Though Lin Xiao had long heard that the Shrek Inspection Team was active nearby, he hadn't expected to encounter them so soon. Fortunately, at this point, Shrek Academy was unaware of the Holy Spirit Church's existence, so he didn't arouse much suspicion.
Still, Lin Xiao headed toward the Sun Moon Empire's territory, deciding not to deal with the other branch altars for now.
He didn't know if there were other experts secretly following the three women, nor could he guess the perceptive abilities of such experts. If they discovered he knew the exact locations of the evil soul masters' strongholds, it would be far harder to deceive them.
The knowledge in his mind was far more valuable than a few branch altars.
The cities near the border were sparsely populated to begin with, and with dawn still hours away, the city was shrouded in darkness. Only a faint light from a soul lamp glowed in a secluded courtyard.
"Back so soon?"
Lin Xiao returned to his residence, where Nightmare Douluo was already waiting inside.
Seeing the figure seated at the table, Lin Xiao wasn't overly surprised. Long ago, he had realized his teacher was unusually aware of his whereabouts.
"Teacher, I encountered people from the Shrek Inspection Team."
At Lin Xiao's words, Nightmare Douluo looked over with interest. "Did you fight them?"
"No," Lin Xiao shook his head, then briefly recounted what had happened.
"I didn't expect them to move so quickly," Nightmare Douluo mused. "It seems they have informants among the border troops."
"Forget it, time's running short. Put this matter aside for now. The Shrek Inspection Team's reach doesn't extend into the Sun Moon Empire yet. As long as our business in Mingdu succeeds, it won't matter if they notice something."
"Teacher, what exactly is this business?" Lin Xiao asked.
"Hmph, it's a monumental achievement," Nightmare Douluo said, standing and heading toward the door. "Come, pack up your things here. You likely won't be coming back."
As a member of the Holy Spirit Church, Lin Xiao kept few important possessions in his room. After a quick glance around, he only took the soul lamp from the table and hurriedly followed.
"Lin Xiao, what do you think is the greatest merit in this world?"
"Teacher, I don't know."
"None other than the merit of following the dragon."
"Following the dragon?" Lin Xiao glanced up at Nightmare Douluo as he spoke, a thought suddenly surfacing in his mind.
"Exactly. No matter the era, aiding an emperor to ascend the throne is the dream of countless people. Don't be fooled by the apparent calm in the Sun Moon Empire's court—beneath the surface, many are dissatisfied with the current state of affairs. Some even covet the supreme position."
"And what our Holy Spirit Church must do is help them achieve their ambitions. When that happens, with the imperial family's protection above and the support of nobles and officials below, our church won't need to live so cautiously anymore."
Lin Xiao silently confirmed his suspicion. Having lived in the Holy Spirit Church for nearly a decade, its members always concealed their identities when traveling and hid at the slightest disturbance. This was a far cry from the brazen attitude in his memories, where they openly participated in soul dueling tournaments and took lives on the stage without restraint.
Now it seemed that the Holy Spirit Church's influence was likely woven into the Sun Moon Empire's political upheaval, with Xu Tianran's lineage ascending the throne. No wonder the Holy Spirit Church later became the empire's state religion.
"Enough. Few know the full truth of this matter, so don't leak it," Nightmare Douluo said, lifting his cloak to reveal a withered hand. "Your pace is too slow. Let your teacher give you a lift."
Before Lin Xiao could react, a gloomy wave of soul power enveloped him, carrying him into the night sky.
Though Nightmare Douluo wasn't particularly powerful among Titled Douluo, his nine-ring cultivation was undeniable. The night wind roared in Lin Xiao's ears, and soon, a glimmer of light appeared in his vision.
"It's this late, and Old Eight still hasn't returned?"
In Mingdu, the capital glowed brightly, the light of countless soul tools outshining even the moonlight. Near the imperial palace, in an area meant for nobles, a group of evil soul masters was gathered.
Several figures with profound cultivation sat there, their mere presence exuding an unsettling aura.
"He's probably off to fetch that precious disciple of his."
"Old Eight's disciple has remarkable talent," one seated figure said, raising his head slightly and licking his lips. "And his soul smells extraordinary. I wonder where Old Eight found him."
"Enough, Old Five. If you want fodder for your Ten Thousand Soul Banner, go find it yourself once this is done. Don't set your sights on Old Eight's disciple. If you make a move on him, Old Eight will fight you to the death. Besides, the church needs fresh blood," another voice interjected.
"Heh," the one called Old Five chuckled, recalling something, and said no more.
"Leader, I'm late," Nightmare Douluo's voice rang out. The group looked up to see him leading Lin Xiao into the room.
Dozens of gazes fell on Lin Xiao, and for a moment, he felt a chill run through him, his soul power nearly freezing in his veins.
"Enough, it's definitely him," the figure at the head, the "Leader," spoke, and the pressure on Lin Xiao instantly dissipated.
"Leader, I brought Lin Xiao myself. Must we go through this every time?" Nightmare Douluo said with some dissatisfaction.
"It's a matter of great importance. We can't be too careful. Once he completes the Spirit Ascension Ceremony in the future, this won't be necessary," the Leader replied.
Hearing the explanation, Nightmare Douluo said no more and took a seat to the side. Lin Xiao followed, standing behind him.
Glancing around, Lin Xiao mentally matched the people present with the names from his memories. Aside from the seated elders and the Leader, Zhongli Wu, he didn't recognize many others. They were likely trusted subordinates of the elders, like himself.
"Now everyone is here," Zhongli Wu said, raising his right hand. The door slammed shut instantly. "You should all know what we're doing next. I won't say much else, but during this operation, keep your hands in check."
"Those craving blood, those craving souls…" Zhongli Wu glanced around. "Now is not the time. As long as you hold back for now, the entire Sun Moon Empire will be our church's offering in the future. No one is to act on their own. If this mission fails, don't blame me for being merciless."
"Yes."
The room fell silent for a moment. Then, Zhongli Wu suddenly looked toward the door. Lin Xiao followed his gaze, and soon, the sound of two sets of footsteps grew closer.