Douluo Continent: Starting with controlling Ning Rongrong and establishing the Holy Cult

She recalled the ease with which the Holy One manipulated her body, and the swiftness with which he left.

This explanation was so cold it suffocated her.

She is not a living person in the eyes of the Holy One.

She was merely a vessel. And she wasn't the only vessel.

"Then what about my life and death? What about my faith? Are they all meaningless?"

She pressed on, unwilling to give up, her voice tinged with despair.

Meaning is something you have to find and prove yourself, not something you can rely on his favor or blessing. He gives you strength and identity, but ultimately you have to walk the path yourself.

Poseidon's voice took on a serious tone.

“I’ve told you this many times already: the Holy One’s connection with this world is not strong enough for him to believe that this world is real. If he truly knew that this was the real world and not that thing called ‘game’—then, given his character, you wouldn’t be treated like vessels by him.”

"A game? Master, you mean everything that's happened these past few days, from the Seventh Elder's removal from office to my being controlled, all of these things he orchestrated himself..."

"In his eyes, it's just a game?"

"Correct."

Poseidon nodded, paused, and added,

"It's just a game."

Chapter 124 Mission Transfer and Investigation of the Haotian Sect

"Good, good, what a great game!"

Qian Renxue stomped her foot in dissatisfaction.

She still couldn't accept this fact.

"So, we just need to correct his perception, right?"

She thought about it for a long time, calmed down for a long time, and then mentioned...

"That is, to find some more black flames to deepen his connection with this world."

Upon hearing this, Poseidon nodded with some satisfaction:

"That's it. Your awareness is not bad."

"Master, you should know the location of the remaining Black Flames, right? Tell me about a new one, and I'll go and steal it. I'm level 98 now... wait?"

Qian Renxue suddenly realized something was wrong.

She wanted to say that she was level 98 and could defeat anyone in the world, but she suddenly realized that the cult leader in front of her was even stronger than her.

Would someone like that really not have considered simply forcibly seizing Black Flame?

Even if she wanted to steal the black flame from the Spirit Hall's Hall of Worship, there wouldn't be any problem, right?

But she didn't do that.

Qian Renxue recalled the scene when she had recklessly come into contact with the black flames in the Heavenly Dou Imperial Palace and suffered a severe backlash.

This time, she wanted to get to the bottom of it.

"Master, is there a reason why we didn't try to steal Black Flame?"

“He wouldn’t allow it. Before leaving, he made many plans. One of them was—I was not allowed to snatch the Black Flame from other people, nor was I allowed to instigate others to do so.”

"Hmm... But you're different. You came up with this idea on your own, so you probably can try to steal Black Flame."

"what?"

Qian Renxue frowned, looking at the cult leader in front of her in disbelief.

She suddenly realized that she shouldn't have taken Black Flame.

"So this is the reason we've been stealing Black Flame all this time?"

"Correct."

The scene became awkward for a moment.

It was Qian Renxue who couldn't stand it anymore and mentioned:

"Then tell me the location of the new black flames. Master, you should know the whereabouts of every single black flame."

“I do know the location of most of the Black Flames… but there are exceptions, and I only know roughly who has fallen into their hands. I can indeed tell you the location of new Black Flames. However, I do not intend to do so.”

Before Qian Renxue could ask any questions, she continued.

"I want to entrust the Black Flame of the Killing City to you."

"The City of Slaughter, that's not the Second Elder..."

Before she could finish speaking, Qian Renxue suddenly remembered what had happened to the Second Elder.

So he nodded and said:

"I understand. I will go and find that black flame."

-

In Wuhun City, the Elder Hall was filled with the solemnity and tension that followed the great battle.

Qian Daoliu sat in the main seat, his fingertips unconsciously tapping the armrest, his gaze sweeping over the elders below who looked slightly tired but had tense expressions.

"Tang Hao..."

He spoke slowly.

“That evil object is definitely not his own. Such an evil object must be inextricably linked to the Holy Spirit Cult.”

Chrysanthemum Douluo Yueguan frowned:

"High Priest, do you mean... Tang Hao joined the Holy Spirit Cult? Or that the Holy Spirit Cult used him?"

"Whether he joins or not is still uncertain. But it's no coincidence that this thing appeared in his hands. The direction he fled to last... Hmph, where else could he seek refuge besides that place, and where could he have obtained such an evil object?"

Ghost Douluo's eerie, hoarse voice rang out: "Haotian Sect!"

The elders' expressions grew even more grim.

The Haotian Sect, one of the three upper sects, even after being closed off for many years, still possesses a profound foundation and its very name still inspires awe.

Especially after being invited out of seclusion a year ago, Tang Xiao's appearance as a Title Douluo made the Clear Sky Sect famous throughout the continent.

"good."

Qian Daoliu nodded, a cold glint in his eyes.

"Tang Hao's relationship with the Clear Sky Sect is delicate, but the blood ties are ultimately unbreakable. He is severely injured, his foundation destroyed, and he urgently needs protection and a way to recover. For the Holy Spirit Sect to entrust him with such an important item, whether through trade or exploitation, must be connected to the Clear Sky Sect! Within the Clear Sky Sect, there are probably already tentacles of the Holy Spirit Sect, perhaps even... its core!"

His suspicion that "someone was tempting Tang Hao" now pointed entirely to that misty, deep mountain.

Although Haotian Sect was asked to leave the mountain a year ago, the sect's location remains unchanged, still deep in the mountains.

They simply set up a few temporary bases outside and arranged a few "usable combat forces" for them to use to attack the Holy Spirit Cult.

Unfortunately, it seems that the Haotian Sect itself has been corrupted by the Holy Spirit Scroll to an unknown degree, so its combat power is naturally no longer usable.

"Pass on the order!"

Qian Daoliu suddenly stood up.

"Immediately organize an elite investigation team, target the Clear Sky Sect! Find out exactly what connection exists between the Holy Spirit Cult and the Clear Sky Sect, and whether Tang Hao is hiding among them! If there is resistance... kill without mercy!"

Just then, a cardinal hurried into the temple; he was the same cardinal who had encountered the "crow" in the ruins of Elephant Cult.

His face was pale, and he was filled with lingering fear as he gave a detailed account of how Huyan Zhen's body was taken away by the mysterious man in black robes and how he himself had almost lost his life.

"...That person's strength was unfathomable, and his goal was clear: he went only for Huyan Zhen's corpse. Your subordinates were incompetent and failed to pursue him, nor were they able to ascertain his specific identity and purpose. However, your subordinates surmise that this matter must be related to the Holy Spirit Cult!"

The bishop's voice trembled slightly.

The hall fell silent for a moment.

The entire Elephant Armor Sect was infiltrated by the Holy Spirit Cult and has now been wiped out. Huyan Zhen is dead, but his body has been stolen by the Holy Spirit Cult...

Each and every one of these things exudes an eerie atmosphere.

However, after hearing this, Qian Daoliu merely frowned slightly and then waved his hand.

"I am already aware of this matter."

His voice was calm, yet carried an undeniable air of decisiveness.

"The Elephant Armor Sect has been destroyed, and the deaths of its disciples were bizarre. Hu Yanzhen is dead, and now his body has been taken away... The clues are fragmented, and the investigation is fraught with difficulties. The Holy Spirit Sect acts in secrecy, and there must be a deeper meaning behind their theft of the body. However, at present, their purpose is hard to fathom, and their strength is unknown. Rashly investing a large amount of manpower in the investigation may be more trouble than it's worth."

"In comparison, the Clear Sky Sect's line is clearer and more urgent. Tang Hao's 'resurrection' evil technique, his possible hiding place, the potential collusion between the Holy Spirit Cult and the Clear Sky Sect... these are the hidden dangers that could shake the foundation of the continent! The Elephant Armor Sect matter can be put aside for now; symbolically sending people to keep an eye out for suspicious clues in its vicinity and near Spirit City is sufficient. The priority is the Clear Sky Sect!"

"Yes, sir!"

Although the cardinal was unwilling, he understood Qian Daoliu's considerations.

In Qian Daoliu's eyes, a dead Title Douluo or a mysterious corpse is far less valuable than a living super sect that may be hiding the core secrets of the Holy Spirit Cult.

The team investigating the Clear Sky Sect quickly and quietly left Martial Soul City, carrying an air of menace.

Meanwhile, in the shadows of the woods surrounding Shrek Academy, a makeshift wooden hut was filled with the strong smell of medicine and an atmosphere of decay.

Chapter 125 The Past of the Haotian Sect

Tang Hao sat back on a hard bed, his once imposing figure now a flickering candle in the wind.

His skin was covered with hideous cracks left by the backlash of soul power, a mixture of charred black and blood.

Each breath he took seemed exceptionally difficult.

As for soul power... what was once as vast as the sea is now extremely weak. No matter how much soul power he draws upon, he can at most be a Soul Master capable of fighting a Soul Saint.

What's even more terrifying is the emptiness of having his life force forcibly drained. Tang Hao clearly sensed that his days were numbered.

However, what burned in those deep-set eyes was not despair, but a raging fire of hatred!

Nine-tenths of this hatred was directed at Yu Xiaogang, who had used false information to push him to his death!

"Yu! Xiao! Gang!"