Chapter 26: Body Sect, Spirit Pagoda?
The Ice Empress froze for a moment, confused and even a little disappointed. She had only just submitted; was she not allowed to follow by his side?
Lin Yu glanced at Gu Yuena, who remained silent like a dutiful bodyguard, and said with a pointed underlying meaning:
"Your staying in the Far North serves a greater purpose. First, you know this place best. Immediately mobilize all your forces—under the premise of ensuring your own safety—to secretly search for the Snow Empress's whereabouts! Any suspicious human tracks, any abnormal energy fluctuations in the Profound Frost caves, you must take note of! If you find a lead, notify Bear Lord or me immediately through our mental link."
He had already quietly established a deeper connection when subduing Bear Lord and the Ice Empress.
"Second, secretly recruit other powerful soul beasts in the Far North. Tell them that by following this Seat, there will be plenty of God Realm positions in the future! But remember, be discreet. Do not cause a commotion large enough to alert the God Realm."
Lin Yu knew well that the eyes of the God Realm were always a threat.
"As for you," Lin Yu looked at the still somewhat dazed Ah Tai, "Follow the Ice Empress, protect her, and listen to her commands. Whoever she tells you to hit, you hit."
"Yes! Master! I, Ah Tai, guarantee to protect Lady Ice Empress!" Ah Tai thumped his chest in promise.
Though the Ice Empress still felt a trace of disappointment at not being able to follow him, she understood that Lin Yu's arrangement was the most practical for now. Suppressing her worry for the Snow Empress, she replied respectfully:
"As you command, Master! I will do my utmost to find the Snow Empress and recruit capable talents for you!"
Lin Yu nodded slightly. Not letting the Ice Empress follow wasn't just about the mission; the main reason was right beside him—the Silver Dragon King. On the surface, Gu Yuena was a dignified bodyguard, but she was deep and calculating. If he let another stunning and powerful woman like the Ice Empress stay by his side every day, he could easily imagine how "dutifully" Gu Yuena would manufacture "accidents" to interfere.
Better to avoid the trouble.
"Very well."
Lin Yu said no more and leapt lightly onto Bear Lord's broad back. He looked at the Gu Yuena clone: "Let's go, Miss Bodyguard. Next stop."
The Gu Yuena clone had maintained a cold, detached posture throughout, as if none of this concerned her. Hearing Lin Yu's words, she merely cast a faint glance at the bowing Ice Empress and Ah Tai. A trace of an almost imperceptible emotion flickered in her purple eyes.
"Bear Lord, set out."
"Roar! As you command, Master!"
The biting cold wind swirled obediently around Bear Lord's massive frame, separating Lin Yu's group from the ice palaces of the North. The figures of the Ice Empress and Ah Tai gradually blurred in the snow.
As Bear Lord strode south, Lin Yu stood with his hands behind his back, narrowing his eyes as he contemplated the future. Huo Yuhao sat quietly behind him, feeling the growth of his soul power and listening to the Daydream Worm's chatter, his heart full of both hope and anxiety.
Gu Yuena's clone floated silently nearby, like a perfect silver silhouette. Her purple eyes seemed to gaze into the distance, yet also seemed to be scrutinizing Lin Yu's every thought.
On the soul beast side... with the Ice Empress and Ah Tai in the Far North, the search for the Snow Empress is under control. Star Dou has Di Tian and Brigitte; I can't move them yet. A premature attempt to subdue them would only alert the enemy and provoke a reaction from Gu Yuena's main body or the God Realm.
As for that old monster in the Evil Tyrant Forest—the Evil Eye Tyrant Ruler—his territory is too far. Moreover, his spiritual attacks are erratic. In my current state, with these "baggages" (he glanced at Huo Yuhao and Bear Lord), even with this bodyguard here, we might not come out on top and could expose our location.
In truth, Lin Yu just thought it was too far and too much trouble. Otherwise, with his strength, everyone on this continent—save for the Silver Dragon King—was a "little brother." Plus, that guy was just too ugly. Lin Yu was a bit disgusted by the idea of having him as a doorman.
Better not to provoke him for now.
Lin Yu's thoughts turned rapidly, analyzing the available resources. The only target left is the human world.
The empires—Heavenly Soul, Dou Ling, Star Luo, Sun Moon... and those sects.
Shrek... Hmph!
Thinking of Shrek, a cold disdain flashed in Lin Yu's eyes. In the original story's later stages, Shrek's hypocritical "ends justify the means" operations were even filthier than the open Evil Soul Master organizations—not to mention the nauseating hypocrite Tang San standing behind it.
Should I just wipe them out?
The thought flashed by but was rejected. Shrek was Tang San's foundation and a key node for his surveillance of the lower realm. If Lin Yu personally intervened and showed power beyond the limits, the man hiding in the God Realm would surely notice.
I need to "borrow a knife" to kill. I need a faction strong enough, one that hates Shrek enough, and can be used by me...
A name instantly leaped into Lin Yu's mind—the Body Sect!
Old man Du Busi's hatred for Shrek was etched into his bones. Furthermore, the Body Sect's secret techniques—especially the Second Awakening and Gold-level Awakening—were exactly what a kid like Yuhao needed. His Spirit Eyes had immense potential; if stimulated by Body Sect methods, his strength would skyrocket.
A calculating arc curved on Lin Yu's lips. With the temperament of those madmen in the Body Sect, if they knew they had a chance to heavily damage or even overturn Shrek, and if he provided a bit of "minor help"—intelligence, resources, or an "accidental" hand at the right moment—they would pounce like sharks smelling blood.
Letting them fight each other will weaken Shrek and distract Tang San. Perfect!
Utilizing the Body Sect would cultivate Huo Yuhao, dig a hole for Shrek, and keep the fire from burning him directly. However... Lin Yu's gaze shifted further, seemingly piercing the continental boundaries to land on the territory with the most advanced soul tool technology: the Sun Moon Empire.
To truly change the world and control the human realm, martial force and soul beast influence weren't enough. The human world had its own rules; it needed to be dismantled and rebuilt from within.
And Soul Spirits were the master key to opening the doors of the human world and a crucial step in resolving the ten-thousand-year blood feud between humans and soul beasts.
Lin Yu clearly remembered the massive influence of the Spirit Pagoda in the original story. It wasn't just about providing soul rings; it was a massive organization integrating research, production, and political influence.
I must lead the establishment of the Spirit Pagoda! And the Sun Moon Empire is the most suitable place to start.
Will Lin Yu successfully manipulate the Body Sect, and what will the Silver Dragon King think of his human-world ambitions?