Star Luo Empire Imperial Palace.
Emperor Xu Jiawei sat at his desk, holding a report in his hand. He read slowly, his brows slightly furrowed, occasionally turning a page as his gaze swept back and forth between the lines.
There were many reports piled on his desk, but the vast majority were about the same organization: the Axis Cult.
He finished reading the last page, placed it gently on the table, leaned back, and sighed.
In recent years, the influence of the Axis Cult had grown increasingly larger. Now, it had spread throughout the entire Star Luo Empire, and almost everyone knew its name. It was said that many people were breaking their heads trying to join, and the threshold of their doors was almost trampled flat.
He remembered that when he first visited, the Axis Cult was not yet this large. At that time, it just had a reputation, but its true influence was far less than it was now.
How long had it been?
He had only signed a document allowing a certain city lord to change the city's name, and in the blink of an eye, that "Thunder City" had become "Fontaine City". In another blink, the Axis Cult had developed into its current state, and was still expanding outwards.
Xu Jiawei could not help but shake his head.
This Axis Cult was truly remarkable. Its appetite was not small either.
He raised his head and looked at his younger sister, Xu Jiujiu, who was standing to the side.
"Jiujiu," he began, his tone carrying a hint of inquiry, "what do you think of this Axis Cult?"
Xu Jiujiu thought for a moment and said, "Imperial Brother, the influence of the Axis Cult is developing too quickly. Branches of theirs have also appeared in the Heaven Dou Empire and the Dou Ling Empire. It is clear that their appetite is not limited to just the Star Luo Empire."
She continued, "And I have heard that the Axis Cult possesses many peculiar Cultivation Techniques, which even ordinary people can Cultivate. In order to participate in this All-Continent Advanced Spirit Master Academy Elite Tournament, they even specifically established an Advanced Spirit Master Academy and formed a team to compete."
"They probably want to make a name for themselves at the tournament, and while they are at it, promote themselves and recruit more people."
Xu Jiawei nodded without speaking.
Xu Jiujiu continued, "This goes to show that they are more ambitious than other Sects."
She was right. Ordinary small and medium-sized Sects did not have the financial resources to establish an academy and field a team for the tournament; those large Sects, such as the Body Sect, did not care for the meager rewards and reputation of the tournament.
Therefore, basically no Sect would specifically establish an Advanced Academy just for the tournament, because it was time-consuming, laborious, and expensive.
Yet, the Axis Cult had done exactly that.
One must know, the Axis Cult had only been established for two years, counting everything. At the very beginning, it was said that they relied on distributing cake to attract believers.
Xu Jiawei was silent for a moment, then asked, "Then, how big do you think their ambition really is?"
Xu Jiujiu thought for a moment and shook her head.
"I do not know. But I am certain that in a few more years, the master of the Star Luo Empire might change."
She looked at Xu Jiawei, her tone calm, "Imperial Brother, right now, what is discussed most throughout the Star Luo Empire is not our Imperial Family, but the Axis Cult. From imperial relatives and nobles to the common people, it is all the same."
"Regardless of anything else, the best method is to officially establish the Axis Cult as the state religion. We do not seek to control them, but at the very least, we must maintain equal cooperation with them. As for the worst-case scenario..."
She did not continue.
But Xu Jiawei already understood.
He furrowed his brows, his voice somewhat weary, "The worst-case scenario… is almost impossible to achieve."
Xu Jiujiu nodded, "Yes. We are facing a Limit Douluo. Even if we mobilized all our Revered Elders, and added all our spirit tools, I do not believe we could win. Even if we did win, it would be a pyrrhic victory."
She smiled bitterly.
By that time, the Star Luo Empire would likely not be in any better shape. The Sun Moon Empire would certainly seize the chance to take a bite, and the Heaven Dou Empire and Dou Ling Empire would not let this opportunity pass either.
Xu Jiujiu asked, "Imperial Brother, what do you intend to do?"
Xu Jiawei stood up, walked to the window, and looked at the sky outside.
"Let's ignore it for now."
With his back to Xu Jiujiu, his voice was somewhat drifting, "Nominally, we are still promoting the Axis Cult as the state religion, and they haven't objected, have they?"
"Moreover, the Axis Cult is cooperating with us quite a lot right now, and the concessions they provide are not insignificant. Let's maintain a friendly relationship with them first; it might come in handy in the future."
He turned around, looked at Xu Jiujiu, and smiled, "It is better than being hostile, right?"
Xu Jiujiu nodded, "Correct."
Xu Jiawei looked again at the elderly person sitting to the side—Wang Xian'er, the Deputy Hall Master of the Star Luo Empire's Hall of Revered Elders, titled the Medical Immortal Douluo, whose Martial Soul was the Healing Angel.
"Elder Wang, how do you view the Axis Cult?"
Wang Xian'er raised her eyelids, thought for a moment, and said, "Your Majesty, leaving everything else aside, that golden doughnut vanilla cake created by their Pope is truly remarkable."
Her tone carried a hint of emotion, "Even if I use my Healing Angel Martial Soul, I cannot achieve that kind of effect. Her Spirit Ability is too miraculous, and the effect is astonishing. For me to achieve something like that, it is not that simple, and I might not even succeed."
She sighed, her eyes filled with envy, "Moreover, because of that Spirit Ability of hers, I actually achieved a Breakthrough of one Rank, and am now at Rank 96."
"I heard that was only her fourth Spirit Ability." Wang Xian'er shook her head, "To be able to achieve this step, combined with those countless Cultivation Techniques, plus a Limit Douluo acting as some Water God Special Envoy to handle affairs for her… I feel that young Pope might truly be a god. Even if she is not, she is a Reincarnation."
She looked at Xu Jiawei, her tone firm, "Your Majesty, we cannot afford to offend them."
After listening, Xu Jiawei was silent for quite a while.
Then he smiled; in that smile, there was a bit of helplessness, and also a bit of relief.
"Yes, we cannot afford to offend them."
He turned to look out the window, his gaze cast far into the distance, "Just as you said, Jiujiu. At this rate, in another ten years, the Star Luo Empire will have to change its master."
He waved his hand, "Forget it, let's not think about these things. Let nature take its course, and see what the Axis Cult actually wants to do."
He withdrew his gaze, his tone becoming lighter, "Rather than pondering the Axis Cult, it is better to properly prepare for the All-Continent Advanced Spirit Master Academy Elite Tournament. This session is being hosted by our Star Luo Empire, and there is also an auction with quite a few good items, so we must prepare well."
Xu Jiujiu nodded, "Leave the matter of the auction to me."
Xu Jiawei looked at her and smiled, "Thank you for your hard work."
...
On the other side, in the Shrek Academy dormitory.
It was late at night, and Xiao Xiao was already sleeping soundly, her breathing even.
Furina was lying on the bed, and had also entered dreamland.
Then—
She opened her eyes abruptly, and her whole body sprang up from the bed.
"!!!"
[Water God First God Trial has been completed, Soul Power increased by ten Ranks, two god-bestowed spirit rings and one god-bestowed spirit bone]
Furina clutched the quilt, her fingers trembling slightly. It was not fear, but excitement.
A direct increase of ten Ranks!
She had rushed directly from Rank 57 to Rank 67! Although she had not yet absorbed a spirit ring, effectively stuck at Rank 60, this also meant that the Goddess of Life's Second God Trial was directly completed!
Before she could finish rejoicing, another voice sounded in her mind.
[Goddess of Life Second God Trial has been completed, Soul Power Rank increased by one; all spirit ring ages increased by five hundred years; Goddess of Life God Position affinity increased by ten percent.]
Furina covered her mouth, almost laughing out loud.
Two god-bestowed spirit rings!
The quality of a god-bestowed spirit ring depends on the Spirit Master's talent and physical limit. Given her situation, her sixth spirit ring would start at at least one hundred thousand years!
Once she finished absorbing these two spirit rings, reaching Rank 68 would be secure, and Rank 69 would also be easy; it was even possible that she might shoot directly to Rank 70!
Furina clutched the quilt and twisted silently on the bed twice.
It felt so good.
It felt so good!
She turned her head to look at the bed next to her; Xiao Xiao was sleeping soundly, without making a sound.
Furina took a deep breath, trying hard to calm herself down.
She could not wake her up.
She lay back on the pillow, staring at the ceiling, but the corners of her mouth still could not help but curl upwards.
She probably would not be able to sleep for the rest of the night.
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