The Holy Son and Control

"Release your two martial souls." A stunningly beautiful woman with pale skin sat in the center. Strangely, sinister chilliness and noble elegance coexisted within her.

After several hours of traveling, Mu Feng had indeed ended up exactly as he had guessed. After being led in circles, Long Xiaoyao brought him before this woman. A middle-aged man stood beside her, his short silver hair stiff and sharp like silver needles.

This must be Ye Xishui, the Holy Spirit Cult's Supreme Leader, and Zhongli Wu, the Cult Leader. As the two examined Mu Feng's martial souls, Mu Feng observed them as well.

"Unbelievable. Two completely opposing ultimate attributes actually appeared in the same person as twin martial souls."

Even with Zhongli Wu's vast experience, Mu Feng's martial souls still left him deeply shocked. He could not help saying, "He is practically a child chosen by heaven."

As the Holy Spirit Cult's leader, Zhongli Wu's gaze heated up when he saw someone as gifted as Mu Feng. In his view, Mu Feng was simply the perfect candidate to become the Holy Spirit Cult's Holy Son and strengthen the cult. However, with his mother beside him yet to speak, Zhongli Wu could only return to the side resentfully.

What puzzled him was that even Long Xiaoyao had shown surprise upon seeing Mu Feng's martial souls, yet not a trace of emotion could be seen on his mother's face. As unfathomable as ever.

Zhongli Wu lowered his head respectfully. Though he was deeply dissatisfied with Ye Xishui's seizure of power and hollowing out of his authority, her long-standing dominance left him helpless.

"From this day forward, he will be the Holy Spirit Cult's Holy Son," Ye Xishui said, her tone leaving no room for doubt. "However, information concerning his identity is restricted to the Eight Great Elders and above."

Naturally, Zhongli Wu had no objection to Mu Feng becoming the Holy Spirit Cult's Holy Son. He simply did not understand the latter half of her order, but he could only comply.

Ye Xishui glanced at Zhongli Wu beside her, seemingly seeing through his confusion. "In recent years, Shrek Academy has gradually intensified its purges. Rather than confronting them directly, placing an important agent within them will prevent the cult from suffering greater losses."

The three pairs of eyes immediately turned toward Mu Feng. He instantly understood Ye Xishui's meaning. It seemed that he was the agent she had in mind.

Mu Feng silently complained, No wonder she wants to conceal the Holy Son's identity. Otherwise, the moment I arrive in Shrek City to enroll, Dragon God Douluo Mu En will probably casually slap me into a meat patty.

"Indeed." Zhongli Wu nodded. He had repeatedly wanted to extend the Holy Spirit Cult's influence east of Ming Dou Forest, only to be obstructed by Shrek Academy time and again. Naturally, he could not agree more with a decision that benefited the cult so greatly.

"Since Mother has already made such thorough plans, I naturally have no objections. Then I shall take my leave with him."

Since Mu Feng was the Holy Spirit Cult's Holy Son, he naturally fell under Zhongli Wu's instruction as Cult Leader. Being able to restrain an entire cult of evil soul masters, Zhongli Wu certainly had a few tricks when it came to disciplining people. As for this fixed-installation soul tool shell that was about to be buried within Shrek Academy, he would have to give him some serious "guidance."

He had barely taken two steps when Ye Xishui's voice suddenly came from behind him.

"Wait."

"Do you have another order, Mother?"

Ye Xishui fell silent for a moment. Her gaze lingered on Mu Feng's face briefly before she said, "His identity absolutely cannot be exposed. There are too many eyes and ears outside, so let him remain in Blood Demon Hall to cultivate."

Zhongli Wu stiffened and said slowly, "That may not be appropriate. He is still a child. What if he disturbs—"

"At this level, cultivation will find it difficult to progress without a fortunate opportunity," Ye Xishui cut him off directly. "You still need to handle the cult's affairs every day. Let him cultivate under my guidance instead."

Although Ye Xishui sounded as though she were discussing it with Zhongli Wu, he knew her personality well enough to sense the forcefulness in her tone. Those polite words were merely meant to spare him from looking too embarrassed.

Even Mu Feng could sense the fake familial affection between this mother and son. Compared with that outwardly refined yet inwardly sinister uncle, Ye Xishui, with Long Xiaoyao at her side, was clearly the better choice.

Seizing the opportunity, Mu Feng pulled his wrist free from Zhongli Wu's grasp, then respectfully bowed toward Ye Xishui. "Teacher."

Ye Xishui nodded and said flatly, "Come here."

Watching Mu Feng walk over to Ye Xishui's side, Zhongli Wu's body trembled. He stood there for a moment before turning and leaving.

Only after the vast hall was left with Mu Feng and the other two did Long Xiaoyao speak. "This boy also has innate soul power at rank twenty."

At those words, Ye Xishui's pupils contracted. Her slender fingers rested on Mu Feng's wrist. "It is actually true. How could this be?"

She did not question why Long Xiaoyao had not mentioned it earlier while Zhongli Wu was present. Long Xiaoyao was only here because the Holy Spirit Cult had her; he had no obligation to report intelligence to Zhongli Wu.

Long Xiaoyao then recounted to Ye Xishui the secret Mu En had told him before. When Mu En was mentioned, Mu Feng could feel the fingers on his wrist suddenly twitch.

Ye Xishui withdrew her fingers and turned to look at Mu Feng, only to find him standing motionless like a wooden post.

It seemed that Mu Feng had looked like this from the very beginning. Other than the slight fluctuation in his expression when he had acknowledged her as his teacher, he had remained utterly still, like a wooden carving.

She recalled everything about the youth before her from the intelligence report Ge Shuo had submitted. It seems this experience has turned him into someone extraordinary.

And extraordinary people required extraordinary methods.

Suddenly, without warning, she pressed a finger against Mu Feng's forehead. A flash of red light flickered at her fingertip before burrowing into his mind.

A violent pain instantly erupted inside his head. Mu Feng clutched his head with both hands and squeezed his eyes shut as fine cold sweat covered his forehead.

He had not eaten a proper meal since several days ago, and his body was already extremely weak. The intense stabbing pain made Mu Feng, curled up on the ground, completely lose consciousness in mere moments.

Ye Xishui stared fixedly at the motionless Mu Feng lying on the floor. She had just planted a curse within his spiritual sea.

She did not believe that a child whose village had been slaughtered by evil soul masters could feel any sense of belonging toward the Holy Spirit Cult. Compared with brainwashing, direct control was the simplest and most effective method.

Long Xiaoyao silently watched Ye Xishui. Although she was usually quiet as well, after pressing that finger against Mu Feng's forehead, she seemed to have frozen entirely, and even her breathing had become much fainter.

"After more than a hundred years, is it the same fate again?" Ye Xishui laughed self-mockingly. More than a hundred years ago, Old Ghost Zhongli had coerced her into driving a wedge between Long Xiaoyao and Mu En, which had led to the Holy Spirit Cult as it existed today.

More than a hundred years later, in order to strengthen the Holy Spirit Cult, she had made the same decision regarding the youth before her that Old Ghost Zhongli had once made.

Long Xiaoyao asked, "Why keep this boy? Wouldn't it be less troublesome to let Zhongli Wu take him away?"

Ye Xishui looked at Long Xiaoyao. He had never once interfered in matters concerning the Holy Spirit Cult. Why had he asked such a question today?

Naturally, Ye Xishui did not know that Long Xiaoyao had already noticed her momentary lapse of composure.