Both Sides Harboring Ill Intent

"Imperial Advisor, we truly appreciate your trouble this time."

Within the court of the Sun Moon Empire, Xu Tianran expressed his gratitude to Zhong Liwu, who was draped in a black cloak.

Thanks to Zhong Liwu and his men arriving in time to help him launch the coup, otherwise, relying solely on the forces accumulated in his Crown Prince Mansion, it would have been difficult to control the entire court, from top to bottom.

Thus, after successfully securing control of the situation, Xu Tianran naturally changed his form of address for Zhong Liwu.

In accordance with the secretly agreed-upon terms, he would establish the Holy Spirit Cult as the state religion of the Sun Moon Empire, with the cult's leader inheriting the position of Imperial Advisor of the Sun Moon Empire for life.

In response to Xu Tianran's thanks, Zhong Liwu, hidden beneath the black cloak, gave an ambiguous nod and added with pointed meaning, "Your Highness had best act quickly, or delays may breed unforeseen changes."

"Rest assured, Imperial Advisor. Once I have fully grasped the overall situation and officially ascended the throne, the agreements made with the Holy Spirit Cult will be fulfilled without delay."

Hearing the urgency in Zhong Liwu's tone, Xu Tianran naturally understood what he meant.

Inwardly, he cursed, 'A bunch of short-sighted fools, no wonder they've spent their lives being hunted down.'

Although Xu Tianran held the Holy Spirit Cult in utter contempt, he still couldn't do without their help for now, so he had no choice but to go along with their wishes.

'Once the situation is firmly set, I'll cut ties with these sewer rats!' In Xu Tianran's heart, he had never thought highly of the Holy Spirit Cult.

Promising to establish them as the state religion after his coronation, granting a hereditary Imperial Advisor title, and pledging to legalize Evil Soul Masters after unifying the continent—these were all just temporary expedients.

Xu Tianran was deeply wary of allies like the Holy Spirit Cult.

With too many high-level soul master combatants, coupled with the inherent strangeness and power of evil spirit souls, he had never underestimated the Holy Spirit Cult.

Moreover, the Holy Spirit Cult still had two Limit Douluo.

Well, now it should be just one, but that alone still made Xu Tianran cautious.

If such a Holy Spirit Cult became the state religion, with a hereditary Imperial Advisor position, what would happen if they continued to develop unchecked?

Thus, curbing them was something Xu Tianran would inevitably do.

Furthermore, the most critical point was that Xu Tianran, while possessing ability, also harbored immense ambition.

His aspiration was to surpass every emperor of the Sun Moon Empire, accomplish a groundbreaking feat, and unify the Douluo Continent.

A stain like allying with Evil Soul Masters, even elevating them to state religion and Imperial Advisor, would have to be washed away in the future, so he could become a flawless, wise, and mighty emperor.

So from the very start of the cooperation, Xu Tianran had been harboring the idea of using them and then weakening them once they were no longer needed.

Receiving a satisfactory answer, Zhong Liwu finally spoke, "Then I shall await Your Highness's good news."

Helping Xu Tianran successfully complete the coup was one of the few pieces of good news the Holy Spirit Cult had received recently.

As long as they were openly tied to the Sun Moon Empire, even if the Holy Spirit Cult was now exposed, they wouldn't have to worry about being jointly besieged by other continental forces for the time being.

After all, if those forces truly wanted to act, they would have to get past the Sun Moon Empire first.

Even though Xu Tianran wasn't yet the emperor of the Sun Moon Empire, his status as the crown prince who had completed the coup was already sufficient.

With his personal acknowledgment of the Holy Spirit Cult as the state religion and himself as Imperial Advisor, that alone would make those forces think twice.

Of course, Zhong Liwu was still furious about the Heavenly Curtain's monologue exposure.

Because of that damned Heavenly Curtain monologue, the Holy Spirit Cult had been exposed before they were ready;

It had caused the cult's chief great offering, Limit Douluo Long Xiaoyao, to part ways with them, and once he found his mother, there might even be a major battle...

But now that the die was cast, Zhong Liwu could only accept these facts.

'Though the plan was rushed far too early, at least we're tied to the Sun Moon Empire now, so the loss isn't too great.' At this moment, Zhong Liwu could only console himself.

What he had to do now was accelerate the original plan, help Xu Tianran ascend the throne smoothly, and become the emperor of the Sun Moon Empire.

By then, with the entire Sun Moon Empire backing them, the Holy Spirit Cult would be established as the state religion, and he would serve as the hereditary Imperial Advisor.

If they could successfully launch a war to unify the continent, as originally agreed, that would be even better for the Holy Spirit Cult.

During wartime, the Holy Spirit Cult would have ample resources to rapidly increase their strength;

After the war ended and unification was achieved, the Holy Spirit Cult would be proclaimed to the world by the Sun Moon Empire, becoming the orthodox soul masters, erasing the title of Evil Soul Master, and achieving full legalization!!

Even after unifying the continent, the Holy Spirit Cult could rely on their formidable strength, their position as the state religion, and the hereditary Imperial Advisor role to rise above the Sun Moon Empire and seize the final fruits of victory.

That's right—when the Holy Spirit Cult sought cooperation with Xu Tianran, they weren't just aiming to expand the cult and legalize Evil Soul Masters.

If possible, they also wanted to control this Douluo Continent.

So from the very beginning, both sides in this cooperation had their own hidden agendas.

Of course, no matter what contradictions or conflicts arose, they would only come to light after the continent was unified.

Until that plan was realized, Xu Tianran and the Holy Spirit Cult would remain the closest of allies.

Thus, even though Zhong Liwu saw from the future exposed by the Heavenly Curtain that his mother had fallen into a trap set by the Sun Moon Empire and perished alongside Uncle Long, he made no extra moves.

Instead, when Xu Tianran requested aid, he immediately brought his people to help.

On this matter, both Zhong Liwu and Xu Tianran had enough tacit understanding not to bring it up.

After all, at this moment, neither could do without the other; each had their own needs and required the other's help. It wasn't yet time to tear off the mask.

Meanwhile, outside the Sun Moon Emperor's bedchamber.

A tall, elderly man with short gray-white hair, wearing a bright yellow robe, strode quickly into the chamber.

None of the guards outside dared to stop him—not even the Holy Spirit Cult's protector who had suddenly arrived and was hiding in the shadows to 'protect' the old emperor.

That protector, a Titled Douluo, wished he could flee this place as fast as possible.

Just this reaction alone was enough to show how terrifying the old man who had barged into the bedchamber truly was.

"Your Majesty, your subject has arrived too late." The old man walked straight up to the dragon bed and bowed respectfully.

The old emperor, looking frail and weak, forced himself to muster some energy upon seeing the visitor and said, "No matter, no matter. Now that Elder Kong has come, all is well."

Then the old emperor called out again, "Someone, bring a seat for Elder Kong at once."