"Twilight Hermit Order…" Gui Mei muttered, letting the name roll off his tongue like an incantation. He bowed once more, deeper this time. "A fitting name, Young Master."
Ghost Douluo bowed " I am very happy to join an organisation started by Young Master."
"But…" he said slowly, lifting his head, "what will this organisation be doing?"
Qian Renxue's expression didn't shift. Calm, composed , but there was a glint of ambition in her eyes that made the air feel heavier.
"Information," she replied. "All manners of information. Movements of sects, imperial court whispers… If it exists, the Twilight Hermit Order will know of it."
'Before it can guide the development of the times from behind the scenes… it must first understand the times.'
She walked toward the window, where the last rays of sunlight filtered through the curtains, painting her figure in pale gold.
Qian Renxue turned back toward him. "You will oversee recruitment of the inner circle. Individuals with ties, but absolute loyalty. Those who can listen without leaving a shadow."
'They will be the members that will be known to others, wheras the ones truly in the shadows will be selected by me.'
Gui Mei knelt. "Your Highness, this old ghost has spent a lifetime in the dark. I shall build your web."
Ghost Douluo stroked his chin beneath the folds of his dark robe. His deep-set eyes, shadowed by the hood, seemed to flicker with a cold gleam as he said in his raspy voice,
"Since Your Highness wishes to create a new order… then new blood, new methods, and new identities will be needed as well. Every organisation must be able to operate in the light and the dark. Especially in the dark."
He lowered his head slightly, contemplating.
"I will begin gathering suitable individuals. Stealth and agility-type soul masters will be our starting point. They're the most suited for reconnaissance and infiltration… They'll be the tendrils that stretch out across the continent, unnoticed yet ever-listening."
Qian Renxue nodded slightly, her golden eyes gleaming. "Good. But remember, they should be loyal to me. Even if they come from Spirit Hall, I want them to belong to the Twilight Hermit Order."
Gui Mei gave a light hum of understanding. "Naturally."
As the wind rustled the curtains of the chamber, their conversation shifted to the current state of Spirit Hall's intelligence network.
Unlike the other factions on the continent, Spirit Hall had unparalleled reach. Their Soul Awakening Halls dotted every corner of Douluo Continent, from imperial capitals to the most remote border villages. This immense grassroots structure made them a natural collector of information.
However, with such a wide net came inevitable flaws.
"Because of our presence everywhere, we're also exposed everywhere," Qian Renxue said calmly, her voice devoid of emotion. "There are eyes from other factions… embedded even within our soul masters. They mimic our oaths, then wear our symbols. Then they smile when they report to their real masters."
Gui Mei's expression didn't change, but his tone became heavier.
"I've uprooted dozens of such rats over the years… but they never stop coming. For every one we find, another two are planted. Our foundation is strong, but our roots are rotting at the edges."
"To counter this," Ghost Douluo continued, "we've tried forming our own spy network. But it's limited."
Gui Mei let out a low sigh. "Indeed. Spirit Hall's reach grants us vast data on the movements of the two empires, Heaven Dou and Star Luo. Military campaigns, political shifts, economic changes… we're well informed."
He hesitated, then continued, "But the Three Great Sects… that's another matter."
Qian Renxue looked out the window, where sunlight fell onto the stone floor like streaks of gold.
"The Clear Sky Clan and the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan are clan-based and fiercely isolationist. Outsiders aren't welcomed, barely even tolerated. Infiltration is almost impossible. Anyone not of their bloodline is immediately a suspect."
"As for the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan," Gui Mei added, "they do allow outsiders to enter… even to a high level. But…" He narrowed his eyes, "what we see is only what they want us to see."
Qian Renxue tapped her fingers lightly on the table beside her.
"In short," she said with a soft smile, "information about the Three Sects… is more valuable than gold."
....
A thick bundle of intelligence reports lay neatly stacked in front of Qian Renxue. Her purple eyes narrowed as she read the bold title at the top of the first page:
"The Golden Iron Triangle."
A name that had been rising steadily through the ranks of the Soul Master world in the past three years. Though not shown to be affiliated with any major sect or empire, this trio had carved a name for themselves thanks to one astonishing feat , a rare three-person Martial Soul Fusion Technique, boasting an astounding spirit harmonization rate exceeding 90%.
Ordinarily, even a two-person fusion was rare and difficult. Their compatibility seemed almost fated. It wasn't just the harmony of their spirits that allowed this , it was their shared past, their deep familiarity, and the unshakable trust forged over years. The closer the bond, the stronger the fusion..
The result of their fusion was a fearsome, awe-inspiring entity:
The Golden Holy Dragon.
A creature that symbolized the perfect synthesis of power, agility, and support , blending destructive force with overwhelming presence. It was no exaggeration to say that once the fusion was complete, their combat power leaped to a level far above their cultivation ranks.