"Have you managed to contact Da Ming and Er Ming yet?"
Seagod Pavilion.
Within the ancient golden tree.
Tang Hao revealed his true form, looking frustrated and exasperated.
"According to our investigation, it seems we've gotten in touch with them…" Yun Ming lowered his head, fighting back laughter, afraid that if he looked up again at the scratch marks on Tang Hao's rather disheveled face and Senior Ah Yin's red, teary eyes, he wouldn't be able to hold in his chuckles.
He couldn't help it; it was just too darkly funny.
His sense of decency and comedic impulse were at war.
"So why haven't they come to find us? As I recall, before Xiao San (Tang San) left, he specifically told them that if they were going to infiltrate the Silver Dragon King as spies, they must first come to the ancient golden tree to report in," Tang Hao frowned, visibly dissatisfied.
"Senior, here is a letter they sent. I checked the soul guidance surveillance; not long ago, they sent a soul beast near Shrek's entrance, but our guards mistook it as an enemy soul beast and drove it away. That's why their message was only found in an old, forgotten mailbox. We'll have to wait for their next reply to contact them again…" Yun Ming patiently explained. "Their letter didn't expose their location."
Old-fashioned letters had long been replaced by soul communicator devices, so it was only by chance that Yun Ming thought to open the neglected Shrek mailbox and found it...
But this also proved that Da Ming and Er Ming had truly been detached from the world for too long—still using such primitive communication.
"So cautious?" Tang Hao snorted.
"If you didn't know better, you'd think we're their enemies."
"This kind of caution is justified…" Ah Yin interjected in a mild tone. "Now that everything's in flux, with that person still watching closely, if our thousand-year plan is exposed, Da Ming and Er Ming would be in grave danger."
"There's something else," Yun Ming hesitated, "Zang Xin sent a letter… saying he's placed his trust in Shrek once more. Now, with a group of hallmasters, he's infiltrating the Sun Moon Empire Federal Headquarters to steal the Level-12 Soul Guidance Cannon and the key to the Eternal Heaven."
"…"
Tang Hao nodded and waved his hand, indicating dismissal.
Seeing this, Yun Ming quickly vanished.
With Yun Ming gone, Ah Yin's tone softened a little, "Ah Hao, you're the only one in my heart in this life. Even your brother Tang Xiao is now just a pile of bones… What more could you want?"
"I'm just being too uptight." Tang Hao sighed deeply, his gaze affectionate across from him. "Don't worry, Ah Yin. I've never doubted you, not for a moment…"
"Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud."
Su Wen weighed Tang San's treasured artifact in his palm and smiled even wider.
Of course, before leaving, he'd also teased the "plastic couple" for a bit—amusing himself thoroughly.
"Master…"
Inside the sea of consciousness, Ah Yin's tone was resentful, even though she had become Su Wen's pet beast and regained her human form, most of her memories were still gone. All she felt for Tang Hao now was deep aversion—but what she'd just done still felt embarrassing.
Yes, it was this Ah Yin who had cooperated with Su Wen just now, not the other Ah Yin.
After all, in the timeline ten thousand years ago, Ah Yin had completely mastered the ancient golden tree, nearly reaching the power of a god. To merely manipulate the tree was no difficult task.
And coincidentally, both Ah Yins were now present, indistinguishable.
Even if the earlier Ah Yin's bloodline had evolved and fused with the ancient golden tree, the "real" Ah Yin didn't notice the difference—she even began doubting herself…
"Heh…" Su Wen was a bit awkward.
"Master, will you merge this timeline into the main body too?" Ah Yin didn't press the point, but asked gently.
"I will," Su Wen nodded.
The timeline from ten thousand years ago had already merged with the main (Douluo 2) timeline. Now, after crossing to this era severed by the God of Time and Space, it wasn't just about capturing rare soul beasts—it was for integrating it into the main line (the Douluo 2 era).
In effect, the channel between the present and mainline had been cut off, but once ready, he'd "open the floodgates," completing the full merge.
"I want to devour the golden ancient tree," Ah Yin said seriously.
"Devour?" Su Wen was taken aback.
"Yes. When you merge this timeline with the main body, only if I devour the golden ancient tree will I be unaffected—or rather, after merging, the 'main' me will be even stronger."
"You're really that harsh on yourself?" Su Wen laughed in surprise.
"I just want to devour my past self…" Ah Yin said softly. "Watching her wander in front of me every second is a humiliation—a constant reminder of what I can never forget…"
"Fine," Su Wen pondered, then nodded.
"But Tang Hao is still here… Let's wait a bit longer."
Once "Little Bullet" arrives, Shrek City will be quiet.
When the golden ancient tree pretends to be dead from exhaustion, having expended most of its energy, that will be the best time to act.
However…
He'd better think of how to protect the neighboring Spirit Pagoda Academy…
Forget it.
Might as well go and see Qiangu Dongfeng.
After all, he wasn't a god, and protecting the whole academy would be too taxing. Better let Qiangu Dongfeng move the academy to somewhere safer.
He understood Qiangu Dongfeng's intentions; this was a way to avoid arousing suspicion.
After all, launching a missile at your "own people" would be universally scorned. But if he was attacked too, and the culprit was the Holy Spirit Cult, suspicion would be lessened.
As for whether Shrek gets blown up or not, Su Wen didn't care.
But the students and teachers of the new Spirit Pagoda Academy did not deserve to be collateral damage, even involuntarily…
Federal Spirit Pagoda Academy — Headquarters
The old site of the Spirit Pagoda, at the tower's highest level, Qiangu Dongfeng stood before the floor-to-ceiling windows, overlooking the new academy buildings, deep in thought.
Transformation was never easy.
They'd abandoned their previous advantages, and with soul spirits having once brought immense profit and strategic significance, now their status was awkward. If not for their accumulated fortune, he wouldn't even be able to pay the vast staff salaries.
No wonder powerful sects in the past preferred to go into hiding.
The so-called number-one sect, yet its disciples lived bleakly. Without resorting to robbery or arms-dealing, they simply couldn't survive…
"Sigh…"
"What's difficult?"
Qiangu Dongfeng almost replied automatically, but his pupils shrank as he turned—seeing a snowy-white figure lounging on the sofa, pouring tea, smiling at him as if silently asking what was so hard.
When did he—
"Phew…"
Qiangu Dongfeng took a deep breath. He didn't know why this force had come, but he replied honestly.
"The Spirit Transmission Pagoda's maintenance costs have been high these years. With over a million adherents and worshipers, if we just depend on our old fortune, it'll soon be exhausted. Yet the academy's profits don't even cover a tenth of the deficit."
"Although the Spirit Transmission Pagoda 'imprisons' soul beasts, at least they go to a secret world akin to the Star Dou Great Forest—and now, if the Pagoda disappears, humanity would have to hunt soul beasts in the Star Dou Forest once again…"
Qiangu Dongfeng did his best to sound neutral.
Seeing the other remain silent, he grew anxious, fearing he'd angered them. He should have been more cautious…
But then—
"You're right," Su Wen nodded calmly. "Without soul rings, humanity will eventually invade the Star Dou Great Forest again. So-called peace between humans and soul beasts is an illusion, it will inevitably be broken."
"You…" Qiangu Dongfeng lit up.
"I'm here for that very matter." Su Wen smiled. "I control several small worlds, with soul beast populations many times greater than the Star Dou. Humans can make contracts with them—but on one condition."
Qiangu Dongfeng's mind reeled—several entire worlds…
And these were not empty, barren planes, either.
He was utterly stunned by the scale of the news; it would take time to process.
"No matter the condition, I have no reason or right to refuse. Please speak," Qiangu Dongfeng managed.
"We must change the contract method—it will become beast taming." Su Wen smiled.
In his palm, a white Pokéball floated up and down.
That is, in future, affinity will be the most important factor in contracts. Only with enough positive "affinity" will a spirit choose to form a contract.
This was similar to the method used by Long Haochen in another world.
And with access to multiple Pokéball worlds, Su Wen's true body would grow even stronger.
"…You trust me so much?" Qiangu Dongfeng took a deep breath.
"Leave professional work to the professionals." Su Wen smiled.
"I can grant you passage permissions. I don't need payment, just strict adherence to my system…"
"My trust—only comes once."
"Water, fire, thunder, wind, ice, darkness, life…"
"Seven attribute-specific small world portals!!"
Qiangu Dongfeng stared feverishly at the "key" in his hand. He understood—this was not just a key to new worlds, but a key to the future glory of the Spirit Transmission Pagoda.
Beep beep~
He pressed his subordinate communicator.
"Let's go! Bring every repairman you have. We need to build a two-world teleportation device, different from the Ascension Platform! Three minutes to my office!"
Spirit Transmission Pagoda Official Website Announcement—
"Still troubled about obtaining soul spirits? Frustrated with advancement bottlenecks? Come to the Spirit Transmission Pagoda! Soul spirits are a thing of the past—our newest feature is… Pokéballs!!"
"Become the strongest Beast Tamer, just like… Him—"
Yuanen Yehui stared at a photo on the homepage, enlarging it with her fingers as her eyes glazed over.
Countless powerful pets surrounded the man in the photo; soul beasts of all attributes fought back against swarms of abysmal creatures. The skies themselves had been divided; the scene was blood-pumping and passionate.
It was a photo stealthily snapped by En Ci as a "live broadcast".
She'd posted it to the chat, only for Qiangu Dongfeng to shamelessly steal and use it on the website—without even paying royalties.
"Wait… Isn't that—" The girl twitched her mouth. That was him! The boss!
The very same figure who had stirred up a huge sensation on the federal network was… her own boss?!!
In fact, she didn't feel shocked—more a sense of the puzzle pieces falling into place, a mysterious veil lifting, joyful as drawing the grand prize.
Given his displays, she'd already guessed Su Wen's identity was extraordinary.
Ride on Ditian, accompanied by the Dragon God…
Good grief, with Beast Tamers, anything is possible.
"Nice shot. Pity I wasn't there…" Gu Yue came over with a popsicle, expressionless.
"Daddy is so cool," Na'er gushed as always.
They—and the whole New Class—were now enthusiastically discussing Beast Tamers.
It was certain to be the hottest new profession for years to come—even Mecha Masters might be left in the dust.
"Can beast-taming fully replace soul spirits?"
"It should be possible…"
"My dad's from the Spirit Transmission Pagoda, a senior spirit transmitter…" A fat boy proudly declared. "The new beast-taming system is definitely meant to replace soul spirits; there are huge powers involved behind the scenes. Not that you'd understand anyway."
"Still, most of what's on the official site is true, and they haven't revealed everything…"
"In future, the focus must be on improving Beast Tamers' synergy with their pets—not just soul power, but their affinity. Pets can share cultivation, maybe even return attributes to their humans. Maybe in tournaments, two humans support from the back while their pets do all the fighting…"
"He's right. That matches what He said." Gu Yue sucked her ice-cream, expression bland.
"Wonder when it'll go mainstream…" Yuanen Yehui somehow felt her mood lift.
Tap tap tap~
Footsteps sounded.
A gentle-looking middle-aged woman in glasses walked onto the podium, "I'm sure you've all heard of the Spirit Transmission Pagoda's latest announcement."
"That's right; as a directly affiliated academy, we get priority access. The Pagoda has internally tested dozens of times, confirmed everything is safe. Today, everyone gets to enter the spirit world and capture a spirit…"
"Woooooo!!!"
The cheers almost raised the roof.
With Su Wen as precedent, the world had already seen just how powerful Beast Tamers could be.
Mu Ling smiled and signaled for quiet.
"In a moment, you can collect your Pokéballs from me. Anyone at Soul Exalt level or higher can take a thousand-year purple Pokéball; Soul Masters can take yellow ones."
"This afternoon, the academy will organize a trip to the Pagoda headquarters—please line up in order later…"
...