Severing Kinship

"Ming, Mingyue, what are you saying? Mother doesn't quite understand. What happened to your brothers, Qingfeng and Dongfeng?"

Looking at Mingyue with confusion, the woman fired off a series of questions:

"Did they do something wrong? Did they commit some kind of error? I suppose that makes sense; after all, having a younger brother as outstanding as you puts them under a lot of pressure..."

As she spoke, she glanced back at the brothers, who were cowering like quails, before turning back to smile at Mingyue.

Qiangu Dieting trembled at the sight, but under the intensified manipulation of the Herrscher of Sentience's authority by Mingyue, his expression quickly turned blank once more.

"Still harboring delusions? Or do you think I would care about so-called blood relations?"

Ignoring the woman's words, Mingyue's gaze remained indifferent, his tone growing increasingly flat.

"."x2

The brothers trembled again, as if they could hear their own frantic heartbeats.

"Mingyue, what are you talking about? Dieting, aren't you going to stop him?"

"Mingyue, you."

"You're being too noisy. Take her away." He cut off the woman's incessant chatter directly.

Mingyue glanced at Qiangu Dieting.

Nodding silently, Qiangu Dieting struck the back of the woman's neck, then hoisted her up and vanished from the courtyard.

".Still harboring fantasies, are we?"

After a moment of silence, Mingyue summoned the Void Archives and asked.

".Enough! Have you said enough! Is it just because I had people cooperate with that clown Chen Zeyu that you have to be so aggressive?"

"Qiangu Mingyue, you must remember that I am your elder brother!"

Finally breaking under Mingyue's indifferent gaze, Qiangu Qingfeng could not help but step forward.

Glaring at Mingyue's face, he roared at the top of his lungs.

"An elder brother? I never expected to hear such words from you under these circumstances."

Smiling coldly, Mingyue turned his attention to Qiangu Dongfeng: "Do you have nothing to say? Hmm?"

To be honest, Mingyue's memories of Qiangu Dongfeng were mostly frozen at the age of six.

It was during that time that the relationship between Qiangu Dongfeng and Mingyue was actually quite decent.

Even after his talent manifested and he was alienated by others, Mingyue had been mindful of providing him with care and resources ever since he succeeded as the Pagoda Master.

"Heh, at this point, would anything I say change your mind?"

"Qiangu Mingyue, you are a man who is cold to the very bone!"

Finally raising his head, he let out a sneer as if to bolster his own courage, and Qiangu Dongfeng's voice began to turn frantic:

"Why! Just why! How can a guy like you be the one to win the hearts of Yaozhu and Yulai!"

"Why can a guy like you, with a mutated martial soul and only level one Innate Soul Power, gain the approval of Father and all the council members!"

"Is it just because of your damn scientific talent!? Just because of those Valkyrie Battlesuit you invented!?"

His expression grew increasingly deranged, and the soul rings on Qiangu Dongfeng began to glow:

"Do you think you can secure your position just by becoming the Pagoda Master?"

"Do you think I'll be grateful to you just because you tossed me those scraps of resources?"

"Do you think I'll accept my future, being summoned and dismissed by you like some lackey!?"

By now, his words had turned into a roar, and Qiangu Dongfeng gripped his Coiling Dragon Staff and charged straight at Mingyue!

"QIANGU! MING! YUE!"

Nine soul rings flashed with dazzling brilliance; with soul power nearing the level of a Super Douluo, Qiangu Dongfeng poured almost all of it into this single strike!

"Good! Truly a genius who inherited our Qiangu Family's Coiling Dragon Staff! Truly my brother, Qiangu Qingfeng!"

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

Seeing this, he let out an excited shout, and Qiangu Qingfeng instantly erupted with all his soul power!

Golden light flickered on his Coiling Dragon Staff, and he unleashed his strongest soul skill, combining their family's staff techniques, to attack Mingyue!

".So that is what you truly think in your hearts. I understand now."

However, facing their combined onslaught, Mingyue merely raised his hand in a calm, empty grasp.

The Pseudo-Heavenly Fire appeared, and without even needing to use a stimulant, he swung it!

A brilliant slash instantly cut through the aggressive Qiangu brothers.

"How is this possible!?"

"I am. Not. Resigned.!"

As their bodies were sliced in two, they began to dissolve slowly, Qiangu Qingfeng and Qiangu Dongfeng staring blankly at Mingyue.

Uttering their final words, both of their bodies dissolved completely into the floor of the courtyard.

[Age 30. After a full year of bloody purges and the occasional reward of "dog food" thrown into the mix, the entire Spirit Pagoda faction has become an iron-clad monolith under your control. There is not a single mole or malcontent left!]

[Naturally, such massive movements from the Spirit Pagoda have caused the other major powers to raise their guard.]

[At the same time, they have become significantly more convinced of the deductions Chen Zeyu made back then!]

[Age 31. Beyond the major powers, ever since Chen Zeyu's grand maneuvers, the attitude of soul masters in the outside world toward the Spirit Pagoda has begun to turn "ambiguous," and as the "victim" who exposed it all.]

[Chen Zeyu has seized this opportunity to frantically expand and strengthen the Anti-Spirit Organization with the support of Shrek Academy, the Federation, and various great families!]

[In just over half a year, this organization has developed a surface-level combat force and resources comparable to those of a major power, creating a momentum reminiscent of the outlaws gathering at Mount Liang.]

[Age 32. Chen Zeyu announced that the Anti-Spirit Organization has officially formed an alliance with Shrek Academy and the Federation!]

[And under your preparations and arrangements, the second phase of the Spirit Pagoda's Chan Shi plan has also begun implementation!]

Inside the laboratory, Ming Yue took the tea handed to him by Leng Yaozhu and confirmed the detailed arrangements of the plan once more.

Unlike the secret meetings held on the previous two occasions, all the high-level officials of the Spirit Pagoda, with the exception of Leng Yaozhu and Leng Yulai, had now completely become puppets of Ming Yue.

Therefore, the so-called meeting consisted only of discussions between Ming Yue and the two sisters of the Leng Family!

"The basic arrangements for the plan are as follows. Sister Yaozhu, feel free to take a look and add anything."

"As for Sister Yulai, if you are interested, you can also provide some additions for me."

Taking a light sip of the tea in his cup, Ming Yue looked at the two sisters gently.

Upon hearing this, Leng Yaozhu quickly took the document to look it over, while Leng Yulai pouted at Ming Yue:

"Ah Yue, do I look like some little fool who only knows how to eat, drink, and play?"

As she spoke, she deliberately clenched her small pink fist in front of Ming Yue and leaned in close to his side.

"You are one of the Four Great Spirit Masters of our Spirit Pagoda! How could Sister Yulai suddenly think that?"

Seeing her posture as if she were about to "pummel your chest with little fists," Ming Yue couldn't help but set down his teacup and chuckle.