The War God Temple was an organization heavily supported by the Douluo Federation. It served two purposes: resisting the Abyss Plane and protecting humanity, and balancing the influence of Shrek Academy, the Tang Sect, and the Spirit Pagoda.
For a long time, the high-level fighting forces on Douluo Continent had been controlled by Shrek Academy and the Tang Sect. A thousand years ago, the Spirit Pagoda rose to prominence, creating a three-way balance of power.
Even after the Douluo Federation was established, that situation could not be changed.
Six thousand years ago, when the Abyss Plane invaded, the Douluo Federation realized it had no powerful forces of its own. It seized the opportunity to establish the War God Temple and widely recruit the continent's powerful fighters.
After six thousand years of development, the War God Temple gradually won recognition from the world. Alongside organizations like Shrek Academy, it had come to share the continent's high-level human forces in a four-way balance of power.
Especially in Xie An's generation, three people were openly affiliated with the Douluo Federation: Xie An, Yue Tian Douluo, and Hanhai Douluo.
That was even after excluding the nine legions, including the Blood God Legion's commander, Blood One, and others.
Xie An's hometown, Eastsea City, was the second-largest coastal city in the eastern part of the Douluo Federation.
In Xie An's memories, the strongest member of the Xie Family a hundred years ago had only been an Eight-Ring Soul Douluo.
With his help, the most talented member of the Xie Family had become a Titled Douluo.
As for Xie Xie, he had Twin Martial Souls. After awakening the Space-Time Dragon Martial Soul alongside the protagonist, he later married into the Yuanen Clan and became a Super Douluo of Rank 97. He even became one of the Sea God Pavilion's members as one of the people who rebuilt Shrek Academy—a true winner in life.
But for now, Xie Xie had only awakened what was falsely called Twin Martial Souls. He was considered a genius in Eastsea City, but beyond that, he wasn't quite good enough.
Standing at the city gates and gazing at bustling Eastsea City, Xie An felt delighted.
The old city, once built around ocean voyages and fishing, was gone. In its place stood walls filled with Soul Tools, while the city center had become a thriving commercial district. It almost rivaled the cities in the Sun Moon Federation or Heaven Dou City.
Young adventurers roamed the streets. The calls of street vendors mingled with the sea breeze and the salty fragrance of local specialties, while wealthy young men and women strolled between shops displaying dazzling wares.
It was all because Xie An had become the War God Temple Master. After taking up the post, he had done much to develop his hometown, and all his neighbors praised him without end.
Even the guards at the city gates were Six-Ring Soul Emperors.
Just after entering Eastsea City, he saw a huge bronze statue. The man depicted had sharp, striking features and held a long spear as he gazed into the distance. He was handsome and imposing, like a war god intimidating the villains in every direction.
Beneath the statue were words that Xie An had once spoken:
"Never forget the one who dug the well when you drink from it."
It was none other than Xie An, War God Temple Master.
The federal government had also given Xie An generous support. It was only natural to repay his hometown and use a little of one's authority to give one's own people some appropriate benefits.
On the contrary, if Xie An, the War God Temple Master, had been completely selfless and shown no favoritism, the Federation wouldn't have dared entrust the War God Temple to him.
Just look at Hanhai Douluo. He maintained an entire Sea God Legion, and no one minded.
"Excuse me, brother. Could you tell me where the Eastsea Xie Family is?" Xie An asked a passerby at random.
"Ah, you must be from out of town, young man. Who in Eastsea City doesn't know the Eastsea Xie Family? The War God Temple Master came from their family." The middle-aged man was quite friendly. He pointed down the street. "Go that way. When you see an intersection, turn right, and you'll find the Eastsea Xie Family."
Although Xie An was already over a hundred years old, he had reached the Limit Douluo level, and his appearance had changed along with his state of mind. As a result, he looked especially young.
"Let me tell you, the Xie Family is something else. They used to be just a mid-ranking Mecha family, but then the Temple Master appeared out of nowhere, and the Xie Family became the biggest family in Eastsea City. We owe a lot to the Temple Master. Our city developed faster, the officials improved, and the policies and benefits were actually put into practice."
"After a hundred years of development, the Xie Family moved its estate to the center of the city when Eastsea City expanded. Only their old residence remained where it had originally stood."
"Ah, it's all fate."
The middle-aged man warmed to his subject. Seeing that no one nearby was paying attention, he lowered his voice and continued, "Let me tell you something. I've heard—I've heard—that the Xie Family has some influence over the Spirit Pagoda's branch master. Every branch master pays a visit to the Xie Family, and the family also works with the Spirit Pagoda."
"How could an organization as proud as the Spirit Pagoda be influenced by a small family?"
Xie An shook his head, rejecting the old man's claim.
The Spirit Pagoda was an organization established a thousand years ago by Spirit Ice Douluo Huo Yuhao. It had developed the unique Soul Spirit System, originally intended to reconcile the relationship between humans and Spirit Beasts. For a time, it had made great contributions to the stability of the continent.
But as time passed, the Spirit Pagoda began trying to create Artificial Soul Spirits and Soul Rings that didn't rely on Spirit Beasts. Large numbers of Spirit Beasts were hunted, and ambitious people rose to power. Gradually, the organization lost its way.
By now, the Spirit Pagoda had established branches throughout the land, and people relied on it to obtain Soul Spirits and Soul Rings. It was on the verge of becoming the continent's most powerful organization.
To put it more bluntly, the Spirit Pagoda was in danger of becoming a second Spirit Hall on Douluo Continent.
He had let the Xie Family use his name to get things done, but when he had explained matters to the head of the Xie Family, he had been very clear about what they could and couldn't do when it came to influencing the Eastsea Spirit Pagoda's master.
The head of the Xie Family was fortunate if the Spirit Pagoda didn't influence him.
Seeing that the middle-aged man was a local and liked to talk, Xie An continued asking questions. "Have any talented young people appeared in the Xie Family lately?"
"Yes, yes! I heard the Xie Family has a young man with Twin Martial Souls. I think his name is Xie Xie. He's quite remarkable. They say the War God Temple Master personally examined him and said he had the makings of a Limit Douluo."
Xie An couldn't help laughing. He knew the middle-aged man had started repeating rumors, so he said, "Thanks for the directions, brother. I'll be on my way and take a look at the Xie Family."
With that, he bid the middle-aged man farewell, then thought for a moment and handed him the ten thousand Federal Coins the system had given him.
The moment the middle-aged man saw the money, he became respectful. "Senior, you're too kind. It's my honor to show you the way."
As he spoke, he accepted the ten thousand Federal Coins.
"I wonder what you're here for, senior. This junior would be glad to assist you."
Xie An smiled faintly and paid no heed to the man's offer. He slowly made his way toward the Xie Family's old residence.
Xie An's parents were already very old. They had decent talent for cultivation, and after he became a Limit Douluo, he found rare treasures for them.
After spending decades, they had barely managed to break through to the Soul Douluo level. He then asked the Tang Sect for some life-extending treasures for them to take.
Unfortunately, becoming Soul Douluos was ultimately the limit for his parents. They could advance no further.
They felt uncomfortable living in their new home, so they moved back to their old residence to enjoy their twilight years.
"Dad, Mom, I'm home!"
The few steps passed in the blink of an eye. Looking at the gate he hadn't seen in so long, Xie An knocked and called out loudly.
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