"I plan to… stay around here." Lin Xiao looked toward the vast, boundless snowfield stretching before him. "Hardly anyone comes here. It's just right, quiet."
"You're going to stay here the whole time?"
"At least for this period. You can come find me anytime."
Lin Xiao wasn't entirely staying to avoid the people from the Sun Moon Empire. After what had happened in the Extreme North not long ago, he needed to remain here and observe for a while.
"And also, it can serve as a temporary place to stay for those who have nowhere to go."
"Nowhere to go." Zhang Lexuan softly repeated the words. "You mean those… evil soul masters?"
"That's right." Lin Xiao nodded. "Having spent so many years in the Holy Spirit Cult, I understand better than most what kind of organization it really is."
"The people there are cruel, they disregard life, they lack the self-awareness that should come with being soul masters, and they attack ordinary people without soul power at will."
"Even the way they train their disciples is filled with bloodshed and brutality. The disciples living there never know when they or the people around them might die."
"Some disciples even go through inhuman humiliation and torment day after day."
Zhang Lexuan looked at Lin Xiao; a complicated look flashed through her eyes. She knew that while Lin Xiao spoke of the other disciples in the Holy Spirit Cult, he was also speaking of his own experiences. For no reason at all, a trace of sorrow rose in her heart.
"But not everyone in the Holy Spirit Cult wants to become an evil soul master. Some were abducted or tricked into joining, some had no other choice, and some even entered the Holy Spirit Cult with dreams of a better life."
"Yet that place was never a good destination." Lin Xiao's voice drifted far into the wind. "I'm not making excuses for them. I admit that every disciple of the Holy Spirit Cult, including myself, has the blood of innocents on their hands for various reasons."
"But even in a Holy Spirit Cult where most people have completely fallen, there are still some who refuse to fully go along with the rest. They never wanted to become evil soul masters; they simply lacked the opportunity to choose otherwise."
Zhang Lexuan remained silent for a long time. Listening to Lin Xiao's words, for the first time, she learned that there were such stories within the Holy Spirit Cult, the organization that Shrek Academy had always regarded as a great enemy.
For some reason, her heart suddenly felt a little lighter.
"Since Ye Xishui is already dead, I should head back now."
Lin Xiao did not try to persuade her to stay. Given Shrek Academy's current condition, Zhang Lexuan likely could not set her mind at ease.
"By the way, will you return to the Sun Moon Empire in the future?"
Just before leaving, Zhang Lexuan suddenly stopped in her tracks.
"Maybe."
"Do you want to help the Sun Moon Empire unify the continent?"
"I don't really care about the outcome of this war, but…" Lin Xiao shook his head and hesitated for a moment. "Let's talk about the future later."
Lin Xiao did not continue. He truly did not care about the outcome of this war, but if the arrival of the Abyss plane was truly brought forward, then a unified empire would obviously be far stronger than four empires full of schemes and ulterior motives.
Zhang Lexuan sighed and likewise said nothing more. Given Shrek Academy's current situation, it probably could not play much of a role in this war anyway.
The wind and snow continued. Lin Xiao watched Zhang Lexuan's figure disappear into the heavy snowfall, then suddenly looked up and spoke toward the space.
"Come out… Fifth Brother."
"How did you notice me?"
Lin Xiao did not answer; he simply shook his head. "It's been a while since we last met, but Fifth Brother is still exactly as I remember."
"What do you mean by that?"
The Myriad Souls Douluo's voice seemed to come from nowhere, yet in Lin Xiao's eyes, that complete soul form was especially conspicuous.
He did not know the details of the fight between Zhang Lexuan and the Myriad Souls Douluo, but judging from the current situation, he could more or less guess that the Myriad Souls Douluo had not lasted long against her.
Still, as a Titled Douluo who had immersed himself in the path of souls for many years, he naturally had some life-preserving methods.
Abandoning his physical body to linger on as a soul was indeed a technique that ordinary soul masters could not detect at all.
Lin Xiao guessed that the earlier Nightmare Douluo's idea of using possession to extend his life had probably been influenced somewhat by the Myriad Souls Douluo.
However, the fact that he had followed Zhang Lexuan all the way here in this form was, in Lin Xiao's eyes, far too obvious.
"You… what do you want to do?" The Myriad Souls Douluo's voice carried a slight panic.
He knew all too well what kind of people existed in the Holy Spirit Cult. If Lin Xiao could see his soul form, he might have some method to make use of souls; his own fate would certainly not be good.
Lin Xiao said nothing and simply walked toward the Myriad Souls Douluo.
The Myriad Souls Douluo tried to flee, but unfortunately, his speed was far inferior to Lin Xiao's. Just as Lin Xiao's hand was about to reach him, he suddenly shouted.
"Old Eight! You betrayed the Cult and colluded with people from Shrek Academy. Maybe the attack on the Cult earlier was because you leaked the information. Are you now going to make a move against me too?"
Lin Xiao suddenly smiled upon hearing this, shaking his head helplessly. "Fifth Brother, Fifth Brother… sometimes I really wonder how you managed to cultivate all the way to Titled Douluo."
"I still remember back in Star Luo City, when I suggested you spread rumors to create chaos and test the Saintess. In the end, you yourself believed the rumor that the disciples of Shrek Academy were transformed hundred-thousand-year soul beasts."
"And now, are you trying to threaten me with what just happened?" Lin Xiao said as he drew closer and closer to the Myriad Souls Douluo's soul. "Putting aside the fact that none of those things were true to begin with…"
"Even if I really was the one who leaked the information, what can you do? The Holy Spirit Cult no longer exists. Do you really think you can threaten me with something like that?"
"I… I…" The Myriad Souls Douluo had only spoken out in a moment of desperation. Having lorded over others in the Holy Spirit Cult for so long, he seemed to have forgotten how to beg for mercy as the weaker party.
"But there is one thing I should thank you for, Fifth Brother."
Hearing Lin Xiao's words, a trace of delight seemed to flash across the drifting soul's face. "What is it? Can you let me go because of that?"
"I should thank you for taking the initiative to turn yourself into this state. It saves me a lot of effort."
With that, the Myriad Souls Douluo only saw Lin Xiao's lips move slightly. Then, an inexplicable sensation enveloped him. When he opened his "eyes" again, he found himself in a strange, unfamiliar world.
Several figures seemed to approach him. When he finally saw their faces clearly, he suddenly cried out in shock.
"Old Seven, Old Eight… and Third Brother? How are all of you here?"
Nightmare seemed not to recognize him and remained silent. Meanwhile, the one beside him, Dark Lightning Douluo, let out a long sigh.
"I never thought that we brothers would end up meeting here."
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Here are the chapters for today (づ￣3￣)づ╭～
"Don't forget there are chapters available on Patreon."
"From Douluo to Godhood by Defy 30 Advance chapters."
"Douluo: Far North Invincibledo 30 Advance chapters."
"Douluo Peerless: Living as an Evil Soul Master 40 Advance chapters."
"Douluo Dalu 2:Peerless Tang Sect Dawn of Sun and Moon 40 Advance chapters."
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