The Son of a God-King Enters the Mortal World: The Archvillain's Stronghold

Seeing the girl finally make up her mind, a faint smile flickered in Li Changsheng's eyes.

Zhongli Wu watched the scene silently from the side, his expression complicated, yet he grew ever more astonished by Li Changsheng's charisma and depth.

At such a young age, he not only possessed heaven-defying strength and vision beyond the age, but could also so easily make others give him their hearts and willingly follow him.

This boy was no ordinary man. The storms he would stir in the future would surely far exceed Zhongli Wu's imagination.

Mother Jiang slowly walked over to her daughter, raised a hand to gently smooth the wrinkles at her hem, and looked at her with eyes full of love and reassurance.

Having just recovered from her serious illness, her complexion was rosy and her spirits high. Nothing remained of her former frailty and withered appearance.

"Go. You needn't worry about home."

"Now that I have fully recovered, I can live well and peacefully. Your life should not be trapped in this tiny, impoverished courtyard. You should see the wider world, cultivate properly, and walk a path of your own."

Jiang Nannan nodded forcefully, her nose stinging as she took a long look at the mother who had raised her and toiled for her whole life.

She did not hesitate or grow sentimental. Bowing deeply, she said, "Mother, once I have found my footing, I will definitely come back for you."

"Good." Mother Jiang smiled gently and lightly waved her hand.

From this moment on, there were no more attachments.

Li Changsheng swept his gaze over everything in the courtyard and said calmly, "Since the decision has been made, we shall depart at once."

As soon as he spoke, Zhongli Wu composed himself, suppressing all his doubts and calculations. He stepped forward and said solemnly, "Everything will be arranged as you wish, young friend."

At this moment, he had completely cast aside the pride and bearing of the Holy Spirit Cult's leader.

The youth before him knew the Holy Spirit Cult's deepest secrets, possessed a vision that crushed the current age, wielded unfathomable methods, and had even boldly claimed that he could overturn the ten-thousand-year balance between good and evil.

Even if there was only a one-in-ten-thousand chance, he was willing to gamble!

He would gamble on overturning this chaotic age, gamble on standing openly in the light, and gamble that the Holy Spirit Cult could completely cast off its evil name and ascend to the pinnacle of the righteous path!

The three said no more.

Li Changsheng walked ahead, while Jiang Nannan followed closely behind him, obediently staying by his side. Zhongli Wu trailed half a step behind in silent accompaniment.

Their figures slowly left the shabby, cramped little courtyard in the slums, which had witnessed today's farce of good and evil being overturned.

The wooden door gently closed behind them, shutting away the sight of the courtyard and completely separating Jiang Nannan from her former life of humble suffering.

The poor girl who had once sought treatment for her mother, humbly sold goods at a stall, and been endlessly battered by fate had now completely bid farewell to the past.

The road ahead was no longer a muddy dead end, but a vast new world of unknown possibilities.

The three made their way through the narrow alleys, step by step leaving the slum district and heading out of Heaven Dou City.

Sunlight fell across their shoulders: a young man, a young woman, and a black-robed cult leader, their figures gradually fading into the distance.

"Where are we going next?"

Jiang Nannan looked at the youth beside her, her beautiful eyes full of unease and anticipation.

This was her first time traveling far from home.

"The Sun Moon Empire," Li Changsheng answered.

"How did you know the Holy Spirit Cult is in the Sun Moon Empire?"

Zhongli Wu was greatly puzzled and could not help asking.

"Because of how much the original Douluo Continent despises evil soul masters, the Holy Spirit Cult's main headquarters could not possibly be located there."

Li Changsheng chuckled and replied, "That leaves only one possibility: the Sun Moon Empire, another land of heretics. At the very least, development and safety are both better there."

Hearing this analysis and explanation, Zhongli Wu fell silent.

It seemed he had underestimated this child.

So who exactly was this child?

And what kind of background did he possess?

A thousand li beyond Heaven Dou City, in the northern reaches of the Sun Moon Empire.

A vast stretch of black ancient forest extended across the land for countless miles, shrouded in dark mist all year round as cold winds howled without cease.

This place was known as the Evil Demon Forest.

In terms of territory and the abundance of species, it indeed could not compare to the Star Dou Great Forest, which dominated the heartlands of the three Douluo nations.

Nor did it possess the flourishing foundation of several great ferocious beasts gathered in one place.

Yet throughout the Sun Moon Empire, everyone knew of it, and everyone feared it.

The forest's baleful aura soared to the heavens, its wicked winds gnawed at bone, and strange miasma and vicious lingering souls spread everywhere. Countless bloodthirsty evil beasts lurked within, murder hidden at every step and death waiting around every corner.

Ordinary soul masters who entered the forest would have their minds devoured before traveling a hundred li, their soul power thrown into chaos as they went mad and died violently.

For thousands of years, every generation of the Sun Moon Empire had issued strict decrees sealing off this place and forbidding anyone from approaching it.

Ordinary people and low-level soul masters would feel fear rise in their hearts and keep far away at the mere mention of the words Evil Demon Forest.

The world believed this place to be nothing more than a death zone occupied by ferocious beasts, the most sinister and desolate land on the continent.

Yet no one could have dreamed that deep within this forbidden demon forest, which everyone avoided, lay a dark foundation capable of shaking the entire continent.

The Holy Spirit Cult's central headquarters was rooted in the underground core of the Evil Demon Forest!

Even more shocking was that, after lurking in hiding for centuries, the Holy Spirit Cult had already formed a partnership with the forest's strongest ruler, one of the foremost beings on the current ranking of ferocious beasts—the Evil Eye Tyrant Ruler!

One side controlled the dark and evil path of humanity, while the other ruled the myriad ferocious beasts of the forest.

Humans and beasts had joined forces, their undercurrents concealed as they silently accumulated power for countless years, gathering evil strength and cultivating experts.

It was precisely because of this terrifying trump card, unknown to the world, that the Holy Spirit Cult's overt comprehensive strength had long since utterly surpassed those old top-tier powers.

It exceeded Shrek, outmatched the Body Sect, and stood above the sects of both great empires. It had already become the undisputed foremost overlord among human forces!

It was only because it remained hidden in the shadows year-round, did not contend for empty public fame, and did not involve itself in worldly disputes that outsiders could not glimpse its true foundation. Thus, Shrek was still revered as the number one force of the righteous path.

After passing through layers of black ancient forest and crossing dense, baleful restrictions, the ground beneath their feet gradually became solid and heavy.

Zhongli Wu led Li Changsheng deeper and deeper until they finally entered a magnificent underground palace hidden a thousand zhang below the earth.

The entire palace was constructed from dark ten-thousand-year demonstone. Its ceiling soared ten thousand zhang high, grand and magnificent, yet not a trace of light could be seen. Only strands of dim, eerie phosphorescence dotted the walls.

Bone-piercing baleful energy, dense and pure dark soul power, and violent, chaotic auras of destruction mingled together, heavily shrouding the entire underground space.

Along the way, Holy Spirit Cult disciples could be seen moving about everywhere.

Their auras were sinister, their gazes cold and sharp, and their soul power carried a dense darkness attribute. Every one of them was a genuine evil soul master.

When the countless passing cultists caught sight of the black-robed, silver-haired figure ahead, their bodies all stiffened. Instinctively, they stopped, lowered their heads, and bowed with utmost respect.

"Greetings, Cult Leader!"

Their uniform voices of salute were low and solemn, echoing through the empty underground palace with the absolute majesty of a sovereign of darkness.

As the Holy Spirit Cult's nominal ruler, Zhongli Wu's prestige within the cult was supreme.

Yet at this moment, his attention was entirely elsewhere.

The two passed through the outer hall, the central hall, and countless heavily guarded corridors of restrictions before finally arriving at the deepest, most sacred, and most secret core forbidden ground of the entire Holy Spirit Underground Palace.

This place was the Holy Spirit Cult's true center of power.

Other than a mere handful of people, no one could set foot here.

Only the four highest-ranking core figures of the Holy Spirit Cult—the Cult Leader, Deputy Cult Leader, Grand Consecrator, and Supreme Consecrator—were qualified to enter and leave this place freely.

Ordinary elders and core disciples were forbidden from approaching within even half a step for their entire lives.

The instant they entered the core forbidden ground, the surrounding baleful aura abruptly became dense and heavy, while the oppressive feeling in the air multiplied severalfold.

The entire space was utterly silent, cut off from all the noise outside. Deep, dark, and mysterious, it carried a stifling pressure that inspired awe.

Zhongli Wu stopped and turned to Li Changsheng at his side. All casualness vanished from his tone as he said solemnly, "Young friend, please sit here and wait for the moment."

"I will immediately invite the Grand Consecrator and Supreme Consecrator to come meet you."

After speaking, he gave a slight nod, turned, and strode away. His figure swiftly disappeared into the end of the dark passage.

The heart of the forbidden ground instantly became empty and still, leaving only Li Changsheng behind.