soul land: Huo Yuhao Inheriting Centipede Immortal

Once again, an urgent message traveled 800 miles.

Two consecutive battle reports from the front lines were delivered to the desk of the Emperor of the Sun-Moon Empire. After reading them, the Emperor's expression grew increasingly unreadable, making the officials below even more cautious. Whispers of concern spread—had something gone wrong with the southern campaign to suppress the rebellion?

It was Crown Prince Xu Tiannan who broke the silence, asking,

 "Father, how is the situation with Third Brother?"

In fact, Xu Tiannan had taken action of his own recently. He secretly contacted the White Lotus Sect, hoping to use them to assassinate the Third Prince—killing by proxy.

In return, he promised the White Lotus Sect future amnesty, material support, and even Soul Tool aid.

Of course, he sent someone to do the negotiations under a false identity.

But that person never returned—not because they fled, but because the White Lotus Sect killed them.

Their lack of cooperation forced Xu Tiannan to seek new ways to target the Third Prince. Still, he now bore a deep grudge against the White Lotus Sect and swore to wipe them out.

Before Xu Tiannan could implement a new plan, two battle reports arrived in the capital, drawing everyone's attention.

The Emperor waved his hand, signaling a eunuch to read the reports aloud in court—so all could understand what was happening in the rebellion.

Both reports came from the Southern Legion's commander.

The first report described a night raid by the White Lotus Army that resulted in the deaths of two Beast King Legion commanders and heavy losses to their camp. The Southern Legion commander asked for punishment, taking responsibility for the breach.

The second report spoke of the Third Prince leading a counterattack against the White Lotus Army, achieving great success, and pressing further into the southern province to continue the suppression. Again, the Southern Legion commander asked for forgiveness—hedging early in case something happened to the Third Prince.

As the eunuch read aloud in the great hall, the court was thrown into uproar.

The camp was breached?

Two Beast King Legion commanders were killed?

Was this a joke?

 Were they dreaming?

The five Beast King Soul Engineer Regiments were the elite of the empire, their leaders just beneath Jing Hongchen in status—the top Soul Engineer of the known world.

And now, two of them were dead at once?

Impossible! Absolutely impossible!

 Yet the report was written personally by the Southern Legion's commander, leaving no room for doubt.

Officials allied with the Third Prince quickly seized the moment to praise him:

"Who would have thought the front lines were so dire, and yet His Highness turned the tide! Truly the Empire's fortune—and Your Majesty's as well!"

"At such a young age, the Third Prince is already a Titled Douluo and possesses a 100,000-year soul ring! He shows the glory of the Sun-Moon Empire's prodigies!"

"His counterattack not only punished the White Lotus—it restored the Empire's honor!"

Everyone could tell that the praise was a bit exaggerated.

Unfortunately, the number of officials openly supporting the Third Prince wasn't large, and most had connections to the royal clan.

After all, the Third Prince's true power base wasn't in the court.

Xu Tiannan wasn't even focused on the other officials now—he had only one burning thought:

Why?

 Why did the Third Prince become a Titled Douluo?

 Why does he have a 100,000-year ninth soul ring?

 Why is he still alive and commanding the army?

Was all that partying in the capital just a facade?

Though the reports didn't state it explicitly, Xu Tiannan clearly realized:

 The Third Prince now completely controls the front-line army.

 It was too late to make a move—he had lost the initiative.

Even with losses in battle, the Third Prince now commanded a soul engineer army over a thousand strong, with 300 elite troops from the two fallen Beast King Regiments.

Such power made even the Emperor feel uneasy—let alone Xu Tiannan.

Xu Tiannan subtly looked up—and sure enough, he saw the Emperor watching him.

The gaze felt casual, but Xu Tiannan knew it wasn't.

Indeed, the Emperor was now deeply wary of the Third Prince—and more suspicious than ever.

"Could this… all be part of the Third Prince's plan?

 Has he been pretending all along?

 Is the White Lotus Sect secretly under his control?

 How else could poison infiltrate the camp so easily?

 And how could he survive when the two commanders died?"

"More importantly—after the breach, how did he dare lead a counterattack right away?

 How could he be sure he would win?"

No matter how the Emperor analyzed it, everything pointed to collusion between the Third Prince and the White Lotus Sect—and worse, the plan succeeded!

It felt outrageous—but also the most logical explanation.

"He deceived me.

 He deceived everyone."

Breathing heavily, the Emperor started coughing violently. His personal eunuch rushed to steady him and offered a handkerchief. When he pulled it away, a streak of blood marked the white cloth.

But both the Emperor and his eunuch remained expressionless.

The Emperor's health was a state secret. Those serving him were trusted loyalists and knew how to act.

A minister asked with concern,

 "Your Majesty?"

"It's nothing," the Emperor replied lightly. "I've only just recovered from illness. A slight chill, that's all."

"Please take care of your divine body!" the ministers chorused.

The Emperor waved it off.

Now, it was time to handle the Third Prince.

Compared to the White Lotus, the Third Prince was the true threat.

It was terrifying how deeply he had schemed.

If the White Lotus was really under his command, the Third Prince now possessed over a thousand soul engineers and tens of thousands of soul masters—he could march north and take the capital.

Even the deaths of the Fourth and Fifth Princes might have been his doing.

The Emperor had to admit—his son had outdone him.

But that didn't mean he would tolerate being outdone.

And there was still no definitive proof linking the Third Prince to the White Lotus Sect.

At last, the Emperor made his decision and calmly issued his order:

 "Crown Prince, lead the Royal Dragon Soul Engineer Regiment and the Western Soul Engineer Regiment to assist your brother."

Just one simple sentence.

Xu Tiannan, seated in his wheelchair, bowed slightly. His expression remained serious, without a trace of delight.

 "Yes, Father. I will ensure Third Brother's safety."

Because Xu Tiannan knew—this army would not be easy to lead. The Emperor clearly had a deeper plan in mind.

The Emperor stared at Xu Tiannan deeply.

A clash between the Crown Prince and the Third Prince was now inevitable.

One of them might never return from the southern provinces.

But whoever emerged victorious—Sun-Moon Empire would have a truly powerful emperor.

Despite his bitterness, the ailing Emperor could only think of the Empire's future.

"All other regiments are to strengthen control across the Empire.

 I will not allow another White Lotus situation.

 And be on guard against the Star Luo Empire attempting to invade."

"You may all leave."

Huo Yuhao, Zhang Lexuan, and their party had already left the southern provinces and entered the central region of the Sun Moon Empire. Here, they finally felt safe enough to rest in the cities.

Compared to the war-torn south, the central cities of the Sun Moon Empire were still filled with music and dance, radiating peace and prosperity. The rebellion of the White Lotus Sect in the south and the threat from the Star Luo Empire in the east had not reached this region.

Moreover, the cities of the Sun Moon Empire were far more developed than those of the original three Douluo nations due to the widespread application of soul tools.

When the soul tools lit up, it was as if countless pearls adorned the cities, making them look splendid and luxurious.

The use of soul tools had boosted commerce in the Sun Moon Empire, leading to a stronger economy and naturally more prosperous cities.

To hide their identities, everyone in the group disguised themselves as wandering soul masters, traveling in small groups of two or three, posing as cultivators on a journey across the continent. They entered the cities in separate batches and stayed in different locations, though not far from each other.

Huo Yuhao, Zhang Lexuan, and four maids naturally stayed in the same hotel.

It was nighttime.

Huo Yuhao dined with the four maids in a private hotel room, while Zhang Lexuan stayed in her room cultivating.

Since arriving in the Sun Moon Empire, Zhang Lexuan had felt a stronger urgency to cultivate—after all, rescuing Bei Bei required strength! Perhaps it was the gift from the Bright King, or the soul bone's help, or the repeated battles that awakened her potential.

Now, Zhang Lexuan had reached level 89—just one step away from becoming a Titled Douluo.

But that final step was one that had stumped countless soul masters.

According to the cultivation system taught at Shrek Academy, truly breaking through to level 90 required condensing a soul core.

Zhang Lexuan was attempting this step. While it's easier than forcibly breaking through, it was still no simple task.

Most importantly, Zhang Lexuan refused to rely on the power of a fake soul core. She had to start from scratch.

No one could help her with this.

Since they were now able to enter cities, there was no need for nighttime travel. They could move during the day.

The group entered the city during the day, Huo Yuhao and the four maids went out in the afternoon to gather intel, and then they all had dinner together in the evening.

These trivial matters naturally didn't require Zhang Lexuan's involvement.

The intel they gathered was mostly about Mingdu and the White Lotus Sect—nothing particularly noteworthy. The White Lotus rebellion was treated more like gossip at mealtime. No one believed the sect posed a real threat.

Perhaps that was because detailed reports from the south hadn't made their way up here, so most people weren't paying attention.

All in all, it was another peaceful day.

After a busy day, Master Huo sat down for dinner with the four maids in the hotel's private room. Sadly, none of the maids belonged to him.

The four maids dined on the hotel's signature dishes and sampled the local cuisine of the Sun Moon Empire. Huo Yuhao found it decent.

The maids, however, showed little interest—they had discovered the hotel cuisine paled in comparison to Huo Yuhao's barbecue.

In truth, the four maids didn't come from ordinary backgrounds. They were originally nobles, and in the commercial region of the southern province, they had enjoyed their fair share of fine food.

But now, they felt that nothing could beat Huo Yuhao's grilled dishes.

While traveling through the wilderness in recent days, Zhang Lexuan and the four maids' meals had all been handled by Huo Yuhao.

Of course, it wasn't just grilled fish—Huo Yuhao had pulled out a whole barbecue recipe book, which utterly amazed the four maids.

Zhang Lexuan already knew about his cooking skills, so she wasn't surprised. Besides, she wasn't really in the mood to be surprised right now.

After days of being fed by him, the maids' affection for Huo Yuhao had grown. They were beginning to see him as a friend.

Turns out, being able to cook really is a major plus!

"Maybe that's why the Lady Saint brought him along—because of his cooking skills," the maids guessed to themselves.

Just then, the eldest maid, Jin'er, narrowed her eyes slightly, gave Huo Yuhao a soft smile, and gently spoke in a coquettish tone:

"Yuhao, little brother, don't you also find the food here a bit bland and tasteless?"

The other three maids caught her meaning immediately and looked to Huo Yuhao with anticipation.

They were all older than Huo Yuhao. Even the youngest—Shui'er and Huo'er—were already sixteen, while Huo Yuhao had just turned fifteen.

"I think it's pretty good," Huo Yuhao said, holding a chicken leg, looking adorably clueless as he blinked innocently.

"…" Jin'er's smile froze, but quickly returned, "But us big sisters aren't used to this kind of food…"

The other three nodded quickly and in unison.

"Can't be… These are the hotel's signature dishes. Are they really not to your liking?" Huo Yuhao frowned. "Then maybe…"

The four girls' eyes lit up.

"…we can ask the chef to remake them to suit your tastes?"

The four nearly slammed their heads into the table.

This boy was completely immune to flirtation!

Bang!

The fiery-tempered Huo'er slammed the table, "Yuhao, I want barbecue!"

"M-Me too!" Shui'er wiped her mouth, looking like a little greedy cat.

The gentle Mu'er also looked at Huo Yuhao with hope in her eyes. The White Lotus Sect's enforced chastity applied to romantic matters—so other desires had to fill the gap.

"Yuhao, now you understand, right? Your big sisters really want it~" Jin'er flashed a flirtatious smile, her eyes full of charm. "If you satisfy us, maybe we'll give you a little surprise~"

Sigh "You really leave me no choice~" Huo Yuhao sighed, but didn't refuse.

Four beautiful girls, each with their own charm, all saying "I want"… What man could resist?

Huo Yuhao could!

But anyway, he had nothing else to do, and Zhang Lexuan was still one step away from her breakthrough.

These four maids could also serve as chess pieces—to help guide Zhang Lexuan.

Nightfall.

Zhang Lexuan sat cross-legged on the bed in her room, having deactivated her silver tattoo.

As the side effects of the silver pattern surfaced, her face flushed, and emotion flickered in her eyes.

But the emotion quickly faded. Though her face remained red, her expression was icy cold.

This outcome displeased her.

Without the intensity of battle, she couldn't push the silver tattoo to its limits. As such, its aftereffects were relatively minor.

More importantly, through experimentation, she discovered that the emotion-suppressing aura—her "Intent"—was adapting to the aftereffects of the silver tattoo.

Its impact was growing weaker, and the duration of emotional fluctuation was growing shorter.

The upcoming missions wouldn't offer many chances for intense combat, which meant she couldn't rely on the tattoo's symptoms to disrupt the Intent.

"I need external help," Zhang Lexuan thought.

Desire was the only force she'd found so far that could interfere with the Intent, but how could she trigger that desire through external means?

She thought of Huo Yuhao—but then shook her head. In the end, she decided to try handling it on her own.

There were some things she knew how to do herself.

Southern Province.

The Third Prince marched south, pursuing the White Lotus Army, exterminating White Lotus Cult members in the Southern Province, and reclaiming lost territory.

He faced considerable resistance.

The White Lotus Army's guerrilla tactics, splitting into small units and leveraging terrain knowledge to hide in the wilderness, made them elusive.

Yet, the Sun Moon Empire's forces had to hunt them down, as no one could predict when these units might launch surprise attacks.

The guerrilla strategy proved highly effective.

Even the Southern Legion's commander marveled at the White Lotus Army's tactics, suspecting a master strategist among them, elevating his opinion of the cult.

Despite this, under the Third Prince's leadership, the Sun Moon Empire's forces achieved consistent victories with minimal losses.

Complex terrain was useful for hiding, but once discovered, soul engineers, equipped with flying soul tools, could bypass it, annihilating targets from the air.

These victories cemented the Third Prince's command over the thousand-strong soul engineer legion, even after they regained sobriety.

Noble-led legions also fell under his banner, with noble representatives returning to their families, pledging support.

Don't ask why—just call it charisma!

The soul engineers were reorganized, loyally obeying the Third Prince, who became their "God of War"!

Leading them to invincible triumphs!

Later, soul masters recovering from poisoning in the original camp, hearing of this, joined the Third Prince's legion.

Now, his forces included 1,500 soul engineers in five 300-man legions, plus 3,000 ordinary soldiers managing reclaimed towns and logistics.

This force could wage a national war.

The Southern Legion's commander was helpless, nearly a figurehead. He could avoid siding with the Third Prince, but he couldn't stop his soldiers from seeking glory under him.

Other units could chase merits; if he blocked his men, trouble would brew.

If not for awaiting orders from Mingdu and tending to the camp's wounded and poisoned, the commander might have joined too.

Who didn't want merits?

But the Third Prince finally met his match.

Death Envoy and High Eunuch launched a night assault on the camp, aiming to assassinate him.

Unfazed, the Third Prince faced them both.

Before all his soldiers, he decisively defeated them. Only their special soul skills allowed their escape, or they'd have perished.

This battle solidified his standing among the troops, proving his immense strength.

Even the former Beast King Legion soul engineers realized he surpassed their old commander.

Beyond his prowess, the Third Prince's soul tools were lavish:

- Sun-Shooting Divine Crossbow, upgraded to a Level 9 soul tool.

- Black Blade Twin Swords, Level 9 close-combat soul tool.

- Blazing Heavenly Net, Level 9 composite soul tool.

- Standard Level 9 defensive soul tool, plus an Invincible Shield.

With this arsenal, he could potentially slay a Super Douluo.

Having killed many recently and gathered ample resources, he considered breaking through to Super Douluo soon.

…

Huo Yuhao and Zhang Lexuan's group continued north. Along the way, Huo Yuhao's barbecue skills, laced with subtle techniques, had "hooked" all four maidservants.

Using a special technique covertly, he grew increasingly alluring to them, and they became more intimate with him.

However, bound by White Lotus Cult rules, they only drew closer subtly, without crossing lines.

Facing the four, Huo Yuhao maintained a pure, innocent facade, often "blushing" under their teasing.

It felt like four mischievous older sisters preying on a naive boy.

But this was temporary.

They say don't let desire break your will, but the saying exists because will often succumbs.

The first to act was the eldest, Jin'er, in her twenties, more experienced. Before joining the cult, she was a noblewoman courted by aristocrats.

After her family joined the cult, she embraced its ascetic teachings. But Huo Yuhao's influence stirred her to act boldly for herself.

She sought true love!

Her inner urges overpowered cult doctrine—what else could this be but love?

A boy who cooked, was strong, pure-hearted, and shyly teased—who wouldn't adore such a "little brother"?

One night, Jin'er knocked on Huo Yuhao's door, using a discussion about the Saintess as a pretext to enter, then invited him to drink.

After three rounds:

"Jin'er Sister, what about the Saintess issue?" Huo Yuhao, face flushed, asked, still concerned for Zhang Lexuan.

Jin'er smiled mysteriously, a glint in her eyes. "Yuhao, come closer. I'll show you something nice."

As he leaned in, Jin'er pressed his head into her chest, her body clinging to his, hands slipping into his clothes. "Drunk," Huo Yuhao could only feebly resist.

"No, Jin'er Sister, what are you doing?!"

"Don't struggle, let Sister check if you're developing properly!"

"No!!"

"Be good, let Sister see~"

"Jin'er Sister, please, no!!!"

But the "weak, pitiful, helpless" Huo Yuhao was sadly overpowered, thoroughly "devoured" by Jin'er.

"You wouldn't want to be expelled from the cult for breaking vows, right?" Jin'er threatened.

Huo Yuhao relented, silently enduring.

Though it was Jin'er's first time, as a noble's daughter, she knew plenty of tricks.

That night, the moon hid behind clouds in shame.

This was just the beginning.

Jin'er was merely the start.

Another night, Jin'er's "raid" on Huo Yuhao was "accidentally" spotted by Mu'er. To keep it secret, Jin'er pulled Mu'er in, who, already fond of Huo Yuhao, half-resisted, half-consented.

Then, Jin'er and Mu'er, realizing they couldn't outmatch Huo Yuhao two-on-one, marveled at his youth while recruiting Huo'er and Shui'er.

Huo'er and Shui'er joined the fray.

Thus, the four maidservants united, "bullying" Huo Yuhao, plunging him into daily "torment." Their elemental attributes, not just in martial souls, gave each a unique flair, offering Huo Yuhao varied experiences.

As they neared Mingdu:

One night, Zhang Lexuan, unable to resolve her own frustrations, sought Huo Yuhao to discuss matters, only to stumble upon the four maidservants "oppressing" him…

That night, a new gatekeeper emerged. 

Huo Yuhao and his group finally arrived in Mingdu.

Zhang Lexuan wore her usual cold expression.

The four handmaidens remained utterly respectful and loyal to Zhang Lexuan, but whenever their gazes fell upon Huo Yuhao, a predatory gleam flickered in their eyes.

Huo Yuhao felt a chill down his spine, shivering from time to time, as if someone was plotting against him.

Ma Xiaotiao and her companions weren't nearly as bold or direct as the four handmaidens.

"Your Highness, the Saintess, my family owns a residence in Mingdu. Your Highness may bring the group to rest there," Jin'er offered respectfully to Zhang Lexuan.

The four handmaidens all came from wealthy families. Though they hailed from the southern provinces, and Mingdu was in the north of the Sun Moon Empire, as the imperial capital, most nobles would own some property there.

After all, nobles couldn't possibly squeeze into inns like commoners—that would undermine their dignity.

Not just Jin'er's residence—any of the other three families' homes could host Zhang Lexuan and the group.

However, Zhang Lexuan turned to Huo Yuhao and asked, "Yuhao, what do you think?"

Due to previous events, Zhang Lexuan had come to trust Huo Yuhao's "wisdom" quite a bit.

Huo Yuhao thought for a moment, then shook his head and rejected the proposal. "Best not to. The fall of the southern provinces must already be known to the Empire. The involvement of your families with the White Lotus Sect has likely been exposed too. There's no guarantee your properties aren't being watched."

"How can that be?" Huo'er pouted. "This Empire is truly vile. One day, I will liberate this country in the name of the Bright King!"

The other three handmaidens nodded vigorously, filled with righteous indignation.

After all, no one would be happy about not being able to use their own big fancy house.

Huo Yuhao shrugged.

It wasn't just possible they were being watched—it was certain. Everyone tied to the southern provinces, be they merchants, nobles, or officials, was already under covert investigation by the Sun Moon Empire.

They hadn't cast the net yet because they were fishing.

Heading to any of the four families' properties now would be walking right into a trap.

Although neither the Third Prince nor the Death Messenger was currently in Mingdu, Huo Yuhao still had ways to stay informed about the capital and the imperial court.

For instance, he had already planted spies among the royal relatives.

"So what should we do to enter Mingdu?" Zhang Lexuan asked.

Huo Yuhao had long since made preparations. With a confident smile, he said, "Your Highness, ladies, follow me."

Huo Yuhao's method of sneaking into Mingdu was simple—his old specialty: digging tunnels!

If the Body Sect could dig a tunnel into the heavily fortified Mingde Hall, sneaking into a city was child's play. This also highlighted a major flaw of soul tool barriers—they were weak against underground attacks.

Previously, the Sun Moon Empire's military camps had some underground defenses, but they weren't barrier-type soul tools. They were detection-type, and Huo Yuhao could easily bypass them.

By evening—

Master Huo, having worked hard all day, led Zhang Lexuan, the four handmaidens, and the other White Lotus members into Mingdu via tunnel. They found a secluded, uninhabited courtyard to stay in.

With fewer than twenty people, the courtyard was more than enough for everyone.

The Mutated Frost Centipede martial soul had an advantage over other digging-capable martial souls or soul beasts: it could consume the dirt and rocks as it dug, using its Devouring Technique. The consumed material would even enhance its defense.

This greatly improved digging speed, efficiency, and stealth.

Calling it an Innate Dao Sacred Body was no exaggeration.

After settling in Mingdu, Huo Yuhao planned to dig more tunnels around the city—for travel, escape routes, and intelligence gathering.

Zhang Lexuan prepared to contact Xian Lin'er and others at the Royal Sun Moon Soul Engineering Academy.

The handmaidens and other White Lotus members used Huo Yuhao's tunnels to begin intelligence work.

The people brought from the White Lotus Sect were all from mixed backgrounds and knew how to quickly gather intel and stay hidden in a city.

Naturally, their first move was to reach out to the underground factions—

Especially to investigate the Duskwater Alliance as thoroughly as possible.

Three days flew by.

Huo Yuhao dug many tunnels throughout Mingdu. The defense of his Mutated Frost Centipede martial soul noticeably improved—proof of how much dirt and stone it had devoured.

No wonder the Sun Moon Empire was famous for its mineral wealth—even the soil beneath Mingdu seemed extra nutritious.

This underground resource vein caught Huo Yuhao's eye. He'd developed a bit of a tunneling addiction lately.

Fortunately, he hadn't forgotten his main objectives. Thanks to his tunnels, the White Lotus members operated very smoothly.

These tunnels even connected to Ghost Street in Mingdu, a hub of the underground world, allowing White Lotus members easy access to information. They also scattered their living arrangements to avoid being captured in one sweep.

Although the Ao Du Business Guild had collapsed, its assets had been divided among various factions, and Ghost Street remained. Now it was co-managed by multiple groups.

The Duskwater Alliance and the Ordinary Alliance were the main powers.

Surprisingly, the influx of factions made Ghost Street even livelier. It became a semi-open gray area in Mingdu, with a growing stream of people.

While Zhang Lexuan and the others stayed busy—

Huo Yuhao dug even deeper underground, laying out his next moves.

Coming to Mingdu was ultimately to find Brother Beibei and Sister Xiaoya, but he might as well bring back a few local specialties.

"Royal bloodlines—keep for the Third Prince. But I can take some of the harem and cold palace women, since they're full of fortune and phoenix energy. The Sun Moon Emperor is dying anyway—should I take him too...? Nah, better leave him for the Third Prince. He'll return eventually."

"Mingde Hall—my Centipede Foot clone has already found the underground weapons vault. There are Level Nine Fixed Soul Ammunition Cannons there, real big guns. I'll raid that place too—but only right before I leave."

"Then there's unique martial souls, bloodlines, and fortune…"

Huo Yuhao calculated everything and decided that when he left, he'd leave the Third Prince with a clean Mingdu.

Whether the Third Prince ascended the throne or remained a regent would depend on the situation.

As for Crown Prince Xu Tiannan—

He'd already marched into the southern provinces with his legions.

That meant… he'd never return to Mingdu again.

Not even the Dragon God could save him now.

Hao-ge said so!

Xu Tiannan didn't take any extreme actions, nor did he specifically target the Third Prince. However, it felt as though they were engaged in a "fair competition," both hunting down the White Lotus Army and reclaiming cities.

Such upright conduct made Xu Tiannan appear graceful and dignified—befitting of a crown prince.

What's more, Xu Tiannan was doing better than the Third Prince.

Perhaps it was due to the White Lotus Army being defeated, or perhaps due to the Third Prince's bloody methods, but the once stubborn followers of the White Lotus Sect seemed to have awakened. They repented for their crimes and returned to the empire's fold, pledging loyalty anew.

Xu Tiannan naturally didn't fully trust these people, but that didn't stop him from trying to win them over.

After all, whether one joined the White Lotus Sect or remained a citizen of the empire—it was all for personal benefit, wasn't it?

 Having never practiced the teachings or techniques of the White Lotus Sect, nor deeply understood them, Xu Tiannan simply couldn't comprehend the concept of "faith."

He wasn't an exception. Not even the generals in the Third Prince's army, or the commanders of the Southern Legion, had any understanding either.

Who would bother to understand the mindset of heretical rebels?

 Especially on the continent of Douluo, where such things were not valued.

Let alone the civil and military officials or nobles far away in Mingdu.

Since managing the Southern Province required a sufficient number of officials, Xu Tiannan only arrested the main culprits and notable figures. He didn't touch the rest of the officials and nobles, giving them at most a formal punishment, followed by personal favors and reassurances.

Selling the empire's interests to gain personal favor.

 After all, the empire's future belonged to him anyway.

As for those key figures, they weren't executed immediately. Instead, they were all imprisoned, to be taken to Mingdu for public trials.

Xu Tiannan needed to win the support of the officials and nobles of the Southern Province. It was a wealthy region, and such a good opportunity to establish influence couldn't be missed.

At the same time, he needed to publicly execute those culprits to enhance his reputation.

Xu Tiannan also intended to recruit the talented Soul Masters and Soul Engineers raised by the White Lotus Sect. While they couldn't be placed in high positions, their skills were still useful.

Compared to Xu Tiannan, the Third Prince simply killed his way through everything. While this made his soldiers more battle-hardened and loyal to him, not a single city or village willingly surrendered to him.

In Xu Tiannan's eyes, the Third Prince might indeed possess greater talent, stronger backing, and impressive schemes—but he lacked strategic wisdom.

Still, he understood. The Third Prince had always aligned with the nobility, standing for aristocratic and royal interests, never considering the common people.

To the Third Prince, commanding a powerful army was a justified way to seize the throne.

Besides, his army posed no threat without him.

"Just a little longer. Once I've established my foundation in the Southern Province, it'll be time to send my dear brother to his death!" Xu Tiannan made up his mind.

His trump card was the powerful forces he had borrowed from his godmother!

Only by helping him ascend the throne could the Holy Spirit Sect gain greater benefits. And since the Death Envoys and the White Lotus Sect were traitors to the Holy Spirit Sect, there was no way the Holy Spirit Sect would sit this out.

Mingdu

While Huo Yuhao was immersed in digging tunnels, Zhang Lexuan was also in action. On one hand, she was secretly gathering intelligence on the Xi Shui League; on the other, she was keeping watch outside the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy, waiting for Xian Lin'er or someone from Shrek Academy to show up.

After all, outsiders couldn't easily enter the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy.

Finally, heaven rewarded her diligence—Zhang Lexuan spotted a familiar figure emerging from the academy.

As someone who had attended the meeting and witnessed the planning, Zhang Lexuan immediately recognized Xian Lin'er in disguise.

She waved her hand lightly, and Jin'er understood the signal, quietly slipping away.

While seemingly just wandering around Mingdu, Xian Lin'er was secretly gathering intel. It didn't take long for her to notice someone repeatedly appearing ahead of her path. When she locked eyes with the person, Xian Lin'er realized she was being led somewhere.

Her gaze sharpened as she considered the stranger's identity and motive, but with her skills, she bravely followed.

Eventually, Jin'er led her to a private room in a hotel. Xian Lin'er entered alone, while four handmaidens took up guard positions outside.

Upon entering, she was shocked by the figure seated inside.

Zhang Lexuan calmly looked up and addressed her, "It's been a while, Dean Xian."

"Who are you really?" Xian Lin'er asked, prepared to activate her Martial Soul.

"You're not mistaken—I am Zhang Lexuan. I'm here because I've found a clue about Beibei!" Zhang Lexuan said openly.

As expected, Xian Lin'er's expression drastically changed.

As Mu En's disciple, Xian Lin'er had long wished to help him find Beibei.

But she still hesitated, studying Zhang Lexuan warily. "But your appearance…"

Her face was the same, yet her aura was vastly different. The Zhang Lexuan she remembered was aloof, while this one felt emotionless and distant.

"There's a reason for that, Dean Xian. Please sit—I'll explain everything," Zhang Lexuan gestured for her to sit.

Still on alert, Xian Lin'er sat down and quietly listened to Zhang Lexuan's account of recent events.

Of course, even with her emotions suppressed, Zhang Lexuan avoided mentioning any awkward details about her relationship with Huo Yuhao.

As the story unfolded, Xian Lin'er's expression grew increasingly complex.

Huo Yuhao came too?

 And the White Lotus Sect rebellion in the south... actually had something to do with them?

With their plan finalized, Huo Yuhao resumed digging tunnels—this time, aiming for a direct route to the Cold Palace.

Though focused on tunneling, he still returned to their base at dinnertime to rest.

Unexpectedly, he encountered a surprising person: Xian Lin'er.

She had been brought back by Zhang Lexuan and had already dropped her disguise.

Upon seeing Huo Yuhao and confirming his identity, Xian Lin'er finally relaxed and completely believed Zhang Lexuan's words.

Living "behind enemy lines" for so long, her vigilance had been maxed out.

"I didn't expect any of this to happen. Yuhao, Lexuan, you've suffered so much—thank you for everything you've done for Beibei!" Xian Lin'er said sincerely.

"Dean Xian, it's you and those in the Sun Moon Empire who are struggling every day, constantly in danger. We've hardly been able to help," Huo Yuhao responded just as sincerely.

Zhang Lexuan nodded in agreement.

That heartfelt exchange truly moved Xian Lin'er.

After some brief reminiscing, she smoothly joined Huo Yuhao and Zhang Lexuan's operation.

She hadn't found any useful leads so far, and now she had a purpose.

If she could help save Beibei, the trip would have been worth it.

Knowing Beibei was actually in the Xi Shui League, Xian Lin'er couldn't help but regret not discovering it sooner.

And toward Tang Ya, the one who had "taken" Beibei away—Xian Lin'er now truly harbored killing intent.