In the original timeline, the Yuan En family was decimated, leaving the survivors bitter and broken. Now, thanks to Zhangting's intervention, the loss was primarily material. With the Spirit Pagoda providing financial compensation and a path to survival, the anger of the tribespeople was redirected from blood-feuds to the "Demon Plane."
The Golden Trio of the Spirit Pagoda
Zhangting watched the Yuan En Tiandang family prepare for their move. He knew exactly what he had gained:
The Father: Yuan En Tiandang. A prodigy who broke every historical record of the clan. A Spirit Douluo at twenty, he was a guaranteed future Quasi-God.
The Mother: Ye Hui. Her Fallen Angel spirit, now infused with the Purple-Gold Royal Bloodline, surpassed the legendary Holy Angel spirit of the Southern Legion. She was a prime candidate for Limit Douluo.
The Daughter: Yuan En Yehui. The prize Zhangting cherished most. A twin-spirit genius possessing both the Titan Giant Ape and the Fallen Angel.
Within decades, this family alone would represent "One School, Three Limits." By moving them into the heart of the Spirit Pagoda, Zhangting wasn't just taking hostages; he was raising the future pillars of his own empire.
The Seed of Loyalty
As they prepared to depart, Yuan En Tiandang approached Zhangting. The Super Douluo bowed his head to the nine-year-old boy, his eyes shining with a gratitude that bordered on reverence.
"Young Master Zhangting," Tiandang said, his voice thick with emotion. "You gave my family a future. You are our benefactor."
Zhangting accepted the thanks with the practiced grace of a seasoned politician. He knew that by saving Ye Hui, he had earned a loyalty that even the Spirit Pagoda's gold could never buy.
The Access Card and the Lollipop
In the quiet of the room where little Yuanen Yehui was waking up, Zhangting found himself once again holding the small girl. She was oblivious to the planar war that had nearly orphaned her, her only concern being the lack of candy.
"Brother Zhangting..." she mumbled, her chubby hands patting his pockets.
Zhangting chuckled and handed over another lollipop, but this time, he included something far more valuable: a bright silver access card tied to a silk thread.
"This is for my exclusive cultivation room at the Headquarters," Zhangting whispered as he hung it around her neck. "It's rich in heaven-and-earth energy. It will help you grow strong."
"Won't you have a room, Brother?" she asked, tilting her head.
"I travel. Good things should be used on the right people," he replied.
Behind them, the Second Aunt—saved by Zhangting's artillery fire—stepped forward to give Yehui a birthday gift. Beside her, the Second Uncle looked at Zhangting with a debt of gratitude he could never repay. Every key member of the Yuan En family now looked at Zhangting as their savior.
Chapter 39: The Prelude to the Bombing of Shrek Academy
The journey back to the Spirit Pagoda Headquarters was a victory lap. While Qian Gu Dongfeng stayed behind to manage the "Demon Harvest" and the extraction of resources from the 30,000 corpses, the rest of the team returned to the capital.
The Secret Room
That night, on the restricted top floor of the Spirit Pagoda Headquarters Building, a soft light flickered in a secluded chamber. This was a place where only the core decision-makers could tread.
Zhangting stood in the center of the room, looking at the city lights below. He had successfully diverted the Yuan En tragedy, recruited a future legion of Limit Douluos, and secured his status as a "Prophet" within his own family.
But the real challenge was just beginning. The Holy Spirit Cult was still lurking in the shadows, and Shrek Academy remained an obstacle to the Spirit Pagoda's total dominance.
Zhangting reached out and touched a map of the continent projected on the wall. His finger rested on the center of the map—Shrek City.
"The future has changed," he whispered to the empty room. "The Yuan En family won't be the ones to fall. But Shrek... Shrek still has a date with destiny. I just need to make sure the Spirit Pagoda is holding the match, and not the explosives."
In the silence of the room, the Divination Divine Artifact sat on a pedestal, its surface glowing with an eerie, prophetic light. The stage was set. The pieces were moved. The countdown to the era of the Spirit Pagoda had begun.
Next Chapter: The Council of Three — Zhangting's First Official Proposal.