The Holy Spirit Cult's Plan

At that moment, Gu Ming could not have been happier as he listened to his subordinates pledge their loyalty.

The resentment he had accumulated over the years was swept away in an instant.

This was strength—raw, undeniable strength!

With that thought, he took a pill for healing injuries from his Storage Soul Tool and tossed it to Yan Feng. "This is a water-attribute pill that treats external injuries. It'll help you recover quickly and even take you a step further."

Yan Feng caught the pill, a smile spreading across his face, and called out, "Thank you, Your Highness!"

Gu Ming nodded in satisfaction, then took out several more pills and tossed them to his other Underlings.

Gu Ming understood perfectly well that rain and dew had to fall on everyone equally.

The stick could not be given to just one person; it had to be given to a whole group. Only then could he raise loyal warriors willing to die for him.

These people were all the foundation of his own following.

Sure enough, the eyes of those turncoats lit up the instant they saw the pills.

After receiving their own pills, they pledged their loyalty once again.

The Holy Spirit Cult's corporate culture was just that simple and unadorned.

Once everything was over, Feng Ling and the two elders came to the training grounds. They waved at Yan Feng and the others, signaling that they could leave to tend to their injuries.

Feng Ling turned to Gu Ming and praised him. "Your growth has exceeded my expectations. I never imagined you would overwhelm Yan Feng."

"It's all thanks to your excellent guidance, big sister."

Gu Ming cupped his hands in salute, his tone humble.

Until he had sufficient strength, he would simply play the little brother and serve loyally.

After all, that had always been the Holy Spirit Cult's corporate culture.

Beside them, Wu Yun chuckled, then gave an odd laugh. "I never thought you'd be even better at playing the game than Yan Feng and the others, kid. Still, there's no harm in handling people that way."

Then Feng Ling said, "There's a mission for you. You've cultivated in the Holy Cult for so many years. It's time you went out and gained some experience."

Gu Ming said, "Please give me your instructions, big sister."

"Go eat first. Once the Cult Leader returns tomorrow, we'll explain the details. I'm just letting you know in advance," Feng Ling said evenly.

Gu Ming fell silent for a moment, then suddenly asked, "I'd like to visit Mingdu. May I?"

Feng Ling felt that this request was hardly unreasonable and would not delay the Holy Cult's plans. She said softly:

"You've passed our test of your strength. From now on, you're free. Unless it's something important, you needn't inform me or the Cult Leader."

"Once the Cult Leader returns tomorrow, you can accept your mission and leave. You only need to stay in touch with us."

Gu Ming nodded in agreement, a trace of longing appearing on his face.

He had been in this world for twelve years. Apart from the scenery he had seen before turning six, he had spent all his remaining time in the Holy Spirit Cult, dealing with Soul Beasts and elders all day.

It was time to go out and see the world, and eat something good while he was at it.

Eating things like whale rubber every day had left him so sick of it that the very thought made him uneasy.

Early the next morning.

Zhongli Wu returned to the Holy Cult from outside.

When he learned that Gu Ming had completely suppressed and defeated Yan Feng with only Three Rings, he could not have been happier.

The future of the Holy Spirit Cult had finally begun to show its brilliance.

And it was time to put their Holy Cult's plan into motion.

Zhongli Wu had discussed this plan with his mother, Ye Xishui. It was highly feasible, and Gu Ming happened to be exactly the right candidate.

Before long, Zhongli Wu summoned Gu Ming to the Holy Cult's main hall.

"Cult Leader."

Upon arriving, Gu Ming first cupped his hands in salute, his tone calm.

With his hands clasped behind his back and his back to Gu Ming, Zhongli Wu said evenly, "I hear you defeated Yan Feng yesterday?"

Gu Ming nodded without any false modesty.

"Excellent!"

Zhongli Wu nodded approvingly, then continued, "Originally, we intended to wait until you had grown stronger before carrying out this plan. But your growth has truly exceeded my expectations. It's time to proceed."

"From this moment on, I am assigning you a mission: infiltrate Shrek and become the next Master of the Sea God Pavilion. Starting today, you will assume a different appearance. You must never reveal your Spider Martial Soul at Shrek Academy."

"You possess the two strongest energies and twin Martial Souls of light and darkness. Even Mu En can forget about discovering your true nature."

"From now on, use the Tianjing Sword when dealing with Shrek. Remember to stay in contact with us. If anything unusual arises, the Holy Cult will notify you."

Gu Ming frowned at this and asked, "Cult Leader, may I ask why?"

Zhongli Wu clasped his hands behind his back and gazed into the distance, his voice solemn. "There's no harm in telling you. The Sun Moon Empire has long been part of our plans, but our greatest obstacle remains Shrek Academy."

"That academy has ten thousand years of accumulated foundations and can even communicate with the Divine Realm. It is a crucial pillar of the Three Great Empires. Once we take complete control of Shrek, we'll have no worries at our backs."

"I know the risk is great, but you cannot snare a wolf without being willing to sacrifice a child. Even Shrek would never imagine that we would send someone so gifted to them."

"Your talent is enough to drive those people at Shrek mad. As long as you work hard enough, you will become the Sea God Pavilion's Holy Son, and you will certainly inherit the position of Pavilion Master in the future."

"At the same time, you are also the Holy Son of the Holy Spirit Cult. If you ever wish to return, the Holy Church's doors will always be open to you."

With that final sentence, Zhongli Wu had all but accounted for the possibility of Gu Ming defecting.

But he understood those people at Shrek far too well.

Gu Ming would not defect. Even if he did, he would return sooner or later.

At that moment.

After hearing him out, Gu Ming cupped his hands without hesitation. "Rest assured, Cult Leader. I will complete the mission. The Holy Church has nurtured me like my own parents. I will never betray it."

At a time like this, he could not show even the slightest longing. He had to be loyal.

If he let any of it show, he probably would not survive the day.

Sure enough, after hearing those words, Zhongli Wu revealed a kindly smile and said in a deep voice, "All right. I'm not testing you every moment of the day. You may leave shortly."

"If we have any missions that require your help, we'll contact you at any time and make adjustments whenever needed."

Gu Ming cupped his hands and withdrew, returning to make his preparations.

This mission was not actually difficult. It was even a little thrilling.

He really was reaping the innate advantages of his Martial Souls.

Not long after Gu Ming left, the Holy Spirit Cult's Supreme Cult Leader, Ye Xishui, and its Deputy Cult Leader, Feng Ling, appeared in the main hall.

"Mother."

Zhongli Wu cupped his hands in salute, his tone respectful.

A cold gleam shone in Ye Xishui's eyes as she asked, "How did the Holy Son react?"

Zhongli Wu replied, "I used my spiritual power to observe the slightest changes in his expression just now. There wasn't a trace of wavering. He belongs wholly to the Holy Cult."

Ye Xishui nodded, thoroughly satisfied with Gu Ming's loyalty.

Then Zhongli Wu could not help asking, "Mother, won't sending Gu Ming to Shrek be like throwing a meat bun to a dog—gone for good? Could Mu En discover him? Shrek Academy can communicate with the Divine Realm, after all."

"No."

Ye Xishui answered decisively, then said in a low voice, "The people at Shrek will not discover that Gu Ming is an infiltrator, because he has never appeared on the continent. We have erased even the records of his birth."

"Even if Mu En racks his brains to pieces, he will never connect him to the Holy Spirit Cult. He can only take Gu Ming into the Sea God Pavilion, just as he adopted Yan Shaozhe, and help us fulfill the Holy Church's grand plan for revival."

In truth, Ye Xishui was not worried at all that Gu Ming would be exposed or betray the Holy Cult.

She herself had once walked that path, step by step, treading on thin ice there.

She too possessed twins of light and darkness, including a Bright Phoenix Martial Soul, and had never let anyone discover it.

Although Gu Ming was young, under their guidance he had long since learned the reality that revealing an evil Martial Soul would get him killed in an instant.

Hearing this, Zhongli Wu finally felt completely reassured.

Feng Ling pressed her lips together, still somewhat reluctant to let him go.

At sunset, Gu Ming shouldered his pack and, carrying a letter of recommendation from a city lord of the Heaven Dou Empire, left the Holy Spirit Cult's headquarters and headed toward Mingdu in the Sun Moon Empire.

Before going to Shrek, he would first take a look around Mingdu.