In the world of Douluo Continent, the concept of body possession doesn't exist, nor is there a clear definition of souls… Perhaps there was once the idea of divine souls, but that's far too advanced for the realm of soul masters to comprehend.
However, the martial soul within the body does seem to have some connection to the soul.
Tai Long's words suddenly enlightened Zhou Sheng'an.
That unknown existence from the Blood God Cult must have taken residence within Tang Xiao's martial soul!
Just like in the anime, where Tang Chen's body was occupied by the blood bat, rendering him unable to use his martial soul—it was equivalent to the entity taking over the martial soul's position.
And in the anime, how did Tang San help Tang Chen break free from control? It was through the divine power of the Sea God!
The power to dispel evil was what allowed Tang Chen to regain his clarity.
But Tang Xiao's current situation surely doesn't require the use of divine power, and divine power itself might not be the direct solution.
There must be a more efficient method!
Zhou Sheng'an immediately headed for Moon Pavilion.
Once again, he entered directly without encountering any obstacles. The two guards at the entrance were even more reserved upon seeing him, completely different from the scene in the anime where they made things difficult for Tang San.
Zhou Sheng'an arrived on the second floor. It was midday, and just as he was about to enter the room—
"Who are you, sir? Why are you here?" A burly man blocked Zhou Sheng'an's way.
He was dressed in luxurious clothing, but beneath it, his well-defined muscles were clearly visible.
This was a powerhouse!
Zhou Sheng'an explained, "I'm a teacher from Blue Tyrant Academy. My name is Zhou Sheng'an. Madam Yuehua invited me to assist her in investigating the Blood God Cult."
"So it's you. His Majesty has already sent grand scholars to help. You are no longer needed. You should leave," the burly man said coldly.
Zhou Sheng'an frowned slightly and said, "I have made a breakthrough."
The burly man shook his head. "Not necessary."
Zhou Sheng'an glanced at him deeply, then turned to leave without another word.
Just then, the door opened, and Tang Yuehua hurriedly spoke. "Teacher Zhou, please wait! I apologize, there may have been some misunderstanding. This is General Ge Hu, His Majesty's personal guard."
"General Ge Hu, Teacher Zhou is an exceptional talent. I need to speak with him."
Tang Yuehua smiled.
Ge Hu did not respond. His expression remained serious as he looked toward the main hall across from them.
"Yuehua, since this Teacher Zhou has made a breakthrough, why not discuss it here? You wouldn't want any rumors tarnishing your reputation, would you? That wouldn't be good, right?"
Emperor Xue Ye spoke with a half-smile.
Tang Yuehua returned a faint smile, though a hint of irritation flashed in her eyes.
Zhou Sheng'an saw it clearly. He turned his gaze toward Emperor Xue Ye, then walked straight over.
Competing with Emperor Xue Ye for a woman? He wouldn't do such a thing. There was no reason to create trouble for himself. Instead of wasting time on such matters, he would rather focus on cultivation!
Once he reached Level 100 and ascended to godhood, nothing in this world would be a problem.
Zhou Sheng'an stepped into the hall, where more than a dozen grand scholars immediately halted their work. They had been flipping through ancient texts—all the same ones Zhou Sheng'an had read the night before.
His reading speed alone was actually faster than all of them combined.
Emperor Xue Ye smiled. "Teacher Zhou, is it? What findings have you made? I hope you're not making baseless speculations. If we miss the opportunity, the consequences could be significant."
Though Emperor Xue Ye was smiling, there was an unmistakable condescension in his demeanor.
He didn't take Zhou Sheng'an seriously at all. In his eyes, Zhou Sheng'an was just a mere academy teacher—aside from his attractive appearance, what else did he have to show for himself?
To him, Zhou Sheng'an was just another suitor pursuing Tang Yuehua, trying to flaunt his meager talents. But once he witnessed the true abilities of the grand scholars, he would surely feel ashamed and retreat.
Zhou Sheng'an said directly, "I have deduced how to restore Sect Master Tang."
"How?" Tang Yuehua asked urgently.
Emperor Xue Ye frowned slightly and looked toward the grand scholars.
The scholars all shook their heads. In such a short time, they hadn't even figured out what the Blood God Cult truly was, let alone how to break its influence!
Zhou Sheng'an explained, "The Blood God Cult worships an ancient evil soul beast—the Blood Red Ten-Headed Bat King. It was sealed away in the Polar Hell by the Angel God in the past, which is now known as the Slaughter City."
"Its descendants, the Blood Red Bats, are likely the true culprits behind controlling Sect Master Tang!"
"They reside within a soul master's martial soul, suppressing their power and gradually taking control of them. But it's not too late—there's still a chance to break free, and it's quite simple: disrupt the martial soul's state! Awaken the soul master!"
"Any soul skill that affects a martial soul—whether it's amplification or suppression—can have an effect!"
"If the soul master is awakened at the right moment, they can easily expel the Blood Red Bat and regain their consciousness."
Zhou Sheng'an's explanation was clear.
Everyone nodded, showing their agreement.
"Yes! Why didn't I think of this? This event is even recorded in the poetic records passed down by Spirit Hall—it truly happened! This all makes sense now!"
"That's right! Teacher Zhou's words are completely logical!"
"Looks like all our efforts were in vain, haha…"
The grand scholars were gracious, showing no resentment despite being outshone by Zhou Sheng'an.
However, while Emperor Xue Ye still maintained a smile, anyone observant could tell—it was a forced smile. He was clearly displeased with Zhou Sheng'an!
Zhou Sheng'an suddenly added, "As for selecting the right soul masters and locating Sect Master Tang, that will depend on His Majesty."
With that one sentence, Emperor Xue Ye's expression immediately brightened.
Tang Yuehua also smiled. "Your Majesty, we must rely on your strength for this."
Emperor Xue Ye laughed heartily and said cheerfully, "When it comes to high-level combat power, our Heaven Dou Empire may not match Spirit Hall or the Clear Sky Sect. But if it's about mobilizing forces to track down Sect Master Tang, just leave it to us!"
Being able to help a beauty, Emperor Xue Ye was pleased. His hostility toward Zhou Sheng'an faded away.
Zhou Sheng'an nodded slightly and said with a smile, "In that case, I shall take my leave. If this method fails to awaken Sect Master Tang, you can come to me again. Oh, and one more thing—just before completely losing control, Sect Master Tang's subconscious will instinctively seek out Madam Yuehua. Please pay attention to your surroundings."
Without any unnecessary words, Zhou Sheng'an turned and left.
"Teacher Zhou…" Tang Yuehua hesitated slightly.
Emperor Xue Ye, on the other hand, nodded in approval and said with a smile, "Teacher Zhou has done a great service. I shall reward you!"
…
Meanwhile, Tang Xiao had indeed arrived in Heaven Dou City.
His eyes were now a mix of black and crimson, sometimes exuding a violent aura, sometimes filled with rage. Two personalities were clashing within him, each trying to dominate.
Behind him followed a thin, corpse-like old man, who let out a sinister chuckle.
"Deputy Cult Master, from now on, you are the leader of our Blood God Cult. Why run away? Our Blood God Cult may be in decline, but one day, we shall rise again!"
"Shut up, Xue Tiegan!" Tang Xiao growled in frustration.