Douluo Dalu 3: Legend of the White Fox

"I still want to try!"

Gu Yue's voice was soft but firm.

As the leader of soul beasts, she had no way to save the souls of those soul beasts sealed by the Spirit Pagoda, nor could she free the ones kept captive by them.

Other than watching helplessly, the only thing she could do now was to experience the pain they had suffered.

"No way!" Leng Yaozhu refused again.

What kind of joke was this?

Even five-ring and six-ring Soul Masters had to start by adapting to dying inside the Ascension Platform before slowly progressing step by step.

Just the process of getting used to it and preparing could take years for some Soul Masters.

Even so, some still couldn't withstand the realism of the experience and ended up in a brain-dead state.

And even if one did endure it, it would take months to fully recover.

Gu Yue was currently in her prime training period—how could Leng Yaozhu let her take such a risk?

"How about this? Wait until you break through to the fifth ring before considering it." Though still refusing, Leng Yaozhu softened slightly at Gu Yue's determined gaze.

With Gu Yue's talent, once she reached the fifth ring, her spiritual power would inevitably break through to the Spirit Abyss Realm. At that point, as long as she prepared well, there would be no need to worry about the risk of brain death.

Gu Yue nodded. She had indeed been a bit impulsive just now.

Looking at the Windrider Eagle and Seven-Colored Deer souls that had been resealed into the crystal ball, she took a deep breath and asked Leng Yaozhu solemnly, "Teacher, can people who aren't from the Spirit Pagoda experience this process?"

"Achoo…"

At that moment, on the highway to Heaven Dou City, Xia Yi sneezed involuntarily while traveling with Zi Ji.

Leng Yaozhu gave Gu Yue a strange look, then, after a moment, said sarcastically, "I should thank you on Xia Yi's behalf!"

Back when Leng Yaozhu was only a Soul King, she had personally undergone the simulated death and soul extraction process while attempting to convert a thousand-year soul beast into a soul spirit.

Although she survived it, it took her half a month to recover.

That experience was still fresh in her memory.

It was comparable to the top ten most unbearable tortures of the Federation.

Even now, with her four-word battle armor and Spirit Domain-level spiritual power, she never wanted to experience it again.

If not for the fact that it was a necessary step in converting thousand-year soul beast souls into soul spirits, no one would willingly endure that process.

Gu Yue was an exception—since she was a Spirit Transmitter, experiencing this process was essential for advancing her rank.

But Xia Yi? Not only was he not a Spirit Transmitter, but he wasn't even part of the Spirit Pagoda.

Yet Gu Yue had just casually suggested that he should go through the suffering as well.

Anyone overhearing this might think she had some deep-seated grudge against Xia Yi!

"I think if someone can gain enlightenment through this process and understand life and death, it could be greatly beneficial for future cultivation," Gu Yue explained awkwardly.

"No need to explain." Leng Yaozhu shook her head and said calmly, "The Spirit Pagoda has existed for ten thousand years, and countless Spirit Transmitters have experienced this process. I know better than you whether it leads to enlightenment."

Then she glanced at Gu Yue and continued, "Because this process is too cruel for ordinary Soul Masters, the Spirit Pagoda has a strict rule: no one can be forced to experience it. Even Spirit Transmitters must participate voluntarily—if they refuse, the Spirit Pagoda cannot compel them. However, if you can persuade Xia Yi to sign a voluntary agreement for this process, I can make an exception for you."

Gu Yue's eyes instantly lit up, and she quickly thanked Leng Yaozhu. "Thank you, Teacher!"

"Ah, poor Xia Yi—he really made the wrong friend." Leng Yaozhu couldn't help but feel a little sympathy for him.

Xia Yi wasn't the type to willingly suffer, so he wouldn't easily agree to go through such torment.

Gu Yue was so confident she could convince him…

There was only one possibility—tricking him.

But the thought of Xia Yi's furious reaction after being deceived into experiencing this suffering…

Leng Yaozhu's lips curved into an enchanting smile.

Xia Yi didn't seem like someone who would take a loss easily, but she was quite looking forward to seeing him get outplayed for once.

Gu Yue ignored Leng Yaozhu's remark.

She hadn't expected her normally stern and serious teacher, the ever-composed Heavenly Phoenix Douluo Leng Yaozhu, to learn how to mock people after meeting Xia Yi just once.

What she didn't know was that for the first time in years, Leng Yaozhu had finally found a lead on Leng Yulai, which had put her in an excellent mood and changed her mindset.

"Teacher, did the Sea God Pavilion meeting come up with any strategies against the evil Soul Masters?" Gu Yue suddenly asked.

At her question, the smile instantly vanished from Leng Yaozhu's face. She replied in a serious tone, "According to the Tang Sect's Battle Soul Hall, it has been confirmed that the evil Soul Master organization this time is none other than the revived Holy Spirit Cult. They still use the same name. As of now, neither the Tang Sect, Shrek Academy, the Spirit Pagoda, nor the Federation government knows the location of their headquarters. Because of this, the only option is to remain on the defensive. Even so, the Federation still demanded five percent of Shrek City's tax revenue from Shrek Academy."

"Five percent of Shrek City's tax revenue?" Gu Yue frowned. "Isn't Shrek Academy proud of being independent from the Federation? They consider it an honor. Given how much they value their honor, why would they agree to such a condition?"

"What choice do they have?" Leng Yaozhu shook her head. "If it weren't for the fact that Shrek Academy and the Tang Sect have their own people within the Federation government, plus the influence of Vast Sea Douluo Chen Xinjie, it wouldn't have been settled at just five percent."

In fact, the Federation had initially demanded fifty percent.

That number nearly made the top members of the Sea God Pavilion jump out of their seats.

It was only after intense negotiation that they brought it down to five percent.

"Ah…" Leng Yaozhu sighed softly. Just thinking about this matter gave her a headache.

She knew that what the Federation really wanted wasn't Shrek City's tax revenue—that was just an excuse.

Their true goal was to gradually erode Shrek City's independence.

"All the top powers of the Douluo Continent gathered together, and yet they still can't deal with the Holy Spirit Cult? That's a bit unbelievable," Gu Yue muttered, disappointment flashing in her beautiful eyes.

She had originally wanted to see how the continent's leaders would handle this matter…

It would have been a good opportunity to study her enemies in advance.

But she hadn't expected them to be completely at a loss.

"What's with that look? Are you disappointed in your teacher?" Leng Yaozhu asked unhappily. "It's not like there's no plan at all. After nearly two hours of discussion, a detailed strategy was formed. However, the details are classified. If any information leaks and the Holy Spirit Cult gets wind of it, the whole plan will be ruined. According to the agreement, no one can reveal anything—not even to their spouses and children. Anyone who leaks information will be treated as a collaborator with the Holy Spirit Cult."

Leng Yaozhu took a deep breath and continued, "The Holy Spirit Cult won't be unaware that a meeting took place. They'll try every means to uncover its contents. Since you're my student, they'll likely see you as a potential weak point. Not telling you is for your own safety."

"That means Xia Yi doesn't know either? Didn't he ask you?" Gu Yue asked curiously.

After all, the strategy to deal with the Holy Spirit Cult had been Xia Yi's idea.

She didn't believe he wouldn't be curious about how the continent's leaders responded.

"Him? He's sharp. He didn't even bring it up," Leng Yaozhu replied, shaking her head.

Xia Yi was well aware that his Dark Phoenix was already tied to the evil Soul Masters. If he pressed her for information about the meeting's strategy, Leng Yaozhu's first suspicion would fall on him if anything went wrong.

That was one of the things she admired about him. He might act carefree, but he was extremely meticulous.

He always knew what to say, what not to say, and even what he should or shouldn't know.

And in this case, he wasn't asking because he already knew—he had other sources.

After all, the Holy Spirit Cult had connections with the Spirit Pagoda and some members of the Federation government.

With the Dark Sovereign's methods, getting the meeting details wasn't difficult.

Xia Yi had no intention of taking the fall for it.

If he wanted answers, he'd ask the Dark Sovereign—why would he foolishly ask Leng Yaozhu?