Nightmare Douluo fell at Jialing Pass. The Holy Spirit Cult only knew he hadn't returned and assumed he'd died, but they still didn't know who was responsible.
However, Ming Lei and Netherworld Douluo died within the Sun Moon Empire—so close to the Holy Spirit Cult's own headquarters in the Fiend Forest that it was impossible to ignore. Their bodies had been incinerated, but the traces left behind couldn't be fully erased. The disturbance was large enough that people noticed it from afar.
Wang Nan's name had already come up several times within the Holy Spirit Cult. So when Nangong Wan clearly saw the Coiling Dragon Staff strike him, he immediately understood who he had run into.
Although the Sun Moon Empire occupied most of the Tianhun Empire's territory, bypassing their defenses was nothing to a Titled Douluo. Under the Evil Breaking Dragon's perception, Wang Nan quickly "accidentally encountered" Nangong Wan on his route.
Even though Wang Nan knocked him out of the sky with a single blow, Nangong Wan was still a Titled Douluo. As the ground rushed up to meet him, he forced himself to endure the discomfort in his body and stirred his spirit power.
He crashed into the ground, carving out a deep pit. Dust billowed upward, obscuring everything inside.
The spreading yellow dust quickly darkened to green. A faint breeze from who-knew-where stirred, and the swelling green smoke surged straight toward Wang Nan.
Wang Nan was descending after Nangong Wan. Before he could get close, he saw the poisonous green fog rise. His first spirit ring flared, and he instantly retreated. Two dark green figures shot out of the mist, brushing past him and streaking upward.
When they failed to hit, the two green figures whipped back, entwining like vines.
Wang Nan held the Coiling Dragon Staff horizontally at his waist and swept it in a half circle. His Soul Core spun—mental power, blood energy, and spirit power merging perfectly. The force gathered at the tip of the staff, and a mighty blast erupted outward, shattering the two figures and scattering the poisonous mist.
Nangong Wan's form finally appeared again within the fog—no longer human. His body had grown enormous, revealing the shape of a dark green centipede emerging from the poison.
He knew Wang Nan's name. Since even Ming Lei and Netherworld Douluo had died at his hands, he wouldn't dare show the slightest carelessness. He used his Martial Soul True Body the instant he acted.
Seeing Wang Nan glowing with golden light, Nangong Wan's gaze lingered briefly on the Coiling Dragon Staff.
"The Holy Cult's greatest mistake was not taking you sooner, letting you grow this strong," Nangong Wan's voice rumbled from the centipede's maw. "A pity we learned the secret of the Coiling Dragon Staff too late."
As he spoke, his body darkened further until the centipede turned nearly black. A foul, poisonous mist spread from his sides.
His ninth spirit ring, ink-black, released its glow. The mist expanded, and the space around him twisted as if corroding under its weight. His form looked as though it were dissolving.
In the next moment, the collapsing space spread toward Wang Nan, while Nangong Wan himself turned and fled.
This was still the same Nangong Wan. Facing an opponent like Wang Nan, he'd never intended to defeat him—he hadn't even considered fighting head-on. Both his Martial Soul True Body and his ninth ability had been used only to create an opening to escape. Seeing his poison engulf Wang Nan, he seized the chance.
Wang Nan's expression didn't change. His fifth spirit ring lit with a dark golden glow. He thrust the Coiling Dragon Staff forward, and the massive dragon coiled around it detached and surged ahead.
The attack struck almost instantly. Nangong Wan heard a dragon's roar behind him. When he turned, a golden light swallowed him. His ninth spirit ring went dark, and all his spirit power froze.
The poisonous mist lingering around Wang Nan lost its support. Without the ability fueling it, Wang Nan simply stepped aside and slipped out of its reach.
The giant Coiling Dragon Staff came crashing down like judgment from the heavens. It slammed into Nangong Wan, driving him into the ground again. This time he couldn't use spirit power to soften the blow. The centipede body slammed into the earth and vanished.
Nangong Wan spat blood and struggled to rise. The moment he lifted his head, he found the golden Coiling Dragon Staff pointed straight at his forehead.
"You mentioned the secret of the Coiling Dragon Staff. How did you find out?"
"If I tell you, will you let me go?" Nangong Wan didn't dare move. "I may be part of the Holy Spirit Cult, but I haven't done that many terrible things."
"I can act as an informant for you. I'll tell you everything I know about the cult, and I can send you news in the future."
"Answer the question first," Wang Nan said flatly.
"Yes, yes. Not long ago, the Sun Moon Empire captured a group of children in Heaven Dou City. Some of them had abilities that restrained the cult's members. After we interrogated them, we learned about the Coiling Dragon Staff."
"What happened to those children?"
Nangong Wan's mind raced. Wang Nan's spirit was also the Coiling Dragon Staff, and he had shown up here of all places—he was probably here for the children. Nangong Wan knew those kids were in grave danger, but telling the truth now would almost certainly cost him his life.
"After the interrogation, they were transported to Dongyang City." He hurried to continue before Wang Nan could press him. "We have an arrangement with the Spirit Beasts in the sea. They attack cities and cause casualties. We collect Souls and blood as offerings for them."
"Offerings for Spirit Beasts?"
"Yes, yes—a massive Spirit Beast, very similar to a whale. We discovered it a few years ago. It had terrible old injuries. If not for that, even our Cult Master would probably be no match for it."
"Our Cult Master values its strength and uses blood sacrifices to help it recover in exchange for its allegiance."
A whale-type Spirit Beast. As soon as he heard this, Wang Nan recalled the creature he'd seen at the bottom of the Ice Sea during training.
Seeing Wang Nan fall silent, Nangong Wan's eyes flickered. "Those children might still be alive. I was originally heading to Dongyang City to deliver sacrifices. If you let me go, I can gather information for you."
Wang Nan stared at him for a moment, then slowly lowered the Coiling Dragon Staff. Just as relief washed over Nangong Wan, the golden staff suddenly enlarged before his eyes. A sharp crack sounded—and he knew nothing more.