The dense, deathly yin qi had yet to fully dissipate. Mo Hongchen gazed at the pale, icy youth before him—his terrifying potential coupled with an unknown level of risk—and his eyes betrayed both anticipation and a faint, indescribable heaviness.
He understood that he had just accepted someone who could either become a world-changing genius or… a ticking time bomb capable of burning everything to ashes.
But there was no turning back now. For the future of the Sun Moon Academy, for the sake of confronting the increasingly unfathomable monsters from Shrek, he had to take this gamble!
"Retreat," Mo Hongchen commanded.
Hu Wei, as if pardoned, endured the dizziness and palpitations caused by the mental shock and quickly bowed out of the courtyard shrouded in yin qi.
The heavy alloy door closed behind him, cutting off the light and the last traces of human presence.
In the vast space, only Mo Hongchen and Yin Wansheng, who seemed to have stepped out from the depths of the underworld, remained. The suffocating stillness of death almost choked the air.
Mo Hongchen stood with his hands clasped behind his back, his aura as steady as a mountain, resisting the intangible erosion of the Ghost King domain. His sharp gaze seemed to pierce through the wide hood, seeking to discern the essence of Yin Wansheng's soul.
"Yin Wansheng," Mo Hongchen's voice broke the silence, carrying the scrutiny of a superior. "I have witnessed your talent and power. The Sun Moon Academy will spare no effort to nurture you, but first, you must clearly tell me what resources you need. Yin-attribute treasures? Secret methods to temper the body? Or… something else?"
His words appeared straightforward, but they were laced with hidden implications.
Yin Wansheng remained silent, the shadow beneath his hood unmoving. After a few seconds, a cold, dry voice, akin to the grinding of two rusted metals, emerged slowly, carrying an inhuman stiffness: "Pure… yin… source. Five elements… yin… essence. Soul bone… compatible… with the Yin Ghost King…"
Mo Hongchen nodded slightly. These requests were within expectations and fell within the realm of orthodox resources that could be addressed or substituted. But the real test had only just begun.
He took two steps forward, closing the distance to just three paces from Yin Wansheng—a range where the oppressive aura of a Title Douluo became tangible.
Mo Hongchen's voice lowered, carrying both persuasion and a devilish allure:
"Sources of pure yin essence and five-element yin essences, though precious, are not beyond the reach of the Sun Moon Empire's resources. In fact… I can utilize some special channels."
He paused, his gaze locking onto the darkness beneath Yin Wansheng's hood. "For example, the Star Luo Continent, or the Dou Ling Continent… far from the federation's core, teeming with wild soul masters and… certain forces hostile to the federation."
"Their soul power, their souls… are excellent 'supplements' for those pursuing ultimate strength. With the right targets, avoiding the sight of civilian populations… the efficiency far surpasses that of painstaking cultivation."
Mo Hongchen's words were like poisoned ice picks, ruthlessly striking at the essence of Yin Wansheng's power. He was testing whether this being, who possessed powers akin to an evil soul master, harbored any hidden desires for slaughter and plunder.
If Yin Wansheng showed even the slightest hint of interest or hesitation, it would become a thorn forever lodged in Mo Hongchen's heart—a sign that stricter, perhaps inhumane monitoring and control measures would be necessary.
The yin qi in the courtyard seemed to freeze for an instant.
Beneath the hood, the two ghostly green flames flickered slightly.
Then, the cold and rigid voice spoke again, devoid of emotion but carrying an undeniable pride and disdain rooted in the essence of his power:
"Evil shortcuts lead to shallow foundations."
"Becoming a Title is easy; the Limit is hard."
"Slaughtering tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands—grudges bind the soul, demons plague the mind, shackles form of their own accord."
"I disdain such paths."
Concise yet cutting like a blade! Mo Hongchen's heart jolted violently!
Yin Wansheng had not only outright rejected this "shortcut" but also clearly pointed out the fatal flaws of relying on slaughter and sacrifice to enhance power—shallow foundations, grudge-ridden souls, rampant inner demons, and ultimately self-imposed shackles that cut off the path to the peak!
He even emphasized that slaughtering tens of thousands or even hundreds of thousands of lives could never forge a true Limit Douluo! His final statement drew a clear line, indicating that they pursued a purer, more difficult, yet infinitely stronger path to power!
At this moment, the tension in Mo Hongchen's heart finally eased slightly. It wasn't complete trust, but at least he confirmed that Yin Wansheng had not yet fallen into the most dangerous type of evil path.
The scrutinizing light in his eyes did not fade; instead, it grew deeper. The clearer and stronger Yin Wansheng was, the greater the danger he posed if he ever strayed. This clarity itself, once disrupted, could become a latent peril.
Mo Hongchen took a couple of steps back, turning his back to Yin Wansheng, as if talking to himself while providing a way out for both parties:
"Very good. The path of power ultimately lies within oneself. Though slow, arduous cultivation is the righteous path." He turned around, his gaze sharpening once more.
"Your body, tempered by extreme yin energy, is far tougher than others at your level. But this 'stiffness' and 'rigidity' remain a hidden danger. If prolonged, it may harm your foundation and limit your potential."
Mo Hongchen shifted his tone, his eyes gleaming with an almost fanatical scholarly fervor: "I have been contemplating… perhaps… the key to breaking through does not lie in pure yin, but in… balancing yin and yang!"
"The Sun Moon Federation has deep resources, and the War God Hall has gathered rare treasures from across the lands. If we can find something imbued with ultimate yin-yang energy or a world-shattering treasure capable of harmonizing yin and yang…"
Mo Hongchen's voice carried both guidance and temptation: "With Ultimate yin as the base, introducing a trace of pure yang essence… yin and yang cycle endlessly, creating perpetual life! At that point, your Yin Ghost King martial soul might transcend its shackles, evolving from 'King' to 'Emperor,' achieving… the Yin-Yang Ghost Emperor!"
"Balancing yin and yang creates life and transformation! Then, your power will no longer be confined to deathly stillness but will embody the supreme law of life and destruction! Physical limitations will dissolve, unlocking infinite potential! More importantly…"
Mo Hongchen fixed his gaze on Yin Wansheng. "When yin and yang harmonize, your essence becomes pure. Who then could label you an evil soul master?"
These words were half encouragement, half a carrot dangled before him, pointing Yin Wansheng toward a seemingly bright "righteous path." It was a way to keep his hopes alive, preventing despair from driving him down an evil path due to the nature of his power or physical limitations.
Beneath the hood, the ghostly green flames flickered violently! Though Yin Wansheng's body remained stiff, the instantaneous surge of spiritual fluctuation clearly conveyed an emotion known as "desire"!
Yin-Yang Ghost Emperor! Transcending shackles! Washing away stigma! For anyone pursuing the pinnacle of power, these were irresistible temptations!
Mo Hongchen caught this flicker of desire with satisfaction. The carrot had been extended; now it was a matter of time and opportunity.
---
At the same moment, in Gu La's hotel room in Mingdu.
Gu La, seated cross-legged, wore a knowing smile.
"Yin-Yang Ghost Emperor… Mo Hongchen, you really know how to calculate and paint a fine picture of pie-in-the-sky promises." Through the mysterious connection of shared consciousness, he instantly grasped Mo Hongchen's schemes and Yin Wansheng's reactions.
"However… this pie might not be entirely impossible to bake."
A spark of wisdom flashed in Gu La's eyes. "Extreme yin births yang, and when yin reaches its peak, yang emerges—this is the ultimate principle of heaven and earth."
"Mo Hongchen's reasoning is sound. However, treasures capable of harmonizing yin and yang for a martial soul as powerful as the Yin Ghost King are rarer than divine artifacts. Relying on sheer luck to find one… the odds are slim."
"But… I possess 'Ancient Memory.'" A chaotic halo swirled around Gu La's fingertips. "Among billions of possibilities, deduce the singular path! As long as Mo Hongchen finds even a fragment of a clue, I can lock onto the 'one true direction' for him!"
He willed a clear command to traverse space and enter the depths of Yin Wansheng's consciousness: "Cooperate with him. Accept the resources he offers. Show sincerity, give him sincerity in return. Keep him stable, securing the full support of the Sun Moon Academy. If he uncovers any leads on yin-yang treasures, inform me immediately. At the critical moment, I will act."
Receiving Gu La's will, Yin Wansheng's hood twitched slightly.
He raised his pale, stiff hand, palm upward. A palm-sized butterfly spirit soul, jet-black like inkstone jade, with twisted, suffering ghost faces etched onto its wings, slowly materialized.
Its fluttering wings emitted pure yet icy yin energy—it was the ten-thousand-year Netherworld Ghost King Butterfly spirit soul bestowed upon him by Shrek Academy!
"This spirit soul's yin energy is too overwhelming, making it my second spirit soul." Yin Wansheng's cold voice rang out as he extended the Netherworld Ghost King Butterfly toward Mo Hongchen. "Exchange it for a yin-yang symbiotic spirit soul."
Mo Hongchen was momentarily stunned. He hadn't expected Yin Wansheng to be so direct—or so "impatient." To request an exchange for a top-tier spirit soul right after joining?
Though the Netherworld Ghost King Butterfly was powerful, its attributes were overly singular and yin-cold, posing more harm than benefit to Yin Wansheng's current condition. Requesting a yin-yang symbiotic spirit soul… the ambition and difficulty were immense!
Mo Hongchen's brows furrowed as he quickly weighed the options. Having just recruited Yin Wansheng, this was the time to demonstrate sincerity and capability.
Refusal? That would make the Sun Moon Academy appear incapable, chilling Yin Wansheng's heart. Agreement? Yin-yang symbiotic spirit souls were exceedingly rare, and the resources and connections required to search for one were astronomical.
Looking at Yin Wansheng's outstretched hand, holding the ten-thousand-year spirit soul, and sensing the unyielding resolve beneath his icy silence, Mo Hongchen finally gritted his teeth.
"Alright!"
Mo Hongchen reached out and took the Netherworld Ghost King Butterfly spirit soul, feeling a bone-chilling cold seep into his hand. "I accept this matter. The Sun Moon Academy will mobilize all its resources to find a suitable yin-yang symbiotic spirit soul for you. In the meantime, you may have priority access to yin-attribute resources in the academy's treasury."
He pocketed the spirit soul and cast a deep glance at Yin Wansheng, still cloaked in the shadows of his hood.
This transaction was laden with both risks and opportunities, and this high-stakes gamble surrounding the possibility of the "Yin-Yang Ghost Emperor" had only just begun. Yin Wansheng's decisiveness and ambition sent a shiver even through this seasoned Title Douluo.
Yin Wansheng's decision to hand over the Netherworld Ghost King Butterfly stemmed from his dissatisfaction with it. The most suitable spirit soul for an evil soul master would likely come from the Holy Spirit Sect, and he couldn't afford to wait indefinitely without advancing. He decided to settle for something less ideal.
Now that a new possibility had arisen, relinquishing the Netherworld Ghost King Butterfly didn't pain him in the slightest. It also allowed him to gauge Mo Hongchen's sincerity.
Silent as he was, Yin Wansheng wasn't naive. He wouldn't be swayed by Mo Hongchen's honeyed words; only actions could earn his approval.
True to his word, Mo Hongchen didn't deceive Yin Wansheng. Leveraging decades of connections built during his tenure as the academy's president, he contacted former students serving in various levels of the federation. Soon, he secured a suitable spirit soul for Yin Wansheng.
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