Zhang Peng's words were full of seduction, and Xu Zhengyang actually started to cry.
"I am not Evil Soul Master, I will not join the Holy Spirit Cult. I am a member of the royal family of the Sun Moon Empire, I have a bright future, and I cannot be an evil or dark being."
Instead of getting angry, Zhang Peng laughed, "Justice and evil aren't for you to decide. Your Martial Soul can absorb vengeful spirits, and you can become stronger by absorbing them, which means you're already Evil Soul Master."
"The world won't tell you all this, nor will they understand your hardships or your determination to become stronger. They'll only see you as an anomaly, a disgrace to human Soul Master. At that point, they won't care about your origins or your past contributions; they'll only etch you onto the pillar of historical shame."
"At that time, you will not only be expelled from the royal family and the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineering Academy, but you will also be publicly executed in the name of justice. Everything you care about will be gone, your reputation and status will be reduced to ashes, and even your family will be affected. They will be ostracized, killed, and cast into hell."
Xu Zhengyang shouted, "Stop talking! I will take full responsibility for my actions. Don't try to implicate my family or drag me into hell. I am the top student of the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineering Academy and a chosen one of the Sun Moon Empire. No one can frame me, and no one can harm my family."
Zhang Peng shook his head. "Hahaha, you're getting impatient. When you used special methods to enhance your strength, why didn't you think about the consequences? Why didn't you think about how it would harm your family?"
"Furthermore, our Holy Spirit Cult doesn't need to do anything. What you've done is irrefutable proof. Your advancement from half a level of Innate Soul Power to your current realm is already irrefutable proof. In fact, you've long been a member of our Holy Spirit Cult, it's just that you're temporarily..."
They just couldn't accept it at the time.
At this moment, Xu Zhengyang appeared trembling with fear and utterly bewildered. Zhang Peng's words seemed to have shattered Xu Zhengyang Xu Zhengyang's spirit and struck at the darkness within him.
The term "Evil Soul Master" seemed to be an inescapable shadow in his mind, the greatest taboo in his heart. Now that Zhang Peng had exposed it, he appeared extremely desperate and equally bewildered.
Even so, Xu Zhengyang still murmured, "I am not Evil Soul Master, I am not Evil Soul Master, I am a chosen one of heaven, no one can harm me."
Zhang Peng, on the contrary, appeared unusually casual, and even showed a hint of appreciation for Xu Zhengyang. Someone like Xu Zhengyang, who could find a special cultivation method on his own, could improve his strength so quickly and even become the chief of the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineering Academy. Even within the Holy Spirit Cult, he was definitely an outstanding individual.
As Zhang Peng said, most of those who joined the Holy Spirit Cult were people Innate Soul Power or Martial Soul was limited. In order to improve their personal strength, they resorted to some extreme means. The Holy Spirit Cult gradually grew stronger and became one of the strongest forces in the world by bewitching these people.
Just like Zhang Peng himself, if it weren't for his special Martial Soul, and if it weren't for Mu En's suppression back then, how could he have joined the Holy Spirit Cult, and how could he have survived in the shadows?
Now, when Zhang Peng looks at Xu Zhengyang, it's like seeing another version of himself, or seeing the faces of many more who have joined the Holy Spirit Cult.
Zhang Peng said, " Xu Zhengyang, think carefully. Did you come to my Holy Spirit Cult headquarters to find Tang Ya, or..."
It's about finding a path to strength. No matter which path you choose, our Holy Spirit Cult can fulfill your needs, even empowering you to become a force you never imagined.
After saying this, Zhang Peng laughed loudly and left the small hall, but his laughter was still full of allure and captivating.
After Zhang Peng left, Xu Zhengyang remained sitting on the ground, still looking bewildered, but his mind was racing.
Originally, I was taking a great risk by coming to the Holy Spirit Cult this time, hoping to rely on the royal family and the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineering Academy as my backers. After all, both the Holy Spirit Cult and the Sun Moon Empire Imperial Family have very close cooperation at the moment, and both sides rely on each other.
At least on the surface, the Holy Spirit Cult will not break ties for the sake of a small Soul Ancestor, nor will it truly offend the Sun Moon Empire Imperial Family for its own sake.
But to Xu Zhengyang's surprise, at the critical moment when he was in the Holy Spirit Cult, Electrolux actually awakened, and using special Necromancy and the special ability of curses, he actually devoured and defeated the attacks of the vengeful spirits.
Even under Electrolux's influence, the cursed power on the Tiger-Head Zhan Gold Spear actually had a special effect, making him seem like an Evil Soul Master.
It's important to know that Electrolux's Necromancy is very similar to the control methods of the Holy Spirit Cult. The Holy Spirit Cult commonly uses dark rune shackles to implant runes deep into the soul of a Soul Master Soul Master, thereby forcibly controlling them. They can even erase Soul Master's memories and emotions through a mental shock technique, leaving only their fighting instincts, thus making them absolutely obedient.
In addition, the Holy Spirit Cult imprints a certain mark on the Soul Master ' souls, making their cultivation dependent on Soul Master efforts, and even allowing higher-ups to monitor and intervene.
In the original work, both Tang Ya and Ma Xiaotao were controlled by the Holy Spirit Cult. The Holy Spirit Cult used evil methods to infiltrate the Martial Soul Origin and activate their devouring talents, allowing Ma Xiaotao and Tang Ya to rapidly increase their strength and even disintegrate their original consciousness.
Take Tang Ya for example. She transformed from her original Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul into Dark Blue Silver Grass, thus becoming completely corrupted and falling into depravity.
However, this training method is very similar to Electrolux's Necromancy. Necromancy also involves fighting by manipulating the undead, but its level of skill in using dark energy and controlling the soul is much higher, even to the point of being overwhelming.
It's important to know that in the original novel, Huo Yuhao was mistaken for Evil Soul Master by the Holy Spirit Cult because he used Necromancy, which allowed him to remain active under their Holy Spirit Cult eyes for so long. Otherwise, with his strength, he would have been crushed during the second Soul Master Tournament.
Xu Zhengyang's situation is somewhat similar to Huo Yuhao's; he was also mistaken by Zhang Peng as Evil Soul Master, who believed he cultivated through evil means.
Perhaps by disguising himself, he could use the Holy Spirit Cult to make enemies of the Douluo Continent on the one hand, and on the other hand, prepare for controlling or even destroying the Holy Spirit Cult in the future.
It's important to understand that the Holy Spirit Cult is no ordinary force. If two Ultimate Douluo were willing to act simultaneously, they could not only defeat Shrek Academy, but potentially sweep across the Douluo Continent. Besides these two Ultimate Douluo, the Holy Spirit Cult also has its Level 98 leader, Zhongli Wu, and over ten Titled Douluo. Its overall strength is comparable to, and perhaps even greater than, the Sun Moon Empire.
Its mobility is even greater than that of the Sun Moon Empire.
Just then, a voice echoed in Xu Zhengyang's mind.
"This Holy Spirit Cult is quite interesting. They actually use soul imprints to control their subordinates, and at the same time, they use soul imprints and secret medicines to infiltrate the Martial Soul Origin, changing the Soul Master's cultivation direction, thereby weakening the Soul Master's will, and even activating the Soul Master's devouring talent, allowing them to rapidly increase their strength. These methods are quite impressive."
Xu Zhengyang instantly understood; this was Electrolux's analysis of the Holy Spirit Cult.
"Senior Electrolux, is there any way to remove this soul imprint, or even any way to counter it?"
Electrolux scoffed, "Such petty tricks, nothing more than trivial matters in my eyes. Even if I were at my peak, or even if I were only a fraction of my former strength now, breaking through a mere soul imprint would be an easy task."
"You, kid, you were quite the actor just now. You even fooled that Zhang Peng guy. He probably thinks you're one of them now."
"What exactly is your purpose in doing this? You don't really just want to find Tang Ya, do you? You seem quite interested in the Holy Spirit Cult Holy Spirit Cult, and might even be plotting against them."
Xu Zhengyang smiled inwardly, "Senior Electrolux is indeed adept at reading people's hearts. I have no way to hide in front of you. However, without your help, I'm afraid I wouldn't have been able to get here so easily."
"But it was also my senior who caused Zhang Peng to misunderstand me. Now he thinks I'm Evil Soul Master, and with my current strength, there's no way I can escape."
Electrolux said, "Oh, it seems you've become attached to me. You want to use me to deal with the Holy Spirit Cult's control, or even to use me to control the Holy Spirit Cult in return."
Xu Zhengyang quickly shook his head. "Senior, you're overthinking it. I'm just a weak Soul Ancestor right now, how could I possibly want to take advantage of you? We're just cooperating."
"As you said, senior, we are now one. If I were to die or be controlled by Evil Soul Master, I would have no future and would likely be destroyed by the Evil Soul Master sooner or later. Rather than that, it would be better to forge a new path and use the Holy Spirit Cult to do some small favors for me, at least to ensure my current safety."
Electrolux, within his Sea of Spirit, stared intently at Xu Zhengyang, his entire being appearing somewhat solemn.
" Xu Zhengyang, I can't see through you anymore. You seem to have everything under control, as if you've already planned it all out. I even suspect that you're trying to use the situation of the Holy Spirit Cult to deliberately awaken me and get me to help you."
Xu Zhengyang quickly replied, "Senior, you're overthinking it. I knew nothing about you before, how could I possibly scheme against you?"
"Furthermore, although the Holy Spirit Cult is evil and acts recklessly, I am, after all, born into the Sun Moon Empire Imperial Family and the top student of the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineering Academy. Even if the Holy Spirit Cult wanted to attack me, they would still have some reservations. It was only because you used Necromancy that the Holy Spirit Cult became suspicious of me."
Electrolux pondered, "That's true. But then again, the Holy Spirit Cult's methods are still too clumsy for me. As long as you don't lose your way, I can still stabilize your soul for the time being. But I also advise you not to be too reckless. I don't have much strength left. Once the experts here make a move against you, you will surely die."
Xu Zhengyang was overjoyed. "Thank you, senior. Although I am not afraid of death, I do not want to perish in this Holy Spirit Cult. I still have goals in my heart that I have not yet accomplished."
Deep within the Holy Spirit Cult, a man sat cross-legged in a secret chamber. He had fair skin, a tall and straight figure, and silver hair as sharp as steel needles. His deep purple pupils exuded a profound and sinister aura. He wore a magnificent black robe trimmed with gold. This man was Zhongli Wu, the leader of the Holy Spirit Cult, who was also a top-tier expert at Level 98.
Just then, Zhang Peng suddenly entered the secret room, appearing very respectful.
"Greetings, Master. I have important matters to report."
Zhongli Wu asked, "What's making you so happy? Shouldn't you be entertaining that junior from the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineering Academy?"
Zhang Peng quickly spoke up, "Master, it's precisely this Xu Zhengyang who's the problem. I've discovered that Xu Zhengyang is far from simple; he might become one of us, perhaps even the best pawn for our Holy Spirit Cult."
Zhongli Wu looked puzzled. "Impossible. Both Xu Tianran and Jing Hongchen think highly of Xu Zhengyang. Otherwise, they wouldn't have personally written to me, asking me to spare Xu Zhengyang's life no matter what. Otherwise, how could a mere Soul Ancestor Sect member come to our Holy Spirit Cult Sect headquarters?"
"Furthermore, Xu Zhengyang is from a collateral branch of the Sun Moon Imperial Family and is also the top student at the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineering Academy. From any perspective, they would never allow Xu Zhengyang to join our Holy Spirit Cult."
Zhang Peng quickly interjected, "Master, it's not a matter of whether they allow it or not. This Xu Zhengyang has a special curse on his Martial Soul, and he can actually use the curse to devour vengeful spirits, thereby increasing his strength."
"In my opinion, Xu Zhengyang's ability to reach his current level with only half a level of Innate Soul Power likely stems from the same methods used by our Holy Spirit Cult. If that's the case, the question isn't whether Xu Zhengyang is willing to join our Holy Spirit Cult, but rather whether the Sun Moon Imperial Family and the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineering Academy can tolerate him."
Even Zhongli Wu, with his vast experience, showed a slight change in expression. "Is this true? Is this Xu Zhengyang really cultivating using a method similar to ours?"