Chapter 51: Xiadie's Recruitment

"That is not important, is it?" Xiadie's voice was tranquil and without a ripple.

Two soul rings, one purple and one red, pulsed, emitting a soul-captivating luster that complemented the sea of Anti-Spirit Flowers beneath their feet, adding a touch of eeriness.

"That is true," Zhang Peng was not annoyed.

Absorbing a soul ring is a Soul Master's own secret; there is no reason to tell others, let alone an enemy one has just fought.

Zhang Peng gazed into the distance and spoke again:

"If you want to kill me, there is no need to waste breath on a defeated soldier like me who has little soul power left. What is your goal?"

The young girl was incredibly mysterious, whether it was her soul rings, the Wang Xian'er beside her, or her ability to bestow a Domain upon others.

Aside from those who like to show off, no one would be so bored as to reveal these things so recklessly.

"Your Excellency, I was studying and cultivating in the Star Luo Empire. Your appearance caused these to vanish like bubbles and forced us to fall out with Shrek Academy, leaving us no choice but to depart from Xingluo Cheng."

"Your Excellency, shouldn't you be held responsible?" Xiadie said calmly.

"Then I can only say I am sorry." Zhang Peng shook his head. "Having lost to you, I, Zhang Peng, have nothing to say."

A level 97 Titled Douluo, plus a mysterious little girl—even if he wanted to run, he likely couldn't.

"Speaking of which, that massive spatial rift in the sky over Xingluo Cheng was caused by you, right? Even if it wasn't you, it is likely deeply connected to you."

"I am very clear that Senior Wang does not have this ability." After saying this, Zhang Peng glanced at Wang Xian'er.

The giant spatial rift in Xingluo Cheng and that extreme Death Attribute energy were clearly visible even to Zhang Peng as he fled Xingluo Cheng in a panic.

"Knowing too much leads to being silenced. What do you think?" Xiadie's tone remained without a ripple.

"Silenced?" Zhang Peng sneered. "Do you mean I can still survive?"

"These so-called righteous Soul Masters usually ask what they want to know, then kill to silence the witness."

"Or they come up with an excuse like 'I won't kill you, but that doesn't mean the person beside me won't'."

"I have seen too much of this in the soul world." Zhang Peng wore an expression of one who has seen it all.

"You staying alive is more beneficial to me," Xiadie said.

"Heh." Zhang Peng was noncommittal. "I know so much about you; are you at ease?"

"If I were in your shoes, I would not be at ease."

Xiadie's voice was calm: "Every life is worthy of respect; that is what I believe."

"Even an Evil Soul Master?" Zhang Peng sneered. "Has no one told you that you are hypocritical?"

"You have never devoured human flesh or blood, nor human souls," Xiadie said.

"That doesn't prove anything." Zhang Peng shook his head. "Humans are living beings, but are soul beasts not?"

"In the end, I am merely honoring a favor to someone, adjusting my bottom line based on my own stubborn obsession."

"That someone is Dragon God Douluo Mu En, right?"

Zhang Peng fell silent.

He did not ask how Xiadie knew, just as he did not ask why the other party could see that he had never devoured human flesh, blood, or souls.

"So, you are going to let me go?" Zhang Peng did not refute Xiadie's words.

"Serve me for ten years to compensate for disrupting our way of life this time," Xiadie said, her voice pausing. "After ten years, I will grant you your freedom. How about that?"

"Ten years..." Zhang Peng fell silent again.

"Are you unwilling?" Xiadie asked, though she was not in a hurry to urge him.

"You are willing to trust an Evil Soul Master?" Zhang Peng neither rejected nor affirmed. "You have many secrets on you. Do you know where I come from?"

"You are the Sixth Elder of the Holy Spirit Cult." Xiadie's voice paused. "This does not conflict with my recruiting you."

"But the Titled Douluo you killed just now—his soul told me that he came to kill you because of a Soul Master named Wuyun."

"Wuyun, it was him!" Zhang Peng's face turned angry.

Why, why would he want to kill him?

Wuyun is the Seventh Elder of the Holy Spirit Cult, and he is the Sixth Elder. Their relationship, while not necessarily close, was at least one where they could talk, a sort of shared misery.

He was forced to join the Holy Spirit Cult because of his martial soul, while that guy Wuyun, because his martial soul had a Dark Attribute, was hunted down, killed his pursuers, and then turned to the Holy Spirit Cult.

"Do you find it strange?" Xiadie tilted her head. "People's minds are very complex."

"What do you mean?" Zhang Peng frowned.

"An Evil Soul Master who is incomplete is not a complete Evil Soul Master."

"As fellow elders of the Holy Spirit Cult, when Wuyun sees you, it is like a drowning person grabbing someone who has not yet fully drowned; he thinks of himself."

"Your Excellency, human nature is just like that."

"You..."

Zhang Peng opened his mouth, speechless.

Xiadie was silent for a moment, then continued:

"In his eyes, your obsession is what makes you an incomplete Evil Soul Master."

"The Hatred Douluo came to kill you perhaps out of his own ideas, but more likely, it was because Wuyun Douluo wanted to prove something."

"This is just my guess."

"Hoo—"

Zhang Peng clearly also thought of the similarities and differences between Wuyun and himself, and sighed.

"Little girl, you are very special."

"No wonder you can control the extreme Death Attribute, seeing through me as you do."

"I can agree to serve you for ten years, but I owe the Cult Master a favor from before. Do you understand what I mean?"

"A Saintess belonging to the Holy Spirit Cult?" Xiadie spoke.

"You know?" Zhang Peng sighed. "This is also why I discovered you were taking action."

"Originally, I would not have stepped out of the Holy Spirit Cult, because Mu En has yet to die."

"However, with your ability, I presume you wouldn't want to be some kind of Saintess," Zhang Peng shrugged, "I am willing to serve you for ten years, but I must repay the favor I owe him; this is my principle."

"A Saintess of the Holy Spirit Cult?" Xiadie nodded in thought.

"Xiadie..."

Wang Xian'er stopped mid-sentence.

"Your Excellency Medical Immortal," Xiadie waved her hand,

"I once saw a girl in the Star Dou Great Forest who possessed the Devouring and Dark Attribute; her name is Tang Ya, and she is the current Sect Master of the Tang Sect."

"She is currently studying at Shrek Academy, and her martial soul is the unawakened Dark Blue Silver Grass."

"Your Holy Spirit Cult can recruit her; as long as you help her take revenge at the right time, you might obtain a perfect candidate for Saintess."

"Regarding information about her, you can have the Holy Spirit Cult investigate it."

"As for what to do, I presume the cult leader you wish to repay has already made a decision."

"Dark Blue Silver Grass, Tang Ya, I have remembered it." Zhang Peng secretly noted the name.

"Alright." Xiadie clapped her hands lightly, signaling for Zhang Peng to return to his senses.

Watching Xiadie approach, Zhang Peng instinctively leaned back and pulled his collar up.

"Y-you, what are you doing?"

"You know too much; to avoid trouble, I need to place a restriction on you, Your Excellency."

As Xiadie spoke, her tone softened slightly, "If you are unwilling, I do not like to force people."

"You may choose the second option: I wish for you to walk with death."

Zhang Peng: "..."

Either let me place a restriction on you, or die here; as if I have a choice.

People like this who smile while sending others to their afterlife are the most, most, most, most dangerous.