You're Talking About Evil Soul Masters. What Does That Have to Do with My Holy Spirit Cult?

"Boss, what do we do now?!" The other Soul King who had interrogated Xu Cheng alongside the Soul Emperor was on the verge of tears. Who could have known this mission would be so troublesome? No, their lives and livelihoods were at stake!

"Second, Fifth, don't panic. Things have come to this, and I bear responsibility I can't shirk either. We'll face it together." Xu Mochen sighed helplessly.

"Boss, you've got a good head on your shoulders. Find us a way to survive!"

Fifth spoke urgently, as though clutching at a lifesaving straw.

"That's right, Boss! Whatever you tell us to do, we'll do it!" Second hurriedly added.

The others voiced their agreement as well.

They were all grasshoppers tied to the same rope. Even though they hadn't entered the interrogation room, if Second and Fifth got into trouble, none of them would escape either.

"Ah, things have come to this." Xu Mochen sighed. "Here's what we'll do. We can only save ourselves, but the only person who can shield us this time is His Highness the Fourth Prince..."

"But right now, His Highness the Fourth Prince probably..." Second looked troubled.

He wasn't stupid. He could read the situation.

With a behemoth like the Holy Spirit Cult involved, the Fourth Prince probably wouldn't pay a tremendous price to protect them. He would most likely kick them aside and pretend not to know them, or even hand them over to the Holy Spirit Cult himself.

"That's because we have no value." A smile curled Xu Mochen's lips as he looked around at them.

"Brothers, think about it. If we interrogated Xu Cheng and established that he colluded with the Holy Spirit Cult with the intent to rebel, would His Highness the Fourth Prince still abandon us?"

"Then the conflict would shift from us against the Holy Spirit Cult to the entire Sun Moon Empire against the Holy Spirit Cult. With a [written confession] stating that Xu Cheng, the Holy Son of the Holy Spirit Cult, colluded with the cult to overthrow the Sun Moon Empire in his hands, wouldn't His Highness the Fourth Prince do everything he could to protect us?"

"Ah... brilliant, Boss!"

Second's pupils suddenly contracted, then delight surged through him.

"Come on, Fifth. Time's running out. Let's hurry and get the results out of him!"

"If necessary, you can use the torture devices..." Xu Mochen instructed.

"Don't worry, Boss!"

With that, everyone bustled into action.

Only Xu Mochen sat back in his chair and leisurely sipped his tea.

Once everyone had left, the corners of his mouth rose slightly.

He sent a message through a Communication Soul Tool. "The plan is proceeding smoothly..."

"Xu Cheng, I never would have guessed you were an Evil Soul Master! Your crimes are truly monstrous!"

The moment Second entered the torture chamber, he slammed the table and roared, his face filled with fury.

"An Evil Soul Master?" Xu Cheng froze for a moment. "I'm not!"

"Hmph, still trying to argue!" Second sneered. "Who doesn't know? As a prince of the Sun Moon Empire, you actually dared to collude with Evil Soul Masters, running together like wolves and jackals to murder the empire's people. Do you admit your guilt?!!"

"Hey, make yourself clear. Who's an Evil Soul Master? Watch it, or I'll sue you for slander!"

Xu Cheng spoke heatedly.

"Hm?"

Second frowned and exchanged a glance with Fifth beside him.

Judging by Xu Cheng's expression, he didn't seem to be faking it...

"Ahem, haven't you joined the Holy Spirit Cult?" Second asked, pretending to be casual.

"I have."

"Then why the fuck did you say..."

"You're talking about Evil Soul Masters. What does that have to do with my Holy Spirit Cult?!!" Xu Cheng said angrily. "I will not stand for this slander. Get my fucking lawyer here!"

Second: "..."

Fine, fine, fine. Playing me for a fool, are you?

"Brat, I don't have time to trade barbs with you," Second sneered. "Trying to stall? I'm not giving you the chance. I'll ask you one last time: did you collude with Evil Soul Masters or not?"

"No."

Xu Cheng leaned back tactically and answered mildly.

"Looks like you won't talk until we teach you a lesson. Fifth, go activate the Dragon-Peeling Pillar. Let him feel what it's like to have his skin sliced open and then slowly torn apart."

Fifth strode behind the Dragon-Peeling Pillar, a savage grin on his face.

"Second Brother, shall I start? It's been ages since I heard someone screaming on the Dragon-Peeling Pillar. The scent of blood spraying everywhere is just wonderful. Eighty-one spikes, each piercing a different spot, then slowly turning, lifting, slicing. Heh heh, that sensation is simply exquisite."

Xu Cheng shook his head helplessly, a smile appearing on his face. "Have you really thought this through?"

A vicious gleam flashed in the Soul Emperor's eyes. "Xu Cheng, you're already in the torture chamber, and you still dare threaten us? Fifth, what are you waiting for?"

Fifth gave a sinister chuckle, gripped the switch behind the pillar with his right hand, and yanked it down.

At once, a piercing buzz rang out as spikes slowly rotated and extended from the holes in the Dragon-Peeling Pillar.

But something strange happened.

The instant the spikes touched Xu Cheng's body, a layer of reddish-gold light burst out from within him, forcibly holding the Dragon-Peeling Pillar's spikes back and preventing them from emerging.

The sudden golden-red glow startled the members of the Imperial Family Inspection Team, and they all released their Martial Souls at once.

"Impossible! With the Dragon-Binding Lock fastened, how can you still use a Soul Skill? No, that's a Soul Tool." Shock filled Second's eyes.

The Dragon-Binding Lock's ability to seal Soul Masters was extremely powerful. Even a Seven-Ring Soul Sage would struggle to break free once bound. If Xu Cheng could still activate a Soul Tool while his Soul Power was sealed by the Dragon-Binding Lock, that meant the Soul Tool he wore had to be of a higher class than the lock.

The Dragon-Binding Lock was already a Class 6 Soul Tool. What class could the Defensive Soul Tool on Xu Cheng be?

"You actually dare resist." Second snorted coldly. "Even if your Defensive Soul Tool is a higher class than the Dragon-Binding Lock, your Soul Power is still limited. Let's see how long you can hold out. Once your Soul Power runs dry, the spikes inside the Dragon-Peeling Pillar, held back until then, will plunge violently into your body. They might even tear you apart in an instant."

"When you bring disaster on yourself, there's no surviving it..."

Xu Cheng shook his head.

He finally understood. These idiots were nothing more than tools in someone else's hands.

As for whether the mastermind was Fourth, Crown Prince Xu Tianran, or some other faction, he couldn't be sure yet, but...

Xu Cheng lowered his head, the corners of his mouth rising.

If you want to screw me over, you'd better see whether you're up to it first...