"This kid's Martial Soul is the Blood Body Martial Soul. Even if he drinks blood, that's just a trait of his Martial Soul. With the Spirit Pagoda backing him, no one will define his Martial Soul as an Evil Martial Soul.
"We can use this chance to plant a genius with an Evil Martial Soul in the Spirit Pagoda. Once we hand him over to Qiangu Dongfeng, the kid will have to absorb vast amounts of blood to keep from going berserk. That means we'll have him firmly in our grasp.
"And with the talent of his Twin Martial Souls, the Spirit Pagoda will soon take notice of him and give him special training. Given time, he'll surely become a core member of the Spirit Pagoda.
"By then, he'll be a Spirit Envoy of the Spirit Pagoda in public, and a Blood Shadow Envoy of our Holy Spirit Cult in secret. A man with two identities.
"Even if Qiangu Dongfeng agrees to our demands but secretly acts against us, we'll still have a new pawn to use."
The Underworld Emperor had hit the nail on the head. Approval showed on the Demon Empress's face, and she quickly settled on a plan.
"Fine. It's time we gave ourselves a respectable image and cleared our name. This little fellow is the best choice."
They hadn't even considered the possibility that Lin Tian might betray them. His Martial Soul was an Evil Martial Soul, and that was all they needed.
He might not understand what an Evil Martial Soul meant yet, but as he grew stronger and older, and encountered more of the wider world, he would learn what a miserable fate awaited Soul Masters with Evil Martial Souls once they were discovered.
"Leave this to you. Make sure it's done well. I'm looking forward to seeing that kid rise through the ranks of the Spirit Pagoda, perhaps even take control of it.
"An Evil Soul Master in control of the Spirit Pagoda. That would be interesting."
The Demon Empress gave an alluring smile, then vanished in an instant, leaving only the Ghost Emperor and the Underworld Emperor.
"You really are the one with all the clever schemes."
"Of course. Why else would they call me the Ghost Emperor?
"Besides, Qiangu Dongfeng was the one who asked for this. In his eyes, I'm nothing but a clown who does whatever he says. Since he asked for it, how could I possibly refuse?"
"So how do we get him there safely? We'll need to put on a show, right?"
"Why panic? Qiangu Dongfeng will arrange everything. If anyone has to put on a show, it'll be him. I'd like to see how he plans to bring this Twin Martial Soul genius back to the Spirit Pagoda."
With that, the Ghost Emperor called Qiangu Dongfeng.
"Pagoda Master Qiangu, long time no see."
"Cut the crap. Where is he?"
"He's safe for now, but unconscious.
"That Blood Fiend dared to offend you, Pagoda Master Qiangu. I've already extracted his soul and refined it."
"What?"
Qiangu Dongfeng's face immediately filled with shock.
"Wasn't this the show of sincerity you wanted from me?
"I gave it to you."
"There was no need for that. He was a Titled Douluo, after all. You just killed him like that?"
"The Holy Spirit Cult has no shortage of Titled Douluo. Someone else will take his place."
"Well, that's... true."
Qiangu Dongfeng gave an awkward laugh, thinking the Ghost Emperor was truly ruthless. He had actually forgotten that the person on the other end was a brutally evil Soul Master.
But the thought that he had the Ghost Emperor, such a vicious being, completely under his thumb brought a surge of satisfaction. He was also pleased with how the Ghost Emperor had acted. To curry favor with him, he'd killed a Titled Douluo without a second thought.
He never doubted that the Ghost Emperor might be lying. Someone as powerful as the Ghost Emperor wouldn't stoop to lies. He was certain of it, because a trash Titled Douluo was no different from an ant in the hands of a Limit Douluo like him.
The Ghost Emperor spoke again. "I've found the boy, but how to get him safely into your hands is your problem.
"He was kidnapped by Evil Soul Masters, so you'd better come up with a good script, Pagoda Master Qiangu."
"What about Han Tianyi and the others...?"
Qiangu Dongfeng was immediately troubled.
"Pagoda Master Qiangu, don't worry. I've already had people install Anti-Soul Guidance Satellite Devices and Anti-Mental Detection Devices on the island.
"The ocean is vast, and we have high-level countermeasures in place. Han Tianyi won't find him. You have a few days to come up with a script at your leisure.
"Once you've figured it out, I'll send him back to the port at Aolai City."
"That works. Let the kid stay there for a few more days. It takes time to find someone, after all.
"Since Han Tianyi can't find him, I'll send people to search too. We'll take our time finding him and let things unfold naturally.
"Oh, and don't pull your people out. The show needs to look convincing. Leave Blood Fiend's body behind too, and don't let a single one of his men escape. I need to kill some people to make this believable, don't I?"
"Blood Fiend's body has already been eaten, but I can leave his men for you."
"That works.
"Wait, Pagoda Master Qiangu. Blood Fiend has quite a lot of men.
"I handed over a Twin Martial Soul genius just like that, killed Blood Fiend just like that, and destroyed the entire Blood Island just like that. Aren't you going to show some appreciation?"
At the Ghost Emperor's words, Qiangu Dongfeng's expression abruptly tightened. "What do you want?"
"The Spirit Pagoda's dark line to the Spirit Ascension Platform. Add another line for the Holy Spirit Cult. We have too many people, and it isn't enough."
"You're asking too much..."
Qiangu Dongfeng's face tightened at the Ghost Emperor's demand, but he swallowed the words before they could leave his mouth.
His gaze shifted, then he actually agreed to the request.
"This way, we'll not only get Lin Tian, but also take down the evil force that's been running rampant in Eastsea City. Once the news is out, the Spirit Pagoda's prestige will rise even higher. It's a good deal.
"Besides, you have to toss a dog a bone if you want it to wag its tail.
"It's only one line. At most, it'll let another thousand people in. It's nothing."
Qiangu Dongfeng and the Ghost Emperor had been getting along splendidly, and by then Lin Tian had come around as well.
The Ghost Emperor spoke bluntly. "Kid, I've paid a heavy price to secure connections for you in the Spirit Pagoda. In a few days, I'll send you back to Aolai City, and then you'll join the Spirit Pagoda!
"In the future, you won't have to live in the dark, twisted place that is the Holy Spirit Cult. You'll be able to live in the sunlight and grow strong. That's the sincerity our Holy Sect is offering you.
"As long as you don't reveal your Evil Martial Soul, and don't drink blood or kill people in public, your Martial Soul will just be blood. No one will discover what it is."
"What did you say?
"I've become an Evil Soul Master, and I can still return to the sunlight?"
Shock filled Lin Tian's face.
"Of course. Anything's possible.
"But the price is that everyone on Blood Island, the inheritance of Blood Fiend that you just acquired, will have to die. This is your token of allegiance.
"Leng Yulai just sent me the basic information about Blood Island. There are quite a few people: three Soul Douluo, then everyone from Soul Saints down to Soul Grandmasters—five hundred in all. The rest are Blood Servants and Blood Slaves with no cultivation.
"You can take half of the Blood Servants who have cultivation. They'll still be yours. If we take them all, only ordinary people will die, and it won't look convincing. A few hundred Evil Soul Masters should be enough."
"If we only need the Evil Soul Masters, why kill those Blood Slaves too?"
"Cackling... If we don't kill so many Blood Slaves, how will we make a visual impact and prove how cruel we are?"
At the Underworld Emperor's words, Lin Tian felt a wave of revulsion, and his expression grew cold.
Sure enough, Evil Soul Masters were beasts.
He remembered: in the Holy Spirit Cult, you could be arrogant, you could be insolent, you could kill, you could do anything at all.
There was only one thing you couldn't be.
Useless.
He seemed to have some value now, which meant...
He could afford to be a little reckless.
"What you're saying kind of makes sense, but—I refuse!"
"Fine. Hm?
"What did you say?"
The Ghost Emperor looked as though he'd heard the most unbelievable thing in the world. Lin Tian had actually dared to refuse his command?
"I don't care what deal you made with anyone else.
"But I killed Blood Fiend. His people are mine now.
"Everything on this island belongs to me. They're all my blood bags."
Lin Tian stared at him with blood-red eyes, his face twisted in a snarl.
"You—what gives you the right to tell me what to do with my property?"