Wang Chen's mind turned sharply.
"Something's off about this. A Soul Saint-level expert could receive high status and wealth in any faction — why would someone like that become a mere bandit?
And bandits always bully the weak and fear the strong. How could a Soul Saint dare to provoke the Wang Family, which has two Soul Douluo powerhouses, over ten Soul Saints, and numerous Soul Emperors and Soul Kings?
That's suicide.
Moreover, after robbing the goods, they didn't even silence the witnesses. The Tenth Elder escaped with his life — that's no accident. They wanted him to escape, to achieve some hidden purpose."
Sitting at Wang Chen's right, Wang Yan also frowned deeply — clearly sensing that something was amiss.
The experienced old patriarch stroked his beard. He had lived through countless conspiracies and power struggles, and his instincts screamed that this wasn't a simple robbery.
"The Tenth Elder isn't strong," Wang Yan thought to himself. "If he was seriously wounded, there's no way he could have escaped alive — unless the bandits let him go deliberately.
Their goal must be to use bait to draw out our Wang Family's experts… then annihilate them all in one strike.
Judging from the situation, this is either the work of Third Prince Xu Tianshi or the deposed Crown Prince Xu Tianran.
But Xu Tianran has lost his title and much of his power — it's more likely that Xu Tianshi is behind this."
The First Elder Wang Lu also felt something was wrong, though he couldn't pinpoint what. He decided to speak privately with Patriarch Wang Chen after the meeting ended.
For now, Wang Chen, Wang Yan, and Wang Lu remained silent while the other Soul Saint Elders argued among themselves — their voices rising one after another.
Some, full of righteous fury, insisted on avenging the Tenth Elder immediately and destroying the bandits who dared rob the Wang Family's precious metals.
Others, more cautious, urged investigation first — to uncover the truth before taking action.
Wang Chen listened quietly, observing both the discussion and the wounded Tenth Elder.
To ensure no trickery had been planted on him, Wang Chen secretly circulated his Martial Soul Origin Power to investigate.
The Origin Power of the Martial Soul possessed boundless uses.
Wang Chen's personal Origin Power — the Source of Spirit — could imbue non-living matter with spirituality.
When combined with his battle techniques, it formed his Domain of Spirit, an area where even the air, soil, and water — anything non-living — could be controlled by him as though alive.
In this state, the entire hall fell under Wang Chen's invisible perception and control.
Soon, as he examined the Tenth Elder's body, he found the problem.
Inside the elder's flesh squirmed clusters of strange blue-black worms — tiny, wriggling things that made one's skin crawl just to look at them.
Wang Chen's eyes turned cold. The Tenth Elder had been unknowingly implanted with these creatures — his life and body likely no longer his own. At any moment, he could die, or worse, become a puppet.
"Evil Soul Masters," Wang Chen thought grimly.
This method was unmistakable — the handiwork of an Evil Soul Master.
To secretly plant such a technique inside a Soul Saint showed terrifying strength — at least Soul Douluo level, perhaps even Titled Douluo.
And at that level, there was only one faction in the entire continent capable of such a thing — the Holy Spirit Church (Sheng Ling Jiao).
Wang Chen's mind raced.
"Why would the Holy Spirit Church target the Wang Family? Which prince is colluding with them? Xu Tianshi… or Xu Tianran?"
Though rage boiled within him, his face remained perfectly calm.
"One must remain steady in great matters. If a man panics at the first sign of trouble, he's not worth much," he reminded himself.
His black eyes grew deeper, darker — like bottomless pools.
Wang Chen knew better than anyone how terrifying the Holy Spirit Church truly was.
In the original timeline, it was led by Supreme Pontiffs Ye Xishui and Long Xiaoyao, both Level 99 Ultimate Douluo.
Beneath them were the Chief and Vice Pontiffs, the Eight Elders, and the Twelve Worshipers — all Titled or Super Douluo.
Even if the Church in this era hadn't yet reached its later peak — after the wars and the Mingdu explosion — it was still unimaginably strong.
Across the continent, outside the Sun and Moon Empire, not even Shrek Academy could rival them.
Realizing that the Holy Spirit Church had taken action against the Wang Family, Wang Chen couldn't help but feel a sliver of pressure.
Compared to that monstrous organization, the Wang Family was far too weak — barely worthy of notice.
Still, Wang Chen also understood: the Holy Spirit Church, though powerful, wasn't all-powerful.
They operated in Mingdu, the imperial capital of the Sun and Moon Empire — a place where even they had to restrain themselves.
Otherwise, why bother supporting princes and manipulating politics in secret? If they could act openly, they wouldn't need all these elaborate schemes.
However, their Evil Soul Masters possessed too many strange and insidious techniques. Even if the Wang Family could repel them once or twice, they couldn't hold out forever.
This was not a battle of equals — it was like a mantis trying to block a chariot, an egg smashing into stone.
That's why Wang Chen made up his mind.
He would no longer hide.
He hadn't been cultivating quietly all this time just to cower forever — but to ensure that when danger truly came, he could strike back and win.
Now, possessing strength on par with a Titled Douluo and even rivaling a Level 9 Soul Engineer, Wang Chen had completed his foundation.
He might not yet be able to shake the heavens, but he was more than capable of stirring the winds.
"It's time," he thought, eyes gleaming. "Time to spread my wings — to soar high and let the world see me."
He knew exactly what his reveal would cause.
A fifteen-year-old possessing Titled Douluo-level power?
It would shock all of Mingdu — perhaps the entire Sun and Moon Empire.
Once he revealed his strength, even the Holy Spirit Church wouldn't dare touch him easily.
A flicker of excitement burned in his chest.
Yes — excitement.
With power like his, capable of clashing with Level 9 Soul Engineers and Titled Douluo, how could he not want to test his limits?
Wang Chen's sharp gaze fell again on the Tenth Elder — on the blue-black worms crawling beneath his skin.
The corner of his lips curved into a cold smile.
"Then let this Evil Soul Master behind you," he whispered, "be the first stepping stone for my rise."
Some people soar without warning.
Some remain silent for a long time — and when they finally cry out, the world trembles.
Silent no more — Wang Chen's roar would shake the heavens.