After the Terrorist Attack

Ever since the Heaven Dou terrorist attack, the Holy Spirit Cult seemed to have vanished under the military's successive blows.

Follow-up reports emerged one after another. From top to bottom, the Federation held press conferences, while both doves and hawks did everything they could to promote their own positions.

Several legislators stepped down. The doves and hawks argued until they were red in the face, while the centrists continued to play deaf and dumb as always.

The seemingly calm waters of the Federation were gradually showing signs of being muddied by the Holy Spirit Cult's reemergence.

Golden Crown.

"Pavilion Master." Tang Wulin stood at Yun Ming's side.

"What do you think?"

"Just as we expected, the military has made no major moves to inspect its armories. That means Godslayer has most likely already been moved out," Tang Wulin replied. "The only ones worthy of making them use Godslayer are Shrek."

"This day was bound to come eventually." Yun Ming looked directly at the dazzling sun overhead, the warning in his heart faint and indistinct. "Still, I'm very curious. Why are you so certain?"

Tang Wulin sighed softly. "A person can't make the same mistake twice."

Yun Ming's pupils suddenly contracted. "What did you say?"

Tang Wulin glanced at the lightning tribulation beginning to appear on the horizon, shook his head, and said no more.

Yet the information contained in that single sentence was already staggering.

No wonder... no wonder! Yun Ming looked at Tang Wulin with a complicated expression.

No wonder Tang Wulin displayed talent utterly unlike that of an ordinary person. No wonder he always seemed able to foresee the future, eliminating every wrong choice beforehand with a clear goal in mind. No wonder his attitude at the Sea God Pavilion's secret meeting had been so forceful...

Seeing the faint bitter smile tugging at his lips, Yun Ming suddenly realized something, and his expression gained a trace of bitterness as well. "So..."

"It's all in the past," Tang Wulin said quietly. "But this is the last chance."

Yun Ming drew a deep breath. "I understand. Is everything arranged?"

"Naturally."

Yun Ming looked into the distance and said in a deep voice, "Then let's wait for the show to begin."

Far North.

The frigid wind swept up snow and ice as it howled past.

A massive bell slowly took shape amid the ice plains.

Beneath the bell, Nanali sat cross-legged, her face pale. Black mist enveloped her, keeping the wind and snow outside.

She had been forced to self-destruct her martial soul to escape. Her cultivation had temporarily fallen, and if she did not repair her martial soul, her position within the Holy Spirit Cult would inevitably be replaced.

Fortunately, the Far North was safe for her now.

Nanali opened her eyes and exhaled a breath of foul air.

The bell above her swayed once. A sonic blast erupted, and the surrounding wind and snow instantly scattered, leaving everything around her calm.

The bell shrank, turning into a streak of light that entered her body.

Nanali gritted her teeth in hatred, but when she recalled that person's incomprehensible abilities, she could not help but shudder.

That was close. I nearly got myself killed! Nanali felt lingering fear.

She stretched lazily and muttered, "Perfect. I can use my injuries as an excuse to avoid that matter..."

Nanali slowly headed in a certain direction, completely unaware that traces of lingering tenderness had blended into the faint breeze around her.

Shrek City, Spirit Pagoda.

"Yue'er, this is my grandson, Qiangu Zhangting. He's about your age, so the two of you can get to know each other better when you have the chance," the middle-aged man said with a smile.

Gu Yue glanced at the young man standing behind him, his face brimming with a confident smile, and replied indifferently, "Pagoda Master, if you called me here just for this, then I'll be leaving. There are still many matters to advance with the Myriad Beast Platform. I'm very busy."

The young man's smile instantly froze on his face.

Qiangu Dongfeng, the Spirit Pagoda Master, was somewhat displeased as well. He felt that she had embarrassed him, but recalling that Gu Yue and the family behind her controlled the core of the Myriad Beast Platform, he could only maintain the smile on his face. "Ah, it seems my grandson does not have that good fortune. I mainly came to ask about the Myriad Beast Platform's progress."

Gu Yue replied blandly, "Everything is proceeding smoothly. The stability inside the Myriad Beast Platform has already undergone three rounds of testing, so the chances of an error are very low. Even if one does occur, it will remain within the scope of public relations."

Qiangu Dongfeng nodded. "Very good. I'm at ease leaving this to you. Go on, then. If there are any problems or anything you need, tell me anytime."

Gu Yue gave a brief acknowledgment and turned to leave.

After she left, Qiangu Zhangting looked disappointed within the Pagoda Master's office floor. "Grandfather, can't you think of another way?"

Qiangu Dongfeng snorted coldly. "Can't you fight for her yourself?"

Qiangu Zhangting scratched his head. "Every time I try to talk to her, she ignores me."

Qiangu Dongfeng said, "Once the Myriad Beast Platform she leads enters the market, I may be forced by pressure to grant her the position of Spirit Envoy. If you aren't outstanding enough, isn't it only natural that she wouldn't be interested in you?"

Qiangu Zhangting's eyes lit up. "Grandfather, you're right! Is the family's secret realm about to open?"

Qiangu Dongfeng said approvingly, "It's good that you have that resolve. Go prepare. It'll be here soon."

Qiangu Zhangting nodded, though he vaguely felt that his grandfather's final words referred to more than just the family's secret realm. Still, he did not ask. He simply left at once.

Watching Qiangu Zhangting depart, Qiangu Dongfeng rose to his feet and glanced toward the spreading shadows. "Every one of your appearances makes me sick."

The shadows twisted. "Pagoda Master Qiangu, your duplicity is no less disgusting."

Qiangu Dongfeng sneered. "I advise you to act as soon as possible. They've already begun constructing defensive works. With their capabilities, completion won't take long. By then, whether you can still achieve your goal is hard to say."

"There's no need for Pagoda Master Qiangu to worry about that. We have our own arrangements."

"You'd better do as you say. Otherwise, if you fail to catch the chicken and lose the rice instead, not only will our cooperation end here, I will personally collect interest from you." Qiangu Dongfeng said, "I doubt you want to experience that situation."

The office floor fell silent. After a while, the sinister voice sounded again from within the shadows, tinged with anger. "Qiangu Dongfeng, even if we fail, if you dare turn around and bite us, then prepare to have a layer of skin ripped from your body!"

As soon as the words fell, the shadows instantly receded. The thin membrane enveloping the office floor also dispersed along with them.

Qiangu Dongfeng's expression changed. The aura around him became exceedingly heavy, brewing terrifying power. Even the air rippled as though it could barely withstand the pressure.

"A bunch of lunatics!"

Using his personal terminal, Qiangu Dongfeng placed a call.

"Be ready to cut it off at any time." After saying that, he immediately ended the call.

Standing before the floor-to-ceiling window with his hands behind his back, Qiangu Dongfeng gazed into the distance at the mountain that had weighed on his heart for so long.