Severing Family Ties

"Mi-Ming Yue, what are you talking about? Mom doesn't quite understand. What's wrong with your brothers Qingfeng and Dongfeng?"

The woman looked at Ming Yue in confusion, firing off a string of questions:

"Did they do something wrong? Did they make some kind of mistake? Well, I suppose having such an outstanding little brother could put a lot of pressure on them..."

She glanced back at the two men, who were cowering like quails, then turned to Ming Yue with a smile.

Qiangu Dieting's body trembled at the sight, but under Ming Yue's control, empowered by the Herrscher of Sentience's authority, his expression soon turned blank again.

"Are you still clinging to wishful thinking? Or do you think I'll care about so-called blood ties?"

Ming Yue ignored the woman. His gaze remained cold, and his tone grew even flatter.

"..." x2

The Qiangu brothers trembled again. They could almost hear their hearts pounding.

"Ming Yue, what on earth are you talking about? Dieting, aren't you going to do something about him?"

"Ming Yue, you..."

"You're getting a little too noisy. Take her away." Ming Yue cut off the woman's incessant chatter.

He glanced at Qiangu Dieting.

Qiangu Dieting nodded silently, struck the woman on the back of the neck, then helped her up and vanished from the courtyard.

"...Do you still cling to your hopes, even now?"

After a moment of silence, Ming Yue summoned Void Archives and asked.

"...Enough! Have you said enough already? So what if I had someone help that clown Chen Zeyu? Do you really have to hound me like this?"

"Qiangu Mingyue, don't forget, I'm your big brother!"

At last, under Ming Yue's indifferent gaze, Qiangu Qingfeng broke. He stepped forward and roared at him.

"Your big brother? I never thought I'd hear you say that under circumstances like these."

Ming Yue gave a faint, dispassionate smile, then looked at Qiangu Dongfeng. "Do you have anything to say? Hmm?"

To be honest, most of Ming Yue's memories of Qiangu Dongfeng were from when he was six.

Back then, Qiangu Dongfeng and Ming Yue had gotten along fairly well.

So even after his talent became apparent and Qiangu Dongfeng distanced himself, Ming Yue had still looked out for him and directed plenty of resources his way after becoming Pagoda Master.

"Heh. What could I say at this point that would change your mind?"

"Qiangu Mingyue, you're a man cold to the bone!"

Qiangu Dongfeng finally raised his head and sneered, as if trying to steel himself. His voice grew more and more frantic:

"Why? Why is it that someone like you can win the hearts of Yao Zhu and Yulai?"

"Why is it that someone with a degenerated Martial Soul and only one level of Innate Soul Power can earn Father's and every council member's approval?"

"Is it because of your damned so-called research talent? Because of those Valkyrie Battlesuits you invented?"

His expression grew increasingly crazed, and the Soul Rings around Qiangu Dongfeng began to glow:

"Do you think becoming Pagoda Master means you can hold on to your position?"

"Do you think that because you dole out resources to me, I'll be grateful to you?"

"Do you think I'll accept a future where you summon and dismiss me like some lackey whenever you please?"

By now, his words had become a roar. Qiangu Dongfeng tightened his grip on the Coiling Dragon Staff and charged straight at Ming Yue!

"QIANGU MINGYUE!"

All nine Soul Rings blazed with dazzling light. His Soul Power was already nearing the Super Douluo level, and nearly all of it had been gathered into that single swing!

"Good! Worthy of a genius who inherited the Coiling Dragon Staff of the Qiangu Family! Worthy of being my younger brother!"

"Dongfeng, your big brother will lend you a hand!"

Seeing this, Qiangu Qingfeng let out an excited shout and instantly unleashed all his Soul Power as well!

Golden light shimmered along the Coiling Dragon Staff. Combining their family's signature staff techniques, his most powerful Soul Skill struck at Ming Yue in tandem!

"...So that's what you really think of me. I understand."

Yet faced with their combined assault, Ming Yue simply raised a hand and held it out in a calm, loose grip.

Pseudo-Heavenly Fire Divine Judgment appeared. Without even taking any medicine, he swung it once!

A dazzling slash swept across the charging Qiangu brothers in an instant.

"How is this possible?!"

"I'm... not... willing...!"

As their bodies were cleaved in two, they began to slowly dissolve. Qiangu Qingfeng and Qiangu Dongfeng stared blankly at Ming Yue.

They uttered their final words, and their bodies dissolved completely into the courtyard floor.

[At 30, after a full year of bloody purges and occasional dog-food rewards, the entire Spirit Pagoda had become a solid block under your control. There wasn't a single sleeper agent or ill-intentioned person left!]

[The other major powers naturally grew wary when they saw the Spirit Pagoda making such sweeping moves.]

[At the same time, they became even more convinced by Chen Zeyu's earlier deductions!]

[At 31, after Chen Zeyu's bold actions, Soul Masters outside the major powers began to adopt an 'ambiguous' attitude toward the Spirit Pagoda. As the 'victim' who had exposed everything,]

[Chen Zeyu seized the opportunity, and with the support of Shrek, the Federation, and the various families, he frantically expanded and strengthened the Anti-Spirit Organization!]

[In just over half a year, the organization had developed a public-facing force and resources rivaling those of the major powers. For a time, it seemed poised to gather heroes and carve out its own realm.]

[At 32, Chen Zeyu announced that the Anti-Spirit Organization had officially formed an alliance with Shrek Academy and the Federation!]

[Meanwhile, under your preparations and arrangements, the Spirit Pagoda's second-stage History-Wiping Plan began to be put into action!]

In the laboratory, Ming Yue accepted the tea Leng Yaozhu handed him, then went over the detailed arrangements for the plan once more.

Unlike the previous two confidential meetings, every senior member of the Spirit Pagoda—except Leng Yaozhu and Leng Yulai—had now become Ming Yue's puppet.

So the so-called meeting was just a discussion between Ming Yue and the Leng Sisters!

"That's the basic plan. Sister Yaozhu, take a look and see if anything needs adding."

"As for you, Sister Yulai, feel free to add something too if you're interested."

Ming Yue took a small sip of tea and looked warmly at the sisters.

Leng Yaozhu quickly took the documents and began reading. Leng Yulai, meanwhile, puffed out her cheeks and looked at Ming Yue.

"A-Yue, do I look like the kind of silly girl who only knows how to eat, drink, and have fun?"

As she spoke, Leng Yulai deliberately clenched a tiny fist in front of Ming Yue, then edged closer to him.

"You're one of the Four Great Spirit Masters of our Spirit Pagoda! Why would Sister Yulai suddenly think that?"

Seeing her look ready to pummel his chest with her "little fists," Ming Yue set down his teacup and chuckled.