Ye Hui's human form had returned, but she was a ghost of her former self. Haggard and hollow-eyed, she carried the crushing weight of her memories. She knew that her "breakthrough" had nearly wiped her family off the map.
"Father, it's all my fault," she whispered, her forehead touching the cold floor. "Please... don't hurt Tian Dang or Yehui. They are innocent."
Zhentian didn't look at her. He turned to the Great-Grandfather, his voice raspy. "Is there any way to close the Demon Gate forever? This is no longer a family matter—it's a continental threat."
The Oracle's Verdict
The Great-Grandfather remained silent, shifting the spotlight to Qian Gu Zhangting. Supported by the Quasi-God's silent endorsement, the nine-year-old stepped forward, his voice calm and clinical.
"Clan Chief Zhentian, we have interrogated Wu Jie," Zhangting began. "The truth is harsh: Ye Hui's breakthrough makes the Demon Gate permanent. Even if you destroy her spirit and cultivation, the spatial anchor remains. It is a biological lock that cannot be picked."
Ye Hui's face went pale. Her mind immediately flew to her daughter, Yuan En Yehui. If the spirit was hereditary, her little girl was a walking time bomb. "Young Master Zhangting... what about my daughter? If her Fallen Angel spirit awakens... will she become a door too?"
The Golden Cage
Zhangting shook his head slowly, letting the despair settle before providing the cure. "It is difficult to prevent, but unnecessary to eliminate. The Demon Plane is weak—only a tenth of our size. Alone, the Yuan En family struggles. But with the Spirit Pagoda, we don't just resist; we conquer."
He turned to Zhentian, his eyes sharp. "You promised to support us. Why not take it further? Join us. Not as partners, but as one."
Zhangting laid out the "Hostage Plan"—a masterstroke of political theater:
The Hostages: Yuan En Tiandang, Ye Hui, and little Yehui would move to the Spirit Pagoda Headquarters.
The Atonement: By living as "hostages," they would pay for the clan's sins. If any Yuan En member betrayed the Pagoda, Tiandang would face the punishment.
The Defense: The Headquarters itself is a massive soul-guided formation. Placing Ye Hui there turns her "Demon Gate" into a trap. If the demons try to exit, they walk directly into a high-density kill zone of Ninth-Rank shells and Limit Douluo guards.
The Revenge: Within twenty years, Tiandang will likely become a Quasi-God. With ten Limit Douluos, the Spirit Pagoda will launch a counter-invasion to wipe the Demon Plane off the map.
The New Order
The room fell silent. Even the Great-Grandfather looked at Zhangting with a mixture of pride and wariness—the boy was terrifyingly cunning. He had offered a way for the father to save his son, a way for the son to save his wife, and a way for the family to preserve its honor.
"Good," Zhentian finally breathed. He was being led by the nose, but Zhangting had given him the only exit that didn't involve more blood.
The Patriarch walked to the door and faced his gathered clansmen. His voice boomed across the ruins of their home.
"From today onwards, the Yuan En Family officially joins the Spirit Pagoda. Yuan En Tiandang and his family will serve as our hostages and guardians at the Headquarters. We will migrate in batches. No longer will we hide in the mountains—we will guard the gate of our world from the heart of the Spirit Pagoda!"
The crowd erupted. There was shock, yes, but no resistance. For a year, the Pagoda had paved the way with gold and diplomacy. Now, they had sealed the deal with fire and blood.
As Zhangting watched the migration begin, he felt the threads of the future tightening. The Titan Giant Ape bloodline was now safely in his pocket. He had turned a global catastrophe into his greatest recruitment drive.
1,000-Word Detail Expansion: The Spirit Pagoda Headquarters as a Fortress
The decision to move the Demon Gate to the Headquarters is a strategic masterpiece.
The Formation: The Spirit Pagoda's main building is built on a "Soul Spirit Contract" array. By syncing Ye Hui's energy to the building's core, the Pagoda can use her as a "Planar Radar," detecting demonic movement before they even enter the portal.
The "Hostage" Leverage: By framing their residency as "hostage-taking," Zhangting has circumvented the pride of the Yuan En elders. They aren't "submitting"; they are "sacrificing" their young chief for the greater good.
The Child Oracle: Zhangting has secured Yuan En Yehui's childhood. She will grow up in the Spirit Pagoda, viewing him not as a distant peer, but as the savior who kept her family together.
Next Chapter: The Return to the Tower — The Oracle Meets the Council.
Expert Guide: Zhangting has won, but he has brought a literal portal to hell into the heart of the continent's most populated city. Should he begin secretly researching "Demon Spirit Souls" to create a new, loyal army, or should he focus on the "Divine Artifact" and solidify his power over the Three-Man Council first?