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In the main hall of the Holy Spirit Sect, Sect Master Zhongli Wu issued an urgent command, summoning the elders to the meeting chamber.
"Let's hear it," Zhongli Wu said gravely. "How should we deal with this new Sect Master?"
Upon his return, he immediately informed everyone about the shocking news that Shui Wuya intended to impose a new leader upon the Holy Spirit Sect.
The elders were stunned, unable to comprehend why the Shui family would send an outsider to manage their sect. Doubt and unease filled their hearts.
"The Shui family clearly wants to control our Holy Spirit Sect through this new leader and turn us into their vassals."
"Perhaps they plan to use our strength to achieve some goal and then weaken us to eliminate the Holy Spirit Sect entirely!"
"The Shui family has never given up on destroying us; we must be vigilant!"
The Grand Elder frowned deeply and said in a low voice, "No matter the reason, the Shui family sending us a leader is undoubtedly a plot. We cannot take this lightly; we must remain on guard."
The elders nodded in agreement, understanding the gravity of the situation.
One elder with a gaunt face could no longer suppress his anger. He stood up, fuming, and protested, "Sect Master, I protest! The Holy Spirit Sect is a sacred place—how can we allow a heretic to take control? We must not let an outsider lead us!"
Zhongli Wu listened to the elder's protest but only sneered, his tone dripping with disdain. "What good is your protest? Can you alone withstand the power of the Shui family?"
The elder's face flushed with embarrassment at Zhongli Wu's reminder, leaving him speechless.
The Shui family was now unstoppable—who would dare oppose them? The other elders also displayed expressions of helplessness.
Confronted with such a formidable force, the Holy Spirit Sect's internal strength was clearly insufficient to resist.
Another elder stood up and said solemnly, "We can't openly oppose the Shui family; that would be too dangerous. We should scheme in the shadows, pretend to obey, and wait for the right opportunity."
Immediately, another elder countered, "We are the Holy Spirit Sect! How can we tolerate outsiders running amok on our territory? We must resist firmly and not yield!"
Thus, the Holy Spirit Sect was divided into two factions: those advocating for war and those urging for peace.
The two factions argued fiercely, their voices echoing through the grand hall, giving Sect Master Zhongli Wu a throbbing headache.
Finally, Zhongli Wu stood up and raised his hand, signaling everyone to quiet down. "Enough," he commanded.
"The situation is dire. The Shui family's power is expanding rapidly. We can't give them any excuse to take action against us. Therefore, we must accept the new Sect Master, outwardly appearing submissive and waiting for the right moment."
Zhongli Wu's voice was heavy, leaving no room for doubt.
He had already witnessed the grim fate of those who defied the Shui family, and he had no desire to share Xu Tianran's tragic end.
The elders were surprised, not expecting the usually resolute Zhongli Wu to bow down so easily.
"Sect Master is right. If the new Sect Master arrives, we'll treat him as if he's a leader merely inspecting our sect. We'll show deference on the surface while biding our time."
"Exactly! We must lower the Shui family's guard so that we can gather our strength and resist in secret!"
However, just as the elders were scheming against the Shui family, something unexpected happened.
Suddenly, within the Holy Spirit Sect's grand hall, a strange blood-red vortex appeared out of nowhere, like a giant mouth opening to devour the entire palace!
Everyone was thrown into a panic by the sudden change. Their eyes widened in horror as they stared at the terrifying scene before them, utterly petrified.
As the vortex expanded, the entire hall gradually turned crimson, as though they had entered a nightmarish blood-red world.
A blood-red glow filled the grand hall, casting an oppressive aura that weighed down on everyone, leaving them breathless and immobilized.
"W-What is this!?"
The elders exchanged anxious glances, a wave of unprecedented fear surging through their hearts.
A flicker of terror flashed in Zhongli Wu's eyes as he tried to summon his soul power, only to find that under this invisible pressure, his strength was completely stifled.
In the eerie atmosphere of the hall, a shadowy figure suddenly appeared from the darkness, materializing behind Zhongli Wu.
His heart nearly stopped as a cold dread gripped him. When he turned and saw the figure's face, he could scarcely believe his eyes.
"Shui... Shui Yuanchén?!"
Zhongli Wu's voice trembled, and he could almost hear the frantic beating of his own heart.
Shui Yuanchén, the legendary Warden of the Prison Realm!
Zhongli Wu was all too aware of Shui Yuanchén's terrifying reputation; his mother had recounted countless horrifying tales about him.
It was known that Zhongli Wu's mother's master had once escaped from Shui Yuanchén's prison and later founded the Holy Spirit Sect.
Even when his mother teamed up with Long Xiaoyao, they were still no match for Shui Yuanchén.
"L-Lord Shui Yuanchén, w-what is the meaning of this?" Zhongli Wu stammered, his voice shaking.
Shui Yuanchén responded slowly, "I have come on the orders of Patriarch Shui Wuya to assume the position of Sect Master and take control of the Holy Spirit Sect."
Zhongli Wu's face turned ashen.
Never in his wildest dreams did he imagine that the new Sect Master sent by Shui Wuya would be none other than Shui Yuanchén!
"Your humble servant Zhongli Wu greets the Sect Master!"
Realizing he had no chance of resisting Shui Yuanchén, Zhongli Wu immediately vacated the Sect Master's throne and knelt down, pledging his loyalty.
"Greetings, Sect Master!"
Seeing Zhongli Wu's submissive behavior, the other elders dared not hesitate. They, too, knelt down, pledging their allegiance.
None of them were fools. If someone could instill fear in Zhongli Wu, they knew they were powerless against him!
With Zhongli Wu's complete surrender, Shui Yuanchén effortlessly took over as the Sect Master of the Holy Spirit Sect, and the other elders dared not voice a single objection.
Seated on the Sect Master's throne, Shui Yuanchén gazed down at the gathered elders. His eyes exuded a commanding and terrifying presence that sent chills down their spines.
"From this moment on, the Holy Spirit Sect will become a vassal of the Shui family, and you will all follow the orders of the Patriarch."
Shui Yuanchén's voice was icy cold.
"Yes!"
Upon hearing his words, no one dared to object; they could only bow their heads in submission.
Shui Yuanchén's gaze swept over the assembly, and his voice resonated through the hall once more: "You so-called Evil Soul Masters have lost your way, delving into madness without truly understanding the path of the Evil Soul."
"From now on, you are forbidden from using the blood of innocents for your cultivation. Anyone who disobeys will be executed!"
"What!?"
His decree left the elders' faces pale with dread.
This was their greatest fear! If they could no longer use human blood for cultivation, it would severely hinder their progress on the path of power!
However, Shui Yuanchén did not leave them in despair.
He continued, "From now on, if you forsake blood cultivation, I will impart to you the true essence of the Blood Path, allowing you to become genuine Evil Soul Masters!"
"This place is my inner world. From now on, you shall train here."
As his words fell, an endless Blood Realm instantly enveloped the hall.
The elders looked around in disbelief, realizing they had been transported to an unfamiliar world.
This world was a vast, blood-red expanse, like an ocean of blood, as if they were trapped in a terrifying blood prison!