The Sea God Pavilion Meeting

Wang Zhi wasn't too surprised.

No matter where you were, strength ultimately came first.

Seeing that Wang Zhi agreed with him, Qian Gu Dongfeng continued.

"Student Wang, I have high hopes for you."

"Although you have your own force backing you, no matter what, Shrek is still the most powerful force on this continent."

"You've already offended them. They're bound to suppress you again and again."

He paused, his gaze sincere.

"Just as I did yesterday, I invite you to join the Spirit Pagoda."

"What's more, I can offer you the position of Spirit Transmitter Envoy."

Wang Zhi raised an eyebrow slightly.

He had to admit, Qian Gu Dongfeng was making a generous offer.

The Spirit Transmitter Envoy held considerable power.

And the Four Great Spirit Transmitter Envoys were candidates for the positions of Vice Tower Master and Tower Master.

As long as he became a Spirit Transmitter Envoy, he could compete for one of the Four Great Spirit Transmitter Envoy positions, and might even have a chance to become the Spirit Pagoda Tower Master.

It was an extremely tempting offer.

But Wang Zhi still shook his head.

"I'm sorry, Tower Master Qian Gu."

"I prefer to be on my own."

With the Black Shadow Kingdom backing him, there was no need for him to become someone else's underling or lackey. It was pointless.

All he needed to do was improve himself, then take complete control of the Black Shadow Kingdom.

A trace of disappointment flashed in Qian Gu Dongfeng's eyes, but he quickly concealed it.

He sighed softly.

"Ah."

"Since Student Wang isn't willing to join the Spirit Pagoda, I won't force you."

"I simply regret that I couldn't recruit a genius for the Spirit Pagoda."

Wang Zhi wasn't moved by his words.

They were both old foxes. What was the point of putting on an act?

Perhaps Qian Gu Dongfeng thought he came across as approachable.

But Wang Zhi knew the Original Work. He was well aware that this man had collaborated with the Holy Spirit Cult for the glory and legacy of the Qian Gu Family, resulting in the entire Shrek City being bombarded by two Level Twelve Soul Guide Cannonballs.

He was hardly a good person.

What's more, he had always planned for his grandson, Qiangu Zhangting, to inherit the position of Spirit Pagoda Tower Master and turn the Spirit Pagoda into the property of the Qian Gu Family.

Therefore, if Wang Zhi showed any interest in the position of Spirit Pagoda Tower Master, Qian Gu Dongfeng would undoubtedly suppress him.

So what would be the point of joining the Spirit Pagoda?

After all...

A soldier who didn't want to be a general wasn't a good soldier.

By the same logic, if he couldn't become the Spirit Pagoda Tower Master, why would he join the Spirit Pagoda?

Was he bored and looking for trouble?

"Thank you for the generous offer, Tower Master."

Wang Zhi stood up.

"If there's nothing else, I'll take my leave."

Qian Gu Dongfeng nodded with a smile.

"All right."

"Take care, Student Wang."

The elevator doors closed.

The top floor of the Spirit Transmitter Tower Headquarters fell silent once more.

Qian Gu Dongfeng stood before the Floor-to-Ceiling Window, watching the boy's departing figure below. The smile on his face gradually vanished.

His gaze grew profound.

"If he can't be one of us..."

"Then he can only be our enemy."

He muttered under his breath. There was no anger in his voice, only calm resolve.

He had always been a petty man.

Wang Zhi had turned down his invitation twice, which infuriated him.

He had already lowered himself, yet that brat still wouldn't budge. He really didn't know his place!

Then Qian Gu Dongfeng turned and returned to his desk.

He picked up the Soul Tool Communicator on the desk and dialed a number.

"Investigate everything about Wang Zhi."

"Include his four years in Hailu City, every match he competed in at the Tianhai Competition, and everyone he's been in contact with. I want the most detailed intelligence."

"Yes."

A respectful voice came from the other end.

Qian Gu Dongfeng set down the communicator and turned his gaze back to the window.

He had to find out exactly what kind of force stood behind that boy.

If that force was powerful enough...

He wouldn't mind using other methods.

But if it couldn't be made to serve him...

Then he would destroy it!

And that...

Was the Qian Gu Family's guiding principle for the past ten thousand years!

Shrek Academy, Sea God Pavilion.

The Sea God Pavilion stood at the center of Sea God Island. It was the highest seat of power in Shrek Academy.

Usually, it was quiet and solemn, and few people ever set foot there.

But today, the atmosphere was especially tense.

After Yun Ming brought Cai Yuer back to Sea God Island, he immediately called a Sea God Pavilion Meeting.

The news spread, and the Sea God Pavilion Elders arrived one after another. No one was absent.

The meeting room was filled with people seated along both sides of the long table.

Every one of them was a top expert of the era, a Titled Douluo.

But now, all their eyes were fixed on the person at one end of the table.

Cai Yuer.

She sat in her chair, gaunt and frail, with white hair and sagging skin. Her body trembled slightly, making her seem like an ordinary old woman nearing the end of her life.

Who would have thought that just a few hours ago, she had been the Silver Moon Douluo, full of vigor and commanding awe wherever she went?

After losing her cultivation, she could no longer keep her body functioning properly.

The backlash from having her Martial Soul destroyed had left her even weaker than an ordinary elderly person.

Her eyes were cloudy, her lips quivered, and she seemed to want to say something, but no words came out.

Before they arrived, Yun Ming had already informed the Elders of the general situation so the meeting could proceed smoothly.

They therefore knew that Cai Yuer had been reduced to a cripple.

Zhuo Shi furrowed his brows and looked at Yun Ming, asking in a grave voice,

"Pavilion Master, can Her Holiness Holy Spirit really not heal Elder Cai's injuries?"

He was an old friend of Cai Yuer's. They had worked together for many years, and seeing her like this weighed heavily on him.

Yun Ming slowly shook his head.

"Before calling the meeting, I took Yue'er to see Ya Li."

"But even Ya Li was powerless."

Everyone turned their eyes to the woman seated on Yun Ming's right.

She looked to be in her thirties, with delicate features and a gentle air. She was none other than Holy Spirit Douluo Ya Li...

The greatest healing Soul Master on the Douluo Continent.

Seeing everyone looking at her, Ya Li nodded slightly. Her voice was gentle, but carried a trace of heaviness.

"Yue'er's Martial Soul and cultivation weren't simply destroyed by severe injuries."

"Instead, someone forcibly erased them with an extraordinarily powerful force."

"It was as though..."

"Yue'er had never possessed a Martial Soul or cultivated at all."

"This isn't an injury, so I can't heal it."

Everyone understood.

That made sense. Holy Spirit Douluo Ya Li was the greatest healing Soul Master on the continent. If even she couldn't treat it, then it truly couldn't be healed.

But this only made the Elders' expressions even graver.

Just what kind of strength would it take to erase someone's Martial Soul and cultivation at a fundamental level?!

Feng Wu Yu was the most hot-tempered. He immediately looked at Yun Ming and asked,

"Pavilion Master, can you do it?"

Yun Ming sighed helplessly.

"I can't do it either."

"That person's strength..."

"May be on par with mine."

"But his mastery of the laws far surpasses mine. That's where I can't compare."

Everyone looked horrified.

Could there really be someone on the Douluo Continent even stronger than Yun Ming?!