"What requires my intervention?"
A blood-red silhouette materialized without warning.
Ye Xishui appeared atop the palace ruins, followed by streaks of light descending from the horizon—Zhongli Wu and several Holy Spirit Cult elders.
"Hunt down the Three Great Empires' forces!" Xu Tianran snarled at her arrival. "This time, I'll have Elder Kong cooperate with you. No matter the cost—we must eliminate them!"
The losses were catastrophic. Those armaments were not just the foundation of his invasion plans—they were Sun Moon's very security. Their disappearance meant indefinite war delays… and forced retreat into defensive isolation.
Even the wealthy Sun Moon Empire couldn't withstand this blow. The entire nation would soon have to tighten its belt.
"Heh. It seems the Emperor sought to steal chickens but lost the rice," Ye Xishui sneered.
Xu Tianran fell silent. She had no patience for trivialities—only one question burned in her mind: "Where is Dragon Emperor Douluo?"
The court froze.
Zhongli Wu's group grew uneasy.
Ye Xishui's dread solidified into icy certainty. Her eyes turned vicious. "Answer me! Where is our Sect's Grand Worship?!"
A terrifying aura erupted—chilling the entire palace.
"Ye Xishui! Remember your place—this is the Sun Moon Imperial Palace!" Kong Deming stepped forward, golden light flaring as he suppressed her volatility.
"Answer me! Where is Xiaoyao?!"
"…Dead."
Kong Deming hesitated—but Xu Tianran's cold voice cut through:
The word shattered Ye Xishui's sanity.
"Dead… dead… HAHAHA—Xiaoyao is dead!"
Her shrill laughter echoed through the ruins. Kong Deming acted instantly—a silver barrier enveloped Sun Moon's soul masters/engineers… excluding the Holy Spirit Cult members. Whether intentional or not, they were left exposed to the rampaging Death God Douluo.
"Why is Xiaoyao dead while you live?! He was a Limit Douluo—and you worthless maggots, weaker than his pinky finger, dare survive? What right do you have to breathe?!"
A blood-red phantom rose behind her. Eyes bleeding crimson, hands raised—her Blood Soul Puppet erupted with violent radiance. Twelve head-sized blood souls shot skyward, transforming into monstrous specters that flooded the palace with an aura of blood and slaughter.
Blood Soul Technique!
Ye Xishui's signature technique. Each blood soul required a century of cultivation—ten thousand vengeful spirits devoured each other until only the strongest remained. To grow this large, they'd consumed countless powerful souls.
Once unleashed, their resentment could shatter weaker souls—ripping them from bodies to feast upon.
"Ye Xishui! This is no place for madness!" Kong Deming's patience snapped. A silver moon rose behind him—golden and silver light intertwining. His aura matched hers perfectly.
The confrontation forced Ye Xishui to calm. Blood faded from her eyes—but deep wariness for Kong Deming remained.
"Who killed Long Xiaoyao?"
"Di Tian."
The name silenced her.
Only the Beast God could slay one of the Twin Saint Dragons.
"Di Tian… Di Tian…" Her whisper carried bone-chilling killing intent.
"Mother." Zhongli Wu dared speak only after her rage subsided. "Uncle Long…"
"Our sect lost a peak powerhouse. A pity…" Her tone held no emotion—as if Long Xiaoyao were merely a discarded tool.
Suddenly—
A figure shot toward the ruins, face etched with panic. But seeing the palace's devastation, he froze.
"What happened here?!" His eyes locked on Ye Xishui's group—hands tensing. "Did you do this?!"
Kong Deming and Xu Tianran stayed silent. Only Jing Hongchen answered: "The Three Great Empires' wolves attacked the palace. The chambers collapsed—His Late Majesty perished. Crown Prince Xu now ascends the throne in this crisis."
"His Late Majesty—!" The man wailed, though urgency outweighed grief. "Vice Commander Lu—why are you here? Weren't you and Commander Li guarding the eastern outskirts?"
In a breath, Lu's sorrow vanished. "Your Majesty—the legions face rebellion! Several Holy Spirit Cult Titled Douluos turned traitor. Chaos erupted. While racing here, I received identical reports from north, south, and west camps. Their commanders sent me to relay the crisis before returning to quell the unrest!"
"WHAT?!" ×n
—
Outside Mingdu
"Take these six soul bones."
Di Tian extended his claw—six bones floating above his palm. With a flick, he tossed them to Chen Junting without hesitation.
"All exceed 50,000 years. The skull and left arm bone are 100,000-year grade. The other four, tempered by a Limit Douluo's essence, rival 90,000-year bones. They all carry true dragon bloodlines—the skull belonged to an actual dragon. May they aid your artificial soul bone research."
"Senior Di Tian is generous indeed," Chen Junting sighed, accepting them anyway. Why refuse such treasures? Soul beasts can't use them anyway.
"You're a genius. You have the capability." Di Tian studied him deeply. "In all my years… you're the most capable human I've encountered."
"The Beast God flatters me," Chen Junting demurred. Such praise? Only after ascension could he dare accept it.
"Hmph. Humans—so hypocritical."
"This is called humility."
Di Tian shook his head, uninterested in debate. Sensing something nearby, he tore open space and stepped through. "Don't die, boy."
He vanished.
Moments later, twenty-plus streaks of light descended—landing before Chen Junting.
"You've got nerve," Zhi Yong said as Yang Zi Han rushed to inspect Chen Junting. Seeing him unharmed, she sighed in relief. (She'd learned of Di Tian snatching him from Zhi Yong's warning.)
"Aunt Yang, I'm fine," Chen Junting said helplessly.
Before she could scold further, Xuan Zi and Du Busi inquired about their disciples.
"They've withdrawn farther ahead," Chen Junting said, unfolding a Mingdu map. After orienting their position: "They're there. Let's rendezvous."
The group set off—and soon reunited with the younger generation. Even Zhang Lexuan's Mingde Hall raiders had arrived, having already discreetly divided their spoils. Only Ye Guyi, Gu Tianchen, and Huo Yuhao were absent.
"How will you withdraw?" Zhi Yong asked. "Travel together? We can support each other against legions or strong foes."
"Agreed," Du Busi nodded. "Which direction?"
"East—but we wait first." Chen Junting answered before others could speak. "My arrangements are active, but the chaos in the east will peak soon. Also, I sent some allies to rescue someone. They should return shortly."
Everyone trusted him implicitly—the night's success had proven his reliability.
—
Eastern Outskirts, Legion Camp
"Cough… cough… You evil soul masters truly harbor wolfish ambitions," Commander Li knelt, vitality fading. A gaping hole pierced his chest—only missing his heart initially had let him struggle this long.
But time ran out.
He glared at Dark Lightning Douluo before him. He won't escape either. This is a military camp—reinforcements will come!
"Cough… Today, we purge Sun Moon's filth! You and your cohorts won't leave this camp alive!"
Dark Lightning Douluo's lips curled into an eerie smile. "We never planned to leave alive…"
Because I was never truly alive.
Before the words faded—he struck.
Commander Li—dead.
Simultaneously—KABOOOOOM—!
A cataclysmic explosion erupted. The earth heaved. A mushroom cloud rose slowly.
"Heh… self-detonation? My turn soon."
—
Another Hidden Location Outside Mingdu
Identical devastation unfolded. A second explosion tore through the land—flattening the terrain, painting it crimson with no life remaining.
Three breaths later—spatial ripples shimmered. Gu Tianchen materialized, murmuring:
"Can a non-Super Douluo evil soul master really produce this level of self-detonation?"
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