Chapter 262: The Haunting Shadow of Tang "Buddha"
Zhongli Wu chuckled and said,
*"Good, very good. Nangong Wan, remember this do everything in your power to fulfill the Sacred Emperor's requests.
If we can satisfy him, perhaps he will truly keep his word and bestow great rewards upon us.
When that happens, the power of our Holy Spirit Cult will undoubtedly rise even further."*
*"However, if the Sacred Emperor keeps making empty promises, merely dangling rewards before us without ever delivering, then don't go out of your way to serve him.
Just put in a half hearted effort to appease him."*
Nangong Wan looked at Zhongli Wu in disbelief.
*"Leader, but… the Sacred Emperor is a god!
If we offend a deity, won't that bring disaster upon us?
Throughout history, any force that has dared to oppose a god has always been wiped out instantly."*
He recalled the unshakable divine pressure he had felt before the statue.
Even the thought of resisting had been impossible if they truly faced off against a god, they would stand no chance.
For the sake of his own life, he believed obedience was the safest path.
Zhongli Wu shook his head.
*"Gods are indeed powerful.
But I believe that even gods have flaws.
Yes, many forces have perished after angering deities, but even factions backed by gods have fallen into ruin."*
*"Take Tang San of Shrek Academy, for example.
Everyone knows that he was the most famous god in the history of the Douluo Continent, the strongest of the original Shrek Seven Devils."*
*"Yet, despite his divine status, the Tang Sect, which he personally founded, was utterly crushed under the age of soul tools.
The so called hidden weapons of the Tang Sect stood no chance against modern soul technology.
Even if they had some so called ultimate hidden weapons, the Tang Sect never managed to produce them.
Thus, the Tang Sect fell from its position as the greatest sect to one that no longer holds any real influence a massive decline."*
*"Furthermore, for generations, soul masters have believed that gods are immortal.
If that's true, and Tang San is truly eternal, then why didn't he intervene to save the Tang Sect or preserve the legacy of hidden weapons?
For a god, that should have been an effortless task."*
*"This is why I suspect that becoming a god comes with certain limitations, perhaps ones related to direct interference.
Of course, I have no way to confirm this this is merely my speculation."*
Nangong Wan paused for a moment, then immediately flattered him.
"Leader, your wisdom is truly unparalleled."
"You're Saying the Holy Spirit Cult's Sacred Emperor Manifested?"
Huo Yuhao stared at Ming Lei Douluo, his informant inside the Holy Spirit Cult, with utter confusion.
"That thing can actually manifest?"
In the original Absolute storyline, the Sacred Emperor was nothing more than a background figure he had almost zero presence and served no real purpose.
No one had ever actually seen him, but the Holy Spirit Cult members always invoked his name whenever they needed a secret code.
Ming Lei Douluo nodded solemnly, his face full of excitement.
*"Absolutely.
That immense divine pressure is something I will never forget.
Even Limit Douluos cannot compare."*
*"Moreover, the Sacred Emperor has issued several tasks, claiming that they are tests for us.
After all, as he said 'Without enduring storms, one cannot witness the rainbow.' "*
A test?
As soon as Huo Yuhao heard that word, he felt a familiar sense of unease.
"This smells way too familiar…"
He immediately asked,
"Think carefully doesn't your Sacred Emperor seem… suspicious?"
Ming Lei Douluo hesitated for a moment before replying,
*"Now that you mention it, there are some odd things.
For example, why would the Sacred Emperor ask us to capture young genius soul masters from the Douluo Continent for him to personally inspect?
Is he trying to recruit more Holy Sons and Holy Daughters?"*
*"And then there's the whole faith thing he actually wants us to worship him sincerely.
Honestly, that's asking too much.
We're an organization of evil soul masters expecting us to suddenly develop true religious devotion?
That's just not going to happen."*
Huo Yuhao froze, feeling a sudden wave of frustration.
*"Tang 'Buddha' San again?
He just won't go away!
Now he's even stealing the Sacred Emperor's title?
Truly deserving of the title 'Ancestor of Evil Soul Masters'!"*
If Tang San got his hands on a new prodigy, that person would immediately become his loyal dog.
Huo Yuhao had zero intention of serving Tang San he could only resist.
From what Ming Lei Douluo had described, Tang San was clearly trying to collect faith energy through the Holy Spirit Cult.
That meant only one thing
He needed to sabotage this in secret, disrupt Tang San's growth without engaging in direct confrontation.
Huo Yuhao turned to Ming Lei Douluo.
*"Keep feeding me intel.
And find a way to lure out Nangong Wan.
Once we get him, I'll make him just like you."*
He was accelerating his plans to destroy the Holy Spirit Cult.
And that meant gaining control over more elders.
Ming Lei Douluo had no choice but to obey.
"Understood."
Shrek Academy
Xiao Xiao looked at Wang Dong with concern.
*"Wang Dong, are you sure we should attend the Treasure Exhibition?
Last time we went, we were ambushed.
If we hadn't escaped in time, those guys would have killed us."*
Wang Dong sighed and considered her words before responding seriously.
*"Xiao Xiao, you know that last time, we were attacked because of Dai Huabin.
That guy pulled some disgusting stunt, and I was planning on getting revenge.
But before I could, he was blown to pieces by the Death God Envoy."*
*"Now that Dai Huabin is dead, even his girlfriend Zhu Lu has been missing for a long time.
Right now, we have no real enemies in the academy.
Who else would target us?
So this time, the Treasure Exhibition is completely safe."*
Xiao Xiao relaxed a little.
She had actually wanted to go she needed a break from the constant training and sparring for the next Soul Master Tournament.
*"Alright then, I'll go with you.
By the way are you going in disguise again?
Do I call you 'Wang Dong' or 'Dong'er'?"*
Wang Dong froze, hesitated for a moment, then responded,
*"I'll still go as Wang Dong.
I'm not revealing my identity yet."*
This was her father and uncle's decision
And besides, if she exposed her true self, she would be surrounded by suitors in an instant.
And that was the last thing she wanted.
(End of chapter.)
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