Xie An silently looked at the people collapsed behind him.
After a long while, he sighed and raised a hand, using Soul Power to envelop the people lying on the ground.
His gentle Spiritual Power flowed like a trickling stream as he examined everyone's bodies one by one.
After confirming they were fine and had simply fainted, Xie An finally breathed a sigh of relief.
While he was checking them with his Spiritual Power, Yuanen Zhentian—who was, after all, a Limit Douluo—slowly came to. His recovery really was impressive.
Once awake, Yuanen Zhentian looked at the War God Temple Master before him, his eyes filled with an incredibly complicated expression.
He gave Xie An a wry smile. "Temple Master Xie, you've certainly opened my eyes today."
Xie An scratched his head, then took out the successfully forged Heaven-Forged Metal. "Does the promise Clan Head Yuanen made just now still stand?"
Yuanen Zhentian's pupils suddenly contracted as he reached out and took the metal.
The moment it touched his hand, an imposing aura surged through him, making his whole body tremble.
Remembering what had happened earlier, Yuanen Zhentian hurriedly handed the metal back to Xie An.
After a long while, Yuanen Zhentian sighed. "Since Temple Master Xie has done it, how could I, Zhentian, go back on my word?"
"It seems the emergence of my clan really was heaven's will."
Xie An was delighted. He held out a hand. "Brother Zhentian, it's a pleasure doing business with you. Welcome to the War God Temple."
"A pleasure doing business with you."
Yuanen Zhentian took Xie An's outstretched hand, and the two clasped hands tightly.
[ Ding! Congratulations, host, on winning the Yuan'en Clan's allegiance.]
[Reward obtained...]
The system's mechanical voice rang out, but this time it grew quieter and quieter until it abruptly vanished.
A burst of static crackled.
[System error detected.]
[ Ding! Detected that the Silver Dragon King has split off Na'er. Adopt Na'er before Tang Wulin.]
[If this is not possible, become the most important person to both Tang Wulin and Na'er.]
Xie An was momentarily stunned. Had the system restarted?
Why had its intelligence suddenly dropped?
Xie An thought of how that sense of danger had disappeared earlier. Could that have been the system's doing?
And was the price that the system had once again become an inflexible tool that only knew how to push the main plot forward?
"Temple Master Xie, is something wrong?"
Seeing Xie An staring off into space, Yuanen Zhentian asked in confusion.
"It's nothing, it's nothing. Brother Zhentian, let's go inside and talk."
"After you, Temple Master Xie."
Soul Power enveloped the people who had fainted on the ground and carried them into the room.
"..."
Star Dou Forest.
Golden-Eyed Black Dragon King Di Tian looked at the Silver Dragon King, curled up in Lake of Life, and asked urgently, "Lord, what happened?"
Di Tian knelt beside Lake of Life.
After a while, the lake finally stirred.
"Nothing. Perhaps it was just an illusion."
"Di Tian, do you think we can really succeed?"
"This one doesn't know. This one only knows that if we follow you, Lord, you'll surely lead our Soul Beast Clan back to prosperity."
Di Tian spoke with fervent conviction.
Silence fell once more.
"Very well. The original plan remains unchanged. Continue infiltrating the human world to learn, and remember to start from the very bottom."
"If we want to defeat humanity, we must first understand them."
"We must also continue infiltrating the Spirit Pagoda."
"Lord, there's no need to worry. Xiong Jun and Yao Ling have already begun."
Di Tian knelt on the ground and answered respectfully.
"But..." The Silver Dragon King hesitated. "Di Tian, do you believe in reincarnation?"
Before Di Tian could answer, the Silver Dragon King continued, "Recently, I seem to have sensed the Golden Dragon King's presence."
"I will split off half of myself. One half will go to the human world to learn, and you will take the other half to the designated place I told you about."
Di Tian's heart jolted. He immediately replied, "I'll follow your arrangements, Lord."
"Mm. Continue with your duties."
Lake of Life returned to its stillness.
"..."
"Boss, did you really succeed in Heavenly Forging?"
Long Tianwu looked at Xie An with admiration. The other members of the War God Temple were just as impressed.
Leng Yulai, in particular, had eyes that were practically sparkling.
Xie An nodded. He sensed something, then said hesitantly, "But something seems strange. I can apparently only forge one set of Four-Word Battle Armor per year."
"Oh my god! One set a year? Boss, do you know what that means?"
"Even God Craftsman Zhen Hua wouldn't dare claim he could forge a set of Four-Word Battle Armor in a year!"
Xie An opened his mouth, wanting to say that Tian Wu had misunderstood, but in the end, he didn't explain further.
Well, even one set a year was already pretty good. He shouldn't be too greedy.
"Temple Master Xie, shouldn't we discuss the arrangements for integrating my Yuan'en Clan?"
Yuanen Zhentian saw that the Second War God wouldn't stop talking and chose to interrupt him.
"Mm, Clan Head Yuanen is right."
Xie An gently wrapped the Second War God in Soul Power, silencing him.
The other War Gods looked at the Second War God's awkward predicament, their faces tense as they struggled not to laugh.
"Pfft!" Dark Phoenix Douluo couldn't hold it in and burst out laughing.
Xie An glanced at her without saying anything, and Dark Phoenix Douluo stopped laughing.
"When I return, I'll first forge a set of Four-Word Battle Armor for Zhentian. It's rather shabby for a mighty Limit Douluo to still be wearing Three-Word Battle Armor."
Yuanen Zhentian couldn't stop smiling. "Then I thank you, Temple Master."
There was no helping it. The War God Temple Master was offering him so much.
That was Four-Word Battle Armor—the ultimate dream of every Soul Master on the continent!
"As for the rest of the work, Yulai, you're the only woman here, and you're meticulous. I'll leave the coordination to you."
Dark Phoenix Douluo had been standing off to the side, enjoying the show. When she suddenly heard her name, she didn't react at first.
"Huh? Temple Master, me?"
As she spoke, she pointed at herself.
"What? Is there a problem?"
Xie An raised an eyebrow and looked at Leng Yulai in confusion.
"N-no problem. I'll get right to it. I'll follow your instructions, Temple Master."
Before long, everyone saw Leng Yulai staring at page after page of documents with a deeply troubled expression.
The others didn't dare make a sound.
"Oh, right, Tian Dang. How's your wife?"
Xie An suddenly thought of something and asked.
Yuanen Tiandang stepped forward to answer. "Sorry for the trouble, Temple Master. My wife has rested for a few days and is out of danger now."
Xie An nodded, then continued, "When you first arrived, you mentioned your daughter. Her name is Yuan'en Yehui, right?"
"I heard she awakened Twin Martial Souls, and they seem to be two top-grade Martial Souls. Why not let us see them?"
Yuanen Tiandang was overjoyed. "I'll go get my daughter right away."
With that, he hurried toward his daughter Yuan'en Yehui's room.
Watching Yuanen Tiandang's eager expression, Xie An smiled and shook his head.
Before you continue