Ghost Emperor never imagined that Lin Tian—a mere ant who had just awakened his Martial Soul and hadn't even obtained a single Soul Ring—would dare to act so arrogantly.
This little brat really thought he was somebody.
If they didn't acknowledge him as a Blood Shadow Envoy, then he was nothing. Give him an inch and he'd take a mile. He had no idea where he stood, and he was getting far too full of himself.
Ghost Emperor was just about to blow up when Underworld Emperor slapped him on the shoulder. A faint smile appeared on his face.
"Old Ghost, don't lose your temper. This kid's got character, doesn't he?
"He's pretty possessive. I like that."
"But I'm the dignified Ghost Emperor, the Holy Spirit Cult's leader. If I ordered a Titled Douluo to kill himself right now, he'd obey willingly.
"This kid's only six and already so rebellious. He'll be hard to manage when he grows up.
"And if everyone acted like him, how would I lead a team?"
"Geniuses always get a few special privileges.
"If he were a worthless nobody, I could've skinned him alive for that first thing he said.
"But he's a genius admired by the Demon Empress. I don't know whether this kid is truly stupid, provoking you without thinking, or whether he's seen through the true nature of our Holy Spirit Cult and knows that the Demon Empress is the one who really holds power.
"She's already given her word, so no matter how outrageous he acts, you can't do anything too extreme to him.
"There's no point trying to scare him, so we might as well be honest. Stop putting on an act."
"But the kid's too arrogant, and he won't follow orders at all. He's greedy and rebellious. I'm worried he'll get himself into trouble."
"You're worrying over nothing. This kid's clever."
With that, Underworld Emperor immediately turned to Lin Tian.
"Kid, I don't care whether you're truly being possessive or trying to save those commoners. It's none of my concern.
"Just remember: you're already an Evil Soul Master. Even if you pour every last bit of that pitiful kindness in your heart into action, you still can't hide the fact that you're an Evil Soul Master.
"Drinking blood while doing something as absurd as saving the world—don't you think that's ridiculous?"
Sure enough, Lin Tian's heart gave a lurch.
They were all old foxes. Nothing escaped their notice.
He was glad he hadn't lied earlier. Otherwise, his story would've been full of holes. At least now he'd gained something: a powerful backer, for the time being.
Besides, the Holy Spirit Cult had colluded with the Qiangu Clan. He wouldn't have to go to the bitterly cold Far North Lands; he could live in the open.
Although he'd be a spy inside the Holy Spirit Cult, who could say which identity was false and which was real?
Did it really matter which was which?
Still, he said nothing, his gaze grave.
Being seen through was one thing. Admitting it in front of everyone was another. Silence was the best response.
Underworld Emperor merely smiled.
"You may have your own motives, but you're right. They are indeed your private property.
"Though my Holy Sect is an evil cult, we value rules above all. Everything follows the principle that the strong and the capable reign supreme.
"You're still valuable enough, so I'll indulge you this once. But only this once.
"If you want to save those commoners, then the men you just took over from Blood Fiend can't merely lose half their number. They all have to die.
"Three Soul Douluo, dozens of Soul Saints, and countless powerful Soul Emperors and Soul Kings. These hundreds of Evil Soul Masters are far stronger than Soul Masters of the same rank. Blood Fiend did everything he could to gather them, even using the Holy Sect's resources to cultivate them.
"With so many powerful subordinates working for you, your future will be much easier.
"But now you're choosing to bury them with your own hands in exchange for the lives of a bunch of commoners treated as blood bags?"
"I don't care. I have plenty of time to train more and stronger subordinates. This is nothing."
Underworld Emperor smiled, then continued.
"We tolerated your offense just now and agreed to your request. In return, you must pay an appropriate price. That's the Holy Sect's way of doing things. I'm sure you're prepared for that, right?
"Clever boy, what do you want me to do?"
"After joining the Holy Spirit Cult, I must never reveal that I'm an Evil Soul Master. From now on, I have only one identity: a Spirit Master of the Spirit Pagoda."
"You don't need to tell me that. I already know."
"That's not all.
"You may have Twin Martial Souls, but your Innate Soul Power isn't high.
"Your Martial Souls are highly corrupted, and you even have a way to devour Titled Douluo. But triggering it must require extremely harsh conditions, and you can't use it under normal circumstances.
"As an Evil Soul Master, you're an unparalleled genius. But as a normal Soul Master, your talent is nothing special.
"Still, you must become the top figure of your generation—not just in the Spirit Pagoda, but across the entire Douluo Federation and Douluo Star.
"If any genius surpasses you in fame in any field, I'll punish you myself."
"Does 'any field' include Soul Masters, Blacksmiths, Mecha Masters, and Soul Engineers?"
"Exactly. You must be an all-around talent in every field to make up for your offense today."
"I accept."
Utter confidence blazed in Lin Tian's eyes.
"If I can't do it with a Martial Soul as heaven-defying as the entire Blood Sea, I might as well die."
"I'm not finished yet."
Underworld Emperor pressed his advantage.
Lin Tian was getting annoyed now, too.
"You're just going to keep piling on conditions?
"Are you making wishes over here?"
"One last thing. Within ten years, you must break through to Titled Douluo and become a high-ranking member of the Spirit Ascension Platform."
"Within ten years?"
Lin Tian froze.
"How is that possible?"
"Hahahaha! Ghost Emperor, tell him whether it's possible or not."
"Y-y-y-you see the Underworld Emperor standing before you? He became a Titled Douluo at nineteen and a Super Douluo at twenty-five.
"He wasn't nearly as cocky as you at your age, and he didn't have Twin Martial Souls, either.
"You have one more Martial Soul than him, and you're several times more arrogant. Surely you can surpass him and become a Titled Douluo three years earlier?"
"What?
"Underworld Emperor became a Titled Douluo at nineteen?
"How come he couldn't remember that?
"Was that in the original story?
"Damn it. When he'd read the original, he'd skimmed through it so quickly that he hadn't remembered many details. Most of them hadn't seemed important.
"If he'd known he'd transmigrate, he would've memorized the entire Douluo series.
"A Titled Douluo at nineteen—what was that all about?
"He only remembered Yun Ming becoming a Titled Douluo in his twenties. In Peerless Tang Sect, the strongest at nineteen should've only been a Soul Saint."
"What's the matter, little guy? You were acting so cocky, but now you've realized there's always someone greater and a sky beyond the sky?"
"I'll do my best. A Titled Douluo at sixteen—that's all."
"Hahaha, good. I admire you.
"I'll let your offense against me slide completely.
"As for your request, apart from Blood Fiend's subordinates, I'll buy you a large island near Eastsea City for the thousand Blood Slaves left on Blood Island. I'll personally send a Soul Guidance Fleet to transport them there. What you do with them is up to you.
"I'll be waiting for you in ten years."
With that, Underworld Emperor immediately ended the video call.