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Ye Lan took a deep breath, calming his emotions.
Then he instructed: "Have him buried. I heard Wuji left a son in Spirit City; raise him with the highest treatment accorded to Spirit Hall orphans. Even if his talent is mediocre, use resources to pile him up to the rank of Titled Douluo."
"Yes, Your Highness the Holy Son!" The secret agent bowed and departed, his heart far from calm, shocked by the Holy Son's generosity.
"Xiao Lan, what do you think?" Bibi Dong straightened her clothes and asked.
"I didn't expect that through a strange twist of fate, the Heaven Dou Emperor didn't die at the hands of 'Xue Qinghe,' but instead at the hands of the Tang Hao father-son duo," Ye Lan said.
"Tang Hao and his son? Could it be that the matters regarding the periphery of the Clear Sky Sect are also related to them?" Bibi Dong said in surprise.
A flicker of emotion flashed through Ye Lan's pupils. He took a deep breath and said, "Now that things have reached this point, Shrek Academy is likely empty; everyone has fled. What we need to do now is put out a wanted notice for Tang Hao and Tang San, and demand the Clear Sky Sect hand them over. This will serve as a preamble for the Soul Hunting Operation."
"Additionally, I will go discuss the Soul Hunting Operation with Grandpa Qian. After all, the promise not to invade the Clear Sky Sect back then was his personal vow."
"However, the Clear Sky Sect's Tang Hao and his son have slaughtered innocents, causing the deaths of hundreds of civilians, and even the Heaven Dou Emperor was killed by them. Clearly, the Clear Sky Sect violated their seclusion promise first, so we don't need to worry about the promise Grandpa Qian made back then," Ye Lan explained.
"Xiao Lan, you are right. Although we are happy to see the death of the Heaven Dou Emperor, there is no reason for the Clear Sky Sect to overstep their bounds. Fuzu Village was wiped out; they must pay the price for it!" Bibi Dong said solemnly.
"Xiao Lan, I will handle the mess on the Heaven Dou Empire's side. You only need to deal with the Clear Sky Sect."
"It's just..." Bibi Dong hesitated slightly.
"Just what?" Ye Lan asked in confusion.
"Does 'Xiao Zi' need to fake her death to escape? Now that you are engaged to Xue Ke, if 'Xiao Zi' fakes her death, with your reputation plus your status as Xue Ke's husband, I can push you into the position of the Heaven Dou Emperor. Within a few years, once the Heaven Dou Empire is stable, it can be renamed the Spirit Empire," Bibi Dong said.
Ye Lan decisively rejected the idea: "The Heaven Dou Emperor Xue Ye has just passed away; 'Xue Qinghe' is needed to maintain the stability of the empire. Besides, I have no interest in the position of 'Heaven Dou Emperor.' My main energy needs to be focused on cultivation."
"Teacher, don't you want to become the first Empress of the Douluo Continent?"
"After 'Xue Qinghe' stabilizes the Heaven Dou Empire, you shall become the first Emperor of the Spirit Empire!" Ye Lan encouraged.
"Xiao Lan, how did you know your teacher's ambition?" Bibi Dong's face turned slightly red as she spoke.
"Hahaha, then you go ahead and conquer the Douluo Continent. Teacher, I'll conquer you~" Ye Lan didn't give a direct response, instead teasing her.
"I'd like to see just how you plan to conquer me!" Bibi Dong puffed out her chest and said.
Ye Lan feigned a move to "grasp the whole world," and Bibi Dong quickly dodged, saying seriously: "It's daytime! It wouldn't be good if Xiao Xue saw us!"
"Does Teacher mean it's okay at night then?!" Ye Lan laughed.
The tips of Bibi Dong's ears instantly turned burning hot. She gave Ye Lan a sharp flick on the forehead and then prepared for the upcoming trip to Heaven Dou City.
Ye Lan rubbed his head and walked toward the Douluo Hall.
Before long, he spotted a golden-haired figure looking around.
The moment he saw Xiao Xue, Ye Lan's heart rate inexplicably quickened by a beat. He quickly sniffed himself to see if he carried Bibi Dong's scent, acting like a cat that had just stolen some cream.
After sensing that the "strawberries" on his body had fully returned to their original color, Ye Lan waved his arm and walked toward Xiao Xue.
"Ye Lan!!! I finally managed to see you, you busy man!!" Xiao Xue stomped her foot, pretending to be angry.
"Didn't I get up early just to find my eldest wife, Xiao Xue?" Ye Lan said seriously.
"Hmph! At least you still have a conscience!" Xiao Xue grabbed Ye Lan's arm and began asking about the incident of "snatching the bride" in the Star Luo Empire.
Ye Lan told Xiao Xue the whole story from beginning to end, which drew a round of laughter from her, as she teased Ye Lan for being a big dummy.
"Let's go!! To see Grandpa!!"
"Grandpa, this Spirit Hall Soul Hunting Operation must have your support. If the Clear Sky Sect does not die, my heart will not find peace," Ye Lan requested.
Qian Daoliu's eyes revealed a sense of longing as memories of his past travels with Tang Chen and Bo Saixi flashed by. He sighed: "I never expected that the Clear Sky Sect led by Tang Chen would fall to such a state. Even more so, I didn't expect his descendants to be so wicked. Xiao Lan, go ahead and do what you must; I will not stop you."
As Qian Daoliu finished speaking, he gradually vanished from their sight.
Looking at Qian Daoliu's weary back, Ye Lan remained silent for a moment, recalling the scenes from the original work of his previous life where Spirit Hall was destroyed by the Clear Sky Sect and Tang San. He hardened his resolve.
The Clear Sky Sect must die!!
Having gained Qian Daoliu's support, Ye Lan decisively summoned the high-level personnel of Spirit Hall in his capacity as the "Holy Son" to discuss the "Soul Hunting Operation."
The main discussion focused on how to annihilate the Clear Sky Sect while minimizing the loss of Spirit Hall's reputation.
In the end, Ye Lan easily gained the unanimous support of Spirit Hall.
A few days later, the truth behind the death of the "Heaven Dou Emperor" was revealed to the world.
The "Regicide" culprits were none other than the fugitive remnants of the Clear Sky Sect, Tang Hao, and his son Tang San.
Upon learning the identity of the true killers, the people of the Heaven Dou Empire cursed them incessantly. Had they the strength, they would have wished to grind the entire Clear Sky Sect to dust.
In some cities near the Clear Sky Sect, "Armies of Justice" spontaneously formed and headed toward the sect's territory, refusing to let any member of the Clear Sky Sect escape, waiting for Spirit Hall's final judgment.
At the same time, Bibi Dong descended upon Heaven Dou City, clearing out all chaos with extreme speed.
Any forces that attempted to loot during the crisis, those who used the name of "purging the court" to oppose "Xue Qinghe," or "Anti-Crown Prince" factions supporting Xue Beng were all annihilated. The Heaven Dou Prince's whereabouts became unknown.
After "Xue Qinghe" took the throne, Spirit Hall was established as the State Religion. Any citizen of the Heaven Dou Empire who awakened a Martial Soul was required to register at Spirit Hall and attend prayers at the Angelic Cathedral once a week.
Throughout the entire territory of the Heaven Dou Empire, every city and town was required to set up a Spirit Hall chapel, and all commoners were required to go to the chapel to pray three times a week.
Due to the massive funds earned from "Artificial Soul Rings," Spirit Hall allocated a portion of the money to all the chapels.
Any commoner or Soul Master who went to the chapel to pray would receive a plentiful supply of food within the chapel.
Under such measures, Spirit Hall's reputation reached its peak in the Heaven Dou Empire.
Under this feudal system, with the exception of the lazy few who couldn't be bothered to go to the chapel to pray and collect food, a miracle occurred where no one in the Heaven Dou Empire died of starvation again.
A few days later, Ye Lan, in the name of the Holy Son of Spirit Hall, launched a crusade against the Clear Sky Sect. Countless powers responded, the first being the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect and the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, followed immediately by the Lower Four Sects: the White Tiger Sect, the Wind Sword Sect, the Elephant Armored Sect, and the Fire Leopard Sect.
Following them, numerous high and intermediate-level academies responded to the call of the "Holy Son," joining the denunciation of the Clear Sky Sect.
The Clear Sky Sect had seemingly become the most loathed latrine pit on the Douluo Continent; everyone was rushing to draw a clear line between themselves and the sect.
At the same time, in the outskirts of Vast Sea City, a man in a black robe was frantically venting his rage on a small mountain.
"Ye Lan!!!! I want you dead!!!" Tang Hao swung a massive black hammer like a madman, smashing it toward the hill.
"Father!! What do we do now!!?" Tang San said with a troubled expression. He hadn't expected the consequences of killing the Heaven Dou Emperor to be so severe.
How did Ye Lan know the killers were them??
Why was he so certain?
Slap!!
Tang San was instantly sent flying onto the rubble. He clutched half of his flushed face and looked at Tang Hao in shock.
He couldn't imagine that his father would actually hit him!!
"Did you do something when you went to the Clear Sky Sect alone to acknowledge your ancestors?" Tang Hao questioned, his eyes bloodshot.
Tang San held his swollen left cheek and said nothing.
Seeing Tang San's reaction, Tang Hao understood instantly.
Zhao Wuji's head had vanished before they went to the Heaven Dou Imperial Palace. At the time, he thought Tang San had disposed of it cleanly.
Now, he guessed that the head had probably been sent to Spirit City to provoke Ye Lan.
With Zhao Wuji and the Clear Sky Sect in trouble one after another, plus the disappearance of Shrek Academy...
As long as Ye Lan wasn't an idiot, it was impossible for him not to guess that the killers were the two of them.
Now, with the entire Heaven Dou Empire denouncing the Clear Sky Sect, as long as he wasn't deaf, it was impossible for him not to know.
"The Clear Sky Sect is going to be destroyed by you!! Do you know that!! Can't you think about the consequences before you act??!!" Tang Hao roared at Tang San.
"Back then, your Aunt Yuehua was decapitated on the spot. In order to protect the Clear Sky Sect and your life, I couldn't do anything!!"
"And you?? Did you not consider the consequences before you made your move?!!" Tang Hao's face was distorted.
Tang San remained silent for a long time before saying: "I handled it very cleanly. As long as I didn't admit it on the spot, who would know it was me?"
"Now, it's just Spirit Hall forcibly pinning the blame on the sect. Even if it wasn't us, it has to be us."
Hearing Tang San's sophistry, Tang Hao clutched his heart, gasping for air.
"Father!! Father!! Don't let anything happen to you!! I was wrong!!!" Tang San knelt on the ground, crying bitterly.
Before Tang Hao collapsed, he gripped Tang San's shoulders tightly and glared at him: "Xiao San, if you care about your father at all, no matter what means you use, you must become a God!!! Do you hear me!!"
"I know, Father!!!" Tang San sobbed uncontrollably.
He thought back to a week ago, to the vow he had made at the Clear Sky Sect.
He wanted his fellow sect members to enjoy ultimate glory; he wanted to destroy Spirit Hall; he wanted to lead the Clear Sky Sect to unify the Douluo Continent.
But in just a few days, the Clear Sky Sect was facing its greatest crisis since its founding. The oaths he had made seemed like nothing more than a dream or a bubble.
Ye Lan!!!
Everything is your fault!!!
When I become a God, I will grind your bones to ash and make sure you never find peace in the afterlife!!!
At this moment, Tang San's hatred for Ye Lan reached its absolute peak.
Seeing the resolute hatred in Tang San's eyes, Tang Hao tried his best not to think about the fate of the "Clear Sky Sect" and said in a heavy voice: "Go, regroup with your teacher and classmates. I will escort you to Sea God Island!!"
---
Heaven Dou Empire, among the mountains, outside the Clear Sky Sect.
Compared to the usual "Spirit Warrior" patrols, the number of Soul Masters appearing here today was far more than anyone could imagine.
They came from all over the Heaven Dou Empire and its various independent states.
Besides the Soul Masters, there were also many commoners from nearby cities, all holding signs denouncing the Clear Sky Sect.
After a while, a massive commotion from the distance drew their attention.
Leading the way was the Holy Son of Spirit Hall, followed by the Second Enshrined Priest of Spirit Hall, Golden Crocodile Douluo; the Elders Chrysanthemum Douluo Yue Guan, Ghost Douluo Gui Mei, and Poison Douluo Dugu Bo; the Astral Douluo Silver Wolf; and the Clan Leaders of the four single-attribute clans: Tai Shan of the Power Clan, Bai He of the Speed Clan, Yang Wudi of the Breaking Clan, and Niu Gao of the Defense Clan.
In addition to Spirit Hall, the Sect Leader of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect, Thunder Douluo Yu Yuanzhen; the Sword Douluo Chen Xin of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect; and the Sect Leaders of the Lower Four Sects had all arrived. Furthermore, the deans of various high-level academies in the Heaven Dou Empire and the heads of major noble families were present.
Almost half of the forces in the Heaven Dou Empire had joined the ranks of those denouncing the Clear Sky Sect. With a lineup like this, let alone a living person escaping the Clear Sky Sect, even a fly wouldn't dream of flying out of the encirclement.
Upon reaching the periphery of "Fuzu Village," Ye Lan directly activated his "Nature Domain" to communicate with the consciousness of the surrounding plants.
As expected, the killer was indeed a "Spider-Man with an evil aura."
Clearly, the killer was none other than Tang San.
Countless Soul Masters and commoners looked at the puddles of purple blood, shocked by the cruelty of the killer.
Initially, when Spirit Hall put out a wanted notice for Tang San and Tang Hao as the most vicious Evil Soul Masters, some were skeptical.
But at this moment, they felt that Spirit Hall had put it too lightly.
Tang San and his ilk weren't just evil; they were worse than beasts!!
"Sect Leader!! Sect Leader!! What do we do!!" Tang Hu, with his crooked mouth and nose, paced back and forth, asking repeatedly.
"Sect Leader, why have we, the Clear Sky Sect, suddenly become the most evil force in all of Douluo in their words?!!"
Another second-generation disciple spoke up.
"Sect Leader!! Where is that little animal Tang San?! Hand him over immediately!! It was probably that day when Tang San, that unfilial son, killed the people of Fuzu Village. I remember after that day, the cooking smoke from Fuzu Village vanished completely!!"
Who was this Oren?
He wanted to have a proper talk with the guy!
Gwen's beautiful brows furrowed slightly as she gently pinched her chin, muttering to herself, "He's very handsome, but... why does he look so familiar to me?"
Handsome?
And familiar?
Alarm bells rang in Peter's heart. His face tensed up; he was even more nervous than if a dozen people were pointing guns at him.
Gwen pressed her fingers between her brows in thought. Oren's face appeared in her mind, but when she thought of those azure eyes of his, two other faces involuntarily surfaced.
Her brother, Clark Kent, and her father, Mike Kent.
Three pairs of eyes overlapped in Gwen's mind. Then, in the next second, Clark was excluded from the list of correct answers, leaving the faces of Mike and Oren in her thoughts.
"Could it be that Oren is..."
Gwen trembled all over in shock, as if she had discovered a deeply buried secret.
"What's wrong?" Peter asked cautiously.
Gwen took a deep breath and said, "Let me ask you something."
"What is it?"
"If... your dad had an illegitimate son, and now he's come knocking at the door, what would you do?"
"Huh? Ah!?"
Peter looked utterly shocked.
What on earth was she talking about?
Weren't they just talking about this Oren guy? Why were they suddenly talking about an illegitimate son, and who would that even be...
"Wait?"
Peter suddenly understood the implication behind Gwen's words and looked at her in surprise.
Gwen's gaze turned cold. She gave Peter a chilling smile and said, "If you dare say a word about this, I'll finish you off!"
Peter nodded hurriedly.
Did this count as a secret shared only between him and Gwen? Thinking about it this way, his heart actually felt a bit sweet.
Gwen brandished a fist at Peter, then hurriedly took out her phone and sent a message to Clark and the others.
This is bad! The illegitimate son has come knocking!
(End of Chapter)