Regarding the slaying of Zhongli Wu, Zhu Ziyang felt no ripples in his heart. It was as if he hadn't killed the leader of the Holy Spirit Sect but merely squashed an annoying insect—casual, without any psychological burden.
Indeed, according to intelligence gathered by Shrek Academy afterward, Zhongli Wu was the leader of the Holy Spirit Sect. His dying threat was not baseless; his mother was likely Ye Xishui, the woman who had once been entangled romantically with Mu En and Long Xiaoyao. This could be confirmed by Long Xiaoyao's presence at the Mingdu tournament's opening ceremony, standing in support of the Sun Moon Imperial Family.
Zhu Ziyang wasn't worried about retaliation from the Holy Spirit Sect. In fact, he hoped they would make a move. With his current strength, even if Long Xiaoyao and Ye Xishui came together, he had no fear. On the contrary, it would give him a chance to follow the trail back to the Holy Spirit Sect's lair and wipe them out in one fell swoop.
After all, a cunning, patient enemy was far more dangerous than a reckless brute.
Zhu Ziyang, Ma Xiaotao, Xuan Zi, and the Titled Douluo from the Body Sect and the Star Luo Worship Hall waited at the Mingyue Hotel for two days, but to their disappointment, there was no movement. Clearly, the Holy Spirit Sect had chosen to bide their time.
This was indeed the case. When Zhu Ziyang killed Zhongli Wu, the Holy Spirit Sect's Sixth Elder, Scorpion Tiger Douluo Zhang Peng, witnessed everything. Zhang Peng was both terrified and relieved—terrified by Zhu Ziyang's strength, capable of effortlessly killing a 98th-level Zhongli Wu, and relieved that he had left early, avoiding being caught in Zhu Ziyang's path.
He rushed back to the Holy Spirit Sect's stronghold in Mingdu at top speed, gave a brief report to the Second Elder, Heavenly Centipede Douluo Nangong Wan, who was stationed there, and then immediately headed to the sect's headquarters in the Evil Demon Forest.
Without pause, Zhang Peng returned to the Holy Spirit Sect's headquarters and informed the high-ranking members of Zhongli Wu's death. The news struck the sect like a thunderbolt, causing an uproar. Many clamored for revenge, demanding that Shrek Academy pay a blood debt for Zhongli Wu's death!
For a moment, the Holy Spirit Sect's headquarters in the Evil Demon Forest was filled with righteous indignation. It wasn't until the Supreme Leader, Ye Xishui, appeared that the evil soul masters tempered their fervor. Still, many continued to call for vengeance for Zhongli Wu. To everyone's shock, Ye Xishui responded with a single phrase:
"Do as you please."
Instantly, those clamoring for revenge fell silent. Everyone understood that if their 98th-level sect leader had died at Shrek Academy's hands, those weaker than Zhongli Wu had little hope of avenging him—let alone surviving. Their calls for revenge were largely to spur Ye Xishui, a 99th-level Limit Douluo, into action.
From Ye Xishui's response, it was clear she had no intention of avenging her son. Their continued clamor would only make fools of themselves, so the scene quickly grew quiet.
"Is the Sect Leader's death to be in vain?" a woman spoke, her voice filled with resentment and unwillingness. She was Zhongli Wu's wife, the Holy Spirit Sect's Vice Leader, Evil Phoenix Douluo Feng Ling.
"Of course not!" Ye Xishui firmly denied. "We will certainly take revenge, but not now. We need to wait for the right moment!"
"Understood!" Hearing Ye Xishui's explanation, Feng Ling didn't press further and nodded.
"From now on, Feng Ling will temporarily assume the role of Sect Leader," Ye Xishui declared before turning to leave.
Ye Xishui sought out Long Xiaoyao and asked directly, "Has that Zhu Ziyang's strength truly reached such a level?"
Long Xiaoyao gave a bitter smile and nodded. "Honestly, I didn't expect that kid's growth to be so rapid. An Ultimate Light Titled Douluo—killing Zhongli Wu was quite easy for him."
Ye Xishui's expression flickered between light and shadow before she asked, "If I face him, can I kill him?"
"Xishui, you must not take that risk!" Long Xiaoyao immediately said, his tone grave. "That kid's strength defies common sense. His Ultimate Light martial soul naturally counters you, and he also wields death attributes, rendering many of your abilities ineffective. If you face him, your chances of winning are slim! Listen to me—don't rashly challenge that kid!"
"I understand," Ye Xishui said thoughtfully, nodding after a long pause. "I'll listen to you. I need to make a trip to Mingdu."
"What are you going to Mingdu for?" Long Xiaoyao immediately grew nervous and asked.
"Don't worry. I'm only going to discuss future cooperation with that Xu Tianran kid. I won't cause trouble with Zhu Ziyang," Ye Xishui said, her heart warming at Long Xiaoyao's concerned expression, though her face remained cold.
"I'll go with you!" Long Xiaoyao, still uneasy, insisted.
"Alright," Ye Xishui didn't refuse.
The night before the Mingdu Soul Master Tournament finals, at the Mingyue Hotel, in Shrek Academy's meeting room.
Zhu Ziyang was arranging tomorrow's action plan. Present, aside from Ma Xiaotao, were only the eight Titled Douluo from the Body Sect and the Star Luo Worship Hall.
"Brother Ziyang, where's that old guy Xuan Zi?" The Body Sect Leader, Body Douluo Du Bushi, asked with a puzzled expression, his tone gentle. Having witnessed Zhu Ziyang instantly kill Zhongli Wu, Du Bushi now treated him with great respect.
"Elder Xuan has been assigned another task and won't be participating in tomorrow's operation," Zhu Ziyang said with a cheerful smile.
"This…" Du Bushi was taken aback, as were the other seven Titled Douluo.
"Without Xuan Zi, aren't we a bit short-handed?" Star Luo Worship Hall Master, Starlight Douluo Xu Luo, asked.
"No need to worry, Elder Starlight. I'm here," Zhu Ziyang said calmly. His words brought a sense of reassurance to everyone present. Indeed, with a powerhouse comparable to a Limit Douluo, what was there to fear?
"Heh, us old folks are being too cautious. Brother Ziyang, assign us our tasks," Du Bushi chuckled.
"Alright, I won't waste time then," Zhu Ziyang said with a smile. "According to our plan, after the finals tomorrow, we will immediately launch an assassination attempt on Xu Tianran. Originally, the assassination was to be carried out by us from the Douluo Continent. However, since we've reached an agreement with the Sun Moon Empire's Second Prince, the assassination will be executed by their people. This way, the responsibility for the assassination won't fall on us, and it will prevent the Sun Moon Empire from using it as a pretext to wage war against us.
"Under this plan, I've made the following arrangements: Shrek Academy will assist the Second Prince's actions to ensure the assassination doesn't fail. After the assassination succeeds, we will eliminate the Second Prince, creating the illusion of fratricide, plunging the Sun Moon Empire into leaderless chaos.
"Seniors from the Body Sect and Star Luo Worship Hall, your task is to eliminate the warmongering elements within the Sun Moon Empire's military during the assassination. Here's the list."
Zhu Ziyang produced a list of Xu Tianran and the Sun Moon lineage's loyalists, primarily the main and deputy officers of the Sun Moon Empire's military under Xu Tianran's control. Eliminating these individuals would allow Zhang Lexuan to seize control of the entire Sun Moon Empire military with minimal effort and in the shortest time.
Du Bushi and the others took the list and began reviewing it.
"Some of these individuals are Titled Douluo-level powerhouses, so please take this seriously, seniors," Zhu Ziyang reminded.
"No problem!" Du Bushi and the others agreed readily. Their primary goal was to buy time for their nations to prepare for war. Killing Xu Tianran would buy time, and eliminating a group of Sun Moon Empire military officers would buy even more. Why not?
"Very well, the plan is set. Seniors, you can begin preparations. The operation will commence at midnight tomorrow," Zhu Ziyang announced.
Du Bushi and the others clasped their fists in salute to Zhu Ziyang and took their leave.
"Ziyang, you're so bad," Ma Xiaotao said to Zhu Ziyang once Du Bushi and the others had left. "Using the Body Sect and Star Luo Empire like this—aren't you afraid they'll find out?"
"What? Don't you like it?" Zhu Ziyang said with a smile, pulling Ma Xiaotao into his arms, his hand resting over her heart.
"Of course I like it!" Ma Xiaotao replied immediately, her face flushing with excitement. "The badder you are, the more I'm into it!"
"I can be even badder," Zhu Ziyang whispered into Ma Xiaotao's ear. The next moment, the two vanished from the meeting room.
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