A Frank Discussion, Guan Yue's Struggle

The newcomer wore gray armor and a gray cloak, with a rhombic gray crystal embedded in his forehead.

It was none other than the Underworld Douluo, Underworld Emperor Harosa.

Although the quasi-divine tool had failed to block the attack of the World-Breaking Spear, it had still served as an obstruction, allowing the Dark Blood Demon to use a secret technique to escape despite his severe injuries.

On the other side, Yuanen Zhentian watched this newly appeared powerhouse with a vigilant expression.

He could sense a thick, palpable threat emanating from the man before him.

As for the Ghost Emperor, he had long since torn through space and fled.

The moment the Underworld Douluo appeared, Xie An knew that it would be very difficult to inflict any effective casualties today.

His current strength allowed him to defeat any quasi-god he faced, but killing one was extremely difficult.

Xie An retracted his spear and stood tall.

Harosa did not even glance at Xie An's movements.

He likewise ignored Yuanen Zhentian standing to the side.

His eyes merely burned with a hint of fanaticism as he said to Xie An, "Tell me, how did you do it?"

"Do you really think I would tell you?" Xie An said with a hint of amusement.

Underworld Emperor Harosa paused upon hearing this, but he remained unwilling to give up. "How about this? I will tell you a secret in exchange. How does that sound?"

"A secret? What kind of secrets could your Holy Spirit Cult possibly have? That you stole a Level 12 Fixed Soul Guidance Shell? Or that you are using the Demon Empress to slaughter your way to godhood?"

Underworld Emperor Harosa was somewhat startled, but he persisted, "That's right, we do indeed possess a Level 12 Fixed Soul Guidance Shell."

"Well? How is that for a condition?"

"How can something I already know count as a condition?"

Xie An controlled the War God Temple, and while some high-level weapons were moved with extreme secrecy, he knew everything he needed to know thanks to his own intelligence network.

The Underworld Battle Armor seemed a bit impatient, but after sensing Xie An's aura, he ultimately chose not to strike.

In the end, the Underworld Douluo asked, "Xie An, what are your chances of success?"

"I have a grasp on reaching the god-level, but as for the God Realm, I have no idea."

The Underworld Douluo nodded and turned to vanish.

"If you have a thirty percent chance of reaching the God Realm, come find me. I will stand on your side."

"What a pity, I only managed to kill a few insignificant Title Douluo."

Xie An sighed and chose to return to the War God Temple with Yuanen Zhentian.

War God Temple.

The five War Gods, led by the First War God, had followed Xie An's arrangements.

They had not been delayed on the road and had returned to the War God Temple quite early.

At this moment, Guan Yue was integrating the Yuanen Clan and arranging their living quarters.

Buildings were springing up one after another like bamboo shoots after a spring rain.

Xie An brought Yuanen Zhentian directly to Guan Yue's side.

Guan Yue had been somewhat vigilant upon sensing two limit-level auras, but he relaxed after seeing who it was.

"This must be the patriarch of the Yuanen Clan, Yuanen Zhentian."

Guan Yue looked at the old man beside Xie An and said with a smile.

"I wouldn't dare, I wouldn't dare. I am Yuanen Zhentian. I am honored that Hall Master Xie thinks highly enough of me to invite me out of seclusion."

Yuanen Zhentian was very polite. On one hand, he had come from afar and was unfamiliar with the surroundings; on the other, he could sense the aura of a quasi-god from the man before him.

"Our War God Temple is not an overly rigid organization. How about this, I will take you on a tour first."

Guan Yue maintained his smile as he spoke.

Under the guidance of Vice Hall Master Guan Yue, Yuanen Zhentian learned in detail about the strength of the War God Temple and the purpose of its founding.

It could be said that he gave this Yuanen patriarch plenty of face.

In the end, Yuanen Zhentian let out a sigh of admiration: "The War God Temple is truly worthy of being one of the most powerful forces on the continent."

At night, Xie An and Guan Yue stood together on the top floor of the War God Temple, looking down at the entire Ming City through the massive floor-to-ceiling windows.

Although they were in the mountains, as the saying goes, standing high allows one to see far, and Ming City was still clearly visible.

"Hall Master, do you have something to discuss with me?" Guan Yue was the first to speak.

"Guan Yue, what is your opinion of the Yuanen Clan?"

"They are very powerful. If we can obtain the sincere assistance of this clan, our War God Temple might even have a chance to challenge for the title of the continent's number one."

Xie An shook his head, but still said, "You need not worry about the loyalty of the Yuanen Clan. As long as I am alive, the Yuanen Clan will provide their full support."

Guan Yue was somewhat surprised by Xie An's confidence, but in the end, he chose to believe him.

"The reason I asked you to come today is actually not for this matter."

Before Guan Yue could voice his confusion, Xie An continued, "Guan Yue, what is your opinion of Shrek Academy?"

"Or, to put it another way, if someone wanted to destroy Shrek, which side would you stand on?"

Guan Yue hesitated slightly after hearing this.

To tell the truth, Shrek Academy had always been a thorn in the side of the Federation.

The laws of the Federation were effectively non-existent to Shrek, and every three years, many Shrek graduates came to Ming City to conduct their graduation exams.

They called it an exam, but in reality, it was more like a constant provocation against the laws and systems of the Federation.

"Some people in the Federation can no longer tolerate Shrek."

Seeing that Guan Yue did not speak, but only listened in silence.

"Guan Yue, as the Vice Temple Master of the War God Temple, I hope you can truly be of one mind with me."

After a long while, Xie An sighed.

"A Level 12 Fixed Soul Guidance Shell has gone missing."

"How dare they?"

Hearing this, Guan Yue finally broke his silence, saying with a mix of anger and disbelief.

"Stop, stop."

Xie An cut off what Guan Yue was about to say.

"You come from Shrek Academy. Although you did not enter the Inner Court, you are, after all, the junior fellow apprentice of Yun Ming."

"Out of consideration for this, the Federation did not involve you in certain confidential matters."

"Originally, I shouldn't have told you about these things either."

"Then what does the Temple Master mean?"

Guan Yue did not know how to describe his current mood, so he could only ask the question.

"Shrek Academy showed you favor by recognizing your talent, and I understand that."

"But I hope you understand that you are the Vice Temple Master of the War God Temple of my Douluo Federation, not of Shrek Academy."

"In the future, pay more attention to these matters."

"Among us quasi-gods, you have the most solid foundation and are the one who walks the steadiest."

"But I still hope you have more of a competitive spirit."

"I do not want us in the War God Temple to remain foolishly unaware even after a Level 12 Fixed Soul Guidance Shell has been delivered into someone else's hands."

"You should understand why those people in the Federation supported my rise to power instead of letting Chen Xinjie continue to serve as the War God Temple Master."

"Back during the Great War in Ming City..."

Xie An thought for a moment, but ultimately chose not to continue with that topic.

"Cultivation is a struggle against heaven, against earth, and against people. Without a competitive spirit, it will only be an accumulation of quantity, and it will be difficult to break through."

"Also, when I brought back Yuanen Zhentian this time, I encountered an attack by Evil Soul Masters. I hope you, as the Vice Temple Master of the War God Temple, can truly shoulder the responsibility."

Xie An did not wait for Guan Yue's reply and turned to leave.

A secretary dressed in a suit came to Xie An's office and bowed, saying, "Temple Master, the Council Chairman has approved your request for a top-secret meeting. Please come with me now."

Xie An nodded, signaling for the secretary to lead the way.