Know this—Wu Zhangkong wasn't just an ordinary six-ring Soul Emperor; he was a Second-Level Battle Armor Master.
With his battle armor, he could even fight eight-ring Soul Douluos. To reach this rare rank, his mental force was beyond compare among his peers.
But he hadn't noticed anything at all!
"Jie jie jie, who's this punk mocking the Holy Spirit Cult!" The black-robed man shrieked, his voice sharp and cold: "Feel the agony of disease! I won't kill you, but leave you tormented forever—"
As he finished, a black soul ring flashed; behind him materialized a grotesque monster, hurling clouds of greenish plague, his staff stirring the miasma toward Su Wen.
"Tch. Plague, is it?"
Su Wen replied calmly, raising his palm.
A dense blaze wrapped itself around the plague gas, the sizzle instantly consuming it. Only a wisp of black smoke floated up at the end.
Jiaojiao's Ultimate Fire power was handy indeed.
And since she'd advanced to Soul Sage, it was as formidable as a near-500,000-year-old beast.
"How...?" The Plague Douluo's pupils shrank. He'd never underestimated this young man, since his aura screamed top-tier, maybe even someone on the Continent Storm Rankings.
So he led with his ace move: Plague Source.
Yet it was dismissed so easily.
This one's tough—better scram!
"Planning to run?"
Su Wen smiled lightly.
The fire transformed instantly into a fire dragon, wrapping itself around the Plague user, burning away his black cloak and revealing a monstrous, hideous face.
The fire dragon carried him like he'd been cast into molten lava, his features twisting even more grotesquely.
"So strong..."
Wu Zhangkong's face tightened.
Handling things so easily—it was like watching a Title Douluo at work. Plus, that wasn't just any fire—it was Ultimate Fire, and the scariest part? Not a single soul skill used!
That fire dragon—it was shaped at his mere whim.
What insane control did that require?
Truly, fathomless...
Tang Wulin stared, equally in awe. Even among the "strong" he'd met in Eastsea, none compared. Yet his "Old Tang" always dismissed them as weak, telling him to go out and see the real world.
Who knew, just leaving "beginner's village," he'd run into someone this impossibly strong.
Someone who could even sense "Old Tang" himself?!!
Killing him would be as easy as squashing a bug.
"Ahhh!!!"
"Heavenly King, save me—!"
The Plague user screamed, half-melted, waving his staff helplessly.
Rumble—
A thunderous blast shuddered up ahead.
A long, ancient aura rose from the forward car.
Wu Zhangkong's eyes widened—this was close to Limit Douluo levels. The Holy Spirit Cult sent a monster like this?
No time to think—just everything in, and pray for a stronger rescuer to show up.
His body lit up with points of light—like armor pieces forming along his shoulders, chest, elbows, wrists, and waist, all connecting in silver streaks.
Battle armor transformation: complete with a new helmet; his Heavenly Frost Sword growing one size larger.
A bit over the top, perhaps, but the boost was real. His aura climbed to Soul Douluo ranks.
"Whoa! That's Battle Armor!" Xie Xie and the kids exclaimed.
Tang Wulin was stunned, seeing the Battle Armor he'd dreamed about. But his heart twisted with fear—if their teacher had to go this far, what on earth was he facing?
Sure enough—
The train's forward compartment seemed to tear open, as if by a spatial fissure. Out stepped a petite, teenage girl with pigtails, her big eyes pure and adorable. Her bell-like laughter sounded out: "Didn't expect this, handsome, did you...?"
"If you have any trump cards, now's the time. You won't get another chance," Wu Zhangkong advised Su Wen.
One of the Holy Spirit Cult's Four Heavenly Kings.
Such experts were legends, ranked on the Continent Storm Rankings' Top Ten.
"This is Battle Armor?" Su Wen sounded off-topic, asking instead another question.
Wu Zhangkong: "..."
His confusion deepened—the identity of a Battle Armor Master was rare and noble, but with such revealed strength, how could this youth not even know about battle armor?
"Yeah!" He nodded, only to violently change expression, swinging his sword forward.
A terrifying surge swept through the carriage.
But what happened next shocked everyone.
"Handsome why ignore me?"
Na Nali* closed in with scary speed, her sweet smile contrasting with her innocent looks—hard to believe a girl this cute was a ruthless evil cult leader.
She bent like a kitten, inhaling Su Wen's scent. Barely moving, she gripped Wu Zhangkong's giant sword with two slim fingers.
The sword's frost energy instantly evaporated—like a deflated balloon—completely suppressed...
"Urgh..."
Wu Zhangkong's face reddened, battle armor shining silver, but he couldn't swing even a centimeter.
Meanwhile, Na Nali studied Su Wen like a witch, smiling brightly, seemingly oblivious.
"So—if you be my boyfriend, I'll consider sparing the entire train. Handsome, there are two thousand people onboard~"
"And I'm not that old—just thirty-seven. We soul masters live over two hundred years, so a few years' age gap is nothing."
"What do you say?"
She batted her eyes, cheek in hand.
The entire carriage was tense.
The man across from Su Wen, who'd just been grumbling about dog food, looked mournful. This was forceful snatching of men and smashing of couples—though with an Evil Soul Master, expecting mercy was already "generous."
"The Four Heavenly Kings, Holy Spirit Cult?" Su Wen considered. He signaled at the seething Gu Yuena.
He pressed on: "Are you strong?"
"Of course. If you're my boyfriend, you'll rule the Holy Spirit Cult, second only to one. You can even ride sister all you want~"
Su Wen nodded.
"Then the first must be the Demon Empress?"
"..."
Silence fell.
What shocked Wu Zhangkong was that at the mention of the "Demon Empress," even this top-level villain showed a trace of disbelief—though she hid it quickly. She was clearly rattled.
"Curious kids shouldn't ask so much. Knowing too much is dangerous. But more than anything, I'm interested—where did you hear that name?" Na Nali giggled, face beautiful and mysterious.
At this point in time, only a few would even know the Demon Empress existed.
"So it is her..." Su Wen nodded.
"So, is she healing, or trying to break past level 100 and shatter the soul beast barrier?"
"..."
Na Nali shivered.
A cold chill swept her—for him to so casually mention the "soul beast" truth was truly horrifying.
Even the top human experts knew only of the Demon Empress's existence, not her identity.
This guy... A Holy Spirit Cult spy?!!
"So, can you tell me where the Demon Empress is? I want to catch up." Su Wen said sincerely.
He'd tried to trace her in previous timelines, but always failed. Maybe he'd have better luck a thousand years on.
As luck would have it, here he was.
Gulp—
Na Nali hesitated, eyes bewildered. She'd tried so hard to act like a madwoman—so why did the one before her seem even crazier despite an utterly calm face?
"Can you tell me? Or just take me there?" Su Wen stepped closer, voice even more earnest.
Na Nali edged unconsciously away.
Only now did she realize...
This one—he's the real lunatic!!!
"Sigh, don't want to tell me?"
Su Wen shook his head in disappointment.
His lips curled in a gentle smile: "Then I'll just have to force it out of you."
Boom!
Before another second passed, Gu Yuena—who'd been kept down with a mere glance—erupted with terrifying speed, launching herself at Na Nali with a punch.
The Dragon God, a million years of cultivation.
Even the peak Demon Empress couldn't match her, much less a mere rank-98 Evil Soul Master and three-word Battle Armor Master...
Wu Zhangkong could only watch in shock as Na Nali was struck in the chest by the white-haired girl's cushy fist, her face going pale as she was blown down the train like a rag doll.
Su Wen casually shielded everyone from the aftermath.
An instant later, the shockwave shattered every window in the car.
Most people covered their ears, stunned.
Wu Zhangkong was incredulous.
Even an expert of this stature—blown away by one punch?
Through the broken windows, the forest outside glimmered with clashing beams—a nine-colored one crushing a gray-black one. The nine-colored light only grew stronger, the other fainter.
On the girl's back, a dragon's shadow unfurled, radiating terrifying pressure.
Boom!
Gu Yuena soared after Na Nali, who looked almost like a beaten pig, her body mangled and ruined.
The white-haired girl stared down at Na Nali from above, no effort to hide her killing intent.
"Competing with me for a man? Bitch, do you think you qualify?!"
"Ugh..."
Na Nali coughed blood, unable to reply. Her eyes brimmed with despair.
All she'd planned was a little mayhem today with her squad.
Who knew she'd run into such monsters...
No wonder the youth was so calm. They were far from ordinary...
"Wait, you're not going to make me guide you?!!" Na Nali shouted in terror as it became obvious the girl would kill her.
"Heh, not needed." Gu Yuena's face was dark with jealousy.
She unleashed a nine-colored power from her fist, then landed another blow to Na Nali's gut.
Boom!
The shockwave rolled out.
Na Nali crashed into the ground below, a cloud of dust rising.
...
"She got away," Gu Yuena pouted, hands behind her back, acting coy.
"You let her go?" Su Wen glanced at her.
"How is it 'let'! More like... accidentally..." Gu Yuena muttered.
"Forget it—she's a tough one anyway," Su Wen said, shaking his head.
In a world without the God Realm's constraint, Limit Douluos had become far more common and powerful. A three-word, rank-98 beast could defeat even previous legends like Long Xiaoyao or Ye Xishui.
Times advance.
So do the means.
For a rank-98 to escape wasn't too surprising.
But of course, he'd already tagged her with a mark.
No matter where on Douluo, she couldn't hide.
Demon Empress...
Heh.
She won't escape.
...