Nanali

Inside the headquarters of the Spirit Pagoda, in a secret chamber shielded from all external detection.

The light was dim, and the air was thick with a cloying, bloody scent.

A petite girl with twin tails, dressed in a gothic black ruffled dress, sat leisurely on a high-backed chair, gently swinging her legs clad in white silk stockings.

With her sweet features, large eyes, and naturally upturned corners of her mouth, she looked just like an innocent girl next door.

However, Qiangu Zhangting, standing opposite her, dared not show the slightest negligence; he even kept his head slightly bowed, his posture a mix of respect and an imperceptible trace of dread.

For this seemingly harmless "little girl" before him was none other than Nanali, one of the Four Heavenly Kings of the Holy Spirit Cult, known for her cruelty, cunning, and bizarre methods!

Anyone deceived by her appearance would be dead before they even knew how it happened.

"Long time no see, little Master Qiangu~"

Nanali tilted her head, her voice syrupy sweet, yet her gaze swept over Qiangu Zhangting like the tongue of a venomous snake.

"It seems... your cultivation hasn't made much progress during this time. Still so... hmm, mediocre."

Qiangu Zhangting's expression turned ugly in an instant, his fists clenching tightly inside his sleeves.

Slow progress in his cultivation was his greatest pain, and having it pointed out to his face by someone from the Holy Spirit Cult made it even more humiliating.

But he dared not lash out, forcing a smile instead: "Lady Nanali is joking. Cultivation is not something to be rushed..."

"Not to be rushed?"

Nanali giggled.

"I think it's just a limitation of talent. No matter how many resources you pile up, this is as far as you go, right? Why not consider joining our Holy Spirit Cult? We have plenty of 'little tricks' to 'rapidly' improve your cultivation~"

"I guarantee it's much faster than following the routine at the Spirit Pagoda~"

Her tone was filled with temptation, as if inviting someone to taste a delicious candy.

Qiangu Zhangting's heart skipped a beat.

To be honest, he was... actually a little tempted.

Over the years, the Spirit Pagoda had poured countless heavenly treasures and top-tier resources into him, yet his cultivation remained like an old ox stuck in a mire, progressing at a snail's pace.

The rumors of the Holy Spirit Cult using evil methods like plundering and sacrifice to rapidly boost cultivation held a fatal attraction for him, as he was stuck in a bottleneck and desperate for the power to wash away his shame.

Especially when he recalled how, not long ago, he had been mocked by Leng Yaozhu in front of everyone for "wasting a soul spirit," had his Golden-Haired Lion Mastiff snatched away by that little bastard Luo Yang, and was beaten into such a sorry state.

In the end, even his grandfather had to bow his head and apologize to the other party...

This unprecedented, crushing humiliation burned in his heart like toxic fire day and night!

He swore he would make Luo Yang pay the price, a hundredfold, a thousandfold!

"You're actually tempted, aren't you?"

Nanali seemed to see right through his thoughts; her smile grew sweeter, but her eyes became more mocking.

Qiangu Zhangting was startled, hurriedly suppressing that dangerous thought.

Dealing with a tiger was a path to ruin if one wasn't careful, and the members of the Holy Spirit Cult were all lunatics.

"I want to ask you... no, ask the Holy Spirit Cult to help me kill someone." Qiangu Zhangting took a deep breath, no longer hiding the resentment in his eyes, and spoke through gritted teeth.

"Kill someone?"

Nanali raised an eyebrow, seemingly surprised.

"As the young master of the Spirit Pagoda, isn't killing someone simple? Why not use the power of your Qiangu family or the secret guards of the Spirit Pagoda? Why go through the trouble of coming to us 'shadow-dwellers' for help?"

"That person has a special status; I can't act directly."

Qiangu Zhangting's face was gloomy.

"He is currently being protected by that bitch Leng Yaozhu. If I use the overt power of our Qiangu family or the Spirit Pagoda, it will be easily traced, and even my grandfather won't be able to protect me then."

"Leng Yaozhu?"

Nanali's sweet smile faded for a moment.

Leng Yaozhu... that "good sister" of Leng Yulai.

She naturally knew of this Heavenly Phoenix Douluo, who had a complex entanglement with her own Dark Phoenix.

"Tell me, how did you end up in a blood feud with the little guy protected by Leng Yaozhu?" Nanali put her smile back on, asking with great interest.

Qiangu Zhangting endured the humiliation and recounted what happened that day in the Testing Chamber, naturally painting himself as an innocent victim who was insulted and robbed of his treasure, while portraying Luo Yang and Leng Yaozhu as bullies who relied on their status to act unreasonably.

After listening, Nanali looked at Qiangu Zhangting with undisguised contempt.

To hold a grudge and hire a killer just because he couldn't tame a soul spirit that someone else had earned by their own ability—and after he had provoked them first and lost because he was weaker?

The narrow-mindedness and viciousness of this man were something even they, the Evil Soul Masters, sometimes found hard to match.

At the very least, many Evil Soul Masters killed for profit or cultivation needs, unlike this case where someone would take a life over pure jealousy and face.

Tsk, tsk, tsk...

Qiangu Zhangting felt a mix of shame and anger under Nanali's gaze, but he suppressed his temper.

He knew clearly that his grandfather, Qiangu Dongfeng, had strictly warned him afterward never to provoke that Luo Yang again, because the behemoth known as the Blood God Legion stood behind him.

But how could he swallow this insult?

As long as the deed was done cleanly without leaving a trail, who could prove it was him? When the time came, he could easily pin the blame on the Holy Spirit Cult!

Besides, do Evil Soul Masters even need a reason to kill?

"Speak up. What is the name of the person you want to kill?" Nanali asked languidly.

"Luo Yang."

Qiangu Zhangting squeezed these two words through his teeth, his hatred nearly manifesting into physical form.

"Luo Yang... a rather ordinary name."

Nanali nodded, seemingly taking note of it.

"Fine. But you know the rules; the old price won't cut it. This target is personally protected by Leng Yaozhu, so the risk is significant. You must add another three hundred live soul beasts."

"What?! Three hundred?!"

Qiangu Zhangting's expression shifted violently.

"Don't be so greedy, Holy Spirit Cult! The number of soul beasts we provide you in secret every month is already high enough! A full thousand! Killing a mere brat like this is just a side task, yet you still want to hike the price?!"

The Holy Spirit Cult had been demanding massive quantities of live soul beasts for years, and the numbers were staggering.

What on earth did they need so many soul beasts for? Even if their members needed soul rings, they couldn't possibly consume such a massive volume.

Could it be that they were using some sort of more evil, bloodier ritual to boost their cultivation in batches?

The Spirit Pagoda had probed many times, but the Holy Spirit Cult had always kept their lips sealed.

"Suit yourself~"

Nanali said indifferently, hopping off her chair, brushing off non-existent dust, and turning as if to leave.

"Business is voluntary. We of the Holy Spirit Cult have always operated on a cash-on-delivery basis. If you think it's too expensive, you can find someone else, or do it yourself? See if Leng Yaozhu tears you to shreds~"

Her tone was light, yet every word struck at his heart.

Qiangu Zhangting watched Nanali's petite back, thinking of Luo Yang's face and the humiliation he had suffered, and a surge of wicked fire rushed to his head.

Three hundred soul beasts was no small number, and the logistics carried risks, but compared to removing this thorn in his side, it was worth it!

"Wait!" Qiangu Zhangting growled, his face turning ashen. "Fine! Three hundred it is! But I demand you act as soon as possible! It must be done cleanly; you must never implicate me!"

Nanali stopped in her tracks and turned back, a naive and innocent smile blooming on her face once more.

"Deal~"

"Rest assured, we of the Holy Spirit Cult always handle things cleanly. Once your goods arrive, we will naturally arrange an accident. So, happy cooperation~"

She extended her fair, small hand.

Qiangu Zhangting looked at her sweet smile but felt a chill run through him; he reluctantly reached out and shook her hand.