Leng Yaozhu nodded. "The Pagoda Masters of the Douling and Star Luo Spirit Pagodas are all people of Qiangu Dongfeng."
"The last time you were attacked by the Holy Spirit Cult in Star Luo, I felt something was amiss, as if someone had leaked your whereabouts in advance."
"I investigated further down that line and found that it was indeed the case, and Douling isn't clean either."
Huo Yuhao understood what Leng Yaozhu meant. He frowned slightly and asked, "Then what is Aunt Leng's plan?"
Leng Yaozhu said in a deep voice, "Since we've discovered this, naturally we have to take a trip to Douling."
"I have already announced to the outside world that I am in secluded cultivation, so no one will suspect anything. We shall set off today."
Huo Yuhao glanced at Leng Yaozhu and Han Tianyi, his gaze shifting back and forth between the two of them. "Just the three of us?"
Leng Yaozhu glanced back at him. "If there are too many people, it's easy to attract attention. With the strength of the three of us, it's enough."
Huo Yuhao thought for a moment and nodded in agreement.
With the combat power of the three of them, even if they encountered the Underworld Emperor of the Holy Spirit Cult again, they would still be able to handle it.
Furthermore, taking ten thousand steps back, even if they were ultimately defeated, he could still send Leng Yaozhu and Han Tianyi into the Undead Plane. If he wanted to run away alone, probably no one would be able to stop him.
That very day, the three of them quietly disappeared from the Spirit Pagoda without alerting anyone, embarking on the journey to the Douling Continent.
Normally, traveling from the Douluo Continent to the Douling Continent, people would usually choose ocean liners, and the long maritime voyage would take more than two months to arrive.
But time was pressing right now, coupled with the current strength of the three of them, naturally they wouldn't choose such a slow and leisurely method.
The three of them drove two mechas and crossed the sea at a speed far exceeding that of an ocean liner, reaching the Douling Continent in just ten days.
When stepping onto the land of the Douling Continent, the sea breeze carrying a strange aura rushed over them. Huo Yuhao narrowed his eyes slightly and asked, "Aunt Leng, are we going directly to the headquarters in Heaven Dou City?"
Leng Yaozhu shook her head, her gaze falling upon the rolling horizon in the distance ahead. "We are not going to Heaven Dou. According to the information gathered, there should be a secret research institute in Lingbo City, and the people of the Holy Spirit Cult should be there as well."
After taking a brief rest, the three of them didn't delay any further and flew directly toward Lingbo City.
Although the Spirit Pagoda in Lingbo City was only a Branch Pagoda, its internal personnel naturally recognized Leng Yaozhu, the Vice Pagoda Master of the Spirit Pagoda.
The moment Huo Yuhao and the other two walked through the doors of the Branch Pagoda, the gazes of several staff members in the lobby swept over uniformly. Soon, someone recognized that familiar figure, and their footsteps instinctively paused.
A young staff member hurried forward, his expression changing from surprise to panic, and his speech stuttered slightly. "Vice... Vice Pagoda Master?!"
Leng Yaozhu glanced at him and asked indifferently, "Who is in charge here now?"
That staff member took a deep breath, trying to steady his voice. "Pagoda Master Hua Tao is here today."
As the head person in charge of the Spirit Pagoda in the Douling Empire, Hua Tao should have been stationed at the Heaven Dou City headquarters, but at this moment he appeared in this Branch Pagoda.
However, when Leng Yaozhu heard this news, there was not the slightest trace of surprise on her face, as if she had anticipated this point long ago.
She only nodded slightly, her tone carrying an unquestionable flavor. "Have him come see me."
That young Spirit Pagoda staff member hurriedly lowered his head and acknowledged, "Yes!"
Then he trotted towards the front desk, wanting to contact the Pagoda Master's office.
However, right at this moment, the elevator in the lobby suddenly opened, and a figure walked out quickly.
This person looked to be in his fifties or sixties, of medium build, wearing a Spirit Pagoda uniform. His face carried the smoothness and geniality of someone who had dealt with people for many years.
The moment he saw Leng Yaozhu, he quickened his pace and walked up to her in a few strides, a perfectly measured smile piling onto his face. His tone was warm and respectful. "Why didn't Vice Tower Master Leng notify us in advance of your sudden arrival so I could arrange a reception?"
While he said this, his gaze paused for a moment on Huo Yuhao and Han Tianyi behind Leng Yaozhu.
After all, Hua Tao was a high-ranking member of the Spirit Pagoda, and he recognized who the two of them were at a glance. At the same time, an ominous feeling welled up from the bottom of his heart.
Leng Yaozhu looked at Hua Tao's smiling face without any nonsense, her tone as cold and hard as steel without a shred of temperature. "Surrender obediently right now, and you may be dealt with leniently."
As these words fell like a heavy blow, the expressions of the surrounding Spirit Pagoda staff members all changed.
The smile on Hua Tao's face also stiffened abruptly, his pupils contracting slightly. His entire body seemed to be nailed in place by those blunt, merciless words.
But a moment later, he steadied his expression, reined in the smile on his face, and said, "Vice Tower Master Leng, what mistake have I made?"
"Even if I made a mistake, as the person in charge of the Douling Empire's Branch Pagoda, you do not have the qualification to directly convict me. It requires the Pagoda Master to convene a meeting to decide."
Leng Yaozhu snorted coldly. "Don't try to suppress me with Qiangu Dongfeng. The Holy Spirit Cult colluded with the Abyss to invade the Douluo Continent, and now they are the enemy of the entire continent."
"And you have colluded in secret with the Holy Spirit Cult. Even if I execute you on the spot right now, Qiangu Dongfeng wouldn't be able to say a single word."
Hua Tao's expression changed once again, his mouth slightly open, clearly wanting to say something more to defend himself.
At this moment, Huo Yuhao on the side spoke up, his tone calm. "Those Evil Soul Masters in the basement are still there. The evidence is conclusive, so you might as well confess, Pagoda Master."
Huo Yuhao's mental force had already scanned the inside and outside of this Spirit Pagoda in Lingbo City from top to bottom, but he hadn't found the figure of Dark Phoenix Leng Yulai.
However, there were indeed several Spirit Saint-level Evil Soul Masters inside the underground laboratory. These were concrete pieces of evidence!
The lobby instantly became so quiet that a pin dropping could be heard. Those staff members who were previously peeking secretly now lightened their breathing significantly.
Hua Tao's complexion was ashen, and the expression in his gaze flickered back and forth like a revolving lantern.
Various emotions such as fear, unwillingness, and regret flashed across his eyes, eventually settling into a dejected resignation.
His shoulders slumped slightly, as if the last rope supporting some pillar had finally snapped.
He sighed, his voice hoarse. "I am willing to return to the headquarters with Vice Tower Master Leng to accept trial, but I kindly ask for leniency regarding the other staff members here. Many of them do not know the situation of the underground laboratory."
Upon hearing this, Leng Yaozhu did not answer immediately; she merely turned her head and glanced at Huo Yuhao.
Huo Yuhao immediately understood, stepping forward with five silvery-gray rings appearing in his hand.
The rings gleamed all over with a chilling metallic luster, their surfaces densely engraved with intricate spirit tool patterns. The five rings were fastened onto Hua Tao's limbs and neck respectively.
This was a Spirit Power suppressor developed by Huo Yuhao, which was a ninth-grade soul tool.
As long as it was worn, aside from Limit Douluo, no matter how high a Spirit Master's cultivation was, their Spirit Power would be completely sealed. Aside from their physical body being somewhat stronger than ordinary people, they would be no different from ordinary people in other aspects.
Hua Tao could feel that his own Origin Spirit Power was being locked down layer by layer, like successive floodgates dropping down to completely cut off the power circulating within his body.
His fingertips curled slightly before relaxing again. The expression on his face calmed down a lot, as if after accepting this outcome, he had instead gained a sense of liberation.
Leng Yaozhu's gaze swept across the others in the lobby, her voice not loud, yet clearly transmitted into everyone's ears. "The Spirit Pagoda is sealed today; no one is allowed to enter or leave."
Those staff members were as silent as cicadas in winter, and no one dared to raise any objections.
Afterwards, Leng Yaozhu shifted her gaze back to Hua Tao and said, "Take us underground to take a look."
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A/N:
I hope all of you are enjoying this story so far. I would appreciate some Power Stones if you can spare any. Leave a review if you like the story. Thank you.