If it were someone else, finding Cao Dezhi at this time might be difficult, but for Yun Ming, it was incredibly simple.
With just a phone call from Yun Ming, Cao Dezhi appeared in the Sea God's Pavilion.
"Give up. Apologize to the Sun-Moon Federation, voluntarily hand over the underground weapons factory, along with the list of spies you've planted. Perhaps then, the Tang Sect might still have a slim chance of survival," Yun Ming urged solemnly. In front of him and Cao Dezhi, a live broadcast was playing—Xia Yi, piloting the Mountain Dragon King's dragon soul, purifying the air over Mingdu.
"Yun Ming, do you still not understand? From the moment we started selling weapons to the Star Luo Empire, the Tang Sect had no way to turn back. And now, with this incident, the Federation will never let the Tang Sect go. Even if they spare us for now, they will find an opportunity to settle accounts in the future. The Tang Sect must have something that makes the Sun-Moon Federation afraid, something that prevents them from acting recklessly. Those underground weapons factories—they are our final trump card," Cao Dezhi said coldly and firmly. "If the Tang Sect wants to survive, begging the Federation for mercy won't work. Since we've already torn off all pretenses, we can only fight against the Sun-Moon Federation to the end."
"You… you! You—" Yun Ming, furious, pointed at the live broadcast of Xia Yi and shouted, "Look! What do you have to fight with?"
"So what if he can control dragon souls? Does he dare to touch the Tang Sect's underground weapons factories? The Tang Sect can adopt a scorched-earth strategy—if necessary, we can detonate another explosion. Would Xia Yi dare to bear the consequences of that?" Cao Dezhi said coldly.
"You—how can you say something like that?" Yun Ming looked at Cao Dezhi in utter disbelief.
"I've been forced into this. At worst, once this is over, the Tang Sect can do more good deeds to atone," Cao Dezhi said with icy determination. "Right now, I can't afford to be soft-hearted. If I waver, the Tang Sect will be doomed beyond redemption."
"You, you—!" Yun Ming was at a loss for words.
"Yun Ming, I won't ask Shrek Academy to participate in something so heinous, but I have one request," Cao Dezhi suddenly said.
"You mean the matter of Zang Xin?" Yun Ming's expression grew solemn.
"That's right. Please help me find him. I can feel that he's still alive, but I don't know where he is," Cao Dezhi said, looking at Yun Ming with a pleading gaze, just like Yali had before.
Like the high-ranking members of the Holy Spirit Cult, Cao Dezhi was now a wanted man, unable to reveal himself easily.
Finding Zang Xin was something only Yun Ming could help with.
"I'll do my best," Yun Ming nodded. In truth, he had been searching for Zang Xin all along but had yet to find any trace of him.
"Then, I thank you." With that, Cao Dezhi got up and left the Sea God's Pavilion.
Mingdu
As time passed, and as the last specks of dust were controlled by the Mountain Dragon King and sent back to the Cangshan District, the air over Mingdu became even fresher than it had been before the explosion at the Tang Sect's underground weapons factory.
Gu Yue immediately opened the entrance to the Dragon Valley micro-world, summoning the Mountain Dragon King's dragon soul back inside.
"I represent the millions of citizens of Mingdu in expressing our deepest gratitude to you both!" The Speaker of the Sun-Moon Federation personally flew over to Xia Yi and Gu Yue, bowing deeply before them.
"I just didn't want to see innocent civilians suffer," Xia Yi shook his head.
"I understand. Master Xia Yi is compassionate and benevolent," the Speaker smiled and continued, "Since Master Xia Yi was able to solve the dust problem in Mingdu, I wonder—do you have any solutions for dealing with the Tang Sect's underground weapons factories?"
"Please don't call me 'Master.' This situation is extremely risky. I suggest the Federation focus first on eliminating the spies that the Tang Sect has planted within the government. Otherwise, no matter what actions you take, the Tang Sect will always be one step ahead, and you'll be restricted at every turn," Xia Yi advised.
"We are, of course, aware of this. However, these Tang Sect spies are deeply hidden, and our progress in rooting them out has been very slow," the Speaker said with a wry smile.
"The Tang Sect, for its own selfish interests, caused the deaths of millions and the suffering of tens of millions. Their actions are no different from those of the Holy Spirit Cult. Everyone has a duty to resist them. As for investigating Tang Sect's spies, I would be more than happy to assist," Xia Yi said with a smile.
"You have a plan?" The Speaker looked at Xia Yi with curiosity.
"I do, but I'll need the Federation's cooperation," Xia Yi nodded.
"As long as you can help us eliminate the Tang Sect's spies, both the military and police forces will unconditionally support your actions," the Speaker declared without hesitation. After this incident, the Federation had made up its mind to eradicate the Tang Sect.
"Good. In that case, I want to interrogate the Tang Sect spies that the Federation has already captured," Xia Yi said.
"No problem. I'll have Sky Judgement Douluo and Divine Brush Douluo assist you," the Speaker immediately agreed.
The Tang Sect spies that Xia Hong had captured were divided between police custody and the Central Army Corps.
Interrogating them required approval from both departments.
"That can wait. First, we need to visit Phoenix Group. I've received intelligence that a very important Tang Sect fugitive is hiding there. We should capture him first," Xia Yi said with a smirk.
"Who?" The Speaker asked curiously.
"You'll see when we get there," Xia Yi chuckled and turned to the press team. "The person we're about to arrest is extremely important. You all should come along—keep the live broadcast going."
Xia Yi then turned to Chen Xinjie. "This time, the person we're capturing holds a high-ranking position in the Tang Sect and is extremely powerful. I wonder if Lord Hanhai would be willing to lend a hand?"
Originally, Xia Yi had wanted Yun Ming to make the arrest, but since Yun Ming wasn't here, he had to trouble Chen Xinjie instead.
"No problem?" Chen Xinjie frowned. With so many people here, why was he the one being asked?
With all eyes on him, refusing wasn't an option.
Besides, he still resented the Tang Sect for framing the Battle God Hall. There was no reason for him to decline.
"You're so disgusting. Just send someone else to arrest him—why do you have to go yourself?" Gu Yue rolled her eyes at Xia Yi.
"It's fine. I'll keep my distance," Xia Yi said with a grin.
"Disgusting!" Chen Xinjie raised an eyebrow. Arresting someone shouldn't be disgusting—what was Gu Yue talking about?
Unless… was the fugitive one of the Tang Sect's 'Four Heavenly Kings' from the Star Luo Empire?
And so, a large group made their way to Phoenix Group.
Phoenix Group
"Brother-in-law!" Leng Yulai personally came out to welcome them.
"Dark Phoenix Douluo, you've broken through to the Limit Douluo rank," Chen Xinjie, a quasi-god, immediately sensed Leng Yulai's aura and realized she had reached the pinnacle.
"Limit Douluo?"
Everyone present turned their eyes to Leng Yulai in shock.
"Follow me. I'll take you to the person you're looking for," Leng Yulai said without explanation, leading them toward the Phoenix Group's restrooms.
When she stopped in front of the toilets, everyone was stunned.
"The person you're looking for is hiding in the sewage tank below. Go ahead and fish him out," Leng Yulai said indifferently.
"Sewage tank?!"
Everyone's eyes turned toward Chen Xinjie.
Chen Xinjie's face darkened.
Now he understood why Gu Yue had said it was disgusting.
"Humph! I'll do it!" Chen Xinjie didn't back down. He reached out with his soul power, conjuring a massive 100-meter-wide azure hand in the air, which grabbed the entire sewage tank and yanked it out.
With a loud crash, the tank shattered, revealing a bloated figure that rolled out.
His entire body was covered in filth, even his mouth was stuffed with it.
His belly was grotesquely swollen, as if he were nine months pregnant. Clearly, he had been force-feeding himself to the point of bursting.
"Zang Xin! The Amorous Douluo Zang Xin! The Tang Sect's Deputy Sect Master! The true leader of the Tang Sect!"
Someone in the crowd screamed in shock.
At that moment, the entire live broadcast exploded into chaos.
Everyone watching went completely insane.