By the time the members of the Common Alliance arrived, Lin Xiao was long gone. All that remained on the street was a single withered corpse, swaying gently in the night breeze, as if it had no weight at all.
"Evil Spirit Master…"
The low murmur drifted through the dark streets, carried far by the wind.
Back at the Holy Spirit Church's branch stronghold, Lin Xiao pushed open the concealed mechanism beside the table and stepped into the underground passageway. Only after entering did he exhale softly.
When he reached the subterranean hall, he immediately noticed Nightmare Douluo there—alongside two Holy Spirits—each wearing equally grim expressions.
"Teacher."
"Where are the others?" Nightmare Douluo's voice was sharp, his eyes flashing coldly as they swept across the hall.
Lin Xiao stepped forward and briefly recounted everything that had happened.
"Humph!" Nightmare Douluo slammed his hand on the table and rose to his feet. "That old witch dares mock us! The ones who acted tonight were not only from the Common Alliance."
Lin Xiao stayed silent. Nightmare Douluo had gone out personally that night as well, targeting other Alliance strongholds. But from his tone, it was clear that his own mission hadn't gone smoothly either.
It seemed the Common Alliance was more formidable than expected.
Nightmare Douluo had assumed they could easily crush them—perhaps even harvest some "materials" in the process—but instead, they'd gained nothing and suffered casualties. No wonder his expression was so dark.
"Lin Xiao."
After a long silence, Nightmare Douluo finally spoke again.
"Teacher." Lin Xiao bowed slightly.
"You'll be in charge of branch affairs for now. I'm returning to headquarters." Nightmare Douluo turned, his cloak sweeping behind him. "Radiant City's underground market is far too vast. I doubt my second and third brothers will resist getting involved."
"Yes, Teacher."
So that was it. He couldn't handle the Alliance alone, so he was heading back to bring reinforcements.
Once Nightmare Douluo left, Lin Xiao was preparing to return to the academy when two Holy Spirits approached, their faces uneasy.
"Holy Envoy."
"What is it?"
The two exchanged glances before one spoke. "My lord, Saint Servant Six has not returned."
Lin Xiao's brow furrowed. "Because of tonight's operation?"
"Unlikely, my lord. The Saint Servants have low cultivation and weren't deployed to dangerous positions tonight—mostly to relay messages along the streets. The others have returned safely, but Number Six hasn't reported back."
"Where was she assigned?"
"We already searched, my lord. There's no trace of her…" The Holy Spirit hesitated briefly before continuing. "Saint Servant Six is… special. We thought perhaps we could use the power of the Holy Banner to locate her."
"Special?"
Lin Xiao looked at them curiously.
The two hesitated again, until one finally spoke in a low voice. "The Saint Servant Six was brought back personally by the Elder from outside. When she first joined the Church, she refused to stay, so the Elder conducted a Spirit Ascension Ceremony for her."
At those words, Lin Xiao's mind flickered with a familiar image.
Not long after Emperor Xu Jing had ascended the throne and the Holy Spirit Church established its foothold in Radiant City, Nightmare Douluo had introduced the branch members to him. Among them, one servant had caught his attention.
All the Holy Spirits within the Church had incomplete souls. But that servant—even as a lowly Saint Servant—was missing a larger portion of her soul than most. Her consciousness had been dim, her movements sluggish, her body seemingly half-alive.
Now that he thought about it, that person must have been Number Six. He hadn't expected that she had undergone such a ritual.
Lin Xiao paused, deep in thought. "And what's this about using the Holy Banner?"
The second Holy Spirit stepped forward. "My lord, a fragment of Saint Servant Six's soul was sealed inside the Holy Banner. If we invoke its power, we can use her residual spirit to trace her location."
"I see. Then come with me."
Lin Xiao turned away, eyes narrowing slightly as he walked.
He remembered something Zhongli Wu had mentioned before—that those who underwent the Spirit Ascension Ceremony no longer needed to verify their identity within the Church. And recently, Nightmare Douluo's attitude toward him had shifted as well.
He had long suspected that the Holy Spirit Church used special methods to control souls—and now, the two Holy Spirits' explanation confirmed it. The so-called Spirit Ascension Ceremony was nothing more than a process to separate and bind a disciple's spirit, ensuring their obedience.
Only those whose souls were partially under control were trusted with greater secrets.
But this missing Saint Servant might be his opportunity—to witness the process firsthand and learn how it truly worked.
If the day ever came when the ritual was forced upon him, it would be better to be prepared than to face it blind.
The underground chamber's far wall bore a flag of dull gray. Even from several meters away, waves of cold air radiated outward, carrying faint echoes of agony. Looking closer, one could see distorted faces writhing within its surface.
This was not merely a vessel for storing souls—it was also a formidable seventh-level soul tool. Once the resentful spirits within were unleashed, even an ordinary Spirit Douluo would struggle to defend against it.
Standing before the banner, Lin Xiao closed his eyes. The Other Shore Flower unfurled beside him, its scarlet petals slowly revolving.
Whispers and wails filled the chamber—voices of rage, grief, and torment. He let them wash over him, unflinching, as the dark energy surged.
Then, amidst the chaos, he sensed a familiar thread.
His eyes snapped open. Raising his right hand, the Other Shore Flower floated into his palm. With his left, he made a subtle gesture.
From the banner drifted a faint, translucent silhouette—a fragile wisp of spirit—which gently descended into the flower's heart.
The two Holy Spirits beside him eyes widened. Their reverence deepened; though they too were disciples of the Holy Spirit Church, none among them could directly command souls in this way.
They had merely intended to use the Holy Banner to sense the servant's direction, not to extract her very essence.
"Do not invoke the Holy Banner again unless absolutely necessary," Lin Xiao said evenly. "I have already retrieved Saint Servant Six's remnant soul. With this, I can locate her myself."
He glanced at them, his tone calm but brooking no question. "I'll handle this matter personally. My position allows freer movement outside."
"Yes, my lord."
Both bowed deeply, without suspicion.
Lin Xiao nodded slightly and turned to leave.
The events of that night caused little ripple in Radiant City. The Holy Spirit Church had always been careful—those dead disciples left behind no evidence.
The only conclusion others could draw from the drained corpses was that Evil Soul Masters had been involved. But beyond that, no one knew more.
The Common Alliance, for their part, seemed unwilling to spread the rumor further.
Within a few days, the echoes of that violent night had already faded—swallowed by the city's countless rumors and half-truths, and soon forgotten.
(End of Chapter)