Under the cover of night, Serenity moved like a phantom through the streets of Suotuo City, her Presence Concealment rendering her completely undetectable. Her mission was simple: gather evidence on Dai Mubai and Ma Hongjun—and if they were as vile as suspected, bring them to Ryan for judgment.
It didn't take long.
Dai Mubai was exactly as she had anticipated: a spoiled, arrogant predator who used his noble status and strength to do as he pleased. The so-called heir to the Star Luo throne spent his nights indulging in debauchery, treating brothels as his personal playground. Worse, he had a habit of trying to steal women from their partners, relying on threats and intimidation. He saw women as nothing more than toys, to be discarded when he grew bored.
Tonight was no different.
Inside a luxurious brothel, Dai Mubai lounged in a private room, arms wrapped around two unwilling women, his lecherous smirk widening as he pulled them closer.
"I paid, so just sit there and behave," he sneered, gripping one of them harshly. The woman winced but dared not resist.
Serenity frowned but remained in the shadows, silently gathering evidence.
Then there was Ma Hongjun.
The Evil Fire Phoenix was even filthier than she imagined. The moment he left Shrek Academy's dormitory, he made a direct path for a secluded alley behind a tavern, where a young girl—no older than fourteen—was struggling to break free from his grip.
"P-please, stop!" she whimpered, her voice trembling.
"You'll like it," he chuckled, breath thick with alcohol and filth. "My evil fire makes women beg for more, you know? You should be honored—"
He never finished his sentence.
Serenity struck.
A single, precise movement—a nerve strike—and Ma Hongjun crumpled like a lifeless doll, his body hitting the ground silently before he even realized what had happened.
The girl gasped, stumbling backward, eyes wide with fear, but Serenity wasn't interested in her terror.
She stepped into the moonlight just long enough for the girl to see her face, pressing a gold coin into her palm.
"Forget this ever happened," she whispered, her voice soft yet commanding.
The girl hesitated for only a moment before nodding and fleeing into the night.
Serenity exhaled, glancing down at Ma Hongjun's unconscious, pathetic form.
"One down."
Now for Dai Mubai.
Dai Mubai, completely unaware that his fate had already been sealed, leaned back in his chair, a self-satisfied smirk on his lips.
"You two should feel grateful," he boasted, drinking straight from the bottle. "How many women dream of a night with me? Strongest genius of Shrek Academy, heir to the Star Luo throne—"
He never saw her coming.
Serenity materialized behind him like a specter, her fingers striking precise points along his spinal column and neck. His body locked up instantly, his smirk freezing in place.
"Wha—?!"
Before he could even react, everything went black.
The two women gasped in horror as their aggressor collapsed, his body hitting the floor like a sack of meat.
When they turned to face Serenity, however, she was already gone.
And she had taken Dai Mubai with her.
---
Back in their hidden base, Ryan sat in his usual chair, his golden eyes calm yet cold as Serenity materialized before him.
Behind her, Dai Mubai and Ma Hongjun lay unconscious, their bodies bound with anti-spirit energy restraints.
"They were even worse than we thought," Serenity reported. "Dai Mubai has dozens of cases of harassment, and Ma Hongjun was actively attempting to assault a girl when I found him."
Ryan sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Not surprising."
Standing, he stepped forward, his gaze unreadable as he looked down at the two fallen beasts.
Serenity, apathetic, simply observed as Ryan approached, tossing Dai Mubai's spatial device to the side—she had already stripped it from him.
Ryan placed a hand on Ma Hongjun's chest, his expression dark.
The Dark Devilgod Tiger Spirit stirred.
A gray mist seeped from his palm, coiling around the two men like hungry serpents.
Assimilation.
They didn't even wake up.
Their bodies twitched, convulsed—and then vanished into the mist, their spirits, memories, abilities, and life force completely absorbed into Ryan's body.
Ryan exhaled slowly as his spirit energy surged.
White Tiger. Evil Phoenix.
Both now belonged to him.
Zhu Zhuqing, who had been silently watching, shivered—not in fear, but in relief.
She would never have to worry about Dai Mubai ever again.
Ryan turned to her, his voice steady. "The Netherworld White Tiger—we'll awaken its full potential together."
She swallowed the emotion rising in her throat before nodding. "Thank you."
Serenity smirked from the shadows. "Now that those two are gone, what's next?"
Ryan flexed his fingers, feeling power settle within him.
"Now, I have to sort through these disgusting memories," he muttered, shaking his head. "My Dark Devilgod Tiger is already assimilating the White Tiger, absorbing and purifying all the excess evil energy from the Evil Phoenix."
He extended his hand toward Zhu Zhuqing, who hesitated only briefly before taking it.
The moment their hands met, he felt it—a deeper connection forming, their souls resonating through the Dark Devilgod Tiger.
Ryan smirked. "It seems my tiger is more compatible with your Hell Civet than even the White Tiger."
A small smile formed on Zhu Zhuqing's lips.
The fusion process continued for a few minutes.
By the time it was over, the White Tiger had completely merged into the Dark Devilgod Tiger.
As for the Evil Phoenix?
It was no longer evil.
The excessive negative energy had been purified, leaving behind a true Phoenix—one of rebirth, cleansing, and ultimate fire.
With the Golden Holy Dragon's sacred energy nourishing it, the Phoenix's power was only growing stronger.
A Phoenix was never meant to be a spirit of corruption. It was meant to be a symbol of fire, renewal, and purity.
[I'm working hard, send Powerstones and maybe a dollar or two for the soda machine. Cashapp $Ryantheholy ]