"What evidence do you have for what you've said?"
A faint smile appeared on Xie An's face.
Ever since he had crossed over and become the War God Temple Master, Evil Soul Masters had been one of the War God Temple's main targets.
Relying on his memories of the original timeline, Xie An had first captured Dark Phoenix Douluo before she committed any irreparable wrongs, then revealed the truth about her older sister's secret rendezvous with Yun Ming.
After learning the truth, Dark Phoenix Douluo felt she could no longer face her sister. She defeated Luo Yuhang, the former Third War God, and took his place.
The Holy Spirit Cult's Four Heavenly Kings had lost a major figure right from the start.
Though Dark Phoenix Douluo had been the weakest of them.
Of course, whether the Holy Spirit Cult's Four Heavenly Kings would find someone else to fill the vacancy and complete their ranks was beyond Xie An's knowledge.
Next, he had kept a close eye on Long Bing, Wu Zhangkong's wife and Dark Hummingbird's daughter, ever since she enrolled.
In the original novel, Long Bing had been a Holy Spirit Cult spy at Shrek Academy, gathering a great deal of information.
When Long Bing was at her most conflicted, Xie An had appeared and taught her the Turtle Breathing Technique.
In the original novel, Long Bing had been discovered while gathering intelligence. Wu Zhangkong had stood up for her, and both of them had been expelled from Shrek Academy.
When Dark Hummingbird appeared, Xie An had arrived in time to deal her a serious wound. Unfortunately, the Ghost Emperor had rescued her at great cost.
As for Long Bing, Xie An had her feign death using the Turtle Breathing Technique, then arranged for her to serve under Blood One in the Blood God Legion and atone for her crimes.
It was a shame about little Chang Kong. To get him to guide Wulin, Xie An had kept him in the dark and still sent him to teach at Eastsea Academy.
After all, Xie An still hadn't found a way to break through to God Rank. With his current strength, facing the Abyssal Sage King would be no different from throwing an egg at a rock.
As for the Holy Spirit Cult—or, more broadly, any Evil Soul Masters who appeared—the War God Temple spared no effort in hunting them down.
All in all, because of his personal grudges, Xie An had become someone the Holy Spirit Cult was determined to kill.
Of course, in terms of strategic importance, Shrek and Yun Ming still ranked higher.
"Th-this doesn't surprise you?"
"Why should I be surprised by baseless claims?"
"Senior, I have evidence, of course. My martial soul is the Tree of Life Plant Martial Soul, which lets me conceal my aura extremely well. While infiltrating the Spirit Pagoda to investigate, I sensed several Soul Masters with highly abnormal auras speaking with the person in charge of the Eastsea Spirit Pagoda. Later, I realized their auras were very similar to those of the Evil Soul Masters in the rumors. Since this drug is circulating in the Xie Family, the War God Temple Master must have allowed it. Please inform the Tang Sect Master, so the Federation and the whole world can be saved!"
Sun Wenxuan grew so agitated that he tried to kneel again, only to find himself wrapped in a gentle Soul Power. He wanted to kneel, but couldn't.
Xie An swept his powerful spiritual power across the Xie Family's main residence. His face had turned ashen.
Xie An had always brushed off rumors among the common people with a smile. There were stories about the War God Temple Master's daughter being abused by an Evil Soul Master, and how the War God Temple Master had flown into a rage and issued the Demon Slaughter Order to hunt down Evil Soul Masters.
Some people even claimed that the War God Temple Master was involved with the Phoenix Sisters.
If he took issue with every rumor, wouldn't it look as if he had something to hide? Besides, as the saying went, a prime minister should be broad-minded. If he couldn't even tolerate this much, how could he serve as Temple Master?
As for the Xie Family, Xie An had always been as forgiving as possible. He had even dismissed the matter with Xie Xie's mother as a coincidence.
That was why he hadn't included the Xie Family in his initial spiritual power sweep.
After all, he had personally promoted them, and he had always had faith in them.
"Senior?"
Sun Wenxuan was about to say more when he saw Xie An leave the room with an ashen face, his expression grim.
Xie An's presence was startling. A faint pressure, tinged with a trace of bloodlust, surged from him.
Xie An didn't care when Sun Wenxuan claimed that the War God Temple Master had colluded with Evil Soul Masters.
But after probing the main residence, he had discovered that someone there had colluded with the Spirit Pagoda—and even with Evil Soul Masters!
The strangest thing was the Xie Family Head. On the surface, he was merely a Titled Douluo, yet Xie An's Spirit Origin Realm spiritual power revealed that he was actually a genuine Super Douluo.
After all, it had been only twenty years since Xie An had helped the Xie Family Head break through to the Titled Douluo level.
For an ordinary Titled Douluo, advancing one rank every three or four years through steady accumulation was already considered genius. As for becoming a Super Douluo, that depended on comprehension—of oneself and of the laws of heaven and earth.
A cold look crossed Xie An's face. He turned to Sun Wenxuan and said, "You don't need to call me Senior anymore. I'm the War God Temple Master. Come with me to the Xie Family's main residence."
Before Sun Wenxuan could react, a gentle Soul Power enveloped him, and the two of them appeared at the entrance to the Xie Family's main residence.
Xie An didn't conceal his face. He stood calmly at the Xie Family's gate, and the guards immediately went to announce the Temple Master's arrival.
The Xie Family Head was a middle-aged man. Xie An had helped him reach the Titled Douluo level. The moment he saw Xie An, he hurried over to greet him, taking three steps at a time.
"I, the current Xie Family Head, pay my respects to the Temple Master. Please come inside."
The Xie Family Head bowed deeply to show his respect.
"This junior didn't know the Temple Master was coming and failed to welcome you from afar. I deserve to die a thousand deaths."
Several Spirit Pagoda Soul Masters came out to greet the War God Temple Master as well.
"..."
The sight left not only the passersby stunned; even Sun Wenxuan, an eight-ringed Soul Master, stared in disbelief.
The Xie Family members usually held their heads high. And unless he was mistaken, this man was a nine-ringed Titled Douluo.
How could he be so humble?
"Rise."
Xie An remained calm as he strode past them and walked slowly into the hall, taking the seat of honor.
The Spirit Pagoda Soul Masters quickly got to their feet and offered him obsequious smiles.
The Xie Family Head scrambled up as well, dismissed the maids, and personally brewed tea for Xie An.
Then he asked with a smile, "May I ask why the Temple Master has come home this time?"
Just then, the air in the Xie Family's modest hall grew slightly tense.
Xie An calmly watched the current Xie Family Head. At some point, a pill had appeared in his palm, which rested flat on the table.
It was the same drug Xie Xie's mother had taken.
"This..."
The Xie Family Head slowly set down his teacup.
A puzzled look appeared on his face. "This... Could this be the medicine the two elders have been taking? Tsk, those damnable people!"
The Xie Family Head looked furious and bellowed toward the doorway, "Investigate this! Find out who's caring for the two elders! How could they not know the elders were ill? Have they got a death wish?"
The Spirit Pagoda Soul Master at the door looked uneasy, then walked off.
Several Spirit Pagoda Soul Masters glanced at the pill, frowning slightly, and used a Soul Tool to send a message to the Eastsea Spirit Pagoda Master.
Sun Wenxuan felt both frightened and shocked. Remembering what he had just said, he felt cold sweat trickle down his back.
Fortunately, the War God Temple Master didn't seem to blame him.
Soon, several pale-faced Soul Masters were brought in. They knelt before the Temple Master in terror.
"Please forgive us, Temple Master! We've always served the elders wholeheartedly and cared for them as if they were our own parents. We're innocent!"
"Silence! You dare make excuses? It seems you won't repent until you're dead!"
The Xie Family Head looked vicious as he stepped forward, Soul Power gathering in his palm.
At last, he displayed the presence befitting a Titled Douluo.
Just then, a faint click sounded in the hall.
The Xie Family Head instinctively turned to look.
He saw Xie An watching him calmly. Beside the pill he had set down earlier, Xie An had placed a syringe—the kind sold on the black market.
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