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Davis had long been haunted by a single question — one that took root three years ago during the finals of the Continental Soul Master Tournament.
That day, in the grand plaza before the Pope's Palace, Davis had caught a glimpse of Yu Xiaogang.
Why had Yu Xiaogang gone to Spirit Hall that day? What business could he possibly have had there?
Now, three years later, Davis and Zhu Zhuyun lodged at a small inn near Shrek Academy, waiting for nightfall. As the saying goes: "A moonless, windy night — perfect for murder and arson."
Time passed swiftly. As the sun dipped below the western hills, the heavens darkened like a curtain drawn shut, enveloping the world in pitch-black silence.
"Heh," Davis chuckled, his lips curling into a cruel grin. "Seems even the heavens are on my side tonight."
The sky was heavy with clouds, not a single star or moonbeam to be seen. Out in the wilderness, one could hardly see their own hand before their face.
The two changed into tight, black combat suits and covered their faces with masks. Without another word, they slipped into the darkness — toward Shrek Academy.
Since the Shrek Seven Devils hadn't participated in the finals that year, the academy's fame had waned. Few students remained, and there were even more teachers than pupils.
Taking advantage of the deep night, the pair easily bypassed the sleepy guards and infiltrated the academy grounds. Davis opened his Evil Eyes of Ice and Fire, scanning the entire area — not even a needle could escape his perception.
Within moments, his gaze fixed upon Xiao Wu's room. Exchanging a glance with Zhu Zhuyun, he sprinted forward like a shadow, and Zhu Zhuyun followed close behind.
Inside, Xiao Wu was deep in cultivation. Ever since Er Ming's death, she had been training relentlessly for eight straight months, her spirit power now at Rank Forty-Eight.
But her meditation was abruptly broken.
The door burst open — bang! — startling Xiao Wu. Her eyes snapped wide, only to see two masked figures, a man and a woman, standing before her.
Just as she opened her mouth to scream, Davis and Zhu Zhuyun moved with deadly synchronicity — the perfect embodiment of the phrase "When husband and wife are of one mind, their strength can cut through metal."
Zhu Zhuyun swiftly drew a silk stocking from her soul tool and shoved it into Xiao Wu's mouth, clamping her small throat while covering her lips to stifle even a muffled "mmmph."
Meanwhile, Davis circled behind her, striking the back of her neck with precision. Xiao Wu's body went limp as she fainted. With practiced ease, he bound her hands and feet with a rope. The entire operation took but a few seconds — proof of their frightening coordination.
"Vis, what now?" Zhu Zhuyun asked through a soundless soul transmission.
"We find that useless master — Yu Xiaogang."
Without hesitation, Davis hefted the unconscious Xiao Wu over his shoulder and strode toward Yu Xiaogang's quarters. A faint light glowed through the window — he was still awake.
Inside, Yu Xiaogang sat hunched over a desk strewn with documents. His eyes were bloodshot, his expression weary, his soul weighed down by grief.
Since the annihilation of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan by Spirit Hall — and the death of his father, Yu Yuanzhen, under the hand of Qianjun Douluo — Yu Xiaogang had been broken. He had first been consumed by sorrow, then by rage so fierce it made him collapse.
After being nursed back to health by Liu Erlong and Flender, he swore an oath — that he would one day make Spirit Hall vanish from the face of the world, no matter the cost.
From that day forward, he immersed himself in soul research, burning away his mind and body. The only thing that sustained him was the hope that Tang San would soon return.
Though he often said, "There are no useless martial souls, only useless soul masters," deep down, he knew the bitter truth — he was that useless soul master.
He had no strength to take revenge himself. Only once Tang San ascended to godhood could that vengeance truly be achieved.
Then—
Bang!
The door slammed open, and Yu Xiaogang turned sharply, startled. Two masked figures stood before him — one of them carrying the unconscious Xiao Wu.
Enemies!
"Who are you?! Put Xiao Wu down!" he shouted.
Davis remained silent. Zhu Zhuyun, however, vanished in a flash, reappearing beside Yu Xiaogang. Her third soul ring flared, and a crimson gleam flickered in her eyes.
"Third Soul Skill — Nether Spring Descent! Sink into my illusion!"
The technique was a powerful hallucinatory attack, dragging the target into a nightmare realm. In the original story, Zhu Zhuqing herself had suffered terribly under this same move.
Though merely her third skill, it was more than enough — Yu Xiaogang was only a Rank Twenty-Nine Grandmaster. Controlling him was child's play.
The instant their eyes met, Yu Xiaogang's will shattered. His pupils dulled, his mind went blank, his body turned rigid — now nothing more than a puppet under Zhu Zhuyun's control.
"Vis, it's done. You can ask your questions now…"
But before she could finish—
Boom!
Both walls exploded inward simultaneously. Dust and shards filled the air as two figures stormed in — Liu Erlong and Flender.
"Get out of here!"
Liu Erlong roared, flames blazing around her as her punch forced Zhu Zhuyun back. When she spotted Xiao Wu slung over Davis's shoulder, her fury erupted like a dragon's roar.
"You bastards! You dare lay hands on my daughter? Put her down right now — and maybe I'll leave you a whole corpse to bury!"
"Humph." Davis sneered coldly. "I hadn't planned to deal with you two… but since you've seen us, I can't let you live. After all, only the dead can keep secrets. My apologies."
Soul Bone Skill — Gravity Swamp!
In an instant, both Liu Erlong and Flender felt their bodies grow unbearably heavy. Even in their Martial Soul possession states, they couldn't move. Lifting a single finger became impossible.
They didn't realize that the gravity crushing them was thirty times normal. Davis could not only alter its strength but also its direction — from all sides at once, their organs ruptured and blood streamed from every orifice.
It was a living nightmare — not torn apart, but crushed inward.
Davis stepped forward, dark-gold light flashing across his claws — Darkgold Terrorclaws!
A swift motion, two slashes — blood sprayed across the floor. Liu Erlong and Flender collapsed lifeless, their throats torn open.
Only then did Davis turn back toward Yu Xiaogang.
"Three years ago," he demanded, "why did you go to the Pope's Palace?"
"…To witness the battle between Bibi Dong and the Clear Sky Douluo," Yu Xiaogang answered dully, "and to analyze a method to overcome the drawbacks of twin spirits."
Davis's eyes narrowed. "How did you know Tang Hao would attack the Pope's Palace?"
"Because… I was the one who advised him to."
Yu Xiaogang confessed everything — how he had convinced Tang Hao to strike Spirit City, hoping to uncover the secret behind twin spirits.
"Hmph! So it was you — you're the root of it all!" Zhu Zhuyun snarled. "If that worthless fool hadn't provoked the Clear Sky Douluo, Spirit Hall would've had no excuse to attack the Clear Sky Sect. The Fifth and Sixth Elders wouldn't have died… and Sister Yuehua wouldn't have had to grieve!"
(End of Chapter)