Carrying Yun Ming's boundless fury, the Sky-Propping Spear, fired up and determined to shoot down the sun, arrived at the scene. But the Evil Soul Masters had long since vanished, leaving not even a single corpse behind. The ruined walls and scattered wreckage all bore witness to the unspeakable horrors that had unfolded here!
With nowhere to vent his rage, veins bulged at Yun Ming's temples as he clenched his fists.
Only when he saw Ya Li lying on the ground, safe and sound, did Yun Ming's furrowed brow relax a little.
"Thanks for all your effort, Brother Ao Rui, Brother Tian Wu, Brother Tian Dang. I, Yun Ming, owe you all a favor for what happened today. Afterward, I'll host a banquet on Sea God Island. You must come!"
"It was nothing, nothing, Pavilion Master Yun. This is what we at the War God Temple are supposed to do..."
"That's right. The Yuanen Family and Shrek have always been on good terms. I only did what was expected of me..."
The three men, their breathing unsteady, tried to help Yun Ming up from his bow, but he stopped them. This was a courtesy he had to show.
The other Limit Douluos also entered the scene. Apart from the Qiangu father and son, every one of them was badly injured—some worse than others. They had survived almost entirely thanks to their formidable cultivation.
"Everyone, you've worked hard in this battle. Once Ya Li wakes up, I'll have her treat you right away and help you recover to your peak as soon as possible..."
After exchanging a few brief pleasantries with Yun Ming, they sat down on the ground and began tending to their injuries.
Yun Ming looked around the hall, shook his head, and let out a weary sigh.
What had happened was already done; the outcome was set. There was no point in lamenting it now.
Just then, Su Jiu stepped out of thin air.
Yun Ming glanced sideways at him, and his heart sank at once.
He couldn't sense the man's cultivation at all! His face was utterly unfamiliar, too—Yun Ming had no memory of him.
But he didn't dare let his guard down for a moment. His steely gaze and the Sky-Propping Spear in his hand fixed firmly on Su Jiu as his Soul Power tensed, ready for any further trouble.
"Who are you? State your name!"
"The Leng Family's Leng Wuduan."
"Heh. Yun Ming, put away your Sky-Propping Spear. Is this how you treat the man who saved your wife?"
Su Jiu stepped forward and flicked the spearhead aside with one hand. A faint smile rested on his face, and he showed no sign of backing down before Yun Ming.
"Let me put it this way: I was responsible for more than half of the people here surviving, including your wife, Yun Ming. Every person here who's awake can testify to that!"
"So, Pavilion Master Yun, don't do anything that undermines unity~"
"Silence! You Leng brat! You knew in advance that a barrage of Soul Cannons was coming and told us about it. Who's to say you weren't a spy sent by the Holy Spirit Cult, trying to win our goodwill and trust so you could infiltrate us, then join forces with the Holy Spirit Cult to attack us from within and without at the crucial moment?"
"In my view, you're just putting on an act, trying to cover up your despicable scheme!"
Chen Xinjie didn't stop Long Yeyue. He was curious about the same thing: why had Leng Wuduan known in advance that the Holy Spirit Cult would attack his wedding?
The moment Long Yeyue finished speaking, Yun Ming—who hadn't yet managed to adjust to seeing his teacher Long Yeyue in this role—was suddenly overcome by murderous intent.
The Sky-Propping Spear in his hand gleamed again, its point aimed straight at Su Jiu's heart. Soul Power flickered at the tip, as though it might pierce his chest the very next instant.
Long Yeyue's words also made Su Jiu laugh. He no longer hid the mockery at the corner of his mouth, and he looked at Long Yeyue as though she were filth.
"Oh? So you really are a bunch of ingrates. Is this how you treat your savior? Your savior who's rescued you twice, no less!"
"First, I warned you about the barrage of Soul Cannons..."
"Second, my elder sister, Sky Phoenix Douluo, and I fought off the Evil Soul Masters trying to seize the Sea God Fleet..."
"And what did I get for it? You, Long Yeyue, turning around and accusing me! And you, Yun Ming, refusing to tell right from wrong, showing not the slightest gratitude, and pointing your Sky-Propping Spear at me!"
"I could have left you to it. You, Long Yeyue, your husband Yun Ming, your wife Ya Li, and everyone else here could have died in the first Soul Cannon bombardment, reduced to ashes no one could identify."
"Looks like I was the one who cared too much."
As he finished speaking, Su Jiu raised the Flame Demon Roar and aimed its barrel squarely at Yun Ming's brow. A primal sense of mortal danger surged straight into Yun Ming's mind.
"Yun Ming, let's see whose weapon is faster—yours or mine!"
"You brat, you're playing with fire!"
"Yun Ming! Put that spear down! If you dare so much as harm a hair on my little brother's head, the Leng Family and your Yun Family will be enemies to the death from this day on!"
A furious shout rang out as a red-clad figure entered the hall, dragging two unconscious Special Merits behind her.
"And you, you old bastard who's half dead already! All you can do is spout heartless, cold-blooded nonsense. Wuduan wasted his time saving you!"
"Here's the proof: two living Evil Soul Masters, Dark Hummingbird and Dark Bell. Is that enough?"
Leng Yaozhu strode forward barehanded. Ignoring the fierce spear intent on the Sky-Propping Spear's blade, she shoved it aside. A little blood immediately welled from her palm.
Su Jiu watched but didn't put away the Flame Demon Roar. With the truth in hand, he could make Yun Ming behave!
Besides, Yun Ming would have to repay him a hundredfold in the future...
Yun Ming's whole body shook as he realized he'd acted rashly. He immediately put away the Sky-Propping Spear.
He wanted to apologize, but Su Jiu stopped him.
A smile tugged at Su Jiu's lips. It was the smile of a man whose plan had worked. It was time to squeeze the old man Yun Ming for all he was worth.
"I'm sorry, Leng..."
"Yun Ming, I don't want your apology. Since I've saved Ya Li's life twice, her life belongs to me now. I'm sure you understand what I'm saying!"
Su Jiu's words made Yun Ming's face darken on the spot. Though the other man had reason on his side, that didn't mean anyone could keep pressing on his sorest spot.
"Wuduan, don't push your luck! You just want to extort something from me, don't you? Fine. I agree!"
"Four hundred-thousand-year Immortal Herbs of my choice!"
Su Jiu stated his terms right away, making Yun Ming's face even darker.
"Heh. Looks like Yun Ming, the Sea God Pavilion Master, is all talk."
"Two! I..."
Su Jiu's words provoked Yun Ming again, and he immediately gritted his teeth and agreed.
"Fine. Deal!"
"Pavilion Master Yun, I want Full Moon Wearing Autumn Dew and Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum. You have seven days. If I don't see them in seven days, I'll release this video across the three continents. I imagine..."
After delivering the first half of his warning, Su Jiu put away the Flame Demon Roar, took Leng Yaozhu's soft hand in his, and left the scene, dragging the two Special Merits behind him.
"Wait, Groundless Douluo! What do you mean by taking those two Evil Soul Masters with you?"
Chen Xinjie stood up, his voice full of confusion. They had captured living high-ranking members of the Holy Spirit Cult. As citizens of the Federation, they ought to hand them over to the Federation of their own accord.
"Hall Master Chen, we're all smart people. Don't pretend you don't know what's going on. I went through a lot of trouble to capture them. You want information about the Holy Spirit Cult?"
"Your ingratitude has shown me that you don't deserve the fruits of my hard work. Pay up, and the prisoners are yours!"
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