Wang Chen thought to himself, "There's something fishy about this. A Soul Sage–level powerhouse would receive high treatment in any faction—how could such a person become a mere bandit?"
"Besides, bandits always bully the weak and fear the strong. How would a Soul Sage dare provoke the Wang Family, which has two Soul Douluo, more than ten Soul Sages, and numerous Soul Emperors and Soul Kings? Isn't that just courting death? And after the robbery, they didn't even kill everyone—actually letting the Tenth Elder escape alive."
"That doesn't seem like negligence—it's more like they deliberately let him escape to achieve some purpose."
Sitting on Wang Chen's right, Wang Yan also frowned, clearly sensing that something was wrong.
Wang Yan stroked his chin. Having lived a long life full of intrigues and schemes, he too felt that something wasn't right.
Wang Yan silently mused, "The Tenth Elder isn't very strong. Given his severe injuries, it's absolutely impossible for him to have escaped on his own."
"It must have been intentional—the robbers let him go on purpose. Their goal was obviously to fish for bigger prey, to lure out the Wang Family's experts and catch them all in one net."
"This must be the work of either the Third Prince, Xu Tianshi, or the deposed Crown Prince, Xu Tianran. But it's more likely Xu Tianshi."
"Xu Tianran has already lost his position as Crown Prince, and his power has declined. He no longer has the strength to move against the Wang Family."
The Great Elder, Wang Lu, also felt something was off, though he couldn't pinpoint what exactly. So he planned to discuss it in detail with Patriarch Wang Chen after the meeting.
Wang Chen, Wang Yan, and the Great Elder all kept silent while the Soul Sage Elders under them spoke their minds one after another.
Some were furious, wanting to avenge the Tenth Elder and annihilate all the bandits who had robbed the Wang Family's rare metals.
Others believed there was something suspicious about the incident and proposed an investigation before making any decisions.
Wang Chen let them debate as he quietly observed the severely injured Tenth Elder. To make sure nothing had been secretly planted on him, Wang Chen silently mobilized his own Martial Soul's origin power to investigate.
The origin power of a Martial Soul had endless uses. For instance, Wang Chen's Martial Soul origin—Origin of Spirit—could bestow spirituality upon non-living things.
When combined with combat techniques, it derived the Spirit Domain, allowing him to control the energy of heaven and earth, soil, water—anything non-living.
Everything within that range would obey Wang Chen's will.
Very soon, everything within the hall was under Wang Chen's complete control.
In that state, as he examined the Tenth Elder's injuries, he quickly discovered the problem.
Inside the elder's body were countless bizarre blue-black worms wriggling and coiling together. Occasionally, one would squirm—just looking at it made one's scalp crawl and body shiver.
Clearly, the Tenth Elder had been unknowingly implanted with some sinister method.
His life and death were likely already in someone else's hands—he could die at any moment, and perhaps even his body was no longer under his own control.
Seeing this, a strong killing intent surged in Wang Chen's heart.
Evil Soul Masters.
Without a doubt, such a method was the work of an Evil Soul Master.
To silently implant these strange blue-black worms into a Soul Sage's body—this Evil Soul Master's cultivation must be extremely high.
At least a Soul Douluo-level Evil Soul Master, possibly even a Titled Douluo.
And at that level, no other faction besides the Holy Spirit Cult could possibly possess such an expert.
As Wang Chen pondered, his first question was: why did the Holy Spirit Cult target the Wang Family?
Which prince had formed an alliance with them?
Was it the Third Prince, Xu Tianshi? Or the deposed Crown Prince, Xu Tianran?
Wang Chen's killing intent surged, but his face remained calm.
When faced with major events, one must remain composed. If a person loses control at the first sign of trouble, then that person is nothing special.
Wang Chen's dark eyes grew even deeper.
Others might not understand the true power of the Holy Spirit Cult—but Wang Chen knew it all too well.
In the original timeline, the Holy Spirit Cult had two Limit Douluo: the Grand Worshippers Ye Xishui and Long Xiaoyao.
Besides them, there were the Chief and Deputy Leaders, Eight Elders, and Twelve Worshippers—all Titled Douluo or higher.
Even though the current Holy Spirit Cult hadn't yet suffered the explosion of Mingdu and the wars that followed, thus not at its peak strength, it still wasn't far behind.
Across the continent, apart from the Sun and Moon Empire, even Shrek Academy wouldn't be a match for them.
Realizing that the Holy Spirit Cult had made a move against the Wang Family, Wang Chen couldn't help but feel a trace of crisis.
After all, compared to the Holy Spirit Cult, the Wang Family was far too weak—not even worth one of their fingers.
However, Wang Chen understood that although the Holy Spirit Cult was powerful, it was not invincible.
In the Sun and Moon Empire's capital, Mingdu, even a force as strong as the Holy Spirit Cult couldn't act recklessly.
Otherwise, why would they bother supporting princes to ascend the throne, or scheme in such roundabout ways to lure the Wang Family out? How troublesome.
Still, though they feared the Sun and Moon Empire's powerhouses, the Evil Soul Masters of the Holy Spirit Cult possessed countless sinister and unpredictable means.
If they truly wanted to target the Wang Family, Wang Chen and his clan might fend them off once or twice—but not every time.
The difference in strength was simply too vast. It was like a mantis trying to stop a chariot, or an egg striking a rock.
Therefore, Wang Chen decided it was time to stop hiding. His seclusion and power-gathering were never meant for cowardly retreat.
It was to ensure he could grow safely—and when true danger came, to break through the crisis.
With his Titled Douluo–level strength, he had completed his foundational accumulation. Though not yet capable of shaking the heavens or destroying the earth, he now possessed the power to stir the winds and rain.
Thus, it was time to spread his wings, soar high, and reveal his brilliance.
Wang Chen knew well his own age and power—once revealed, it would cause a storm across Mingdu.
By then, the Sun and Moon Empire would give him unprecedented attention and respect, and the Holy Spirit Cult would not dare to touch him.
For a moment, Wang Chen couldn't help but feel a surge of excitement.
Yes—excitement.
After attaining strength capable of rivaling a Rank 9 Soul Engineer or a Titled Douluo, it was hard not to feel the urge to test one's limits—to see how powerful one truly was.
Wang Chen's sharp gaze fixed on the blue-black worms inside the Tenth Elder, and the corner of his mouth curved upward.
Then let the Evil Soul Master behind these worms become the stepping stone for my first public appearance.
Some don't fly until they soar into the heavens;
some don't sing until their cry shakes the world!