Mingdu, top-floor office of the Federal Parliament Building.
Fang Yang stood before the panoramic floor-to-ceiling window, overlooking this spirit-guided technology capital.
On the crisscrossing aerial tracks, maglev trains shuttled like silver shuttles, drawing streams of light.
"Gu Yue."
Fang Yang turned around, his gaze falling upon Gu Yuena who stood quietly at the side, "Next, you and Teacher will take control of the Spirit Pagoda together."
Gu Yuena furrowed her brow slightly: "Then... will they agree?"
"They even gave me the position of Federal Speaker. Why would they care about a Spirit Pagoda?"
Fang Yang shook his head lightly, "The Spirit Pagoda controls the lifeblood of spirit souls. It must be held in our hands."
"Alright, I understand." Upon hearing this, Gu Yuena nodded slightly.
"Enter."
Fang Yang spoke in a deep voice.
The office door opened in response. A subordinate in a deep blue uniform walked in quickly, bowing in salute: "Lord Speaker, what are your orders?"
"Release the information that the Qiangu Family of the Spirit Pagoda has colluded with the Holy Spirit Cult and betrayed the Sun-Moon Federation."
Fang Yang took out a spirit-guided storage device. This was evidence that Xu Jinghuang had previously given him, "Now place all members of the Qiangu Family under comprehensive surveillance."
The subordinate received the spirit-guided storage device with both hands: "Yes, Lord Speaker."
Fang Yang looked at Gu Yuena: "Now we just wait for the matter of the Spirit Pagoda to ferment."
"Alright."
Gu Yuena nodded, a flash of cold light passing through her eyes.
Three days later, the Sun-Moon Federation announced evidence of the Qiangu Family of the Spirit Pagoda colluding with the Holy Spirit Cult, shaking the entire Douluo Continent.
This shocking news rapidly spread across the spirit-guided network.
It turned out that the evil soul master attacks targeting the Tang Sect and Shrek Academy, causing the deaths of tens of millions of soul masters and ordinary people—
The mastermind behind it all was actually the Qiangu Family that controlled the Spirit Pagoda!
For a time, public sentiment was inflamed.
From the streets and alleys of Mingdu to various cities, angry denunciations rose one after another.
The once high and mighty Qiangu Family became the target of public criticism overnight.
Spirit Pagoda headquarters, Heavenly Spirit Pagoda.
Qiangu Dongfeng stood in his office with a gloomy expression, crushing the spirit-guided communicator in his hand to pieces.
He never imagined that evidence that should have remained buried forever would be made public.
"Grandfather..."
Qiangu Zhangting walked quickly into the office, his face filled with anxiety.
"Zhangting, you've come."
Qiangu Dongfeng stood before the window, looking down at the streets below that had already been sealed off by Federal special agents, his voice unusually calm.
"Grandfather, what should our Qiangu Family do now?" Qiangu Zhangting asked urgently.
"We can't leave."
Qiangu Dongfeng slowly turned around, a trace of bitterness on his face, "With the information released by the Sun-Moon Federation, our entire Qiangu lineage is now under comprehensive surveillance."
"Every exit is sealed off, and detection spirit-guided devices fill the sky above and underground."
He walked to his desk and slowly sat down, "I underestimated that Fang Yang."
"I never expected that he would dare to move against the Spirit Pagoda right after taking office. Even more unexpected was that Xu Jinghuang actually left such conclusive evidence."
Qiangu Zhangting's face turned pale: "Grandfather, are we just going to sit here waiting for death?"
"No."
A flash of ruthlessness passed through Qiangu Dongfeng's eyes, "Since they won't give us a way to live, don't blame us for fighting to the bitter end."
"Grandfather, then we—?" Qiangu Zhangting began to ask.
Qiangu Dongfeng spoke in a deep voice: "Contact the Holy Spirit Cult. Together, we will strike at the Sun-Moon Federation."
"But Grandfather, we..." Qiangu Zhangting hesitated to speak.
"We have no path of retreat left."
Qiangu Dongfeng stated decisively, "Since they won't leave us a way to survive, then we'll fight our way out."
"Good, worthy of being a fine son of my Qiangu Family." An aged voice rang out.
Qiangu Dieting pushed open the door and entered.
This Heaven War Douluo who had been in closed-door cultivation for many years, though his hair and beard were all white, had brilliant light flashing in his eyes, and a powerful aura emanated from his body.
"Father, you've emerged from closed-door cultivation?" Qiangu Dongfeng hurriedly stood up.
Qiangu Dieting nodded slightly, "At such a critical moment, how could I continue in closed-door cultivation?"
"Dongfeng, you speak truly. Since the Federation won't give us a way to live, then let them witness."
"The Qiangu Family has stood in the Spirit Pagoda for tens of thousands of years. What we rely on is certainly not compromise and submission!"
A terrifying aura spread out, causing even the spirit-guided lights in the office to flicker.
Qiangu Dongfeng was slightly stunned, and hurriedly spoke: "Father, could it be that you've broken through to that realm?"
"No..."
Qiangu Dieting shook his head, "I cannot sense the existence of the Divine Realm."
"Then, Father... could it be that there is no Divine Realm?" Qiangu Dongfeng asked.
Qiangu Dieting slowly spoke: "The Divine Realm is real, but the Divine Realm is no longer receiving people from the mortal world."
Qiangu Dongfeng pressed further: "Then... why?"
"The Divine Realm has disappeared."
Qiangu Dieting's voice carried a trace of heaviness.
"This..."
Upon hearing this, Qiangu Dongfeng and Qiangu Zhangting were dumbstruck.
"Enough, we must first survive this crisis now."
Qiangu Dieting said, "Go call your elder brother and sister-in-law over."
Qiangu Dongfeng nodded upon hearing this, turned and left the office.
"Great-grandfather." Qiangu Zhangting called out in a low voice.
"Ah, what a pity about my great-grandson..."
Qiangu Dieting let out a long sigh. Looking at Qiangu Zhangting's appearance, a flash of disappointment passed through his eyes.
Without his root, he now had an neither-male-nor-female appearance.
Qiangu Zhangting fell silent, his hands unconsciously tightening, his knuckles turning white.
Qiangu Dieting looked at his great-grandson's pained appearance, a flash of heartache passing through his eyes: "Zhangting, some things are not your fault."
"Great-grandfather, I..."
Qiangu Zhangting's voice choked.
"I know."
Qiangu Dieting gently patted his shoulder, "Now, the first thing to do is survive."
Just then, the office door was pushed open again. Qiangu Dongfeng brought a middle-aged man and woman inside.
The man's face was seven parts similar to Qiangu Dieting's, only more composed.
The woman possessed an elegant temperament and absolutely beautiful features.
These were precisely Qiangu Dongfeng's elder brother Qiangu Qingfeng and his wife Xia Zhengling.
"Father."
Qiangu Qingfeng and Xia Zhengling bowed in salute.
"Enough, all of you sit."
Qiangu Dieting indicated for everyone to take their seats on the sofa, "You all understand the current situation."
Qiangu Dongfeng spoke in a deep voice: "The Federation is determined to eliminate our Qiangu Family this time. I just received news that the Battle God Hall has fully mobilized."
"Have you made contact with the Holy Spirit Cult side?" Qiangu Dieting asked.
"Contact has been made."
Qiangu Dongfeng nodded, "They demand that we provide the Spirit Pagoda's spirit soul technology in exchange."
"Delusional!"
Qiangu Qingfeng raged, "The Spirit Pagoda is the foundation of our Qiangu Family built over tens of thousands of years. How could we give it to those evil soul masters!"
"We have no choice."
Qiangu Dongfeng sighed, "Without the Holy Spirit Cult's help, we simply cannot break through the Federation's blockade."
Qiangu Dieting fell silent for a moment, then slowly spoke: "Agree to the Holy Spirit Cult's demands."
"Father!"
Qiangu Qingfeng exclaimed.
"Only by living is there hope."
Qiangu Dieting's gaze swept across everyone, "The Spirit Pagoda's secrets can be retaken. The bloodline of the Qiangu Family must not be severed."
Everyone fell silent upon hearing this. They all understood that this was also a helpless move.
"Dongfeng, you go contact the Holy Spirit Cult."
Qiangu Dieting commanded, "Qingfeng, you are responsible for organizing the Spirit Pagoda's core materials, but keep something in reserve."
"Yes, Father." The two responded in unison.
Subsequently, Qiangu Dongfeng, Qiangu Qingfeng, and Xia Zhengling all departed one after another.
Qiangu Dieting slowly walked to the window, a flash of resolve passing through his eyes.
He murmured softly: "The mountain rain is coming, and the wind fills the tower."
In the next moment, the aura around his body began to rise steadily.
------------------------------------------------------
40+ Chapters Ahead: patreon.com/EphemeralShadow
There's something for free patrons too! Free Patrons receive 1 chapter in advance :)