The Devil that Stole the Stage

'So this warmth is affection?' Tang Wulin thought to himself. At some point, he stopped running but he didn't notice. The strange bouts of warmth afflicting him over the last few years were affection?

As far as he was aware, affection was a word describing the sense of belonging amongst an individual or group, or the sense of satisfaction a person gets when in the company of certain people they could trust. Perhaps his definition was wrong but it was what he summarized its many iterations down to.

"So, how does it feel to know you have affection toward me?" Gu Yuena asked, a wide smirk full of playfulness on her face and her regal purple eyes full of teasing intent. It was formed of emotions he didn't understand but it was beautiful nonetheless.

"It makes sense." Tang Wulin said with a nod. It made sense however it was still unfamiliar. It would take time to grow accustomed to the feeling and it would take even more to truly understand it but it was important progress.

Suddenly the door to their train room was forced open, the teacher stepping through with a face more serious than either had seen him with. It contrasted greatly with their teacher's choice of attire, a pair of duck pajamas.

"I have something to tell you both." Wu Zhangkong began seriously, his golden eyes narrowed seriously as he looked at both of them. Both seemed closer to one another, a good thing that would usually help his mood but this was no normal time.

"What is it?" Gu Yuena asked, her face completely losing all playfulness as she looked at her teacher seriously. If it was news that had shaken up their cold and callous teacher, it must be important.

"At 4:17 am this morning, a Spirit Pagoda branch in the Dou Ling Continent was completely destroyed." Wu Zhangkong began, his tone deathly serious. Even he could hardly believe it, an entire branch of the Spirit Pagoda turned into… a mere crater.

"What? I'm sorry I think I misheard you, can you repeat that?" Gu Yuena requested, a look of denial on her face. The Spirit Pagoda, the strongest force in the world, a branch of that was destroyed?

Not bothering to repeat himself, Wu Zhangkong just tapped a button on his communicator, a holographic screen appearing above his wrist. On the screen was a news article accompanied by an image.

The picture was a large square crater easily spanning hundreds of meters on each side that reached deep into the ground, its bottom hidden by deep darkness making it seem like an infinite void or the abyss itself.

Surrounding the void was a large translucent pale brown wall of energy. Past the other side of the void, there was another wall and a perfectly normal cityscape stood there. The difference between the void and the city seemed like worlds apart despite being mere feet from each other.

Above the pictures were the words [SPIRIT PAGODA BRANCH DESTROYED!]. With such a title and picture the news article had already amassed over a hundred million views and it was rising quickly.

"H-How could this happen?" Gu Yuena asked in complete and utter shock while Tang Wulin simply nodded in response, his reaction overwhelmingly bland in comparison to the normal reaction. He had been the one to destroy it after all.

"The public is currently not aware of the situation." Wu Zhangkong replied simply, his reaction had been no less serious when he heard about it an hour ago from the Tang Sect. The Spirit Pagoda was the strongest power on the continent, they were practically untouchable.

With the near extinction of the spirit beasts, the Spirit Pagoda had an overwhelming monopoly on the spirit souls that the Spirit Ice Douluo created ten thousand years ago. All Spirit Masters no matter their affiliation needed Spirit Souls to form their rings.

To attack such a force was the work of madmen but to destroy one of their branches? Nobody in their right mind would dare to do so. Even Shrek wouldn't dare attack the Spirit Pagoda despite having the strongest soul master on their side.

However, that wasn't why Gu Yuena was surprised, not completely. A branch of the Spirit Pagoda which she had decided to ally herself being destroyed was bad enough however the worst part was what she could tell was corrupting that area.

'Damn it Wulin!' Gu Yuena screamed in her mind, her teeth clenched tightly. It was obvious who had done it. Not only was the location near Wulin's teleportation point but there was also indisputable proof that belonged only to the half of the Dragon God that took his destructive impulses.

The very atmosphere within that barrier was touched by annihilation making it no better than a land of the dead. If anyone under a specific strength level they would die as soon as they touched the air in there let alone touch the earth which had bathed in the universal force.

There was no longer any question of why Wulin used the power of a god in her mind, the answer was in front of her. The only way he could do something like what was in front of her with his meager energy was if he let his annihilation devour and grow freely without his control.

In return that meant that he would be attacked as well. The only way he would've been able to survive would be to utilize the power of a god, especially since he needed to stop the growing power of pure destruction unless he wanted to destroy the world and himself by extension.

"And what about the people at the top?" Gu Yuena asked their teacher after taking a moment to calm herself down, something she definitely needed. But even then she felt like she wanted to teach Tang Wulin a lesson, a lesson about self preservation.

"This isn't something that should be told to children, however, I will believe in your maturity and future. Do not make me regret it." Wu Zhangkong threatened coldly. He trusted them however it was necessary to err on the side of caution.

The only reason he was even considering telling them is because of their talent. In the future, they would be the heads of whatever fields or organizations they join, he wanted to acclimate them to the truth of the world as early as possible. It may be perceived as cruel but that would be fine as long as they learn.

"The Spirit Pagoda was destroyed… by only three people." Wu Zhangkong said seriously, his tone leaving no room for doubt.