrived before a stone gate.
Carved upon the gate was the interior of a palace. At its center stood a throne, and beside the throne was a scepter.
Jiang Jue discovered that his vast spiritual power couldn't penetrate the stone gate at all.
With a lift of his hand, Zhongli Wu sent out an exquisitely crafted token, which flew straight into a notch at the center of the gate, fitting perfectly.
The next instant, a deep rumbling echoed as the stone gate slowly opened. Torches inside ignited simultaneously, casting a dim glow.
Zhongli Wu led Jiang Jue inside.
At the center of the chamber stood the same circular altar depicted in the murals.
Above it floated a black fragment—but at one broken edge, it emitted a golden radiance.
"Divine Seat Fragment!"
The moment Jiang Jue saw it, his heart shook violently.
At the same time, Electrolux within the Soul-Refining Banner reacted just as strongly.
(End of Chapter)