Soon, Lin Xiao stood beside the blood pool, watching Nana, who had already entered the pool and was showing signs of pain on her face.
The soul beast blood in the pool continuously drilled into her body, and the six soul rings around her, two yellow, two purple, two black, were involuntarily released just like his had been back then.
Standing nearby, Lin Xiao could more clearly see what the entire Spirit Ascension Ceremony process actually was.
Raising the soul ring age limit, splitting the soul, and brainwashing were all three steps concentrated within the Spirit Ascension Ceremony.
Using the power of soul beasts to increase soul ring years, using a method similar to necromancy to split the soul, and then using the pain endured during this process to carry out brainwashing.
Each link was tightly interlocked, all engraved into the statue through some special method like a formation array. It only required the activation of soul beast blood, and no other soul master needed to intervene to complete the entire process.
It was unknown how long the Holy Spirit Cult had possessed Electrolux's divine sense fragment. Although they hadn't fully comprehended Electrolux's necromancy, being able to design such a complete process based on it was definitely not something an ordinary soul master could achieve.
As the Spirit Ascension Ceremony continued, the statue of the Holy Emperor emitted a layer of dim gray light. Lin Xiao subconsciously glanced back at the door, then took a small step forward.
Absorbing a divine sense fragment was not something that could be completed in an instant. He didn't know if Long Xiaoyao was still paying attention to this place, so matters concerning the divine sense fragment would have to wait for another opportunity.
However, since this was derived from necromancy after all, making some small moves was still possible.
His lips moved slightly, and almost inaudible incantations flowed from Lin Xiao's mouth. Nana's complexion in the blood pool visibly improved a little.
Holy Spirit Cult headquarters.
Long Xiaoyao's figure appeared in the passageway. The stone chamber door beside him had already disappeared without a trace.
He raised his right hand. That already somewhat withered arm was now covered in wrinkles, and several age spots that only appeared on the elderly could be seen on the skin.
Long Xiaoyao looked at his right arm that trembled slightly out of control and let out a long sigh.
Although he had several methods to avoid Lin Xiao's earlier palm strike, to test Lin Xiao's true strength, he had chosen to meet it head-on. Only afterward did he realize that he had been somewhat careless.
He also possessed two hundred-thousand-year soul rings and had a certain understanding of the power of hundred-thousand-year soul skills. Therefore, he could be sure that the soul skill Lin Xiao had just used was definitely not something an ordinary hundred-thousand-year soul ring could produce.
Although it appeared that he had the upper hand, that was merely because his soul power rank greatly surpassed Lin Xiao's. In reality, when dealing with the death power contained in Lin Xiao's soul skill, he hadn't gained much of an advantage.
He did not doubt that if the person who fought Lin Xiao today had not been him, even a Super Douluo would likely not have been able to leave unscathed if they had been careless.
While he was deep in thought, Long Xiaoyao suddenly sensed something. He quickly tucked his right hand back into his sleeve. Soon after, another figure appeared beside him.
"Why did you come?" Long Xiaoyao looked at the person in front of him and spoke softly.
Although the person was completely shrouded in a dark red cloak, Long Xiaoyao seemed to be able to see the person's appearance beneath the wide cloak. His expression immediately became much gentler.
"I need to go out for a while," came a female voice from under the cloak. The voice sounded very hoarse. In the Holy Spirit Cult, there was only one woman who could make Long Xiaoyao show such concern, and that was the Supreme Pontiff of the Holy Spirit Cult, Ye Xishui.
"Where are you going?"
"To Mingdu," Ye Xishui seemed to dislike speaking much and simply replied with one sentence.
"Is it because of the matters with the Sun Moon Empire?" Long Xiaoyao had long grown accustomed to this manner of conversation.
Ye Xishui did not speak, only nodded slightly.
"What are you going to do? Let me go in your place later."
Upon hearing this, Ye Xishui finally raised her head slightly to look at Long Xiaoyao. "Alright."
Without any extra words and without telling Long Xiaoyao exactly what the matter was, Ye Xishui simply agreed. Then she turned and left, leaving only Long Xiaoyao standing in the passageway watching her departing figure.
"Sigh..." Long Xiaoyao let out a soft sigh, seemingly talking to himself, "I just don't want to see you commit any more killing sins. I am the one who has let you down. If someone must bear the guilt and sin, then let me do it for you."
It was unknown whether Ye Xishui had heard Long Xiaoyao's words. She simply left without looking back. Long Xiaoyao did not pursue the matter further. With his strength and position, there would naturally be people in Mingdu who would inform him of what needed to be done...
"Greetings, Cult Master."
At the Holy Spirit Cult stronghold in Mingdu, Zhongli Wu looked at Feng Ling and several elders seated on both sides. His gaze swept across the Dark Lightning Douluo.
"Still no news from Old Eight?"
"Reporting to the Cult Master, Old Eight has already returned," the Dark Lightning Douluo quickly stood up. "However, yesterday he brought a Holy Servant back to the headquarters to undergo the Spirit Ascension Ceremony."
"Mm." Zhongli Wu nodded lightly. "When he returns, tell him about the matters here."
"Yes."
Zhongli Wu did not linger on the subject of Lin Xiao's whereabouts for long. Looking at the people before him, a trace of a smile finally appeared on his face.
"In these past few days, while I was in the palace, His Highness has already appointed our Holy Cult as the State Religion of the Sun Moon Empire."
"Everyone present holds an official position in the court."
As his words fell, several elders exchanged glances, and subtle changes appeared in their eyes. What they valued was not the positions themselves, but rather that from this day forward, they would no longer be evil soul masters who were hunted and reviled by everyone.
No one wanted to live carrying the reputation of being despised and hunted everywhere. The Holy Spirit Cult had grown to its current scale not only because evil soul masters banded together for survival, but also because many of them shared Zhongli Wu's seemingly impossible goal.
But now, they could truly appear in public under the light of day.
In the beginning, they had made a deal with Xu Jing and his son to help them usurp the throne, yet they never expected that Xu Jing would still remain wary of them. Fortunately, after Xu Tianran was assassinated, to consolidate his position, he had to cooperate with them once again, which led to today's achievement.
"Very well." Zhongli Wu raised his hand slightly. "You should already know about the matter of the Great War. Today I summoned you here for one more thing."
"His Highness has made arrangements. When the Great War begins, you may lead the disciples to follow the army onto the battlefield as members of the State Religion. The battlefield is chaotic. I will no longer restrict you."
"However, remember: do not disobey military orders. Our goals do not conflict with His Highness's. Merely the Sun Moon Continent is far from enough."
"Yes." The elders nodded repeatedly.
"Additionally, when the competition begins, follow the army and block all participating teams attempting to leave Mingdu."
"Cult Master, there is also the Soul Guidance Device Tournament in Mingdu. I'm afraid..." The Dark Lightning Douluo showed a trace of difficulty on his face.
"That's why I am giving you and Old Eight the western side, the easiest one."
"The western side..." The Dark Lightning Douluo seemed to understand something and nodded in comprehension.
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