Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track, First Signs Emerge

Black blood dripped onto the ground, hissing as it corroded the earth and sent wisps of green smoke curling upward. The black substance Zhu Zhuqing had torn away twisted and wriggled like a living thing before finally turning into a small puddle of viscous black liquid that seeped into the soil, leaving behind only a faint, strange stench of decay and blood.

Zhu Zhuqing withdrew her Netherworld Spirit Cat Martial Soul. Her cold eyes swept over the corroded ground as her brows drew together slightly. That brief clash had revealed how bizarre the enemy's speed and concealment techniques were. That soul attack in particular had been impossible to guard against. Had Yang Yu's unfathomable methods not disrupted it for that instant, the consequences would have been unimaginable.

"Your Highness, this subordinate has failed in his duty!" Yue Guan's figure reappeared beside the carriage like Gui Mei, his expression grim. He had pursued the assassin for dozens of miles, but the other party had vanished into thin air. He had caught only a few traces of lingering cold aura; the enemy had clearly prepared a thorough escape plan in advance.

Only then did Yang Yu slowly open his eyes. His gaze settled on the puddle of black liquid that had yet to dry, his expression calm and undisturbed.

"No matter. Just a rat." His tone was indifferent, as though he did not care about this carefully planned assassination at all. "What did you find?"

Yue Guan stepped forward and carefully sensed the lingering aura. A trace of gravity appeared on his enchanting face. "Your Highness, this aura... is very strange. Cold, evil, and filled with intense destructive intent. It resembles the Evil Cultist Tang San we encountered in Nuoding City, but it is purer, more... ancient. And these methods of concealment and soul attacks do not seem to belong to Star Luo or the Upper Three Sects."

Yang Yu nodded slightly. An imperceptible ripple of time spread from his fingertips, enveloping the residual aura. In his perception, the aura's composition resembled tangled venomous snakes, filled with chaos and brutality. Yet deep within that chaos, it faintly pointed toward an exceedingly obscure source.

"Ghost shadows... Rakshasa..." he murmured. Only Yue Guan and Zhu Zhuqing nearby could barely make out the words.

Yue Guan's pupils contracted slightly. "Your Highness means... the Rakshasa God?" As an elder of Spirit Hall, he naturally knew of the Rakshasa God's existence. It was a first-rank deity opposed to the Angel God, its power aligned with evil and destruction. Could this assassination be related to the Rakshasa God's inheritance?

Yang Yu did not answer directly, instead changing the subject. "The assassin was injured. Zhu Zhuqing's Soul Power possesses the characteristics of Netherworld Soul Devouring, so it will not be easy to dispel. Follow this lead. Have the people in Nuoding City keep a close eye on any developments related to 'soul injuries' and 'sinister objects.'"

"Yes!" Yue Guan immediately accepted the order and relayed it through a special channel.

"Clean up the scene. Continue onward." Yang Yu closed his eyes again, as though what had just happened was merely an insignificant interruption.

The convoy set out once more, but the atmosphere had become even more murderous. The escorting knights heightened their vigilance, releasing their Soul Power as they warily scanned every shadow along both sides of the road.

Zhu Zhuqing sat across from Yang Yu, silently circulating her Soul Power as she absorbed the insights gained from that lightning-fast exchange. The Netherworld Soul Devouring Slash seemed to inflict additional damage upon soul entities. Perhaps this would become one direction for her future development.

No further attacks came during the rest of the journey. Perhaps the first failure had caused the enemy to temporarily withdraw, or perhaps Spirit City was close enough that all factions had restrained themselves.

Several days later, the outline of a towering and majestic colossal city finally appeared on the horizon.

Spirit City!

From afar, its six enormous city walls resembled six mountain ranges, guarding the even loftier Papal Palace at the center, whose peak seemed to pierce the clouds. The entire city radiated immense Soul Power fluctuations and a solemn, majestic presence that inspired reverence.

The closer they came, the more they could sense the extraordinary nature of this holy land of Soul Masters. The city gates bustled with carriages and pedestrians, and most of those entering and leaving were Soul Masters. Their auras varied in strength, but every one of them treated the city with respect.

Yang Yu's convoy possessed the highest level of passage authority. They did not stop at the city gate, instead entering directly through a special passage reserved for high-ranking personnel. They proceeded without hindrance toward the Holy Son's Palace in the core area of the inner city.

The Holy Son's Palace stood behind and to the side of the Papal Palace. Though smaller than the Papal Palace, it was still exceedingly luxurious and magnificent, with strict defenses. The plaza before it was paved with white jade and lined with several statues of powerful Soul Masters.

The carriage came to a stop before the palace gates.

Several hundred officials, guards, and maidservants of the Holy Son's Palace, all of whom had received word in advance, stood in neat ranks to welcome the Holy Son's return.

"Welcome back to the palace, Your Highness the Holy Son!"

Their unified voices rang across the plaza.

Yang Yu stepped down from the carriage, his calm gaze sweeping over the dense crowd before him. Some of these people had been arranged by Bibi Dong, some were spies planted by various factions, and a small number were trusted subordinates secretly cultivated by Yue Guan. It was a mixed bag.

He said nothing more than a faint "Mm," then, surrounded by Yue Guan and Zhu Zhuqing, walked straight into the grand hall.

Upon returning to his familiar chambers, Yang Yu dismissed all the attendants, leaving behind only Yue Guan and Zhu Zhuqing.

"Tell me about Spirit City's situation while I was away," Yang Yu said as he took the main seat.

Yue Guan bowed and reported, "Your Highness, while you were away, Spirit City appeared calm on the surface, but undercurrents ran deep beneath it. Over at the Elder Hall, several old men led by Golden Crocodile Douluo were deeply dissatisfied with your actions in Nuoding City and Thunder Gorge. They repeatedly pressured Her Majesty the Pope during meetings, claiming that you acted too domineeringly, made too many enemies, and damaged Spirit Hall's reputation."

Yang Yu sneered. "Reputation? The biggest fist is reputation. They are merely afraid that I will touch their interests."

"Precisely." Yue Guan continued, "Furthermore, after the news returned that the Star Luo Empire had colluded with Evil Cultists and that the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan had submitted, divisions within the Elder Hall became severe. One faction advocated taking this chance to unite the major sects and destroy Star Luo in one stroke. The other feared that it would trigger a continent-wide war and undermine Spirit Hall's foundation, so they advocated caution."

"And Her Majesty the Pope?" Yang Yu cared more about Bibi Dong's attitude.

"Her Majesty the Pope..." Yue Guan's tone became cautious. "Her Majesty's stance is ambiguous, and she has not made her position clear. She merely ordered border defenses strengthened while also... accelerating the infiltration and control of Soul Master Academies and small and medium-sized sects across the regions. In addition, Her Majesty seems very concerned about the formation of the Holy Son's Guard and personally inquired about the candidates."

The Holy Son's Guard had been proposed by Yang Yu before he left: a direct force wholly loyal to him alone. Bibi Dong's interest in it might not be born entirely of good intentions.

"Also," Yue Guan lowered his voice, "this subordinate has received word that Saintess Hu Liena has been entering seclusion frequently recently. It seems... her Soul Power has made a breakthrough."

Hu Liena... Bibi Dong's personal disciple and Spirit Hall's Saintess. In theory, her position was equal to Yang Yu's as Holy Son, and she was one of the future Pope's competitors. Her breakthrough was clearly intended to strengthen her hand as well.

Yang Yu lightly tapped the armrest with his fingers, reviewing this information in his mind. Spirit City's situation was even more complicated than he had expected. The constraints imposed by the Elder Hall, Bibi Dong's suspicion and exploitation, Hu Liena's competition... and the hidden force that might be connected to the Rakshasa God...

"I understand." Yang Yu's expression remained unchanged. "Make preparations. I will go pay my respects to the Pope later."

"Yes." Yue Guan responded, then hesitated. "Then... that rabbit and Xiao Wu?"

"Settle them in the side palace for now. Send additional people to 'protect' them." A cold glint flashed through Yang Yu's eyes. "Without my orders, no one is to approach them, especially... the Pope's people."

He had no intention of casually handing over such a juicy prize as Xiao Wu.

"Understood." Yue Guan grasped his meaning at once.

After Yue Guan withdrew, Yang Yu looked toward the silent Zhu Zhuqing. "How does it feel?"

Zhu Zhuqing raised her head. A trace of determination shone within her cold eyes. "This place... is very strong. But I need to become even stronger." The dense Soul Power environment of Spirit City and the omnipresent auras of powerful experts had placed enormous pressure on her, but they had also awakened even stronger fighting spirit within her.

"Follow me, and you will become strong enough." Yang Yu said indifferently, "Go rest. Familiarize yourself with the surroundings. There will be things for you to do soon."

"Yes." Zhu Zhuqing bowed, turned, and withdrew. Her back was straight and resolute.

Only Yang Yu remained within the vast, empty hall.

He walked to the window and gazed toward the majestic Papal Palace in the distance, his eyes profound.

Spirit City—the final battlefield of this game of chess. He had finally returned.

This time, he was no longer a pawn who had to tread carefully and live at others' mercy.

He wanted to be the one holding the pieces.

After resting for about two hours, an attendant from the Papal Palace came to deliver word: Her Majesty the Pope had summoned him to the side hall for deliberations.

Yang Yu straightened his robes and followed the attendant calmly toward the heart of power.

The side hall was slightly dim.

Bibi Dong sat high upon the papal throne, clad in luxurious purple papal robes, a purple-gold crown upon her head and a Jeweled Scepter in hand. Her beauty was peerless, yet she carried an inviolable majesty and icy chill. The faint aura surrounding her was as unfathomable as an abyss.

Two others sat below her.

On the left sat an elderly man in golden elder robes, his expression rigid and his gaze sharp as an eagle's. He was the Elder Hall's Second Worship, Golden Crocodile Douluo. The look he gave Yang Yu held undisguised scrutiny and a trace of displeasure.

On the right sat a woman who appeared to be in her early twenties. Her pale golden dress outlined her graceful figure, while her charming features and shifting gaze carried an innate, captivating allure. She was none other than the Saintess, Hu Liena. When she saw Yang Yu enter, a complicated glint flashed through her beautiful eyes—curiosity, wariness, and a faint fighting spirit that was difficult to detect.

"Disciple Yang Yu greets Teacher." Yang Yu stepped into the hall and gave Bibi Dong a slight bow, his tone neither servile nor overbearing.

Bibi Dong's profound gaze fell upon Yang Yu, as though she intended to see through him completely. Only after a moment did she slowly speak, her voice carrying an ethereal authority. "You're back. You certainly made quite a spectacle of yourself in Nuoding City."

Golden Crocodile Douluo snorted coldly and cut in. "His Highness the Holy Son is certainly imposing. Wherever you go, bloodshed follows. Star Luo is enraged, Blue Lightning has submitted, and Seven Treasure is terrified. The continent is in turmoil now, all because of you! Do you know how much trouble this will bring to Spirit Hall?!"

Facing Golden Crocodile Douluo's questioning, Yang Yu's expression did not change. He answered calmly, "Elder Golden Crocodile, you are mistaken. Star Luo harbored malicious intentions and colluded with Evil Cultists; the evidence is conclusive. If Spirit Hall did not punish them, where would our authority be? The Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan recognized the times and willingly submitted, demonstrating Spirit Hall's virtue and might. As for the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, so long as they behave themselves, Spirit Hall will naturally not mistreat its allies. Where is this so-called turmoil?"

"What sophistry!" Golden Crocodile Douluo snapped. "There are still doubts regarding those Evil Cultists! How can you condemn Star Luo based on your one-sided account alone? You—"

"Enough." Bibi Dong spoke faintly, cutting him off. She looked at Yang Yu. "What has happened cannot be undone, and further discussion is useless. I have my own considerations regarding Star Luo. Now that you have returned, focus on cultivation and raise your strength as soon as possible. Do not recklessly place yourself in danger again."

Though her words sounded concerned, she was in fact temporarily withdrawing Yang Yu's authority and telling him to keep a low profile for a while.

"This disciple will obey Teacher's instruction." Yang Yu went along with it readily.

Bibi Dong's eyes flickered as she continued, "I heard that you brought back a girl from Nuoding City who carries an immortal aura?"

Here it comes. Yang Yu sneered inwardly, but his face showed just the right amount of "respect." "In reply to Teacher, that is true. The girl is named Xiao Wu. This disciple met her in Nuoding City. Her background is pitiful, and her constitution is unusual; she seems capable of drawing in the essence of plants and vegetation. During the Nuoding City explosion, she happened to absorb some of the scattered energy from the Immortal Herbs, which caused her aura to become unusual. Seeing that her talent was not bad, this disciple brought her back to observe her for a time. If she proves worthy of cultivation, she may perhaps be brought into the hall."

He mixed truth with lies, attributing Xiao Wu's uniqueness to her constitution and coincidence, never mentioning that she was a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast.

"Oh? An unusual constitution?" A nearly imperceptible gleam flashed through Bibi Dong's eyes. "Bring her to see me."

Yang Yu said with some difficulty, "Teacher, Xiao Wu was frightened by the explosion and forcibly absorbed energy, damaging her foundation. She is currently recuperating and cannot be moved conveniently. Once her injuries have improved, this disciple will bring her to pay respects to Teacher."

He directly found an excuse to refuse.

Bibi Dong looked deeply at Yang Yu but did not press the matter. She merely said flatly, "Then take good care of her. Once she recovers, you must bring her here."

"Yes." Yang Yu accepted.

Hu Liena suddenly let out a soft laugh from the side, her voice gentle and seductive. "Junior Brother Yang Yu, you not only improved your cultivation during this trip, but also gained such a special 'friend.' It truly makes one envious. I wonder what realm Junior Brother has reached now? This Senior Sister has recently gained some insight herself and would like to exchange a few moves with Junior Brother."

The Soul Power fluctuations faintly emanating from her had already reached the Soul Emperor level! It seemed her closed-door cultivation had yielded considerable results.

Yang Yu glanced at her. Though he sensed that her Soul Power had increased, it was somewhat unstable. Clearly, she had used some secret method or resources to forcefully raise it. He smiled slightly. "Senior Sister is extraordinarily talented; this Junior Brother admires you. I would not dare call it instruction. If Senior Sister is interested, there will naturally be an opportunity for us to spar another day."

He did not reveal his exact rank, and his attitude was neither warm nor cold.

Hu Liena had hit a soft wall. A flicker of annoyance passed through her beautiful eyes, but she quickly concealed it, maintaining her radiant smile.

After asking a few more inconsequential questions, Bibi Dong waved her hand. "You have traveled far. Go rest. I will have people assist you with establishing the Holy Son's Guard."

"Thank you, Teacher. This disciple takes his leave." Yang Yu bowed, turned, and left the side hall.

The moment he stepped out of the deliberation hall, the respect on Yang Yu's face vanished, replaced by cold indifference.

Assist me? More like monitor and control me.

He raised his head and looked at the oppressive sky above Spirit City, shrouded by the barrier.

The game had begun. There would be no regrets after the pieces were placed.

It was time for the wind in Spirit City to change direction.