Slander? Special Merit!

Carrying Yun Ming's boundless fury, the Sky-Propping Spear, determined to shoot down the sun, arrived at the scene. Yet, the evil soul masters had long since vanished, leaving not even a single corpse behind. The crumbling walls and the utter devastation across the ground bore witness to the horrific tragedy that had unfolded here!

With nowhere to vent his seething rage, the veins on Yun Ming's forehead bulged as he clenched his fists tight.

It was only when he saw Ya Li lying on the ground, safe and sound, that Yun Ming's brows finally relaxed slightly.

"Thank you for your hard work, Brother Ao Rui, Brother Tian Wu, Brother Tian Dang. I, Yun Ming, owe you a favor for today's events. I shall host a banquet on Sea God Island later; you must attend!"

"A small matter, a small matter. Pavilion Master Yun, this is all part of our duty at the War God Temple..."

"Indeed, our Yuanen Family has always had friendly relations with Shrek. I merely did what was expected of me..."

The three men, their auras unstable, tried to help the bowing Yun Ming up, but he stopped them. This was a courtesy he felt he had to perform.

The other Limit Douluos also stepped into the scene one after another. Aside from Qiangu and his son, their injuries were severe, each worse than the last. The only reason they had survived was by relying on their formidable cultivation to sustain them.

"Everyone, you have worked hard in this battle. Once Ya Li wakes up, I will ensure she treats you immediately to help you return to your peak as soon as possible..."

After exchanging a few brief pleasantries with Yun Ming, they sat on the ground and began to adjust their internal injuries.

Yun Ming scanned the hall, shook his head, and let out a helpless sigh.

Now that the event had occurred and become a foregone conclusion, any further lamenting was futile.

Just then, Su Jiu stepped out from the void.

Yun Ming glanced over, and his heart sank at the very first look.

He could not perceive the other party's cultivation level at all! His face was also completely unfamiliar, leaving no impression whatsoever.

Yet, he dared not be the least bit careless. His piercing gaze and the Sky-Propping Spear in his hand locked onto Su Jiu, his soul power tightening as he feared any further unexpected developments.

"Who goes there? State your name!"

"The Leng Family, Leng Wuduan."

"Heh~ Yun Ming, put away your Sky-Propping Spear. Is this how you treat the savior of your wife?"

Su Jiu stepped forward and flicked the blade of the Sky-Propping Spear aside with one hand. A faint smile played on his lips; he showed no sign of backing down in terms of presence when facing Yun Ming.

"Let me put it this way: the fact that so many people here are alive, including your wife, is largely thanks to me. Every conscious person here can bear witness to that!"

"So, 'Pavilion Master Yun,' don't do things that are detrimental to our unity~"

"Silence! You child of the Leng Family, you knew in advance that a soul cannon barrage was coming and tipped us off. Who knows if you aren't a spy sent by the Holy Spirit Cult, using this to gain our favor and trust so you can infiltrate our ranks, only to strike us from within and backstab us at the critical moment?"

"In this old woman's view, you are merely putting on a show to cover up your despicable scheme!"

Chen Xinjie did not stop Long Yeyue; he was also curious about this point—why Leng Wuduan would know in advance that the Holy Spirit Cult would attack his wedding.

As soon as Long Yeyue finished speaking, the killing intent in the eyes of Yun Ming—who had yet to shift his image of his teacher's wife—surged violently.

The edge of the Sky-Propping Spear in his hand gleamed once more, pointing directly at Su Jiu's heart. The soul power at the tip flickered, as if it would pierce through his chest the very next moment.

At the same time, Long Yeyue's words amused Su Jiu. The mockery at the corner of his mouth was no longer concealed, and he looked at Long Yeyue as if she were mere dregs.

"Oh? It seems you really are a group of ungrateful wretches. Is this how you treat your savior? And a savior who has saved you twice, no less!"

"First, I warned you in advance about the soul cannon barrage..."

"Second, I worked alongside my elder sister, the Sky Phoenix Douluo, to intercept the evil soul masters and prevent them from seizing the Sea God Fleet..."

"But what did I get in return? I got you, Long Yeyue, biting the hand that fed you! And you, Yun Ming, unable to distinguish right from wrong, showing no gratitude, and pointing your Sky-Propping Spear at me!"

"I could have just walked away and let you, Long Yeyue, and your wife Ya Li, along with everyone else here, die in the first wave of the soul cannon bombardment, turning into ashes that no one could identify."

"It seems I was just being sentimental."

With that, Su Jiu raised the Flame Demon Roar, the muzzle aimed straight at the center of Yun Ming's brow. A sense of extreme biological crisis surged into Yun Ming's mind.

"Yun Ming, tell me, is your spear faster, or is my gun faster!"

"Junior, you are playing with fire!"

"Yun Ming! Put that gun down this instant! If you dare to harm a single hair on my brother's head today, my Leng Family will be at eternal odds with your Yun Family!"

A furious shout rang out as a fiery red silhouette stepped into the hall, dragging two unconscious 'Special Merit' recipients behind her.

"And you, you old thing who refuses to die, all you do is spout cold-hearted nonsense. Saving you was a complete waste of Wuduan's time!"

"Here is the evidence: the living Dark Hummingbird and Dark Bell. Is this enough!"

Leng Yaozhu stepped forward empty-handed, ignoring the biting intent of the Sky-Propping Spear blade, and pushed it aside. Her palm immediately began to bleed.

Su Jiu watched, but did not put away the Flame Demon Roar. Only with truth in hand could he make Yun Ming behave!

Besides, Yun Ming would have to pay him back a thousandfold in the future...

Yun Ming's body shuddered as he realized he had been impulsive, and he immediately retracted the Sky-Propping Spear.

He wanted to apologize, but Su Jiu stopped him.

A faint smile touched his lips—the smile of a plan successfully executed. It was time to extort the old man Yun Ming.

"I'm sorry, Leng..."

"Yun Ming, I don't want your apology. Since I have saved Ya Li's life twice, her life belongs to me now. I think you can understand what I mean!"

Su Jiu's words caused Yun Ming's face to darken instantly. Even though the other party had logic on his side, he was not someone who would allow anyone to repeatedly touch his reverse scale.

"Groundless, don't push your luck! You just want to extort benefits from me, right? Fine, I agree!"

"Four 100,000-year-old immortal herbs of my choosing!"

Su Jiu stated his terms on the spot, and Yun Ming's expression turned even uglier.

"Heh, it seems the Sea God Pavilion Master Yun Ming is nothing but a blowhard."

"Two! I..."

Su Jiu's words stung Yun Ming once more, forcing him to grit his teeth and agree.

"Good, deal!"

"Pavilion Master Yun, I want the Full Moon Wearing Autumn Dew and the Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum. I'm giving you seven days. If I don't see them by then, I will broadcast this footage across all three continents. I imagine..."

After dropping that threat, Su Jiu put away the Flame Demon Roar, took Leng Yaozhu's soft hand in his, and dragged the two 'Special Merit' captives behind him as he left.

"Wait, Groundless Douluo, what is the meaning of you taking these two Evil Soul Masters?"

Chen Xinjie stood up, his words filled with confusion. With high-ranking Evil Soul Masters finally captured, as a Federation citizen, Su Jiu should have turned them over to the Federation.

"Hall Master Chen, we are all smart people here, so stop playing dumb. I caught these people with my own hard work. You want intelligence on the Holy Spirit Cult?"

"Your ingratitude has taught me that you don't deserve the fruits of my labor. So, once the payment arrives, the people will arrive!"