soul land: Huo Yuhao Inheriting Centipede Immortal

Even Juzi was stunned by Huo Yuhao's bold move. She hurriedly tried to say something—after all, Xu Tiannan was still watching from the side—but to her surprise, Huo Yuhao didn't give her the chance.

"No need to rush your answer. I'm willing to wait for you," Huo Yuhao said, his tone suggestive and his gaze filled with affection.

Immediately, the audience stirred with excitement, especially the women. Who doesn't love a juicy drama?

If it weren't for the third prince's identity, someone in the crowd might've already whistled.

Even Jing Hongchen and the others started looking at the third prince with odd expressions.

Was he… in love?

Did he come to this award ceremony today just to chase after a girl? Was he really not here to go head-to-head with Xu Tiannan?

But then, why was Xu Tiannan reacting so strongly if someone else was chasing a girl?

Could it be that he was also interested in the female student?

Of course Xu Tiannan was worked up.

He was practically furious!

Because Juzi wasn't just an excellent student—she had a secret identity. She was one of his people, a candidate to become his Crown Princess.

Now Huo Yuhao dared to openly invite Juzi to his residence right in front of him. His intentions were crystal clear.

Who would offer such lavish promises just for an outstanding student?

No one would believe there wasn't another motive!

Trying to steal from under his nose, was he?!

Xu Tiannan, a scheming and formidable man, quickly reined in his rage and regained composure, as if nothing had happened. He wheeled himself over and smiled as he asked, "Third Brother, do you know this student?"

Xu Tiannan's mind was racing. He wondered if the third prince knew Juzi's true identity, if he knew about more of the spies under Xu Tiannan's control, and whether Juzi had betrayed him—was she still trustworthy?

It was enough to make his thoughts swirl. He even had the urge to kill.

"N-No, we've never met!" Juzi quickly denied it, stepping back to put distance between herself and the third prince. She added, "This is the first time I've met His Highness the Third Prince. We've never had any interactions."

She was desperate to avoid being misunderstood.

"Haha, true," Huo Yuhao laughed. "I just saw this student and felt she had great potential. I got a little excited. I hope His Highness the Crown Prince doesn't mind."

"You exaggerate, Third Brother."

Xu Tiannan smiled back, but his gaze was locked onto Huo Yuhao and Juzi.

Juzi seemed a little nervous, like a frightened rabbit being stalked by a wolf, but in truth, she was clutching the corner of her clothes discreetly.

She was no rabbit.

She knew very well that without Xu Tiannan's support, her chances for revenge would vanish.

Dai Hao may have disappeared and was presumed dead, but his legion remained. The Star Luo Empire still stood. And they were partly responsible for her family's death.

They all had to die.

 If the main target of her revenge was gone, then everything connected to him would be destroyed.

That's a time-honored tradition in the Douluo world.

But because of the third prince's actions, a crack had formed in her relationship with Xu Tiannan. Whether she could regain his trust now depended on how much value he still saw in her.

From what she knew of Xu Tiannan, if he seriously doubted her, she wouldn't survive the night.

Huo Yuhao, pretending not to notice anything, kept his eyes locked on Juzi, as if he couldn't bear to look away for even a second.

Xu Tiannan chose to change the subject. He gave a light laugh and said, "Third Brother, the award ceremony still needs to continue. Let's not bother her anymore."

"Haha, alright. Whatever His Highness says goes~" Huo Yuhao finally looked away and didn't stir up any more trouble. He figured he'd done enough.

Now Xu Tiannan wouldn't be ignoring him anymore.

So Huo Yuhao decided not to linger.

"Just meeting Student Juzi today has made me feel content enough. I have some other matters to attend to, so I won't be staying." He smiled. As he passed Xu Tiannan, he lowered his voice so only Xu Tiannan could hear:

 "Your Highness, my wheelchair is much more elegant than yours. I'll leave mine for you—why not replace that broken thing of yours?"

With that, Huo Yuhao burst into laughter and left with Qingci Douluo and Moye Douluo.

After the third prince's departure, Xu Tiannan's expression turned dark. That was a blatant insult!

He stared at the shattered armrest of his wheelchair, saying nothing.

Juzi was the first to notice the change in him.

She casually adjusted her stance to block others' view of Xu Tiannan.

Xu Tiannan quickly recovered and turned to Juzi with a strange expression. She met his gaze calmly, her face serene.

Xu Tiannan still had doubts about her—but not many. He could tell the third prince was trying to sow discord between them. Now, Xu Tiannan was more focused on how much the third prince really knew.

Juzi picked up on the subtle cues in his eyes and felt a bit more at ease.

But both of them reached the same conclusion:

The third prince must die!

 He knew too much!

As Huo Yuhao left the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineering Academy, he smiled.

"The fish are about to bite~"

———

Somewhere in a southern forest of the Sun Moon Empire.

Huo Yuhao and Zhang Lexuan were in hot pursuit of an evil soul master.

They had been scouring the Sun Moon Empire for a while and had made some real discoveries—including many branches of the Holy Spirit Cult hidden throughout the land.

Today, the two of them uncovered another Holy Spirit Cult branch in a nearby city and decided to wipe it out.

The evil soul master they were chasing was at the Soul Sage level and specialized in escaping. He had fled deep into the forest, but he wouldn't get far.

The black-robed soul master darted into the shadows of the trees and glanced back, only to see a frost centipede martial soul flying after him.

"Damn it, that big centipede is still chasing me!" he cursed.

At that moment, an overwhelming aura descended in front of him, stopping him dead in his tracks. He looked up in shock.

Before he could react, countless beams of moonlight fell upon him, riddling him with holes.

It was Zhang Lexuan, waiting up ahead.

A Soul Sage might have a chance of escaping from a Soul Douluo, but not when Zhang Lexuan was determined to kill. She wouldn't let him go.

The soul master collapsed, and with his dying breath, he muttered,

 "The Holy Church… will… avenge… me…"

Then, silence.

The evil soul master—dead.

Huo Yuhao landed behind the frost centipede martial soul.

He swept his gaze over the corpse, then looked up to see Zhang Lexuan slowly descending from the forest canopy. She glowed with crescent-shaped silver runes, and a silver moon martial soul floated behind her. She looked like a goddess descending from the moon—ethereal, untouched by the world.

To catch the evil soul master, she had drawn upon the power of the silver rune, boosting her soul power and speed.

After confirming the kill and searching the body for clues, Huo Yuhao retracted his martial soul and stepped up to Zhang Lexuan.

"Senior Sister, this one was definitely from the Holy Spirit Cult. Unfortunately, no sign of Brother Beibei, or any other useful clues," he said.

Zhang Lexuan also retracted her martial soul, though she kept the silver rune active. She nodded and said,

 "Without the Shrek inspection team, the Sun Moon Empire has seen an explosion in evil soul masters, even forming organized groups. There must be stronger ones within the Holy Spirit Cult—possibly even Titled Douluo-level."

"That reminds me of the one who attacked Lord Nan during the beast tide in the Extreme North," she continued.

"You think that evil soul master also came from the Sun Moon Empire?" Huo Yuhao asked, surprised.

"Highly likely. The other three countries haven't seen large evil soul master organizations in years, let alone Titled Douluo-level ones," Zhang Lexuan said seriously.

"If possible, it's best to gather more intelligence about the Holy Spirit Cult. Only by understanding their true capabilities can we be fully prepared," Zhang Lexuan said seriously.

This was also why they were clearing out the cult's branch bases.

Although the Holy Spirit Cult was currently wreaking havoc within the Sun-Moon Empire, if the empire were to invade the continent, these evil soul masters would become the most dangerous wildcard. Who knew whether they would continue to hinder the empire, or join forces with it to invade?

Wherever they're from, a dead evil soul master is the best kind of evil soul master!

 They're like acne—no matter where it pops up, it's best if it never appears in the first place.

Allowing the Holy Spirit Cult to develop unchecked in the Sun-Moon Empire could lead to disaster if a Super Douluo—or even an Ultimate Douluo—level evil soul master emerged.

According to scholarly research, the most powerful evil soul master in recorded history was the Pope of the Spirit Empire, Bibi Dong, who wielded twin evil spirits. Ten thousand years ago, she nearly plunged the entire continent into chaos single-handedly. Nobles and sects alike suffered heavy losses; even the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan and the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan were wiped out. If the original Seven Devils hadn't become gods under extreme hardship and slain her in the end, no one could say what the Douluo Continent would look like today.

Perhaps all civilians and soul masters would now live in constant misery, merely as nourishment for evil soul masters' growth.

Because of this historical precedent, the first generation of the Seven Devils—especially Sea God Tang San—were revered as symbols of justice across the continent.

However, Zhang Lexuan was also clear about her and Huo Yuhao's current strength. So their role was limited to eliminating some local branches and investigating the cult's headquarters. As for dealing with the cult as a whole, that would have to wait until they returned to Shrek Academy and reported to the Sea God's Pavilion, where the elders would decide the next steps.

She believed in the power of their predecessors!

Huo Yuhao didn't say much—he just nodded in agreement.

Sometimes a nod was enough.

If a real war broke out right now, the current Sea God's Pavilion honestly wouldn't stand a chance against the Holy Spirit Cult.

Truth be told, the cult's branch was actually very well hidden—if not for Huo Yuhao and his "Eye of Destiny" acting like a spiritual GPS.

As a result, not a single evil soul master managed to escape!

Huo Yuhao decided it was time to apply some pressure to the Holy Spirit Cult.

The branch elders at the Soul Douluo level were left to Zhang Lexuan to deal with, while Huo Yuhao handled the rest of the small fry.

The coordination between the two was flawless.

One Soul Sage-level evil soul master did escape, thanks to his unique spirit called "Ghost Shadow," which allowed him to traverse through shadows. Huo Yuhao had been caught off guard—but he didn't let it go. He captured the man's soul and took the ability for himself.

Afterward, Huo Yuhao disposed of the corpses.

This was important because the bodies of evil soul masters could be hazardous. Touching them—whether by people or soul beasts—could lead to corruption or the spread of disease.

This came from experience.

Huo Yuhao used Ultimate Ice to freeze and destroy every trace of the corpse, then buried it deep underground to ensure no remnants remained.

"Senior Sister, let's return to the city," Huo Yuhao said.

Zhang Lexuan nodded.

Huo Yuhao walked in front while she followed behind.

As they moved, Zhang Lexuan finally withdrew her crescent-shaped silver pattern. At that moment, her steps faltered slightly. Her blood churned, and her breathing quickened.

But she quickly used her soul power to suppress the discomfort.

She glanced at Huo Yuhao's back and found he didn't seem to notice anything. She let out a quiet sigh of relief.

This was why she had waited to retract the silver pattern—she didn't want to lose composure in front of him.

Over time, she had come to realize that the silver pattern's boost was stronger than expected. What she initially sensed was only the baseline. The longer she fought and the more intense the battle, the stronger the boost became.

Of course, this came with increased soul power consumption.

And after using it, she experienced certain "side effects"—not harmful exactly, but noticeable.

Upon retracting the silver pattern, she felt her blood surge and her body become hyperactive, even euphoric.

It wasn't necessarily a negative effect.

Zhang Lexuan suspected it was a byproduct of the silver pattern enhancing her physical state. While she could adapt while it was active, retracting it caused a sudden withdrawal her body struggled to handle—much like an instinctive reaction to a burst of vitality.

Unfortunately, this made her briefly lose control, displaying emotional or physical responses she would rather not show. Each time, she had to fight back this instinct for a few seconds before regaining control with her soul power.

But suppressing one's instincts constantly wasn't good for the body.

Still, Zhang Lexuan had no choice—unless she was alone.

Fortunately, the side effects were still manageable.

Unbeknownst to her, Huo Yuhao, walking ahead, had a faint smile on his lips. While he acted oblivious, he had actually noticed everything.

What Zhang Lexuan didn't know was that a golden centipede was swimming within the silver pattern, subtly altering its effects.

…

Huo Yuhao and Zhang Lexuan continued westward.

As they moved farther from the border, the towns and population density of the Sun-Moon Empire increased—and with them, the number of evil soul masters.

However, the number of Holy Spirit Cult branch bases didn't grow as expected.

Zhang Lexuan was puzzled, but Huo Yuhao understood.

The reason was simple: the cult's headquarters couldn't project its power this far.

The Holy Spirit Cult had limited personnel and prioritized establishing branches in towns closer to their base.

In fact, from the souls of some branch elders, Huo Yuhao learned that the ones sent here were often "banished"—either because they had offended someone important at headquarters, lacked potential, or had no background. They were essentially cast-offs sent to scrape together a following in remote regions.

The Messenger of Death had been sent to Mingdu because Zhongli Wu saw potential in him—but the man defected.

The ones stationed here hadn't defected. Whether out of devotion or desperation, they relied on the cult's resources. More accurately, they feared the cult's power.

Though the cult couldn't maintain influence here, their powerful members could always fly over. A single Title Douluo could wipe out all the branch bases with ease.

Because of the distance, however, local evil soul masters had more freedom and acted with impunity.

Some were even village chiefs, turning entire villages into branch outposts to prey on travelers.

But when Huo Yuhao and Zhang Lexuan arrived at a village near the Blue Silver Emperor Valley, they found something unusual—the atmosphere was peaceful and harmonious. Everyone wore smiles and seemed genuinely hopeful about the future.

"This village… it feels different from others," Zhang Lexuan said in surprise.

She had visited many villages across the various empires, but had never seen one like this.

Among these villagers, she sensed a rare emotion—happiness.

The arrival of Huo Yuhao and Zhang Lexuan naturally drew the attention of the village residents. After all, the two did not hide themselves or make any unusual moves—they simply stood at the village entrance and observed.

Soon, a kindly old man with a benevolent smile appeared, supported by a little girl, and approached the two.

"Welcome, esteemed guests from afar. This is Shuibo Village, and I am its village chief, Mu Qi. May I ask what brings you here? Is there anything I can help you with?"

Surprisingly, this old village chief, Mu Qi, was actually a two-ring Soul Master—quite a high cultivation level for someone who was merely a village chief.

"We're just travelers passing by. The peaceful scenery of your village caught our eye, so we stopped out of curiosity to take a look. Apologies if we've disturbed you," Zhang Lexuan replied with poise. Her tone was courteous and did not convey arrogance despite their obvious strength and status. She also made sure not to reveal their identities.

Yet, just from the way Huo Yuhao and Zhang Lexuan carried themselves, the villagers could tell they were no ordinary people—likely high-level Soul Masters. After all, not just anyone could roam the continent freely.

Seeing that the two didn't seem like troublemakers, the old chief's smile grew even more genuine. He warmly invited them to be guests in the village and offered them generous hospitality.

Through Mu Qi's introduction, they learned that the little girl supporting him was his granddaughter. She was already nine years old and, despite not attending school, had already attained one soul ring.

As for Mu Qi's son and daughter-in-law, they were, according to him, working in the city like many of the village's younger generation. The village was mostly left to the elderly and children.

The hospitality extended beyond just Mu Qi. Other villagers were just as welcoming. While the food wasn't luxurious, there was still a variety of fruits and meats.

Most importantly, not only did everyone wear genuine, happy smiles, they were also exceptionally kind and seemed to live in contentment.

It felt like a utopia removed from the real world.

The village was peaceful, and the rice fields outside swayed gently in the wind, rustling softly.

Time passed quickly, and night fell.

Huo Yuhao and Zhang Lexuan stayed the night at the old chief's house.

At midnight, once the village chief and his granddaughter were asleep, Huo Yuhao and Zhang Lexuan both quietly exited their rooms.

Exchanging glances, they disappeared soundlessly from the courtyard, first scouting around the entire village before finally meeting up by the rice fields outside.

The expressions on both their faces were serious, as though they had encountered something grave.

Something was very wrong—extremely wrong.

"This village has a serious problem," Huo Yuhao said without delay.

"What did you notice?" Zhang Lexuan asked.

Huo Yuhao answered, "First, it's obvious that these rice fields were cultivated by someone, but they haven't been tended to in a long time. For farmers who rely on their fields to eat, that's highly unusual. And the young people—who should be the main labor force—aren't here. Yet the elders aren't worried at all."

"Second, farmers who labor all their lives tend to have various physical ailments in old age. But the elders here are all remarkably healthy."

"And lastly—the biggest red flag—is that every single person in this village, whether child or elder, has soul power! Some are even genuine Soul Masters."

Zhang Lexuan nodded. She had noticed the same things. While the first two issues could possibly be explained, the third one was completely unnatural.

Even ten thousand years ago, when the Spirit Hall awakened soul power for the continent's civilians, it was impossible for an entire village to have soul power.

Normally, only one or two individuals per village would awaken soul power. If an entire population could do it, it wasn't a village—it was a clan stronghold.

Still, Huo Yuhao and Zhang Lexuan could only identify the problems, not the cause.

They now faced a choice—leave, or stay and investigate further.

"Perhaps we should stay for now, but tread carefully," Zhang Lexuan suggested. She was eager to investigate further, sensing this village might reveal something important.

Huo Yuhao didn't object. After all, they were confident in their strength. If the villagers meant harm, poisoning was the only viable method, and Huo Yuhao was resistant to toxins and sharp enough to detect foul play early.

With their decision made, the two returned to the village and back to their rooms at the chief's house.

Still, they remained on guard through the night.

Morning came.

Nothing happened.

Chief Mu Qi was still warm and welcoming. The villagers remained friendly.

Seeing that they were getting nowhere, Huo Yuhao decided to be direct. "Chief Mu Qi, why is it that everyone in your village has awakened soul power?"

Zhang Lexuan was surprised at his straightforwardness but didn't blame him. Instead, she prepared to act if needed.

If covert investigation failed, then blunt questioning was the only path left.

To her astonishment, Mu Qi wasn't offended or evasive—he answered openly.

Through his explanation, they learned of a group called the "White Lotus Sect." Not only did it grant them power, but also good health, food, and happiness. The entire village had joined the sect.

The younger villagers were in the city, working for the White Lotus Sect as a form of repayment for the blessings they had received.

"White... Lotus... Sect!" Zhang Lexuan's expression turned icy.

The White Lotus Sect was a group wanted alongside the Death God's Emissary—clearly, the two were connected.

After searching so long for clues on the Death God's Emissary, she had finally found a lead—here of all places.

How could she not be excited?

How could she not be enraged?

Huo Yuhao quickly tugged her hand, calming her down. She realized the villagers were just indoctrinated victims. They weren't the enemy.

Did Huo Yuhao not know what this place was?

Now that Zhang Lexuan had access to the dungeon system and had arrived at its entrance, wasn't a little backstory appropriate?

With that thought, Huo Yuhao smiled and continued chatting with Mu Qi. "Could you tell us more about the White Lotus Sect?"

Mu Qi eagerly obliged, speaking at length.

He praised the sect to the heavens, calling it the only ark that could save the world—greater than even the empire.

He even tried to recruit Huo Yuhao and Zhang Lexuan.

The two politely declined.

Mu Qi didn't press the issue. Instead, he handed them a manual and a doctrinal book, saying they could read them at their leisure—and that in time, they'd surely join.

Back in Huo Yuhao's room...

"To think there's a cultivation method that can turn normal people into Soul Masters... How is that even possible?" Zhang Lexuan stared at the two booklets on the table in disbelief.

Her entire worldview was beginning to crumble.

The two booklets were titled: "Holy Lotus Divine Art" and "Doctrine of the White Lotus."

Free upon joining!

 Anyone who cultivates it gets thoroughly confused!

Sun Moon Empire, Southern Territory.

This region was one of the Sun Moon Empire's prosperous provinces, serving as a critical hub for both trade and transportation. To the north lay Mingdu, the capital; to the south, the coastal shores. It connected east and west and was near soul beast habitats.

But tonight, the booming of soul cannon blasts and the sounds of clashing soldiers shattered the usual peace.

Inside the City Lord's Mansion.

"How dare you, traitor! You dare rebel? Surrender now!"

"The one who should surrender… is you! Hehehe… Ninth Soul Skill—Blood Slaughter Domain Amplification!"

"What?! A Titled Douluo?! Aaaah!!"

"Oh, wouldn't it have been better to surrender obediently? Now you've made me go through the trouble of personally dealing with you."

Eunuch Gao activated the Blood Slaughter Bead, draining all the blood clean, and then leisurely pocketed the bead, appearing utterly casual.

The city lord was merely a Soul Douluo. He posed no threat.

And this wasn't the first time Eunuch Gao had done this. In fact, this might be the last time he could deal with a city lord so casually.

Because what came next… was the Sun Moon Empire's retaliation.

Behind him, a group of White Lotus Cult followers in white robes silently cleaned the battlefield. Not a word was spoken, but they all looked upon Eunuch Gao with immense reverence.

Some were long-time followers; others had joined more recently. Some had even once served as the now-dead city lord's personal guards.

The city lord had sensed something wrong about the White Lotus Cult and tried to report it. So he had to die—tonight. What he never imagined was that even among his most trusted guards, there were cult members.

It didn't matter who you were—once you practiced the White Lotus Cult's techniques alongside their doctrines, you would be brainwashed into a loyal follower. Even loved ones could be betrayed.

While ordinary citizens needed more subtle means of persuasion, soul masters—driven by their desire for power—almost never rejected the cult's techniques.

Ignoring the followers behind him, Eunuch Gao strolled through the city lord's mansion to the rear courtyard, where the city lord's family resided. Upon seeing him, the wife and children of the city lord all knelt simultaneously.

"Greetings, Holy Envoy!" ×n

Not just the guards—his family too had become followers of the White Lotus Cult. The dead city lord was indeed a tragic figure.

This was the terrifying nature of the White Lotus Cult.

Eunuch Gao walked up to the city lord's daughter and lifted her chin with a sharp fingernail. She looked up at him with a fevered, almost worshipful gaze.

"A beauty, aren't you? But if I recall, your father adored you most. Don't you hate me for killing him?"

"My father failed to recognize destiny. He deserved to die," she replied calmly, without a hint of hesitation.

"Hehehe, good. When Lord Bright King descends upon the world, you shall serve him personally."

"Yes, thank you, Holy Envoy, for the recommendation!"

"It's not me who recommended you—it's Lord Bright King who values you."

"Thank you, Lord Bright King. I shall offer my body and soul in service!" The girl's fervor intensified.

"Exactly. Not just you—your mother and sisters too will serve Lord Bright King!"

Eunuch Gao withdrew his hand, no longer paying attention. These people would now fully integrate into the cult.

He had already prepared a batch of quality 'furnaces' for Huo Yuhao.

Leaving the mansion.

Eunuch Gao gazed northward, eyes gleaming coldly. "It seems the White Lotus Cult's expansion has reached its limit. But since Brother Hao doesn't mind, we'll just continue."

It wasn't that the cult couldn't expand further—but doing so would soon provoke a full reaction from the Sun Moon Empire.

Imperial officials had already begun to notice something was amiss. It wouldn't be long before the cult's activities reached the emperor's desk in Mingdu.

Tonight was only the beginning.

Originally, Eunuch Gao had planned to wait for Huo Yuhao's orders. But Huo Yuhao had said to just let things unfold naturally. That was enough to let Eunuch Gao know he had free rein.

If the White Lotus Cult was meant to expand and cause chaos—so be it. Ultimately, the Sun Moon Empire would suffer the fallout, not Huo Yuhao.

All Huo Yuhao wanted was to reap benefits from the cult and spark disorder.

He didn't care about its future.

And Eunuch Gao believed that widespread casualties would even benefit his own growth.

"Since there's no turning back… we'll strike first and take over the entire province—then launch a rebellion against the empire. The biggest obstacle is the provincial governor—rumored to be a Titled Douluo. But with the Death Envoy returning soon, eliminating that Titled Douluo won't be a problem."

"Who'd have thought that I'd one day be capable of challenging the mighty Sun Moon Empire? I bet the White Tiger Duke would be proud of me."

"All of this is Brother Hao's gift to me. Hehehe—!"

Somewhere on a remote island in the southern seas...

A blood-red hundred-thousand-year soul ring slowly attached itself to the body of the Death Envoy lying on the ground. Suddenly, the Death Envoy's aura surged violently.

Then he abruptly opened his eyes and sat up!

His stiff zombie-like body began to soften.

This marked a new stage of growth—his undead body had evolved, making him even more powerful.

To celebrate, the Death Envoy lunged toward the corpse of a hundred-thousand-year-old Blue Ring Devil Octopus by the shore. He bared his fangs and began devouring it—his first feast after becoming a Titled Douluo.

Even the bright moon in the sky seemed tinged with red, casting an ominous glow.

At dawn the next day.

Huo Yuhao and Zhang Lexuan continued their investigation in Nanshui City, within the Nanfeng Territory.

Having left the village, they arrived at the nearby large city—only to find that the White Lotus Cult was rampant here as well. They no longer even tried to hide, openly recruiting followers on the streets.

Fortunately, the two had brought the booklets given by the village chief. This allowed them to move around unhindered—others mistook them for fellow cult members.

Zhang Lexuan didn't practice the suspicious cultivation methods, but she had skimmed the booklets—especially the one outlining the cult's doctrines.

Without the techniques, the doctrines seemed like ordinary propaganda. But the ideas within were disturbing to her.

The core of the doctrine revolved around one thing: that the "Bright King" was the one true ruler, and everyone must serve him.

Clearly the language of a heretical cult.

What baffled Zhang Lexuan was how so many people truly believed such nonsense.

Grateful commoners were one thing—but even powerful soul masters had bought into it.

As for the techniques, though she had read them, she didn't practice any and couldn't fully grasp their mechanics. She only felt that the theories behind them deviated significantly from standard soul master cultivation.

It didn't make sense to her.

How could vague and cryptic phrases be used for cultivation?

But the cult's doctrine had already colored her view—she suspected the techniques were the work of evil soul masters.

After all, only evil soul master techniques could cause such rapid growth—sometimes even enabling ordinary people to become soul masters.

Using the booklets to pass as insiders, Huo Yuhao and Zhang Lexuan continued their investigation into the White Lotus Cult.

The cult's internal management seemed incredibly loose. As long as someone had a booklet, they were trusted without question.

Being mistaken as one of the White Lotus Cult members actually had its perks. Visiting places run by the cult's believers meant you barely had to spend a coin.

Food was free. Lodging was free. There were even thoughtful, personalized services.

Because within the White Lotus Cult, everyone was "family." And among family, naturally, there should be mutual care and support.

Only with such unity could all members receive blessings.

Shockingly, slavery, aristocratic oppression, and beggary had all vanished.

On the streets, it was rare but astonishing to see civilians and nobles living in harmony. Even beggars were given free food and clothing.

After investigating the city all morning, by noon, Huo Yuhao and Zhang Lexuan entered a tavern run by the cult's believers. They were immediately given a private room and treated to a lavish meal—completely free.

"Although I feel that the White Lotus Cult is a little suspicious, this environment where everyone is equal and caring toward one another... it's honestly reassuring. If I were an ordinary person, or even a regular soul master, I'd probably choose to join too," Zhang Lexuan sighed as she sat down in the private room.

Their morning investigation had broadened her horizons and left an impression.

She yearned for familial warmth, and what the White Lotus offered aligned perfectly with what she longed for. Yet she knew deep down something was off—though she couldn't pinpoint what.

After all, she hadn't read much.

And there weren't any books in the Douluo Continent that explored proper philosophical or societal theories.

At this moment, Huo Yuhao sneered. "Senior Sister, you're overthinking it. In my eyes, this whole setup of the White Lotus Cult is the real evil—it's a path leading straight to destruction."

As the man secretly behind the White Lotus Cult, he naturally understood the system better than anyone.

"Huh? How so?" Zhang Lexuan was intrigued.

"To me, all this 'mutual care' is just collective indulgence. It's about everyone enjoying the city's resources. The only reason no single person is hoarding everything is because of the cult's strict controls. Or perhaps it's that the temporarily abundant resources have elevated everyone's moral standards."

"But here's the problem—if everyone is just enjoying life, who is actually building and developing the city or the cult itself? Think about it. This whole morning, did we see any believers creating value? Were any shops charging money? Then what about taxes? Without taxes, how does a city grow?"

Zhang Lexuan paused, stunned by his logic. Still confused, she asked, "Why is that wrong though?"

"Because it's all just a beautiful illusion! Like everyone is trapped in a dream that won't have a good ending."

Huo Yuhao continued, "The fields will fall barren. Commerce will halt. Supplies will dwindle. Eventually, everyone will have nothing. When that time comes, will they wake up—or will they cling to the dream even harder?"

"They'll cling to it," Zhang Lexuan answered after some thought.

"Exactly. The ones who remain clear-headed will be the minority. And when everyone else chooses to stay in the dream, those who are awake become the villains." Huo Yuhao said quietly.

"What happens then?" Zhang Lexuan pressed on, concerned.

Instead of answering directly, Huo Yuhao smiled. "The White Lotus Cult may collapse, but the Sun-Moon Empire still stands strong."

Zhang Lexuan's eyes widened. She suddenly understood what Huo Yuhao was getting at. "You mean… betray—"

Before she could finish, Huo Yuhao quickly raised his hand and covered her mouth. "Shhh, Senior Sister. Be careful. Walls have ears."

Zhang Lexuan nodded quickly, realizing they were essentially on White Lotus turf.

Then, as both became aware of their close proximity and intimate gesture, Huo Yuhao immediately withdrew his hand, looking flustered and avoiding eye contact.

Zhang Lexuan blushed briefly but soon returned to her usual self. Watching the awkward Huo Yuhao, she found it oddly amusing.

Just moments ago, he had been eloquently analyzing political strategy with her—now he looked like a nervous kid. She found that endearing.

And it made Huo Yuhao feel more real to her. These moments of private interaction had allowed her to get to know him properly for the first time.

Previously, she'd avoided too much contact to prevent gossip, always treating him as her "junior."

Now, they felt more like genuine friends.

And Zhang Lexuan didn't dislike that feeling.

Meanwhile, Huo Yuhao was rubbing his palms together internally, thinking: Plan's going well.

If she was naive, he would show her the world's complexity. If she was worldly, he would offer her innocence and fantasy.

Zhang Lexuan was a mix of both.

She was powerful, yet entirely focused on cultivation; experienced, yet only sought peace.

What would truly draw her wasn't the eagle flying overhead or the hamster in a cage—but a magical, fairy-like being.

Something that sparked her curiosity, made her wonder, and always stayed pure and beautiful in her eyes.

One day, she'd leave her comfort zone to chase that fairy into its fantastical world.

Raising her affection would make manipulating her in the future that much easier.

As for the White Lotus Cult's so-called growth, Huo Yuhao understood it better than anyone:

It wasn't communism. There was no common development or shared prosperity. It was simply everyone consuming the same limited resources together—while chasing the dream of the arrival of the Bright King.

If the Bright King couldn't provide enough resources for their enjoyment, it would become a nightmare. If he started drawing resources from them instead, it would be a catastrophe.

Because by then, the cultists would no longer be capable of resisting their own faith.

Faith may collapse, but only after the idol falls from the altar.

While Huo Yuhao was laying bare the hidden dangers of the White Lotus Cult to Zhang Lexuan, the cult had already begun its external expansion—through blood and slaughter.

And the expansion was swift and aggressive. The southern provinces alone stood no chance of resisting it.

Most critically, the local officials in the south, driven by personal interest, didn't report it right away.

They misjudged the White Lotus, thinking they could handle the matter themselves.

After all, only a small faction of the cult had risen up. Other areas under White Lotus control remained stable, without signs of rebellion. In fact, public happiness had reached an all-time high.

To these officials, it looked like a small riot. Even the Titled Douluo in charge of the southern provinces thought so.

And they believed they could suppress it easily.

Troops were mobilized. A formal campaign to eliminate the White Lotus began.

But just before this, Huo Yuhao and Zhang Lexuan—still investigating—ran into trouble of their own.

The Holy Spirit Cult had found them!

Not the headquarters, but elders from various southern branches had tracked them down.

With multiple southern strongholds destroyed, even the slowest minds in the Holy Spirit Cult realized they were under attack—and that someone was targeting them specifically.

The remaining branches in the south banded together and began investigating the culprit.

If their enemy turned out to be overwhelmingly strong, they'd report to headquarters. If not, they'd band together to kill them.

Why do it themselves?

Simple—because the destroyed branches' resources had been looted.

Clearly, whoever did it had taken the spoils. So why let headquarters get a share now?

Letting the central cult in on it would mean splitting the profits. No way!