Six Years Later, the Holy Spirit Cult's Golden Generation

And so, six short years passed in the blink of an eye.

That day, on the training grounds, Gu Ming charged forward with the Spider Martial Soul in hand, his second and third Soul Rings flashing alternately beneath his feet.

"Second Soul Skill, Instant Flash!"

"Third Soul Skill, Dark Fist!"

Gu Ming flickered back and forth across the training grounds, leaving only afterimages that were impossible to track. A fist blasted out from the front of the Spider Martial Soul, crashing forward alongside a phantom beast.

Boom!

The longsword in Feng Ling's hand shattered. She stumbled back several steps, staring at her opponent in disbelief.

Gu Ming had grown so powerful.

And just like that, six years had passed.

The six-year-old child from back then was now a youth standing a full meter seventy tall. The childishness had faded from his face, leaving only maturity, confidence, and an almost imperceptible cunning.

Gu Ming had also smoothly advanced to level 34, becoming a three-ring Soul Elder.

Feng Ling looked at Gu Ming with admiration and praised him. "All right, that's enough training for today. There won't be any more training from now on, either. You've truly come into your own."

Gu Ming released his grip and cupped his hands. "It's all thanks to your excellent guidance, Deputy Cult Leader."

Feng Ling waved a hand casually. Unlike Zhongli Wu, she had no taste for polished official flattery.

She genuinely felt that Gu Ming's growth had exceeded her expectations. In just a few short years, he had progressed so rapidly that he was already close to surpassing the finest of the Holy Church's younger generation.

It was time to let him go out and see the world. Keeping him here forever would do him no good.

Before that, however, as Vice Cult Leader, Feng Ling needed to test the Holy Son's strength so she could arrange his future missions.

Then Feng Ling turned and said, "Let's eat first. Afterward, I'll introduce you to the younger generation of our Holy Church. Quite a few of them refuse to accept your position."

Gu Ming remained calm. "I never consider enemies who have fallen to me worthy opponents. My potential is limitless. No one can shine in my presence."

The Spider King on the ground nodded in agreement.

In the demonic weapon beast's eyes, only a master with such confidence and strength could truly command the power of a Demon Weapon.

A smile also curled the corners of Feng Ling's lips.

Those were arrogant words, but he certainly had the right to be arrogant—and he would not even have to pay the price. Even if Gu Ming ran wild enough to soar into the sky, the Holy Spirit Cult had the strength to back him up.

They intended to raise a demon king who bowed to neither law nor heaven.

Soon, the two finished breakfast. By the time they returned to the training grounds in the Evil Demon Forest, several more people had arrived.

At their head stood none other than Scorpion Tiger Douluo Zhang Peng and Dark Cloud Douluo.

As two of the Holy Spirit Cult's strongest fighters, these two were its most esteemed elders beneath the cult leader, for strength and contributions reigned supreme within the Holy Church.

Upon seeing Feng Ling, Zhang Peng cupped his hands. "Greetings, Deputy Cult Leader. Greetings, Your Highness the Holy Son."

Dark Cloud Douluo said, "Greetings, Your Highness and Deputy Cult Leader."

Feng Ling's gaze lingered on the two for a moment before she looked toward the other young people and nodded in satisfaction.

Those standing a short distance away were the Holy Spirit Cult's Golden Generation. At their head was Yan Feng, the Holy Spirit Cult's foremost genius.

The others were all gifted talents as well.

Feng Ling then led Gu Ming over to Yan Feng and the others, introducing them. "You'll need to get acquainted with all of them. The one at the head is Yan Feng, the Holy Spirit Cult's foremost genius."

"There's also Tang Dai. His martial soul is the Skeleton King."

"Gu Yu. His martial soul is the Bone Staff."

"Lu Genggeng, Wang Xiaolei, and the others can also help you when you're out in the world."

Gu Ming swept his gaze over them one by one, committing their faces to memory.

Yan Feng cupped his hands. "Greetings, Holy Son."

The remaining geniuses of the Holy Spirit Cult followed Yan Feng's example, bowing with cupped hands and calling out to the Holy Son.

Then Feng Ling turned to Yan Feng and said, "Defeat the Holy Son, and once you reach seven rings, you'll become one of our cult's consecrated elders. You'll also receive a Ten Thousand Year Soul Bone."

Yan Feng's expression changed at her words, and he gave the Holy Son another searching look.

It took only a second for the shock on his face to turn to delight.

He had never expected the Vice Cult Leader to summon them back for a fight against the Holy Son, with a Ten Thousand Year Soul Bone as the reward.

He was level 44, while Gu Ming was only level 34. Wouldn't this be like a father beating his son?

A gap of ten levels of Soul Power was not so easy to bridge.

Besides, Yan Feng sincerely believed that Gu Ming was inferior to him. He was the one who should have become the Holy Spirit Cult's new Holy Son.

Yan Feng immediately declared, "I won't disappoint you, Deputy Cult Leader."

Feng Ling turned back to Gu Ming and said evenly, "If you can't defeat Yan Feng, you'll spend another few years in secluded cultivation. Our Holy Church has always let strength do the talking. Show us yours."

"Understood."

Gu Ming's gaze had never been so resolute.

Even a gap of ten levels did not make him shrink back.

His opponent was Yan Feng, the bearer of the top-tier Bone Dragon Martial Soul, who apparently commanded the element of darkness.

And his own martial souls were the Spider King and the Tianjing Beast. Was he supposed to shy away from his opponent's edge?

Then everyone cleared the field, leaving Gu Ming and Yan Feng enough room to fight.

Yan Feng's lackeys silently prayed for their boss, hoping he would take down the Holy Son and become the next Holy Son himself.

Meanwhile, the two elders, Zhang Peng and Dark Cloud Douluo, exchanged glances.

Zhang Peng turned to Feng Ling and cupped his hands. "Deputy Cult Leader, the Holy Son has only three rings. I fear he's no match for Yan Feng. Why not give him a few more years to grow?"

Dark Cloud Douluo agreed. "My thoughts exactly."

A faint smile curled Feng Ling's lips at their words.

These two old fellows truly had long hair and little wisdom. The Holy Son she had personally raised was no ordinary weakling. They would soon see just how strong he was.

Gu Ming's performance would surely open these old fellows' eyes.

Who said levels decided everything?

On the field.

Gu Ming and Yan Feng locked eyes, both brimming with fighting spirit.

The next moment, Yan Feng was the first to complete Martial Soul Possession, shouting, "Your Highness the Holy Son, witness my power!"

"First Soul Skill, Dragon Transformation!"

"Third Soul Skill, Dragon Transformation!"

At a speed visible to the naked eye, half of Yan Feng's body took on the shape of a bone dragon. Scales covered his body, and his hands became sharp dragon claws as he instantly lunged at Gu Ming.

Yan Feng's plan was simple: take down the Holy Son. From then on, the Holy Spirit Cult would have only one Holy Son.

As long as he defeated Gu Ming, he would be the Holy Spirit Cult's future.

Yet Gu Ming merely gave him a penetrating look before leaping onto the Spider King's back and calling, "Spider King, play with him a little."

"Yes, Master."

The Spider King's eight legs moved at once. In the blink of an eye, he evaded Yan Feng's dragon claws and spat out a web that descended from above.

Seeing this, Yan Feng forcefully swung both hands at the web, sending three fine streaks of claw light slicing through the air.

Yet even this attack failed to tear the web apart. Instead, he was instantly wrapped within it.

Yan Feng's first reaction was shock.

He was a level 44 Soul Ancestor, yet he could not even tear through the web of a Detached Martial Soul?

Suddenly, Yan Feng sensed the poison coating the web and roared, "Break open!!"