After properly securing the corpses of Xuan Zi and Long Xiaoyao, Lu Cheng gently exhaled a breath of turbid air.
He gazed into the distance, where the aftershocks of a battle between top-tier powerhouses were still rippling outward, marking the final sunset before Mu En's death.
"Cough, cough, cough..."
He began to cough violently again. Opening his palm, he saw that the blood he had coughed up was stained with a hint of pitch black, as if it were highly poisonous.
This was the consequence of cultivating that cultivation technique. It was also its side effect.
Anyone whose martial soul is stripped away will die suddenly within a very short time. After all, the Martial Soul is the foundation of everyone on the Douluo Continent; it is like a heart, naturally existing within the human body. Even the most ordinary person can awaken a trash martial soul like blue silver grass, a hoe, or a brick.
Therefore, once a martial soul is stripped away, it means that one's life will not last long...
Once the cultivation technique is practiced, one's own essence is entirely gathered into the Martial Soul. At the same time, the Martial Soul and one's own physique gradually become incompatible, even repelling each other, which makes it easier for the person stripping the Martial Soul to exploit it. That is why Lu Cheng became increasingly weak earlier when he mobilized and operated his Martial Soul Avatar to fight.
"Can I still make it in time…? "
Lu Cheng suppressed his injuries and gazed into the distance. Putting his thoughts aside, his figure once again transformed into a crimson arc, flashing toward that direction.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the Star Dou Great Forest, Mu En sat on the ground.
He looked at the black-robed figure moving further and further away in the distance with a complex expression, letting out a long sigh of turbid air.
"So, I still couldn't keep her here?"
So, they had all guessed wrong. Ye Xishui actually possessed a divine skill like Phoenix Nirvana. He had thought he could kill her and prevent her from harming Shrek anymore, but she had managed to escape...
At this moment, the old man's hair had turned completely snow-white. Overnight, he had aged and weakened by several decades, and his figure became hunched once more.
"Things were not supposed to turn out like this..."
His eyes were vacant. Why did it evolve into this state? Where exactly...
"Wait!"
Mu En's pupils suddenly constricted. He seemed to have grasped something critical. The death of Shaozhe had been delayed by the sudden surprise attack of the Holy Spirit Cult, leaving him no time to think it through.
But now... he seemed to have grasped something critical. Mu En froze in place, his face turning increasingly pale.
"It seems that Elder Mu has also figured out the key, but unfortunately... it's too late."
A figure walked out from the side of the jungle. Lu Cheng smiled as he sized up Mu En, but he was not in a hurry to make a move. Instead, he sat cross-legged to the side, his demeanor somewhat lazy.
Just a man on the verge of death.
If he hadn't used his final strike, he might have been able to live for another two or three years. But now, his Limit Douluo body had completely become riddled with holes, and vast life essence was continuously flowing out from his body.
Even the Gold of Life would struggle to reverse the decline.
Meanwhile, a Grade 9 Fixed Soul Guidance Cannon shell suddenly detonated in the distance, followed by an endless stream of Soul Guidance rays and the booming sounds of Soul Guidance cannon explosions. Clearly, the army of the Sun Moon Empire had arrived...
"Heh..."
Seeing this, Mu En's eyes were complex yet relieved. That was... the exact direction in which Ye Xishui had fled.
No wonder. It turned out they had long since fallen into the boy's trap. The people he wanted to hunt were far more than just Xuan Zi; they also included him, the two Limit Douluo of the Holy Spirit Cult, and even the entire Holy Spirit Cult itself.
"I always thought you were born an evil seed and that joining the Holy Spirit Cult was like a fish in water, but I never imagined... that you had deceived us all. You were the one with the purest and kindest heart. Even in such circumstances, you never fell into becoming an evil soul master but instead remained concerned for the righteous path.
The younger generation is to be feared."
Mu En looked at Lu Cheng, who still wore a smile, his eyes calm and without a ripple.
"May I ask you three questions? Anyway, this old man, who is filled with evil, is about to be buried. Just consider it satisfying my curiosity before I die."
"Fine." Lu Cheng smiled lightly.
"When did you begin this plan?"
"That night, when you killed my family and Lexuan's family." Lu Cheng's tone was calm, without a hint of resentment or anger.
"Second question: Xuan Zi and Long Xiaoyao have likely died by your hands, haven't they?" Mu En glanced at Lu Cheng with deep meaning.
"Correct," Lu Cheng nodded.
"Third, now that we old folks who knew all the secrets from back then are dead, the other elders of Shrek Academy should not be on your death list, right?" Mu En stared intently at Lu Cheng.
"They are not." Lu Cheng's tone remained brief, and he shook his head.
"Then who will rule this continent in the future?"
"That is the fourth question," Lu Cheng said with a smile in his eyes.
"But I can answer it: the Sun Moon Empire, or to be more accurate, the Sun Moon Federation."
Unifying all forces is beneficial to everyone. Lu Cheng did not mind who dominated the unification.
"Phew… thank you." Mu En nodded softly, his breathing becoming increasingly weak.
"And I am sorry, child..."
...
Elsewhere.
"Your Highness, Crown Prince, Ye Xishui has been eliminated! Her corpse has been discovered, and many Evil Soul Masters who fled from the main battlefield of Shrek Academy have also been captured and killed by us."
On the deck of the airship, a messenger rushed over and landed in front of a young man sitting in a wheelchair, speaking respectfully.
"What about that guy?" Xu Tianran looked down beneath the airship with a complex expression.
He knew that from this moment on, the Sun Moon Empire would usher in its absolute brilliance and glory. But... everything was brought about by that man.
Before he left, what he said to him had completely shattered his worldview. He had never imagined that a guy with such outstanding talent would infiltrate the Holy Spirit Cult just to overthrow it.
He had won, but he won with a sense of confusion.
"After the encirclement and suppression, withdraw. There is no need to pay attention to him..." Xu Tianran waved his hand.
"But, given that guy's talent," an old man in armor nearby frowned, "if we don't eliminate him, he will surely become a major threat."
"He will die. There is no need to force him." Xu Tianran shook his head.
"Yes..."
...
"Lu Cheng, what are you doing?"
When Zhang Lexuan saw him again, she saw Mu En had passed away in his seat, his aura completely extinguished, while that figure, too familiar to be mistaken, stood to the side with a playful smile, sizing her up from head to toe.
"Two years no see, Level 92 Titled Douluo... Not bad. It looks like you haven't wasted your training these years."
"You killed Elder Mu!!!" Zhang Lexuan gritted her teeth, her beautiful eyes filled with murderous intent, glaring angrily at the still-composed Lu Cheng opposite her.
"You could say that." Lu Cheng stretched leisurely.
Continuing to build up Zhang Lexuan's rage.
"So, make your move. Let me see how much my whetstone has improved over these years and… whether you are worthy for me to kill now."
Lu Cheng curled the corners of his mouth, revealing a smile with a teasing tone.
Notes:
ദ്ദി(˵ •̀ ᴗ - ˵ ) ✧
Read advanced chapters at p@atreon/holyangelicdemon
(1/2) 100 PS Bonuses
Goals
5 Reviews 1 chapter
100 PS (Achieved)/ 10 Reviews 2 chapters
150 PS/ 15 Reviews 3 chapters