Son, Work Hard—The Family Line Depends on You!

In addition, a large number of elite evil soul masters within the Holy Spirit Cult, along with countless ordinary followers, were mobilized as well.

They would serve as one of the main forces in this war, acting as cannon fodder and distractions.

According to the prearranged plan, these people did not launch large-scale operations immediately. Instead, they infiltrated the Three Douluo Kingdoms in batches.

The vast majority of them concealed themselves in hidden regions of the Star Dou Great Forest, awaiting further orders.

Once the Holy Spirit Cult's true main force reached Shrek Academy, they would launch a simultaneous attack like venomous snakes that had lain in wait for a long time.

Their target was Shrek Academy!

This would also be the Holy Spirit Cult's first truly full-scale offensive against Shrek Academy since its founding.

After the meeting ended, Zhongli Wu did not remain any longer and immediately returned to Mingdu of the Sun Moon Empire.

As the leader of the Holy Spirit Cult, he still had many matters to handle. In particular, the situation within the Sun Moon Empire had been extremely turbulent lately, and he still had much to discuss with Xu Tianran.

Meanwhile, the Fire Phoenix Saintess, Ma Xiaotao, was temporarily kept within the Holy Spirit Cult.

By now, under the influence of evil soul power, she had gradually lost her original consciousness. Naturally, the Holy Spirit Cult would not easily give up such a highly promising fire-attributed soul master.

They would continue corrupting her until she completely became a member of the Holy Spirit Cult.

Elsewhere.

Long Xiaoyao brought Long Wushang and Tang Ya into a hidden secret chamber deep within the Holy Spirit Cult.

The secret chamber was very quiet.

Long Xiaoyao stood before the two of them without speaking for a long time.

As he looked at his grown son, his gaze held both gratification and concern.

Only after a long while did he slowly let out a sigh.

"Wushang, I told you long ago."

"Although you grew up in the Holy Spirit Cult, and most of the people around you were ruthless, scheming evil soul masters, you must not let them influence you because of that. Even less should you become like them."

Long Xiaoyao's voice gradually softened. In this world, only his son and Xi Shui could make him care so deeply.

"There is nothing wrong with pursuing power, and different positions do not have absolute right or wrong."

"But if a person cannot even hold on to their own true heart, then no matter how powerful they become, they will only become a slave to power."

At this point, his gaze fell on Tang Ya.

"You should know about this girl's condition."

"Her mind is in chaos now. Corroded by evil energy, she is gradually being corrupted."

"If you merely wish to keep her by your side as a plaything, then your father will not say much."

"But..."

Long Xiaoyao changed the subject. "If you truly intend to keep her, it would be best to handle her properly. After all, she was brought back by evil soul masters. What sort of people those evil soul masters are, I needn't explain to you."

Long Xiaoyao looked at Long Wushang and said seriously, "Wushang, do you understand what your father means?"

Long Wushang glanced at the nervous Tang Ya beside him and nodded to Long Xiaoyao.

"Don't worry, Father. I'll take care of the people around me. I definitely won't fall into those people's trap."

Seeing his son's confident appearance, Long Xiaoyao could not help but nod in satisfaction.

That was how Long Xiaoyao's son should be—bold and confident.

No matter what path Long Wushang chose in the future, he believed his son possessed the ability to control everything.

"Good. It's enough that you understand."

Long Xiaoyao slowly rose to his feet, walked to Long Wushang's side, and patted him on the shoulder.

The gesture seemed simple, but it contained a father's approval and expectations for his son.

"In this generation of the Long Family, you are our only heir."

There was a trace of emotion in Long Xiaoyao's tone, followed by a helpless smile.

"As for the heavy responsibility of carrying on the family line and continuing our bloodline, your old father can't accomplish that for you. After all, I'm getting old and don't have that kind of energy anymore."

"So from now on, it all depends on you."

At this point, Long Xiaoyao gave Long Wushang a meaningful look.

"Go do whatever you want. Your father will always stand behind you."

As his words fell, Long Xiaoyao's figure flashed and turned into a black shadow that vanished from the secret chamber.

And his final words had undoubtedly made his stance clear.

He did not object to the women around Long Wushang. One could even say that he had anticipated it.

After all, matters of the heart were Long Wushang's own choice. As his father, he would not interfere too much.

But from the perspective of an elder of the Long Family, he naturally hoped his son could continue the Long Family bloodline and allow this family, which had endured for countless years, to continue flourishing.

Especially since the Long Family was already sparsely populated.

Long Wushang was the hope of the entire Long Family's future.

After Long Xiaoyao left, Long Wushang did not rush to leave the secret chamber.

Instead, he sat back down in the seat his father had just occupied and calmly looked at Tang Ya before him.

Tang Ya still stood there quietly, like an emotionless puppet.

But Long Wushang knew she was not.

Tang Ya was different from Ma Xiaotao.

Ma Xiaotao's fall was more of a tragedy.

The flaw brought by the Evil Fire Phoenix martial soul had caused her to endure pain unimaginable to ordinary people ever since she was young.

Even Ma Hongjun, who later became a god, had been unable to resolve this problem. Instead, the flaw had been passed down along with his descendants.

If even Ma Hongjun could not solve it, Shrek Academy had even less hope. If it had been a boy, there might have been a way—like that ancestor, he could vent the fire to temporarily ease the pain. But for a girl like Ma Xiaotao, such a method was certainly impossible.

Thus, the evil fire accumulated more and more, growing fiercer with each passing day. Finally, under the combined schemes of the Sun Moon Empire and the Holy Spirit Cult, it was completely ignited, allowing darkness to consume Ma Xiaotao step by step.

Her fall was more the result of helplessness, coercion, and fate pushing her into the abyss step by step.

But Tang Ya was completely different. It could even be said that she had actively chosen to walk into darkness.

From the very beginning, her purpose in falling was clear: to gain power and become stronger.

To revive the Tang Sect, to make the once-glorious Tang Sect stand tall again, she craved power and strength.

But when a person resorted to any means necessary for their goal, it often meant they had gradually lost their original self.

To rapidly increase her strength, Tang Ya cultivated evil soul master techniques, devoured the soul power of others, and even took the lives of innocent people.

Her hands had long been stained with blood that could never be washed away.

That was why Long Wushang's attitude toward her was different.

He did not believe Tang Ya was inherently evil.

In truth, Tang Ya still retained her own consciousness. It was simply that, before her endless hatred and desire for power, that consciousness had become incredibly faint.

She knew what she had done, and she understood what the path she had taken over the years meant.

She also remembered everything that had happened between her and Long Wushang during this time. Her path had been her own choice, and she could blame no one else.

"Poor little girl..."

Long Wushang looked at the girl before him, a trace of pity flashing through his eyes.

"Carrying so much hatred and pain for so many years, you must be very tired."

"Since you have become my woman, then from now on, I will naturally take responsibility for you."