Regarding the killing of Zhongli Wu, Zhu Ziyang's heart was completely calm, as if he hadn't killed the Holy Spirit Church's leader, but merely a nuisance. It was very casual, with no visible psychological burden.
Yes, according to the intelligence gathered by Shrek Academy afterward, Zhongli Wu was indeed the Holy Spirit Church's leader. His dying threats were not groundless; his mother was very likely Ye Xishui, who had a past emotional entanglement with Mu En and Long Xiaoyao. This was also confirmed by Long Xiaoyao's presence, standing with the Sun Moon Royal Family at the Mingdu Soul Master Competition's opening ceremony.
Zhu Ziyang was not worried about retaliation from the Holy Spirit Church. In fact, he hoped the Holy Spirit Church would take action. With his current strength, even if Long Xiaoyao and Ye Xishui arrived together, he would not be afraid. On the contrary, they could follow the clues, find the Holy Spirit Church's lair, and wipe them out in one fell swoop.
After all, an enemy skilled at enduring is always more terrifying than a reckless brute.
Zhu Ziyang, Ma Xiaotao, Xuan Zi, and the Titled Douluos from the Body Sect and the Star Luo Enshrinement Hall waited for two days at the Mingyue Hotel, but regrettably, there was no movement. Clearly, the Holy Spirit Church had chosen to endure.
And that was exactly the case. When Zhu Ziyang killed Zhongli Wu, the Holy Spirit Church's Sixth Enshriner, Scorpion Tiger Douluo Zhang Peng, witnessed everything. Zhang Peng was both terrified and fortunate. Terrified by Zhu Ziyang's strength, who could easily instantly kill a level 98 Zhongli Wu, and fortunate that he had left early, otherwise he might have been incidentally dealt with by Zhu Ziyang.
He returned to the Holy Spirit Church's stronghold in Mingdu at the fastest possible speed, gave a few instructions to the Holy Spirit Church's Second Elder, Centipede Douluo Nangong Wan, who was guarding the Mingdu stronghold, and then immediately rushed towards the Holy Spirit Church's headquarters in the Evil Demon Forest.
Zhang Peng, without stopping, quickly returned to the Holy Spirit Church's headquarters and informed the Holy Spirit Church's high-ranking officials there of the news of Leader Zhongli Wu's demise. This news was like a bolt from the blue for those at the Holy Spirit Church's headquarters, causing an uproar. Many people clamored for revenge for Zhongli Wu, demanding that Shrek Academy pay a blood debt!
For a time, the Holy Spirit Church's headquarters in the Evil Demon Forest was filled with righteous indignation. It wasn't until the Supreme Leader, Ye Xishui, appeared that these Evil Soul Masters curbed their tempers. However, many still shouted for revenge for Zhongli Wu. Yet, to everyone's astonishment, Ye Xishui only said one sentence.
"Please do as you wish."
Immediately, those clamoring for revenge for Zhongli Wu fell silent. Everyone understood that if a level 98 Leader could die at the hands of Shrek Academy, then those whose strength was inferior to Zhongli Wu, let alone avenging him, might not even be able to save their own lives. The reason they were shouting for revenge for Zhongli Wu was actually to incite Ye Xishui, a level 99 Limit Douluo, to act.
Judging from Ye Xishui's reaction, she clearly wasn't planning to avenge her son. So, for them to keep shouting there, wasn't it just asking for trouble? Thus, the scene immediately fell into silence.
"Did the Leader just die for nothing?" a woman spoke, her voice filled with resentment and unwillingness. She was Zhongli Wu's wife, the Holy Spirit Church's Vice Leader, Evil Phoenix Douluo Feng Ling.
"Of course not!" Ye Xishui flatly denied. "We will definitely avenge this, but not now. We need to wait for the right moment!"
"Good! I understand!" Feng Ling, hearing Ye Xishui's explanation, did not press the matter further and nodded.
"From now on, Feng Ling will temporarily assume the position of Leader." After leaving this sentence, Ye Xishui turned and departed.
Ye Xishui found Long Xiaoyao and asked directly, "Has that Zhu Ziyang's strength truly reached such a level?"
Long Xiaoyao smiled bitterly and nodded, saying, "To be honest, I didn't expect that kid's growth speed to be so fast. A Titled Douluo of Ultimate Light can easily kill Zhongli Wu."
Ye Xishui's expression flickered upon hearing this, and then she asked, "If I were to face him, could I kill him?"
"Xishui, you absolutely must not take risks!" Long Xiaoyao immediately said sternly upon hearing her. "That kid's strength cannot be judged by conventional standards. The Ultimate Light Spirit naturally counters you, and coupled with the fact that he also controls the Death attribute, which can render many of your abilities ineffective, your chances of winning against him are not high! Listen to me, absolutely do not easily seek trouble with that kid!"
"I understand!" Ye Xishui's face showed deep thought, and after a long while, she nodded and said, "I'll listen to you. I need to go to Mingdu."
"What are you going to Mingdu for?" Long Xiaoyao immediately became anxious and quickly asked.
"Don't worry, I'm just going to discuss future cooperation with that Xu Tianran kid. I won't go looking for trouble with that Zhu Ziyang kid." Ye Xishui saw the anxious expression on Long Xiaoyao's face, and her heart warmed, but her expression remained cold.
"I'll go with you!" Long Xiaoyao was very uneasy and immediately said.
"Alright!" Ye Xishui did not refuse.
— —
On the eve of the Mingdu Soul Master Competition finals, at the Mingyue Hotel, Shrek Academy's room, conference room.
Zhu Ziyang was arranging tomorrow's action plan. Among those present, besides Ma Xiaotao, there were only the eight Titled Douluos from the Body Sect and the Star Luo Enshrinement Hall.
"Little Brother Ziyang, why don't I see that old fellow Xuan Zi?" The Sect Master of the Body Sect, Body Douluo Du Busi, looked puzzled and asked in a gentle tone. As someone who had personally witnessed Zhu Ziyang instantly kill Zhongli Wu, Du Busi now treated Zhu Ziyang with great respect.
"Elder Xuan has been assigned other tasks by me and will not participate in tomorrow's operation," Zhu Ziyang said with a cheerful smile.
"This..." Du Busi was stunned, and the other seven Titled Douluos present were also stunned.
"With Xuan Zi not here, aren't we a bit short-handed?" Star Luo Enshrinement Hall's Hall Master, Starlight Douluo Xu Luo, said.
"Your Excellency Starlight need not worry, I am here!" Zhu Ziyang said, his tone very calm. However, his words brought a sense of reassurance to everyone present. Yes, with such a powerful expert whose strength rivaled a Limit Douluo, what did they have to worry about?
"Hehe, it seems we old fellows are just timid. Little Brother Ziyang, please assign us tasks," Du Busi chuckled and said.
"Alright, then I won't waste any more time," Zhu Ziyang said with a smile. "According to our plan, immediately after tomorrow's finals, we will launch an assassination plot against Xu Tianran. Originally, the assassination was to be carried out by us from the original Douluo Continent. However, because we have reached a cooperation agreement with the Sun Moon Empire's Second Prince, the assassination will be carried out by their people. This way, the responsibility for the assassination will not be related to our Douluo Continent, and it can also prevent the Sun Moon Empire from using it as an excuse to wage war against us.
Following this plan, I will make the following deployments: Our Shrek Academy will be responsible for assisting the Sun Moon Empire's Second Prince's actions to prevent their assassination from failing. At the same time, after the assassination succeeds, we will take the opportunity to kill the Sun Moon Empire's Second Prince, creating the illusion of fratricide, thereby plunging the Sun Moon Empire into leaderless chaos.
To the seniors of the Body Sect and the Star Luo Enshrinement Hall, your task is to eliminate the warmongers within the Sun Moon Empire's military simultaneously with the assassination plan. Here is the list."
Zhu Ziyang took out a list. The people on the list were loyalists of Xu Tianran and the Sun Lineage, primarily the main and deputy officers of the Sun Moon Empire's army controlled by Xu Tianran. As long as these people were eliminated, Zhang Lexuan would be able to fully control all of the Sun Moon Empire's armies with the smallest cost and in the shortest time.
Du Busi and the others took the list and immediately began to examine it.
"Among these people, there are not a few Titled Douluo-level powerhouses, so seniors need to be serious when taking action," Zhu Ziyang reminded.
"No problem!" Du Busi and the others readily agreed. Their main goal was to buy time for their own country in the war. Killing one Xu Tianran could buy time, and killing a group of Sun Moon Empire army officers could buy even more time. Why wouldn't they do it?
"Alright, the plan is arranged. Seniors can prepare. The operation can begin tomorrow morning at dawn," Zhu Ziyang announced.
Du Busi and the others cupped their fists to Zhu Ziyang and took their leave.
"Ziyang, I find you quite naughty," Ma Xiaotao immediately said to Zhu Ziyang after Du Busi and the others left. "Aren't you afraid they'll find out how you're using the Body Sect and the Star Luo Empire's people?"
"What? You don't like it?" Zhu Ziyang smiled, pulled Ma Xiaotao into his arms, and placed his palm over her heart, saying.
"Of course I like it!" Ma Xiaotao immediately said, then her face flushed. "The naughtier you are, the more my heart flutters!"
"I can be even naughtier!" Zhu Ziyang whispered into Ma Xiaotao's ear. The next second, the two disappeared from the conference room.