Night.
Southeastern corner of Tianhun City, Dark Alley District.
The alley was narrow. The walls on both sides were tall, blocking out the moonlight. There were puddles on the ground that splashed beneath their feet. Moss grew along the base of the walls, making them slippery.
Quan Cangtian walked ahead.
Zixiao followed half a step behind and to his left. The Thunder Light Sword rested at her waist, still sheathed.
He stopped before a run-down inn.
The door was shut. The windows were sealed. Yet he could sense three auras inside.
He did not enter.
He continued onward.
The second building was a gambling den. Its door was closed, but light leaked from within. A thin line of yellow light flickered through the crack beneath the door.
The third was a warehouse. Its door was locked, and its windows were sealed.
He stopped in front of the warehouse door.
The Dark Red Crystal beneath his palm pulsed once.
Its frequency was faster than what he had sensed on the street earlier.
It pulsed again.
It nearly burst free.
He suppressed it.
Zixiao spoke softly.
"Three strongholds, connected in a line."
Quan Cangtian nodded.
"The one in the middle is the strongest."
"A Titled Douluo."
Lightning flickered at Zixiao's fingertips.
Quan Cangtian glanced at her.
Zixiao extinguished the lightning.
A gust of wind passed through the alley. It carried a moldy smell, along with something else. The stench of decay seeped out from the base of the walls.
Quan Cangtian turned to leave.
The gambling den's door opened.
Someone stepped out.
He wore a black robe, his face hidden beneath a hood. Around Level 70. His aura was not particularly heavy, but his steps were steady.
He saw Quan Cangtian and Zixiao.
He paused.
He did not attack.
He merely stared at Quan Cangtian.
Quan Cangtian felt the Dark Red Crystal beneath his palm pulse even more violently. Once, twice, three times. Its rhythm grew faster and faster.
He suppressed it.
The black-robed person spoke.
"A member of the Quan Family?"
It was not a question.
Quan Cangtian did not answer.
"The Young Patriarch came in person."
Quan Cangtian remained silent.
The black-robed person said, "The Pontifex asked me to deliver a message."
He paused.
"The thing inside your body belongs to the Pontifex."
Quan Cangtian clenched his fist.
"When you are strong enough, someone will come to collect it."
He turned and returned to the gambling den.
The door shut.
Zixiao drew the Thunder Light Sword half an inch from its sheath.
Quan Cangtian pressed down on her hand.
He shook his head.
Zixiao sheathed her sword.
The two left the Dark Alley District.
An inn room.
Quan Batian sat beside the table. His teacup was empty.
Quan Cangtian and Zixiao entered.
Quan Cangtian reported what he had discovered. The three strongholds formed a line. The middle one was at the level of a Titled Douluo. There was also the message delivered by the black-robed person.
Quan Batian listened.
He said nothing.
He lifted his teacup, found it empty, and set it back down.
"The Pontifex's."
He repeated it.
Quan Cangtian said, "He knows about the gene."
Quan Batian nodded.
"How did the Pontifex learn about something given by the Envoy of Elation?"
Quan Cangtian had no answer.
Quan Batian said, "Two threads."
He looked at Quan Cangtian.
"One is the Body Sect. In three days, Huo Yuhao will meet Du Busi."
"The other is the Dark Soul Cult. The gene inside you is connected to them."
He paused.
"Do not tangle the two threads together."
Zixiao sat nearby, the Thunder Light Sword laid across her knees. She said nothing.
Three days later.
Morning.
Outside the inn.
Jin Peng entered.
He still had that scarred face, his aura heavy and deep. When he saw Quan Batian, he clasped his fists.
"The Sect Master is willing to see him."
He looked at Huo Yuhao.
"This afternoon. At the Body Sect's stronghold in Tianhun City."
Quan Batian nodded.
Jin Peng said, "The Sect Master does not have much time. At three in the afternoon."
"Understood."
Jin Peng turned to leave.
Quan Batian called after him.
"Jin Peng."
Jin Peng turned back.
"What is Du Busi's... attitude?"
Jin Peng fell silent for a second.
"The Sect Master has always valued Soul Masters with Body Martial Souls."
He said no more.
He turned and left.
Huo Yuhao stood nearby, his palm slightly sweaty. He wiped it on his clothes.
Three in the afternoon.
The same medicine shop.
Jin Peng led Huo Yuhao inside.
The back door led to a basement.
The basement was small but clean. Several Human Meridian Diagrams hung on the walls. Dense red and black lines marked acupoints and pathways.
Du Busi sat at the very back.
He looked to be in his fifties. Of average build, neither fat nor thin. There was little expression on his face. He appeared to be around fifty, but Huo Yuhao knew he was far older than that.
His aura was heavy.
Much heavier than Jin Peng's.
A Level 98 Super Douluo.
He looked at Huo Yuhao.
There was no change in his gaze.
"Spirit Eye."
It was not a question.
Huo Yuhao nodded.
"Three Martial Souls."
Huo Yuhao nodded.
Du Busi rose to his feet.
He walked over to Huo Yuhao.
Huo Yuhao felt a pressure. Not soul pressure, but a kind of scrutiny. As though Du Busi were weighing a stone, judging whether it was worth carving.
Du Busi studied him for several seconds.
"Your Spirit Eye has not awakened yet."
"No."
"Do you want to learn?"
Huo Yuhao did not answer immediately.
He thought.
Quan Cangtian's face flashed through his mind. Then Quan Batian's. The Quan Family's kindness toward him. Sky Dream Ice Silkworm. Ice Empress. Electrolux.
He spoke.
"I want to learn."
Du Busi said nothing.
"But I will not join the Body Sect."
Du Busi's brow twitched. It was slight, but Huo Yuhao noticed it.
"Why?"
"The Quan Family has shown me kindness."
Du Busi was silent for several seconds.
He turned around.
He returned to his seat.
"Fine."
Huo Yuhao froze for a moment.
Du Busi said, "I can teach you the Body Sect's Secondary Awakening Technique."
"But you are not a member of the Body Sect."
He paused.
"This is a transaction."
Jin Peng stood by the door without speaking. But his hand clenched into a fist.
Huo Yuhao looked at Du Busi.
"What transaction?"
Du Busi said, "Learn the Secondary Awakening. If the Body Sect needs you in the future, you will help us once."
Huo Yuhao considered it.
"Fine."
Du Busi nodded.
"Jin Peng."
Jin Peng came over.
"Take him to the Training Room. Start with the basics."
Jin Peng nodded.
He led Huo Yuhao out.
Du Busi sat there.
He did not move.
Night.
Inn.
Quan Cangtian sat by the window.
Huo Yuhao came in and told him about meeting Du Busi.
Quan Cangtian listened.
He nodded.
He did not say much.
But he raised his right hand.
The Dark Red Crystal beneath his palm was pulsing, more violently than before. Once, twice, three times. The frequency was rapid.
He looked out the window.
The lights of Tianhun City flickered in the distance. In the southeastern corner lay the Dark Alley District.
He sensed an aura.
It was drawing near.
It was faint.
But he recognized it.
It was the black-robed person he had encountered at the entrance to the gambling house that day.
Quan Cangtian spoke softly.
"They're here."
Zixiao opened her eyes.
The Thunder Light Sword lay across her knees. She did not move, but lightning flickered across its blade.
Quan Cangtian clenched his fist.
The Dark Red Crystal withdrew.
But he knew it was still listening.
The black-robed person had said, "The gene belongs to the Pontifex."
The Envoy of Elation had delivered the gene.
What was the relationship between the Envoy of Elation and the Pontifex?
He had not figured it out yet.
Outside the window, the night wind of Tianhun City blew in, carrying a chill.
The Dark Soul Cult was drawing near.
Du Busi had agreed to teach Huo Yuhao Secondary Awakening, but this was a transaction.
The gene within Quan Cangtian's body was "listening."
Three days later, Huo Yuhao began learning Secondary Awakening.
The Dark Soul Cult was watching.
What was the relationship between the Envoy of Elation and the Pontifex?
He did not know.
But he knew one thing.
The gene was pulsing.
The Dark Soul Cult was drawing near.
The true confrontation had yet to begin.
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