Lin Xiao was no stranger to this kind of silent, imperceptible influence over others—it was a technique he was quite familiar with.
"Teacher?"
Lin Xiao's gaze swept through the air, and a figure slowly emerged.
"Heh, it's no surprise you've been by my side for so many years. You recognized my methods with a single glance," a hoarse voice echoed through the forest, and Nightmare Douluo's form gradually appeared before Lin Xiao.
"Why is the Teacher here? Is this matter so important that it requires your personal intervention?" Lin Xiao narrowed his eyes, quickly composing his expression.
"This matter does require my involvement, but not the one you're investigating," Nightmare Douluo said, slowly removing the hood of his cloak to reveal a gaunt face.
"Lin Xiao, as a Holy Envoy of the cult, are you willing to dedicate everything to the Holy Cult?"
"Of course, this disciple is willing," Lin Xiao replied without hesitation, clasping his fists.
"Haha, good. I don't doubt your loyalty to the Holy Cult. Come forward, then," Nightmare Douluo beckoned, his dull gray eyes fixed intently on Lin Xiao's expression.
"Tap—tap—"
Lin Xiao's steps were slow. Just as he was about to reach Nightmare Douluo, a pair of withered hands emerged from beneath the cloak, striking toward Lin Xiao's chest.
His foot paused, then stomped heavily on the ground. With the glow of his soul tool thruster, Lin Xiao's body shot backward a great distance.
"Teacher, what is the meaning of this?"
"Hahaha!" Nightmare Douluo let out a loud laugh. "It's rare that you still call me Teacher. Didn't you say you'd dedicate everything to the Holy Cult? Why hesitate now?"
Seeing Lin Xiao remain silent, Nightmare Douluo continued, "There's one thing I'm quite curious about. I've been in the Holy Cult for decades, but you're the first I've seen to escape the brainwashing control of the Spirit Ascension Ceremony. My dear disciple, care to tell your teacher how you managed it?"
Lin Xiao's gaze toward Nightmare Douluo sharpened. Ever since undergoing the Spirit Ascension Ceremony, he had sensed a shift in the Holy Cult's attitude toward him. How had Nightmare Douluo come to this conclusion, and how many others knew?
"Hahaha," Nightmare Douluo laughed again, seemingly reading the doubt in Lin Xiao's mind. "My dear disciple, the others in the cult may not understand, but having raised you for over a decade, how could I not know?"
There was a hint of anger in Nightmare Douluo's gaze as he looked at Lin Xiao. "You've never been like a Holy Cult disciple! My dear disciple, do you know how many evil soul masters would envy and covet your talent—the ability to grow stronger by witnessing death!"
"If I had your ability, this continent would already be filled with countless lands of desolation. At your age, I would've long become a Titled Douluo. Yet you, you meditate step-by-step like those ordinary soul masters, wasting your talent, my disciple!"
Nightmare Douluo's breathing grew rapid, his already hoarse voice tinged with an eerie tone.
"I know you've never liked killing, but I don't mind. However, every disciple who undergoes the Spirit Ascension Ceremony undergoes some personality change, be it cruelty or malice. It's an inevitable result of the Holy Emperor's baptism."
"But you, my dear disciple, your obedience remains as it always was. And it's exactly that obedience that makes it impossible for me to believe you were truly affected by that baptism."
Lin Xiao's expression darkened as he listened to Nightmare Douluo's words. The Holy Cult's members rarely questioned the effectiveness of the Spirit Ascension Ceremony, and Nightmare Douluo had no concrete evidence.
But Nightmare Douluo knew him too well. Over the years, though there wasn't much teacher-disciple affection, just as Lin Xiao could recognize Nightmare Douluo's methods at a glance, Nightmare Douluo could notice details about him that others overlooked.
"So you deliberately summoned me here to clean house?"
"How could that be?" Nightmare Douluo said, leaning slightly forward. "As your teacher, no matter what you've done, I would forgive you."
"Whether it's your dislike of killing or your evasion of the brainwashing, I don't mind. In my eyes, you are a rare, unpolished gem. Your body, your talent—these are what I value most."
Looking into Nightmare Douluo's eyes, a chill ran through Lin Xiao's heart. He now understood exactly what Nightmare Douluo was after.
Meanwhile, Nightmare Douluo continued speaking as if to himself. "This place is the resting ground I carefully selected for you. You must have heard the legends just now. After your death, perhaps your consciousness can linger by the side of the deity."
"Teacher, aren't you afraid the Leader will hold you accountable for this?" Lin Xiao's eyes flickered.
"Haha, of course I'm afraid. Ever since you underwent the Spirit Ascension Ceremony, you've been an official disciple of the cult. Even as an elder, I can't act against you lightly. But when did I ever say you'd die by my hand?"
"In the eyes of the Leader and everyone else, I've already set out for the three empires on a mission, and you are still out training."
Lin Xiao, hearing Nightmare Douluo's words, fully understood.
Why had he suddenly assigned such a task and had two cult disciples accompany him? Because once those two disciples died, no one else would know he had returned. Even if his prolonged absence raised questions, the traces left here would likely be attributed to the deity's punishment from the legends.
"Sigh, you're so obedient, thorough, and reliable. Originally, I didn't want to act so soon," Nightmare Douluo said with a feigned sigh. "And your cultivation is still too low, far from Titled Douluo. It would've taken me considerable effort afterward."
"But since you returned this time, your gaze made even me feel afraid," Nightmare Douluo paused. "And that's a hundred-thousand-year soul ring. To obtain a hundred-thousand-year soul ring at just seventy levels—a feat even I haven't achieved—I feared waiting any longer might bring unforeseen consequences."
"And now is the perfect opportunity. I'm about to head to the three empires, and even if I'm gone for years, no one will suspect anything. With your talent, that time is more than enough for me to return to Titled Douluo status or even aim for a higher realm."
Nightmare Douluo's voice grew lower, his gaze colder, like a beast that had lurked by Lin Xiao's side for years, finally baring its fangs.
"So, my dear disciple, don't blame your teacher for being heartless—"
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Here are the chapters for today (づ￣3￣)づ╭～
"Don't forget there are 40 early chapters available on Patreon
[email protected]/facficmax10