Book 37: Vindictive Plans
Chapter 520: Assassinate Xu Tianran?
Xuan Ziwen twisted his lips and said, “How am I not being kind? At least I’m not hiding and withholding anything. I’ve imparted everything that I know to you. Otherwise, how could you have become a Class 9 soul engineer?”
Yes, Huo Yuhao was a true Class 9 soul engineer now. Even though he was not a Titled Douluo yet, he had completed the production of a Class 9 soul tool. This was unquestionable.
Huo Yuhao understood what Xuan Ziwen was saying. “Teacher Xuan, it’s not that I’m not teaching you. It’s that you aren’t understanding.”
Xuan Ziwen snapped, “That’s because I don’t have the Ghostcarving Blade!”
It had been a year and a half, but Xuan Ziwen and He Caitou still didn’t manage to learn the Rain Dragon’s Dance. They had only learned very minor parts of it. Their comprehension wasn’t deep enough, which meant that the strength of the Rain Dragon’s Dance couldn’t be fully unleashed.
“You can’t blame me for that!” Huo Yuhao said helplessly, “This Ghostcarving Blade has picked its owner. I have no choice.”
The reason why he could become a Class 9 soul engineer so quickly was because he had the Ghostcarving Blade and knew the Rain Dragon’s Dance. The more he used and understood them, the more he understood the mysteries of the Rain Dragon’s Dance. He had learned a lot. This was the same for his self-created soul skills.
“Teacher Xuan, when can we start?” Huo Yuhao asked.
Xuan Ziwen said, “No rush. I’ll conceptualize it first. Since you’re almost done with the outer shell, I’ll design a plan for this core part. Then we’ll discuss where to go from there. There’s no rush to take action. Given your current abilities, there should be no problem producing it.”
“Alright.” Huo Yuhao nodded.
Xuan Ziwen appeared pensive. “In fact, I’ve been thinking of how to make more extensive use of this model. If it works out, I believe we can change the entire world of soul tools!”
Huo Yuhao laughed bitterly. “How is it so easy? Haven’t we already conceptualized it? We wanted to produce a spiritual energy amplifier to amplify spiritual energy, but it’s too difficult. First, we don’t know how to start. Secondly, who’s going to test it?”
Xuan Ziwen also laughed bitterly, “You’re right. There’s no way of testing this thing. Furthermore, we can’t make any headway. Let’s take things slow. Let’s finish whatever you have first. Once we finish it, we can stun the world of soul engineers. When that happens, hehe…”
At this moment, a bald head poked through the door from outside.
Xuan Ziwen glanced up, and snapped, “What are you trying to do?”
He Caitou walked in from outside and chuckled, “I was afraid of disturbing the both of you.” He was now an official Class 8 soul engineer too, since his soul power cultivation had reached eight rings.
As a food-type soul master, it was very difficult to increase his cultivation. The Qiankun Fortune Pill was the most effective on him.
He Caitou sat in a chair and said, “Yuhao, can you make a trip to the academy? I heard Elder Xuan and the others have ended their retreat.”
After hearing He Caitou’s words, Huo Yuhao’s eyes brightened. Elder Xuan has exited his cultivation? That’s great!
When the Tang Sect gave one Qiankun Fortune Pill to Shrek Academy, Elder Xuan went into closed-door cultivation with Yan Shaozhe and Xian Lin’er. This was also decided after a conference in the Sea God’s Pavilion.
The reason why only the three of them took the pill instead of the rest of the elders was because the future of the academy
was taken into consideration.
The effect of the Qiankun Fortune Pill was indeed miraculous, but there were still limits. In addition, the condition of the person consuming the pill had to be taken into consideration too.
For a six-ringed or seven-ringed soul master, the effect would be much greater. However, for a Titled Douluo, the effect was much less pronounced. This was especially so for these Titled Douluo from Shrek Academy.
Hence, Elder Xuan, Yan Shaozhe and Xian Lin’er were chosen to consume the pill after much consideration. Elder Xuan was an obvious candidate because he was the Master of the Sea God’s Pavilion and a Rank 98 Transcendent Douluo. He had the most hope of becoming an Ultimate Douluo. What Shrek Academy lacked most right now was an Ultimate Douluo. As for Yan Shaozhe and Xian Lin’er, they were considered some of the younger ones in the Sea God’s Pavilion. However, they were already Transcendent Douluo. They had the greatest potential for improving further. Yan Shaozhe was already a Rank 96 Titled Douluo. Xian Lin’er was also a Rank 95 Titled Douluo. They were going to be the future pillars of Shrek Academy.
As a result, the three of them went into closed-door cultivation together and consumed the Qiankun Fortune Pill to break through their bottlenecks.
Even the elders of Shrek Academy didn’t expect them to be in closed-door cultivation for so long. They went into cultivation for one and-a-half years. How could Huo Yuhao not be surprised when He Caitou said that they had exited their retreat? He was most concerned about whether Elder Xuan had made a breakthrough and became another Ultimate Douluo after Elder Mu. If he was successful, it would be very beneficial for the academy and the Tang Sect.
“Teacher Xuan, I’ll go and take a look.” Huo Yuhao looked at Xuan Ziwen.
Xuan Ziwen nodded at him and said, “You can go. You don’t have to come over the next few days. I believe that I’ll need ten to fifteen days for my initial design. You can return after half a month.”
Huo Yuhao was officially a Class 9 soul engineer now. It also seemed like he was going to become better than Xuan Ziwen too. Hence, Xuan Ziwen was less strict on him. In terms of
designing soul tools, Xuan Ziwen was much more experienced. Furthermore, designing soul tools was very time-consuming. Huo Yuhao’s cultivation was rising very quickly. Furthermore, he was also very young, and his potential was unlimited. Seeing that Huo Yuhao was already a Class 9 soul engineer,
Xuan Ziwen offered him much more freedom.
“Alright.” Huo Yuhao was delighted. He finally had time to rest. The amount of energy he drained everyday from researching soul tools was much more than the amount of energy he drained from cultivating. Even though it was only six hours, his brain was operating at very high levels! He was extremely tired every day.
After exiting the laboratory, Huo Yuhao asked He Caitou, “Second senior, did the academy call anyone else apart from me?”
He Caitou chortled and said, “Alright, let’s quickly find Wutong and bring her along. He called for eldest senior, you and Wutong.”
Huo Yuhao was a little embarrassed as he laughed. He Caitou immediately knew what he was thinking.
Tang Wutong was just preparing to begin her meditation when Huo Yuhao returned. She was a little surprised, and quickly changed when she heard that the academy was calling her. After that, she went to the academy with Huo Yuhao.
After exiting the Tang Sect, Huo Yuhao suddenly felt as if his entire body had relaxed. He had not been out for a long time. It wasn’t just him. Tang Wutong had the same feeling too.
It had been close to two years since the two of them had reconciled with each other, and begun cultivating together, but the number of times they had left the Tang Sect in that time could be counted on one hand.
Very soon, they entered the inner city of Shrek.
Shrek City had been through enormous changes over the past few years. On the surface, the outer city didn’t look too different from the inner city. The only difference was that the exterior of the outer city appeared to be much more modern than the inner city.
The headquarters of the Spirit Pagoda was now in the outer city. This also brought Shrek City closer to the center of the three empires of the original Douluo Continent. Many soul masters came to Shrek City. The number of businessmen was even greater, and most of them came from the original Heavenly Soul Empire.
After the Heavenly Soul Empire was occupied by the Sun Moon Empire, these businessmen feared for their safety. For those who could, they chose to migrate. Naturally, Shrek City was their choice.
Shrek City was protected by Shrek Academy. It was a city that had even resisted the strength of a beast wave from the Great Star Dou Forest! It was definitely much safer than any empire on the original Douluo Continent.
In this way, Shrek City became much more vibrant. In just a few years, the city was now a concrete jungle. Furthermore, Shrek Academy had also learned from the strengths of the Sun Moon Empire, installing many soul tools in the new city. This earned the approval of many of the new migrants.
Widespread use of soul tools brought convenience. In the areas that the Sun Moon Empire occupied, some of the Heavenly Soul Empire’s citizens were still resisting the Sun Moon Empire. However, no such problem existed in Shrek City. Everyone only had good words for Shrek City.
“The changes to Shrek City have been immense!” Tang Wutong was in awe.
Huo Yuhao nodded and replied, “Yes! Right now, the scale of Shrek City is comparable to the Sun Moon Empire. Apart from the fact that we still need to work on our soul tools, the scale and popularity of the city is indeed comparable.”
Tang Wutong smiled and said, “Yes! I’m starting to like Shrek more and more.”
Huo Yuhao grabbed Tang Wutong’s hand and glanced at her. She turned slightly red, but there was a look of bliss on her face.
“My dear, you’re already a Titled Douluo. We’re not young anymore. Should we invite your family over and discuss our
marriage?”
Tang Wutong turned red and rolled her eyes at him. She said, “Are you saying that I’m old?”
Huo Yuhao laughed, “Of course not. I’m only trying to settle this matter as soon as possible. I can’t just wait forever! I’ve already been battered by your seal countless times. I’m starting to become traumatized!”
When Tang Wutong thought about how pathetic he was, she chortled and said, “Don’t rush. I’ll find a way to contact my father.” When she mentioned her father, a worried look flashed across her eyes.
Huo Yuhao didn’t notice the change in her expression. “Let’s go. Let’s not waste time and make Elder Xuan wait for us.”
The establishment of the new Shrek City caused Shrek Academy to be situated in the center. Shrek Academy’s Soul Tool Department and Martial Soul Department were both expanded. The Soul Tool Department and the Tang Sect’s Soul Tool Hall established close connections with each other, with the Soul Tool Department sending many talents to the Soul Tool Hall.
Although it was morning now, all the students were in class. When the two of them walked into the academy, the entire academy was quiet.
They crossed Sea God’s Lake and came to Sea God’s Island. The moment they landed on the island, Huo Yuhao and Tang Wutong saw someone familiar.
They were very obvious as they flew across the lake. That person naturally saw them too.
“Su Tong? How are you? It’s been awhile.” Huo Yuhao greeted her.
That familiar person was Su Tong, who possessed the Icesky Snow Lady and demonstrated her Ultimate Ice abilities during the Sea God’s Fated Blind Date.
When she saw Huo Yuhao and Tang Wutong, she was also slightly stunned. She was very pretty, and possessed the Icesky Snow Lady. Furthermore, she had a very elegant and cold aura about her.
When she heard Huo Yuhao’s greeting, she only nodded at him, but didn’t say anything. She turned around and left.
Tang Wutong covered her mouth and laughed. She said, “It seems like she still hates you.”
Huo Yuhao sighed and said, “It’s also a problem to be too handsome. Are you very proud of yourself?”
Tang Wutong twisted her lips and replied, “I don’t think so. When I was dressed like a guy back then, where were you? Why couldn’t I see that you were handsome?”
Huo Yuhao chuckled and replied, “Whether a guy is handsome can only be judged by a lady. The number one beauty in this world has already chosen me and become my wife. Doesn’t this mean I’m the most handsome guy in this world?”
Tang Wutong rolled her eyes and wanted to retort, but couldn’t really argue. “Since when did you become so thick- skinned?”
Huo Yuhao sighed and said, “I’ve been tortured by your seal every day. If I wasn’t thick-skinned enough, I would have been disfigured by now, don’t you think?”
Tang Wutong laughed and said, “Stop acting pitiful. Let’s quickly go, and not make Elder Xuan and the rest wait for us.”
When Tang Wutong and Huo Yuhao walked into the Sea God’s Pavilion, the long table in the main hall of the Sea God’s Pavilion was already fully seated. Apart from Huo Yuhao, the rest of the members of the Sea God’s Pavilion were present. Bei Bei was also one step ahead of him.
Elder Xuan was in the main seat. It didn’t seem like his appearance had changed at all. However, Huo Yuhao could still subtly feel something different about him.
Compared to before, his aura seemed to be much gentler and calmer. No soul power or spiritual undulations could be sensed from him. He seemed like an ordinary old man. Even his eyes appeared ordinary. However, his eyes couldn’t be so clear if he was just an ordinary old man.
“Ah, you’re here. Come, take a seat. Wutong, take a seat too.” Elder Xuan smiled as he nodded at Huo Yuhao and Tang Wutong.
It was only now that Huo Yuhao realized that there were two empty seats. It turned out that there was an extra chair beside his seat.
It was important to know that the circular table represented the Sea God’s Pavilion, even though it only seemed like an ordinary table. Only members of the Sea God’s Pavilion were fit to sit around this table!
Bei Bei and Huo Yuhao were the two existing Tang Sect disciples who were part of the Sea God’s Pavilion. Bei Bei represented the Tang Sect, while Huo Yuhao had earned his position because of his contributions to the academy. What about Tang Wutong? What did it mean that she had a seat today? Did it mean that the Tang Sect had another member in the Sea God’s Pavilion?
Since Tang Wutong had restored her memories, she had naturally returned to the Tang Sect. She was a member of Shrek’s Seven Monsters!
Huo Yuhao felt weird. Naturally, Tang Wutong had the same feeling. However, the two of them quickly sat down. They were already late. Therefore, they didn’t dare to waste everyone’s time any further.
Elder Xuan looked at Huo Yuhao and Tang Wutong and said, “Don’t the both of you feel weird? There’s actually nothing to feel weirded out by. That Qiankun Fortune Pill was enough to earn the Tang Sect another seat here. Furthermore, the Tang Sect has been getting stronger day after day over the past few years. The sect complements the academy. It’s only right that we increase the number of allocations of seats to the sect.
Wutong, you are the first member of the Tang Sect to become a Titled Douluo. You shall take this seat temporarily.”
If he was guessing earlier, Huo Yuhao could confirm it now. He immediately said with surprise, “Elder Xuan, have you succeeded?”
Elder Xuan smiled and there was a comforted look in his eyes. He answered, “I’ve finally overcome the last stage. It wasn’t easy! This bottleneck has been troubling me for years. I can’t even count how long I’ve been stuck. However, I’ve learned many things from this experience. It’s a step to heaven. No wonder it was so difficult.”
Huo Yuhao was delighted. “Congratulations, Elder Xuan.”
Elder Xuan waved his hand and said, “I feel a little regretful when I think of it. Such a magical pill like the Qiankun Fortune Pill shouldn’t be wasted on an old man like me. It should be given to younger people like the two of you. Alright, I won’t dwell on this. We’ll get to our main topic.”
“Before both of you came, we’d already voted, and decided that a new seat shall be given to the Tang Sect. Apart from you, we’ve already agreed on that through voting. Let’s get to the topic of our discussion.”
Huo Yuhao was delighted. He turned his gaze to Yan Shaozhe and Xian Lin’er. The two of them also appeared much more vibrant. They had also benefited greatly from more than a year of closed-door cultivation. Given Yan Shaozhe and Xian Lin’er’s original cultivation, an increase of just one rank in their cultivation was still a massive increase. At the tier of a Transcendent Douluo, one rank was one entire level!
Elder Xuan said, “The Sun Moon Empire hasn’t made a move over the past two years. They are so quiet I’m a little afraid. However, they’ve sealed all information even more tightly than before. Almost all their borders are covered with aerial surveillance soul tools. The three empires of the original Douluo Continent have exhausted all the means at their disposal, but they’ve not gotten any concrete information.
“Xu Tianran is very ambitious. His disability has also made him an anti-hero. Not long ago, ambassadors from the three empires came together and invited us to join them on a mission. They didn’t reveal any details, but they said it was
targeted at the Sun Moon Empire’s Radiant City. They hope we can send someone strong to join them. Everyone, please tell me what you think.”
Xian Lin’er asked, “Elder Xuan, what’s their goal?”
Elder Xuan said, “Assassinate Xu Tianran. Their reason is also very good. Xu Tianran only succeeded the throne not long ago, but he’s already invading other empires. He’s also achieved outstanding results. If Yuhao didn’t help the Star Luo Empire regain control of the Ming Dou Mountain Range, I’m afraid bigger problems would have surfaced. Furthermore, Xu Tianran’s position in the Sun Moon Empire has also stabilized through this war. He’s gotten rid of all his enemies, including his brothers that fought with him for the position of Emperor. He’s very brutal, but he’s effective. He’s aggressively developing offensive soul tools. We’ve been accumulating our strength over the past two years, but the Sun Moon Empire has been doing the same. I believe they’ll attack on all fronts again in the future. This time, they’ll be even more powerful than before, and we’ll have a harder time resisting them.”
Elder Xuan paused for a moment as he spoke until here. Then, he said, “From this assassination plan, we can tell that the three empires have also detected this danger that’s
brewing. This is why they’ve decided to make a move. Assassinating Xu Tianran won’t be easy. He’s bound to be surrounded by powerful individuals. However, the mission has already been put into motion. It can’t be stopped anymore. Not many people will be involved, but they are all very strong. They didn’t come here in the belief that we’ll definitely help them. After all, we are still a neutral force, since there’s no war. They only hope to borrow one person from us.”
Borrow?
All the members of the Sea God’s Pavilion were shocked when they heard the word ‘borrow’. They were here to borrow one person? Who was that person?
Only Huo Yuhao revealed a bitter smile when he heard Elder Xuan’s words. The rest couldn’t guess, but how could he not? It was indeed not good to be overly famous!
Although he was very famous among ordinary soul masters, he rarely appeared. However, who didn’t know how effective he was?
Without his surveillance and help, the Star Luo Empire wouldn’t have regained control of the Ming Dou Mountain Range. It was also his penetration that greatly weakened the Sun Moon Empire’s frontline army. Without even mentioning the rest, his concealment and ability to resist aerial surveillance soul tools was highly looked upon by the three empires.
Huo Yuhao guessed it. So did Bei Bei and Tang Wutong.
To be honest, Huo Yuhao didn’t want to leave this time. He was stuck at Rank 89. It had been almost a year. He had been working very hard to try to reach the next rank, but he couldn’t do it. Furthermore, Tang Wutong was back at his side. He had already started to like this peaceful life over the past two years. He really didn’t want to take a risk now that he had a loved one by his side.
Elder Xuan turned his attention to Huo Yuhao. “Yuhao, tell me what you think.”
Huo Yuhao lowered his head and said, “If the academy wants me to go, I’ll go. I’ll listen to the instructions of the academy.”
Elder Xuan smiled and said, “Don’t you like to torture yourself? Why do you look so forced now?”
Huo Yuhao lifted his head, and appeared calm again. He smiled and replied, “I’m not! However, Elder Xuan, can you consider this my graduation test if I leave this time?”
He had not forgotten his graduation test. He had already produced two Class 9 stationary soul cannon shells for Shrek Academy. As for challenging Dean Yan Shaozhe, he had not done so, as he was in closed-door cultivation. However, two out of the three years that the academy had given him had passed.
Originally, Huo Yuhao had wanted to become a Titled Douluo first before challenging Yan Shaozhe along with Tang Wutong. Should that happen, he would be more confident. However, it seemed like he couldn’t do it before completing this mission.
Elder Xuan nodded and said, “Alright, this mission is tough enough. We’ll use it as your graduation test. I can also promise you that you won’t need to challenge Shaozhe after you finish this mission. It would mean that you are qualified enough to graduate.”
After hearing Elder Xuan’s words, everyone’s expressions turned weird. Huo Yuhao’s graduation test could be the most difficult in the history of Shrek Academy. At least, no one had done something like this before.
Huo Yuhao nodded and replied, “Alright, I’ll go on this mission, then.”
“Elder Xuan, I’ll go with him.” Tang Wutong said without hesitation.
Huo Yuhao turned his head to look at her and shook his head seriously. He could take the risk, but he was not bringing Tang Wutong along with him on this dangerous mission. Even though he knew that his fighting strength was much greater with her around, it was not something that he wanted. There was nothing more important than her safety.
Tang Wutong also looked at him and smiled. She said, “If you don’t let me go, I’ll play hide and seek with you again. Do you think it’s better for me to remain by your side and be protected by you, or for me to leave and you to be unable to find me when you get back?”
“This…” Her words stumped Huo Yuhao. He couldn’t possibly run the risk of losing her again. Suddenly, there was a bitter smile on his face.
Tang Wutong said seriously, “I’m not trying to scare you. I’m thinking of a way to bring my father here to see you. If you leave and my father comes, he’ll insist on leaving with me. I can’t reject him. This is why I can only follow you to ensure that we are always together.”
Huo Yuhao couldn’t say anything else, and only laughed bitterly. “You can follow me, but you have to listen to me.”
Tang Wutong’s expression turned gentler, and she hugged his arm, saying, “Since when have I disobeyed you?”
Huo Yuhao turned red. It wasn’t that he was easily embarrassed. It was because this was a conference in the Sea God’s Pavilion! They had to be the first couple to do this in the Sea God’s Pavilion.
Bei Bei held in his laughter and lowered his head. The elders didn’t have any misgivings, and only started chuckling.
Elder Xuan smiled, “Younger people are indeed more energetic! Alright, we’ll do it this way. Yuhao and Wutong will
go. Yuhao will be the leader. If Wutong doesn’t listen to you, I give you permission to smack her butt.”
This time, Tang Wutong was the one who turned red. She complained, “Elder Xuan, you’re teaching him the wrong things.”
Elder Xuan laughed and said, “I’m always like this. You should have known when you first met me.”
Wasn’t he right? When they first met him, he was a drunkard. Apart from drinking, he was always eating chicken drumsticks.
Bei Bei said, “Elder Xuan, should the Tang Sect send a few more people to follow Yuhao and Wutong? I’m still a little worried. The Sun Moon Empire…”
Elder Xuan gestured and replied, “No, it’s not always better with more people. It might be easier to escape with fewer people. Given Yuhao and Wutong’s abilities, they should be able to escape easily. Yuhao, you must remember that you aren’t the one leading this mission. It’s mainly being
spearheaded by those from the three empires in the Douluo Continent. What you have to do is coordinate with them. Don’t risk your life. When it comes to the assassination, you don’t have to be a part of it. This was why I agreed with them. Otherwise, I wouldn’t let you go. Your job is to help conceal everyone. Once you meet with any danger, you must quickly abscond no matter what. You must treat your safety as the first priority. Understand?”
Huo Yuhao nodded and answered, “Elder Xuan, I know my limits. I’ll do my best to help them. If it doesn’t work out, I won’t force the issue.” He might still be willing to risk his own life if it was before finding Tang Wutong. As for now, he wanted to safely live out his life with Tang Wutong! He was more afraid of death than anyone else!
After this, issues regarding Shrek City and the training of the soul engineer legions were discussed.
Currently, Shrek Academy’s three soul engineer legions had been established. They had been fully equipped half a year ago. Right now, the soul engineers were undergoing training.
For the soul engineer legions to demonstrate their greatest fighting strength, it was something that couldn’t be accomplished overnight. They had to coordinate perfectly with one another first.
As one of the three soul engineer legion commanders, Huo Yuhao still hadn’t had a chance to train with his own soul engineers.
However, the strength of the three soul engineer legions could be seen after all the continuous training. They now had a certain standard of fighting strength. However, everything regarding these three soul engineer legions was being kept a secret. Even the three empires in the original Douluo Continent didn’t know anything about these three soul engineer legions. They only knew that Shrek Academy would be using them to deal with the Sun Moon Empire in the future.
As time passed, the Tang Sect strengthened the equipment of the three soul engineer legions, especially in terms of stationary soul cannon shells. After Huo Yuhao succeeded in inventing Class 4 stationary soul cannon shells using simplified materials, many more stationary soul cannon shells were produced over the past two years.Some of them were left in
Shrek City, while the rest of them were sold to the three empires as a means of strengthening their armies.
At the same time, the Tang Sect also used the Zhuge Divine Crossbow Cannons to increase their revenue. In just a short two years, the Tang Sect’s wealth had increased significantly.
As for the exact numbers, Huo Yuhao wasn’t very clear. Bei Bei was the one settling it. Compared to the others, he and Tang Wutong’s most important mission was to increase their own cultivation. After all, they would be the Tang Sect’s greatest fighting strength in the future.
The conference only ended after two hours. Elder Xuan kept Huo Yuhao and Yang Wutong behind.
As he watched the rest leave, Elder Xuan nodded at the two of them and said, “Follow me.”
Elder Xuan brought both of them into his room. Huo Yuhao closed the door and excitedly said, “Elder Xuan, congratulations once again. You’ve finally become an Ultimate Douluo.”
Elder Xuan sighed and said, “It’s not easy to become an Ultimate Douluo! I finally found some tricks to doing it. It’s going to be as difficult for you to become a Titled Douluo as it was for me to become an Ultimate Douluo. One problem you’ll face is the formation of your second soul core. You can only
become a Titled Douluo by forming your second soul core. However, once you succeed, there’ll be no one as strong as you. This is because you’ll have two soul cores. These two soul cores will help you to become a Transcendent Douluo as quickly as possible. Of course, you’ll need to learn how to form your third soul core when you want to become an Ultimate Douluo in the future.”
Huo Yuhao’s eyes brightened. He knew that Elder Xuan wanted to impart some tricks for forming his second soul core. It was right in time. Right now, he was most concerned about when he could become a Titled Douluo.
When he formed his first soul core, he was very confident. He felt that it wasn’t going to be difficult for him to form his second soul core in the future. At most, he would only be stuck at a bottleneck for some time. However, over the past nine months, he had been struggling at this bottleneck. It was only then that he realized how scary it was.
During the process of forming his second soul core, his first soul core would undoubtedly be involved. He couldn’t stabilize his second soul core even with his spiritual power. At the start, he couldn’t even form a soul power whirlpool. Although his control had increased over time, he couldn’t stabilize his soul
power whirlpool every time. It would be destroyed quickly. From there, he lost all chance of making a breakthrough.
Elder Xuan said, “If you want to form your second soul core, the greatest problem is not with your cultivation. With my cultivation, I could have already become an Ultimate Douluo. The real problem is with your control – control over your soul power, spiritual power, and your first soul core.”
Huo Yuhao nodded. What Elder Xuan mentioned were the problems he was facing.
Elder Xuan said, “The successful formation of your first soul core can greatly help you to compress your soul power and make it even more immense. When the quality of your soul power improves by leaps and bounds, you’ll experience massive improvements in terms of the strength, volume and restoration ability of your soul power. This is why your abilities transform significantly when you become a Titled Douluo. The formation of your second soul core will differ
greatly from the formation of your first soul core. This is also why it’ll be so difficult for you to become an Ultimate Douluo. The formation of your second soul core can occur in many different ways, according to my years of experience. These different ways will lead to different effects.”
Oh? There are different ways of forming my second soul core? Elder Xuan’s words undoubtedly opened another door for Huo Yuhao. He listened to Elder Xuan very seriously along with Tang Wutong. These were exactly the problems that they were facing.
Elder Xuan continued, saying, “When Elder Mu first guided me, he was pointing me in the direction of ‘Resonance’. He was also saying that the first problem I’ll need to settle before my second soul core forms is the disruption caused by my first soul core.”
“When your first soul core forms, it becomes the core of your soul power. All your soul power will circulate around it as the center. Simply put, your first soul core is like a circle, and all your soul power revolves around it. Your first soul core has a great impact on your soul power. This is why your soul power can be compressed as much as possible using your first soul core.”
Chapter 521: Two Cultivation Methods of the Second Soul Core
“When you want to form your second soul core, you’ll inevitably infringe upon your first soul core. Instead of there being one center, there’ll be two centers. Your first soul core will generate intense resistance. This is because you are disrupting the circulation of your first soul core by forming your second soul core. That’s why it becomes particularly difficult, and you’ll face a lot of interference.”
Huo Yuhao nodded. Elder Xuan’s description fit the situation he was facing right now exactly.
Elder Xuan continued, “It seems like you understand what I’m saying! Don’t tell me that you’ve already begun trying to form your second soul core?”
Huo Yuhao laughed bitterly and replied, “I’ve been on it for some time, but I’ve not managed to make much progress. Otherwise, why would Wutong a Titled Douluo, but not me? We’ve been cultivating together, and the standard of our soul power roughly the same. This second soul core has been troubling me for a long time.”
As he looked at Tang Wutong before looking at Huo Yuhao, Elder Xuan couldn’t help but sigh. “Impressive! Yuhao, you must remember never to rush trying to form your second soul core. If you are overly zealous, you might run amok. When that happens, even an immortal can’t save you.”
“Alright.” Huo Yuhao was petrified. When Elder Xuan mentioned the words ‘run amok’, there was an obvious terrified look in his eyes. If even someone like him could become terrified, it showed how frightening running amok was.
Elder Xuan laughed bitterly. “It almost happened to me once. I was much younger then, and therefore much more impulsive. If not for the fact that Elder Mu was by my side and helped me with the trouble, you guys wouldn’t be able to see me. Even so, I lay in bed for a good three years before I recovered my vital energy. For the next ten years, I didn’t dare to try forming my second soul core.”
Huo Yuhao was stunned. “So frightening?”
Elder Xuan nodded seriously and said, “Yes, it’s very terrifying. Don’t forget that the successful formation of your first soul core means that your soul core is basically a soul power grenade that has been greatly compressed. When it’s stable, it is a source of soul power. But if it isn’t stable, its explosiveness is demonstrated. Once it blows apart, not even a streak of your spirit will be left behind. Don’t you think it’s
terrifying? When I almost ran amok, there was a slight crack on the surface of my soul core before Elder Mu forcefully covered it. That’s why the worst didn’t happen. Otherwise, I would have been finished.”
“Alright, since you are already at this stage, you should be able to sense it deeply. I’ll continue talking and you’ll continue to listen to me intently. It’ll be useful for your future breakthrough.”
“Yes.” Huo Yuhao acknowledged respectfully.
Elder Xuan continued, saying, “There are two known methods of forming your second soul core. Most soul masters choose the first method, Resonance, which I mentioned earlier. To prevent your second soul core from disrupting your first soul core, you must first listen to your first soul core and respect its existence. During the formation of your second soul
core, you must first find the rhythm and frequency of the circulation of your first soul core. When you attempt to form your second soul core, you must first resonate with your first soul core. This will minimize any disruption. Your second soul core must circulate and compress to the standard of your first soul core, before picking up speed and creating two centers instead of one. What’s needed is soul power compression and revolution. However, the new core will be along the straight line of the diameter of the two circles combined. Since it’s bigger, it can consolidate and compress more soul power. This is the reason why Ultimate Douluo are so strong.”
So that’s why!
If not for Elder Xuan’s explanation, Huo Yuhao would have taken another ten years to understand this concept. He might not have even learned the technique, and faced the possibility of running amok.
Elder Xuan said, “Although it’s difficult to form your second soul core through resonance, you can succeed if you keep trying and your soul power and control are strong enough. Just like Elder Mu, the Darkness Holy Dragon, the Death God Douluo and myself, you should be walking this path.”
Huo Yuhao was curious as he asked, “Elder Xuan, how de you know that Ye Xishui and Long Xiaoyao also took this path?”
Elder Xuan smiled and said, “If they didn’t, the result would be completely different.”
“Are you talking about the second method?” Huo Yuhao asked.
Elder Xuan nodded and said, “Yes. Using resonance to form your second soul core is comparatively safer. This is because your first soul core is still the main one. The formation of your second soul core will follow the frequency of revolution of your first soul core, and thus not many problems will occur between your first and second soul cores. However, if you use another method to form your second soul core, the danger is much greater. Of course, the benefit is as great as the danger. The other method is ‘Yin Yang Complement’.
“Yin Yang Complement?” Just like Resonance, this was Huo Yuhao’s first time coming across such a cultivation term.
Elder Xuan nodded. “It’s Yin Yang Complement. What this means is that the second soul core will follow a different path from the first soul core during its formation. It’ll be like forming a new soul core from scratch. The second soul core will have nothing to do with the first soul core. It’ll also be fully disrupted by the first soul core. If your soul power revolves towards the left when you first form your first soul core, then your second soul core has to revolve towards the right. Everything must be completely different from the first soul core.”
Huo Yuhao was astonished. “How is that possible? Didn’t you say that the first soul core becomes the center of all my soul power after it forms? If my second soul core revolves in the opposite direction from my first soul core, wouldn’t it become a target, and cause me to run amok?”
Elder Xuan shook his head and said, “No, you’re right. Your second soul core must revolve in the opposite direction as your first soul core within the sphere of influence of your first soul core. While the resistance is very great, you can achieve independence of your second soul core as long as it can complete a revolution. Let me now tell you how you can easily run amok given certain conditions. It happens the most easily when there’s chaos during the process of forming your soul core, rather than when your soul core revolves. You’ll face a
major problem when any sort of chaos leads to disruption in the entire process. As a result, you should only use the Yin Yang Complement if you are strong enough and persistent enough. You must maintain the counter-revolution with all your might, and slowly allow your second soul core to form its own world within the control of your first soul core. This will make it truly independent, and immunize itself from the
disruption of the first soul core. Then, it can improve and strengthen to reach the same standard as your first soul core. Once the strengths of your two soul cores are similar, there’ll be one major conflict. During this conflict, an explosive-like fusion will occur. If it succeeds, your second soul core will be formed. From there, an extremely strong twin soul core balanced by Yin and Yang will be formed. If you fail, you die!”
Huo Yuhao was stunned. Even though this was just Elder Xuan’s description, he could already sense how difficult it was to achieve such a balance.
“Surely there isn’t anyone who’s chosen this method, right? It’s too dangerous. Furthermore, what will it be like even if you succeed, given that your two soul cores are revolving in opposite directions? Wouldn’t there always be a conflict within your body?”
Elder Xuan smiled and shook his head, “There are still those who try. Although I’ve never heard of any human soul master succeeding as of yet, the twin soul core that’s formed is the strongest if success is attained. Let me ask you, how should a whirlpool move such that it’s at its fastest speed?”
Huo Yuhao was puzzled as he asked, “Isn’t it just by revolving?”
Elder Xuan replied, “The correct answer is a combination of push and pull. Think about it. If two whirlpools move in two opposite directions, what will happen between these two whirlpools? Any soul power that’s stuck between the two whirlpools will immediately form another whirlpool due to the opposing forces, but this new whirlpool will be forced away.”
After listening to Elder Xuan’s words, Huo Yuhao only heard a loud boom in his head. A very important doubt that he had had all this while was finally answered.
He said almost immediately, “Elder Xuan, did Di Tian use the Yin Yang Complement?”
Elder Xuan was stunned. “You actually guessed it. That’s right. He did use that method. That’s why he’s so strong. The reason why he succeeded was because he had been accumulating his strength for a long time. Furthermore, he’s physically strong. As for how he did it, I’m not sure. However, I think he’s the only one who has succeeded among all the known individuals and soul beasts. As a result, it’s without a
doubt that he’s the strongest among all Ultimate Douluo. If he fights with all his strength, I don’t think Long Xiaoyao and Ye Xishui would be his match even if they combined forces.
Di Tian had always been Huo Yuhao’s goal. The more he understood this Beast God, the more he felt how terrifying he was.
He had actually used the Yin Yang Complement to form his twin soul core. As he thought of how Di Tian circulated his soul power, it all made sense to him. Yes, his soul power appears as small whirlpools. That must be the effect of a balance of Yin and Yang. Each of those small whirlpools contains immense soul power. Compared to ordinary an Ultimate Douluo, the amount of soul power he can store is much greater. No wonder even his projection can scare off Ye Xishui. He’s indeed the Beast God!
Elder Xuan said, “You shouldn’t be thinking about the Yin Yang Complement. It’s too dangerous. While your body is strong, you can’t compare yourself to the Beast God. After all, humans and soul beasts are biologically different. That’s why you shouldn’t go and take the risk. Just follow the principle of Resonance to cultivate. You possess Ultimate Ice and twin martial souls. As long as your second soul core forms successfully and you work towards your third soul core to become an Ultimate Douluo, it’s not impossible for you to reach Di Tian’s abilities.”
Huo Yuhao laughed bitterly in his heart. If it’s already so difficult to form my second soul core, what about my third soul core? I’m afraid no one in the history of Shrek Academy has cultivated a third soul core.
Elder Xuan then provided more advice to Huo Yuhao. He revealed everything that he had experienced to Huo Yuhao and Tang Wutong.
“Alright, you just need to remember what I said. Don’t attempt a breakthrough anytime soon. It’s very dangerous. I must be around to protect you when you try. This is so that the risk you are facing is at its lowest.”
“Alright.” Huo Yuhao acknowledged his words.
Elder Xuan said, “The mission will take place in ten days. Meet the rest of the people who are going over the following days. You are very familiar with the meeting place, which is the Ming Dou Mountain Range. Both of you can proceed there first and rendezvous at the White Tiger Duke’s camp. When everyone is there, you’ll set off. Remember what I said. Both of you are there to help only. Aren’t you very good at concealment? Don’t reveal all your abilities. Don’t become a target. That applies for both you and Wutong.”
“Elder Xuan, don’t worry. To protect Wutong, I won’t take the risk.” Huo Yuhao assured Elder Xuan once again.
Huo Yuhao wasn’t too worried about this mission. In fact, he was a little skeptical of such a mission. Was it so easy to assassinate the leader of an empire? Furthermore, whether they would like to admit it or not, the combined power of the
Sun Moon Empire was the greatest in all the empires of the Douluo Continent. He was very familiar with the defensive strength of their soul tools. Assassinating Xu Tianran would be extremely difficult.
However, since Elder Xuan let him go, he still had to make this trip. Huo Yuhao wasn’t against it. However, he didn’t hold any hope of achieving any results on this mission.
Even though he wasn’t purely there for a show, he made up his mind to regard safety as the main priority. He wasn’t going to take any unnecessary risks.
With their brand-new Haodong Power, Tang Wutong and his fighting strength was much greater than before. Along with the fact that his survival ability on a battlefield was very great and he had a wealth of experience, he was very confident of preserving his own life.
After returning to the Tang Sect, Huo Yuhao immediately pulled Tang Wutong back to his room to meditate. He could only focus during his meditation. He needed to fully understand what Elder Xuan was describing earlier, and turn his experience into comprehension.
Over the next few days, Huo Yuhao did some preparatory work. It was only on the ninth day that he and Tang Wutong bade goodbye to the rest of the Tang Sect. They quietly left Shrek City and proceeded towards the Star Luo Empire’s borders.
After entering the borders of the Star Luo Empire, Huo Yuhao was astonished to find out that there were aerial surveillance soul tools in the Star Luo Empire. Although there weren’t many of them, it was better to have some than not to have any at all. Evidently, Shrek Academy wasn’t the only one that had intensified their research in this area. After suffering during the war, the three empires of the original Douluo Continent also strengthened their research in this area. It wasn’t possible to catch up to the Sun Moon Empire, but it was better than nothing.
Huo Yuhao and Tang Wutong held hands as they flew through the sky. Their soul power circulated in their bodies, and they both had a flying-type soul tool on their backs.
Huo Yuhao and Tang Wutong’s flying-type soul tools were made by Huo Yuhao personally. They were Class 9 soul tools.
Compared to other Class 9 soul engineers, Huo Yuhao’s greatest advantage was the speed with which he produced Class 9 soul tools. He didn’t design these two flying-type soul tools. Rather, Xuan Ziwen was the one who designed them. He only produced them, which took five months in total. Although they weren’t the best Class 9 soul tools, they were definitely exquisite work.
They were dim-blue. Such a color helped the soul tools blend into the sky. At such a level, remaining hidden was more important than the superficial design of the soul tool.
As their circulated their soul power, the speed of their flying- type soul tools was immediately increased to the speed of sound. Of course, the length of time that they could maintain such a speed, as well as how quick they were depleted, was directly related to the volume of their soul power. With Huo Yuhao and Tang Wutong’s current cultivation, they could only maintain such a sonic speed for about fifteen minutes. However, if they used their Haodong Power, that time would be increased to an hour. An hour was sufficient for them to cross half the empire. This was why Huo Yuhao was very confident that they could protect themselves.
Class 9 soul tools would definitely not just have one ability. These two flying-type soul tools were equipped with soul thrusters. If these thrusters were boosted, they would be able to travel up to three times the speed of sound. Even that could only be maintained for a moment, there were many occasions that unexpected effects could be achieved.
Of course, not just anyone could use such an ability. This was because the burden on one’s body as a result of using this ability was very great. Any soul master with less than seven rings would blow apart due to the immense pressure when traveling at such a great speed.
Huo Yuhao and Tang Wutong were both talented. Tang Wutong was already a Titled Douluo, while Huo Yuhao was at Rank 89. Both of them could use such an ability.
Xuan Ziwen called these two flying-type soul tools Supersonic Wings. Xuan Ziwen was even proud enough to claim that these two flying-type soul tools were capable of being ranked among the top ten flying-type soul tools on the continent. This was because Class 9 soul engineers would rarely focus their energy on producing such soul tools.
To produce a Class 9 soul tool, a Class 9 soul engineer must be willing to sacrifice a lot of energy. At the same time, he must possess sufficient resources too.
Originally, Shrek Academy and the Tang Sect didn’t have a lot of rare metals. However, as time passed, the development and prosperity of Shrek City attracted a lot of businessmen. This provided Shrek City and the Tang Sect with a lot of new resources.
The Tang Sect’s soul tools were also being sold. Soul tools were very profitable. By trading soul tools for rare metals, the Tang Sect managed to gather sufficient resources. While the Sun Moon Empire had many Class 9 soul engineers, the demand for resources was also very high. However, only Xuan Ziwen and Huo Yuhao required resources in Shrek City. This was why all the top-grade materials were all with them, and enough to support their production demands.
Huo Yuhao and Tang Wutong maintained one-fourth the speed of sound as they flew. This was already very quick, and it was also a speed that ensured that they would remain in their best condition. With the circulation of their Haodong Power, they could maintain a balance between the depletion and restoration of their abilities.
Huo Yuhao said, “Wutong?”
“What?” Tang Wutong glanced at him.
Huo Yuhao squinted and said, “What would you think if I chose the Yin Yang Complement to cultivate my second soul core?”
Tang Wutong was astonished and replied, “Yuhao, don’t take the risk! Didn’t Elder Xuan mention that it’s very dangerous?”
Huo Yuhao replied, “It is, but the benefits are great too. If I succeed, I believe I can become as strong as a Transcendent Douluo when I become a Titled Douluo. I still remember how Di Tian’s strength descended upon me when I faced Ye Xishui at the Ming Dou Mountain Range. I clearly felt that his soul power appeared in the form of soul cores. It was extremely strong. Every streak of his soul power was forcefully compressed. He could even force the Death God Douluo away although my body was very weak back then. In the future, I will need to fight the Beast God. If my second soul core is weaker than his, it’ll be very difficult for me to challenge him in the future.”
Tang Wutong creased her brows. “However, it’s too dangerous. Furthermore, even if you use Resonance to cultivate your second soul core, you can still cultivate a third soul core in the future! When that happens, you can still challenge the Beast God with three soul cores. In addition, why do you need to challenge the Beast God?”
Huo Yuhao sighed and replied, “I have my own difficulties. Di Tian gave me a piece of his reverse scale. He says that it protects me, but it’s actually spying on me. Once my future cultivation reaches a certain standard, or once I develop some kind of special understanding, it’ll interfere with me. To remove this reverse scale, I need to defeat Di Tian. Otherwise, I won’t be able to reach the peak in the future.”
As he spoke, he opened the buttons at the front of his shirt and revealed the piece of reverse scale to Tang Wutong.
When Tang Wutong saw he pitch-black reverse scale, an angry look flashed across her eyes. “Di Tian, hmph!”
Huo Yuhao grabbed her hand and said, “This is why I need to choose the best method at every stage of my cultivation. It’s
only then that I can challenge him. After all, Di Tian has dominated the continent for years. There’s a reason why he’s the strongest.”
Tang Wutong turned her head and looked at Huo Yuhao. She asked seriously, “If you used the Yin Yang Complement, how confident are you? Also, have you ever thought of the fact that you’ll have to cultivate a third soul core? Otherwise, you won’t become a Titled Douluo. If you use Resonance instead, you’ll use the same method when it comes to your third soul core. It’s just more difficult compared to your second soul core. However, how are you going to do it if you used the Yin Yang Complement? At least, I don’t have a clue. Di Tian has been famous for hundreds of thousands of years, but he only has two soul cores. Doesn’t he want a third soul core? He must not have succeeded so far. This shows how difficult it is to cultivate a third soul core after using the Yin Yang Complement to cultivate a second soul core.”
“Yes.” After listening to Tang Wutong’s words, Huo Yuhao nodded. He definitely knew that her words were very logical. However, he was indignant!
“Wutong, whichever method you use, a third soul core has always been a myth. When I chose to form my first soul core, I did it to increase the speed of my cultivation. I’m not sure if I
can continue to create miracles when it comes to my third soul core. However, I believe that I can challenge the Beast God even if I don’t become an Ultimate Douluo if I use the Yin Yang Complement to cultivate my second soul core. Don’t forget that I’m also a Class 9 soul engineer. When I become a Transcendent Douluo in the future, I can try to become a Class 10 soul engineer. That’s why I really want to try.”
Tang Wutong nodded and said, “How confident are you then? Or rather, what can you rely on? If it’s too dangerous, I won’t let you try at all.”
Huo Yuhao replied, “Honestly speaking, I’m a little confident. I’ve been cultivating every day. You should be able to sense how strong my body is.”
After hearing his words, Tang Wutong turned slightly red. “Who’s sensing your body?”
Huo Yuhao also chuckled, “See, thinking isn’t healthy. I’m talking about my physical strength. I’ve taken a lot of treasures. I’ve also been nourished by the Life Gold. My life energy is much stronger than most ordinary soul masters. I’m confident in this aspect. While almost all the Manifold
Mysterious Ice Essence in my body has been absorbed, there’s still some left in my spirit. Once I try for my second soul core, this strength can be tapped into. Forming a soul core requires a lot of energy. It should be able to satisfy this requirement. Also, my spiritual power is strong enough.”
“We’ve been tirelessly cultivating over the past two years. I’m also astonished by the improvements to my spiritual power. I’m not sure about the exact level of my spiritual power now, but I feel that I’m at the tier of a Transcendent Douluo. This will help me with the control of my soul power, which far exceeds that of ordinary people.”
“I really want to give it a go. Even if it’s dangerous, I’ll invite Elder Xuan to protect me. I’m sure I can deal with any danger in time.”
Seeing that he was so persistent, Tang Wutong nodded after pondering for a moment. She replied, “Alright then. You can give it a go. However, you must not force the issue.”
Huo Yuhao was delighted. In fact, if he couldn’t force it, he wouldn’t want to hide anything from Tang Wutong. Even if
there was a possibility that they would be separated, he would rather give up on his cultivation.
Tang Wutong revealed a slight smile on her face. “In that case, I’ll choose the same path as you when I reach Rank 98 in the future. You’ll need to impart your experience to me then.”
Huo Yuhao was a little helpless as he commented, “You’re so competitive!”
Tang Wutong replied, “I’m not competitive. I just cannot lag behind you.”
“Alright.” Huo Yuhao didn’t stop her. Given her abilities, she wasn’t any weaker than him, especially in terms of her talent. Huo Yuhao could subtly sense that her abilities and potential had become a little unpredictable ever since she had returned as Tang Wutong.
When Tang Wutong became a Titled Douluo, it was when Huo Yuhao was creating a Class 9 soul tool with Xuan Ziwen. Huo Yuhao didn’t know how she made a breakthrough, but he
knew that she owned her own Spirit after that. Her ninth soul ring was her Spirit.
As for cultivating her second soul core, it was still too early. She had to try first before she could determine anything. If Huo Yuhao opposed her now, he was just looking for trouble.
Their journey was very peaceful. The Star Luo Empire’s aerial surveillance soul tools couldn’t possibly detect them. The two of them were close to the Ming Dou Mountain Range by noon time.
The Ming Dou Mountain Range was a very important location. Here, there were many more aerial surveillance soul tools. Furthermore, the Star Luo Empire’s army had also been re-deployed. Even though it was difficult to tell what the re- deployment was like, it seemed like there had been major changes. Without a doubt, these changes were made in accordance to the Sun Moon Empire’s fighting strategy.
When they were still fifty kilometers from the Ming Dou Mountain Range, Huo Yuhao deliberately held onto Tang Wutong and slowed down. They were then discovered by the aerial surveillance soul tools.
This was to avoid any unnecessary trouble. After this, both of them drifted in the air and waited.
Indeed, the Star Luo Empire reacted very quickly. In just a short period of time, a group of soul masters flew towards them using flying-type soul tools.
There were ten of them. Perhaps it was because the Star Luo Empire had managed to get an upper hand over the Sun Moon Empire when they used such small groups, but they had started to fancy them.
This group of soul masters was very friendly. Evidently, they had been waiting near the aerial surveillance soul tools. In addition, Huo Yuhao and Tang Wutong came from the mainland. It was more likely that they were friendly instead of hostile.
Huo Yuhao retrieved the letter for this mission that Elder Xuan had passed to him. He was immediately recognized and led towards the Ming Dou Mountain Range by this group of soul masters.
For some reason, Huo Yuhao felt different every time he came to the Ming Dou Mountain Range. He was about to meet the White Tiger Duke again. This time, he was much less hateful than before. However, there was some reluctance on his part to face the White Tiger Duke again.
Every time he thought of how the White Tiger Duke had hugged him and flown into the sky, he would have some kind of weird feeling. Even if he was unwilling to admit it, he knew that he was proud to have such a father. Without the White Tiger Duke, the Star Luo Empire’s borders wouldn’t be in such a state. In addition, the pressure on the Heavenly Soul Empire wouldn’t have fallen so quickly either.
The White Tiger Duke was indeed a cornerstone figure!
Tang Wutong whispered, “You’re a little nervous.”
Huo Yuhao forced a laugh, “No I’m not!”
Tang Wutong chuckled and said, “How dare you deny it? Your hands are already full of sweat. Don’t worry. I’m by your side.”
“Okay.” After hearing her words, Huo Yuhao felt much more relieved.
The main peak of the Ming Dou Mountain Range was where the Death God Douluo and Di Tian had clashed. Right now, the White Tiger Duke’s commander tent was located on this main peak.
Huo Yuhao and Tang Wutong were escorted there.
Evidently, the mountain had been through some changes. It was very flat now. The edges of it bristled with soul tools, which made it seem as if there were soul formations present. Among them were Zhuge Divine Crossbow Cannons. They were even present in the greatest numbers.
Slightly further back were other tents. The White Tiger Duke had chosen this mountain to place his commander tent because the view was the best from here. The situation in the Sun Moon Empire could be most easily observed from this mountaintop.
In terms of surveillance, the Star Luo Empire had indeed put in a lot of hard work. At least in terms of defense, these surveillance soul tools had helped greatly. On a few occasions, some small-scale penetrations by soul engineers from the Sun Moon Empire were discovered, and dealt with in time.
As they landed, Huo Yuhao and Tang Wutong were directly led into the tent by the group of soul masters that had received them.
Before he even entered, Huo Yuhao unleashed his Spiritual Detection, as he often did. There were more than ten people in the tent. Each of their auras was also very dominant, and fairly strong. However, none of them noticed Huo Yuhao’s Spiritual Detection.
Huo Yuhao held onto Tang Wutong as he walked into the tent. Once he entered, he became the focus of everyone’s attention.
There was a huge table in the center of the tent. The White Tiger Duke was standing at the edge of the center of the table. When he saw Huo Yuhao, a surprised look flashed across his face.
Dai Yueheng and Dai Luoli were both there as well, behind the White Tiger Duke. Dai Yueheng was dressed like a general, while Dai Luoli was dressed as a bodyguard.
Huo Yuhao was familiar with many of the people around the table. Among them, the one who caught his attention the most was Du Busi. He was actually here.
It was rumored that he had suffered critical injuries when at the border of the Heavenly Soul Empire, and only barely managed to escape. It seemed like he had recovered from his injuries.
Apart from Du Busi, Princess Wei Na and Princess Jiujiu were also here. As for the rest, they were all Titled Douluo. There were even some Transcendent Douluo there.
When he saw Huo Yuhao, the White Tiger Duke immediately came up to receive him. He laughed and opened his arms towards him. “Yuhao, you are finally here. It’s great to see you again!”
Before Huo Yuhao had time to react, the White Tiger Duke gave him an embrace.
Huo Yuhao felt his heart tremble. He subconsciously opened his arms and hugged him back. However, there was a slight throbbing look in his eyes.
After the hug, the White Tiger Duke also said hi to Tang Wutong. When he looked at Huo Yuhao again, there was a teasing look on his face. Huo Yuhao and Tang Wutong had held hands and walked in together earlier. He had clearly seen it.
Chapter 522: Missions, Plans
Dai Luoli had been following the White Tiger Duke, Dai Hao, and he stared at Huo Yuhao with eyes brimming with excitement. He wanted to say something, but Huo Yuhao stopped him with a look.
Princess Wei Na and Princess Jiujiu came forward to make their greetings one after another.
From their perspective, Huo Yuhao naturally couldn’t compare to these people standing inside the tent in terms of strength. But in terms of status, he was either at the same status with everyone else, or perhaps even greater. He could be considered a key figure who had turned the tide of battle!
Huo Yuhao greeted everyone one after another.
The Titled Douluo had different expressions when they looked at him. The Body Douluo, Du Busi had no expression at all, but the other Titled Douluo mostly reacted with shock.
Huo Yuhao and Tang Wutong were the last to arrive out of everyone who was participating in this operation. Some of the others had been here for a day or two, while there were some who had been here for six or seven days. Even though Huo Yuhao and Tang Wutong weren’t late, that disparity caused
some of the most powerful individuals in the world of soul
masters to be displeased.
The White Tiger Duke held Huo Yuhao’s hand and walked inside with him before he turned to everyone else and said, “Come, let me make an introduction. Huo Yuhao is a gifted student from Shrek Academy, and he is known as the Eye of the Asura. Don’t look down on him because he’s young. Back then, he was a great help to us, and the Star Luo Empire probably wouldn’t have been able to retake the Ming Dou Mountain Range without him.”
The Titled Douluo who were here were naturally split into three different parties according to which empire they were from. The Titled Douluo who were from the Star Luo Empire all smiled and tilted their heads slightly as a gesture of amiability and friendliness. They had fought side by side with Huo Yuhao back then, and they had sufficiently experienced the tremendous benefit that his Spiritual Detection conferred on the battlefield. Furthermore, he had triggered the Beast God’s strength in an epic battle against the Death God Douluo.
That gave the Giant Hammer Douluo, the Shattered Star Douluo, and the others a deep and lasting impression.
The Titled Douluo from the Heavenly Soul Empire were comparatively more boastful and arrogant. Even though they knew this individual was closely and directly related to the tremendous explosion that had occurred inside the Sun Moon Empire’s army, many of Shrek Academy’s powerful individuals were there after all. From their perspective, that success was more attributable to Elder Song and Yan Shaozhe’s abilities.
The Dou Ling Empire’s Titled Douluo were most unfamiliar with Huo Yuhao. These Titled Douluo were the ones who were clearly displeased that Huo Yuhao and Tang Wutong had arrived so long after everyone else did.
What were Titled Douluo? They held strategic importance within a nation, and any Titled Douluo enjoyed an extremely elevated status in their respective empires. They all possessed a kind of arrogance and pride that was unique to them.
One of the Dou Ling Empire’s Titled Douluo looked on as the White Tiger Duke was so warm and passionate to Huo Yuhao even though he had arrived late. He smiled plainly and said,
“You’re too modest, Duke. We know that credit for reclaiming the Ming Dou Mountain Range belongs to you!”
The White Tiger Duke wasn’t stupid, and he could immediately tell the displeasure in this elderly man’s tone. He hurriedly said to Huo Yuhao, “Come, Yuhao. Let me make the introductions. This is the Heavenly Sun Douluo, and he’s from the Dou Ling Empire. He’s a hundred and fifty years old, and he’s belongs to the world of soul masters’ older generation. He’s a Rank 97 Transcendent Douluo, and he’s very powerful. This operation is directed mainly by the Body Douluo and the Heavenly Sun Douluo.”
“Greetings, Heavenly Sun Douluo.” Huo Yuhao gave the Heavenly Sun Douluo a light bow. He probably wasn’t that different from him in terms of seniority. Huo Yuhao was the Dragon God Douluo Mu En’s disciple, and Elder Mu had been more than two hundred years old when he had passed away. Therefore, Huo Yuhao was actually considered very senior, as he was here as Shrek Academy’s representative.
The Heavenly Sun Douluo saw that Huo Yuhao only bowed a little, and displeasure immediately appeared in his eyes. He said plainly, “Heroes emerge from the younger generation after all! The new generation of youngsters is better than the older
ones. Seems like us old ones are indeed quickly retreating from history.”
Princess Wei Na laughed and said, “Don’t say that, Heavenly Sun Douluo. You’re old, but still strong and healthy. You can still reign supreme over the world of soul masters for another hundred years without any problems.”
The Heavenly Sun Douluo’s attitude was a lot better towards Princess Wei Na as he chuckled and said, “I can’t live for another hundred years. Perhaps brother Du might have a chance.”
Du Busi said plainly, “That’s enough. Let’s not flatter each other. Since everyone is here, let’s prepare for the operation, as time is of the essence. Dai Hao, you’re the one who came up with the plan. Tell us about it.”
The White Tiger Duke nodded and said, “Our operation is called the Emperor Killing Operation, and will be jointly executed by five Titled Douluo each from the Heavenly Soul Empire, the Dou Ling Empire, and the Star Luo Empire. We will proceed to the Sun Moon Empire and assassinate the emperor, Xu Tianran.”
“Even though Xu Tianran is still young, he’s an incredibly ruthless and ambitious character of his generation. War in the future is inevitable as long as he’s around. The Sun Moon Empire is becoming stronger, and we will lose the initiative and end up on the back foot if we don’t make a move. The Sun Moon Empire will descend into chaos if we can assassinate Xu Tianran. His brothers will definitely fight with each other for the throne. After all, his son hasn’t been born for too long, and it’ll be hard for him to ascend to the throne when he’s only a year old.”
A thought occurred to Huo Yuhao as he heard the White Tiger Duke’s words. Xu Tianran’s son… doesn’t that mean he’s also Ju Zi’s child? Ju Zi has given him a child.
Ju Zi’s voice and smile surfaced in Huo Yuhao’s mind, and a kind of discomfort surfaced in his heart. No matter what, he shared some sentiments with her back then. He had saved her life before, and she had saved his. This time, their operation was targeted at the Sun Moon Empire’s emperor, Xu Tianran, who was also Ju Zi’s husband! If they successfully assassinated Xu Tianran, Ju Zi would no longer have a husband, and her child would no longer have a father.
Huo Yuhao heaved a sigh inside as his thoughts stopped there. Ju Zi was right that his heart was too soft, especially toward people that he cared about.
Not even Tang Wutong knew about the thoughts that were surfacing in Huo Yuhao’s mind. She thought that he was a little moody because he had met the White Tiger Duke.
The White Tiger Duke continued, “It is undoubtedly extremely difficult to assassinate Xu Tianran. But the Douluo Continent’s three native empires will benefit greatly if our operation is successful. That’s the reason why I have invited everyone to take this risk in this operation. From my perspective, the most crucial component of our operation is how we are to enter the Sun Moon Empire’s territory and infiltrate Radiant City. As long as we can infiltrate Radiant City undetected, we will have practically completed half of our mission.”
“Our spies in the Sun Moon Empire have risked death to relay some intel to us. Roughly seven days from now, Xu Tianran will participate in the Sun Moon Empire’s Grand Sacrificial Ceremony. He’s the emperor, so he will undoubtedly be the one performing the sacrificial rites at the ceremony. That’s the best opportunity for us to execute our mission.”
“Of course, there will undoubtedly be many powerful individuals by his side during the ceremony. Furthermore, the Sun Moon Empire is adept with all kinds of soul tools. Xu Tianran definitely has a formidable automatic soul tool on him. Therefore, we have to draw the expert fighters by his side away if we wish to assassinate him. So, we have to split our operation into two parts.”
“All fifteen members will be divided into two teams. The Body Douluo will lead one, while the Heavenly Sun Douluo will lead the other. The Body Douluo will lead the four other Transcendent Douluo, with the exception of the Heavenly Sun Douluo, and they will prepare to give Xu Tianran a thunderous and fatal blow. The Heavenly Sun Douluo will take the others to create a diversion during the day of the Grand Sacrificial Ceremony.”
“The target of our diversion will be the arsenals inside Radiant City. There are many arsenals in Radiant City, but the most important arsenal is in the city’s eastern outskirts. It’s relatively far from where the ceremony will be held, and it stores large masses of sealed Milk Bottles and stationary soul cannon shells. Once the arsenal is attacked, the disturbance will be large enough that Xu Tianran will be alerted. They will be sent into disarray, and the Body Douluo’s opportunity will
arise when that happens. They will attack Xu Tianran amid the chaos, and everyone will retreat after a single strike. Please be safe, everyone, whether or not the mission is successful.”
The plan didn’t sound very complicated, but there were definitely many problems with the details.
How they were to infiltrate the Sun Moon Empire and then Radiant City would be a very important problem before they could even execute their mission. The plan wasn’t very intricate, and everything had to be played by ear.
Huo Yuhao frowned a little after listening to the White Tiger Duke’s plan. A plan that was as vague as this definitely had less than a fifty percent chance of success. Furthermore, their assassination target was the Sun Moon Empire’s emperor. How could the White Tiger Duke have a plan like that? This wasn’t like his standard at all! The White Tiger Duke shouldn’t make a mistake like that with his intelligence.
This operation had an absolutely magnificent lineup. The Body Sect’s leader, Du Busi was still a Rank 98 Transcendent Douluo, even if he his cultivation hadn’t increased for a long time. He was second only to an Ultimate Douluo. And even
though the Heavenly Sun Douluo seemed a little displeased with Huo Yuhao, he was still a Rank 97 Transcendent Douluo; he was likely to be the strongest individual in the Dou Ling Empire. They were at the helm of this operation. If the operation failed and they died in the process, it would be a fatal blow to the Douluo Continent’s three native empires!
Huo Yuhao had many doubts in his mind, but he was the youngest here, so it wasn’t very appropriate for him to ask too much.
Du Busi nodded and said, “That’s roughly the plan, but we have to talk more about the details. There isn’t much time left, and we have to infiltrate the Sun Moon Empire as quickly as possible.”
The White Tiger Duke nodded as he turned towards Huo Yuhao beside him. “Yuhao, concealment and infiltration are your strengths. Do you have a way of bringing everyone into the Sun Moon Empire’s territory without being discovered?”
Huo Yuhao said, “Entering the Sun Moon Empire isn’t difficult, but there are aerial and super-high aerial surveillance soul tools everywhere inside the Sun Moon Empire’s territory. After our previous encounters, the Sun Moon Empire have worked hard on their ground-based aerial surveillance soul tools. Therefore, in order for us not to avoid being discovered after entering the Sun Moon Empire’s territory as much as possible, I think the best way is to proceed on foot. The aerial surveillance soul tools cannot have oscillation or thermal detectors attached to them, so as long as we avoid the big cities, we shouldn’t have a problem reaching Radiant City’s proximity peacefully. We’ll break into groups once we reach Radiant City, and we’ll disguise ourselves before he sneak our way into Radiant City. That should also not be difficult. But…”
He paused for a moment.
The White Tiger Duke asked, “But what?
Huo Yuhao continued, “If we wish to reach Radiant City without leaving a trace at all, I hope that everyone can listen to my commands along the way, at least before we reach Radiant
City. That is the only way for me to guarantee that I can bring everyone to the right location.”
“Listen to your commands? Little fellow, how old are you?” One of the Dou Ling Empire’s Titled Douluo asked disdainfully.
The White Tiger Duke frowned, and he was about to say something when the Star Luo Empire’s Shattered Star Douluo lowered his voice and said, “We will listen to whoever is better. We concede that Yuhao is better than we are at concealment and infiltration, and I agree for him to lead us into Radiant City, and I will listen to his commands.”
The Star Luo Empire’s Titled Douluo nodded one after another and expressed their approval.
The Heavenly Sun Douluo’s eyes narrowed. “Are you that confident, little fellow?”
Huo Yuhao smiled faintly. He didn’t seem affected at all by the doubts that the Dou Ling Empire’s Titled Douluo were projecting onto him. “If everyone is willing to listen to my commands during the process, then I do have some confidence.
Of course, I am not asking any of you to do anything, I just hope that everyone will move according to my Spiritual Detection when we are executing the mission, so that we can avoid leaving any traces behind.”
The Heavenly Sun Douluo laughed and turned towards Du Busi. “Brother Du, the youngsters are so impressive nowadays! At least, they are definitely much more confident than we were back in the day.”
“I agree.” Du Busi said coldly.
The Heavenly Sun Douluo’s face froze. Du Busi actually agreed? He had an arrogant and prideful personality, but he was willing to let this little fellow lead the operation?
Du Busi nodded in Huo Yuhao’s direction and said, “Since we are to proceed on foot, time is of the essence. We will leave tomorrow morning.”
Huo Yuhao nodded and acknowledged, “Alright.”
The Titled Douluo returned to their respective tents to rest, while the White Tiger Duke requested for Huo Yuhao and Tang Wutong to remain because he wanted to hold a welcoming dinner for them.
A tableful of food that wasn’t considered too sumptuous was set out in the commander’s tent. There was meat and rice, but there wasn’t any alcohol. The White Tiger Duke had banned alcohol in his camp, and he led by example.
“Yuhao, welcome back to the Ming Dou Mountain Range. Let me use tea in place of wine and raise a toast to you.” The White Tiger Duke raised his teacup to express his sentiments to Huo Yuhao.
Huo Yuhao touched the White Tiger Duke’s teacup gently with his own and said plainly, “You’re too polite, Duke.” Huo Yuhao finally relaxed after interacting with the White Tiger Duke. He stared at the man, who clearly seemed a lot more worn out than before, and he realized helplessly that his own hatred for this man seemed to have become increasingly faint.
“You have travelled far, and you must be hungry. You should hurry and have something to eat.” The White Tiger Duke
laughed as he spoke.
Princess Jiujiu and Dai Yueheng accompanied them for dinner. Dai Luoli didn’t seem worthy enough to sit at this table due to his status in the army.
Dai Yueheng was sitting opposite Huo Yuhao, and complicated looks appeared in his eyes from time to time. He was already an eight-ringed Soul Douluo, and in terms of cultivation, he was even more outstanding than the White Tiger Duke was back when they were the same age. However, his advantage didn’t seem like anything in front of Huo Yuhao. Huo Yuhao was seven years younger than he was, but he had already established a resounding reputation in the world of soul masters.
That was especially so for the Spirit Pagoda, which had been developing at an exponential rate over recent years. The Star Luo Empire had their own branch of the Spirit Pagoda, and all soul masters would be proud that they could obtain a Spirit for themselves. The organization’s status in the world of soul masters naturally rose accordingly through the ranks, and their influence increased and expanded at an incredible speed. And the young Huo Yuhao, who was right before him, could be considered the founder of the Spirit Pagoda!
Princess Jiujiu was also staring at Huo Yuhao as strange colors flickered in her beautiful eyes. Huo Yuhao gave her a different feeling every time they met. For instance, what she felt about him in this moment was an immeasurable depth. Yes, she couldn’t even tell what cultivation rank he had reached.
They enjoyed their dinner and exchanged some tea before the White Tiger Duke asked someone to light the lamps inside the tent.
Dai Luoli and Princess Jiujiu left. The White Tiger Duke, Huo Yuhao, and Tang Wutong remained inside the commander’s tent.
“You have something to say to me, sir?” Huo Yuhao asked.
The White Tiger Duke nodded gently as he turned towards Huo Yuhao. He lowered his voice and said, “Yuhao, this operation is extremely dangerous. If not for the fact that your abilities are far too important, I wouldn’t have asked Shrek Academy to let you come. You have to remember that your responsibility is to take them safely into Radiant City, but
concealing them will be sufficient. You don’t need to participate when they begin their attack, and once you detect that something is wrong, you have to escape and return. Do not care about the others. Do you understand?”
A thought occurred to Huo Yuhao, and he could clearly read between the White Tiger Duke’s lines.
“Lord Duke, this operation has mobilized perhaps the most elite soul masters across the continent’s three original empires. To be frank, I don’t quite favor this mission. The plan is not detailed and thorough enough, and our enemies are too powerful. Our chances of success are really not favorable. If I act according to your words and don’t participate in the attack, what will happen to them if I leave by myself? If they perish in the Sun Moon Empire, the impact to us…”
The White Tiger Duke fell silent. Huo Yuhao’s senses were incredibly sharp, and he discovered, to his surprise, that a dash of embarrassment flashed across the bottom of Dai Hao’s eyes.
“Yuhao, I cannot explain too much to you. You have to remember to act according to what I’ve said, and ensure your own safety above all else.”
Huo Yuhao’s expression gradually became solemn as he listened to the Duke’s words. Even though he didn’t explain things explicitly, he had spoken clearly enough, and it was evident that this mission had some nuances to it. It definitely wasn’t as simple as it appeared on the outside. But the White
Tiger Duke was unwilling to explain what these nuances were, and something was clearly holding him back.
“Alright, I understand.” Huo Yuhao didn’t probe any further. Even though he hadn’t interacted much with the White Tiger Duke, they were related by blood after all! Even he didn’t expect himself to subconsciously trust his father, even though they had never identified as father and son.
The White Tiger Duke nodded seriously and said, “Please act according to what I’ve said. Do remember that.”
“Yes.”
Huo Yuhao and Tang Wutong were arranged to stay in a tent on the mountaintop, and allocated one room each. But of course, they chose to sleep together.
Tang Wutong shut the door as she lowered her voice and said, “It seems like there are many problems with this operation! The White Tiger Duke is trying to warn you.” She could see that Huo Yuhao’s eyes seemed a little strange. Others didn’t know about his relationship with the White Tiger Duke,
but how could she not know? Judging from his emotions, his hostility against the White Tiger Duke didn’t seem as strong as before. This was fantastic from Tang Wutong’s perspective, since no matter what, they were father and son after all! Furthermore, she knew that this hatred had been bothering Huo Yuhao for a long time.
Huo Yuhao nodded and said, “He must have his reasons for not being able to explain. I don’t think there will be any problems in the first part of this mission, but it’s hard to say what the situation will be like after entering Radiant City. In the end, our task is to bring those Titled Douluo into Radiant City, and what they do has nothing to do with us as long as we complete our task. What the White Tiger Duke was trying to tell me was exactly that, and that’s why he kept reminding me again and again.”
Tang Wutong looked on as Huo Yuhao looked like he was contemplating. She asked probingly, “He seems very concerned about you.”
Huo Yuhaoo glanced at her. “Just ask whatever you wish to ask, Wutong. We don’t have to beat about the bush with each other.”
Tang Wutong punched his shoulder gently and said, “You’re so annoying, I’m just concerned about you. I think that your hostility towards him doesn’t seem as strong as before.”
Huo Yuhao forced a laugh and said, “Even though I’m not willing to admit it, that appears to be happening. In the days that you were gone, I went back to see my mother’s grave. It has been repaired and renovated, and he should be responsible for that. Afterwards, when we fought in the Star Luo Empire, we interacted a little more. I have been affected, and that’s inevitable. But I have to avenge my mother.”
Tang Wutong nodded silently and said, “Let’s talk about that after everything else. No matter what their mission’s target is, their final goal is the same: to deal as heavy a blow as they can to the Sun Moon Empire so that their invasion can be delayed. Let’s return to the academy after completing our task.”
She didn’t continue the conversation, like she wanted to avoid talking about it. The reason for that was because she
understood that trying to change the hatred in Huo Yuhao’s heart overnight wasn’t possible. In the end, he had been bullied a lot when he was young, and his mother had died from her illness. These things were closely related to the White Tiger Duke’s Mansion, and she could thus only gradually reduce the hatred in his heart. Even if he had to take his revenge in the future, at least he would control himself in what he would do.
Huo Yuhao said, “You’re right. No matter what their target is during this operation, their final aim will be the same. We just have to do what we have to do. There’s only one person I want to protect, and that’s you.”
Tang Wutong giggled. “I’m a Titled Douluo, so we’ll see who has to protect who.”
Huo Yuhao laughed and said, “You can protect me too! Come, protect me, quickly.” He opened his arms to Tang Wutong as he spoke.
Tang Wutong laughed as she dodged away. “Have you forgotten how much it hurts?”
Huo Yuhao immediately pulled a long face. “My dear, you have to ask your father to come when we go back this time and remove his seal. Otherwise, I’m going to go crazy.”
Tang Wutong giggled. “I think it’s pretty good this way. You’ll just have a slight taste of it. Isn’t it always wonderful to have something to look forward to?”
Huo Yuhao put on a depressed face and said, “You are beautiful. I have been too stifled.”
Tang Wutong blushed as she said, “Hurry up and cultivate.
All you know to do is speak frivolous things.”
Two people sat opposite each other in a tent not far from them. It was the Body Douluo, Du Busi, and the Heavenly Sun Douluo.
“Brother Du, are we really going to listen to that little fellow’s commands along the way?” The Heavenly Sun Douluo asked Du Busi with a little displeasure in his voice.
Du Busi nodded and said, “Don’t underestimate that little kid, Heavenly Sun. He’s surprised me more than once already, and he has a spiritual-type martial soul. He has very unique abilities concerning concealment. Our operation is about to begin, are you a little nervous? Otherwise, why are you so flustered?”
The Heavenly Sun Douluo sighed and said, “It’s not possible that I’m not even a little nervous. Looking at the Heavenly Soul Empire’s situation, I’m truly worried about the Dou Ling Empire! The Dou Ling Empire’s national strength is inferior to the Heavenly Soul Empire. Once the war starts again, if the Heavenly Soul Empire cannot hold our enemies back, we will fall as well. Therefore, our operation needs to happen. However, I don’t trust that little fellow who’s just a little older than twenty. He’s too young. If we are exposed before we even enter Radiant City, then we don’t have a chance at all.”
Du Busi said plainly, “That’s why I said you’re being nervous. Have you not paid attention to that youngster’s aura? Can you
tell what his cultivation rank is?”
The Heavenly Sun Douluo was momentarily surprised. “He probably has around seven soul rings. I felt their soul power undulations before this, and they’re both around seven soul rings.”
The Body Douluo, Du Busi shook his head and said, “No, you will realize after closer scrutiny that their true strengths are very unlike what they appear on the surface. Their soul power undulations of a seven-ringed soul master are fake. That kid’s spiritual power is extremely strong, and even I was almost fooled. However, I realized upon closer inspection that his spiritual power is deep and vast like the ocean. I cannot tell what his true cultivation is, but it’s definitely not at seven rings.”
The Heavenly Sun Douluo didn’t really believe him. “He’s only a little more than twenty. Even if he’s from Shrek Academy, seven soul rings is already quite impressive.”
Du Busi answered, “You can inspect him a little more closely tomorrow. What I’m sure of is that if we wish to enter the Sun
Moon Empire without leaving any tracks, letting the little fellow command us should have the best effect.”
“Alright, we’ll just let him command us.” The Heavenly Sun Douluo was evidently a little fearful of Du Busi, and he didn’t continue discussing the problem.
“Is the news from Radiant City reliable, Brother Du?” The Heavenly Sun Douluo lowered his voice and asked.
Du Busi nodded and said, “We have already confirmed our intel. They are my elite disciples, and there should be no problem with their info. After you succeed, you have to escape immediately. You don’t have to worry about me because I have people providing support on the inside. Safety won’t be a problem.”
“Alright, be careful.”
Everyone gathered once more in the White Tiger Duke’s command tent after breakfast in the morning on the second day.
Huo Yuhao was still holding Tang Wutong’s hand, and that wasn’t just to display how intimate they were with each other. He also wanted to keep them in their strongest condition, but they were the only ones who knew that, of course.
The White Tiger Duke lowered his voice and said, “Everyone, this operation is extremely important. It is related to the direction in which the war will proceed in the future. But please remember, everyone, that you are the cornerstones of your respective empires, and if our mission is unsuccessful, you have to ensure your own safety. We still have hope as long as you guys are around.”
The White Tiger Duke’s words were heavy, but very sentimental and sincere. Everyone’s expressions changed.
The Body Douluo, Du Busi heaved a sigh and said, “I didn’t think that we’d end up like this. There was once a time when I had absolute faith that we could keep our enemies beyond our walls, but it now seems like that’s just laughable. We have been living in a cave, and that has caused us to lag too far behind. We can only give our all on this mission. No matter what, we have to succeed. We appreciate your thoughts, Duke, but if we don’t put our lives on the line for this mission, then we have almost no chance of success. We have to give everything we
have for our countries, no matter what. Alright, let’s move out.”
Du Busi’s status in the world of soul masters was very impressive; he was on the same level as Shrek Academy’s elder Xuan. The White Tiger Duke, Dai Hao was just a junior in front of him.
“Be careful along the way. Good luck, everyone, and Godspeed. May you return with success.” Dai Hao took a step back as he spoke, and bowed solemnly at everyone.
Du Busi turned towards everyone and surveyed them before he took the first stride out from the commander’s tent. The Heavenly Sun Douluo followed closely behind, and the rest of the Titled Douluo walked out after him. Huo Yuhao and Tang Wutong walked at the end.
Du Busi didn’t continue walking forward when he left the tent. Instead, his eyes fell on Huo Yuhao and said, “From now on, kid, we will all listen to your commands before we enter Radiant City. Don’t worry, nobody will give you any trouble along the way, since I’m the one that’s saying this. Everyone will listen to you, and that includes me. Now, what do we do?”
Du Busi’s words were extremely overbearing and dominant. Only a person with his cultivation and his status in the world of soul masters could convince the other fourteen Titled Douluo.
Huo Yuhao stared at the mighty Body Douluo in surprise. He didn’t expect that Du Busi would be so supportive of him, as he knew that the Body Douluo had had some run-ins with his teacher back in the day. It seemed like he had left everything behind because his nation was in danger. He should have understood many things after the serious injury that he had sustained the last time around.
Du Busi was so supportive, and Huo Yuhao naturally had something to show for it. He hurriedly bowed in Du Busi’s direction and said, “Thank you for your trust, sir. I can’t say that I’ll command everyone, but I hope that we can all safely enter the Sun Moon Empire’s territory. Afterwards, I will use some methods to help everyone conceal yourselves. Therefore, I hope that everyone can listen to what I say along the way. I will be most confident that way.”
Du Busi smiled plainly and said, “You don’t have to be polite.
Give us something real.”
Huo Yuhao knew that if he couldn’t display some of his abilities right now, these Titled Douluo wouldn’t be so compliant. Everyone respected strength in the world of soul masters. That had been the way ten thousand years ago, and was still the way ten thousand years later today. Even though Huo Yuhao was already a Class 9 soul engineer, he was still willing to call himself a soul master. Perhaps that was because he hailed from Shrek Academy as a soul master.
Huo Yuhao’s eyes glowed, and golden light flickered faintly at the bottom of his eyes, while gentle spiritual undulations emanated soundlessly. These undulations enveloped all sixteen Titled Douluos, including Tang Wutong.
None of these Titled Douluo detected his spiritual power, and only when Huo Yuhao shared his Spiritual Detection and entered their spiritual world did they realize what was going on.
Every single one of the Titled Douluo from the three native empires, including Du Busi, changed their expressions in the next moment.
When they realized that spiritual power had entered their own spiritual worlds, they attempted to push back against it. A soul master’s spiritual sea was the core of their control over their own spirit. How could they just let someone enter?
Only the Star Luo Empire’s Titled Douluo, who had experienced Huo Yuhao’s Spiritual Detection before, didn’t resist at all.
But whether they were resisting or not didn’t matter, as Huo Yuhao’s Spiritual Detection completed the fusion very easily. That also meant that resistance was futile.
Spiritual Detection was like a large gauze, and all the Titled Douluo’s spiritual power was like water that rushed through the gauze. All that spiritual power couldn’t stop it from moving forward.
Even the Titled Douluo from the Star Luo Empire, who were relatively more familiar with Huo Yuhao, didn’t think his Spiritual Detection was so magical. Huo Yuhao just directly connected their spiritual power, and they didn’t need to do anything at all.
The world around them became completely three- dimensional in the next moment, and three-dimensional images from three hundred and sixty degrees around them immediately appeared in the Titled Douluo’s minds. They felt like they had an eye looking down from the sky, and everything became much clearer.
The Heavenly Sun Douluo and the other soul masters from the Dou Ling Empire were most unfamiliar with Huo Yuhao, and when they felt how mystical Huo Yuhao’s Spiritual Detection was, looks of astonishment appeared on their faces.
What made them even more surprised came afterward. The three-dimensional images three hundred and sixty degrees around them immediately expanded once they were connected, and began webbing out towards the distance. Everyone was just standing where they were, but their vision was beginning to stretch far into the distance, and it didn’t take long before large masses of the Ming Dou Mountain Range were within their sight.
The Body Douluo, Du Busi turned towards Huo Yuhao as strange lights flickered in his eyes. “Such formidable spiritual power. Have your eyes awakened for the second time, kid?”
Huo Yuhao was momentarily taken aback before he shook his head and said, “I don’t know if my eyes have awakened for the second time, but my martial soul has mutated before.”
Du Busi heaved a sigh and said, “That’s a pity. If only we’d met a little earlier, I would have been willing to take you as my last disciple so that Mu En fellow didn’t have it easy.”
Huo Yuhao frowned a little when he heard Du Busi addressing his teacher respectfully. Du Busi was incredibly sharp, and immediately saw the displeasure in his eyes. He smiled plainly and said, “You don’t have to be unhappy. Even if Mu En were still alive, I could still address him like that. My big brother wouldn’t be dead if not for him.”
A faint dash of deep and profound emotions circled in his eyes.
Chapter 523: A Display of Strength
“Alright, those are times long gone, so let’s not talk about them anymore. Let’s go. Let me see what other unique and magical qualities your spiritual power possesses. Speaking of which, the Body Sect is also adept with using spiritual power, but there’s quite a gap when compared to you. Your spiritual power alone has the standard of a Titled Douluo, so you are absolutely worthy of participating in this operation with us.”
Du Busi’s cultivation and vision were incredible. Even though he only felt Huo Yuhao’s spiritual power for a brief moment, he could immediately make an accurate judgment.
“Alright, let me lead the way.” Huo Yuhao pulled Tang Wutong as he spoke, and they rose into the air at the same time. They didn’t release their martial souls; they were just using soul power to channel the flying-type soul tool behind their backs. Wings stretched out behind them as they gradually hovered in midair.
The other fifteen Titled Douluo rose into the air one after another, but they experienced another strange scene as they flew into the sky. They realized to their surprise that, with
Spiritual Detection, Huo Yuhao actually presented a flight course in their minds, and everyone’s flight course was different. These Titled Douluo flew according to the charted flight course, and immediately formed a circular formation in the sky as they enveloped Huo Yuhao and Tang Wutong in the
center.
“Great multitasking,” Du Busi praised once more. He didn’t hide his admiration for Huo Yuhao at all.
Huo Yuhao nodded in his direction before he channeled his spiritual power once more, and passed precise forward paths to the Titled Douluo.
Everyone flew up at the same time, and they proceeded in the direction of the Sun Moon Empire’s under Huo Yuhao’s command.
The air contorted faintly just as they surged into the sky, and all seventeen people disappeared into the air just like that.
Everyone was surprised yet again. The other Titled Douluo felt a flash in front of their eyes before everyone else
disappeared around them. But strangely, through Huo Yuhao’s Spiritual Detection, they could feel everyone’s precise locations in their minds. This also meant that what they could see with Spiritual Detection was vastly different from what they could see with their eyes.
This is… mass concealment?
Du Busi attempted to use his spiritual power to sense the people around him, but the Body Douluo was truly astonished this time. The reason was because he realized that, even with his spiritual power, he had to unleash his spiritual power to the highest possible level if he wanted to sense the others’ locations. Afterwards, he still had to judge according to the exact locations that Huo Yuhao’s Spiritual Detection provided before he could make out the details, and only then could he feel some faint spiritual undulations.
As for everyone else, which included the Heavenly Sun
Douluo, they couldn’t feel anything at all. They felt like
everyone had just vanished into thin air.
The Heavenly Sun Douluo no longer underestimated Huo Yuhao at all. What he had accomplished right now was far
more important and effective than any of the Titled Douluo were in this operation. With an ability that could conceal everyone from sight, they could reach the Sun Moon Empire without expending too much effort. Furthermore, once they completed their task, retreating would also be a lot easier. They would have a better guarantee of their safety.
The White Tiger Duke was the one who had suggested that Shrek Academy send Huo Yuhao on this operation, because he had the best understanding of his mighty reconnaissance, investigation, and concealment abilities.
The Titled Douluo were all full of praise for the White Tiger Duke’s decision in this moment. They no longer underestimated Huo Yuhao, were instead full of curiosity.
Their speed began to gradually increase under Huo Yuhao’s control, and they began to rise high into the sky.
Everyone could feel that Huo Yuhao’s Spiritual Detection was stretching far into the distance. Nobody felt much in the beginning, but their expressions began to change when it reached more than three thousand meters into the distance.
Before this, they had some doubts when the Body Douluo had remarked that Huo Yuhao’s spiritual power had reached a Titled Douluo’s standard, and they had thought Du Busi was exaggerating things. But now they began to understand that Du Busi wasn’t exaggerating at all. How could anyone sustain Spiritual Detection over such a large area without possessing strength of a Titled Douluo’s spiritual power?
Three thousand meters was just the beginning. Afterwards, Huo Yuhao reached four thousand meters, then five thousand, then six thousand. When Huo Yuhao’s Spiritual Detection stretched all the way to ten thousand meters, the Body Douluo couldn’t help but blurt out, “Kid, your spiritual power has the standard of a Transcendent Douluo!”
Huo Yuhao smiled faintly and replied, “You flatter me, sir.
I’m just cutting some corners with my soul skill.”
Du Busi chortled, but said nothing more.
It was a soul skill, but it was a hundred thousand year soul skill! The higher Huo Yuhao’s cultivation was, the more he could feel and experience exactly how powerful the hundred thousand year soul skill that his brother Skydream had
bestowed upon him all those years ago was. Those four hundred thousand year soul skills consolidated his Spirit Eyes’ foundations.
Huo Yuhao was very modest, but nobody dared to underestimate him anymore. Titled Douluo could reach accurate conclusions from just a single glimpse, and even though they didn’t know how formidable his fighting strength was, they could be sure that this youngster’s potential in the future was boundless.
Huo Yuhao’s Spiritual Detection, which could reach an incredibly far distance, quickly began to have practical uses. Large masses of all kinds of surveillance soul tools had already appeared in his vision, and the Titled Douluo could sense them all through Spiritual Detection.
These surveillance soul tools covered between three thousand and five thousand meters of airspace, and it was an all-round detection with all kinds of surveillance soul tools. They covered almost all the space below five thousand meters.
The effect of Huo Yuhao taking the Titled Douluo further up was presented in this moment. They had no choice but to keep
flying up, because unless they were higher in the sky, they couldn’t pass by all the dense and tight surveillance soul tools without being detected.
Passing through the border was undoubtedly the most difficult part, and everyone understood that. They continued rising through the air under Huo Yuhao’s guidance with Spiritual Detection.
Those who could participate in this operation were the best of the best in the world of soul masters. There weren’t any who were at Rank 90; every single Titled Douluo was at least Rank
93. There were at least half who were also Transcendent Douluos.
Therefore, going five thousand meters into the air didn’t trouble them at all.
But Huo Yuhao wasn’t satisfied with just five thousand meters. He continued bringing everyone higher into the sky after reaching five thousand meters.
Any height above five thousand meters was practically forbidden to humans, and the further they went, the more gaps between their cultivation ranks began to show.
Nothing much happened to the Transcendent Douluo, but those who weren’t yet Transcendent Douluo gradually began to slow down.
But what astonished them was that Huo Yuhao and Tang Wutong, who were holding each other’s hands, didn’t decelerate due to the cold or because the air was thin. They seemed like their situation wasn’t that much different from the various Transcendent Douluo.
They surprised everyone yet again as they continued taking them up. Huo Yuhao stopped rising only when they reached over six thousand meters in the sky, and only then did he bring everyone towards the Sun Moon Empire’s territory.
Huo Yuhao was already a Class 9 soul engineer. He and Xuan Ziwen had conducted a series of research and experiments regarding all kinds of surveillance soul tools over the past two years, and therefore, he couldn’t be more familiar with these soul tools. High altitude aerial surveillance soul tools could
only conduct surveillance downwards; only a very small minority could survey both up and down at the same time. This type was extremely dangerous for everyone here, so that was the reason why Huo Yuhao continued to go up.
All soul tools would be much less effective above five thousand meters, and that was the same for high altitude aerial surveillance soul tools. Even though two years had gone by since then, these two years weren’t enough for surveillance soul tools to be advanced to another level.
Therefore, two years later, according to Huo Yuhao’s accurate judgment with Spiritual Detection, all the surveillance soul tools, whether they were on the ground or in the sky, were insufficient to reach altitudes of more than six thousand meters.
As casual as the Transcendent Douluos were, they still aided the other Titled Douluo to rise to greater heights at the same time as they continued forward and flew towards the Sun Moon Empire’s territory.
Admiration was starting to appear in those Titled Doulou’s minds. The reconnaissance and concealment abilities that Huo
Yuhao had displayed was just one part of it; the other was the absolute strength that the two of them were displaying.
Rank 93 Titled Douluo had a lot of trouble flying at six thousand meters, but Huo Yuhao and Tang Wutong appeared extremely casual from the beginning to the end. Furthermore, Huo Yuhao was the main control-type soul master, and he was leading all the other Titled Douluo.
He was multitasking, yet he could maintain flight at such a high altitude so casually. That was sufficient to prove his and Tang Wutong’s strength.
Of course, these Titled Douluo didn’t know that Huo Yuhao and Tang Wutong had Class 9 flying-type soul tools behind their backs! This pair of flying-type soul tools allowed them to conserve soul power as much as possible, and allowed them to fly at extremely high altitudes.
The Heavenly Sun Douluo was already filled with astonishment. He didn’t just stop underestimating Huo Yuhao and Tang Wutong, but he even treated them with caution and wariness.
Typically, one had to be at least a Titled Douluo to fly at more than five thousand meters. Furthermore, going another thousand meters above five thousand was another challenge altogether. Huo Yuhao and Tang Wutong didn’t need anyone’s help to fly to six thousand meters, and even if their flying-type soul tools were special, that was sufficient to display their abilities. This meant they were at least Titled Douluo.
How old are they? The White Tiger Duke did say that they were around twenty years old. That’s just hard to imagine, and I can’t see them straight anymore. Shrek Academy has managed to nurture Titled Douluo who are only a little more than twenty. They have lived up to their name of being an academy of monsters!
Suddenly, Huo Yuhao and Tang Wutong weren’t the only ones who these Titled Douluo were paying attention to. Even Shrek Academy’s status within their minds was greatly elevated because of the abilities that Huo Yuhao and Tang Wutong were displaying.
Huo Yuhao wasn’t aware of the psychological changes that were happening in these Titled Douluo’s minds, but he could guess some of them. Even though he had the Body Douluo’s support and he could lead these formidable individuals, their statuses within the world of soul masters were too high. If he didn’t show some prowess, he couldn’t convince them at all. But now there seemed to be no problem at all.
The truth was, they weren’t the only ones who were astonished; even Huo Yuhao himself was surprised by his spiritual power.
He almost didn’t leave Shrek City at all when he was cultivating hard for the past two years, and he barely even left the Tang Sect. Tang Wutong had returned to his side, and even though that mysterious seal was affecting him, his heart and
mind had been very clear and unperturbed over the past two years because he was with the person he loved. He was also cultivating with the help of Haodong power, and his improvement was exponential.
Huo Yuhao had always believed that he was increasing more of his soul power, but only today did he realize that his spiritual power had also grown to an incredibly powerful standard without his knowledge. His spiritual power had grown to a level that he almost found unbelievable.
He didn’t feel like he was expending any spiritual power at all when he was using Spiritual Detection, and he could only feel his consciousness stretching out like the entire world was in his grasp. That feeling was very magical, and it also contained an inexplicable profundity. Therefore, he unwittingly expanded his detection’s area of effect to more than ten thousand meters.
He could feel almost everything in the skies above and the ground below at a whim, and the surveillance soul tools that the Sun Moon Empire had deployed both in the air and on the ground were within his detection range. Huo Yuhao also discovered to his surprise as he was using Spiritual Detection
that he could even sense those surveillance soul tools’ detection range.
The reason why he could sense that was because the energy waves that these surveillance soul tools were releasing, no matter what type they were, were conducted through energy. Thermal and oscillation detectors, as surveillance soul tools that relied on vision, had a very small range. They were what the Sun Moon Empire was researching.
Now that Huo Yuhao could vividly sense all these energy waves, he could naturally and casually take everyone away from danger, circle past these soul tools’ detection ranges, and directly towards the Sun Moon Empire’s inner territory. They began to accelerate, and an altitude of six thousand meters was the maximum that practically all surveillance soul tools could reach.
But Huo Yuhao also realized that the Sun Moon Empire actually had a kind of ultra-long range aerial surveillance soul tool on the ground. A soul tool like that could release a powerful energy beam that surged high into the sky, and it could reach even ten thousand meters in the air to conduct surveillance. But it also had one fatal flaw: the beam could only
sweep continuously through the sky. It couldn’t conduct surveillance over an entire area at the same time.
Huo Yuhao understood that feature very easily. Just as he was using Spiritual Detection, the distance that he could reach when he was detecting in a single direction was vastly different from when he was detecting over an area. The Sun Moon Empire had probably developed a soul tool like that by compressing an oscillation detector’s surveillance capability and compromising on area of effect so that it could achieve a longer range.
A single surveillance soul tool like that was naturally ineffective, but if there were many, and if they crossed each other as they made their sweeps, such a setup would be effective to some extent. However, it appeared like the Sun Moon Empire didn’t have many of these surveillance soul tools, so Huo Yuhao and the others didn’t run into too much trouble.
Faint light flickered as a dash of ice-cold light flashed across Huo Yuhao’s face. His consciousness continued to stretch outward, and he almost couldn’t control the desire in his heart. He wanted to see exactly how far his Spiritual Detection could reach.
When his Spiritual Detection’s area had reached more than fifteen thousand meters, he finally suppressed the impulse in his heart. The reason was because he discovered to his astonishment that he still hadn’t reached his limit.
How’s that possible? The difference from before and now was far too large, and he was pushing his detection out in all directions!
This didn’t seem like something that normal growth in spiritual power could achieve. Huo Yuhao began to understand through this period of experience that his spiritual power was actually increasing at an incredible speed because of his spiritual soul core, but he wasn’t that sure about it on typical days, because his spiritual power was compressed and gathered within his soul core. Forming a soul core in one’s dantian was extremely rare in the world of soul masters, and how effective that turned out to be far exceeded Huo Yuhao’s expectations.
But that feeling of his consciousness extending, like heaven and earth were in his grasp, evidently wasn’t because of his spiritual power’s skyrocketing growth. Instead, it stemmed from another kind of power.
This feeling was similar to when Huo Yuhao had first met the Calamity Necromancer, Electrolux’s aura.
Therefore, Huo Yuhao could faintly see that this had to have something to do with his entry into the mystical God Realm, and with the approval that he received from the God of Emotion. His spiritual power, or perhaps his consciousness, seemed to have gone through certain qualitative changes. These qualitative changes allowed his spiritual power and spirit to reach a whole new level. If he went according to how his teacher, Electrolux had said before, this level was called Divine Sense.
Of course, Huo Yuhao understood that his divine sense was still incomplete, and could only be considered half of the real thing because it came from a Godly Seat’s approval. But even then, the benefits conferred upon him were quite conspicuous. Not even he could tell what kind of level his all-out fighting strength could reach.
Huo Yuhao sensed his body’s transformations as he brought everyone successfully into the Sun Moon Empire’s territory. His spiritual power’s tremendous growth caused him to change his thought process. With the range and area that his Spiritual Detection could reach, he didn’t have to worry about any
surveillance soul tools at all. Naturally, they didn’t have to progress on foot. Flying at high speed through the air could save a lot of time.
Therefore, Huo Yuhao immediately lowered their altitude once they passed through the Sun Moon Empire’s surveillance lockdown perimeter. They went down to about three thousand meters, while their flight speed accelerated swiftly as he brought the group of Titled Douluo deep into the Sun Moon Empire.
These Titled Douluo were starting to become a little numb. They were feeling far too many mystical things because Huo Yuhao was sharing his Spiritual Detection with them.
Many Titled Douluo were prepared to die to ensure that this mission was a success. However, their moods were a lot better than before at this point. With such a magical companion who was so adept at concealment and surveillance around, there was no doubt that their success rate and guarantee of safety were greatly improved. Huo Yuhao’s status in every Titled Douluo’s mind was rising continuously.
They flew for four hours before Huo Yuhao reduced his speed and took everyone down into a dense, thick forest.
They were all Titled Douluo, and their flight speeds were just too terrifying. The Ming Dou Mountain Range was bordering the Sun Moon Empire in the first place, and once they entered the Sun Moon Empire’s territory, it took them four hours to come close to Radiant City.
Everyone drifted to the ground. Huo Yuhao stretched his Spiritual Detection far into the distance once more within this dense forest, and all that was happening within this forest and within his Spiritual Detection’s area of effect was telling him that they were absolutely safe.
Huo Yuhao stopped using Imitation and stopped sharing his Spiritual Detection as he smiled and turned towards the Titled Douluo. “Let’s rest for a while, everyone, and readjust ourselves. We’re not far from Radiant City, and we’ll enter in the evening.”
Du Busi stared at Huo Yuhao with a strange look in his eyes. “Kid, you have given me too many surprises. How did you do all that?”
The other Titled Douluo’s eyes were also trained on Huo Yuhao, and strange expressions filled every single one of their eyes. There was also something in their eyes that wasn’t there before: equality.
Yes, in this moment, they were treating Huo Yuhao as someone who shared the same standard and prowess as they did.
Huo Yuhao said, “The truth is, Wutong and my martial souls can fuse. Therefore, we complement and support each other, and only then can we achieve things that normal soul masters cannot. This isn’t my individual strength.” He raised his hand, which was holding Tang Wutong’s hand, as he spoke.
A thought occurred to Du Busi as he heard his words, and only then did he realize that he had overlooked the incredibly beautiful girl who barely spoke, who had been following beside Huo Yuhao this entire time.
“Martial soul fusion? That’s just extraordinary! If I remember correctly, you have twin martial souls, while your spiritual-type martial soul should be mainly used for control
and detection. Your other martial soul possesses Ultimate Ice, and it’s mainly used for battle. If not for the fact that the circumstances don’t allow it, I would truly wish to see exactly what kind of strength you can reach. Shrek Academy will no longer have to worry about anything for the next century with you in their future.”
Du Busi was full of lament as he spoke. His Body Sect had many prodigious soul masters, but they would obviously lose their luster when compared to Huo Yuhao. They weren’t even at the same standard. Du Busi could tell that this youth, who was just a little more than twenty years old, had completely grown up. He was now positioned among the most powerful individuals in the world of soul masters, while his greatest advantage was his age. He was just a little more than twenty, and this meant he would undoubtedly become a Transcendent Douluo in the future. At the same time, he had a high chance of becoming an Ultimate Douluo.
Not even Du Busi could guess how terrifying an Ultimate Douluo who possessed twin martial souls and an Ultimate martial soul would be, but he understood that as long as Huo Yuhao was given some more time, Shrek Academy and Shrek City would extremely secure no matter who controlled this world in the future.
No matter how soul tools developed in the future, when a person’s strength reached the pinnacle of the world, he would still be the most intimidating and the best deterrent. Wasn’t the Beast God in the Great Star Dou Forest like that? Even if the Sun Moon Empire conquered the entire continent in the future, would they dare to provoke the Beast God?
The Beast God had already mastered the laws of space, and not even an Ultimate Douluo could stop him if he truly wanted to assassinate somebody! Therefore, even a ruthless and ambitious character like Xu Tianran would never think of attacking the Great Star Dou Forest.
Huo Yuhao would likely become Shrek Academy’s deterrence in the same regard in the future.
Huo Yuhao smiled bashfully and said, “Please rest, everyone. I have just expended a lot of energy, so I’ll go ahead and recover.” He pulled Tang Wutong to one side and sat down as he spoke, and they placed their palms together as they meditated to recover.
Of course, Huo Yuhao didn’t use as much energy as he said he had. His spiritual power’s formidable strength had something to do with their martial soul fusion, but more came from his own abilities.
Tang Wutong stared at Huo Yuhao, and a smile appeared at the corner of her mouth. Huo Yuhao would make all the decisions when they were outside. She didn’t want to attract too much attention, and she didn’t have to prove anything.
The sun gradually began to set in the west, and the sky was slowly covered with beautiful reddish-gold colors, and anyone looking down from the sky over Radiant City would still have a feeling of obscurity.
This wasn’t Huo Yuhao’s first time in Radiant City, but his impression was a little different every time.
He was filled with admiration and shock in the beginning, and that was because he didn’t understand much about the world of soul tools. But now, he wasn’t just shocked. Instead, he felt a little fearful.
The tremendous explosion in Radiant City back then was incredibly frightening, but what was the ultimate result? The ultimate result was that, within several years, Radiant City had completely recovered. Furthermore, their buildings were even higher compared to back then, and the depth that they contained was much more profound and complex.
Huo Yuhao was already a Class 9 soul engineer, and he could understand a lot of things. Radiant City wasn’t as simple as a normal city. It didn’t have sprawling city walls, and there weren’t large numbers of guards. But what Huo Yuhao saw was Radiant City’s seemingly chaotic but actually extremely practical structural setups. These structures were like fulcrums in an enormous web, and weren’t as simple as just structures. They contained tremendous soul power undulations.
Huo Yuhao had heard from Xuan Ziwen that the Sun Moon Empire had some core secrets regarding their soul tool
research, and not even Xuan Ziwen, who was the number one research fellow back then, was sure about what these secrets were.
The Sun Moon Empire had another place besides their Illustrious Virtue Hall called the Imperial Consecration Hall. It was called a “consecration hall”, but it was better named the Imperial Research Center. Almost all of the Sun Moon Empire’s Class 9 soul engineers were members of this research center, and one was only worthy of joining this research center when one became a Class 9 soul engineer.
That place controlled all of the Sun Moon Empire’s true secrets regarding soul tools, and these secrets included a kind of soul tool known as high-energy compression array soul tools.
This type of soul tool could store soul power in massive amounts, and could absorb energy from the external world to sustain itself. The only problem was that such soul tools were too bulky, and there was no way to transport them. That was the reason why they weren’t directly inserted into the war, and only Radiant City had such things around.
But these high-energy compression array soul tools also possessed incredibly formidable power. An array like that could store soul power equivalent to that of a hundred Titled Douluo combined. According to Xuan Ziwen’s judgment, Radiant City had a total of four of these exorbitantly expensive and enormous high-energy compression soul tools. What they were used for was to provide Radiant City with enough energy
to sustain their overall defenses.
Only individuals from the Imperial Research Center knew exactly how these soul tools looked and worked, but they had to be absolutely terrifying.
Soul power equivalent to four hundred Titled Douluo was a force terrifying enough to construct a defensive barrier for the entire city! Xuan Ziwen had also told Huo Yuhao that if the Sun Moon Empire could make these high-energy compression array soul tools smaller, then apocalypse would descend upon the continent’s other empires. When that happened, the Sun Moon Empire would possess batches of soul tools similar to the Death God at their disposal, and Class 10 soul tools would appear immediately afterward.
Xuan Ziwen was proud and arrogant, but he told Huo Yuhao very clearly that finalizing research on something like high-
energy compression array soul tools wasn’t something that a single soul engineer could achieve. That was the result of the Sun Moon Empire’s many Class 9 soul engineers’ research over many years. A single soul engineer could only master part of the technology’s components, and every one of this soul tool’s important components was equivalent to a Class 9 soul tool. This gap in soul tool technology wasn’t something that could be covered within ten or twenty years, or even within a hundred years.
Therefore, Xuan Ziwen had already privately given his pessimistic opinion about the war. The Sun Moon Empire’s foundations were just too powerful, and they also had sufficient resources. What they needed now was to gradually convert their foundations in soul tool technology accumulated over the years into practical uses for war. When that happened, who could stop their forward march?
That was the reason why Huo Yuhao felt fearful in this moment. That frightful sensation was too evident when he viewed Radiant City as a Class 9 soul engineer. Radiant City was like a frightening Transcendent soul beast in his eyes, and it was just lying there, prostrate. Nobody knew when it would truly flash its fangs.
Huo Yuhao even found the Holy Ghost Church laughable. That frightening sect that seemed to control many of the Sun Moon Empire’s core existences, which also possessed formidable strength in two Ultimate Douluo, was perhaps just a joke in front of the Sun Moon Empire’s true foundations. However, the Sun Moon Empire needed them right now. If the day came when Xu Tianran believed that his wings were fully outstretched, and when the might of soul tools could be placed on full display, the Holy Ghost Church would face a calamity that would probably exceed their expectations.
Huo Yuhao gradually clenched his fist as Xuan Ziwen’s words echoed in his mind. If you want to stop the Sun Moon Empire from launching an invasion, there’s only one thing you can do. You have to create a kind of power or force large enough to intimidate the entire Sun Moon Empire so that they won’t dare to use their frightening soul tools so easily. That is the only way to give the Douluo Continent’s three native empires sufficient time.
When Xuan Ziwen was making that speech to Huo Yuhao, he also told him that he couldn’t achieve such a feat. A Class 9 soul engineer was Xuan Ziwen’s limit, and only a talented prodigy like Huo Yuhao had a chance to push through to become a Class 10 soul engineer, and create a terrifyingly apocalyptic soul tool.
Huo Yuhao didn’t feel that deeply back then, but now he truly understood the meaning behind Xuan Ziwen’s words.
There were many more surveillance soul tools of many different kinds inside Radiant City, and their surveillance was much tighter. There was no question that some of the newly developed surveillance soul tools would appear inside Radiant City, especially when it came to aerial surveillance soul tools. There were many domain-related surveillance soul tools that Huo Yuhao was coming across for the first time.
Huo Yuhao inspected everything closely and made his judgment before he brought the Titled Douluo down to the ground. Entering Radiant City across the ground was, comparatively, the easiest way. The city didn’t have any city walls after all, so they could enter from anywhere.
Huo Yuhao made sure that the space in between everyone was a little tighter before he shared his Spiritual Detection. They circled around Radiant City for almost a third of its circumference, and only when the sky had completely darkened did they find a gap, which Huo Yuhao swiftly brought everyone through and into Radiant City.
There were fewer surveillance soul tools once they entered Radiant City, since the majority of them were aimed outward.
Huo Yuhao stopped using Imitation when they reached a dark and shady corner. He turned to the Titled Douluo and whispered, “Luck has been on our side, seniors, and I’ve managed to bring everyone inside. I will now return my interim command to you, Body Douluo. What do we do next?”
Huo Yuhao strongly adhered to the White Tiger Duke’s reminder, that his main task had been completed once he brought these Titled Douluo into Radiant City. He would naturally no longer be the one directing things after that.
Huo Yuhao could tell from the White Tiger Duke’s words back then that this operation wasn’t as simple as it seemed on the surface. There had to be deeper things within, but since the Duke wasn’t willing to tell him what the true aim of their mission was, he couldn’t probe any further. Naturally, he wouldn’t involve himself too much.
The Body Douluo, Du Busi nodded and said, “Change your appearances, everyone, and split up to find a place to settle down. We have arrived earlier than we predicted, so we should
get familiar with our environment. Three individuals will form one team. Yuhao, you and Tang Wutong will form a team with me. We will use the transmission soul tools that we have prepared to communicate, and we will use codes when we talk to each other.”
The Titled Douluo nodded one by one as they began to disguise themselves.
They were evidently prepared as they swiftly changed into the Sun Moon Empire’s clothing before they made some simple changes to their facial appearance.
Anyone who could become a powerful Titled Douluo wasn’t simple, and it didn’t take long before they dispersed.
Du Busi disguised himself as a middle-aged man in his forties, and even his body became strangely different. His originally broad and towering frame became much smaller, to the point where he seemed weak and frail. The other two powerful individuals from the Body Sect had also disguised themselves as his servants, and they were extremely inconspicuous.
Chapter 524: Secret of the Body
It was much simpler for Huo Yuhao and Tang Wutong. They didn’t even need to put on makeup. Through Imitation, they managed to retain their youthful looks, but their appearances changed. For example, Tang Wutong’s eyes became smaller, and her pinkish-blue hair turned brown, a common hair color in the Sun Moon Empire. Some minor changes also made her look more ordinary. Although she still appeared delicate, she was not as ravishing as before.
Du Busi smiled when he saw how they looked. He said, “Not bad. Let’s go.”
After walking out of the dark alleyway, they didn’t need to avoid the ordinary surveillance soul tools due to their camouflage. They righteously walked onto the streets and found an inn to stay in.
Radiant City was very prosperous. Ever since the Sun Moon Empire occupied two-thirds of the Heavenly Soul Empire’s land, Xu Tianran consolidated his position in the empire even further. His throne was now very stable, especially after Ju Zi bore him a Crown Prince.
Xu Tianran and Ju Zi named their son Xu Yunhan. One month after his birth, he was named the Crown Prince.
For an empire, a Crown Prince represented its future. Furthermore, Xu Tianran was disabled. This made a Crown Prince even more paramount.
Ever since the Crown Prince was named, some of the doubts that came from the imperial family disappeared. Xu Tianran was finally respected as the Emperor.
Ju Zi was also well-loved by the Sun Moon Empire’s citizens. The story of how she became the Empress spread widely. She was just an ordinary civilian who was saved by Xu Tianran when he was still a Crown Prince. After that, she hurt herself seriously to save him, which touched him. Eventually, she became the Empress. With Xu Tianran’s help, Ju Zi slowly revealed her extraordinary talent in military matters. After Xu Tianran ascended to the throne, she accumulated merits and became the Marshal of the Three Armies, leading the Sun Moon Empire’s army in its domination over the Heavenly Soul Empire.
Within the Sun Moon Empire, the story that spread was that the Heavenly Soul Empire would have been completely annexed if not for the fact that Ju Zi was pregnant, and had to return to the empire to nurse her baby.
Ju Zi was also known as a Goddess of War. In some areas, she was even more outstanding than Xu Tianran.
Undoubtedly, everything about Ju Zi was intentionally spread under Xu Tianran’s orders. First, it was a means of making amends to her. Second, Xu Tianran was disabled and couldn’t do many things on his own. He needed someone he trusted to perform tasks for him. Ju Zi was a female. If she wanted to be in the limelight, she needed to be more glorious. This was why Xu Tianran did so much to ensure that she shone as much as possible.
Of course, there was one more reason why she was being pushed into the limelight. This was because she had earned the recognition of the Sun Moon Empire’s army. In a few fights, she demonstrated her talent, and won over many generals. Whenever she was involved in a fight, the Sun Moon Empire always made headway. When she returned to the empire, things changed at the frontline. She had earned her reputation as a Goddess of War.
After settling down, Huo Yuhao told the Body Douluo before bringing Tang Wutong out to roam the streets.
“Yuhao, aren’t you going to ask the Body Douluo about the true goal of this mission?” Tang Wutong asked him.
Huo Yuhao smiled and replied, “Why should I ask if he doesn’t want to tell? I think we aren’t the only ones in the dark. Many of the Titled Douluo on this mission probably don’t know the true goal of this mission. Only the Body Douluo and Heavenly Sun Douluo know.”
“My mentality is different from before. I was fearless in the past. Then, I didn’t have you by my side. I didn’t know whether I could find you. However, things are different now. With you by my side, my greatest mission is to bring you back safely. I also hope to return safely with you. That’s enough. That’s why I’m not probing too much. Why should I bring more trouble to myself?”
Tang Wutong stopped in her tracks. As Huo Yuhao was holding her hand, he also naturally stopped.
Tang Wutong looked at him, and there seemed to be something in her eyes.
Huo Yuhao smiled and asked, “What? Are you touched?”
Tang Wutong lifted her hand and caressed his face. “Yuhao, you’ve matured.”
Huo Yuhao grabbed her hand. “You’ve recovered your memories this time and returned to my side. I’ve thought over many things clearly. I don’t want to be a hero that saves the world. I don’t care about my reputation either. You are the most important thing in my heart. As long as you are by my side, so what if I lose the world?”
“I worked tirelessly in my cultivation and improved myself in the hope that I could better protect you and my loved ones. Wutong, I love you.”
Huo Yuhao was very calm. So was his gaze. However, it was his words that made Tang Wutong tear up a little, and she was gently pulled into his embrace.
“Me too. I love you too, Yuhao.”
Huo Yuhao didn’t dare to hug her too tightly. He wasn’t afraid of being attacked by the seal, but afraid of attracting attention if he triggered it.
They only hugged gently. However, he still felt very warm in his heart.
At this moment, a commotion could be heard on the streets.
Fully armored Soldiers were running over.
These soldiers were all very tall and large. As they ran over, they appeared very domineering. They didn’t try to avoid anyone at all. Those who couldn’t react in time were knocked over.
Tang Wutong and Huo Yuhao were on the streets too, but they couldn’t reveal their extraordinary speed right now. Huo Yuhao could only turn his body and block Tang Wutong. At the same time, he pushed her as they got out of the soldiers’ way.
The soldier running at the front knocked into Huo Yuhao’s back. The resultant force did nothing to worry Huo Yuhao. However, he still staggered a few steps to the side. He even let out a groan. His acting was top-grade.
Huo Yuhao was a little annoyed as he said, “These people are really party poopers!”
Tang Wutong chuckled and commented, “This is not the effect of my father’s seal.”
The bystanders on the streets were also displeased. Of course, they weren’t too loud with their complaints.
“It’s the Imperial Guards again. They’re revolting. They don’t treat us as humans at all. Recently, His Majesty has wanted to organize a Grand Sacrificial Ceremony. These Imperial Guards have been coming out of the palace on many occasions, and we’re the ones suffering for it.”
Imperial Guards?
Huo Yuhao squinted. In the Sun Moon Empire, the imperial family held the greatest power. Among them, the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineer Legion was naturally the strongest. They are also called the Imperial Court Soul Engineer Legion, and were the strongest among the Hand that Protects the Nation. The Imperial Palace of Consecration, also known as the Research Institute, was next. As for how strong the Sun Moon Empire was, no one fully knew.
There was going to be a Grand Sacrificial Ceremony. However, Huo Yuhao realized that assassinating Xu Tianran was almost impossible after entering Radiant City. Xu Tianran controlled the core strength of the Sun Moon Empire right now. How was it going to be easy to kill him?
After making turns along the streets and grabbing a bite to eat, Huo Yuhao brought Tang Wutong back to their inn. Once they entered, he heard Du Busi’s voice.
Huo Yuhao asked Tang Wutong to return to their room first.
He came to Du Busi’s room.
Du Busi was in a single room on his own. The other two Titled Douluo from the Body Sect also had their own rooms.
When he saw Huo Yuhao, Du Busi raised his hand. The entire room was suddenly covered by a dim-green glow. If one wasn’t observant enough, they wouldn’t be able to detect any difference. However, Huo Yuhao was horrified to discover that his Spiritual Detection had been isolated.
Powerful.
At Du Busi’s level and cultivation, his soul and spiritual power were almost completely fused. He was like Elder Xuan before – one step from becoming an Ultimate Douluo. However, it was a pity that he didn’t have a Qiankun Fortune Pill to help him. In addition, he was critically hurt before. It would take some time before he could complete that last step.
“How is it? Did you discover anything while you were out?” Du Busi asked.
Huo Yuhao shook his head and replied, “Things are normal in Radiant City. The surveillance soul tools in the city have covered almost the entire city. However, more surveillance soul tools are pointed towards the outside of the city rather than inside the city. The Grand Sacrificial Ceremony is indeed
in progress. Everything fits the information that we’ve been given.”
Du Busi nodded and replied, “Yuhao, we have another mission apart from assassinating Xu Tianran.”
“What?” Huo Yuhao was shocked as he stared at Du Busi. Even though he had already deduced that, he was still astonished when Du Busi mentioned it. He knew exactly what this meant. It was Du Busi’s recognition of him. However, at the same time, it also meant that Du Busi was dragging him into this mission.
Huo Yuhao started to regret having come. He was too young. If not for the fact that he had performed very well all this while, Du Busi wouldn’t have recognized his abilities. If that didn’t happen, he wouldn’t be roped in on this side mission.
Huo Yuhao continued to act stunned as he asked, “What other mission is there? Are you talking about bombing the munitions warehouse?”
Du Busi shook his head and answered, “Bombing their munitions warehouses is only our way of attracting their attention. In fact, you can’t imagine how heavily guarded they are. That’s why we just need to create chaos by bombing them. After that, we’ll try to assassinate Xu Tianran. At the same time, there’s another mission.”
Huo Yuhao asked, “There’s another mission? The White Tiger Duke didn’t tell me anything!”
Du Busi said, “That’s because this important mission is supposed to be completed by the Heavenly Sun Douluo and myself. Only the two of us know our true goal. Your Spiritual Detection is very strong. That’s something we hadn’t thought of before. Don’t worry, we’ll won’t give you the most difficult task. We’ve already planned everything out. We hope that you can receive us when we finish it, no matter whether we succeed or fail. Your job is to ensure that the Titled Douluo involved in this mission can escape successfully.”
After hearing his words, Huo Yuhao instantly heaved a sigh of relief. It was great that he didn’t need to be exposed to
danger. The Sun Moon Empire was a lion’s den. If even Du Busi was being so prudent, it showed how difficult the upcoming mission was. It was best that he didn’t need to be directly part of it. As for receiving them, that was the least he could do. Ensuring that the strength of the three empires in the original Douluo Continent was preserved was very critical in stopping the Sun Moon Empire.
“Alright, I’ll do my best to help everyone escape.” Huo Yuhao agreed without any hesitation.
Du Busi was pleased, and he smiled. “Alright, we’ll plan an escape route. When the time comes, you shall receive us from this route. Whether we succeed or not, you should help everyone who returns. Once we meet you, our safety will be in your hands.”
Huo Yuhao didn’t agree immediately this time. He thought for a moment before nodding and saying, “Alright, I’ll do my best.”
Du Busi didn’t immediately reveal the escape route. Rather, he reached into his pocket and retrieved a small booklet before passing it to Huo Yuhao.
“It’s a pity that you met Mu En instead of me. I’m giving you this booklet. Take it as a reward for helping us this time.”
The booklet was the size of a palm, but Huo Yuhao was astonished to find out that it was very heavy when he received it. It had to weigh at least five kilos.
The booklet was dim gold. There were four exquisitely written words on the cover, “Secrets of the Body”.
Huo Yuhao was stunned when he saw these four words. He immediately lifted his head to look at Du Busi, but only saw a gentle look in his eyes.
“Elder, I can’t take this. It’s too…” Huo Yuhao subconsciously passed the booklet back.
Du Busi waved him off and refused to take the booklet back. He calmly said, “Do you know how much the Body Sect has suffered during the fight between the Heavenly Soul Empire and the Sun Moon Empire at the border?”
“Almost two-thirds of the elites in the Body Sect have died, including our few most talented soul masters from the younger generation. The Body Sect is only still around because I survived. However, once I die, the Body Sect will perish along with me.”
“The Sun Moon Empire is much stronger than I expected. In the past, I was too self-absorbed and self-confident. When we secretly attacked the Sun Moon Empire, we even dealt a huge blow to the Illustrious Virtue Hall. Then, I was so confident that we could deal with them. However, that seems like a joke now. I was just like a frog in a well. I lost my relevance, which led to our destruction. However, I believe that the Body Sect can still survive. All the soul masters in the Body Sect are uniquely talented. Your martial soul is also a body soul. You should be able to sense the difference between a martial soul and a body soul.”
“We are much more talented than ordinary soul masters, and we can comprehend things better. This allows us to complete the fusion of our soul and spiritual power more easily. In terms of abilities, we are far beyond those evil soul masters who don’t have any future. However, we lost. But we didn’t lose in terms of talent or abilities, but our vision. It was my mistake. That’s why I have to do something for the sect no matter what.”
“This booklet contains many secrets of body souls. It’s also the most important collection in the Body Sect. Only the Body Douluo can inherit this booklet. I’m lending it to you temporarily. If I survive this mission, return it to me. If I die, please send it to Shrek Academy and ask the academy to return it to the Body Sect. In the meantime, I permit you to go through its contents.”
“You don’t have to thank me either. I’m not just doing this to help you. At the same time, I hope to glorify body souls even further. Although you are Mu En’s disciple, that doesn’t take away the fact that you have a body soul. When your body soul becomes stronger, you’ll be a Body Douluo. Whether you are willing or not, it’s the truth. If the Body Sect perishes in the future, please help me to pass down the heritage and preserve the spirit of the sect when you meet a soul master with a body soul in the future. Take it as a payment for reading the contents of this booklet. What do you think?”
Was there any reason for Huo Yuhao to reject it? The answer was no.
Huo Yuhao was still deep in thought when he walked out from Du Busi’s room. Yes, he wasn’t happy just because he had obtained the ‘Secrets of the Body’. From Du Busi’s words, he
could tell that he wasn’t in good condition. Furthermore, it seemed like he was the only one who thought that he wouldn’t return alive. It clearly felt as if he was entrusting the book to Huo Yuhao!
He wasn’t just entrusting the book. He was entrusting the entire Body Sect.
After returning to his own room, Huo Yuhao sat down in a chair and opened the book. Tang Wutong came to his side. When she saw the words ‘Secrets of the Body’, she was also astonished.
Huo Yuhao told her what Du Busi had told him quietly. After he finished, Tang Wutong furrowed her brow. “Yuhao, the Heavenly Soul Empire is done.”
Huo Yuhao revealed a bitter smile on his face. He agreed with Tang Wutong. If even the Body Sect was in such bad shape that their sect leader had to entrust the entire sect to Huo Yuhao, it must mean that the Heavenly Soul Empire was doomed. Once their last line of defense fell, the entire empire would be gone. The only thing they could do now was hang on as long as they could.
From the Body Douluo’s words, Huo Yuhao could tell that half of the elites of the Heavenly Soul Empire had been killed when the Sun Moon Empire first invaded Heaven Dou City. They were now truly crippled.
Although Du Busi didn’t reveal the true goal of this mission, it seemed like this mission was very important, given that he appeared to put all his eggs into one basket. However, it might also be that he was trying to deal one last blow to the Sun Moon Empire before he died.
Huo Yuhao flipped open the first page of the book. The material used to make this book was unknown. Not only was it heavy, but it was also very tough.
The first page didn’t contain the contents of the book. It was a piece of paper that was stuffed into the book.
“I’ve ruled the sect for more than two hundred years, but now I’m the one who has doomed the sect. It’s my fault. My arrogance has caused the sect to fall behind the times. One is bound to be abandoned if he falls behind the times. However, this should not be happening to the Body Sect. A body soul is a
godly gift. It’s a pity that I don’t have time to adapt to the times anymore. Anyone from the Body Sect should remember that soul tools are the future. In this future, we need to be able to stand out. The combination of a body soul and soul tools will be bound to astonish the world – Du Busi.”
After reading these words, Huo Yuhao felt even more pressure. Given Du Busi’s identity and status, he had actually said such self-defamatory words. This could only mean that something was destined to happen.
However, the last few sentences left Huo Yuhao stunned.
It had to do with the combination of body souls and soul tools. Isn’t this the direction that Teacher Xuan and I discovered? We have a new plan because of this new path.
Yes, body souls allowed one to comprehend things better. More importantly, a specific body part of a soul master would become much stronger if that part was a body soul.
To put things into simpler terms, if a soul master’s martial soul was his hand, he would be able to handle much stronger
soul tools using his hand.
It was just like Huo Yuhao’s eyes. In his case, his eyes were able to handle much stronger soul tools.
Du Busi knew what the future was going to be like. However, just like he mentioned, he had discovered it too late. He no longer had the opportunity to adapt.
Huo Yuhao gently took the piece of paper out and saw that the front page of the book was inscribed with the words ‘Godly Gift’.
There was a paragraph of words below it.
“Humans are a gift of the gods. They retained the intelligence of the gods. Among humans, there are those who preserve the divine power of gods.”
The Body Sect clearly treated body souls as godly gifts. Although Huo Yuhao didn’t fully agree with such an idea, the
sect must have their own reasoning, since it was a legacy that had been passed down for years.
As he thought until here, Huo Yuhao squinted and continued reading…
Five days later.
The atmosphere in Radiant City felt evidently more serious and imposing compared to normal. Early in the morning, the usually bustling city became very quiet. Apart from some stores that sold daily necessities, most of the stores chose to cease business for the day.
This was because it was the day of the Grand Sacrificial Ceremony.
The Emperor of the Sun Moon Empire, Xu Tianran, would be at the outskirts of the city to attend the ceremony. He was going to pay his respects to heaven and earth, as well as the ancestors of the Sun Moon Empire.
The territories of the Sun Moon Empire had expanded greatly in the short period of time after Xu Tianran ascended to the throne. This ceremony was more of a ceremony to flaunt his achievements. At the same time, he was warning everyone
to be prepared for the day that he ruled over the entire continent
Preparations for this Grand Sacrificial Ceremony had been in motion for many months. Many resources, including workers, money and materials, were tapped into for this ceremony.
Many citizens streamed out of the city in the early hours of the day. They came to the outskirts and prepared to witness the beginning of this glorious ceremony.
On the main streets of Radiant City, the soldiers wore helmets as they stood at the sides. The entire place was heavily guarded. An intense, solemn aura filled the entire city.
The citizens proceeded towards the southern outskirts in an orderly fashion under the eyes of the army.
This ceremony was extremely grand. For it, the Sun Moon Empire had deployed an army of more than a hundred thousand men.
At the southern outskirts, a huge sacrificial altar had already been constructed half a month ago. The altar was a platform that was weirdly-shaped. The left side was circular, while the right was like a crescent. The significance of such a design had to do with the Sun and the Moon, which symbolized the Sun Moon Empire.
The circular sacrificial altar was more than ten thousand square meters in area, and up to a hundred feet high. It was made completely from granite. There was even a six-story platform above the original platform. Each and every story of this platform was shaped exactly like the original platform, just that they were increasingly smaller in size. The platform at the top was only a thousand square meters in size.
From the bottom to the top, the colors of the platforms were respectively red, orange, yellow, green, indigo, blue and violet. They represented the colors of the rainbow, and signified everything in heaven and earth.
There was a total of eight stone stairways around the sacrificial altar. They all led to the top.
This altar wasn’t only used once. It was passed down from generation to generation, and its sole purpose was to pay respects to the heavens.
The altar was heavily guarded. There were soul formations in each of the four cardinal directions. Even though the scale of the soul formations wasn’t as large as that of their soul engineer legions, these soul formations were constructed by the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineer Legion. The technology used was the most advanced as of yet.
Of the hundred thousand man army that was deployed to this ceremony, forty thousand guarded the altar. The rest were stationed elsewhere. Most of the soldiers were responsible for maintaining order.
The sky was already starting to turn bright. The sun shone on the majestic grand altar, which exuded a rainbow glow. From afar, it was a magnificent sight.
All seven altars combined reached a total height of a hundred feet, which was much higher than the tallest skyscraper in Radiant City. It was bound to become one of the symbolic structures of the Sun Moon Empire in the future.
Under the soldiers’ orders, the citizens were crowded around the altar until there was hardly any space left. There were more than twenty million citizens in the Sun Moon Empire. They formed the core of the empire. Even if there weren’t ten million people here to watch today, there were still a couple of million. The entire place was densely populated right now, and it was difficult to see the end of the sea of people.
The time of the ceremony was set at around nine in the morning. The energy from the sun was the strongest then, and it signified the Sun Moon Empire’s continuous rise in the future.
In the distance, a group decked in bright yellow was slowly proceeding towards the sacrificial altar from Radiant City.
As this group passed, the soldiers opened a path for them. At the front, there was a huge dragon sedan carried by a thousand and twenty-four men. The sedan was covered in silk satin, and there were images of flying dragons embroidered on the silk. However, the images of the Sun and Moon were embroidered in the most core positions of the sedan.
This was Xu Tianran’s dragon sedan. At this moment, Xu Tianran was seated in his sedan. He wore a nine-dragon, purplish-gold crown on his head, and was dressed in an elegant, brocade robe that was only fitting for the Emperor of the Sun Moon Empire.
Ju Zi, who was sitting beside him, was also dressed in an extremely elegant, bright yellow palace robe. She wore a smile on her face, and her headdress was adorned with the most expensive gems.
The curtains around the sedan were raised, so that all the citizens could see the most powerful couple in the world.
“Long live His Majesty!” The soldiers lifted their weapons and greeted Xu Tianran at the same time.
Suddenly, all the citizens kneeled down in the direction of the sedan at the same time.
Xu Tianran appeared very dignified as he sat on the sedan.
He was also felt very proud of himself at this moment.
When he lost his legs, his world seemed to turn completely dark. However, he was now the ruler of the Sun Moon Empire. He was even the future ruler of the entire continent.
When he saw the millions of people bowing down to him, Xu Tianran could sense luck and fortune coming his way. That feeling was magical.
Paying respects to the heavens was only an act, but bringing the people together was important to stabilize the empire. Carrying out such a ceremony was what Xu Tianran wanted to do after he ascended to the throne.
Over the past two years, the three empires of the original Douluo Continent had made rapid developments. They had developed their soul tools and recruited more soldiers. But wasn’t it the same for the Sun Moon Empire?
Xu Tianran got his rhythm completely right. At the beginning, his position as the Emperor wasn’t very stable. However, he stood his ground and initiated an invasion with the Holy Ghost Church’s support.
Why? It was to distract attention away from the internal conflicts in the empire. Whether his officials supported him or not, they knew what to do as long as they were intelligent enough. Defeating their enemies was the main priority.
Ju Zi didn’t disappoint either. She relied on her wits and astonishing military talent to unleash the full advantages of the Sun Moon Empire’s army, dominating the Star Luo and Heavenly Soul Empires. In the end, she attained marvelous results.
Although the war had already stopped before the Heavenly Soul Empire was completely occupied, one couldn’t deny the fact that Xu Tianran had expanded the Sun Moon Empire. At this point, he chose to slow down his attacks and solidify the empire’s defenses after listening to Ju Zi’s suggestion. Instead, the empire would turn to soul tool technology to earn the trust and respect of the people in the occupied Heavenly Soul Empire. At the same time, Xu Tianran turned his attention inward.
Due to the achievements made during the war, there were much fewer objections. Ju Zi’s pregnancy and the birth of the Crown Prince also served to further consolidate Xu Tianran’s
position. In just a short two years, he had completely silenced all his doubters. He was now the true ruler of his empire.
However, all of this still wasn’t enough to satisfy his desires. He was too ambitious. He wanted to rule over the entire world and the entire Douluo Continent. He wanted to avenge the Holy War that the Sun Moon Empire had lost four thousand years ago.
This was why he wanted to pay respects to the heavens. He wanted to use this ceremony to tell the world that the Douluo Continent belonged to him and the Sun Moon Empire. After this ceremony, the Holy War would begin.
Ju Zi silently sat beside Xu Tianran. She could sense the heat from his body. It wasn’t a change in his body temperature, but a manifestation of his ambitions. He was like the Sun as everyone watched him, releasing a bright yet dominant glow from his body.
Ju Zi was wearing a grin on her face throughout. After she gave birth, she appeared even more classy, elegant and mature. Her figure also became more voluptuous. Her originally smooth and delicate skin was even more moisturized now.
Xu Tianran patted Ju Zi’s hand and jolted her back to her senses.
Ju Zi smiled as she said, “Congratulations, Your Majesty. You are the Emperor of Eternity.”
Xu Tianran also revealed a smile on his face, “No matter what I own, I’ll share it with you. Are you still unhappy? I didn’t bring the Crown Prince along because he’s too young. He’ll be scared to see so many people.”
Ju Zi gently shook her head and replied, “Why would I be unhappy? Your decision is right. I’ve already thought it through.”
Xu Tianran replied, “It’s good that you understand. Once the ceremony is over, I’ll follow you to see Yunhan.”
“Alright.” Ju Zi nodded.
She naturally knew why Xu Tianran didn’t want to bring her son for this ceremony. This was because he wasn’t his biological son. Moreover, so what if they were biologically related? Given his character, he wanted to become the Emperor of Eternity. His dream took precedence over everything else. To him, the Crown Prince was only a tool. Of course, she was also a tool.
Finally, the dragon sedan arrived in front of the altar.
Xu Tianran stood up and held Ju Zi’s hand before slowing descending from the dragon sedan. After this, they walked up the altar.
Right now, the bottom platform of the altar was filled with people. Those who were fit to be on the altar were all important figures in the Sun Moon Empire. To them, being here was an absolute honor.
The cheers of the citizens were very rapturous. It was astounding! The soundwaves created by a few million people echoed extremely far away.
Xu Tianran wore a smile on his face. Ju Zi wasn’t the only one who could sense his gloss. Everyone on the altar could also sense it. Their hearts trembling, they kneeled down and bowed to him.
They could sense that the Sun Moon Empire would rule the entire continent in the near future.
Xu Tianran wasn’t quick, but he was steady. When he reached the sixth platform, he naturally let go of Ju Zi’s hand. Ju Zi stopped and watched as he climbed up to the seventh platform.
Yes, he was the only one who ascended to the seventh platform.
The seventh platform was adorned with many elegant patterns. A huge hexagram array reflected dim golden lights. In the center of this hexagram array, an image of the Sun and Moon was blinding. The Sun was golden, while the Moon was silver. Gold and silver intersected and complemented each other.
Chapter 525: Du Busi's Rage
There was a vigorous look of passion in Xu Tianran’s eyes.
Yes, only I, as the Emperor of the Sun Moon Empire and future ruler of the entire continent and the entire world, wield the right to step onto the seventh platform of this Sun Moon Sacrificial Altar.
He ascended step by step until he reached the center of the platform. When he was above the image of the Sun and Moon, he was completely covered in a gold and silver glow.
“Ring, ring, ring——” An alarm that sounded like the groan of a giant beast sounded. The ceremony had officially begun.
After this, a total of a hundred and eight firecrackers were set off. The sounds of these firecrackers echoed for more than fifty kilometers.
Xu Tianran, who was at the top of the altar right now, was like the ruler of the entire world right now. He opened his
arms wide and peered into the sky. He basked in the sunlight, and his face was filled with pride and mightiness.
“Boom, boom, boom, boom…” The booms continued to sound, but the expressions of a few people started to change.
These were intelligent people. The sounds of the firecrackers seemed a little weird; they seemed a little too loud.
In the distance, there appeared to be lights flashing from the east side of Radiant City.
Xu Tianran didn’t seem to hear anything. He continued with the ceremony.
All types of sacrificial items were slowly raised along the sides of the seventh platform. These items were very specifically chosen over and over again.
The firecrackers had ceased by now, but there were still booms coming from afar.
Xu Tianran squinted and furrowed his brow slightly. However, he still continued with the ceremony. He gradually kneeled down and kowtowed to the heavens.
He was supposed to rise after this and give a speech. After his speech, there would be a series of complicated ceremonial processes.
Some of the people on the lower platforms had quietly left. They proceeded eastwards. Though the Emperor couldn’t personally go and find out what was happening, his subordinates could do so. The Sun Moon Empire’s biggest munitions warehouse was located in the eastern suburbs. There were many stationary soul cannon shells stored in it.
After they were used in the war, stationary soul cannon shells had proven themselves to be the most effective on battlefields. The main reason for this was that their effective range was considerably great.
The rest of the soul tools’ effective ranges were rather limited. Only stationary soul cannon shells had an effective range so great that it could cover the entire expanse of the continent, even though that was just theoretical. With their
current technology, they could be fired from tens of kilometers away. They were the Sun Moon Empire’s lethal weapons.
Furthermore, after the previous major explosion of their warehouse in Radiant City which caused major losses to the Sun Moon Empire, how would they dare to lower their guard?
Eastern suburbs.
Cannon shells were fired in quick succession in the direction of the munitions warehouse. However, the weird thing was that they seemed to be fired from the void. No soul tools could be seen at all.
Huo Yuhao and Tang Wutong held hands and quietly stood on the seemingly empty ground. However, the ground wasn’t actually empty. Ten Zhuge Divine Crossbow Cannons had been unleashed to their full effect under the concealment of Huo Yuhao’s Imitation and Spiritual Interference Domain.
The Heavenly Sun Douluo and nine other Titled Douluo were standing with both of them.
If not for Huo Yuhao’s Imitation and Spiritual Interference Domain, the attack wouldn’t have proceeded on so smoothly. However, it had indeed fooled the aerial surveillance soul tools in the sky. At least, the attack was achieving its intended effect for now.
The attack was being carried out successfully, but of course it didn’t cause any damage. In the distance, a bright yellow barrier engulfed the warehouse. It had been activated upon contact. When the cannon shells fired by the Zhuge Divine Crossbow Cannons touched this barrier, only ripples were formed.
Zhuge Divine Crossbow Cannons were manufactured by the Tang Sect, while the Class 4 shells that they fired were designed by Huo Yuhao. He was naturally very familiar with them.
Huo Yuhao was expressionless as he stood there. He sighed in his heart. According to Du Busi’s plan, he and Tang Wutong would bid goodbye to the Heavenly Sun Douluo and the rest after the first round of attacks. They had to immediately prepare for the retreat and receive those who were carrying out the real mission.
The Heavenly Sun Douluo nodded at Huo Yuhao and said, “It’s about time. People from the Sun Moon Empire are about to arrive. Let’s make a move first. Both of you should quickly retreat. Follow the original plan.”
“Alright elders, please take care.”
The Heavenly Sun Douluo smiled and waved. He led the other nine Titled Douluo away. All of their bodies had an ethereal light film over them. After they exited Huo Yuhao’s domain and were no longer concealed by his Imitation, they still needed to conceal themselves.
This is? Concealment soul tool?
Huo Yuhao was a little astonished as he watched them leave.
Concealment soul tools. I believe even the Sun Moon Empire is only in the experimental stage. I didn’t expect these Titled Douluo to possess them already.
However, Huo Yuhao was a Class 9 soul engineer. Very soon, he could tell what the catch was. They were indeed concealment soul tools, but it seemed like only Titled Douluo could operate them from the soul power undulations that were being released. These soul tools that they were using were probably just half-finished. They could only be effectively
maintained through the immense soul power undulations of
Titled Douluo. Compared to his own Imitation, these soul tools drained much more soul power.
I hope they succeed with their plan!
Huo Yuhao had no habit of wasting things. He quickly stopped firing the Zhuge Divine Crossbow Cannons and put them away in his Starlight Sapphire Ring.
A cold look also surfaced on his face. The Sun Moon Empire reacts very quickly indeed. Their people are here after just a few attacks.
A massive silver web suddenly appeared in the clear sky. It wasn’t a real web, but was formed using energy. It covered several thousands of square meters, and it was quickly engulfing Huo Yuhao and Tang Wutong.
It was capturing-type linked soul tool.
The Sun Moon Empire indeed has all kinds of powerful soul tools! Huo Yuhao was only able to think of this because he was composed enough.
He grabbed Tang Wutong’s hand tightly, and blinding silver light instantly shone from their backs. At this instant, a deafening boom resonated through the air. Following this, both of them turned into two beams of flowing light and quickly shot into the distance.
They were simply too quick. They were so quick that Huo Yuhao was unable to maintain his Imitation and domain. He had to fully focus his attention on protecting his body.
However, this extreme speed enabled both of them to quickly flee from the engulfing web.
Following this, a series of tremendous booms rang out from beneath the web.
It was the high-explosive bomb that Huo Yuhao had left behind. The extreme temperature generated from the bomb was enough to wipe away any traces of them ever being there.
Silver lights flashed in the sky, and were naturally captured by the aerial surveillance soul tools in the air. However, Huo Yuhao wasn’t worried at all. This was because they were already so quick that they were no longer afraid of being chased by any soldiers.
They overcame the sound barrier as they traveled at supersonic speed. In an instant, they covered more than fifty kilometers.
No matter how well-equipped the Sun Moon Empire was in terms of aerial surveillance soul tools, they could only install these soul tools in and around Radiant City. They couldn’t possibly cover the entire region.
This was why Huo Yuhao and Tang Wutong were completely out of the range of the aerial surveillance soul tools in just a matter of moments. When they slowed down, Huo Yuhao used his Imitation to conceal both of them again.
Huo Yuhao peered into the distance as he landed on a mountain. However, he wasn’t looking at the eastern suburbs, but the southern suburbs where the Grand Sacrificial Ceremony was taking place. I wonder how the Body Douluo and the rest are doing.
The booms from the eastern suburbs had ceased after some time. Xu Tianran kowtowed again after he finished reciting his speech.
At this moment, a weird aura could be felt in the air. The sky also turned ridiculously dark.
The originally bright sunlight was blocked off by gloomy clouds. The Sun Moon Sacrificial Altar also turned dimmer instantly.
The entire sky descended into darkness as the millions of citizens watched. Suddenly, the people began to feel terrified.
Xu Tianran finally turned grim.
This ceremony was chosen to be held on this auspicious day, which was determined after many rounds of verification. The gloomy clouds were certainly not a natural phenomenon. If it wasn’t natural, it had to be the doing of humans.
“Xu Tianran, you are too ambitious. The heavens cannot stand you. I’ll perform justice on behalf of the heavens today and deal with you.” Vigorous soundwaves sounded in the air. Everyone could clearly hear the words.
Xu Tianran stood straight and coldly looked into the sky.
In the sky, a giant that resembled a god tore the gloomy clouds apart and walked out.
This giant was more than a hundred feet tall, and was completely jade-green. There was even a purple fog surrounding him. Wasn’t he the Body Douluo, Du Busi?
Xu Tianran coldly said, “Demonic arts. How dare you disrupt today’s ceremony! Today, I shall you use your blood to pay respects to the heavens. I’ll kill you, you demonic creature.”
As he shouted, more than ten figures rose into the sky. Following this, a golden glow rose from the sides of the altar. It turned into a huge barrier that completely engulfed the altar.
There were many imperial family members and senior officials from the Sun Moon Empire on the altar. Xu Tianran was wary as they faced Du Busi, who was almost an Ultimate Douluo. He couldn’t afford to lose anyone here.
And yet, he didn’t really regard Du Busi very highly.
“Boom——”
Tremendous booms sounded from the four corners. Tragic screams and cries were immediately heard.
This time, Xu Tianran’s expression changed. He was horrified as he roared, “Du Busi, how dare you disregard the principles of soul masters and let your men lay their hands on ordinary people?”
There were millions of citizens here! The amount of destruction that could be caused was terrifying.
“My empire has fallen, and my sect is on the brink of collapse. What principles do I still have to adhere to? The Body Sect has never had principles before either. If we are punished by the heavens, I’ll shoulder all the punishment. Hahahahahaha.”
Du Busi laughed maniacally. He lifted his hands, and a terrifying aura was exuded from his body. It turned into a form of power that suppressed the ten figures that were rising up.
At this moment, the gloomy clouds in the sky started to shake. A long sigh sounded. “Old Du, why do you have to do this?”
Du Busi focused his gaze. “I knew you would come. What about that lass? Ask her along as well.”
A figure silently appeared in the air. He was dressed in a black robe, and his white hair flowed freely. He was drifting high up in the sky, and had no intention of backing away. Any
form of power that attempted to reach him was easily overcome by an invisible force. Nothing could come within three feet of him.
The Darkness Holy Dragon, the Dragon God Douluo Long Xiaoyao, who was a true Ultimate Douluo, had finally appeared.
Long Xiaoyao sighed and said, “Du Busi, leave. You can still leave now. I wouldn’t have appeared if you didn’t lay your hands on the ordinary citizens. If you massacre lives, you’ll be filled with vengeance, and you’ll never reincarnate.”
Du Busi laughed maniacally and said, “Hahaha, this is funny. This is too funny. You’re such a hypocrite. How dare you talk about massacring lives in front of me? You are in cahoots with them. How is it that you have the cheek to admonish me? Although Mu En is a big enemy of my sect, I respect him a lot. He protected Shrek City. What about you? For a woman, you are willing to work with evil soul masters. If Mu En were still alive, he’d definitely be ashamed to be mentioned in the same breath as you.”
The killings had already begun around the altar. They weren’t just ordinary soul masters. They were Transcendent Douluo. They had hidden themselves among the crowd, and were now starting to become violent. Their violence turned the entire venue into a river of blood.
Even though powerful individuals from the Sun Moon Empire rushed over immediately, how could they possibly stop this terrifying massacre?
Long Xiaoyao sighed and said, “How can you understand my thoughts? Stop the killings.”
As he spoke, he punched in Du Busi’s direction. Du Busi snorted coldly. He didn’t move at all, and just extended his palm.
Suddenly, the entire sky seemed to move with his palm. The winds started to rage.
A black fist of energy enlarged as it moved through the air. It collided with Du Busi’s palm.
There weren’t any large noises. The sky only shook. The shaking might seem very gentle, but it stopped everyone on the ground. Even the golden barrier protecting the altar started to ripple.
Du Busi roared into the skies. Following this, a blinding purplish flame rose from his body. He instantly grew in size once again, until he was more than three hundred feet wide, and a thousand meters tall. His terrifying aura pushed the ten figures back to the ground. Some of the weaker ones were even crushed into powder.
Chapter 526: Du Busi's Death
All these dead people were soul engineers. Even though they were able to utilize soul tools to enhance their fighting abilities to a level which could rival a Titled Douluo, their body’s toughness was incomparable to a Titled Douluo’s. Hence, a lot of them perished immediately after Du Busi released his power.
However, they were not the only ones who were affected by Du Busi. Even the Dragon God Douluo—Long Xiaoyao—found himself rapidly descending after Du Busi released his power. He was in disbelief as he tried to steady his body.
“Du Busi, are you crazy? You actually ignited your own fire of life?! This will detonate your soul core!”
Du Busi’s eerie laughter vanished as he said coldly, “That’s exactly what I want to do. I want to detonate my soul core and take all of you cursed people of the Sun Moon Empire down to hell with me. Listen to me, hypocrite! I am not afraid of death. I just want to see how the Sun Moon Empire can attack my homeland—the Heavenly Soul Empire, after everyone present dies with me! Hahahaha!”
Long Xiaoyao was shocked by Du Busi’s words. He had not expected Du Busi to make such a brutal decision.
There was not a single person who was not afraid of death. In fact, the stronger a person was, the likelier he or she feared death. After all, only the strong and powerful could enjoy this world.
When one had attained the Ultimate Douluo rank or was close to it, one could live beyond three hundred years if nothing unfortunate were to happen. Because Du Busi was the sect leader of the Body Sect and was responsible for protecting it, Long Xiaoyao did not expect him to choose to ignite his fire of life at this moment.
One must understand that the intensity of the fire of life was proportional to the strength of the soul master. As the intensity of the fire of life increased, it would become harder to douse it. Such irreversible scenarios would definitely result in the death of the soul master. At the same time, this would enhance the soul master’s abilities to an unprecedented level.
At that very instant when Du Busi ignited his fire of life, his cultivation level had been forced to an Ultimate Douluo’s level. And as the fire continued to rage, he was about to become stronger.
Because he had already ignited his fire of life, Du Busi no longer had any reservations or worries. Once the fire of life had finished burning, it would start to disrupt his soul core.
That soul core belonged to a Rank 98 Titled Douluo! One could only imagine how powerful the explosion would be!
There were millions of lives beneath them. Once his soul core exploded, every life below them would be ravaged.
From the above, it was clear why Titled Douluo were strategic pillars of strength for every empire. They possessed too much destructive power to be allowed to turn crazy and wreak havoc as they pleased.
As soul tool technology improved in the Sun Moon Empire, some of them had started to disregard the abilities of soul masters. However, Du Busi was about to give them a timely
reminder of the invincible power of soul masters by burning his fire of life. At this moment, he was like an unbelievably powerful, unstoppable Class 10 stationary soul cannon shell.
Even though Huo Yuhao was very far from them, he noticed the change the moment Du Busi started burning his fire of life.
When he saw Du Busi grow to about a thousand meters tall, Huo Yuhao became very worried.
“I can’t believe he’s actually planning to do this. Now it makes perfect sense why he would hand the Secrets of the Body over to me. He didn’t want it to vanish with his death!” Huo Yuhao gave a bitter smile.
Tang Wutong frowned “Doesn’t he know that his actions will end millions of innocent lives? He’s really…”
Huo Yuhao sighed before replying, “The collapse of the empire must have hit him really hard. Even Xu Tianran probably didn’t expect his Grand Sacrificial Ceremony to become the stage for Du Busi’s self-sacrifice.”
Huo Yuhao really wanted to stop Du Busi from sacrificing his life, but he did not possess the ability to do so. No one present could stop a Rank 98 Transcendent Douluo who had ignited his fire of life. Even the Darkness Holy Dragon, an Ultimate Douluo, would not be able to do so.
However, Huo Yuhao’s expression suddenly changed as he recalled something.
“Wait a minute. Something’s wrong. I have to head over there right away. Wutong, I need you to wait for me here.” Following which, Huo Yuhao let go of Wutong’s hand as he got ready to move towards Du Busi.
Tang Wutong grabbed hold of him and asked frantically, “What are you doing?! Do you want to die? There are so many powerful individuals from the Sun Moon Empire over there. There’s no way we can stop Du Busi.”
Huo Yuhao replied anxiously, “No, I’m not going to try and stop him. I understand that his move is too extreme. But Du Busi has missed something important!”
It took a while before Tang Wutong understood what Huo Yuhao meant. “Are you thinking what I am thinking?”
Huo Yuhao nodded fervently. “Yes. I’m referring to the Holy Ghost Church. They are well-versed in many dark arts which pertain to souls and the dead spirits. If Du Busi were to detonate his own soul core, it would cause an unprecedented massacre. This catastrophic outcome would only strengthen the Holy Ghost Church! If they were to acquire millions of souls, I have no idea how strong they will become. That’s why I must make my way over there to either purify or lead the souls away if an explosion is to happen.”
“But this is too dangerous.” Tang Wutong naturally understood Huo Yuhao’s considerations, but she did not loosen her grip on him.
Huo Yuhao turned his head and gazed deeply into Tang Wutong’s eyes. Suddenly, he hugged her tightly before giving her an intense kiss.
Tang Wutong was taken aback by his kiss. Following which, the strong golden seal shone before tossing Huo Yuhao away from her.
“Wutong, wait for me.” Aided by the momentum given by the seal, Huo Yuhao transformed into comet as he flew towards the southern region of Radiant City.
As a man, there are certain things I must do! If I were to allow the Holy Ghost Church to become even stronger, an unbelievably scary future awaits all of us. In fact, it would be even worse than the Sun Moon Empire taking over the world.
And that was why he had to go!
Seeing how Du Busi could no longer be persuaded from his course of action, Long Xiaoyao shook his head as his body expanded against the wind. He transformed into a dragon that was more than five hundred meters long. Following which, he swung his dragon tail towards Du Busi aggressively.
Long Xiaoyao was enraged by Du Busi’s intent for heedless killing. He knew he had to stop him, and could not allow him to detonate his soul core.
Meanwhile, at the Sun Moon Sacrificial Altar, Xu Tianran appeared to have regained his calm. He slowly strolled down from the seventh floor to Ju Zi’s side.
Following which, he raised his hand and said calmly, “Get ready to activate the high-energy beam.”
“Your majesty!” A tall old man with greying hair walked towards Xu Tianran with an unwilling look on his face.
Xu Tianran looked at him seriously before saying, “Dean, I am the leader of our country. If I can’t even protect my own people, I will have failed as our leader. Without my people or their support, there is no point in me being King or Emperor. There will be no point in conquering this world at all.”
The old man replied in a deep voice, “But once we activate the high-energy beams, everything we have been preparing for will go down the drain. We will probably be unable to recover all the accumulated energies for a couple of decades. We would have no choice but to terminate our research.”
Xu Tianran gave him a cold stare as he replied, “Dean, do you think I don’t know what is more important? Looking at how things are, we have no choice but to set whatever research we are doing aside for now.”
The old man argued, “But there’s still the Holy Ghost Church. They belong to our empire, and would probably be very helpful when it comes to reducing costs and damages if they were willing to put in a hundred percent and help us.”
Xu Tianran burst into laughter, but his eyes were still ice cold. “You want them to lend us a hand? If they were willing, they would have done so long ago. After all, the Darkness Holy Dragon is an exception! He was never fully controlled by the Holy Ghost Church. And where is the Holy Ghost Church now? They are waiting. Waiting for a chance. They can’t wait for Du Busi to detonate his soul core and kill everyone. When that happens, imagine how powerful they will become with their newly-acquired millions of souls. Do you think I would still be the leader of this country when that happened? Dean, you can rest assured that your research will be set aside once they take over the Sun Moon Empire. They will definitely not allow powerful weapons to exist and threaten them. Now go on and set everything up.”
The old man went silent. As he looked up and stared at the battle between the giant and the huge dragon, he felt a deep sense of resentment within him. Nonetheless, he relented with a long sigh before leaving.
“Your majesty.” Ju Zi purred as she grabbed his hand.
Xu Tianran appeared to be at ease as he held her hand tightly. It seemed as though everything was under control. He was not making any preparations for any form of an emergency evacuation. However, Ju Zi’s hand was in pain as he tightened his grip.
As the battle in the air grew increasingly intense, Du Busi was somehow able to suppress the Darkness Holy Dragon under the enhancement from his burning fire of life. However, the battles around them had paused.
The four Transcendent Douluo who had been creating chaos had long disappeared. It was impossible to catch a Transcendent Douluo who was determined to escape unless one had an intricate plan set up in advance.
The purple flames on Du Busi’s body were getting very intense.
Long Xiaoyao arched his head upwards and released a dragon’s roar. The sound of his roar tore through the sky, as though he was calling for something. However, no matter how he roared, there did not seem to be a returning echo.
As the battle raged on, the flames on Du Busi’s body burned brighter and stronger. The sky seemed to be turning back and forth under the interchanging streaks of black and purple.
The slaughter which was going on at ground level previously and the battle which was going on in the sky had created mass hysteria amongst the public.
Fortunately, a huge army had been drafted especially for the Grand Sacrificial Ceremony. Under the control of the army and their soul tools, the four Transcendent Douluo had been chased away, and the situation had temporarily been transformed for the better. However, in that short period of time, tens of thousands of civilians had already been killed.
In the distance.
“Mother, are we really not going to go there and help Uncle?” Zhong Liwu, who was dressed in a full-length black robe, asked the pale Ye Xishui silently.
“Of course not. The tens of thousands of souls which we managed to reap earlier are barely enough to replenish what was depleted from the Death God Pagoda previously. Why should we stop Du Busi? Long Xiaoyao is a smart man. He knows when to give up and leave.” Ye Xishui gave the plainest reply possible. It was impossible to see any emotions in her eyes.
“I understand.” Zhong Liwu did not dare to add anything else. Even though he was the actual Supreme Leader of the Holy Ghost Church, everyone knew who called the shots.
As she watched the battle which was going on in midair, Ye Xishui remained extremely calm. A faint blood-red color occasionally flickered in her eyes. A large group of powerful cultivators from the Holy Ghost Church stood behind them. They had all gathered here and waited silently for instructions not long after Du Busi had emerged.
Ye Xishui definitely knew what her son was worried about. Her son feared that Long Xiaoyao might be angered by what had just unfolded. She also knew that Long Xiaoyao was calling
for her. If she joined in the battle and helped Long Xiaoyao subdue Du Busi, he might just be unable to detonate his soul core.
However, why must I stop him? The deaths of millions of civilians would only be beneficial for the Holy Ghost Church. As a person who was only concerned about her interests, she would definitely not stop Du Busi.
Long Xiaoyao… Long Xiaoyao…!
As the battle grew in intensity, the flames on Du Busi’s body seemed to become material. Long Xiaoyao could no longer do anything about his mad attacks. All he could do was to try and stop Du Busi from descending.
“Long Xiaoyao, do you really think you can stop me? Stop shouting for her. Since I have dared to come today, I have already thought of everything. She won’t be coming to help you.” Du Busi let out a burst of eerie laughter.
Long Xiaoyao was taken aback by his words. He had a strange realization that Du Busi might not be as mad as he seemed.
“Du Busi, why must you do this? Do you really think you can kill Xu Tianran like this? He has so many Class 9 soul engineers defending him. Even if your self-destruction is super strong, it won’t be enough to kill him. The shield above the Sun Moon Sacrificial Altar alone is enough to shave off half of the impact from your self-destruction. Slaughtering millions of lives will only do the Holy Ghost Church good. You are just helping them become stronger. It’s not too late to stop. I can still help you to douse your burning fire of life and help you leave. How does that sound?”
Long Xiaoyao was very clear with his words, but Du Busi continued to laugh. In fact, he seemed very happy about something.
Suddenly, Du Busi’s voice became very soft. His words could only reverberate within Long Xiaoyao’s ears. “My old pal, of course, I know what you’re talking about. We have both lived for over two hundred years. Why would I not be able to consider that things that you’ve said? Our thinking is just very different. I can see that you are still a person with a heart. If not, you would never have turned up here. The truth is my action is but a small part of the entire operation. Do you really think I want to die? Of course not. But I have already sustained certain injuries which I cannot recover from back when I
fended off the invaders from the Sun Moon Empire previously. I am already too old.”
“Just like Mu En who was just living out his life after sustaining a serious injury, I can feel my own abilities deteriorating every day. Let’s not talk about becoming an Ultimate Douluo. I’m not even confident of remaining a Transcendent Douluo in a few years’ time. I have at most ten more years to live.”
“Ten years is a long enough time for a normal human. But for people like us, it is nothing. That’s why I would rather not have these ten years. The most heroic death for a soul master is to die before the eyes of the public. In fact, I have already won. Do you know that?”
Even though Long Xiao was staring at Du Busi and listening to his words, both of them were still entangled in battle. However, there was no hatred or anger in his eyes. What remained was nothing but sorrow and melancholy. Is another person from my times really about to die?
It was almost as if Du Busi had finally found someone to converse with him as he continued. “My appearance today is
part of a carefully crafted plan. There’s no chance of me dying in vain. In my eyes, since I am about to die, the rules no longer mean anything. Do you really think the millions of lives below us can be so easily taken away? You have spent a fair bit of time in the Sun Moon Empire. Do you really not know what trump
cards they’re hiding under their sleeves? They will definitely try their best to protect their people. If not, the millions of deaths would shake the foundation of Xu Tianran’s rule. But whatever trump cards they deploy will most definitely take a lot out of them. In the future, when they have to face the other nations, they will definitely be a lot weaker.”
“This is my first objective. As long as Xu Tianran isn’t mentally retarded, he will definitely help me achieve it. My second objective is naturally you. I knew Ye Xishui would definitely not come after starting this commotion. However, I was sure you would. I was purposely shouting around in that manner previously to attract someone else’s attention. Do you really think I still don’t know you well enough? You must have a reason for staying around her. I don’t want to know the exact reason. All I know is that now that you are on the opposing side, you won’t feel too good after I die. I don’t think you can deny that, right?”
“My third objective pertains to Ye Xishui. She must be lurking around somewhere with her disciples and grand-
disciples, waiting to pounce in and reap the fruits of our hard work. The sheer number of souls from the dead people would be too enticing for them to turn down. I have considered how they would not be able to resist this temptation before deciding to do what I am doing now. I have now successfully drawn Ye Xishui and her underlings here. The greed of evil soul masters will be their downfall.”
“Once I am done with my three objectives, I can allow my old body to die. I am not the only one here this time around. Once my objectives have been achieved, the remaining ones will naturally be accomplished by the others. I have already attracted enough firepower, right? Hahahahaha!”
After hearing Du Busi’s words, Long Xiaoyao became very quiet. Du Busi has really drafted a very well-crafted plan this time round. He has managed to predict how we would all act. Xu Tianran. Ye Xishui. And me. All of us.
It was because he had already known how they would all act based on how events would unfold that he was willing to give up his life to gather everyone here.
But then what is his true objective?
“Long Xiaoyao, I have always been very easy-going and carefree all my life. Failing to defeat Mu En is one of the biggest regrets in my life. However, I have managed to live longer than him. In the future, if you want to describe me as a despicable person, I will gladly accept it as praise from you. Time is
almost up. I want you to help me see how big an explosion I can create with my abilities. Oh yes, I actually have a fourth objective. I want to assassinate Xu Tianran. No matter whether I succeed or not, I want to try. If not, how can I rest in peace, right?”
After finishing his sentence, Du Busi suddenly burst into a fit of mad laughter. Following which, his body suddenly froze in mid-air.
It was as if the entire sky had frozen, and all the energy pulses stopped at this very instant. Even Long Xiaoyao was no exception.
Just as Long Xiaoyao’s eyes widened in shock, a dense layer of black started to vanish in the next instant. A mysterious ring of silver-white light started to appear around him.
That ring of white light rubbed and collided against the static space around it vigorously.
Du Busi revealed a sly smile as he took a last look at Long Xiaoyao. Following which, his thousand meter-tall body shrank rapidly towards the center of his stomach.
At that very instant, it was as if a black hole had formed in the middle of the sky. Copious amounts of natural qi of heaven and earth gravitated towards the center of the black hole.
Because of how suddenly Du Busi’s body had shrunk, everyone present, including the millions of civilians of the Sun Moon Empire, felt as if they were being sucked by something in the air. The tens of thousands of people that were closer to the Sun Moon Sacrificial Altar were even lifted into the air by the force of attraction. Their feet left the ground as they floated a couple of meters into the air.
Just when some of these people started to regain their composure, chaos broke loose again as screams and shouts could be heard everywhere as they tried to struggle against the force of attraction.
Du Busi had vanished, and what had replaced him was a huge piece of crystal, entirely jade-green, and radiating a jade-green glow onto its pitch black surroundings. It seemed as though it could swallow all the darkness around it. Even the silver glow from Long Xiaoyao’s body was being consumed by it.
Long Xiaoyao revealed a bitter smile. You are truly remarkable! He could sense this soul core had been enhanced to the level that belonged to an Ultimate Douluo. The only difference was how an Ultimate Douluo had two soul cores, and Du Busi only had one.
Du Busi had burned all of his power and energy, including his soul. At this very instant, everything turned silent. But it was merely the calm before the impending storm.
Is it coming now? Everyone stopped breathing as they looked up into the sky. They could sense that a catastrophe was about to hit them.
However, at this very instant, the air in the direction of Radiant City suddenly became illuminated. Four gentle white beams of light shot up into the sky without any warning.
These four pillars of light were initially not particularly noticeable. They were only as thick as water pails, but they immediately began to expand at an unbelievable rate.
Very soon, these four beams had a diameter of over a hundred meters as they pierced deep into the sky, their powerful light unimpeded by the grey clouds.
The energy bound within the jade-green soul core seemed to be agitated by the white light, as it started to emit a low humming sound. The space around the soul core started to show signs of cracking.
Even though Xu Tianran was still affected by Du Busi’s soul core, he was still able to move around under the protection from the golden shield above the Sun Moon Sacrificial Altar. As he reascended to the seventh floor of the Sacrificial Altar, he pointed at the sky with his right hand as a long golden sword appeared in his hand. Following which, his bright voice echoed into the distance within the Sun Moon Empire.
“I have been doted upon by the heavens, and have since inherited this throne. May the heavens above us protect the citizens of the Sun Moon Empire against whoever might dare to challenge their fury. Today, I shall borrow the power of the heavens and suppress whoever threatens our way of living. He or she shall perish, never to be reborn. May the light of our Sun Moon Empire shine upon our land forever and always.”
At the very next instant, Xu Tianran’s body started to radiate a golden glow. A cold and solemn look formed on his face as a bolt of purple lightning emerged from his body. Suddenly, his body started to emit a purple-gold flash, which contrasted against the dark skies as he became the center of attention.
With his sword pointed towards the sky, he made a waving motion as though he were commanding something. Following which, the four humongous beams of light in the distance suddenly left their original path as they started to bend and shoot across the Sun Moon Sacrificial Altar.
Even though Du Busi’s soul core had locked up the surrounding space, it was useless against the four gigantic beams of light, which spread out and became a gigantic horizontal barrier.
At this very instant, the charging of the soul core seemed to have ended, and it started to plunge toward the Sun Moon Sacrificial Altar.
A piercing white light flashed as the barrier formed just in time to envelope the millions of lives below it, including half of the Radiant City, which was not too far away.
“Chinkkkkkk!”
This bright ringing sound would be a sound which the millions of lives would never forget.
At this very instant, the world’s time and space came to a standstill. This time round, even Xu Tianran, who was standing within the barrier, stopped moving.
“Booommmmm!”
A jade-green glow started to expand as huge patches of darkness bloomed behind it. This time around, they did not come in the form of dark clouds. It was almost as if night had descended upon the world. There seemed to be countless stars and constellations in this “sky”. But there was definitely more darkness in this “sky”, which appeared to be consuming everything in its way.
The huge white barrier started to tremble as its powerful glow started to quiver under the pressure from the jade-green glow.
The overwhelming pressure from the jade-green glow, which seemed like the Heavenly Might, started to increase to its maximum.
Xu Tianran started to show signs of unease and disbelief. As he stood firm to withstand the immense pressure coming from above him, he started to find it difficult to breathe.
Xu Tianran’s nine soul rings started to rise as a giant purple dragon—his martial soul—took form behind his back. That was his true strength—nine rings! The Emperor of the Sun Moon Empire might be around thirty years old, but he was already a Titled Douluo. Furthermore, he owned a powerful martial soul—a Purplebrilliant Heaven Destroying Dragon.
As he focused and directed his energies into the sky, his powerful abilities were now fully revealed. However, he faced Heavenly Might. Heavenly Might summoned by Du Busi.
Nevertheless, the jade-green glow was still kept outside by the enhanced white barrier.
However, Xu Tianran, who had been proudly standing above the Sun Moon Sacrificial Altar, started to vomit blood as he collapsed onto the ground.
“Booommmm!”
The deafening sound echoed for several moments before it stopped.
Beneath the Sun Moon Sacrificial Altar, the civilians who were suspended in mid-air fell down as chaos broke out within the city. The scary explosion left behind a sky filled with blazing white light. Huge waves of soul power rippled across the sky, travelling more than a hundred miles away and shaving the peaks off the mountains nearest to the city.
“Your Majesty!” Ju Zi was the first to get to the Sun Moon Sacrificial Altar. Just now, at the moment right before the huge explosion hit the barrier, she felt as if her throat had been ensnared in someone’s grip. Because she was the nearest to the seventh floor, she could feel the direct impact. Xu Tianran’s heavy injury was not a result of Du Busi’s mad soul core explosion, but the effects of his thoughts, which had manifested in the form of Heavenly Might.
Yes, the soul core explosion was indiscriminate, but its attack on everything around it was blocked by the mystical power originating from Radiant City. However, after the explosion had begun, Du Busi’s purest desire to murder Xu Tianran
penetrated through the two defence lines and landed on Xu Tianran.
The self-destruction of an Ultimate Douluo was simply this frightening. If Xu Tianran had not achieved the rank of a Titled Douluo, his soul would have been shattered into a million pieces.
Du Busi had achieved all four of his objectives—just as he had promised before his death. Even though he had pretended to be the bait here, the real target had always been to destroy Xu Tianran.
Ju Zi hugged Xu Tianran as she frantically attempted to inject her soul power into his body. However, she found much to her surprise that she was unable to do so. There was a serious conflict between Du Busi’s mad spiritual power and Xu Tianran’s own spiritual power within his body. They were like fire and water—unaccommodating towards one another. Because of this battle which was raging within Xu Tianran’s body, his mouth and nose started to bleed as his face became increasingly pale.
Right now, Ju Zi demonstrated her ability as the War God Empress to stay calm in tense situations. She immediately scooped Xu Tianran from the ground and retrieved his sound amplifying soul tool. She announced, “My dear people, our Emperor had used himself as the conduit to draw upon the power of the heavens to destroy our enemy. While the enemy has died, our Emperor has also sustained some injuries. I, as
the War God Empress appointed by the Emperor himself, promise that as long as the Emperor and I are around, we can definitely safeguard the prosperity of our Sun Moon Empire. Our Emperor has only sustained some minor injuries. All of you can rest assured that he will be fine. Now, please follow the army’s orders and return to Radiant City. Anyone who dares to make trouble shall face the death penalty!”
The chaos outside subsided after the people heard Ju Zi’s words.
“God of War! God of War! God of War!” The army suddenly started to cheer in unison. Their united cheering covered the chaotic noise in the city.
As the Empress and Goddess of War of the Sun Moon Empire, Ju Zi’s position in the army had long been elevated to that of a
military idol. Under Xu Tianran’s designs, her reputation had long surpassed that of its most important generals.
After hearing her words, the soldiers in the army released a celebratory cheer that came from the bottom of their hearts. After all, an impending disaster had just been stopped by their Emperor. At this moment, the civilians started to calm down as they started to join in the cheers.
No matter what, even though the Grand Sacrificial Ceremony had been disrupted, millions of civilians had witnessed something awe-inspiring. At least in their eyes, justice had triumphed over evil, and evil had been vanquished.
As the dark clouds in the sky slowly scattered, the land was once again irradiated with warm sunlight. Everything— including Long Xiaoyao—which was previously in the sky had disappeared.
Huo Yuhao had observed the progression of events from afar. He was overwhelmed with sadness after witnessing the death of Du Busi. Even though he did not understand his objectives, and had only interacted with him a few times, Huo Yuhao had seen how he had detonated his own soul core for his country.
How could he not feel sad for him? Furthermore, the Secrets of the Body was still with him.
Huo Yuhao lowered his body and bowed solemnly at the sky, which was beginning to clear up.
“Du Busi, regardless of what has happened, you are undeniably a hero for your country and its people. I will definitely bring your heroic stories back to the Heavenly Soul Empire. I will also pass on your Secrets of the Body. You can rest assured that I will do my best to bring the rest away.”
Without the catastrophe and countless deaths that Huo Yuhao had expected, he naturally had no need to purify any souls.
He did not know when Tang Wutong appeared by his side.
As he looked at her, Huo Yuhao felt guilty about what he had done earlier. “Wutong, I am sorry. I was rash again.”
Tang Wutong stepped forward and held his hand. “I understand. There’s nothing inherently wrong with what you did. But next time, do not leave me behind. I want to be with you regardless of whether we live or die. As long as we are together, we will have better odds of surviving anything.”
Huo Yuhao held her hands tightly and replied, “Let’s head to the meeting point. If I did not guess wrongly, Du Busi’s sacrifice was meant to pin down the enemies near the Sacrificial Altar. This would probably mean that the Heavenly Sun Douluo’s side should almost be done. Let’s meet up with them and return to the Heavenly Soul Empire.”
Both of them leapt up into the air and disappeared into the sky as they flew towards the pre-planned meeting point.
It was undeniable that Du Busi’s death was a brilliant move. The leaders of Radiant City were all busy trying to maintain order after the explosion, and did not have the time to bother with anything else.
Because the Emperor was heavily injured, the Sun Moon Empire lacked a leader who could organize the country. It was the best time to leave the scene under such chaotic conditions.
Just now, he had managed to catch a glimpse of the Sun Moon Empire’s War God Empress—Ju Zi. She had become a lot more elegant and beautiful. Ju Zi, you will probably be heading back onto the battlefield in the near future. Do you know how much I wish we won’t meet on the battlefield?
The meeting point was at the suburban area of the eastern district. This place was nearest to the Star Luo Empire. Huo Yuhao had originally thought that the plan to misdirect them was a little too simple. But after he saw how Du Busi detonated his soul core, he realized how carefully crafted the plan was.
By the time Huo Yuhao and Tang Wutong reached the meeting point, there were already four Titled Douluo waiting there.
All of them were Transcendent Douluo, and did not seem particularly pleased with what had just happened. Two of them happened to hail from the Body Sect, and they had obviously witnessed Du Busi’s self-destruction.
“My condolences.” There was nothing else Huo Yuhao could say as he dragged Tang Wutong to retreat to a corner.
The atmosphere was simply too suffocating. After witnessing one of the most powerful and revered cultivators in the world of soul masters fall, they were all still trying to grapple with what had just happened. It was a huge blow for everyone.
Chapter 527: The Crown Prince!
Ten shadows returned soundlessly fifteen minutes later. The Heavenly Sun Douluo was in the lead, and he was holding a bag as he immediately lowered his voice once he touched the ground and said, “Let’s go. Radiant City has increased security across the entire city, so let’s get out of here. You’re back in command, Yuhao.”
Huo Yuhao could tell from the Heavenly Sun Douluo’s solemn expression that he knew about the Body Douluo’s death.
He nodded, and immediately shared Spiritual Detection with everyone. The others didn’t delay as they rose into the air and surged toward the sky.
But Huo Yuhao had just taken everyone into the air when a dumbfounded look appeared on his face. His spiritual power was incredibly sharp, and the first thing had to do to share his Spiritual Detection was to cover everyone around him. There should be sixteen people including the Titled Douluo, Tang Wutong, and himself, because the Body Douluo would be missing from their initial lineup.
But when he brought everyone into the air, he could clearly hear a seventeenth heartbeat. There was another life form in the Heavenly Sun Douluo’s grasp.
What is that?
Huo Yuhao subconsciously stretched his Spiritual Detection over, and the first thing he felt was a gentle but weak spiritual undulation. It was a world apart compared to those Titled Douluo, but this gentle spiritual undulation made his heart tremble vigorously as an inexplicable sensation coursed over his entire body.
The first thing that appeared in his Spiritual Detection was a small swaddling cloth, which contained a soundly sleeping infant. That heartbeat and spiritual undulation belonged to the infant!
……
Inside the Sun Moon Empire’s royal palace!
“What? The crown prince has been…” Ju Zi stared at the servant girl who was reporting back to her, shaking all over. The color had drained from her face completely.
“No, no…!” Ju Zi shouted hysterically as she charged crazily into her bedroom. Even a person as calm as she was fell apart when she discovered that her child had disappeared into thin air.
She was very calm when the Body Douluo, Du Busi was detonating his soul core and causing an apocalyptic calamity.
She was still calm when she watched her husband, the Sun Moon Empire’s Emperor, Xu Tianran fall from the sacrificial pedestal.
But when she found out that her flesh and blood had suddenly gone missing, how could she keep her cool? She couldn’t bother with anchoring the overall situation as she ran back into her bedroom, crazed.
……
“This child is…” Huo Yuhao stared at the Heavenly Sun Douluo with wide eyes and open jaw. Even though he could already faintly guess this incredibly young infant’s identity, he still found it a little hard to believe.
A shameful look appeared on the Heavenly Sun Douluo’s face. “We don’t have any other choice. How can we send the Sun Moon Empire into disarray without doing this? It’s a pity that we couldn’t assassinate Xu Tianran. Otherwise, the Sun Moon Empire would undoubtedly descend into chaos, and the Douluo Continent’s three native empires would no longer be burdened.”
Huo Yuhao was astounded. Tang Wutong was equally astonished, because they never expected that the three empires’ true goal of sending out fifteen Titled Douluo, with the price of the Body Douluo’s suicidal sacrifice, was this tiny baby.
Every doubt in Huo Yuhao’s mind evaporated in this moment. He finally understood what this operation’s true mission was.
They weren’t here for a single task, they were here for two: assassinate Xu Tianran and kidnap his crown prince, Xu Yunhan.
The reason why the Body Douluo, Du Busi was so willing to sacrifice himself probably had a lot to do with his body’s condition. Otherwise, there was no reason for such a formidable individual to kill himself like that. He placed his own life on the line with the aim of assassinating Xu Tianran, and at the same time, he used his formidable strength to attract all the attention of Radiant City’s core powers. He did that to create an opportunity for the Heavenly Sun Douluo and the others.
Just as the Heavenly Sun Douluo had said, if Xu Tianran was assassinated and his son went missing, the Sun Moon Empire, which had just settled down, would descend into chaos.
This situation was what the continent’s three native empires wanted most, and this plan was made perfect with the Body Douluo’s sacrifice.
But these were fifteen Titled Douluo! Some of the strongest individuals in the world actually made a move against an
infant.
Huo Yuhao finally understood why the White Tiger Duke had a shameful look on his face before they left the Ming Dou Mountain Range. They couldn’t beat their enemies in a war, so they had to make a move on their children. No matter how cruel war was, such despicable methods filled his heart with contempt and disdain.
This was especially so because the child that they had abducted wasn’t just Xu Tianran’s son, and he wasn’t just the Sun Moon Empire’s crown prince. He was also Ju Zi’s son!
The image of Ju Zi crumbling from grief almost immediately surfaced in Huo Yuhao’s mind. Ju Zi was an orphan, and every single one of her family members had died horribly in a war. This had already caused her personality to twist slightly. Now that she had a child, her own flesh and blood, but her child was suddenly taken away from her. It wasn’t hard to imagine the kind of blow that she would take.
The Heavenly Sun Douluo explained no further, and they quickly accelerated into the distance. Huo Yuhao pulled Tang Wutong along, and they were still using Imitation and
Spiritual Detection to control the formation. But Huo Yuhao’s mind felt very suffocated.
The reason why the Body Douluo chose to sacrifice himself instead of personally kidnapping this child was probably also because of guilt and shame!
But… but how could they have such a plan…
Huo Yuhao shut his eyes painfully.
Tang Wutong passed a message to his mind. “You have to remain calm, Yuhao. Let’s leave this dangerous place first before anything else.”
“Yes,” Huo Yuhao nodded gently. He knew that there was nothing he could do, at least not right now. In front of fourteen Titled Douluo, and also when everyone’s hearts were feeling heavy because of Du Busi’s death, there was nothing he could say that would change things. Instead, his words would be counterproductive. They had to leave this place first, and he had to fulfill his promise to the Body Douluo and take everyone back.
Just thirty minutes after they departed, Radiant City exploded like a hornet’s nest that had been impaled. Every single powerful soul master, every individual from the Holy Ghost Church, and every soldier from the army moved out at once in search of their crown prince.
Xu Tianran had woken up inside Radiant City’s royal palace.
He was leaning against the bed, and his face was as pale as could be, but his eyes were full of hatred and resentment.
He was very severely injured, and not only his body was hurt. What was more frightening was that his spirit had been heavily damaged, and his spiritual sea was almost shattered. If the Body Douluo’s final strike hadn’t been blocked by those two barriers and his personal Class 9 spiritual-type defensive soul tool, he would probably have been completely annihilated by that tremendous pressure.
But his nightmare returned once he woke up. His crown prince, Xu Yunhan, had been kidnapped by unknown individuals.
Xu Tianran had already murdered a bunch of people because of this. Even though his face was as white as paper, he couldn’t hide the deep-seated murderousness in his eyes!
“Very good. Good, Body Douluo. Very good, Holy Ghost Church!” Xu Tianran gritted his teeth so hard that he almost shattered them.
If the Body Douluo hadn’t sacrificed himself, how could he have attracted everyone’s attention? If the Holy Ghost Church hadn’t been selfish, how could those powerful kidnappers have succeeded?
Xu Tianran was full of hate, and he wanted to kill everyone around him. He had just consolidated his throne, and this Grand Sacrificial Ceremony was to be the true starting point of his glorious empire. But something like this had to happen.
The Grand Sacrificial Ceremony was forced to end, and so many citizens’ lives were lost. This dealt a heavy blow to his reputation and influence, and more importantly, somebody had kidnapped his crown prince.
“Stop crying!” Xu Tianran growled at Ju Zi, who was kneeling beneath him. He began to cough uncontrollably after his exclamation.
Ju Zi’s expression was possibly even paler than Xu Tianran’s. Her voice was trembling as she said, “Your Majesty, your majesty! You have to save Yunhan, you have to save him! He’s only a year and three months old!”
“Get up.” Xu Tianran lowered his voice as he spoke.
Ju Zi supported herself on the table beside her and struggled to stand up.
Xu Tianran pointed at the bed in front of him, and Ju Zi went over to sit down. She looked like she had lost her spirit in this moment.
“Ju Zi, I understand what you’re feeling. But right now, you have to understand what those people want by kidnapping Yunhan.”
Of course Ju Zi understood. But the more she understood, the more dejected she felt. Her eyes were filled with a pleading expression as she said, “Your Majesty, Yunhan is our child! He’s your crown prince! No matter what, you have to save him. I’m begging you. I’m begging you!”
A brutal look flashed across Xu Tianran’s eyes. “Save him? How am I to save him? His kidnappers are definitely the Body Douluo’s accomplices, and their goal is simple. They wish to stop me from restarting the war, stop me from trampling all over the continent’s three empires. Do they really think that they can stop me like that? If I can have one son, then I can have another. Since they have taken away the crown prince, then I will sacrifice their lives to pay for his. Ju Zi, you have to gather yourself immediately. I can let you command the armies, and launch an invasion against them immediately. Use their blood to pay for our son!”
“No—” Ju Zi screamed hysterically, and her expression immediately became as white as paper. She had never expected Xu Tianran to say something like that after but a moment of thought. His words were undoubtedly a death sentence for her son!
All that talk about how he could have a second one because he had a first. The crown prince wasn’t his flesh and blood in the first place; he was just another tool. Of course, Xu Tianran wouldn’t feel his heart ache. But Yunhan was her son! How could she not care about his safety?
Xu Tianran’s eyes grew fierce and sinister as he lifted his hand and grabbed Ju Zi by the neck. His insidious face brimmed with murderousness as he growled, “You dare to go against me?”
Ju Zi’s pretty face grew red and swollen as she found it hard to breathe, but her eyes were staring unblinkingly at Xu Tianran. She wasn’t willing to give any quarter, and her entire body was quivering from anger.
If she had felt any gratitude towards Xu Tianran before, then everything in her heart had vaporized in this moment.
Had Xu Tianran not trained her into a tool when he brought her back all those years ago? She had saved his life afterwards, and in her heart, everything that she owed him had been returned.
The reason why she was willing to do all kinds of things for him was because she wanted to get her revenge. But how could she not have any feelings at all when they had been together for so long?
But Ju Zi truly understood how naïve she was in this moment. How could any sentiment in the world fetter a man like that? All the yearning and feelings in her heart were but
illusions, and she found herself so laughable that she had placed so much hope on a person like that.
Xu Tianran felt his heart skip a beat as he stared into her eyes. An intense pain jolted his brain as he subconsciously released his grip, and Ju Zi fell down beside him.
Xu Tianran supported his forehead with his hand as he shut his eyes in agony.
“Forget it. Just settle this however you want. We’ll try all we can to search for the crown prince, and we’ll talk afterwards if that doesn’t work out. You may go.”
Ju Zi got onto her knees, trembling. She lowered her head, and her voice sounded hoarse and began to shake as she said to Xu Tianran, “Thank you, Your Majesty.” With that, she crawled out of Xu Tianran’s bedroom on her knees.
What Xu Tianran couldn’t see was that Ju Zi’s eyes were filled with resentment and ferocity, but she completely hid her murderousness and didn’t show any of that at all.
……
Long Xiaoyao stood in a pitch-black room without a single ray of light at all with his hands behind his back. His eyes were filled with desolation.
“You’re hurt?” A mildly hoarse and shrill voice could be heard, and a layer of dark red colors glowed inside the room. The Death God Douluo, Ye Xishui silently appeared not far behind him.
“I haven’t tasted the feeling of being hurt in a long time. I didn’t expect Old Poison to be so brutal and intense, that he would choose such a path. That he would rather die for his country in front of millions instead of living for a few years more. Another from our generation has fallen.”
Ye Xishui said plainly, “Why aren’t you asking me why I refused to help you? Don’t you wish to interrogate me about that?”
Long Xiaoyao shook his head. “Why should I interrogate you? Why should I ask when I know the answer? The truth is,
I’ve always known who I am to you. But I’m afraid there might not be much left for me to give you.”
Ye Xishui’s voice suddenly turned cold. “I will not stop you if you want to leave. You can leave whenever you want to.”
Long Xiaoyao turned around and stared at Ye Xishui’s pale face. His voice immediately turned gentle, and he said, “Xishui, I would have left a long time ago if I wanted to. Why would I wait to do that now? Since I made a promise back then that I would use the remainder of my life to pay you back for the sins that I have committed, then I will stay true to my word. The reason why I said there might not be much left to give is because every person’s life will eventually come to an end! Du Busi’s life has a limit, and so does mine.”
Ye Xishui’s body quivered as she arrived in front of Long Xiaoyao in a flash. Her fingers had blood-red fingernails, and she pressed her hand against Long Xiaoyao’s chest.
Long Xiaoyao didn’t move, nor did he attempt to stop her at all. He just let her plant her palm firmly on his chest.
Ye Xishui’s expression slowly changed after a few moments. “You’re so severely injured?!”
Long Xiaoyao laughed, and his laughter was extremely warm. “I’m very happy to feel just a thread of your care and concern. Don’t worry, I won’t die for a while, and I still have to protect you for some time. No matter how you treat me, Xishui, you’ll always be the only woman that I’ve ever loved in my heart.”
Ye Xishui’s breathing suddenly became rushed, and her eyes turned ice-cold and evil as she stared insidiously at Long Xiaoyao. She spun around after a few moments and disappeared in a ray of red light.
A dash of bitterness appeared on Long Xiaoyao’s face. There wasn’t any sadness, only a trace of deep regret. He closed his eyes and said, “I have wanted to leave this world for a long time, but in the end, I still can’t bear to lose you!”
……
Crisp crying sounds echoed throughout the skies, and the Heavenly Sun Douluo who was soaring through the air
suddenly paused. His expression also became a little awkward.
“Mama, mama, mama!” A childish voice rang out from the swaddling cloth, and this Rank 97 Titled Douluo’s first reaction was to stop.
The winds were strong, and he had been using his soul power to protect the bag of cloth in his bosom. He could feel some intense struggling coming from, and that came with vigorous bawling. This Transcendent Douluo no longer knew what to do.
The Heavenly Sun Douluo stopped, and everyone else stopped one after another as they stared at the bag at his chest.
The Heavenly Sun Douluo relaxed his grip a little, and a tiny head poked out from within his arms.
It was a beautiful little boy. His skin was as white as snow, and so tender that a drop of water could appear from a gentle squeeze. He had dark black hair, and his large eyes were also black. Even though he was crying so hard that mucus and tears
were flowing all over his face, everybody who could see him couldn’t help but give him praise – what a beautiful little child!
The clothes he was wearing were made from excellent fabric, and it made his tender skin even more eye-catching. His crying sounds were extremely bright and loud.
“Uh…” The Heavenly Sun Douluo had only been thinking about completing his task. Furthermore, the Sun Moon Empire’s crown prince had been very quiet, because he was in a deep sleep when he had taken him away. But the group of Titled Douluo became a little helpless once he woke up.
The youngest Titled Douluo participating in this operation was at least eighty years old, excluding Huo Yuhao and Tang Wutong. Even if they had family when they were younger, they wouldn’t personally raise a child with their status and identities!
“Uh, you’re a girl, can you coax him?” The Heavenly Sun Douluo arrived in front of Tang Wutong as he spoke and passed the child to her.
Tang Wutong was a little dumbfounded. She was a girl, but she was still young and unmarried! Even though she spent all her time with Huo Yuhao, they had never done anything. She subconsciously took the little boy, and couldn’t help but feel anxious and panicky because she didn’t know how to hold him.
Perhaps a female’s glory began to show its power, because the little boy immediately stopped crying once he was in her arms. He blinked his enormous eyes as he stared at Tang Wutong, and stuck his index finger in his mouth. He seemed very curious.
The Heavenly Sun Douluo immediately heaved a sigh of relief when he saw that the boy was no longer crying.
“Auntie, milk!” The little fellow suddenly spoke, and Tang Wutong’s face flushed red. Furthermore, the little fellow didn’t give her any chance at all as he stretched out his pudgy little hands to grab her shirt.
“Ah—” There were still so many people around her, and Tang Wutong immediately screamed out loud.
Huo Yuhao was also startled, and he almost didn’t hesitate as he took the child from Tang Wutong’s embrace.
Tang Wutong had that mysterious seal on her body. If this little child accidentally touched a place that he wasn’t supposed to touch and triggered the seal, the retaliation produced wasn’t something that a child who was barely more than a year old could take.
“Wa—” The little boy didn’t get what he wanted, and immediately began to bawl once more.
Huo Yuhao hadn’t raised a child before either! He didn’t know what to do, and reacted in a flurry as he hurriedly and gently patted the child’s back in an attempt to placate him.
Strangely, Huo Yuhao patted the child’s back just a few times before the kid stopped crying once more, and stared at Huo Yuhao with those large black eyes of his.
He was just so cute. Anybody would want to pinch and squeeze those cute and chubby cheeks of his. Anybody would even feel like giving him a kiss.
Furthermore, for some reason, an inexplicable feeling flashed across Huo Yuhao’s heart when he stared into the baby’s eyes.
This is Ju Zi’s child!
“Wa—” Huo Yuhao didn’t get to think for long before the boy began to cry once more.
The Heavenly Sun Douluo frowned and said, “What should we do? He’s too noisy. Why don’t we knock him out?”
Tang Wutong immediately frowned. “He’s just a baby. How can you even say that? What if you hurt him? Is he hungry?”
Huo Yuhao thought about how the boy wanted to suckle her breast. He immediately said, “He should be hungry. But a small infant like this should want to drink milk, yes?”
Everyone’s eyes went to Tang Wutong once that was said.
Tang Wutong was greatly embarrassed. “Why are all of you staring at me? I… I don’t have any…”
One of the Titled Douluo who was relatively more experienced said, “This baby should be around a year and three months old. He should be able to eat normal food. Even though he can drink milk, that’s not a necessity. We are quite some distance from Radiant City by now, so why don’t we get him something to eat and let him calm down before anything else?”
“Yes, it seems like we have no choice.” The Heavenly Sun Douluo felt a little humiliated when Tang Wutong chided him. But he thought about what he had said, and how had he wanted to make a move against a tiny baby who was barely more than a year old, and he felt extremely awkward and guilty, so he immediately agreed.
Everyone descended from the sky and found a relatively obscure hill.
Nobody had any experience feeding a baby. Finally, Huo Yuhao was the one who took that responsibility.
No matter what, this boy was Ju Zi’s son. He was very clear that there was nothing he could do or say to these Titled Douluo for now, so he would have to wait for everyone to leave the Sun Moon Empire before anything else. He had to protect this baby, no matter what, because the child was innocent no
matter what his identity was. Furthermore, he was Ju Zi’s flesh and blood!
There wasn’t any delicious or sumptuous food out in the wilderness. Huo Yuhao boiled some water he softened some dry rations by simmering them in water before he gave them to the little boy.
This little fellow wasn’t picky with his food. He was eating very happily, and naturally stopped crying because he had something to eat. But his large black eyes were staring at Huo Yuhao from the beginning to the end.
Reality proved that this one-year-old child wasn’t just able to eat food for grown men; he could even walk. Even though he didn’t walk very stably, the little child who should be Xu Yunhan began to walk by himself when Huo Yuhao let him go. Furthermore, he wasn’t uncomfortable with strangers, and he stopped crying once he was full. He was all smiles, and the way he smiled made all the Titled Douluo react with kind and amiable expressions. What a cute little baby!
The little child returned in front of Huo Yuhao after circling around, and seemed to stare at him very seriously before he exclaimed babyishly, “Daddy!”
Huo Yuhao almost jumped to his feet in surprise.
This child wasn’t the only person to call him “daddy”. The Snow Lady had called him that before. But Huo Yuhao realized to his surprise that he was only awkward and embarrassed when the Snow Lady called him that, but when this little fellow called him that, he felt shaken.
There seemed to be some kind of formless fate in the nether that tied them together when the little boy uttered that word.
Huo Yuhao possessed the Eye of Destiny, and he was extremely sensitive to it. He seemed to feel like his destiny was connected to this little fellow when the child called to him.
He made his decision in that moment.
Huo Yuhao took the baby back into his arms as he said teasingly, “What’s your name?”
“Yunhan.” The baby replied very cleanly. Huo Yuhao realized from interacting with the baby that Xu Yunhan was already very good with words, even if he could only say a few. The baby had to be very familiar with those words, otherwise he wouldn’t be able to speak them.
Huo Yuhao subconsciously kissed the baby on his tender little cheeks. Xu Yunhan’s chubby cheeks were soft and bouncy, and his smooth and tender skin was just like his mother’s.
“Hehehe!” The little child seemed to feel ticklish as he withdrew his neck and laughed.
Huo Yuhao laughed as well. This kid was just too cute.
Tang Wutong came over and began to tease little Yunhan with Huo Yuhao. She giggled and said, “Seems like you’re quite good with kids. Did you teach yourself?”
Huo Yuhao chuckled. “You might as well say that I’m naturally talented. I will be an excellent father when we have kids in the future.”
Tang Wutong blushed, but she didn’t avoid his gentle gaze.
Her eyes were brimming with happiness.
A smiling face suddenly cut in between them in this moment, and two large eyes stared at Tang Wutong seriously. “Daddy, mine.”
Tang Wutong couldn’t help but laugh. “Your daddy isn’t here, he’s…” She suddenly paused when she said those words, and dejection appeared in her eyes as she glanced at Huo Yuhao.
Huo Yuhao’s smile disappeared at the same time, and he gently caressed Xu Yunhan’s head.
Some more time passed as the little fellow fell asleep because he was full and tired from playing, and everyone took off once more. The Titled Douluo didn’t say anything, but anybody would realize upon closer inspection that the atmosphere between everyone was conspicuously more tense.
They were flying far too quickly, and the Sun Moon Empire’s territory was so wide. Those who were pursuing them couldn’t catch up because there was no way they could lock onto their positions.
Huo Yuhao relied on his formidable Spiritual Detection as he successfully took everyone across the border’s defenses once more. They returned to the Ming Dou Mountain Range and directly descended towards the mountain range’s main peak.
The Titled Douluo’s expressions were a lot more relaxed when they returned. They were finally back, and even though their mission wasn’t perfect, they had accomplished at least half of it.
They had heavily injured the Sun Moon Empire’s Emperor, Xu Tianran, and managed to capture the Sun Moon Empire’s crown prince, Xu Yunhan. But at the same time, the Body Douluo remained in the Sun Moon Empire forever, and would never return.
The White Tiger Duke welcomed them personally. He stared at everyone’s solemn expressions, and his eyes dimmed when he didn’t see Du Busi.
The White Tiger Duke turned to Huo Yuhao when they arrived inside the commander’s tent. “Tell me what happened, Yuhao.”
Huo Yuhao nodded. He was still carrying Xu Yunhan in his arms, and the little fellow was sleeping very soundly. He immediately recounted everything that he had seen on this mission in detail, except he didn’t tell the White Tiger Duke about the Body Douluo handing him the Secrets of the Body.
The White Tiger Duke shut his eyes painfully after listening to his report. After a few moments, he said, “The Body Douluo realized his wish. He had already told me that before everyone departed. He couldn’t recover from his old injuries, and he wanted to give his full strength to assassinate Xu Tianran on this mission. Back then, I already felt like something was wrong. And it seems like he had planned this a long time ago…”
Everyone lowered their heads gloomily, especially those formidable individuals from the Body Sect. The Body Douluo’s death undoubtedly meant the Body Sect’s fall from glory. In addition to the large masses of their elites who had perished in the war, the Body Sect probably wouldn’t regain their strength even after a few hundred years.
The White Tiger Duke finally trained his eyes on Xu Yunhan, who was still in Huo Yuhao’s arms. A complicated look appeared in his eyes. Capturing the crown prince wasn’t his
idea. He had been heroic and valiant his entire life, but now he was using a child to threaten the Sun Moon Empire. He wasn’t willing at all, from the bottom of his heart.
But the Sun Moon Empire was far too powerful, and if they didn’t have a plan to counter them, the White Tiger Duke wasn’t confident at all of defending his empire’s territory when the Sun Moon Empire’s enormous empire descended upon them like a thunderstorm.
Huo Yuhao turned to the White Tiger Duke with a calm look on his face. “What shall we do with the child, Duke? What are you planning to do with him?” The word he used was “you”, not “us”.
Hesitation appeared in the White Tiger Duke’s eyes as he said subconsciously, “What suggestions do you have, Yuhao?”
Huo Yuhao said without hesitation, “War is an affair for men. It has nothing to do with children. No matter who he is, he’s still a child. We are honorable men, so how can we use an infant to threaten our enemies? That’s not honorable at all. Furthermore, with the Sun Moon Empire’s Emperor’s personality, kidnapping the crown prince will lose its meaning,
since he isn’t dead. He can have one crown prince, so why can’t he bear another?”
Huo Yuhao’s words were very precise. If the Body Douluo, Du Busi had assassinated Xu Tianran successfully, then the Douluo Continent’s three native empires wouldn’t have to do anything if they captured the crown prince. The Sun Moon Empire would naturally descend into chaos because everyone would be fighting for control of the throne.
The Sun Moon Empire wouldn’t have a leader, while the ruler had no heir. Who wouldn’t want to rule over such a powerful empire?
But Xu Tianran was still alive, so the Sun Moon Empire couldn’t truly be that chaotic. Kidnapping the crown prince under such circumstances perhaps wouldn’t have its desired effect, unless Xu Tianran placed a lot of importance on that son of his, and was willing to pay a tremendous price for him. Otherwise, if he really did abandon the crown prince, then everything that everyone did would become meaningless.”
“What you’re saying is that capturing the crown prince is useless?” The Heavenly Sun Douluo’s voice was suddenly a
little higher than before. They went through so much to kidnap the crown prince, and even though Huo Yuhao’s words sounded virtuous, he had still touched a nerve. That was especially so for the other Titled Douluo who were with the Heavenly Sun Douluo in capturing the crown prince. Everyone
showed displeased expressions.
Huo Yuhao shook his head and said, “I didn’t mean to offend. But if I had known that our mission’s target was a child, nothing would have convinced me to participate.”
The Heavenly Sun Douluo stared at him coldly and said, “Child? This child’s father is the one who commanded the Sun Moon Empire’s army to sweep over the Heavenly Soul Empire, and if that didn’t happen, why would the Body Douluo sacrifice himself? His sacrifice created the opportunity for us to kidnap the crown prince. You’re so young, but your tongue is sharp, and yet you think you stand on the moral high ground. Do you think that’s enough to save your country? So what if we do despicable things for our country?”
Huo Yuhao answered plainly, “The reason why the Body Douluo chose to attack the sacrificial platform instead of personally kidnapping this child was probably because he felt it was beneath his dignity. Otherwise, on the day of the
ceremony, all of the Sun Moon Empire’s high-level officials would be watching the sacrificial platform. Even without a diversion, what do you think the Body Douluo’s chances would have been if he had snuck into the royal palace to kidnap this child, with his strength? Aren’t you guys aware?”
Everyone’s faces changed once more as they heard his words. The Titled Douluo’s expressions became even blacker than before.
The Heavenly Sun Douluo turned to the White Tiger Duke and said, “Duke, Huo Yuhao did contribute a lot to this operation, and he was a great help to us. Now that the mission has been completed, he can return to Shrek Academy. We should be the ones discussing what comes next. He’s a junior, and he doesn’t have to continue participating.”
The White Tiger Duke nodded and turned to Huo Yuhao. “Yuhao, the Heavenly Sun Douluo is right. You have already helped us a lot on this mission. You should go back and rest, and return to the academy as quickly as possible. We’ll deal with the rest.”
How could he not agree with what Huo Yuhao said deep in his heart? But their enemy was near, and he could only choose to protect Huo Yuhao as much as possible with so many Titled Douluo in front of them.
The White Tiger Duke walked in front of Huo Yuhao and took Xu Yunhan from him as he spoke.
Huo Yuhao’s expression was a little blank. He fixed his eyes on the White Tiger Duke, and when the Duke took the baby, Huo Yuhao suddenly asked, “Duke, sir, if your son was the one who was kidnapped and your enemies wanted you to pay a price, would you do it?”
The White Tiger Duke was momentarily stunned. He suddenly felt that Huo Yuhao’s gaze was a little blinding, but he still answered without hesitation, “If my enemy’s price was personal, then I would give my own life to save my child. But if my enemy’s price was for me to betray my country, then I would avenge my son!”
Huo Yuhao suddenly laughed out loud and said, “Good, good, you will avenge your son. You live up to your name as a loyal
and righteous Duke! Haha, hahahaha!” Huo Yuhao pulled Tang Wutong along as he laughed before he turned and left.
Chapter 528: Huo Yuhao and Tang Wutong's Strength!
As he walked off, a Titled Douluo from the Dou Ling Empire couldn’t help but comment, “This kid is too arrogant. Although he’s capable, it’s still…”
“Shut up.” The Heavenly Sun Douluo turned grim. “He’s not just capable. When we were his age, we were nothing yet. His future is unlimited. In addition, are we really comfortable with using a kid to threaten our enemy?”
The White Tiger Duke sighed and said, “Heavenly Sun, what suggestions do you have? What should we do next?”
The Heavenly Sun Douluo pondered for a moment before replying, “We should send a letter to the Sun Moon Empire under the name of our three empires and ask them to return the territories that they have taken from the Heavenly Soul Empire. At the same time, there should also be a contract that prohibits any war from being started within the next hundred years. We’ll then return the Crown Prince to him.”
After hearing his words, the White Tiger Duke was stunned, and smiled bitterly. “Elder Heavenly Sun, those conditions are a little too…”
The Heavenly Sun Douluo said, “There’s always a price to pay. If we don’t set higher demands, how will we have the room to negotiate?”
The White Tiger Duke was a little conflicted right now. As he looked at the little fellow in his arms, he was at a loss as to what to do. He was someone with children, and not just one child. Even though he had killed many people in his life before, he still couldn’t help but sigh in his heart when he saw a child in his arms in addition to what Huo Yuhao had said earlier.
Huo Yuhao appeared much calmer after he returned to his room. He didn’t utter a word and only sat on his bed.
Tang Wutong accompanied him and sat beside him. She grabbed his hand and placed it between her hands. After this, she lowered her head and said, “Yuhao, go and do what you want to do. No matter what your decision is, I’ll always be on your side. Even if…”
As she spoke until here, she lifted her head to look at him. Huo Yuhao was also gazing at her by now. As their gazes met, the look in Tang Wutong’s eyes became sharper. “Even if you make the entire world your enemy.”
Huo Yuhao’s entire body shook, and he pulled her into his embrace. His voice was trembling, “Alright, even if I make the entire world my enemy!” In his mind, both little Yunhan and the White Tiger Duke’s face kept on appearing.
Ju Zi, don’t worry. I’ll definitely return your son to you. The war should never involve harming a little kid.
In the future, we’ll be enemies and I’ll do my best to resist the Sun Moon Empire on the battlefield. However, I won’t let your kid come to any harm now. He’s only a kid. In my heart, he isn’t just some Crown Prince.
The sky slowly turned dark. It was extremely dark on the mountains at night.
Two figures silently appeared at the peak of the mountain, peering into the distance amidst the thick night fog.
Tang Wutong was beside Huo Yuhao, helping to neaten his shirt.
Huo Yuhao’s expression was very calm, but he clearly knew that this path that he had chosen would most likely change his future. However, he was very certain about his decision.
Tang Wutong gently leaned on him and revealed a satisfied look on her face.
“Yuhao, do you know what I’m thinking of?” Tang Wutong asked softly.
“What?” Huo Yuhao asked.
There was a strong nostalgic look in Tang Wutong’s eyes. “Initially, you were still so small and weak when we first came to Shrek Academy. However, you defeated me using your persistence. Then, you left a deep impression in my mind. After that, we joined the freshman test and fought together, turning the impossible possible – we emerged as the eventual
champions. Now, we are going to fight together again. In fact, it seems like it’s been a long time, hasn’t it?”
Yes! They hadn’t fought together in their peak condition in a long time. Ever since Huo Yuhao had been critically injured from retrieving the Yearning Heartbroken Grass, and had to sit in a wheelchair,.
Huo Yuhao sighed a little and said, “I hope we won’t need to fight.”
As they finished speaking, they had already disappeared into the night.
Ever since Huo Yuhao, the Heavenly Sun Douluo and the rest returned, there was another tent beside the White Tiger Duke’s tent. Two nannies were specially deployed to take care of Xu Yunhan.
Xu Yunhan had been crying uncontrollably ever since he woke up and discovered that Huo Yuhao wasn’t around. After a while, he couldn’t stand the hunger, and fell asleep after eating something.
His adaptability was actually very great. He was barely a year old, and didn’t recognize anyone.
The curtains moved slightly, and two figures arrived outside the tent.
It was pitch-black inside the tent right now. Little Yunhan was sleeping very soundly in his cot. The two nannies were sleeping at his side, ready to attend to the little fellow if there was a need to.
Huo Yuhao revealed a gentle smile on his face, but he didn’t make a sound. He walked towards the cot.
At this moment, a long sigh could be heard outside the tent.
“Yuhao, why do you have to do this?” A low-pitched but firm voice echoed.
Huo Yuhao acted like he didn’t hear the voice and continued to walk towards the cot. He took Little Yunhan into his
embrace. After this, he wrapped him up with a piece of cloth that he had prepared beforehand. With Tang Wutong’s help, he wrapped him up tightly.
How could he not have expected the White Tiger Duke to guess that he was going to come? However, he still came despite knowing that. This was because he clearly knew that he couldn’t be fooled if little Yunhan wasn’t here, given his Spiritual Detection. He would also be able to find little Yunhan’s detailed location with his Spiritual Detection. This was why the White Tiger Duke didn’t move little Yunhan away. Huo Yuhao also went along with it, which brought him here.
He gently caressed the little baby’s soft black hair. The gentle look on his face didn’t change, “Little fellow, don’t worry. I’ll protect you until you return to your mother’s side.”
After he finished speaking, he held Tang Wutong’s hand, and the two of them walked out of the tent.
Outside the tent, more than ten figures were scattered in a semi-circle. The White Tiger Duke and Heavenly Sun Douluo were in the center.
The Heavenly Sun Douluo furrowed his brow, while the White Tiger Duke appeared as conflicted as before.
Without a doubt, the Heavenly Sun Douluo was a little disdainful of Huo Yuhao in the beginning, but now, he was very impressed with Huo Yuhao, just like how the White Tiger Duke.
They both knew that Huo Yuhao was going to be the main pillar of Shrek Academy and a man of power in Shrek City in the future.
If they could, they didn’t want to offend someone like him and get into his bad books. However, Huo Yuhao was crossing the line by trying to take Xu Yunhan away.
The Heavenly Soul Douluo said, “Yuhao, we can take it as if nothing has happened if you leave the Crown Prince now. You can return to Shrek City.”
Huo Yuhao shook his head and answered, “Since I’m here, there’s not backing out. We can’t use a child as a bargaining chip in this war. We can’t hurt him because of that. This is why
I must take him away today. No matter what, I’m leaving with him!”
The Heavenly Sun Douluo’s look turned sharper. “How dare you? Do you really think you can escape with so many people here?”
Huo Yuhao’s eyes were filled with resilience and a strong fighting intent, “If I don’t give it a try, how will I know? Even if I fail, at least I tried. If you want the kid back, you’ll need to stop me first.”
The Heavenly Sun Douluo’s clothes moved even though there was no wind. “Alright, what an arrogant little man. I really want to see what abilities you possess apart from your detection and concealment abilities. How dare you talk so big?”
As he spoke, the Heavenly Sun Douluo took a step forward. His entire body instantly started to shine. The strong light that came from his body made him seem like a rising sun. He reached forward with his right hand and grabbed towards Huo Yuhao.
A golden hand appeared in the air and approached Huo Yuhao. The surrounding air distorted tremendously, and the temperature rose quickly. However, the weird thing was that the temperature only rose around Huo Yuhao. Nothing changed elsewhere. With his control of his soul power, this Rank 97 Transcendent Douluo was indeed very powerful.
Huo Yuhao took a step forward with his left foot. He placed his left palm in front of his chest and slowly pushed it forward. He wasn’t quick, but the expressions of all the Titled Douluo changed when they saw him doing this.
This was because all of them could sense that an ice mountain seemed to shift as Huo Yuhao pushed his palm forward. The immense aura that was released didn’t seem to be weaker than that of the Heavenly Sun Douluo.
Behind Huo Yuhao, a beam of jade-green light also started to shine. It was a ravishing beauty that was exuding a jade-green glow from her body. She was icy-cold as she stared at the Heavenly Sun Douluo.
The heat in the air was completely suppressed after she appeared. Even the light from the Heavenly Sun Douluo’s hand
became much dimmer because of her.
“Chi——”
Huo Yuhao didn’t move a single inch, but the hand that the Heavenly Sun Douluo formed was crushed in the air.
A slightly red look appeared on Huo Yuhao’s face, but it soon disappeared.
The Heavenly Sun Douluo was the most astonished by what he saw. He had thought that he already regarded Huo Yuhao very highly. However, it was only after seeing that that he realized he had underestimated Huo Yuhao. Even though he hadn’t unleashed his full power yet, Huo Yuhao was still able to directly resist his attack. What did this mean? It meant that Huo Yuhao was strong enough to resist him.
It was important to note that every single rank from a Transcendent Douluo on represented vastly different levels of abilities. To be able to resist the Heavenly Sun Douluo’s attack, Huo Yuhao had to at least possess the fighting strength of a
Rank 95 Transcendent Douluo. None of the Titled Douluo around were able to do that!
The White Tiger Duke’s eyes immediately shrank. He didn’t expect Huo Yuhao’s abilities to have grown to such a standard in just a short two years.
This was astonishing. It was already very difficult to accept the fact that he was a Titled Douluo who was barely twenty, much less a Transcendent Douluo who was barely twenty.
Of course, Huo Yuhao wasn’t a Transcendent Douluo. He was still a Rank 89 Soul Douluo, yet to make his breakthrough. However, it must not be forgotten that he had a soul core. In terms of direct fighting strength, he was not weaker than a Titled Douluo.
He even had Tang Wutong with him. When he combined his power with Tang Wutong, the fighting strength that they could generate was indeed at the tier of a Transcendent Douluo.
Out of the three graduation tests that Shrek Academy set for Huo Yuhao, one of them involved Huo Yuhao being able to
defeat Dean Yan Shaozhe.
Yan Shaozhe was a Class 97 Transcendent Douluo now. Huo Yuhao and Tang Wutong weren’t confident of beating him, but they were confident of escaping from him.
The Heavenly Sun Douluo was also Rank 97, but his abilities were still some way off from Yan Shaozhe. As a result, it was easy for Huo Yuhao and Tang Wutong to resist the Heavenly Sun Douluo’s attack.
Everything sounded very slow, but it actually happened in a flash. After his attack was dissipated, the Heavenly Soul Douluo’s body instantly shone, and a blinding ball of sunlight also started to glow above his head.
Countless streaks of blinding golden light turned into rays of light that shot toward Huo Yuhao.
Lofty Lightrays! It was the Heavenly Soul Douluo’s signature soul skill.
Huo Yuhao remained unmoved. He slowly raised his right palm, which he had pushed forward earlier, and was now covered in diamond ice crystals.
The Heavenly Sun Douluo’s martial soul was fire-type. Although it was of a very high quality, it was still some way off from Ultimate Fire.
Huo Yuhao’s Ultimate Ice martial soul was the jinx of fire- type martial souls. When his opponent’s martial soul wasn’t as strong as his, his martial soul would have an even greater effect.
He mimicked a lifting action, and the jade-green projection behind him disappeared. What replaced it was a fatso.
This fatso was smiling from ear to ear, and his body exuded a strong icy-blue glow. He chuckled at the Heavenly Sun Douluo. Following this, a huge ball of icy-blue light shot violently into the air with Huo Yuhao at the center.
This was the eighth soul skill of Huo Yuhao’s Ice Jade Empress Scorpion, Icy Meteor.
Huo Yuhao clearly knew that it wasn’t easy for him to break free from an encirclement by more than ten Titled Douluo. Among these Titled Douluo, five of them were Transcendent Douluo. Although the combination of Tang Wutong and his abilities were extraordinary, it wasn’t possible for both of them to resist so many Titled Douluo at once.
If they couldn’t directly resist them, they could only find a means of escaping. Once they managed to put some distance between themselves and these Titled Douluo, Huo Yuhao could use his concealment abilities to flee. When that happened, there wouldn’t be any problems even if there were many more Titled Douluo around.
This was why he immediately used his strongest soul skills.
When he first unleashed his Icy Meteor, it only appeared as a huge icy ball that was a meter in diameter. Nothing seemed to be very special about it. However, it kept growing larger as it rose. Furthermore, an icy aura was becoming stronger and more violent inside this icy ball.
When the Heavenly Sun Douluo’s lights struck this Icy Meteor, they were immediately dissipated. There wasn’t any effect at all.
The Heavenly Sun Douluo’s expression changed slightly. If he wanted to unleash a powerful soul skill, he would need time to accumulate his power. Huo Yuhao was able to use his Icy Meteor immediately because he was already prepared, and also because he had the help of his Spirits.
The Star Anise Mysterious Ice Grass had already appeared on his shoulder.
This was why the Heavenly Sun Douluo didn’t have time to unleash a powerful soul skill. He could only use his own immense strength to resist the Icy Meteor.
“Bang——” The Heavenly Sun Douluo’s palms struck the Icy Meteor. In his opinion, Huo Yuhao’s abilities were already at the standard of a Transcendent Douluo. At most, he would be flung away from trying to resist the attack.
However, something unexpected happened. When his palms struck the Icy Meteor, the Icy Meteor stopped for a moment. However, it didn’t blow apart. It didn’t unleash any extraordinary power either.
The Heavenly Sun Douluo only felt as if there was a layer of glue on his palm, which glued it to the icy ball. Before he could even struggle, a weird yet terrifying power was violently unleashed from the Icy Meteor. It wasn’t an attack, but a thrusting force.
What was a meteor? It was an extremely rapid cluster of rock. This Icy Meteor wasn’t an exception. Under Huo Yuhao’s precise control, its explosive strength wasn’t unleashed. However, its speed was demonstrated almost instantly.
As a result, all the Titled Douluo saw how terrifyingly quick the Ice Meteor was. It had really turned into a real meteor that flew into the distance.
It didn’t fly away on its own. The Heavenly Sun Douluo was still with it! This Ice Meteor was clearly taking the Heavenly Sun Douluo away with it. It was so quick that it appeared like a bolt of lightning.
This meant that Huo Yuhao had forcefully dragged a Rank 97 Titled Douluo away in just a few clashes, though whether he could harm the Heavenly Soul Douluo was another thing. At least he was able to isolate the Heavenly Sun Douluo from the fight.
Huo Yuhao’s right hand didn’t move down at all. The fatso behind his back changed to a ravishing yet mighty-looking lady, who seemed to dominate the entire world.
She was dressed in a long, white dress. She opened her arms behind Huo Yuhao’s back. Suddenly, an intense, deep-blue light turned into a huge beam of light that rose into the sky.
Even the Heavenly Sun Douluo was greatly disadvantaged in the previous clash of hands. The rest of the Titled Douluo were slightly hesitant now. No one entertained the thought of striking first. This was because they were still unsure of how strong Huo Yuhao was.
The beam of light shot into the sky. As it moved, countless snowflakes danced in the air, and the entire region was covered in an icy fog.
It was the Snowy Dance of Ultimate Ice.
It was just like how the Heavenly Sun Douluo focused all the heat on Huo Yuhao earlier. When Huo Yuhao unleashed his Snowy Dance of Ultimate Ice, only the Titled Douluo were engulfed by this domain. Even the tents behind them were isolated.
However, even so, all the Titled Douluo felt as if they had lost track of Huo Yuhao instantly.
As Huo Yuhao’s cultivation increased, his Snowy Dance of Ultimate Ice naturally became much stronger. It became easy for him to isolate all use of Spiritual Detection. After all, that was his signature ability!
Strong spiritual undulations were also released from his body. His eyes had turned completely golden. On his forehead, his vertical eye lit up. It was his Eye of Destiny.
Two rays of the Light of Destiny descended from the sky and struck both him and Tang Wutong. Luck was on their side
now!
Huo Yuhao held onto Tang Wutong’s little hand, and she naturally went into his embrace. Suddenly, a huge golden vertical eye suddenly appeared.
Right now, all the Titled Douluo were jolted to their senses. They used their powers to attempt to break out of the domain.
However, this was a powerful domain-type skill that was a combination of the Empress’ Chill and Huo Yuhao’s Domain of Perpetual Ice! Given how strong his combination with Tang Wutong was as well as the Snow Empress’ control of this skill, every Titled Douluo had to resist the blizzard and frenzied winds within the domain. They had to protect themselves before they could try breaking out.
It was also at this moment that Huo Yuhao and Tang Wutong’s next soul skill was unleashed.
The Golden Road Amidst Withering Resplendence!
Huo Yuhao’s abilities were as great as a Titled Douluo.
Tang Wutong was already a Titled Douluo.
The fusion skills unleashed by both of them were extremely powerful!
A Golden Road which was thirty meters wide and infinitely long appeared.
Five Titled Douluo were caught within this Golden Road. They only felt as if they had instantly fallen into a furnace. Their sensing of soul skills instantly vanished. Their own martial souls also disintegrated immediately. Even their clothes immediately melted. Suddenly, they were all petrified, and couldn’t move at all.
Among these five Titled Douluo, one of them was even a Transcendent Douluo. However, he was still stuck in the same situation.
A purplish light projection suddenly rushed out at this moment. It was a huge, purplish dragon with butterfly wings. As it fluttered its wings, it was like a streak of flowing purple light. It was flying along the Golden Road.
As it flew, countless small golden hammers scattered in the air. All the Titled Douluo that charged over were immediately stunned. They could only watch as the purplish light projection shot past. They couldn’t chase after it at all.
Mantra Amidst the Void, Spiritual Tempest!
The projection vanished amidst the golden light. The raging blizzard also slowly disappeared. What remained was only a bunch of Titled Douluo who were in shock as they looked at each other.
There were more than ten Titled Douluo! Were they so weak that they couldn’t keep two people here?
Of course not. They didn’t think of linking up at all! In their eyes, Huo Yuhao and Tang Wutong were only juniors, no matter how talented they were. At most, they were only close
to being Titled Douluo. The Heavenly Sun Douluo should have been enough to deal with both of them.
Moreover, they didn’t think of harming Huo Yuhao and Tang Wutong. Both of them came from Shrek Academy. If they harmed them, how could they account to the academy? Because of this, they underestimated their opponents, and didn’t give it their all.
The Heavenly Sun Douluo returned, but he looked a little pathetic. The Icy Meteor had sent him extremely far away. At that instant, he couldn’t resist, even though he wanted to. He could only muster his soul power to protect himself. When he finally accumulated enough strength to unleash a powerful soul skill, the Icy Meteor blew apart. The explosion didn’t hurt him, but pushed him even further away. Undoubtedly, this was the result of Huo Yuhao’s immense spiritual control.
The rest of the Titled Douluo didn’t pursue Huo Yuhao and Tang Wutong, as they had lost track of their auras. Furthermore, they were all in disbelief right now.
Who would have thought that two youngsters who were barely twenty would managed to break free from an
encirclement of more than ten Titled Douluo? They even managed to escape before any real fight had begun.
The White Tiger Duke was also wide-eyed in shock. When he saw the frustrated Heavenly Sun Douluo, he was a little speechless too.
“Heavenly Sun, should we pursue him?” A Titled Douluo from the Dou Ling Empire asked.
When the Heavenly Sun Douluo saw the Golden Road, there was an uncertain expression on his face. After a brief moment, he said in a weird voice, “When we went to the Sun Moon Empire, we only had one target – assassinate Xu Tianran. Eventually, the Body Douluo sacrificed his life to bring everyone back safely. This matter will end here.”
After hearing the Heavenly Sun Douluo’s words, the White Tiger Duke heaved a sigh of relief. Without a doubt, the Heavenly Sun Douluo had compromised. His words meant that he wouldn’t pursue this matter any further. He would take it as if nothing had happened.
This was undoubtedly the wisest choice. At least, they wouldn’t offend Tang Wutong and Huo Yuhao any further.
This wasn’t because of how much the Heavenly Sun Douluo admired Huo Yuhao. More importantly, it was because of the terrifying powers that he had revealed.
He was already so strong, even though he was barely twenty. If he was able to escape from the hands of more than ten Titled Douluo now, what would he be like in ten years’ time? There was no longer any way of seeing through him. Even the Rank
97 Heavenly Sun Douluo felt fearful because of him. Yes, fearful was the right word to use.
Right now, they were sure that he was bound to become the person who would truly control Shrek City in the near future. He was definitely going to become an Ultimate Douluo! At least his abilities were unheard of, even for the Body Douluo when he was at Huo Yuhao’s current age.
Huo Yuhao had twin martial souls, of which one was an Ultimate martial soul and the other was a spiritual-type martial soul. His soul skills were immensely strong, and he even had Spirits, something that he had come up with on his
own. Undoubtedly, he was a generational figure of the Douluo Continent. No one could see through him anymore.
The White Tiger Duke walked in front of the Heavenly Sun Douluo. He sighed and said, “It seems like we were really wrong. For someone like Huo Yuhao, we can say that he is a product of destiny. If he disagrees with something, it should be wrong.”
The Heavenly Sun Douluo’s facial muscles twisted, and he said, “That rascal. He was really merciless! I was almost hurt just now. If I knew he was so strong, I would have gathered all the strength we could and attacked Xu Tianran. We might have succeeded.”
The Broken Star Douluo laughed bitterly. “If someone had told you that he was that strong, and could even resist you, would you believe it?”
“You wish. I’m going now. Those from the Dou Ling Empire, come with me.” The Heavenly Sun Douluo didn’t want to remain any longer. He took advantage of the night and quickly left with the Titled Douluo from the Dou Ling Empire.
A few days later, the news that the three empires from the original Douluo Continent had sent many soul masters to the Sun Moon Empire to assassinate Xu Tianran, along with news of the Body Douluo’s death and Xu Tianran’s critical injuries, quickly spread throughout the entire Douluo Continent.
The Sun Moon Empire’s army also started to act weirdly after that incident. According to the intelligence gathered, many soldiers seemed to have been deployed within the Sun Moon Empire. It felt like something serious was about to break out.
Both Huo Yuhao and Tang Wutong were in the Sun Moon Empire right now.
After leaving the Ming Dou Mountain Range, they took Xu Yunhan on one round before they returned to the Sun Moon Empire.
There weren’t any Titled Douluo with them this time. The two of them were thus more agile, and managed to sneak their way back within the Sun Moon Empire’s borders.
Little Yunhan was sleeping very sweetly. It was only at dawn on the second day that he woke up in Huo Yuhao’s arms.
When he opened his eyes, he was about to cry. However, when he saw that he was in Huo Yuhao’s embrace, he smiled as he screamed, “Daddy, daddy!”
Huo Yuhao caressed his head and softly said, “Call me uncle. I’m not your father. I’ll make you something nice to eat later. After you finish, I’ll send you home, alright? Go home and find your mom.”
“Mommy, mommy!” Little Yunhan screamed twice, but then his eyes turned red, and he started to cry.
Tang Wutong snapped, “It’s all your fault. You triggered him by mentioning his father.”
In the end, the temptation of food was much greater to a one- year-old kid compared to the temptation of meeting his mother.
When Huo Yuhao made his signature fish soup and fed it to little Yunhan, he stopped crying. He was delighted as he feasted on the fish. Even though he was barely a year old, he was already very big. He ate a lot of fish and even drank the fish soup. He was extremely joyous.
However, Tang Wutong and Huo Yuhao’s inexperience with kids was still exposed. Yunhan had peed all over Huo Yuhao’s body, and only left him with a warm but wet feeling.
They didn’t have any children’s clothing! They could only strip little Yunhan’s pants before using Huo Yuhao’s shirt to wrap him up.
As he flew into the sky again and proceeded in the direction of Radiant City, Huo Yuhao sighed, “Bringing up a child isn’t easy!”
Tang Wutong laughed and replied, “I wonder who it was that said that he would take care of our kid in the future?”
Huo Yuhao chortled and said, “It’s not easy, but I didn’t say I’m not going to do it. If you are willing to give birth, I’ll take
care of every child that you bear.”
Tang Wutong turned red. “Wishful thinking. You have to earn my father’s approval first.”
Huo Yuhao laughed, “For someone as outstanding as me, I don’t think I can fail even if he’s extremely picky. When we return this time, let’s invite him over.”
Tang Wutong gently acknowledged his words.
The two of them were in a rush. When they came close to Radiant City, they were both stunned.
In just two days, the eastern suburb of Radiant City had been completely filled with soldiers. At least a few hundred thousand soldiers were gathered there. From afar, Huo Yuhao felt as if Radiant City was like a monster that was brewing with anger as he sensed it with his immense power of destiny. This monster was ready to bare its fangs at any time.
Huo Yuhao turned serious immediately. It was indeed like he had expected. The Sun Moon Empire had no intention of compromising because of Xu Yunhan’s disappearance. On the contrary, the Sun Moon Empire seemed to have been enraged. Many soldiers were gathered here right now. Without a doubt, they were here to re-ignite the war!
A large-scale war couldn’t be re-ignited at will. Although the Sun Moon Empire had been accumulating their strength for some time, they would still need to deploy a large number of reserves if they wanted to deploy their troops suddenly. They couldn’t do it immediately, but it wouldn’t take them long.
Tang Wutong turned grim too. “It seems like the Sun Moon Empire is going to attack more ferociously than before. I’m afraid it’s going to be more difficult to deal with them.”
Huo Yuhao nodded and said, “Even if we didn’t snatch the Crown Prince, I believe Xu Tianran would have attacked a few days after the ceremony. But now, they have even more reason to do so.”
Tang Wutong looked at Xu Yunhan. “What should we do then?”
Huo Yuhao replied, “No matter what, we need to bring this fellow back first. I’ve said before that war has nothing to do with a kid. This is a confrontation between adults. I’ll protect my empire and do my best to resist its enemies. However, I won’t do anything lowly. We’ll enter the city and return the kid.”
Sneaking into Radiant City this time was far more difficult than the previous time.
After the assassination incident, the city was under very strict supervision. Many more aerial surveillance soul tools were installed, completely covering Radiant City.
It felt as if a big war was about to break out.
However, this didn’t stop Huo Yuhao. No matter how strong the aerial surveillance soul tools were, there were still flaws that he could exploit.
He managed to find a flaw within an hour, and led Tang Wutong as they snuck into Radiant City before proceeding
toward the imperial palace.
They couldn’t remain in Radiant City for a long time. They would leave quickly after returning little Yunhan.
Sun Moon Empire’s Imperial Palace.
Ju Zi quietly sat in her own inner palace. Right now, she was dressed like a warrior, clad in armor which was specially designed for her. It was a Class 9 soul tool. Among Class 9 soul tools, it was also one of the better ones.
Chapter 529: Dad, Hug Me!
Even with Ju Zi’s current strength, which wasn’t more than a Soul Sage, she could temporarily possess a Titled Douluo’s defensive capability and mobility for a short period of time using this set of armor.
But Ju Zi was just sitting there holding a few sets of tiny clothes in her hands.
She touched her cheek to the fabric and gently rubbed the clothes against her cheeks as transparent teardrops splattered down. Her eyes were full of despondence and helplessness.
Even though she was an empress, she could clearly feel in this moment that there was nobody in the world who could help her.
Yunhan, Yunhan, are you alright? Have those people hurt you?
My son, my son, where are you!?
No matter how tough a woman could be, she would still become incredibly weak and fragile when her child was involved.
Xu Tianran was unwilling to compromise for her, and there was no arguing the matter. Even though Ju Zi had an extremely exalted status within the Sun Moon Empire’s army, she still couldn’t go against Xu Tianran, who was the true ruler.
She wouldn’t get her son back if Xu Tianran wasn’t willing to compromise, and she knew that Xu Tianran would make the same decision even if he had been the father of her child, though he might hesitate for a little longer.
Xu Tianran, Xu Tianran! What an evil king. If my son dies, then one day, I will destroy you!
Ju Zi bit down on her lower lip as her body quivered incessantly. Her tears had already moistened the tiny clothes in her hands.
The war was about to start, and she was waiting for the army to gather. She hated Xu Tianran, and she hated those who had kidnapped her child even more. She wanted to go crazy, and she wanted to tell those who had kidnapped her son through war that she would annihilate everything.
Yes, a woman who had lost her child was absolutely one of the most frightening living beings on earth. There was no exception.
“Where are you, Yunhan? Do you know how much I miss you? Yunhan, my son, I will save you even if there’s but the slightest chance. I will save you even if I can no longer be Empress, and I can no longer have my revenge. You are my life!”
Tears flowed from her cheeks like a waterfall, and Ju Zi could no longer control herself.
“Are you really going to give up on your revenge?” A gentle voice travelled into Ju Zi’s ears.
Ju Zi trembled as she jumped up from her bed.
This was her bedroom, the Empress’ bedroom! There were many powerful individuals standing guard outside. Nobody could enter her bedroom without being discovered unless it was Xu Tianran himself.
But this voice is just so crisp and bright, and it’s familiar!
Ju Zi’s originally blurry and teary eyes immediately became sharp, and she placed her child’s clothes to one side. She pressed something to her chest, and a rose helmet immediately rose from both sides of her shoulders and completely covered her within.
“Don’t be nervous, it’s me. Ask your guards outside to leave and open the door, I want to see you.” That gentle voice rang out once more, and it was even more familiar this time.
Ju Zi’s eyes suddenly narrowed. She could tell who was here, and an incredulous look appeared in her teary eyes. She was like a statue as she remained fixated to the spot.
She only reacted after several full seconds had gone by. She covered her mouth so she could force herself not to scream out loud, and patted her chest with her other hand continuously so she could calm herself down.
She had no idea why he would appear inside the Sun Moon Empire’s royal palace at a time like this. But his appearance was like a lifeline to her, in all her helplessness, grief, and agonizing. She felt like someone who had been drowning who had just grabbed onto a floating piece of wood.
She forced down her emotions after a few moments as she walked to the gate and opened it before she lowered her voice and said, “Leave, all of you. I want to be alone for a while. If I even hear anyone’s breathing, I will hang you.”
Her four servant girls, who were already quiet and shivering with fear, hurriedly took their leave. They were very aware that the Empress’ mood hadn’t been good for the past few days, and nobody dared to infuriate the Goddess of War at a time like this.
Ju Zi pushed the gate open and stood at its entrance. She still wore a grievous expression on her face with traces of tears
down her cheeks. She didn’t know how long she had to keep the door open for him to come in, but she couldn’t possibly ask all her secret guardians to leave. That would be too obvious.
“Alright, you can close the door.” That familiar voice rang out once more.
Ju Zi shut the door and walked back into her bedroom.
Two silhouettes that flowed like water appeared out of thin air.
It’s him, it really is him.
The tears that she had just held back flowed out uncontrollably once more when she saw who had come to see her. But she didn’t leap over in the end, because there was a figure next to him who she was familiar with, and full of jealousy.
“It’s really you, Yuhao. Why have you come?”
“Mama?” A small arm that was like a tiny white lotus reached out from within Huo Yuhao’s arms following her greeting.
Ju Zi’s voice froze. She stared at Huo Yuhao in disbelief, and then into his arms, and she became like a gust of wind as she dashed over and took the child from Huo Yuhao’s hands and into her own tight embrace. Ju Zi began to bawl uncontrollably.
The corner of Huo Yuhao’s mouth curved into a faint smile as he watched mother and son, reunited. His smile was filled with satisfaction, and no matter what he had given and the decisions he had made for this, he believed that everything was worth it.
Huo Yuhao had lost his mother when he was just a child, and he knew how painful it was for a child to lose his or her mother. He watched as little Yunhan and Ju Zi were reunited with each other. He watched as this mother held her son so tightly in her arms. Huo Yuhao’s heart was content, and he could almost see himself in his mother’s embrace when he was a little child.
Tears continued flowing down Ju Zi’s cheeks as she hugged little Yunhan. The past two days were almost like two centuries for her, and not in her wildest dreams did she expect him to send her child back to her. But in this moment, her precious son who she loved so much was the only person in her
heart, and in her eyes.
Huo Yuhao wasn’t worried at all, and he was just standing there quietly with Tang Wutong next to him.
Tang Wutong went up to his ear and whispered, “I’ll go outside. You should speak to her.” She released Huo Yuhao’s hand as she spoke and stepped out by herself.
She had grown up and matured since she had regained her memory, and she knew when to let go of her man. It was like flying a kite; no matter how far the kite flew, what was there to be afraid of as long as the string was still in her hands?
Ju Zi cried with little Yunhan in her arms for a long time. The little fellow was very well-behaved, and continuously wiped his mother’s tears as he stared at his mother with large, confused eyes.
Something that he said finally stopped Ju Zi’s tears.
“Daddy, did you bully mommy?”
Ju Zi was stunned, and her tears stopped just like that.
Huo Yuhao said a little awkwardly, “I don’t know why he keeps calling me that. Perhaps fate has brought me together with this little fellow.”
Ju Zi muttered blankly, “Fate, fate. It truly is fate!”
Huo Yuhao coughed and said, “I’ve sent your child back to you. I think you can guess what happened, and I have to leave as soon as possible. But you have to fabricate a story about how the child has returned so that you won’t bring trouble upon yourself.”
He turned and walked out as he spoke.
Even though he knew he shouldn’t be doing that, watching Ju Zi crying agonizingly with her child in her arms reminded him of the child’s father, the Sun Moon Empire’s Emperor, Xu Tianran.
He didn’t know Wang Dong was Wang Dong’er when he first met Ju Zi. She could be said to be the first girl to have entered his heart, but Ju Zi couldn’t let go of the resentment and hatred in her heart, so they lost their chance to get together. Ju Zi chose Xu Tianran, but just as Huo Yuhao had left a deep imprint in her heart, Ju Zi had also left her mark on him.
“Wait,” Ju Zi stopped Huo Yuhao.
Huo Yuhao paused in his tracks.
Ju Zi stared at him, and her lips trembled as she asked, “Why?”
Huo Yuhao heaved a sigh and said, “This child shouldn’t be harmed by the war. I lost my mother, and I know how painful it is. In the beginning, I didn’t know that this mission’s target was actually your son. I would have stopped them from the
start if I did. I have returned your child, so you must take care of him in the future.”
Ju Zi bit down on her rosy lips as she stared at him with a complicated look in her eyes. “What are you asking for in return?”
Huo Yuhao smiled as he shook his head and said, “If I make any requests of you, then what difference is there between those who kidnapped your son and me?”
Ju Zi’s eyes became a little dazed. “But did you not see the thousands and thousands of soldiers gathered outside Radiant City?”
Huo Yuhao’s eyes suddenly became sharp. “Perhaps we can only be enemies in this lifetime. But even if we are to be enemies, I can only meet you face to face on the battlefield. I will not use your child to threaten you.”
Ju Zi lowered her head. “You’ll be in quite some trouble for bringing the child back, right?”
Huo Yuhao shook his head and answered, “I will deal with it.
You don’t have to worry.”
Ju Zi took a deep breath and raised her head bravely as she stared into his eyes. “If I had agreed to leave with you back then instead of staying behind to chase after Xu Tianran, you would have chosen me and not her, right?”
“Her” was naturally referring to Tang Wutong, who was outside.
Huo Yuhao turned his head and looked out. He had no intention of hiding anything from Tang Wutong, so he didn’t want to cut his voice off from the outside.
“I don’t know. I didn’t know she was a girl back then. Perhaps…” Huo Yuhao had just said those words when Ju Zi dashed over with little Yunhan in her arms and fell into his arms. She hugged her child with one hand and wrapped the other tightly around him, and her tears began to flow uncontrollably once more.
Huo Yuhao was momentarily stunned, but he didn’t have the heart to push her away in the end.
Ju Zi mumbled, “I regret it. Yes, I regret it. Only in that moment when I lost my child did I realize that revenge isn’t the first priority in my heart. When a person truly falls in love with another, that person can forget about his or her revenge. If I could make that choice again, I would have made a different one. I’m sorry, Yuhao, it’s my fault.”
Huo Yuhao was stunned. His heart ached agonizingly as he listened to Ju Zi’s words, but they both knew that there was nothing in the world that could reverse their regrets.
Huo Yuhao patted Ju Zi’s back gently before he struggled out from her embrace. He heaved a faint sigh, but said nothing more as he turned to walk out. He had already decided, but he was also looking back because of Ju Zi’s words. Her words made him feel a little uncomfortable, but…
“Daddy, hug!” That babyish call stopped him once more.
Huo Yuhao turned around, and glanced warmly at little Yunhan in Ju Zi’s arms. “Be good, Yunhan. You have to listen
to your mother.”
Little Yunhan opened his arms. “Daddy, hug…”
Ju Zi’s voice was trembling. “You should hug him one more time.”
Huo Yuhao hesitated, but finally walked back in front of Ju Zi and took little Yunhan into his arms. For some reason, this little baby’s cries seemed to touch something in his heart.
Huo Yuhao hugged little Yunhan, and the baby naturally planted his tender cheeks on Huo Yuhao’s shoulder. That appearance was exceptionally cute.
Huo Yuhao patted his back softly, and his eyes became increasingly warm and gentle.
Ju Zi began to cry even more uncontrollably when she saw that. She truly hoped that time would just freeze in this moment, that this moment would never change!
But the child was finally returned to her arms, and she didn’t even know how Huo Yuhao and Tang Wutong left.
Little Yunhan fell asleep in her arms. He was sleeping very soundly; this little fellow had always been very adaptable.
Ju Zi’s lips trembled as she repeated the same sentence to herself. “He… is actually… your…”
Huo Yuhao and Tang Wutong snuck out of the Sun Moon Empire’s royal place. If Xu Tianran found out that somebody could enter and exit his royal palace at a whim like this place was uninhabited, who knew what he would think?
Of course, that was also because Huo Yuhao and Tang Wutong came in just for a spin, and they weren’t executing any actual plans. Certain especially sensitive and powerful soul masters could discover them as soon as they could sense hostility and murderousness. Huo Yuhao and Tang Wutong maintained their cool from the beginning to the end, and that was one of the most important reasons why they could enter and leave so peacefully.
“I didn’t expect you to like that child so much.” Tang Wutong whispered softly.
Huo Yuhao turned around as he gently caressed her long hair.
“You’re jealous?”
Tang Wutong shook her head and said, “No, I’m not. Since she’s missed her chance, then that chance will not come back again, not unless time begins to flow backwards. Otherwise, you can only be mine.”
Huo Yuhao laughed. Even though Tang Wutong said she wasn’t jealous, was she really not?
Tang Wutong’s next statement expressed her mentality.
“I will definitely bear a son for us in the future,” Tang Wutong said resolutely.
Huo Yuhao chuckled. “That needs to happen. But I will love our child all the same whether we have a son or a daughter, and I will love them like I love you.”
Tang Wutong pouted obstinately. “You have to love me the most!”
Huo Yuhao guffawed. “Why are you competing with our child?”
They left Radiant City and flew into the air once more. They went back and forth between Radiant City and the Ming Dou Mountain Range within two days. Only they could bear such a burden with their Class 9 flying-type soul tools.
Tang Wutong’s face gradually became solemn as they raced through the sky. “Yuhao, how do we account for this matter when we return? I think they might complain to the academy. If they accuse you of collaborating with the enemy…”
Huo Yuhao shook his head. “They won’t, they’re not so foolish. I was using Spiritual Detection over the main peak when we left, and I stopped only when we left its range. They
had no intention to chase us, and this means we won’t run into much trouble.”
“These Titled Douluo all have their own statuses and identities. Do you think they were very willing to capture little Yunhan? The truth is, no one there felt comfortable in their hearts, including the White Tiger Duke. What we have done simply helped them make that decision. Besides, what good will accusing me of treason to the academy be for them? We have already displayed sufficient strength. Furthermore, the academy has always protected their incumbents, and the Titled Douluo know that too. The war is about to start up again, while the Douluo Continent’s three native empires are hoping that we’ll help them fight against the Sun Moon Empire. If I were them, pretending this matter never happened is the best outcome.”
Tang Wutong stared at Huo Yuhao with slightly dazed eyes. “You have already thought about all this long ago?”
Huo Yuhao shook his head. “No, but I can still make a rough judgment. Face and dignity is very important for Titled Douluo. Furthermore, the strength that we have displayed is sufficient for them to pay attention to us. They will need reconnaissance skills like mine in the war to come. I think the
Dou Ling Empire and the Heavenly Soul Empire’s Titled Douluo have already left, so let’s go back to the Ming Dou Mountain Range for a bit, and we can prove our hypothesis. We can also pass on the news that the Sun Moon Empire has gathered its armies, and consider that making up for our transgressions.”
Tang Wutong heaved a sigh. “Won’t they think that the Sun Moon Empire is gathering their armies because we have returned the crown prince?”
Huo Yuhao chuckled and said, “Do girls become stupid when they get jealous? Silly girl, why do you ask such silly questions? First, the White Tiger Duke cannot make an erroneous judgment like that with his intelligence. How can the Douluo Continent’s three native empires not know that Xu Tianran was making sacrifices so that he could restart the invasion? Their attempt to assassinate Xu Tianran was meant to stop this invasion from happening!”
Tang Wutong hit him gently and said, “You’re the one who has become stupid.”
It was dusk when they returned to the Ming Dou Mountain Range.
They had travelled several thousand kilometers back and forth over two days, and they also had to avoid the aerial surveillance soul tools in their way. They were even engaged in battle. Both Huo Yuhao and Tang Wutong were extremely spent, despite their cultivation ranks.
They landed outside the White Tiger Duke’s tent. Huo Yuhao used Spiritual Detection and quickly found the Duke, who was still dealing with military matters.
To be safe, Huo Yuhao didn’t go to see the White Tiger Duke directly. He used his concrete-immaterial spiritual power to conjure a projection to enter the White Tiger Duke’s tent.
The White Tiger Duke was still dealing with military matters that were coming in from everywhere. He had assumed control over the entire Western and Northwestern Field Armies, and could be called the number-one man in the Star Luo Empire’s military. He had status, reputation, and was widely respected, while he controlled more than half of the Star Luo Empire’s
armies. He was probably the most powerful man beneath the emperor.
The White Tiger Duke seemed to feel something as he suddenly raised his head. He saw a shadow appear not too far from him, though it didn’t make any sound at all.
The White Tiger Duke was startled, but he was Commander of the Three Armies, and his heart and mind were very calm. He identified the visitor after his initial astonishment, and heaved a sigh of relief.
“Yuhao?”
“Lord Duke.” Huo Yuhao bowed slightly.
The White Tiger Duke’s expression immediately turned black. “You dare to come back. Are you aware that what you have done means a dozen Titled Douluo have achieved nothing in their mission?”
Huo Yuhao said plainly, “I am simply doing what I think is right. Duke, did you not think that there was something wrong with the plan? I will tell you the same thing. Kidnapping the crown prince doesn’t achieve anything unless Xu Tianran is also dead. I have also proven this point when I was back in Radiant City before this. The Sun Moon Empire has already begun mustering their armies, and they will probably invade very soon.”
The White Tiger Duke was momentarily stunned. “You returned him?”
Huo Yuhao nodded.
The White Tiger Duke sighed and said, “So be it. At least I’ll feel a little better. The Heavenly Sun Douluo has said that this will be the end of this matter, and we shall pretend that this mission never happened. Therefore, you don’t have to worry about anything.”
Huo Yuhao smiled faintly and answered, “I wasn’t worried about much in the first place. But I still have to thank you, and the Heavenly Sun Douluo.”
The White Tiger Duke said, “You can say that to him yourself when you see him again.”
Huo Yuhao continued, “The Sun Moon Empire’s armies have already been assembled. I’m afraid they will launch an all-out invasion in half a month to a month. I don’t know if their target is the Heavenly Soul Empire, or if they’re going for the Star Luo Empire. Therefore, you have to be more careful.”
The White Tiger Duke frowned and said, “The Heavenly Soul Empire is on the brink of annihilation, but the truth is, the Star Luo Empire is also faced with a great impending calamity! The Sun Moon Empire’s invasion means the Heavenly Soul Empire is in danger, but we aren’t that much better.”
Huo Yuhao fell silent. He knew what the White Tiger Duke was talking about.
The Heavenly Soul Empire’s situation was the worst for the moment, as two-thirds of their territory had been conquered. The Star Luo Empire seemed prepared, and their armies seemed ready. They had a hundred thousand soldiers along the border, and they even had a natural stronghold like the Ming Dou Mountain Range to fortify.
But was all that really the truth?
The Sun Moon Empire had conquered much of the Heavenly Soul Empire’s territory, and part of that territory was where the Heavenly Soul Empire had bordered the Star Luo Empire. Even though it was a hilly area, the ground was a lot flatter there compared to the Ming Dou Mountain Range.
If the Sun Moon Empire wanted to attack the Star Luo Empire, they would naturally launch an invasion from that side. The Sun Moon Empire could attack both the Heavenly Soul Empire and the Star Luo Empire, and both parties would find it incredibly difficult to defend themselves even if they gave everything they had, no matter which side the Sun Moon Empire chose to attack first.
That was the reason why the White Tiger Duke had a headache. He couldn’t possibly relinquish their defensive perimeter along the Ming Dou Mountain Range. Otherwise, if the Sun Moon Empire conquered the Ming Dou Mountain Range once more, the Star Luo Empire would be pushed into an even more backward position.
But they couldn’t not defend their northern front. Such a long battlefield was extremely unfavorable for the Star Luo Empire. The Dou Ling Empire behind them had it a lot better in comparison. They had the Heavenly Soul Empire in front of them for defense, after all. Furthermore, once the Sun Moon Empire had completely overrun the Heavenly Soul Empire, they would undoubtedly have to face Shrek City. Shrek City’s strength was an important form of invisible protection for the Dou Ling Empire. That was also one of the most important reasons why the Heavenly Sun Douluo decided to relent, because he didn’t want to offend Shrek Academy.
Huo Yuhao began to contemplate. “Duke, can we come in?”
The White Tiger Duke was shocked by his question.
The tent’s curtains were lifted in the next moment. The soldiers outside didn’t realize at all as two figures materialized right in front of him. There was only one Huo Yuhao in the tent, but now there were two.
The White Tiger Duke glanced at the one on the right, and then the one on the left.
He heaved a sigh of admiration. “That is so amazing! Yuhao, did you know what we were all full of admiration for the strength you displayed when you broke out? Seems like you’re all grown up now.”
Huo Yuhao said plainly, “Duke, now is not the time to compliment me. You should think about what you should do. I can report back to the academy once you make a decision so that we can do our best to cooperate with your plans.”
The White Tiger Duke forced a laugh and said, “I wouldn’t be so anxious and worried if there was a good solution. You are very aware of the Sun Moon Empire’s fighting strength at the front, and ambushing them with sudden attacks is also very difficult. They are too flexible and mobile, and they can move
around very quickly with their soul tools, especially those formidable soul engineer legions of theirs. I want to hear your advice.”
Huo Yuhao said, “The Sun Moon Empire is ultimately facing the continent’s three empires all by themselves. Their military deployment covers a much larger territory after conquering the Heavenly Soul Empire. Our battlefront is long, but in truth, the Sun Moon Empire faces the same situation. The only difference is that their military strength is concentrated along the nation’s borders as much as possible, and they are having a comparatively easier time because they have powerful soul tools. This also means that their inner regions are extremely empty.”
The White Tiger Duke said, “Everyone knows that, but it’s no use even if we know that they have this weakness. The Sun Moon Empire have deployed many surveillance soul tools along their borders. We cannot possibly go undiscovered if we mobilize our armies for an attack. They still have many soul tool forts along their borders, and any front can impede us for a period of time sufficient for them to send reinforcements.”
Huo Yuhao continued, “If we wish to defeat the Sun Moon Empire and achieve victory in this war, then we have to hold
back their main forces effectively while gradually weakening them. This is the only way to put them up to their ears in work, and the only way we can execute a war of attrition against them. Just like when you sent large masses of soul masters into the Sun Moon Empire’s territory to conduct guerilla warfare back then.”
The White Tiger Duke shook his head. “That move is not effective anymore. The Sun Moon Empire have increased their production of aerial surveillance soul tools over the past two years, and they have too many eyes in the sky. Our men will be going to their deaths if they attempt to infiltrate again, and we have already tried it. It wasn’t effective, and we lost many men. Unless we have extraordinarily talented individuals like you who also possess formidable concealment abilities, nobody can possibly infiltrate the Sun Moon Empire’s territory.”
Huo Yuhao’s eyes sparkled when he heard the White Tiger Duke’s words. He suddenly clapped his hands and said excitedly, “I have an idea, I have an idea!”
The White Tiger Duke was momentarily stunned.
Huo Yuhao took a few quick steps forward and came beside the Duke. He could naturally feel the White Tiger Duke’s aura when he came near, and he couldn’t help but think about the scene when he carried him high into the sky.
But his emotions rippled for but a moment before he immediately returned to normal. He whispered something beside the White Tiger Duke’s ears.
The White Tiger Duke’s pupils contracted as he listened, and he snapped his head around. “Really? Can we really do that?”
Huo Yuhao nodded forcefully and said, “Theoretically, we can. The Sun Moon Empire will mobilize all their forces when they restart the war. If we don’t take drastic measures, we have no chance of defeating their formidable soul engineer legions on the battlefield. We can only threaten them at their very core to have a chance of emerging victorious.”
The White Tiger Duke was extremely intelligent, and he immediately understood what he had to do when he heard Huo Yuhao’s words. “Alright. Don’t worry, Yuhao, you can leave the front lines to me. We will use our lives to prolong the battle even if we can’t win so that we can keep them on the
battlefield. I will immediately communicate with the Heavenly Soul Empire and the Dou Ling Empire. The three empires will use our combined strength to hold back the Sun Moon Empire’s main forces so that we can buy time for you and the academy. But you have to be quick, because I don't know how long we can hold out.”
“Alright, agreed. We’re very tired, and we wish to rest here for the night over here. We will hurry back tomorrow morning.”
The White Tiger Duke got to his feet. He became a little excited after listening to Huo Yuhao’s plan.
He clapped Huo Yuhao’s shoulder heavily and said, “Excellent, Yuhao. If we can execute your plan successfully, I believe the Body Douluo’s spirit in heaven will definitely bless you with good fortune.”
Huo Yuhao seemed a little disoriented when the White Tiger Duke patted him on the shoulder with his large hand. He didn’t recover completely even after he returned to the tent that he and Tang Wutong were staying in.
“What’s wrong, Yuhao?” Tang Wutong asked concernedly.
Huo Yuhao shook his head.
Tang Wutong asked, “Is it because of the White Tiger Duke?”
Huo Yuhao nodded as he forced a laugh and said, “For some reason, I feel less and less hostility towards him.”
Tang Wutong smiled faintly and said, “That’s a good thing! Just like Ju Zi said, revenge cannot block out love and kinship. You don’t have to think too much. You should pay attention to what’s at hand, and you can think about this again after dealing with the Sun Moon Empire. It’s not too late to contemplate your relationship with him after beating the Sun Moon Empire back. Furthermore, your mother would be very happy that you’re cooperating with the Duke like this if she had been alive.”
Huo Yuhao’s expression became a little dejected when she talked about his mother. Will mother really be happy? I only had one goal when I entered Shrek Academy back then, and
that was to take revenge for my mother! But now, I am getting farther and farther away from claiming my revenge.
Soft knocking sounds suddenly came from outside.
Huo Yuhao swept the area with his spiritual power, and knew who was here.
“Come in, Luoli.”
Dai Luoli pushed the door open and stepped in. His eyes glowed when he saw Tang Wutong. Even though this wasn’t his first time seeing her, this was still the first time that the brothers were interacting alone with Tang Wutong around.
Dai Luoli took a few steps forward and said softly, “Are you alright, brother? I’ve heard that you conflicted with some Titled Douluo?”
Tang Wutong was astonished when she heard the way that he addressed Huo Yuhao. She glanced at Dai Luoli, and then at Huo Yuhao.
Huo Yuhao hurriedly explained to her, “Luoli is the only one who knows my true identity. Luoli, this is your sister-in-law, Tang Wutong.”
“Greetings, sister-in-law!” Dai Luoli hurriedly greeted Tang Wutong respectfully.
Even though he hadn’t heard much about Huo Yuhao over the past two years, and they hadn’t met, none of that affected his admiration for his older brother.
Dai Luoli had heard much from Dai Yueheng and his father about his older brother’s legendary stories.
Huo Yuhao represented Shrek Academy’s elite youths, and he had invented Spirits. He was the Spirit Pagoda’s honorary master, he had an Ultimate martial soul, and he led Shrek Academy’s team to achieve glorious results twice in the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Dueling Tournament. He was a legendary figure among the younger generation of soul masters, and possibly even across the entire world of soul masters.
Furthermore, Huo Yuhao had helped the Star Luo Empire’s Western Field Army turn the tide of battle on several occasions. Dai Luoli had witnessed those episodes personally. In his mind, his elder brother was his idol.
Dai Luoli had been standing guard when Huo Yuhao returned. Huo Yuhao didn’t hide his presence when he came out from the White Tiger Duke’s tent, and Dai Luoli immediately came to find him after changing guards. He was afraid that his elder brother would be gone once more if he didn’t go find him, and he didn’t know when they would meet again. Two years had passed since the last time they separated!
Tang Wutong smiled and nodded in Dai Luoli’s direction. She was happy for Huo Yuhao, happy that he had at least recognized a relative.
“Why are you here, Luoli?” Huo Yuhao asked.
Dai Luoli said, “Nothing much, except we haven’t seen each other for so long and I have missed you. Oh, brother, can you get me a Spirit some time?”
Huo Yuhao grinned and said, “You’re still a Soul King. It’s a little too early for a Spirit. I will definitely find a suitable Spirit for you when you reach Rank 70.”
It was easy for Huo Yuhao to identify Dai Luoli’s cultivation rank with his strength. Dai Luoli had been growing very quickly over the past two years, and he should be around Rank
55 right now. His cultivation speed was considerably impressive for his age, and it was evident that his potential and talent had been completely activated whether or not his martial soul had truly awakened and mutated.
Huo Yuhao would have recommended him to Shrek Academy to study if matters at the front lines hadn’t been so pressing. Furthermore, the atmosphere at the front was very suitable for him to cultivate.
Dai Luoli’s martial soul became a Blood Tiger after mutating, and it was most suitable for fighting on the battlefield. Dai Luoli would improve quickest through continuous battle and training.
Dai Luoli was extremely excited when he heard Huo Yuhao’s words. “Don’t worry brother, I will definitely work hard to
cultivate.”
Huo Yuhao inquired about his current cultivation situation, and gave him some pointers.
Dai Luoli could tell that it was getting late, and only then did he take his leave. “I’ll be going then, brother.”
Chapter 530: Frog Hopping Technique
“Run along. I will be returning to Shrek Academy with your sister-in-law tomorrow morning. I hope you will have become a Soul Emperor by the time I return.”
“Brother, I will definitely do my best.” Dai Luoli was about to turn and leave. However, he suddenly stopped and turned around. He had an awkward expression on his face as he asked, “Brother, are you really not going to acknowledge him as your father? In these two years, he has aged a lot. If only you were by his side…”
“Enough!” Huo Yuhao growled in displeasure.
Dai Luoli was stunned.
Huo Yuhao calmed down before continuing, “Run along. I will naturally settle my business with him in the future.”
After Dai Luoli left, Huo Yuhao rubbed his face with his hands. Tang Wutong stood behind him and massaged his
shoulders.
“Wutong, I really don’t know how to sort out my relationship with him. To be honest, my hatred for him has been decreasing. But am I really not going to avenge my mother?” Huo Yuhao could only share his true thoughts with Tang Wutong.
Tang Wutong replied, “Regardless of whether you plan revenge or not, you should sort things out with him sooner or later. However, now is definitely not the right time. To be honest, don’t you think that his days are numbered? If the Sun Moon Empire were to launch another attack on the Ming Dou Mountain Range, the Star Luo Empire might not be able to fend them off. Hence, the most pressing matter at hand is to win the battle which is about to unfold.”
After hearing her words, Huo Yuhao nodded in agreement. “Yes, you’re right. There is no family without one’s country.”
After meditating for an entire night, both Huo Yuhao and Tang Wutong felt refreshed. Following which, they bade goodbye to the White Tiger Duke before returning to Shrek City.
……
At the Sun Moon Empire’s Palace.
“What? The Prince has returned?” Xu Tianran was shocked as he looked at Ju Zi, who was hugging the Prince and tearing up before him.
Even though he did not have much feelings for the Prince, who was not his own child, he understood the importance of the existence of this prince for the stability of the Empire. Having a prince meant there was a successor to the throne. Hence, he was bent on using all possible methods to allow Ju Zi to recover the Prince.
Xu Tianran regained his calm and asked, “What happened?”
Ju Zi was shedding tears of joy as she replied, “I have no idea what happened. After checking on the soldiers this morning, I returned to find the Prince lying in the bed. He was just having fun by himself. I have no idea who sent him back.”
The answer contained no useful information at all.
Xu Tianran frowned and said, “Previously, those Titled Douluo abducted the Prince to blackmail me. Why would they return the Prince so easily?”
Could they have done it out of their conscience? Xu Tianran would never have believed such an idea. He did not believe in the existence of a conscience. In his eyes, interests and benefits governed our universe.
Despite being interrogated about the details, Ju Zi remained very careful with her answers, and did not reveal any unnecessary details. She was a smart woman, and had fabricated a story along with all the minute details beforehand. She had merely delayed the news by a night.
After checking with Ju Zi, Xu Tianran summoned the guards and interrogated them. There was no doubt that their lives had been turned upside down after they had failed to stop the intruders the other time. Other than random pieces of useless information, they were unable to provide anything useful.
After punishing them for their failure the other time, Xu Tianran did not pursue the matter further. He ordered the Imperial Physician to make sure the Prince was alright and stopped all investigations.
After all, he was still very trusting of Ju Zi. In fact, she could be said to be the person who he trusted the most. There was no one else he placed the same amount of trust in. Xu Tianran was even planning to rely on her to conquer the world for him.
She had cried her heart out that day when the Prince disappeared. Xu Tianran had always felt bad for letting that incident happen. Now that the Prince had returned, he felt that asking too many questions would not be appropriate.
“It seems like those people must have started to panic after seeing our army assemble, and have decided to return the Prince to us. Do they really think this will stop me from my ambitions of conquering the world? They must be daydreaming. My Empress, our plan will remain the same. After we are done with our preparations, you will still be the Commander of the Three Armies.”
Ju Zi nodded as she hugged her son tightly. She whispered, “Your Majesty, I have a small request to make.”
“Go on.” Xu Tianran spoke.
Ju Zi hesitated a while before continuing. “The Prince’s disappearance had taken a lot out of me. I can’t stop blaming myself for not protecting him properly. This time, because I will be leaving for an extended period of time for the campaign, I wish to bring the Prince along with me to prevent a repeat of this incident.”
After hearing her words, Xu Tianran flew into a rage. “What?! You want to bring the future leader of our Empire onto the battlefield?! Ju Zi, has your ego gone to your head? How dare you raise such a request to me!”
Ju Zi collapsed to her knees before Xu Tianran. She did not say anything as tears started to stream down her cheeks.
Xu Tianran’s heart started to soften as he stood up and walked towards her. “I cannot allow you to do this. How can I let the successor to my throne leave the palace? You may rest
assured that I will step up the palace security after you leave. I will make sure I get someone to protect the Prince and ensure that he does not come to any harm. I guarantee you that all of the above will be done. You know very well that even though the Prince is not my own child, I have no chance of having my own child. In the future, every plot of land and drop of water I own will belong to him. Hence, you must put in your best into this campaign. The Three Armies will be placed under your command. When you return victorious, I will bring the Prince and welcome you back personally. We will organize the biggest celebration for you when you return.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.” There was nothing else Ju Zi could say.
At this instant, little Yunhan, who was sound asleep in Ju Zi’s embrace, woke up and exclaimed, “Father!”
Xu Tianran, who was looking very serious, found his body trembling after hearing what little Yunhan had just said.
Regardless of who he was, he was ultimately still human. Being infertile was one of the biggest blows for him in his life. Little Yunhan’s words had hit the softest part of his heart, making him feel guilty for making those remarks earlier.
Hence, he helped Ju Zi up from the ground before patting on her shoulder. He said, “Spend more time with him during these few days we have.”
“Father!” Little Yunhan cried out again.
Xu Tianran burst into laughter as he pinched little Yunhan’s cheek. “Yes, my little Prince. You must pray for the safety of your mother and wish for her to return victorious.”
When Ju Zi carried Xu Yunhan out of the Imperial Study, her clothes were already drenched with sweat.
Even though Xu Tianran enjoyed being addressed as little Yunhan’s father, it was a nightmare for Ju Zi! This was because she knew little Yunhan was not calling for Xu Tianran. Ever since that little fellow learned how to speak, he had never called Xu Tianran father.
Even though this was the first time little Yunhan was calling out openly, Ju Zi knew that he was actually calling out for Huo Yuhao!
Toddlers would never lie. Ju Zi was really afraid that little Yunhan would give it away. Fortunately, little Yunhan did not say anything other than the word father.
After bringing her son back to her room, Ju Zi let out a sigh of relief. However, she still had a very nervous expression on her face.
After shutting the door, she laid her son on her bed as she gradually regained her calm. As she gently stroked little Yunhan’s hair, she muttered, “My dear baby, it’s really in your nature to be like this! Don’t worry! No matter how tough it might be, I will never let you suffer again.”
……
“It seems like war is inevitable!” Elder Xuan sighed.
Huo Yuhao reported all the events that had occurred on his journey, including the time when he returned little Yunhan to Ju Zi.
Elder Xuan did not ask too many questions, nor did he try to reprimand Huo Yuhao. All he did was let out a long sigh.
“This time round, even though we have managed to recharge and sharpen our capabilities, the Sun Moon Empire has also had the same two years to recuperate and recover what they have lost and expended. I can only imagine how devastating the war will be. Besides, as of now, we don’t even know where they will strike. This is the largest problem at hand. Yuhao, share your thoughts on this with me.”
Huo Yuhao replied, “The current situation has already become fairly clear. The Sun Moon Empire continues to possess an absolute advantage over us. Their soul tool technology should still remain above our expectations. If I were to hazard a guess, Ju Zi should still be the Commander. From what I understand about her since she was also a student of Teacher Xuan, her military talents far exceed her talents as a soul engineer. She is well-versed in different military strategies, and will be a difficult opponent. She was the one who drafted the plan to use their widely publicised attack on the Star Luo Empire as a decoy for their main attack on the Heavenly Soul Empire. Now, she possesses even greater strength, and it will be extremely difficult for us if we were to face her directly.”
“Since we can’t match their abilities and power, we have no choice but to employ an unorthodox strategy. Based on my calculations, the Sun Moon Empire will definitely place an army on the other side of the Ming Dou Mountain Range to monitor the troops of the Star Luo Empire and prevent them from invading. The bulk of their troops will enter the regions of the Heavenly Soul Empire they have already captured. This would allow them to link up with the troops that have fortified the border and intimidate the rest of the Heavenly Soul Empire. At the same time, they can continue to threaten and deter the troops from the Star Luo Empire. Even though the area where the Star Luo Empire connects with the original land of the Heavenly Soul Empire is fairly treacherous, it is a lot less dangerous than the Ming Dou Mountain Range. Hence,
no matter what, the Sun Moon Empire will never give up their advantage.”
Elder Xuan nodded and asked, “So what is this unorthodox strategy you were talking about?”
Huo Yuhao explained, “The Sun Moon Empire must have drafted plenty of new soldiers after invading two-thirds of the Heavenly Soul Empire’s land. However, the fighting power of these new soldiers is ultimately limited. They will only send their strongest troops to the front line. Hence, this means that the defence of the Sun Moon Empire will be relatively weak. If we can dispatch an elite squad to strike the Sun Moon Empire from their backs, or even perform sabotage operations in Radiant City, the battle at the front lines would become a lot less intense. In fact, there’s even a chance that the battle could dissolve.”
“After all, the original three nations of the Douluo Continent have plenty of resources. If we were to fight a protracted war, there is no reason for us to fear the Sun Moon Empire. And if the Sun Moon Empire were to continue to attack, they would only sink deeper into the regions within the original three nations. Their line of battle would only extend, rendering it impossible for them to return to protect their homeland.”
Elder Xuan frowned. “Your strategy sounds pretty good. However, it is near impossible for us to dispatch an elite squad to the interior of the Sun Moon Empire. The Sun Moon Empire
has enough resources dedicated to surveillance of both the land and sea routes which lead to their land. They would naturally be able to react the moment they detect our troops. I can’t think of how we—the Heavenly Soul Empire, the Star Luo Empire, and the Dou Ling Empire—can transport our troops to the interior of the Sun Moon Empire.
Huo Yuhao gave a sly smile as he replied, “It would naturally be impossible for the original three Empires. All of their troops have been accounted for by the Sun Moon Empire. Besides, their fighting power is far from sufficient. This elite squad must not only possess immense destructive capabilities and must be extremely flexible and agile, but they must also be able to land their blow with a single attempt, and successfully flee on command. If not, the effect of this strategy would be very limited.”
Elder Xuan replied, “It seems like you already have someone in mind, right?”
Huo Yuhao nodded. At this juncture, there was no longer any need for him to withhold the information. “Yes. I am referring to the three soul engineer legions which our Academy has painstakingly trained.”
It had taken close to a year to assemble the equipment for these three soul engineer legions by tapping into the wealth and support of Shrek City and the three Empires since Xuan Ziwen gave his suggestion. They had been undergoing intensive training as they learned how to better utilize their equipment and gear.
However, Xuan Ziwen, Huo Yuhao and the higher-ups in the Shrek Academy knew well enough that the capabilities of the three soul engineer legions were still not on par with the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineer Legions. The three soul engineer legions’ abilities were all too singular. Out of the three legions, only one of them possessed airborne capabilities. Even though the other two had their own individual special abilities, their collective fighting power was still a long way from the Sun Moon Empire’s legions. Their flaws were all too apparent.
Nonetheless, they were the products of the blood and sweat that Shrek Academy had shed for the past two years. When Huo Yuhao suggested the deployment of these three soul engineer legions, Elder Xuan was taken aback. It was simply a very costly and risky investment!
It was hard enough to figure out how to send them over to the Sun Moon Empire. Even if they were successfully sent over
there, how were they going to survive the battles that would no doubt take place?
These three soul engineer legions were formed from thousands of soul masters! They were essentially the foundation of the entire academy. If they were to all perish on this mission, Shrek Academy would suffer an unprecedented loss.
Huo Yuhao naturally knew what Elder Xuan was worrying about. When he was on his way back, he had already rehearsed his plan and fine tuned the details in his head.
“Elder Xuan, have you forgotten that I have the spectral demiplane? I know we won’t be able to bring the thousands of soul masters in the legion into the Sun Moon Empire. However, if it’s just me alone, those surveillance soul tools would have no effect on me. They would essentially be blind. And this has already been ascertained from my repeated trips to the Sun Moon Empire.”
After hearing Huo Yuhao’s words, Elder Xuan was stunned. However, soon enough, a smile broke out on his face. His excitement translated into a powerful spiritual wave which
rippled out from his body and sent Huo Yuhao staggering a few steps backwards.
That’s right! Even though his spectral demiplane contains spectral creatures and has limited space, if Huo Yuhao were able to carve out a space to contain the troops, it would actually be possible to transport them to the back of the Sun Moon Empire.
Elder Xuan found his heart beating faster.
Huo Yuhao said, “It’s better if we go with fewer people for such operations. Even bringing three legions would reduce our flexibility and agility, though my spectral demiplane would more than compensate for it. We will be the most unpredictable unit ever. It would seem as though they had all been equipped with Class 9 flying-type soul tools. Even though it would take time to transport them, the amount of time required would still be very short compared to conventional transportation means. As long as the three Empires are able to delay the Sun Moon Empire’s army, I am confident that we can wreak havoc in the interior of the Sun Moon Empire. In fact, there’s a good chance that we can threaten Radiant City. If that happens, we would have achieved something spectacular.”
After hearing what Huo Yuhao had said, Elder Xuan took a deep breath before speaking with conviction. “Let’s get everyone in the Sea God’s Pavilion together for a conference to discuss this. We must only succeed, and not fail. Yuhao, you must shoulder the responsibility for this operation.”
Because the plan was suggested by Huo Yuhao, he accepted command without any complaints.
An hour later, everyone, including Bei Bei and Zhang Lexuan, gathered together and started the conference.
Huo Yuhao explained what he had shared with Elder Xuan to the rest who were not present earlier.
After hearing his daring tactics, all the Elders within the Sea God’s Pavilion could not believe their ears. In fact, some of the Elders did not even know that Huo Yuhao possessed the spectral demiplane.
“Yuhao, how will you ensure that the spectral creatures in your spectral demiplane will not attack our people? Will your restrictive measure be guaranteed to work even when you’re
not around? You must understand that you will have to fly on the outside when you are transporting the spectral demiplane to the Sun Moon Empire. If anything happens inside the demiplane when you are outside, it might just turn out to be the biggest joke ever.”
Huo Yuhao replied, “Can I invite all the Elders to enter my spectral demiplane? I believe it will be easier to show you what it actually is instead of trying to explain with words.”
The Elders had all understood how the spectral demiplane would be the key to turning the tables. If they were not able to see it with their own eyes, how would they be comfortable with his plan?
After Huo Yuhao chanted some incantations, the pitch black doors opened, and Huo Yuhao led the Elders into his spectral demiplane.
The sky within the spectral demiplane was dark and grey. After entering, they felt a suffocating atmosphere. This pressure was exceptionally obvious to the living.
A dark breeze blew across the land as a couple of skeleton soldiers strolled around aimlessly in the distance. After detecting the presence of living creatures, they looked up and started to move towards the group of people from the Shrek Academy.
A golden light flickered in Huo Yuhao’s eyes, and immediately, those skeleton soldiers looked down again and fled.
Those who had entered the demiplane before were not surprised by what lay before their eyes. However, those who were entering for the first time were particularly surprised by the absence of life in this grey plot of land.
This was a parallel space which was completely outside of the Douluo Continent! In their eyes, everything which existed within this space was unheard of.
After the golden light faded from Huo Yuhao’s eyes, he gave a cold stare as an ice-blue light formed behind him. Following which, a tall, burly fellow appeared behind him.
“Grandpa.” After seeing Huo Yuhao, he greeted him enthusiastically. He was none other than Little Bai—the Ice Bear King.
Only a few people in the Shrek Academy knew Huo Yuhao’s true strength. When the rest saw him release the Ice Bear King, many of them silently gasped in surprise.
They were all powerful individuals within Shrek Academy, and were definitely more than capable of understanding what that meant for Huo Yuhao’s abilities.
Because the Elders had all attained the rank of Titled Douluo, they could no longer possess spirits. However, this did not interfere with their interest and research into spirits. Conversely, their interest in spirits was a lot stronger than younger people.
It was apparent that the fatty that Huo Yuhao had just released was one of his spirits. Huo Yuhao was the only soul master known to have multiple spirits.
The fact that the spirit was able to take on a human form and solidify meant that the fatty was a beast with at least ten thousand years of cultivation before becoming Huo Yuhao’s spirit.
However, most of the people seemed to have ignored how it addressed Huo Yuhao as his grandfather.
Huo Yuhao nodded at Little Bai as he instructed, “Get yourself to come out.”
“Alright!’ Little Bai agreed as he turned around and released a deafening howl across the expansive plains.
Even though this howl was not particularly bright, it was very special. As the sound wave travelled outwards, there were signs of ripples moving across the air. Strangely enough, the ripples did not seem to affect those who were present.
It must have cultivated for more than ten thousand years!
That was everyone’s first reaction.
It did not take long before a deep humming sound could be heard from afar. As the ground started to tremble, the group of people could see how the spectral creatures started to move away, as though they were fleeing from their natural predator.
Before long, a gigantic figure appeared in their vision. Yes, it was humongous! Truly humongous!
This big fellow was over a hundred meters tall. Its muscular body was even thicker and broader than some of the smaller mountains. It was covered in a layer of grey fur. When it was running, there was a faint bluish-grey air current that rippled about its body.
The most peculiar thing about it was its eyes. There was a powerful blue flame burning in its eye sockets. During its run, some of the flames escaped from the corner of its eyes.
Even though the Elders of Shrek Academy were all extremely powerful, they still could not help but feel the pressure in the air when they saw this big fellow.
"What a big bear!" Zhang Lexuan gasped in shock.
Yes, that was a hundred meter-tall bear. Its appearance had sent all the spectral creatures, including the fearsome skeleton dragon which was flying high up in the sky, scurrying away. It was almost as if it were the king of the world of the undead.
And that was, in fact, the truth!
The gigantic bear only stopped after it reached the spot where the group was gathered. Now that it was nearer to them, the Elders could feel how strong its soul power was. In fact, it was radiating more than just soul power; it was also emanating a dense spectral aura.
Little Bai waved its hand as the gigantic bear lowered its body. Little Bai leapt onto the bear’s shoulder before the gigantic bear stood up again. Following which, it leaned its body forward as though it was bowing to Huo Yuhao.
Huo Yuhao nodded to acknowledge the bow from the bear. Following which, he turned to the Elders and smiled. “This gigantic bear was Little Bai’s original physical form. Previously,
Little Bai and I did our spirit fusion in the spectral demiplane. It was during that time when Little Bai’s body started to change for unknown reasons. It somehow managed to remain alive. As a result, I was not able to acquire his soul bone. But in return, this made it even stronger than before. Now, it is the strongest fighter in my spectral demiplane. It is the true king of this place and hence, I am certain that our soul masters will not come to any harm under its protection.
Huo Yuhao had given Little Bai’s body the name Er Bai. Of course, it was named this way simply out of convenience.
Previously when Er Bai was struck by the lightning, it managed to absorb the spectral aura in the spectral demiplane and form its own spiritual fire. Of course, its spiritual fire was formed from the remnants left by Little Bai when he transferred his spirit to Huo Yuhao.
The main reason why Huo Yuhao did not take the soul bone from Little Bai’s body was because the soul bone had become a source of energy for Er Bai.
After these two years, Er Bai had already gained a stronghold in the spectral plane. Just as Huo Yuhao had described, he had
already become the king of the spectral demiplane.
Because Er Bai and Little Bai were connected by heart, even if Huo Yuhao was not in the spectral demiplane, he could monitor Er Bai’s situation through Little Bai. Hence, it would not be a problem for him to take care of and protect the army which would be placed in the spectral demiplane in the future.
Elder Song nodded and said, “Yuhao, your demiplane is truly amazing. After seeing how things work in your demiplane, I am willing to support your suggestion.”
“Thank you, Elder Song.” Huo Yuhao hastily thanked Elder Song.
Subsequently, the rest of the Elders all nodded in agreement as they gave their consent to Huo Yuhao’s plan. To be honest, other than Huo Yuhao’s unorthodox method, none of them had any idea that could bring hope to the current situation.
Even though the Shrek Academy was very strong, it would still be very difficult for them to resist the armies of the Sun Moon Empire if they were to launch an attack against them.
Furthermore, it would be impossible for the Sun Moon Empire to let go of Shrek Academy, especially after what they had done previously to replace the Sun Moon Continent’s name with Douluo Continent. The hatred the Sun Moon Empire had for Shrek Academy had become one which concerned the pride of the Sun Moon Empire. Hence, Shrek Academy could only stand on the opposing side of the Sun Moon Empire. There was
simply no other option.
During these few years, Shrek Academy had made tremendous advancements in terms of their development of soul tools. Hence, many of the higher-ups in Shrek Academy recognized the power and importance of soul tools.
Shrek Academy might have improved their powers tremendously by researching and harnessing the power of soul tools during these few years, but one could only imagine how much stronger the Sun Moon Empire would be, considering how much longer they had dabbled in soul tools. Because the development of soul tool was exponential, their powers could only exceed Shrek Academy’s original calculations.
Hence, the academy definitely did not possess the confidence that it would win its battle with the Sun Moon Empire. An unorthodox strategy was required to be victorious. Hence, Huo
Yuhao’s plan was the most convincing strategy in the eyes of the Elders.
In fact, that was probably the only way they could turn the tables. While the Sun Moon Empire definitely had their weaknesses, it would not be easy to expose them on the actual battlefield.
After leaving the spectral demiplane, the Sea God’s Pavilion Conference resumed. The atmosphere in the conference was visibly more optimistic. It was undeniable that the existence of the spectral demiplane had become Shrek Academy’s trump card to go up against the Sun Moon Empire.
Amongst the powerful Elders, some of them were particularly skilled in the art of war. Those Elders started to offer suggestions to further improve Huo Yuhao’s plan.
It took them an entire day before the conference ended. Shrek Academy made the final decision to mobilize the three Soul Engineer Legions and adhere to Huo Yuhao’s plan. The academy would not be sending any higher-ups to participate in this operation. Instead, they would be heading to the
frontlines of the Heavenly Soul Empire to deceive the troops from the Sun Moon Empire.
This operation would mainly be organized by the Tang Sect. The powerful cultivators from the Tang Sect would leave their nest and take action against the Sun Moon Empire.
After their discussions, it was time for the preparatory work. They had also decided on the mobilization time—the time when the Sun Moon Empire planned to move out.
The three Soul Engineer Legions from Shrek Academy and the Tang Sect consisted of the Tang Sect Soul Engineer Legion, the Heavy Artillery Soul Engineer Legion, and the Fort Soul Engineer Legion.
Amongst the three legions, the Tang Sect Soul Engineer Legion had the fewest number of people. However, it was formed from their elite soul masters.
The commander of the Tang Sect Soul Engineer Legion was originally Xian Lin’er. Furthermore, there were about ten Titled Douluo in the entire Tang Sect Soul Engineer Legion.
However, Shrek Academy had decided after the Conference to not participate in this operation directly. Hence, the ten Titled Douluo would not remain within the legion.
This meant that the Tang Sect Soul Engineer Legion would now be led by new commanders. The new commander would be Bei Bei, while the vice-commander would be Xu Sanshi. Jiang Nannan and the other powerful cultivators of the Tang Sect were also moved into this legion.
Their total number would be two hundred soul masters. Every single one of them was at least a Soul Emperor. It was difficult even for the Sun Moon Empire to organize a legion with members at this level.
The commander of the Heavy Artillery Soul Engineer Legion was Huo Yuhao, while its vice-commander was Tang Wutong. They were commanding a legion of a thousand soul masters— or rather soul engineers. They were equipped with three hundred top-class huge Zhuge Divine Crossbow Cannons. They were all Class 6 soul tools, and required their soul engineers to be at least Class 4 to utilize them. These cannons were all equipped with large amounts of stationary soul cannon shells.
The last legion was formed from 1500 soul masters with relatively weaker cultivations. Their minimum cultivation level was a three-ringed Soul Elder. Their commander was Caitou, while their vice-commander was Xiao Xiao. They were equipped with three hundred of Xuan Ziwen’s personally redesigned All-Terrain Self-Driving Forts.
These three soul engineer legions were all built painstakingly by the Shrek Academy over two years.
Actually, these legions had already started to take shape a year ago. Since then, they had been training hard and receiving improved equipment. Right now, they had started to become a formidable force, and would be the main fighting force for Huo Yuhao’s plan.
When it came to surprise attacks, the quality of the soldiers was more important than quantity.
In the military drill ground near the perimeter of Shrek City.
The military drill ground seemed to have been transformed into a metallic forest as it emanated a scary aura.
There were close to three thousand soul masters, three hundred Zhuge Divine Crossbow Cannons, and three hundred All-Terrain Self-Driving Forts.
Every single soul master in the three legions was overwhelmed with excitement. They were finally going to enter the battlefield after having trained for two long years.
They had trained hard every single day as they tried their best to master their soul tools. In fact, many of them had once participated in the battle against the Great Star Dou Forest during the beast wave to protect Shrek City.
They were the true elite forces of Shrek City. The truth was that these three legions had pretty much expended half of Shrek City’s financial resources.
Now, they were finally going to leave Shrek City to fight their formidable foe. Everyone wished they could become famous in this battle. Everyone wished to leave their beautiful name in the history books.
There was no doubt that the war against the Sun Moon Empire was going to be a big opportunity for many people.
All the higher-ups of the Tang Sect, including Bei Bei, He Caitou, Xu Sanshi, Jiang Nannan, Xiao Xiao, Huo Yuhao, Tang Wutong, Ye Guyi, Nan Qiuqiu, Ji Juechen, and Jing Ziyan, were all dressed in their military gear as they observed their soldiers from the observation deck.
Xuan Ziwen had gotten Na Na and Gao Dalou to stay at the Tang Sect with him to ensure the continuation of daily operations. Other than them, pretty much all of the higher-ups in Tang Sect had been mobilized.
The three commanders of the legions had all agreed that Huo Yuhao would lead them.
Bei Bei nodded towards Huo Yuhao and said, “You should say a few words.”
As the Chief Commander, Huo Yuhao knew it was not the time to back down from such things.
After taking a few steps forward, Huo Yuhao looked at the thousands of soul masters who were standing beneath him. “I am Huo Yuhao. I believe everyone already knows what kind of operation we are about to commence against the Sun Moon Empire. I only have one request for all of you. I need all of you to listen to the orders being issued. Regardless of what you see and discover after this, you must adhere to the orders which
have been given to you. If we are able to emerge victorious and succeed, our names will all be engraved in the glorious history of the Douluo Continent.”
“I believe all of you already know that I was the one who started the Spirit Pagoda from scratch. I can assure all of you that after we have completed this operation, all of you will get spirit transmission priority.”
“This battle goes beyond defending the pride of our Academy. At the same time, it is about defending our country and our homeland. I believe many of you here come from the Heavenly Soul Empire. You should all be familiar with its current situation. We can’t watch our country be ravaged in this war without doing anything. We must put in effort to defend our country.”
Huo Yuhao was not using a sound amplifying soul tool, but his voice echoed in everyone’s minds. His powerful spiritual energy was able to envelop the entire military drill ground.
“Our strategy will be different from everything you have known. I call it the Teleportation Tactic. Now, I will use my ability to allow all of you to rest in another world. All you have to do is rest up and get ready for the upcoming fight.”
As he finished his speech, eight soul rings started to form around his body.
Because of the appearance of the Spirit Pagoda, Huo Yuhao had long attained legendary status. But few people had actually witnessed him releasing his martial soul.
Chapter 531: Breaking in! The Raid Starts!
The Spirit Eyes had seven rings, while the Ice Jade Empress Scorpion had eight. The rings of two different colors interchanged as they shone brilliantly. In the next instant, Huo Yuhao transformed into a gigantic eye that was floating in mid- air.
A deep melodic chanting sound began as the higher-ups who were waiting on the observation deck returned to their legions.
The Eye of the Asura! Yes, this was the Eye of the Asura! The soul masters from the three different legions were all screaming inside with excitement.
Nine huge black doors slowly opened before the observation deck.
Actually, this was not the limit of Huo Yuhao’s ability. It was just unnecessary for him to use all of his abilities.
“Get ready to enter.” Huo Yuhao’s voice reverberated across the military drill ground.
The Heavy Artillery Soul Engineer Legion—the least mobile legion—was the first to move. They also happened to be the unit under Huo Yuhao. Under the control of the soul engineers, the three hundred Zhuge Divine Crossbow Cannons rolled towards the huge doors.
After the repeated improvements Xuan Ziwen had made, these crossbow cannons now had tracks. When necessary, they were able to use their stored soul power to drive themselves forward. Even though their speed was still fairly limited, it was a lot better than having to rely on human strength all the time.
It took a whole ten minutes for the three hundred crossbow cannons to fully enter the black doors into the spectral demiplane.
While they were slowly entering, two hundred figures had already activated their flying-type soul tools and were levitating in mid-air. This was none other than the Tang Sect Soul Engineer Legion—the only legion which possessed flight capabilities.
The Fort Soul Engineer Legion spread out into a fan shape as every single All-Terrain Self-Driving Fort fully extended their long legs. Compared to the Heavy Artillery Soul Engineer Legion, they were a lot more agile and mobile. They formed a fan shape and guarded the nine huge doors as though they were the sweepers of the team.
A few people stood at a corner of the military drill ground. As they watched the scene unfold before them, they could not help but nod. After these two years of rigorous training, these three legions now finally possessed true fighting power. It would depend on the commander as to how they would actually perform on the battlefield.
After the Heavy Artillery Soul Engineer Legion entered, it was the Fort Soul Engineer Legion’s turn. They were a lot faster, and it took them only four minutes to enter. Last but not least was the Tang Sect Soul Engineer Legion. They flew in from the top in an organized fashion, and only took two minutes.
In total, the three legions—which contained two thousand seven hundred people—took sixteen minutes to completely enter Huo Yuhao’s spectral demiplane. If one were to add in
the time which Huo Yuhao used to chant the incantations, they would have used twenty minutes in total.
This meant that they would be able to retreat from anywhere in twenty minutes. This was definitely contingent on Huo Yuhao’s ability to escape detection, which had already been tested during his countless forays on the battlefield.
After the nine black doors were closed, the military drill ground returned to its formerly quiet state. One could only tell that there were many soul masters here previously from the tracks the heavy artillery and forts left on the ground.
The Eye of the Asura morphed back into Huo Yuhao’s figure. After landing on the ground, he moved towards the group of individuals who were standing under the tree at the corner of the military drill ground.
The leader amongst them was none other than Elder Xuan. The two Deans—Yan Shaozhe and Xian Lin’er—were standing by his side.
“Elder Xuan!” Huo Yuhao greeted politely.
Elder Xuan nodded and said, “The ball is now in your court.
Let’s hope you can give us a much-needed miracle.”
Huo Yuhao smiled. “I am confident that we can pull it off. We will also have to depend on all of you for the battle at the frontline.”
Elder Xuan replied, “The Sun Moon Empire might be strong, but do you really think the three original empires of the Douluo Continent are a joke? It won’t be that easy for them to invade us. Anyways, I just received an update this morning. Just as we have predicted, the Sun Moon Empire’s army has already entered what was formerly the land of the Heavenly Soul Empire. They are now moving towards the southeast region of the Heavenly Soul Empire.”
Huo Yuhao started to break out into a sweat. It seems like time really waits for no man! At the same time, the figure of a lady fleeted into his mind. Ju Zi, are you still the commander leading the Sun Moon Empire’s army?
I really don’t want to bump into you on the battlefield!
“Yuhao, you can start moving out. Regardless of whether or not you succeed, do your best to bring them back.” Elder Xuan instructed Huo Yuhao as he gave him a pat on the shoulder.
“Yes.” Huo Yuhao answered politely. Following which, he bade goodbye to both Yan Shaozhe and Xian Lin’er before flying up into the air. Then, he vanished as he sped towards the Sun Moon Empire.
It would take time for the three legions to familiarize themselves with and accept their surroundings within the spectral demiplane. However, Huo Yuhao did not have to be overly concerned with these things. The other higher-ups of the Tang Sect had taken up the responsibility to brief the legions on the spectral demiplane. Also, he had already gotten Er Bai to chase away the spectral creatures and create a camping area for the three legions. At the very least, the soul masters would not be able to see any spectral creatures near their camping area. This would naturally make things smoother.
Even though they had only left in the morning, by noontime, they had already arrived at the Ming Dou Mountain Range because of how fast Huo Yuhao was flying. However, the White Tiger Duke was not at the Ming Dou Mountain Range where
the Sun Moon Empire’s Western Army was camping. Instead, he had already led his elite troops to the north of the Star Luo Empire.
This time round, the Sun Moon Empire did not conceal the route they were taking. Hence, the Star Luo Empire were also beginning to make preparations after receiving the news of their impending attack.
Of course, there were still plenty of troops which camped at the Ming Dou Mountain Range, including five legions. Other than the troops, Princess Jiujiu was also here.
“Yuhao? How come you’re here?” Princess Jiujiu was extremely happy to see Huo Yuhao.
As time passed, Huo Yuhao had started to gain the recognition and acknowledgement of the higher-ups in the different empires after showcasing his abilities. Besides, Huo Yuhao was still holding out for the title of Duke of the Star Luo Empire.
After sitting down with Princess Jiujiu in the tent, Huo Yuhao asked, “Your Highness, do you have the latest news?”
Princess Jiujiu said, “I do have some news, but it might not be extremely accurate. The only thing that is certain is that the Sun Moon Empire has assembled over three hundred thousand soldiers for their armies. It seems like all of them have been transported into the Heavenly Soul Empire. From the looks of it, they are probably going to link up with the troops that are already within the Heavenly Soul Empire. As to what they will do next, we have no reliable intelligence on that.”
“Other than this, the Sun Moon Empire has strengthened their defences at the borders of their land. In fact, they have placed at least two soul engineer legions on the other side of the Ming Dou Mountain Range to supplement their aerial surveillance soul tools and existing troops. With their new setup, we can’t even send a fly in to do any reconnaissance work. Yuhao, since you are here already, do you mind helping us do some reconnaissance work?”
Even though he was looking into the Princess’s hopeful eyes, Huo Yuhao shook his head and replied, “Your Highness, I am sorry, but I do have another mission at hand. However, I can
help you solve some of your reconnaissance problems.” Following which, Huo Yuhao gave her a sly smile.
Princess Jiujiu seemed to have caught what Huo Yuhao was hinting as she said, “That would be great. However, I must let you know how sly their surveillance soul tools have become. They do not only possess a greater range, but also greater mobility and speed. They will flee the moment they detect any dubious movement. At the same time, the other soul tools in the area will stop any attempt from the enemy to intercept the surveillance soul tool. Hence, this will be a challenging task. We have tried to use soul cannon shells to bomb the surveillance soul tools multiple times, to no avail.”
Huo Yuhao said, “These are probably the best prevention methods they can employ. But rest assured, I have my ways. Even though I won’t be able to destroy all of them, I am confident I can take down at least some of them.”
Princess Jiujiu was evidently excited by Huo Yuhao’s reply. “That would be great! If we can give the Sun Moon Empire some pressure from here, the battle at the frontline will be a lot easier for our people.”
Huo Yuhao said, “Then I shall begin to make my move. Afterwards, we will be inserting ourselves into the Sun Moon Empire to continue our battle. Goodbye, Your Majesty.”
After bidding her goodbye, both Huo Yuhao and Princess Jiujiu stood up. She moved closer to Huo Yuhao and looked at him with an inexplicable look. She said, “Yuhao, you are truly the most outstanding youth I’ve ever seen. The Star Luo Empire will forever be your home. As long as you wish for it, the Empire can give you all the honor and glory you might want.”
Huo Yuhao smiled. “In that case, if this operation were to be completed successfully, I shall return to ask for the title of Duke from Your Majesty.”
Princess Jiujiu was a little shocked by Huo Yuhao’s request. It was not the first time that he had asked about this title. However, he had never asked for anything other than the title
—not even a plot of land. Why is he so persistent about the title?
Of course, it was still more reassuring to know that he wanted something, instead of not wanting anything at all. Xu
Jiujiu said, “Yuhao, what is your mission actually about? Can you tell me?”
Huo Yuhao hesitated for a short while before replying, “I am leading some troops to perform a sabotage operation within the Sun Moon Empire just like the Duke did previously. If we succeed, I am confident that we can threaten the foundation of the Sun Moon Empire and alleviate the pressure on our troops at the frontline.”
It was apparent that the White Tiger Duke had not inform Xu Jiujiu of this plan. After hearing Huo Yuhao’s words, Xu Jiujiu was very much taken aback. “You are going to bring an entire army into the Sun Moon Empire? Are they from the Shrek City Defense Army?”
Huo Yuhao nodded and replied, “Pretty much. However, they are stronger than the Defense Army. I don’t think it would be appropriate for me to reveal any more information. I just hope I can bring back good news soon. Alright. I’ll see you around, Your Highness.”
Xu Jiujiu saw Huo Yuhao to the edge of the main peak and watched him take off until his figure disappeared in the sky.
Her emotions, which had been suppressed for the past few days seemed to have relaxed a little. She clenched her fists and muttered to herself, “Good luck, Yuhao!”
Of course, Huo Yuhao would not share the secret of his spectral demiplane with Xu Jiujiu. Even though there would be a lot of people who would learn of his spectral plane after the war ended, he still believed he should keep it a secret—at least for the time being.
As he became stronger, some of the things that he had to be extremely careful with before could now be treated with less caution.
As a faint glow flashed on his body, Huo Yuhao projected an ice-cold beam from his face. While he was flying, he had already unleashed his spiritual detection ability to search for the Sun Moon Empire’s surveillance soul tools, which were hiding somewhere in the sky.
The current surveillance soul tool setup used by the Sun Moon Empire was very different from the one they had used previously. These soul tools were completely separated and spaced out. Even though they were able to cover a huge range, their arrangement was not in an extremely predictable pattern. In fact, the Sun Moon Empire had employed a dual surveillance method by performing surveillance from both the land and the air. The overlapping of their surveillance range would increase the chances of detecting enemy movement and guaranteed better safety.
Almost every surveillance soul tool was protected by a soul tool on the land, and the aerial surveillance soul tools were also acting as a radar for the soul tools on the ground. Hence, it could be said that they were highly complementary, and would help improve their security to a huge extent.
Nowadays, there were linked soul tools wherever soul tools were stationed in the Sun Moon Empire. These linked soul tools could perform both offensive and defensive operations. When it came to their offensive capabilities, they could kill a Titled Douluo in a split second. This was why linked soul tools were extremely scary. Because of their overwhelming power, even the powerful Body Sect could not stop the advance of the Sun Moon Empire
Because the Sun Moon Empire had stepped up their security at the Ming Dou Mountain Range, neither the White Tiger Duke nor Princess Jiujiu could do anything to the Sun Moon Empire.
If a large army were to attempt to penetrate these lines of soul tools, they would still be able to do so. Nonetheless, they would have to deal with large numbers of casualties. In addition, they would not know what kind of security would be stationed in an ambush position due to the impossibility of
doing any form of reconnaissance. Falling into an ambush after sustaining heavy losses from penetrating the thick lines of soul tools would be a cost even the Star Luo Empire could not undertake.
Hence, the White Tiger Duke opted to defend the Ming Dou Mountain Range instead of taking the risk to attack.
Huo Yuhao’s spiritual detection was ultimately limited, and could only detect a large party of troops. He could not get a complete picture of all the troops near the perimeter of the Sun Moon Empire.
Nonetheless, this would not affect his mission.
Of course, Huo Yuhao would not be foolish enough to attack those aerial surveillance tools. He would simply become a target for the soul tools lined up beneath him. In fact, they would not even have to take aim at him. They simply had to shoot upwards into the sky, and he would be in an extremely precarious position. One must remember that Huo Yuhao was not fighting alone.
After going around the Sun Moon Empire’s surveillance tools, Huo Yuhao flew straight into the Sun Moon Empire. He went straight to the nearest station where the Sun Moon Empire had set up a series of soul tools.
He went up to them in an extremely delicate fashion before circling to the back of the area. He took a moment to use his spiritual detection to analyze the landscape of this station before finding a gap to get closer to them.
From his spiritual detection, Huo Yuhao was able to tell that this station had over a hundred offensive soul tools and several types of soul tools which could help with surveillance, defense, and auxiliary work. Outside of the station, there were five thousand normal soldiers who were tasked with defending this soul tool formation. The interior of the station was primarily manned by a few soul engineers. Their numbers were not very large—just over a hundred people. It was apparent that the soul tools were running on sealed milk bottles. The soul engineers simply had to control their daily consumption. After all, the most demanding soul tools were the offensive and defensive ones, and they did not have to be operated that often.
After surveying the surroundings of this station, Huo Yuhao silently crept away and retreated to a blind spot where the Sun
Moon Empire’s surveillance soul tools would not be able to detect him. He chanted a few incantations and opened his spectral demiplane.
After entering the demiplane, Huo Yuhao met up with his companions and shared his plan.
After listening to his plan, all of them agreed to it, and the nine black doors soon opened in an inconspicuous forest, and the heavy artillery started to roll out. Yes, it was none other than Huo Yuhao’s Heavy Artillery Soul Engineer Legion.
The three hundred Zhuge Divine Crossbow Cannons were able to line up in an organized fashion very quickly as they waited for orders to be issued. It was only now that they realized they had already arrived at the Sun Moon Empire in such a short amount of time. They were feeling both excited and amazed by this revelation.
The higher-ups of the Tang Sect also emerged from the spectral demiplane.
Tang Wutong naturally moved to Huo Yuhao’s side. Huo Yuhao announced, “I want everyone to get ready to attack. Eldest senior brother, Wutong and I will head over to the station where the soul tools are. After sabotaging them, we will immediately return.”
Bei Bei nodded and said, “Alright. Take care.”
Huo Yuhao held Tang Wutong’s hand as he activated Imitation. He started to creep towards the place where the soul tools were stationed.
The soul tools stationed in that area were in fact very sensitive. However, their surveillance ability was limited to a certain range. To put it simply, their surveillance was useless on soldiers outside those ranges, Hence, those surveillance soul tools were primarily used to keep watch on movement in the sky. When it came to watching the ground, that was the responsibility of the aerial surveillance soul tools.
After Huo Yuhao’s spiritual power evolved again, oscillation detectors were no longer useful against him. He could use his spiritual power to detect any oscillation waves that were headed in his direction. He was also able to use his Ultimate Ice
to change the temperature around him to avoid detection by thermal detectors. Hence, it was extremely hard for any soul tools to detect him. He was only vulnerable to the extremely rare spiritual power detectors and soul power detectors.
These two detectors were extremely limited, as they could only detect fluctuations within an extremely short range.
Hence, Huo Yuhao and Tang Wutong could enter the camp of the normal soldiers without being detected.
Right now, it was the middle of the afternoon. After lunch, the five thousand soldiers were taking their afternoon breaks. The lives of soldiers tended to be a lot more relaxed when they were not in the middle of a war. Their routine usually included some training in the morning, breaks in the afternoon and patrols in the evening.
As they went through the camp, they started to get closer to the place where the soul tools were stationed.
“Yuhao, what should we do now?”
Huo Yuhao replied, “There are only about a hundred soul engineers inside. The strongest one is but a seven-ringed Soul Sage. I believe he has yet to attain the level of a Class 7 soul engineer. Nonetheless, this area is enveloped by surveillance from soul power detectors and spiritual power detectors. The soul engineers in this area must be carrying some sort of pass which allows them to roam around without being mistaken as
an enemy. We would probably get found out the moment we stepped into the area. However, the soul tools in this area seem to be heavy weapons. Even though they might be very destructive and can activate the powers of linked soul tools, they probably won’t be able to unleash their powers within the area.”
Tang Wutong immediately caught what Huo Yuhao was hinting at. “We are going to rush in?”
Huo Yuhao flashed her a smile. “What are we waiting for?
Let’s go.”
After he finished his sentence, Huo Yuhao grabbed Tang Wutong’s hand and dashed into the area like a lightning bolt. His eyes turned brilliant golden the moment he stepped into the area where the soul tools were stationed.
Huo Yuhao might have twin martial souls and an Ultimate Strength martial soul, but the most frightening thing about him was not his fighting power. It was his invincible reconnaissance ability.
Even though there were plenty of surveillance soul tools and even some spiritual power detectors within the area, they were unable to stop Huo Yuhao’s ability from scanning the entire camp.
Huo Yuhao immediately grasped the locations of all the different soul engineers within this area. This information would be extremely helpful for his subsequent actions.
The place that Huo Yuhao had chosen to enter first was the resting area for the soul engineers who were in charge of protecting and controlling the soul tools.
The resting area was placed in the center of the camp in order to protect them.
Huo Yuhao dashed straight towards the center of the camp with both of his eyes shining with a golden color.
The daily maintenance and surveillance work for the area did not require many people. It was only during war when they required everyone to be working at any point in time. Hence, most of the soul engineers were congregated at the resting area. That was why Huo Yuhao chose to strike this area first.
At the very instant when he stepped into the camp, a mysterious spiritual ripple spread out from his body.
He was immediately detected by the spiritual power detectors as the alarm within the camp went off. However, this would not be sufficient to stop him.
Huo Yuhao activated his Eye of Destiny as his spiritual power was increased to its maximum. At this very instant, the entire resting area was within his control.
As the saying went, a commander must not go easy on the enemy’s soldiers. As the Chief Commander of Shrek City’s three Soul Engineer Legions, he had to be responsible for the safety of his troops, and more importantly, the hope and future of three Empires. Hence, he must not be merciful against these soul engineers!
After hearing the deafening alarm, the soul engineers within the resting area jumped up. However, an overwhelming spiritual power attacked them from within their minds.
Spiritual Blast!
Huo Yuhao’s spiritual power was almost invincible. Even Du Busi had commended him on his spiritual power—which was on par with that of a Transcendent Douluo—before his death. With Tang Wutong’s support and their Haodong Power, his spiritual power had received another significant boost.
This was Huo Yuhao’s first time performing such a powerful spiritual blast.
A loud explosion could be heard from within the resting area. The explosion sound came from the heads of the soul engineers. All their heads had exploded from Huo Yuhao’s spiritual blast.
At this very instant, all fifty soul engineers who were resting in the resting area had been killed.
It was only now that the whole camp started to react to what had just happened. The linked soul tools started to establish a defensive barrier to cordon the area off from the rest of the world.
It was a logical move for them to contain the intruders since there were only two people. Based on their calculations, it should be relatively easy to capture or kill them.
Little did they expect their enemies to be so powerful.
After unleashing a spiritual blast, Huo Yuhao did not wait around. He grabbed Tang Wutong and flickered around the camp like a ghost.
There were many defensive soul tools within the camp which were specially designed to fight against intruders. They shot several laser beams towards Huo Yuhao and Tang Wutong, but they just couldn’t hit the couple who were flickering around in the camp.
Huo Yuhao was not only capable of predicting where the beams would go because of his spiritual detection ability, but was also a Class 9 soul engineer! He had long discovered the flaws in the arrangements of these soul tools.
The biggest problem with these defensive soul tools was how they were arranged in a way so as to minimize damage to the soul tools within the camp. On top of this, their power was limited to protect the soldiers. This resulted in countless blind spots, which Huo Yuhao and Tang Wutong gladly took advantage of.
With his spiritual blast as a continuous ranged attacks, Huo Yuhao was able to unleash his powerful attacks without even
seeing the soul engineers.
The most powerful soul engineer among them was only a seven-ringed Soul Sage. Their self-defense soul tools were mainly focused on protecting against attacks which were physical or soul-power-based. Not everyone could be equipped with high-class soul tools which could protect them against spiritual attacks. Other than the seven-ringed Soul Sage, which required Huo Yuhao to kill him with spiritual shock, the rest of them perished under Huo Yuhao’s spiritual blast. Spiritual attacks were no doubt the most effective way to kill soul engineers.
It took them only a couple of minutes to kill all of them. In the end, Huo Yuhao and Tang Wutong were the only ones still alive within the camp.
Following which, Huo Yuhao entered the core area of the camp and shut down the linked defensive system with the help of his understanding of soul tools as a Class 9 soul engineer.
The soldiers who were camped outside had already erupted into chaos. However, they did not dare to enter the area where
the soul tools were stationed after the linked defensive system had vanished.
The soul engineers in the camp were held in great esteem by the soldiers. Besides, there were already orders given to not enter the area unless they were given permission by the soul engineers.
One must understand that any of the soul engineers would have a higher rank than the commanders amongst the soldiers. Soul engineers had extremely high social statuses in the Sun Moon Empire.
After completing their sabotage work, Huo Yuhao concealed himself and Tang Wutong as they snuck out of the area where the soul tools were stationed. Following which, they accelerated through the air with their Class 9 flying soul tools and returned to where they had hidden the Heavy Artillery Soul Engineer Legion.
“# 1 to #12, listen carefully. I want you to lock onto the coordinates that my spiritual energy is pointing at. Change your shells to Class 4 shells and get ready.”
Because Huo Yuhao’s voice was projected with his spiritual energy, every single soul engineer in the legion could hear his words clearly.
At the same time, Huo Yuhao also informed his companions within the spectral demiplane.
Following which, the Tang Sect Soul Engineer Legion and the Fort Soul Engineer Legion started to move out from the black doors, and line up in their formations quickly.
Hu Yuhao’s eyes were radiating a certain glow as he used his spiritual energy to keep the doors open, lock onto the position of the aerial surveillance soul tools, and fix the coordinates for the artillery with his Spiritual Sharing ability. He was capable of multitasking, and had fully exhibited the importance of his spiritual energy in war.
Huo Yuhao gazed into the distance as a smile escaped from the corner of his mouth.
Following which, twenty of the three hundred Zhuge Divine Crossbow Cannons started to take aim after receiving the
coordinates from Huo Yuhao’s Spiritual Sharing.
At this very instant, Huo Yuhao was like their eyes. The long black metallic barrels began their adjustments as they aimed towards the distant sky.
After repeated improvements, the current cannons were far more accurate than before.
The earliest versions of the cannons had forty-eight barrels. Because they required sixteen barrels for every shot, they could fire three times consecutively. Afterwards, they would have to be set aside to cool before they could be used again.
Now, regardless of whether it was their cooling mechanisms or their material, the cannons had improved tremendously, and could sustain extended periods of continuous firing.
The sixteen barrels used to only be able to fire in a single direction. However, after Xuan Ziwen improved its design, it was now able to aim in a single direction with just two barrels. This would allow the cannon to be a lot more accurate in its firing.
“Fire!” Huo Yuhao ordered.
At that instant, twenty Zhuge Divine Crossbow Cannons fired in unison with a deafening belch. Three hundred and twenty Class 4 shells ascended into the air instantly as they headed in the direction of the distant sky.
He Caitou was standing by Huo Yuhao’s side as he grabbed his own chest. The mere thought of the cost of these shells made his heart ache. Those were all stationary soul cannon shells! Even though Huo Yuhao’s newly researched manufacturing technique had helped to reduce the cost of producing these shells, it still cost a small fortune to launch a few hundred shells at once.
Huo Yuhao turned his head and smiled at He Caitou. He said, “Senior brother, don’t worry about it. We will not be taking a loss. Those aerial surveillance soul tools have the ability to dodge attacks. If we were to scrimp on the shells, they might not be enough to destroy them.”
While they were speaking, a deafening explosion could be heard from the distant sky.
Several balls of fire could be seen in the background. Because it was the middle of the day, the fireballs were not too obvious. However, it was still apparent enough that the balls of fire were not just timed explosions.
“We hit them!” He Caitou waved his fist in excitement.
Huo Yuhao nodded and said, “We have managed to clear all one hundred aerial surveillance soul tools in the vicinity. Senior Brother, lead the Fort Soul Engineer Legion to clear up the camp I have just returned from. I have left plenty of spoils for you there.”
The aerial surveillance soul tools were useless to Huo Yuhao. They were of no use for the mission he was leading. In fact, Huo Yuhao was probably better than all those soul tools when it came to surveillance and reconnaissance work. However, the soul tools in the camp were different. They were all high- quality heavy weapons—the fruits of the labor and research the Sun Moon Empire had done. In fact, such areas would usually contain precious resources like the Sealed Milk Bottles! They should also have plenty of stationary soul cannon shells. Even if this area did not have the strongest soul tools, they should still have an abundance of resources.
After hearing Huo Yuhao’s words, He Caitou immediately understood what he meant. Following which, he joyfully led the Fort Soul Engineer Legion to collect their spoils.
However, it was not just him who headed out. Bei Bei was also moving out with the Tang Sect Soul Engineer Legion.
Even though the three legions had trained for a long period of time, they had still not fought any battles in their capacity as soul engineers. Since this was already a sure victory for them, it would be good for them to go out and experience fighting. It would also be a good way for them to improve their capabilities.
The outcome was one which everyone had long expected. There was no other possible outcome when five thousand normal foot soldiers met two soul engineer legions.
Under the instructions of He Caitou and Bei Bei, the Tang Sect Soul Engineer Legion and the Fort Soul Engineer Legion only used non-stationary soul cannon shells, soul rays, and similar expendable items to finish the soldiers off.
The entire battle took less than twenty minutes, and the entire army of five thousand soldiers was obliterated. Without the protection of soul tools, these soldiers had pretty much no capabilities on the battlefield.
While they were destroying the soldiers and collecting the spoils, Huo Yuhao had already ordered his Heavy Artillery Soul Engineer Legion to return into the spectral demiplane. It was best for them to return first, since they were the slowest legion. After they had returned, it would be easier for Huo Yuhao to make his next move.
Even though it was fairly tedious to disassemble the heavy weapons, the legion of soul engineers found it relatively easy with the help of the all-terrain self-driving forts.
They first began to clear up the leftover supplies before disassembling the heavy soul tools.
Huo Yuhao grabbed Tang Wutong as both of them floated in mid-air. Huo Yuhao was observing the disassembly process while using his spiritual energy to detect any enemy movement in the distance.
Tang Wutong smiled. “Seems like it isn’t too difficult to deal with the Sun Moon Empire!”
Huo Yuhao replied, “This is but the start. Besides, the explosions in the air earlier must have alerted the other nearby camps. Their assistance is probably late because of the precautionary measures they have to take and the long distance from their camps to this one. We must leave the moment I detect any movement from them.”
Tang Wutong asked, “Then what do we do with the equipment we can’t bring along with us in time?”
Huo Yuhao smiled before replying, “We will of course destroy it. We can’t leave it behind for them to use.”
Tang Wutong said, “Even if their reinforcements were to arrive, they would probably lose to us too. Logically speaking, the Sun Moon Empire would not set up their soul tool camps with overlapping ranges. Hence, if the other camps can’t reach the area here, their soul engineers would have no chance against us.”
Huo Yuhao shook his head and said, “No, we can’t assume all of that. Firstly, we can’t afford to lose anyone. We only have this number of people. Hence, I cannot risk any of their lives. Not even a single one of them. I would rather we lose out on some of the spoils than give the enemy a chance to deal damage to us. Besides, there is also the possibility of us getting tangled in the combat and losing the chance to retreat. This is near the frontline, so there must be plenty of troops from the Sun Moon Empire around. Once we get caught in battle, our plan will have failed. Hence, we must strike and leave immediately. We must make sure no one knows the profile of our army. The unknown enemy is often the scariest enemy. Our main goal is to exert pressure on the Sun Moon Empire! Oh! They’re here!”
Huo Yuhao solemnly gave the signal to begin retreating.
The fellows from Tang Sect had spent so much time together. Because Huo Yuhao had been the main control-type soul master all along, they reacted according to his warnings without any hesitation.
After taking everything they had dismantled, the all-terrain self-driving forts started to shoot soul rays at the soul tools which they were unable to take with them. In a short amount of time, they transformed the soul tool camp into ruins.
Chapter 532: An Attack from Afar
In the meantime, Huo Yuhao took his leave with Tang Wutong as they returned to the forest to look after the spectral gate.
Even though the all-terrain self-driving forts could not move as fast as the Tang Sect Soul Engineer Legion, which was in flight, they were not much slower than them. From the air, the forts were basically gigantic metallic balls running at an incredibly fast speed with their eight long legs. No terrain could stop them from advancing. Before long, they were all out of sight. When the Sun Moon Empire’s reinforcements arrived, all they would see was the rubble.
After entering the forest, the forts disappeared into the black doors. With the experience they had gained from their previous entrance, they were a lot faster this time around. As the nine doors closed, everything became as serene as before. It was almost as though the legions had not appeared at all.
Huo Yuhao had gone into the spectral demiplane along with the rest of them.
Even though he was formerly trained in military tactics in the Ultimate Soldier Plan, what he had learned was primarily individual-based tactics. When it came to controlling a large number of troops, he knew he could not be compared to Ju Zi. However, the gap between him and her was not insurmountable. He believed that he was able to do so with the help of his powerful abilities and his spectral demiplane. This was apparent from the ease with which they were able to win the previous battle and retreat upon attaining victory.
However, he still believed in the need to reflect and review what they had done well and what they could improve on. This was necessary for them in order to perform better during subsequent battles.
As everyone gathered at the top of a knoll within the spectral demiplane, everyone could see the excitement written on each other’s faces.
This was not only Huo Yuhao’s first time leading troops, but also Tang Sect’s first time fighting in a battle! All three soul engineer legions had participated and showcased their different abilities on the battlefield.
In fact, they were not able to showcase their full suite of capabilities because of how weak their opponent was. Nevertheless, the destruction they had caused and the resources they had looted had given the team’s morale a huge boost.
When they left the Tang Sect for this mission, Huo Yuhao had ordered them to bring only ten days of rations. Much of their storage space had been used to bring resources which would be useful for actual combat.
His objective was simple. He wanted to use the loot from their previous battles as their resources for the next battle.
They had managed to plunder a huge amount of rations from the Sun Moon Empire in their previous battle. These rations would be enough to last them for an extended period of time. In addition, they were also able to acquire several different kinds of soul tools. Those they were unable to bring away in time were completely destroyed. The Sun Moon Empire had definitely suffered a huge loss.
“Yuhao, that was truly an incredible battle. If we keep this up, we’re going to be rich! What’s our next target? Are we
going to focus on the next area where the soul tools are stationed? If we can destroy all of these areas established by the Sun Moon Empire outside of the Ming Dou Mountain Range, I’m sure we can to strike fear deep into the heart of the Sun Moon Empire. At the same time, the Star Luo Empire
would be able to help us occupy their attention from the other end.” He Caitou was undoubtedly one of the most excited individuals among the rest. He had obviously forgotten his unhappiness with the generous usage of the stationary soul cannon shells.
As he was the main person in charge of logistics and supplies, he was now feeling like a wealthy man.
Huo Yuhao shook his head and said, “No, we have not come here to attack such installations. Even though we do have the power to destroy all of these installed soul tools, that would undoubtedly expose our existence. Besides, I am sure the Sun Moon Empire has its means to counter these scenarios. If we were to be overly absorbed in these battles, we would definitely lose at some point in time. Because of how small our unit is, we cannot afford to lose anyone! Hence, we must not give them a chance to catch us. We must retreat quickly right after striking them. And we must do it in a clean and quick fashion.”
He Caitou was surprised by Huo Yuhao’s reply. “So we’re giving up on this battlefield? We’re not continuing?”
Huo Yuhao nodded and said, “We need to adopt a macro perspective. Our intent is to influence the entire war, not just any small plot of land. Our biggest advantage is our speed! By ferrying everyone in the spectral demiplane, I can bring everyone to any corner of the Sun Moon Empire within two days. Hence, our best strategy is to strike them in different parts of their Empire. It would be a losing battle for us if we were to fight head-on with them.”
Bei Bei nodded in agreement. “Little junior brother is right. We cannot be overly content with our small victories. We need to stretch the battlefield across the entire Sun Moon Empire in order for them to feel the pain that we are about to deliver to them. We must make them panic by striking their most vulnerable parts. This will allow us to create the greatest amount of opportunity and, at the same time, give them the greatest amount of fear. As long as we can affect the foundation of their Empire and threaten their rule, we would have accomplished our objective.”
Xu Sanshi said, “Yuhao, you are our Chief Commander. Everyone here is a member of our family. There’s no need for
you to be overly courteous. Just let us know where you want us to head to, and we will follow your orders without any complaints. Let’s give the Sun Moon Empire a lesson, and show them what happens when they mess with us!”
Huo Yuhao revealed a faint smile. “We should all rest up first and recover what we have expended earlier. I will also be resting for a short while before setting off for our next location. This time around, I want to play a game of chess against the Sun Moon Empire. I want them to receive news that their entire Empire is being attacked at multiple places—at the same time!”
Even though Huo Yuhao had expended quite a bit of his energy, it was not overly significant. He went to cultivate with Tang Wutong, whereas the others went for meetings with the higher-ups within their legions to perform after-action reviews.
……
In the Heavenly Soul Empire.
Ju Zi was floating in mid-air silently while being surrounded by a sea of fiery red. The Phoenix Soul Engineer Legion was stationed around her as they looked to protect from any harm.
As she looked into the distance, it seemed as though her mind had drifted away.
It had been a while since the entire army had moved out. However, Ju Zi was still feeling very uneasy. The reason for her unease was simple—it was because of that person.
If her child was still unfound, she would perhaps not be as conflicted as she was right now. She would only feel enraged, and would channel the hatred within her into bloodlust as her troops stormed forward onto the battlefield.
But now that her child had been returned to her, the hatred in her heart had become a lot fainter. Her child’s return had resulted in an inexplicable change in her attitude. In fact, this newfound feeling was slowly taking over the deep hatred in her heart.
And this feeling was directed towards her child—definitely not towards her husband.
Other than the child, the rest of her feelings was directed towards that person.
That day, after Huo Yuhao had left, Ju Zi had cried for a long time. It was only after she had calmed down that she thought of this: he did not disappoint me.
In her heart, Huo Yuhao’s image was becoming better, whereas Xu Tianran’s was worsening.
Nonetheless, Ju Zi continued to lead the army out for their conquest. She left her child in the palace because she was not allowed to bring the Crown Prince of a country out from Radiant City. The truth was that when she was requesting that liberty from Xu Tianran, she was still hopeful that she might be given permission to bring him out. In fact, it was more like she was trying to convince herself to give Xu Tianran one last chance.
Unfortunately, Xu Tianran turned her down resolutely. And this made Ju Zi certain about the decision she was about to make. In her mind, a perfect plan was gradually taking shape.
Yuhao, where are you now? Will you be in the enemy’s camp? I really don’t want to see you on the battlefield. But I really miss you…
A bitter expression formed on her delicate face. She was suffering from the conflict within her heart. But at the same time, she was excited by the possibilities which lay ahead.
She started to laugh at herself. Back then, I even told him that his biggest problem was his emotional weakness. But why do I feel an inexplicable weakness in my heart whenever I think of him? Yuhao, oh, Yuhao... I am really regretting my decision in the past… If I had chosen you back then, and followed you to leave Radiant City, everything might have turned out differently. At the very least, I would have had a chance to fight for a place by your side.
However, she understood that there was not much point crying over spilled milk. There was no way she could undo what she had done after choosing to take this path. All she
could do was try and make things easier for him. Huo Yuhao, you can rest assured that I will never hurt you regardless of the circumstances. Because you are my…
As she thought about this, Ju Zi’s heart softened once again. Right now, she did not resemble a War God Empress. She was more like a young girl who was thinking about her boyfriend.
“Issue my orders. Everyone is to rest for the next three days. Set up the defensive soul tools and be on high alert. Double the range of the aerial surveillance soul tools and push them forward by a thousand meters. I want more visuals on the situation of the Heavenly Soul and Dou Ling Empires.”
“Roger!”
After the Crown Prince was returned, Xu Tianran had given at least half of the army to Ju Zi. In the current campaign, there were only a few Class 9 soul engineers who could influence her tactics. The position of the Commander of the Three Forces was slowly becoming hers.
The war must go on. In Ju Zi’s heart, she knew it was impossible for her to let go of the hatred she had. In addition, she was no longer only fighting the war as a form of revenge. She was also building the foundation for her son’s throne.
When it came to this, Xu Tianran had made several good predictions. He knew that he was infertile, and only had the Crown Prince as his son. Regardless of how big the future of the Sun Moon Empire would be, it was ultimately going to be handed over to Xu Yunhan. That was why Xu Tianran was so daring to put so much power into Ju Zi’s hands. Of course, he was also confident in his ability to rein her in.
……
Huo Yuhao and Tang Wutong were flying across the sky with their hands interlocked with one another.
After waking up from his cultivation and returning to that little forest, he realized how a large part of the sky above him was already covered by aerial surveillance soul tools.
After the area where the soul tools were stationed had been destroyed, it had alerted all of the Sun Moon Empire’s troops which were stationed near the Ming Dou Mountain Range. They were currently doing their best to find where their enemies were.
This showed that Huo Yuhao’s previous worries were legitimate. It was definitely not a wise decision to fight head-on with the large number of troops the Sun Moon Empire had stationed in this area.
After activating Imitation, Huo Yuhao concealed both himself and Tang Wutong as they fled at the speed of sound with their Class 9 flying soul tools at full throttle.
The aerial surveillance soul tools were useless against Huo Yuhao. The Sun Moon Empire had spent several days trying to find this mysterious unit which had attacked them, but to no avail. The only news they had received was how a large legion of all-terrain self-driving forts had attacked them.
During the battle, Huo Yuhao and his people did not kill everyone. After all, there were close to five thousand normal soldiers there. They had only planned to disrupt their
operations and flee; they did not want to do any unnecessary killing.
Without any other clues, this battle in which the Sun Moon Empire suffered huge losses could only be concluded as an unsolvable mystery. The news was delivered to Radiant City as soon as possible.
Oak City was a mid-sized city in the northern part of the Sun Moon Empire. It was very close to the northern frontier. However, it was different from the frontiers of the original Douluo Continent. The Sun Moon Empire was surrounded by the ocean on its northern border. It bordered the Ice Sea—the expansive sea which was on the west of the core regions of the Extreme North.
Even though it was called the Ice Sea, the sea was not actually frozen entirely. This name was merely given to it because of its incredibly low temperatures.
Because of how low the temperature was, there were always blocks of ice floating on the surface of the water. Occasionally, one might even see an entire iceberg floating in the ocean. The weather at the Ice Sea was truly unbearable.
Oak City might just be a mid-sized city, but it was already incredibly large considering how few cities there were in the northern parts of the Sun Moon Empire. It was the center of commerce in the northern regions. Many specialties of the north were traded in Oak City before being transported to the southern parts of the Sun Moon Empire for sale.
Some of these northern specialties included the fish in the Ice Sea. These fish were extremely popular among its people.
The northern regions had a much lower population density than the southern parts of the Sun Moon Empire. Because this place was also very close to the west, it was considerably far from the Wasteland of the Extreme North, and was often considered the safest place in the Sun Moon Empire. Hence, there weren’t many troops stationed here. Only a thousand troops or so were in charge of the safety of Oak City, as well as some of the smaller cities in the vicinity.
There were two figures which were silently standing on the top of a hill about fifty kilometers away from Oak City. They were looking at the city, which was uniformly grey in color.
Oak City was extremely close to the Ice Sea. It was only about twenty-five kilometers away. Hence, it was possible to look at the Ice Sea by finding a vantage point at a higher altitude.
“What a great view! It’s really different from what we’re used to back where we stay!” Huo Yuhao exclaimed.
Tang Wutong wrapped her arm around Huo Yuhao’s arm before exclaiming, “Yeah! Look at the Ice Sea in the distance. It looks so mysterious! I really want to check that place out if we have time. There must be many soul beasts in the Ice Sea. I wonder how strong they are… They must be pretty strong in order to survive under such harsh conditions.”
Chapter 533: Eastern Sun City
Huo Yuhao began to laugh as he listened to her. The Extreme North’s environment was a lot more brutal than this place, but several of its most powerful soul beasts ultimately became his Spirits. He was only able to achieve his current strength because of his Ultimate Ice.
Huo Yuhao was like a fish in water in this extremely chilly northern region. He had absolute faith that he could rely on his own strength to fight at a Titled Douluo’s level; the environment’s impact on his strength was very evident.
“When everything settles down, I will take you to every corner of the Douluo Continent. Haih, speaking of that, I feel really dejected. I’m supposed to meet your father when I return, but I don’t know how long this delay is going to take.”
Tang Wutong giggled and said, “Are you worried? Do you think we still have time to get married with the current situation in the continent?”
Huo Yuhao chuckled and said, “Even if we don’t get married, I will ask your father after consulting him to remove that seal from your body. At the very least, I don’t have to be so agonizingly stifled!”
Tang Wutong blushed. “Just control yourself and stop being so talkative. When do we start? The temperature here is too low, and not conducive for a prolonged battle. We should end it as quickly as possible.”
“Haven’t we just scouted? Oak City almost has no ability to resist at all, so we’re just going to pillage it. We will leave immediately after the mission. Second senior brother should be prepared.”
“Then let’s begin,” Tang Wutong nodded as she spoke.
“Alright.” Huo Yuhao’s expression grew solemn as deep incantations rang out on the mountaintop. There were no aerial surveillance soul tools in a place like this.
Large black doors opened, and enormous metal spheres strode out from those doors as they formed up neatly beneath
the little mountain.
Every metal sphere was like a porcupine, and all sorts of offensive soul tools shaped like spikes long and short protruded from their surface.
He Caitou was sitting in the largest all-terrain self-driving fort, and he was the first to walk out. Only he and Xiao Xiao were sitting inside.
He Caitou came beside Huo Yuhao, and the self-driving fort paused as He Caitou’s voice echoed from within. “Yuhao, Wutong, do you guys want to come in and sit down?”
“Alright,” Huo Yuhao acknowledged. Attacking Oak City wouldn’t be very difficult, so they had only mobilized the Fort Soul Engineer Legion. Huo Yuhao didn’t have to be too involved, he only had to control the situation with his Spiritual Detection, and that was sufficient.
Huo Yuhao’s reputation among the three soul engineer legions became greatly elevated after their battle the other day. Anyone who experienced how magical his Spiritual Detection
was would be shaken by that formidable ability of his, whether they were soul masters or soul engineers.
He Caitou had crafted this Class 8 all-terrain self-driving fort himself. It was bright silver in color, but five meters in diameter. He enjoyed all kinds of high-powered soul tools, so he had installed many different kinds of frighteningly destructive soul tools into his soul tool fort. This soul tool fort rivaled the strength of a Class 9 soul tool if He Caitou used his full strength to attack. The reason why it was a Class 8 soul tool was because the fort didn’t contain a single soul tool installed that could reach the attacking force of a Class 9 soul tool.
There were six seats installed inside. Huo Yuhao and Tang Wutong entered from the metal door at the back, but the fort still felt very spacious and comfortable.
Huo Yuhao glanced He Caitou and Xiao Xiao, who were sitting on enormous chairs in the front, and he laughed as he said, “You know how to take care of yourself, second senior brother!”
He Caitou turned around and laughed. “It’s always better to be a little more comfortable. How are we doing this?”
Huo Yuhao’s eyes sparkled. “Oak City almost doesn’t have any kind of defensive capabilities at all, so we can just force our way forward. I’ve already scouted around. They mainly store food in their granaries and resource storage units, so we should target those places. There’s a treasury among their resource warehouses, so we’ll retreat after cleaning out their granaries and that treasury. We will try to avoid hurting civilians as much as possible, we’re not here to kill.”
“Alright, don’t worry.”
“Let’s move out, boys. Our target is the city fifty kilometers in front of us, and we are to do as much damage as we wish to its structures. But we have to minimize hurting people as much as possible.” He Caitou used his group communicator to give an order to every one of this soul engineer legion’s members.
His soul engineer legion was the largest one, with a thousand five hundred members. There were five people in each all- terrain self-driving fort, and each individual controlled different functions within them.
Someone would be responsible for movement, while other people would be responsible for offense and defense, and two others were responsible for infusing soul power into the fort. All five individuals had to be adept at all their tasks so that they could switch around at any moment. That way, their all-
terrain self-driving fort’s functions could be realized as much as possible while maintaining continuous endurance and usage.
He Caitou controlled his all-terrain self-driving fort and strode at lightning speed toward Oak City. The others got into formation and followed behind him as they charged straight forward.
They tried to keep some space between each other in their formation as they pushed forward so that their firepower wouldn’t overlap. They moved forward in an orderly fashion, and even though their formation wasn’t considered entirely strict and flawless, it was absolutely reasonable.
They had been training for more than two years, and their standards from their training were adequately displayed. Fifty kilometers was barely an hour’s journey for all-terrain self- driving forts.
The reason why Huo Yuhao didn’t choose to use his necromancy nearer to Oak City because there were still aerial surveillance soul tools in the sky. What he wanted to achieve was for the Sun Moon Empire to be confused about where this army had come from. They would be warned if Huo Yuhao
destroyed their aerial surveillance soul tools beforehand. Oak City’s defenses were lax, but if they were given warning early enough, cities which were relatively close by could still send reinforcements. Furthermore, the Sun Moon Empire could use backup aerial surveillance soul tools when Huo Yuhao was
using necromancy, and they would then discover where this mysterious army had come from. This was what Huo Yuhao wanted least, so he had to be careful in dealing with their defenses.
Huo Yuhao wanted to use these battles to boost their soul engineer legions’ adaptability at the same time, so he didn’t have to go through so much trouble. It was time for them to exercise and move around after being stuck in his spectral demiplane for a day.
The patrolling soldiers on Oak City’s wall were wrapped in thick blankets because the weather was too cold. They would circle for a round or two before hiding from the wind behind the battlements. The patrolling teams switched every hour,
and every team only had ten people. Patrols would sometimes even be cancelled during the coldest days of winter.
At this moment, ten soldiers from the City Defense Army’s first large team’s third small team were patrolling on the city wall. Ten soldiers strolled around lackadaisically on top of the city wall under their vice-captain’s leadership.
“Why don’t we talk to boss about this damned weather, captain. We don’t have to patrol anymore. There’s nothing to see!” An old soldier complained to his vice-captain.
The vice-captain snapped, “If you have the guts to do it yourself, then do it. The captain’s mood hasn’t been so good these few days.”
“Heh, I’ve heard that the team captain has gone out in search of new experiences, but he was discovered by his wife? Is that true?”
“You shouldn’t ask if you don’t wish to be burned alive by the captain’s wrath.”
Everyone guffawed along with tacit mutual understanding.
“Captain, we want to pool our money to buy a drink of wine for you after our patrol is finished. What do you think?”
“A drink? I’m on duty today, so…”
“Captain, the weather is so cold. Drinking some wine will help you execute your duties better.”
“Yes, alright. At least you fellows are filial. Eh, what’s that sound?”
“Tch tch tch, tch tch tch…” Strange sounds travelled from the distance as the patrol gazed out from the city. It was but a glance before all ten pairs of pupils contracted at the same time.
There were enormous metal spheres in the distance wherever their eyes could see. They didn’t have enough sunlight, but these metal spheres were still reflecting icy brilliance as they charged towards Oak City at lightning speed.
The vice-captain froze for a few moments before he yelled hysterically, “Ambush—!”
“Close the city gates, quick.”
These soldiers were a little idle and slack, but seeing an attack of such scale sent chills straight into their hearts.
They were in the Sun Moon Empire’s territory after all. Even though they were far in the north, these soldiers still had some understanding of soul tools. These soldiers knew that they couldn’t defend themselves against an attack from an enormous soul engineer legion of such a scale. What they could do now was to call the soldiers below to close the city gates before they would… run!
The spherical all-terrain self-driving fort at the forefront suddenly flipped as it turned its belly forward and revealed an enormous cannon barrel that was one-and-a-half meters in diameter.
The barrel itself wasn’t long, but when it flipped around, the opening flashed with freakish red light.
This all-terrain self-driving fort was still roughly two kilometers from Oak City, but in the next moment, a radiant beam of red light blasted from that frightening muzzle as it cut across two kilometers in an instant and smashed heavily against the closed city gates.
“Boom, boom, boom!” Deafening booming sounds resonated across Oak City as the city’s gates were blown to dust. Countless pieces and fragments were blown in all directions as several tens of meters of the city wall on both sides of the city gates collapsed. An enormous hole was blown right through the city gates.
Self-driving forts moving at full speed could cover two kilometers in the blink of an eye. The Fort Soul Engineer Legion that was spread out horizontally charged into the city gates.
He Caitou controlled his machine and charged directly into the city through the enormous hole that he had blown open. Countless cannon barrels snapped open on the metal sphere, and more than twenty barrels that looked like spikes concentrated penetrating white light. More than twenty over beams of white light surged into the air in the next moment and pierced through the heavens.
These soul tools were called long-range piercing cannons, and were Class 8 soul tools. This soul tool had the second longest range; stationary soul cannon shells could go farther.
Booming sounds resonated in waves through the sky as flashes of fire and light flickered again and again.
This was the result of the Eye of the Asura working together with the Origin of Destruction, and piercing cannons that could lock onto its targets swept over all the surveillance soul tools in the sky above Oak City. Oak City immediately became blind, so that they were temporarily unable to seek reinforcements from cities a little further away.
Long-range transmission soul tools were starting to appear within the Sun Moon Empire as technology continued to advance. However, these transmission soul tools required satellites in the sky for transmission. Otherwise, they couldn’t reach their extremely long ranges. The first things that Huo Yuhao and He Caitou locked onto were these satellites, as doing so meant Oak City was temporarily unable to send any information or messages out. Furthermore, their Fort Soul Engineer Legion wouldn’t leave any traces behind.
He Caitou stopped attacking once he completed this attack. Instead, he stood fast and proudly in an empty space within the city’s gates. Oak City didn’t have any strength to resist at all, and He Caitou could trample through this city with his all- terrain self-driving fort even if he was all by himself.
The Fort Soul Engineer Legion had entered the city by now, but the other members didn’t charge in through the city gate. They instead scaled the city’s walls.
That was the reason why all-terrain self-driving forts were called that; walls couldn’t stop them. Every self-driving fort’s eight limbs were extremely sharp, just like eight long spears. Each limb had three different joints, and its toughest
component was at the bottom. It was crafted using a special kind of metal that was very hard and tough.
These limbs could casually pierce into the city’s walls through mechanical power, and could carry their heavy and bulky bodies as they climbed swiftly. The self-driving forts could scale the city’s walls with a few motions, and could even attack with soul rays and soul cannons as they climbed.
Somebody watching from the sky would be able to see a very spectacular scene. Three hundred all-terrain self-driving forts appeared on Oak City’s walls at almost the same time before they quickly scaled it. Some remained to keep their vantage point, while others entered the city. From this moment onwards, Oak City had been completely taken over.
This couldn’t even be considered a battle, as everything was simply too easy, to the point where it would raise people’s hackles.
Taking over the government building and the several warehouses that Huo Yuhao had detected earlier happened fifteen minutes later, as screaming and shouting could be heard everywhere in the city.
He Caitou had ordered the Fort Soul Engineer Legion not to attack civilians, but they still did everything they could to destroy and damage several taller and more conspicuous buildings.
Emptying warehouses was a simple task for soul engineers. Storage soul tools had limited space, but Huo Yuhao’s spectral demiplane had almost unlimited space!
Before Huo Yuhao took off, he had ordered Er Bai to lead the undead creatures to create a large makeshift warehouse inside his spectral demiplane. This place was more than suitable for storing all sorts of resources and items.
One hour later, the Fort Soul Engineer Legion disappeared just as suddenly as they had appeared, and Oak City was in ruins.
But when the soldiers who had previously hidden away came back out to check the damage, they realized that there had been very few casualties in the pillaging process. There were several who had been injured from the damaged buildings, but there were very few who had died.
But they really wanted to cry when they inspected their warehouses. Their granaries had been emptied, and their large warehouses which were used to store rare items for trading were also emptied, while several of their major businesses had all been cleaned out.
They were in the cold north, and that meant they were extremely dependent on food. Winter was coming, and it wasn’t hard to imagine the burden that empty granaries would have on Oak City. The citizens were already fearful and beginning to panic because of this sudden ambush, and their panic would be amplified when they saw that they no longer had any food.
A long time ago, pillaging an entire city with an army which consisted of soul masters was impossible. But now, Huo Yuhao and the others had accomplished this feat by relying on formidable soul tools.
The Fort Soul Engineer Legion’s soul masters were resting inside the spectral demiplane, but nobody could hide the excitement on their faces.
Their excitement didn’t come from the resources and items they had pillaged. Instead, their excitement came from the feeling of battle. They were a group of amateur soul engineers who were fighting together, and that sensation of destruction when nobody could fight back against them simply felt too wonderful.
The Tang Sect’s senior members were gathered inside the warehouse. Bei Bei stared at the mountains of food and heaved a sigh as he said, “If not for the fact that we were at war, stealing food from a city of citizens isn’t anything to be proud of!”
Xu Sanshi laughed and said, “Eh, why do I remember that you were the one who came up with this immoral idea? Why are you suddenly shedding crocodile tears?”
Bei Bei shot a glare at him. “Food is part of a nation’s core. We’re here to wreak havoc and destroy things, so making our move on food is the easiest. Food isn’t like soul tools. Places that are storing large amounts of soul tools and materials are definitely heavily guarded, and we can’t go head-to-head with our enemies. It’s different for food. Any city’s citizens need to eat, and we can choose places like Oak City where they don’t have sufficient strength to defend themselves. We can
minimize losses and complete our mission as quickly as possible at the same time, and we can cause panic as well. My idea is excellent!”
Xu Sanshi nodded seriously and said, “It is excellent! Just a little immoral!”
“So be it, for the Douluo Continent’s future!” Bei Bei answered valiantly.
Huo Yuhao said, “Oak City is an important city in the Sun Moon Empire’s northern territory, except their defenses were so slack because there’s almost no possibility that a battle can occur here. The granaries in Oak City are very important for the Sun Moon Empire’s northern territory, as the food that is stored there covers tens of thousands of square kilometers in the north. The Sun Moon Empire’s entire northern territory will be greatly alarmed after our ransacking.”
“What’s our next target?” Bei Bei asked.
Huo Yuhao opened his map. He placed his finger on Oak City’s position before he shifted his finger towards the east and
stopped at another city. The city looked a lot larger than Oak City on the map.
“Eastern Sun City is the Sun Moon Empire’s number one city in their northern territories. It’s the only city which can be considered a large city. Oak City was just an opportunity for us to train. Eastern Sun City is our most important objective in our northern invasion. We can retreat from the north as long as we conquer Eastern Sun City. Eastern Sun City contains the largest warehouses for storing food and all kinds of resources. There are twenty thousand proper soldiers stationed within the city. Furthermore, there must be soul tools defending it, and they are likely to be equipped with linked soul tools. There will be a single soul engineer legion stationed there under normal circumstances, as it is the most important stronghold in the north. But the Sun Moon Empire has mobilized their great armies for the invasion, which has resulted in an empty back rank. Eastern Sun City’s soul engineer legion is likely to have been deployed, and there won’t be many even if there are some who remain.”
“We have broken through Oak City so quickly, and it will need some time to report this to Eastern Sun City and request backup. We have destroyed their satellites after all, so there’s no way they can make any long-range transmissions. Therefore, we have to attack Eastern Sun City, and quickly.
Eastern Sun City will fall no matter what, and we will not sustain many losses.”
Bei Bei nodded and said, “Alright, then you can go.”
He Caitou rubbed his palms together. “Leave this to me and the Fort Soul Engineer Legion. What’s twenty thousand soldiers? My enormous fort will sweep them clean.”
Huo Yuhao shook his head and laughed as he said, “We cannot be complacent, second senior brother. Attacking Eastern Sun City is very important, and we can’t be sure how formidable its defenses are. Therefore, we have to change our tactics.”
“How?” He Caitou asked.
Huo Yuhao chuckled and whispered something into his ear.
Eastern Sun City was the Sun Moon Empire’s most important stronghold in the north. The city was positioned toward the eastern side of the Sun Moon empire’s northern territory, and
was less than a thousand kilometers from the Heavenly Soul Empire’s original borders.
Of course, the Heavenly Soul Empire’s territory in that direction had now been drawn into the Sun Moon Empire, while Eastern Sun City’s strategic importance naturally became a lot smaller than before.
But Eastern Sun City was still the Sun Moon Empire’s most important stronghold in the north. The city was very close to the Ice Sea, and the soldiers and soul engineers stationed there were responsible for defending against any aquatic soul beasts that could come out from the Ice Sea.
Aquatic soul beasts that could live in the Ice Sea almost all possessed both ice-type and water-type abilities, and were very powerful. They would occasionally attack as they attempted to hunt for food along the shore, and to kill humans.
Therefore, Eastern Sun City had the responsibility of fighting them, and to prevent aquatic soul beasts from wreaking havoc along the shores.
Aquatic soul beasts and soul beasts on land were a little different, as most aquatic soul beasts lived in groups. Therefore, they would become very difficult to deal with once they started causing trouble. This was also the reason why Eastern Sun City was so heavily guarded.
Eastern Sun City’s walls were three hundred feet tall, and it could be considered a standard large city. The city’s walls were thick, and there were all sorts of offensive and defensive soul tools along the top of the city wall.
There were more than seventy aerial surveillance soul tools in the skies above the city, and they were responsible for watching several thousand square kilometers in Eastern Sun City’s proximity.
Even though Eastern Sun City was in the north, it was the largest city in that region, and thus was a busy and bustling city. Many northerners were proud of being able to live in Eastern Sun City, and this also meant land within the city had exorbitant prices.
It was evening, and there were fewer and fewer people near the city gates. They had to be prepared against aquatic soul beasts which could appear at any moment, so Eastern Sun City’s gates would close every day after sundown.
A man and a woman carrying simple luggage was walking towards the gates. They seemed very tall, but had normal appearances, and they looked like husband and wife.
The soldiers responsible for standing guard were hiding from the cold in their bunks inside the city gates. Eastern Sun City was a large city, but they weren’t strict with inspecting individuals who were coming into and out of the city. This wasn’t very necessary, as nothing remotely related to war had happened at Eastern Sun City for a long time besides fighting aquatic soul beasts, just like Oak City. This was especially so
after much of the Heavenly Soul Empire’s territory had been conquered, and Eastern Sun City became a city towards the back of the Sun Moon Empire’s territory. There were all kinds of surveillance soul tools in the sky, while their enemies wouldn’t choose to attack this place.
The man and woman strode into the city easily.
They were in the north, so the sky darkened relatively early. The sky had turned completely dark just as they entered the city.
The girl glanced at the youth next to her with a look of admiration in her eyes. “You were right. Eastern Sun City’s defenses are slack, like they aren’t defending it at all.”
There was no doubt that this man and woman were Huo Yuhao and Tang Wutong, who had used Imitation to change their appearances.
Huo Yuhao laughed and said, “Don’t worship me. I’m just a legend.”
Tang Wutong giggled and said, “I’m hungry, legend. Are we going to find a place to eat? It’s still early.”
“Alright!” Huo Yuhao wasn’t worried at all. There were more than two hundred and fifty kilometers between Oak City and Eastern Sun City, and Oak City would need at least a day to report any information to Eastern Sun City, even if they did so as soon as possible. Oak City’s satellites and transmission soul tools had been destroyed after all, and their resources had been cleaned out. The first thing the local officials had to do was stabilize everything inside the city, while sending out information at the same time.
Huo Yuhao and Tang Wutong needed but two hours to fly to Eastern Sun City. They had more than enough time to execute their plan.
They found a barbeque shop and walked in. The weather in the north was extremely cold, and people who lived here needed to replenish a lot of heat to sustain their daily work and activities. That was the reason why meat and wine were very welcome inside the city.
Roast meat and ale were considered the greatest luxuries for typical citizens. It was dinnertime, so the barbeque shop had quite a few customers. They were about eighty percent full.
“What do you guys want to eat?” The waiter trotted over and asked hastily.
“What do you guys have?” Huo Yuhao replied.
The waiter answered, “You must be from elsewhere. Eastern Sun City is famous for its roasted snow pork.”
“Snow pork? What’s that?” Tang Wutong asked curiously.
The waiter continued, “We rear a species of small pigs, and they have a lot of fat, and taste very rich. Roasting them to about seventy percent is best. They can be marinated with all kinds of sauces, and are best combined with a cup of our local specialty – ale – even Gods will salivate with that combination!”
Huo Yuhao laughed when he heard the waiter talk about salivating Gods. The image of the God of Emotions cooking
surfaced in his mind. No matter how delicious the roast pork here was, it probably couldn’t compare to his culinary skills.
“Alright. Get us some roasted snow pork, and give us some of your signature dishes as well, along with two cups of ale.”
“Alright! Please wait for a few moments, the food is coming right up.” The waiter was like a gust of wind as he swiftly turned and left.
Tang Wutong heaved a faint sigh and said, “If only there weren’t any war going on! Why does the Sun Moon Empire have to invade us?”
Huo Yuhao answered, “The thirst for power. A ruler will start an invasion at all costs in order to satisfy his desire for even more power, and the citizens are the ones who suffer in the end. Even though we are reacting passively and at a disadvantage, we are still the ones starting a war. The citizens are still the ones suffering. Even though we have a different starting point, the end result will not be that much different. The only thing we can do is try our best not to hurt those innocent citizens.”
Tang Wutong could feel that Huo Yuhao was a little dispirited. She held his hand that was on the table and said, “Don’t think so much. We’re doing this so that fewer people will suffer the fires of battle.”
Huo Yuhao said, “The main reason why a large city like Eastern Sun City has such lax defenses is because of its geographical location.”
Golden light swirled beneath his eyes as he spoke, and he activated Spiritual Detection.
Huo Yuhao didn’t choose this eatery for nothing. This barbeque shop was located in Eastern Sun City’s central region, and the government office wasn’t far from here. Huo Yuhao’s Spiritual Detection activated at maximum range around him from this location could reach everything within Eastern Sun City.
Conducting surveillance before executing their mission was Huo Yuhao’s standard fighting strategy. Eastern Sun City was a large city after all, and it was different from Oak City. Huo Yuhao still had to be careful.
His spiritual undulations actually became weaker rather than stronger when he was using Spiritual Detection as his spiritual power improved. But this weakness wasn’t in terms of his detection capabilities. Instead, it was the spiritual undulations produced during the detection process that became weaker.
It would be harder to discover his Spiritual Detection this way. Even spiritual detectors had to lock onto their targets’ locations by sensing spiritual undulations. When spiritual undulations were weak to a certain extent, not even spiritual detectors could lock onto their targets.
Furthermore, Huo Yuhao’s control over his Spiritual Detection was improving even as the spiritual detectors were evolving.
Back when he had first faced off against the Death God, the Death God Douluo had discovered him because he had used Spiritual Detection, and that created a lot of trouble for him. He was almost unable to escape. But now, such circumstances wouldn’t have happened.
The reason for that was because Huo Yuhao could release a concrete-material spiritual avatar when he was sensing danger,
and he would use this spiritual avatar to activate Spiritual Detection. That way, even if his enemies’ spiritual detectors discovered him during the detection process, they would only be locking onto his spiritual avatar.
Huo Yuhao could control his spiritual avatar to run in a different direction from his body. He didn’t have to worry about anything as long as he kept a single thread of his spiritual power from that spiritual avatar. Therefore, Huo Yuhao’s strongest characteristic wasn’t his fighting ability, but rather his ability to survive.
Huo Yuhao had a chance to survive even if he encountered extraordinarily powerful individuals like the Dragon Emperor Douluo, Long Xiaoyao.
But he still needed some luck. In the end, Ultimate Douluo controlled the secret of space, and escaping from their hands wasn’t easy at all. Huo Yuhao could still lose his life, even from a single shred of danger.
Huo Yuhao’s spiritual power expanded into the distance, and more than half of Eastern Sun City was quickly within his detection range. He didn’t share his Spiritual Detection with
Tang Wutong because there was too much information, and that would cause a relatively large shock to her senses.
It didn’t take long before their roasted meat and ale were served. The waiter looked at Huo Yuhao, who was just sitting there with his head slightly lowered like he was dozing off. But the waiter didn’t pay him too much mind because business was too busy, and he hurried away after putting down the food.
There was a sharp knife on the plate of roasted pork to cut those large pieces.
Tang Wutong cut a piece and placed it into her mouth. Her eyes began to flow with pleasant surprise. Snow pork did taste different from normal pork. The snow pork was rich with fat, and all that lard entered the lean meat after roasting. It was fragrant but not too greasy, and thick aromatic juices filled her entire mouth once she took a bite. It was very delicious.
Huo Yuhao seemed to wake up from his brief nap after a few moments. He raised his head and glanced at Tang Wutong with a faint smile on his face and said, “How does it taste?”
Tang Wutong had a sip of ale. “It’s very good, you should have some.”
“Alright,” Huo Yuhao had a piece of roasted meat. He was as astonished and impressed as Tang Wutong was, and it didn’t take long for them to clear the food that they had ordered. The ale wasn’t that good, but it was fresh, and it was very effective at washing away the pork’s oiliness.
“Let’s find a place to stay.” Huo Yuhao held Tang Wutong’s hand after paying the bill and stepped out of the barbeque shop as they walked towards a street in the east.
The sky had already turned dark, and the weather was very cold. There was hardly anybody on the streets. Huo Yuhao wrapped an arm around Tang Wutong’s slim waist as he asked gently, “Are you cold?”
Tang Wutong smiled as she shook her head. “I’m not cold! I enjoy this cool and refreshing feeling.” Of course, she wouldn’t ask that same question back to Huo Yuhao. He was a soul master with Ultimate Ice.
Huo Yuhao said, “It would be more appropriate if we deployed the Tang Sect Soul Engineer Legion after this. We need to be agile, and it seems like we have to split up this time.”
Tang Wutong was a little surprised. “Is there a problem?”
Huo Yuhao answered, “A little. This city has a stronger military force than our initial judgment. They have roughly a hundred and fifty soul engineers, and there’s a soul tool front inside Eastern Sun City, towards the northern side. It should be used to defend against aquatic soul beasts. It seems like aquatic soul beasts appear very often in this place. Otherwise, there should be no reason for them to deploy a soul tool front in a place like this. Furthermore, there are actually many powerful spiritual detectors around that soul tool front. I was already discovered from a slight contact before this, and might have been locked onto if I hadn’t reacted quickly enough.”
Tang Wutong thought for a moment. “We might have some problems if we can’t sneak our way inside. We will likely be exposed if we let them unleash their soul tool front’s offensive and defensive capabilities. Even if we charge and force our way inside, they will have sufficient time to relay information out of the city.”
Chapter 534: Mermaids?
Huo Yuhao said, “That’s why we can only barge our way in. The strategic position of Eastern Sun City is very important to the Sun Moon Empire. Otherwise, they wouldn’t have stationed so many troops there. Once we complete our destruction of this place, we’ll greatly affect the Sun Moon Empire’s deployment in the north. In this way, we’ll be closer to our goal. That’s why this fight cannot be avoided.”
Tang Wutong’s eyes brightened immediately, and she said, “Yuhao, I have an idea. Since the Sun Moon Empire has installed a lot of spiritual detection soul tools within their soul formations in Eastern Sun City, such that you can’t even use your spiritual power, does it mean that they are guarding against enemies who are adept at spiritual abilities? If that’s the case, is it possible that they are guarding against aquatic soul beasts?”
Huo Yuhao suddenly thought of something. He had known Tang Wutong for a long time. He immediately understood what she was thinking, “Are you saying that there are spiritual- type aquatic soul beasts here which can become my Spirit?”
Ever since Huo Yuhao got the Ice Bear King as his Spirit, the soul rings of his Ultimate Ice martial soul were already completely filled. The Ice Bear King gave him his eighth soul ring, and his remaining strength was sufficient to confer on him his ninth soul ring. When his second soul core successfully formed, he would be a true nine-ringed Titled Douluo.
However, things were different for his other martial soul. Currently, Huo Yuhao had five Spirits – the Snow Empress, Ice Empress, Skydream Iceworm, Ice Bear King and Star Anise Mysterious Ice Grass. Four of his Spirits affected Huo Yuhao’s Ice Jade Empress Scorpion. But his Spirit Eyes only had seven rings so far.
Huo Yuhao once swore that he would never kill a soul beast to obtain soul rings ever again. This made it even harder for him to obtain a spiritual-type soul ring. Although his spiritual power was very great right now, soul rings were still very significant for soul masters. This was applicable even for Huo Yuhao.
If he could obtain the last two soul rings he needed for his Spirit Eyes, his spiritual abilities would definitely be greatly increased.
Huo Yuhao was also trying to ride his luck. It would be great if he could get a spiritual-type Spirit and two more soul rings for his Spirit Eyes. Otherwise, he would just forget it. Anyway, he was still a Titled Douluo if he had nine soul rings for his Ultimate Ice martial soul. Although it would be regretful if he had two fewer soul rings for his spiritual-type martial soul, it wouldn’t be too impactful.
Right now, he immediately realized that he might stand a chance after Tang Wutong reminded him! If he could obtain a spiritual-type soul ring here, his abilities could improve further. The biggest benefit to increasing his spiritual power was increasing his probability of success when he tried forming his second soul core in the future.
Whichever method he used to form his second soul core, his spiritual control was very important. Even though his spiritual control was already very strong now, he was still some way off from the Rank 98 Transcendent Douluo who were trying to form their second soul core.
Dim lights flashed, and Huo Yuhao revealed a pensive look in his eyes. After a brief moment, he said, “If your conjecture is right, we’ll need to make a trip to the Ice Sea.”
Tang Wutong said, “Let’s go together once we’re finished with things over here.”
Less than fifteen kilometers away from the northern city gates of the Eastern City was the northern side of the Ice Sea. It was very close.
At this moment, Huo Yuhao suddenly felt as if there was something moving in his spiritual sea. He thought of something, and generated a connection with his spiritual sea.
“You should ask me about something like this.” The Snow Empress’ voice sounded.
As Huo Yuhao’s spiritual power grew stronger, his Spirits had to go through his spiritual sea to inform him that they wanted to connect to him. Huo Yuhao relaxed the control of his spiritual sea before their intentions were made known to him. He didn’t do this intentionally. After his cultivation improved, his spiritual sea reached a solid state.
Yes! Although the Ice Sea wasn’t the ice plains of the Extreme North, it was still extremely cold. The Snow Lady was once the
ruler of the ice plains of the Extreme North. Naturally, she knew best.
Huo Yuhao smacked his own forehead. “I was really stupid. It would have been easier for me to just ask the Snow Lady whether a spiritual-type soul beast can appear here.”
He opened his Spiritual Interference Domain, and everything around him became slightly blurry. No matter whether it was the aerial surveillance soul tools or those who passed by, they couldn’t see anything for ten meters around him.
“Snow Empress.” Huo Yuhao gently called.
Two beams of light shone at the same time. One was white, and the other was green. Two beauties appeared in front of Huo Yuhao. They were the Ice and Snow Empresses.
The Snow Empress smiled and said, “You are really dumb. You don’t even know how to tap into your advantages. Who else is better equipped than my sister and I when it comes to the Extreme North?”
Huo Yuhao laughed bitterly. “Don’t mock me anymore. Are there any spiritual-type soul beasts in the northern Ice Sea?”
The Snow Empress answered without any hesitation, “Yes!
Of course there are. Anything is possible in the sea.”
“What?” Huo Yuhao’s eyes lit up after hearing her words. He also didn’t expect the Snow Empress to be so certain.
The Snow Empress said, “It seems like neither of you are very familiar with aquatic soul beasts.”
Huo Yuhao laughed bitterly and said, “Of course not. They aren’t very useful for soul masters like us. Since that’s the case, we don’t have much research on them. Even in Shrek Academy, there are very few records on them. I vaguely recall that a million year soul beast once appeared. It was called the Deep Sea Devilwhale King. Our ancestor, Tang San, once obtained a soul ring from the sea.”
The Snow Empress said, “There are many aquatic soul beasts. In fact, there are more aquatic soul beasts than there are soul beasts on land. Furthermore, they are very strong.
Their overall abilities are above that of land soul beasts. The only advantage that soul beasts on land possess is their outstanding fighting strength. I have to say that Di Tian is indeed very powerful. There was originally the Deep Sea Devilwhale King among aquatic soul beasts who was very
strong. However, even he wasn’t Di Tian’s match. According to what I know, in the aquatic regions close to the Douluo Continent, there are a few such aquatic soul beasts. As for what types of soul beasts exist in further aquatic regions, I have no clue. However, I can still confirm that none of them would be Di Tian’s match even if they exist. Di Tian is already the extreme. If not for the fact that he can’t become a god, he would have tried for it.”
The Snow Empress and Di Tian weren’t friends. It was also precisely because of this that her appraisal of him was honest.
Huo Yuhao’s expression changed slightly. His future goal was to defeat Di Tian! If he couldn’t do so, he couldn’t truly become a god and inherit the godly seat of the God of Emotions. It was only by defeating Di Tian that he could fulfil his goal. Right now, he didn’t just learn how strong the Beast God was from one aspect. Di Tian was deservedly the strongest creature on the entire Douluo Continent.
Tang Wutong asked, “Snow Empress, is there an aquatic soul beast that’s adept at spiritual power in this Ice Sea? If there is, is it possible for it to become Yuhao’s Spirit?”
The Snow Empress hesitated for a moment before replying, “In the sea, there are many soul beasts that are adept at spiritual abilities. However, there’s only one sufficiently strong species nearby. It’s the Mermaids.”
“Mermaids?” Huo Yuhao and Tang Wutong were both curious. They had never heard of such a name before.
The Snow Empress said, “Mermaids are also known as genies in the sea. They are the best in terms of spiritual abilities among all the aquatic soul beasts that I know. Their upper bodies are like humans, while their lower bodies resemble that of fish. Most of them are female, and the females rule their species. Whether it’s a male or a female, the upper half of a Mermaid is always very nice. The reason why they’re called Mermaids is because of their leader, who is known as the Princess of the Sea. The Princess of the Sea is the ruler of this aquatic region. Among the few aquatic soul beasts that can claim to have similar cultivation to mine, one of them is the Princess of the Sea.”
“Her spiritual power is extremely strong. If she’s fighting in the sea, even the Evil Eye Tyrant might not be able to beat her. However, the Evil Eye Tyrant is definitely stronger on land. Because of how strong they are and their spiritual abilities, many other species of aquatic soul beasts ally with them. Their overall abilities are rather strong.
Tang Wutong asked, “Since aquatic soul beasts are so strong, why don’t they venture onto land after their cultivation reaches a certain point? Wouldn’t they benefit more?”
The Ice Empress smiled slightly and said, “You can’t use the mentality of land bound soul beasts on aquatic soul beasts. To them, the sea is their habitat. It’s where the living conditions fit them. Also, a big problem for them is that their abilities are greatly weakened when they leave the sea. The longer they are out of the sea, the more their lives will be in danger. Under such a condition, they are naturally not inclined to leave the sea.”
The Snow Empress said, “If Yuhao wants to obtain a Spirit from an aquatic soul beast, Mermaids are definitely a good choice. There are hundred thousand year Mermaids. It’s just that…” As she spoke until here, she furrowed her brow before continuing, “Mermaids feel that they are above others. They
don’t really respect any other species of soul beasts. Furthermore, they are very strong. Trying to convince them won’t be easy. After all, aquatic soul beasts don’t regard humans as their natural enemies. Even that empire that specializes in making soul tools never threatens them.”
Huo Yuhao said, “I’d like to try when the fight in Eastern Sun City is over.”
Tang Wutong looked at the Snow and Ice Empresses and asked, “Will there be any danger?”
The Snow Empress replied, “If you don’t go to deep into the Ice Sea, there shouldn’t be much of a problem. I’ll appear then. Even the Mermaid will need to show some face to me. At the same time, it will also depend on whether you get lucky. Although I believe that the probability of success isn’t huge, I’ll still accompany you since you want to go there.”
Huo Yuhao nodded and said, “Alright, that’s it then. Please return now. We are about to begin our mission.”
The Snow and Ice Empresses turned into two streaks of flowing light and returned to Huo Yuhao’s spiritual sea.
Huo Yuhao squinted slightly and said, “If I can obtain my eighth soul ring this time, I can try for my second soul core after a period of consolidation. The probability of success will also be greater.”
Tang Wutong asked, “Are you still sticking with the Yin Yang Complement? I still feel that it’s too dangerous.”
Huo Yuhao smiled as he said, “I still have to give it a shot. Otherwise, I won’t be convinced. My future goal is to defeat Di Tian. If I can’t get a soul core that’s as strong as his, how can I do so? Since I’ll need to challenge him one day, I must do so in my best state. Even if I fail, I can still use the other method. My greatest advantage is my age. I still have enough time.”
Tang Wutong rolled her eyes and said, “You are really stubborn.”
Huo Yuhao chuckled and got closer to her before pecking her on the cheek. After this, he said, “Don’t you like how stubborn I am?”
“Pui! Who likes your stubbornness?”
Huo Yuhao laughed, “Oh, it’s called persistence, isn’t it? You like my persistence. Persistence and stubbornness are synonyms. There’s not much difference between the two. Let’s go and find a place. I really wish to cuddle you and sleep.”
Tang Wutong laughed and said, “Come on then! I’ll let you do whatever you want.”
Huo Yuhao’s expression immediately turned bitter. “Your seal will come and give me trouble even before three seconds is up. Haih, when can I see my father-in-law, who’s the only one who can solve this problem!”
Tang Wutong also pinched the soft flesh on his waist and said, “I think this is a rather good arrangement. Let’s take it as a test for you.”
Huo Yuhao appeared sorrowful, “This test is too difficult.”
As the two of them spoke, they approached a nearby inn.
“Let’s go in there.” Huo Yuhao led Tang Wutong into the inn. They asked for a room and used a gold soul coin to purchase a map of Eastern Sun City.
This inn was squeaky clean. Apart from its cleanliness, there was nothing about it that could be raved about. However, Huo Yuhao and Tang Wutong weren’t there for a holiday.
They entered their room and closed the door. Huo Yuhao then began to recite incantations. In just a few seconds, a pitch-black door silently opened.
Under the concealment of Huo Yuhao’s spiritual power, it was impossible to sense any energy undulations coming from this door.
Huo Yuhao nodded at Tang Wutong. Her body flashed, and she entered the spectral demiplane. Huo Yuhao couldn’t leave right now, as he had to maintain the energy barrier around the door. Otherwise, any soul master that passed by would be able to sense the sinister aura and immense soul power undulations coming from it.
Not long afterward, Tang Wutong returned. Bei Bei, Xu Sanshi, He Caitou, Jiang Nannan and Xiao Xiao were with her. It was a gathering of the members of Shrek’s Seven Monsters.
Bei Bei asked Huo Yuhao, “I heard from Wutong that you’ve encountered some trouble?”
Huo Yuhao answered, “A little, but it shouldn’t be a huge problem. Eldest senior, come here and take a look.”
Everyone gathered around a table, which was covered in the map that Huo Yuhao had purchased earlier. He had already marked out some points on it. Among them, he specially used a red marking for a place in the north of the city.
Huo Yuhao said, “Through the earlier use of my Spiritual Detection, I discovered that there are thirty thousand troops stationed in this city, as well as a soul master legion formed by a total of a hundred and fifty soul masters. Just inside the northern city gates, there’s a soul formation, which I believe is stronger than the one that we destroyed before. The soul tools there are all the newest types. Furthermore, there are many spiritual detection soul tools. Honestly speaking, it does curb my Spiritual Detection and surveillance abilities, such that I’m
unable to use my Spiritual Detection to clearly find out what’s going on inside. Earlier, I unintentionally triggered their spiritual barrier. I’m afraid that it has made them warier.”
Bei Bei nodded slightly and said, “The defense of this Eastern Sun City is beyond our expectation. What have you decided to do? If we’re going to launch an assault, how confident are you?”
Huo Yuhao said, “I thought about it earlier. Given the scale of this soul formation, we’ll need our Heavy Artillery Soul Engineer Legion to continuously attack and suppress them if we are to launch an assault. However, given the soul tools in this soul formation, I’m afraid it will be able to last for quite some time. At the same time, it can even counterattack. We’ll definitely sustain some losses then. If we use our Fort Soul Engineer Legion at the same time, we might be able to take it down as quickly as possible. However, we’ll still sustain losses. If we go head-to-head with them, we’ll expose our abilities. News will then spread from Eastern Sun City.”
Bei Bei said, “It’s best for us to avoid any losses. The power that we control is limited. If we can avoid any direct clashes, it’ll be the best.”
Everyone nodded in agreement. They had a common agreement on this point.
The Sun Moon Empire’s expertise in soul tool technology was unquestioned. As a result, there were a few large-scale soul tools among this soul formation that Huo Yuhao and He Caitou didn’t recognize. They didn’t have time right now to research them either. The last time they attacked the Sun Moon Empire’s soul formations, there were a few such soul tools around too.
If these soul tools were lethal weapons, or if the linked soul tools in the soul formation had some kind of special use, Shrek Academy’s three soul engineer legions would likely suffer very heavy damage. This was certainly something they couldn’t afford to risk.
They had linked soul tools too, but each of the three soul engineer legions was differently equipped.
The Heavy Artillery Soul Engineer Legion that Huo Yuhao controlled were equipped with linked soul tools that could only be used for attacking, but not defending. This was the same for the Fort Soul Engineer Legion. This was because the resources
that would be drained were far too great. It was only by attacking that they could conserve a lot of resources. After all, these three soul engineer legions were only supported by the wealth of Shrek Academy. They had no choice but to sacrifice certain aspects.
Only the Tang Sect Soul Engineer Legion was equipped with linked soul tools that could attack and defend at the same time.
The Tang Sect’s greatest problem was that it couldn’t afford to sustain heavy losses. This was why they were afraid of being subjected to an all-out linked attack. The offensive strength of such an attack was even too overwhelming for a Titled Douluo. Losses and damages were certainly unavoidable.
Huo Yuhao said, “This is why I’ve decided not to use the Heavy Artillery Soul Engineer Legion after weighing our options. While the Heavy Artillery Soul Engineer Legion is offensively strong, it’s not flexible enough. Against a huge city like Eastern Sun City, we need to be able to retreat anytime we want to. For this soul formation, we need to think of a way of overcoming it from the inside. It’s only in this way that we can minimize our losses and gain the most from it.”
“I agree.” He Caitou said without any hesitation. He was excited to have robbed a soul formation the other time. Every soul formation represented immense wealth! It was definitely good to loot a soul formation. Destruction would be a pity.
Bei Bei asked, “Yuhao, are you saying that we’re going to stick with attacking from the inside?”
Huo Yuhao nodded and said, “A soul formation is very strong. Whether it’s in terms of defense or offense, it can achieve the best effect through linked soul tools. However, it has a flaw. It’s that any linked soul tools that are fired using a soul formation are all targeted outward. To overcome this flaw, many aerial surveillance soul tools have to be installed around the soul formation to keep enemies from getting close. My strength is that I can conceal myself and get close to the inside of such a soul formation, which would give me an opportunity to cause some destruction. Unless the Sun Moon Empire’s soul engineer legions can link together to attack and defend, I should be able to make a breakthrough using such a method.”
“The reason why this soul formation is so troublesome is because it has many spiritual detection soul tools and barriers. That’s why even I run the risk of alarming them if I sneak in.”
“I’ve made some estimates. The largest spiritual barrier in this soul formation is around five hundred meters from the formation. That’s also the maximum range of a spiritual barrier. Its greatest use is to prevent those who are adept at spiritual power from sneaking in. It doesn’t work the same as aerial surveillance soul tools.”
“If they are really guarding against the Mermaids, I’m fairly sure that Mermaids don’t possess any concealment abilities. At least, they can’t escape the detection of oscillation detectors. Along with such a spiritual barrier, I’m sure it’s enough for them.”
“However, our advantage is that we can avoid detection before we enter that spiritual barrier. That’s why we can sneak in and cause destruction if we are able to cover those five hundred meters in the shortest time possible before the linked soul tools are able to take effect.”
“If they are automatic linked defensive soul tools, Teacher Xuan discovered that it takes around two to three seconds before the entire soul formation is activated after the soul tools are triggered. This will differ depending on the quality of the linked soul tools. This is why we need to cover that distance within two seconds to remain out of harm’s way. Then, linked defensive soul tools will be useless against us.”
As he spoke until here, Huo Yuhao paused for a moment before he continued, saying, “However, there’s still a problem – our uncertainty of our enemy’s strength. I scanned everything inside earlier, although it was at the price of alarming the enemy. When I scanned the place, I sensed that there were roughly a hundred and fifty soul engineers in the soul formation. However, I couldn’t tell their exact strength, as I was too rushed. This also means that the problem that we’ll face after sneaking in is how to quickly occupy the soul formation and get rid of the enemies.”
Bei Bei said, “This shouldn’t be a huge problem. Given our abilities, we should be able to fight even a Titled Douluo. Although Eastern City is an important fort, I don’t think the Sun Moon Empire will deploy many Titled Douluo here. Now
that the war is in full scale, Titled Douluo are very important on the battlefield, as they can threaten their enemies on a strategic scale. However, they would be less useful if they were over here. On the other hand, I think covering five hundred meters is a more difficult task. Can the two of you do it?”
Huo Yuhao replied, “If our flying-type soul tools are at full speed, there shouldn’t be a problem. If we bring two people each with us, we should be able to scrape through.”
Xu Sanshi said, “That’s easy. Leave Caitou outside to liaise with us, while we charge in and quickly deal with the soul engineers. After that, we’ll occupy the soul formation.”
He Caitou was a little dissatisfied as he asked, “Why am I the one staying outside? My Fort Soul Engineer Legion isn’t participating in the fight either.”
Xu Sanshi said, “Of course you are the one staying outside. After we enter, we must do our best not to cause any destruction to the soul formation. Rather, we must only lay our hands on the soul engineers. Those soul tools are extremely destructive. If we damage them, I’ll see how sad you’ll be.”
He Caitou twisted his lips and said, “That sounds logical.
Alright then.”
Bei Bei looked at Huo Yuhao and asked, “Yuhao, do you have anything to add?”
Huo Yuhao said, “This time, our main force will be the Tang Sect Soul Engineer Legion. They’re the most flexible. Second senior shall commandeer them from the outside, and they’ll be prepared to liaise with us at any time. If something happens to us, second senior will lead the Tang Sect Soul Engineer Legion to focus its firepower and destroy the linked defense of the soul formation. Given the strength of the Tang Sect Soul Engineer Legion, they should be able to do so within fifteen minutes. However, we must try to avoid a situation where the Tang Sect Soul Engineer Legion faces the offensive soul tools of the soul formation. People are more important than resources. We must not conserve any resources at all.”
“Alright, I know.” He Caitou nodded seriously.
Jiang Nannan said, “Yuhao, should we deploy our other two soul engineer legions outside the city just in case? If we face
any problems, the other two soul engineer legions can coordinate with the Tang Sect Soul Engineer Legion to attack.”
Huo Yuhao shook his head and replied, “There are many aerial surveillance soul tools above Eastern Sun City. It’ll be difficult to deploy the other two soul engineer legions. If the three soul engineer legions attack together, they’ll indeed be very destructive. But the problem is that we’ll be directly subjected to our own firepower once the enemy’s linked defense is overcome, as we will be within the soul formation.”
Jiang Nannan realized how immature her proposition was after listening to his explanation. She turned slightly red and said, “Apologies, I didn’t consider everything.”
Xu Sanshi always didn’t stand on the side of reason. He hugged Jiang Nannan and cheerfully said, “No worries, no worries. You had a point too.”
Huo Yuhao followed by saying, “However, I’ll still need to adjust our manpower. If it’s the six of us that are going to charge in, I don’t think that’s the ideal combination.”
Bei Bei said, “Yuhao, you don’t need to have any misgivings. You are the chief commander of this mission. Everyone will listen to you. Your word is final.”
Huo Yuhao said, “Our main goal this time is to kill people, or at least make those soul engineers lose their fighting strength. Under such a circumstance, our attack is of paramount importance. For safety purposes, we need to be defensively sound too. That’s why I suggest that third senior has to go in. However, apart from him, we need to send our most offensive fighters in too. That’s why fourth senior and Xiao Xiao should stay out. Eldest senior, third senior, Wutong, Brother Ji, Ye Guyi and I shall be the six entering. In that way, we can achieve the greatest effect. Our combined destructiveness is the strongest.”
Xiao Xiao twisted her lips and said, “You’re not bringing me along for the fun again. Alright, I’ll stay outside with Caitou then.”
Jiang Nannan nodded and said, “I’m fine with this arrangement too. I’ll help Caitou prepare the Tang Sect Soul Engineer Legion.”
Huo Yuhao said, “We’ll start then. Seniors, I’ll invite you guys out when I find a good spot. Get the Tang Sect Soul Engineer Legion to be fully equipped and ready to await orders.”
Everyone nodded and quickly returned to the spectral demiplane through the door. Only Huo Yuhao and Tang Wutong remained outside.
After shutting the door, Huo Yuhao led Tang Wutong out of the inn and proceeded towards the north.
The thirty thousand soldiers didn’t scare them at all. Ordinary soldiers were just cannon fodder in front of soul engineers. Even if there were a few soul masters, they wouldn’t be able to cause much trouble either. This was why Huo Yuhao’s goal, to destroy the soul formation in Eastern Sun City first, was very precise. From there, they could control the entire city in the shortest time possible, and proceed with their strategic deployment.
Since they were going to attack, they definitely couldn’t do it from the inn they were staying in. Huo Yuhao and the few others could use his Imitation to conceal themselves. However,
if the entire Tang Sect Soul Engineer Legion was to move out, they needed to gather and prepare first.
Although aerial surveillance soul tools had great surveillance abilities, they weren’t effective against concealed things or people. They weren’t omnipotent. After all, the Sun Moon Empire couldn’t possibly use thermal detectors and oscillation detectors to scan the city continuously. There were many people living in the city. Such surveillance was completely unnecessary.
Where was the best place for people to gather? There were two hundred people. Huo Yuhao had a clear idea of what to do, which was to gather everyone in the inn.
In the distance, the northern city walls of Eastern Sun City were visible. Huo Yuhao squinted, and revealed a mysterious look in his eyes. The soul formation was not far in front of them anymore. This soul formation was very intricately constructed. It relied on the northern city walls. Some of the soul tools were located inside the city, while the others were on top of the city walls.
However, as his Spiritual Detection was discovered earlier, Huo Yuhao couldn’t completely ascertain what those soul tools were. This was why he was very prudent when it came to this fight. He had to fight with his greatest strength.
Apart from Ye Guyi, those who were involved in this mission had at least eight rings. Tang Wutong even had nine rings. Such power was already extraordinary. Moreover, Huo Yuhao’s combination with Tang Wutong made them as strong as a Transcendent Douluo. If nothing unexpected happened, it shouldn’t be difficult to charge in and take control of the soul formation.
Huo Yuhao unleashed his Spiritual Detection once again. Under his control, he avoided the soul formation, which was directly in front of him. Instead, he extended his Spiritual Detection to either side of the soul formation.
Very soon, he found the place that he was looking for. It was a hotel that was not far from the northern city walls.
This hotel wasn’t considered very huge. It only had three stories. The infrastructure also appeared rather decent, just that it looked slightly dilapidated.
After Huo Yuhao discovered it, he immediately used his Spiritual Detection to scan it.
The occupancy of this hotel wasn’t very high. It was only thirty percent full. The third floor was very quiet and empty. The guests in this hotel were also ordinary people. No sign of soul power undulations could be detected.
This discovery left Huo Yuhao very satisfied. He had successfully found a place to hide the members of the Tang Sect Soul Engineer Legion.
He used his Imitation and disappeared into the night with Tang Wutong. After a brief moment, they appeared within the hotel.
Time was not on his side. Huo Yuhao naturally didn’t ask for rooms. Not only would that leave traces behind, but it was also a massive waste of time.
His gentle yet powerful spiritual power silently engulfed the entire building. In the next moment, his eyes flashed with
golden light.
A weaker version of his Spiritual Blast was unleashed. Whether it was the staff or the guests in the hotel, they immediately felt dizzy. In the next moment, they all passed out, and the entire hotel instantly went silent.
This was how terrifying a spiritual-type soul master could be. Huo Yuhao managed to quietly gain control of the entire hotel. This time, he didn’t open too many of the spectral doors. He only opened three. The members of the Tang Sect Soul Engineer Legion streamed out of the doors and started to rapidly occupy the entire hotel.
Under Huo Yuhao’s orders, all the guests in the hotel were gathered in the lobby and supervised. This was to prevent anyone from screaming hysterically if he or she awoke from unconsciousness.
This hotel was in a prime location. It had three stories, and faced the soul formation at the northern city gates. The two hundred members of the Tang Sect Soul Engineer Legion were hiding beside the windows in each room. Once the order was given, they could charge out immediately.
Chapter 535: Myriad Souls Douluo and the Abomination Douluo
Eastern Sun City was a northern city. If it was like Radiant City, soul power detectors would sweep the city immediately. If that happened, the appearance of a large number of soul masters would still be easily detectable. In Eastern Sun City, it was evident that there wasn’t such a large-scale installation of surveillance soul tools.
The senior management of the Tang Sect were all gathered in the lobby. Huo Yuhao briefed Ji Juechen and Ye Guyi on his strategy.
“You can command us.” Ji Juechen answered in the simplest of ways. With Huo Yuhao’s Spiritual Detection, he was always able to unleash his greatest fighting strength.
Huo Yuhao was a little speechless as he avoided the passionate gaze in Ji Juechen’s eyes. He sighed helplessly. He knew exactly why Ji Juechen looked at him with such an expression. It was evident that he wanted to challenge him to a fight!
When Huo Yuhao exited his closed-door cultivation after two years, Ji Juechen was the most excited. It was just that Huo Yuhao went with Tang Wutong on a mission immediately, after which they were recruited for this fight, thus Ji Juechen didn’t have the time to challenge Huo Yuhao. Huo Yuhao was indeed a little fearful of such a look in Ji Juechen’s eyes. He was too crazy. Furthermore, over the past two years, Ji Juechen’s abilities had been continuously improving too. Even Huo Yuhao couldn’t discern what his current standard was.
It was important to note that Ji Juechen was the first among all of them to become a Soul Douluo. Although he was not yet a Titled Douluo, he was at least at Rank 88 or 89. More importantly, his abilities couldn’t just be measured using his cultivation. His terrifying sword intent was also very frightening.
Ji Juechen was close to becoming a Titled Douluo. Along with his powerful sword intent, Huo Yuhao had no confidence of defeating him, even though he had always been very confident in himself. The reason was very simple. Ji Juechen was simply too aggressive.
“Let’s make a move then. Second senior, I’ll leave things here to you. Wait for my signal.”
He Caitou nodded at Huo Yuhao.
After this, Huo Yuhao led Bei Bei, Xu Sanshi, Tang Wutong, Ji Juechen and Ye Guyi out of the hotel. He unleashed his Imitation and concealed the six of them in the darkness of the night. Not only this, but his Spiritual Detection was also shared with his teammates. He sent everything that he detected to them.
The hotel was very close to the northern city gates. Very soon, Huo Yuhao and the others were close. They only stopped when they were around five hundred meters away from the soul formation.
The soul formation wasn’t very well-lit. It appeared a little dim, and things seemed to be very quiet inside. As some buildings were blocking it, it was unclear what soul tools were inside.
Huo Yuhao stood behind Bei Bei and Xu Sanshi, while Tang Wutong was behind Ye Guyi and Ji Juechen. Their Class 9 flying-type soul tools opened at the same time.
Through his Spiritual Detection, Huo Yuhao said to the rest, “When I shout later, muster your soul power and protect yourselves, as the impact force from the high speed will be very great.”
“Alright.” The rest acknowledged his words.
At this moment, Huo Yuhao turned to look at Tang Wutong. Their minds were linked, and they both nodded. Their soul power poured into their flying-type soul tools at an alarming speed.
Instantly, their Class 9 flying-type soul tools lit up at the same time. Blinding lights were released, such that they were no longer able to conceal themselves. This was especially so because of their soul power undulations.
“Charge!” Huo Yuhao shouted. He and Tang Wutong both grabbed onto one arm of each teammate by their side. They instantly burst forward, and the immense thrusting force made them seem like missiles. They charged in the direction of the soul formation like bolts of lightning.
Just as they fully unleashed their Class 9 soul tools, a deafening alarm sounded inside the soul formation. The soul power undulations from a Class 9 soul tool were simply too strong. The soul power detectors in the soul formation instantly detected their presence.
The entire soul formation lit up almost instantly. A gentle glow also shone from the linked defensive soul tools.
The worst thing that could happen to a soul formation was for enemies to assault it out of the blue. This was why the linked defensive soul tools were immediately activated once there the alarm sounded. The soul formation had to be protected before anything else was attended to.
However, Class 9 soul tools were Class 9 soul tools! In an instant, Huo Yuhao, Tang Wutong and the rest had already achieved supersonic speed. In just a flash, they covered five hundred meters, and instantly crashed their way into the soul formation. As a result, the linked defense only came up after they had charged their way in.
Huo Yuhao naturally didn’t need to conceal them anymore. He unleashed his Spiritual Detection and engulfed the entire
soul formation.
In this soul formation with so many surveillance soul tools, his Imitation was effectively useless.
Countless soul rays were immediately fired, engulfing the six of them. The reaction speed was immensely quick. It was even faster than the soul formation at the Ming Dou Mountain Range. Clearly, the soul engineers here were well-equipped and highly experienced.
Huo Yuhao had no time to be astonished. He unleashed his Spiritual Detection in all directions. It was as if he didn’t even see the countless soul rays that were being fired at him.
Dark gold light scattered, and turned into a metal barrier.
This barrier isolated the soul rays. It was Xu Sanshi’s doing.
Behind Tang Wutong, her Radiant Butterfly Goddess’ wings opened. Suddenly, it was striking in the direction of the soul rays. As tremendous booms sounded, the soul rays stopped firing.
It was also at this moment that the entire soul formation lit up as bright as day. Huo Yuhao’s expression also changed slightly.
Evidently, his expression changed because he had received bad news from his Spiritual Detection. The first problem that he discovered was that this soul formation was much bigger than he had expected. Furthermore, the soul tools at the top and bottom of the city walls formed two different linked defensive formations. This also meant that the linked defensive formation at the top of the city walls was still effective against them, even though they had already snuck into the soul formation.
Apart from this, Huo Yuhao also sensed two strong auras inside this soul formation. Those were auras that threatened them. They probably came from Titled Douluo.
There are actually two Titled Douluo holding the fort in such an extremely northern city? They are certainly full of tricks! However, Huo Yuhao immediately understood why the Sun Moon Empire had such an arrangement here. Evidently, the threat posed by aquatic soul beasts was rather dire. This was why they needed someone strong to hold the fort.
Two Titled Douluo wasn’t considered too scary. The scary thing was that these two Titled Douluo were likely Class 9 soul engineers too. The strength of a soul formation was clearly different with two Class 9 soul engineers commandeering it.
While Huo Yuhao was making such a judgment, he reacted immediately. On his forehead, his Eye of Destiny opened. Just as he spread his spiritual power without any conservation, he unleashed a strong strike of his Spiritual Blast.
The soul engineers that were closer to the soul formation were instantly killed as their heads burst. At the same time, Ji Juechen, Ye Guyi, Bei Bei and Xu Sanshi also charged in different directions under the guidance of Huo Yuhao’s spiritual power. They were all capable of fighting themselves. No matter how they were going to deal with the soul formation at the top of the city walls, they had to deal with things at the bottom first, since there were many more soul tools there. It was essential to suppress these soul tools before they dealt with the situation at the top of the city walls.
In the hotel, He Caitou was standing in front of a window on the third story. He was quietly observing the soul formation. Suddenly, his eyes brightened, and he shouted through his transmission soul tool, “Brothers, come with me.” As he spoke,
he charged forward like a bomb. He broke the window and flew outside.
Xiao Xiao, Jiang Nannan and the rest followed closely behind. Two hundred Tang Sect soul engineers also charged out of the hotel. They rose into the air under He Caitou’s leadership.
They formed a circular formation, and a linked defense was instantly formed under He Caitou’s orders. After this, every soul engineer lifted a high-explosive cannon to his shoulder and ferociously fired it in the direction of the northern city walls.
This only happened because Huo Yuhao had just informed He Caitou through his Spiritual Detection to lead an all-out attack as a means of suppressing the soul formation at the top of the northern city walls.
Otherwise, Huo Yuhao and the others might be fatally hurt if they tried to fight their way up. Once they delayed and allowed more soul engineers to link up, their mission would become more and more difficult.
If they could suppress of the soul formation at the top of the city walls, the linked defensive formation would be quickly drained of soul power, and wouldn’t have enough strength to deal with Huo Yuhao and the others as a result.
Adapting to changes on a battlefield was important no matter when. With regards to this point, Huo Yuhao undoubtedly performed very well.
Bei Bei and the other three charged in four different directions. Huo Yuhao and Tang Wutong didn’t move at all. Huo Yuhao only grabbed Tang Wutong’s hand as he unleashed his immense spiritual power towards one direction in the soul formation. His terrifying might even caused the air to shake a little.
“Scoundrels!” Someone shouted before two figures flew up from the soul formation. These two figures charged towards Huo Yuhao and Tang Wutong.
Both were elders who seemed to be around seventy years old. When they rose from the soul formation, the linked defensive formation of the entire soul formation seemed to become a
little dimmer. A sinister aura spread and engulfed the entire place, neutralizing Huo Yuhao’s immense spiritual power.
Not soul engineers? Huo Yuhao made an accurate judgment immediately. Not only were these two not soul engineers, but they were even a very familiar type of soul master – evil soul masters! They were evil soul masters from the Holy Ghost Church.
These two evil Titled Douluo were unfamiliar to Huo Yuhao.
However, his expression immediately turned serious.
Evil soul masters found it very easy in the early stages of their cultivation. They were able to improve by leaps and bounds. However, it was very difficult for an evil soul master to become a Titled Douluo. It was even harder for them compared to ordinary soul masters.
As a result, evil soul masters that could become Titled Douluo were undoubtedly elites among evil soul masters. These two had to be honorary elders of the Holy Ghost Church even if they weren’t from the Worship Hall.
The Holy Ghost Church had actually deployed two evil soul masters here. It seemed like they must have hatched some kind of plot.
Huo Yuhao squinted, and strengthened the release of his spiritual power. Right now, both he and Tang Wutong were within his Spiritual Interference Domain. The two evil soul masters couldn’t tell their appearances. His immense spiritual power also kept the two evil soul masters busy, such that they couldn’t be bothered with anything else for now.
Both parties were at a stalemate, but the battlefield was thundering. Lights were also scattering everywhere. The soul formation at the top of the northern city walls was also being intensely bombed. Its linked defense was on the verge of collapsing.
The Sun Moon Empire had deployed a total of a hundred and fifty soul engineers here. A hundred of them were at the bottom of the city walls, while the other fifty were deployed at the top. Although the soul engineers at the top used their powerful linked defense to resist the attack of the Tang Sect Soul Engineer Legion, they were also being drained much more quickly.
If this were a normal situation where the enemies came from outside the city, the soul engineers in the city would be able to hang on. They could even combine their linked defenses at the top and bottom of the walls, generating an even stronger defense.
However, things were extremely chaotic at the bottom right now. Bei Bei and the other three were mercilessly killing soul engineers within the soul formation. How could anyone even be bothered by what was going on at the top?
This was why Huo Yuhao and Tang Wutong were not anxious at all. Whether it was Bei Bei and the other three or He Caitou who managed to achieve what they wanted, Huo Yuhao and Tang Wutong stood to benefit. If they weren’t anxious, they wouldn’t easily reveal their own flaws. This was the simplest fighting strategy, but it was very effective.
The two evil soul masters soon realized this, and they turned extremely grim. While Huo Yuhao was stunned by them, they were also equally astonished by the fact that so many powerful individuals had appeared here. In addition, there was even a soul engineer legion.
How strong was the Tang Sect Soul Engineer Legion? In the sky, every figure shone with the light of six soul rings. The entire soul engineer legion was made up of Soul Emperors!
Perhaps the Tang Sect Soul Engineer Legion might be less well-equipped than the outstanding soul engineer legions of the Sun Moon Empire. However, not a single soul engineer legion, even in the Sun Moon Empire, was as well-equipped with soul masters as the Tang Sect Soul Engineer Legion. Not even the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineer Legion was an exception.
Given this, the soul engineers at the top of the city walls were about to be taken down under the all-out attack of the Tang Sect Soul Engineer Legion.
“All of you are courting death!” The Titled Douluo on the left shouted before he lifted his right hand. His body immediately shone with two yellow, two purple and five black soul rings. A pitch-black flag also appeared within his grasp.
This entire flag was black, even up to its flagpole. However, there subtly seemed to be countless purplish-black indignant souls flashing above this flag.
Myriad Soul Banner! This evil soul master’s nickname was Myriad Soul. He was the Myriad Soul Douluo, a Rank 91 evil Titled Douluo.
The other evil soul master by his side also unleashed his martial soul. The Myriad Soul Douluo was a Tool Soul Master, while he was a Beast Soul Master. His body immediately expanded, and his skin seemed as if it were going to tear apart. Thick greenish fog quickly spread from his body. Very soon, he was more than twenty meters tall, and his waistline grew to more than twenty meters. He was like a monster now. He was actually a living creature, an Abomination, that existed in Huo Yuhao’s spectral demiplane too.
Huo Yuhao started to recite incantations. Tang Wutong flashed, and came in front of him.
He placed both his hands on her slim waist, maintaining their Haodong Power.
Tang Wutong’s eyes suddenly turned extremely bright. Sonorous dragon roars rang through the air. In front of her, a huge golden dragon head gradually surfaced. Following this,
the dragon head opened its mouth wide, and balls of golden light shot towards the two evil soul masters.
This was the second soul skill of the Radiant Dragon Butterfly, Dragon God’s Fury!
It was important to remember that Huo Yuhao and Tang Wutong could unleash the abilities of a Transcendent Douluo when they came together as one entity. This was Dragon God’s Fury at the level of a Transcendent Douluo!
Every ball of light appeared very real. Wherever they passed, the air would actually weirdly collapse. It was as if the air was a wall, which was dented as the Dragon God’s Fury shot past. It was indeed very weird.
The Myriad Soul Douluo’s figure flashed before he arrived in front them. His Myriad Soul Banner moved along with the winds, and tragic screams echoed as sinister winds blew. The banner was about to engulf the balls of light unleashed by Dragon God’s Fury.
Something weird happened at this moment. The balls of light suddenly unfurled in mid-air, turning into small golden dragons. These dragons bared their teeth as they clawed towards the banner.
The avenging spirits that were released from the Myriad Soul Banner were instantly torn apart as they faced the golden dragons, which were filled with an aura of light. Suddenly, the sky turned extremely bright, and the sinister aura that was previously in the air was swept away under the effect of Dragon God’s Fury.
The Myriad Soul Douluo’s expression changed immediately. These avenging spirits were the source of his strength. He shouted, and the third soul ring of his Myriad Soul Banner shone brightly.
His Myriad Soul Banner enlarged ten times over, and reached towards all the small golden dragons.
The Abomination Douluo had already taken a big step by now, and was charging towards Huo Yuhao and Tang Wutong.
The enlarged Myriad Soul Banner was actually very resilient. When it engulfed all the small golden dragons, it seemed as if countless souls had devoured them. Instantly, it really felt as if Dragon God’s Fury had been completely suppressed.
A cold look flashed across Tang Wutong’s face. The golden dragon head in front of her shone brightly all of a sudden. Following this, tremendous booms rang from the Myriad Soul Banner.
The Myriad Soul Douluo shouted in fury and quickly staggered back. The aura released from his Myriad Soul Banner seemed to weaken a little. Evidently, he had suffered greatly from Tang Wutong’s retaliation.
Evil soul masters could indeed curb most martial souls. However, Tang Wutong’s top-grade Radiant Dragon Butterfly couldn’t be curbed by any ordinary evil soul master. If not for the fact that Huo Yuhao was reciting incantations right now, which affected the circulation of their Haodong Power, Tang Wutong would have been able to hurt the Myriad Soul Douluo with her earlier blow, given her abilities.
At this moment, the Abomination Douluo rushed forward. He opened his arms, and a huge patch of greenish fog swept towards Tang Wutong and Huo Yuhao. A dark-greenish fluid also seeped out from his skin as his terrifying figure approached.
A huge chain also appeared in the Abomination Douluo’s hand. On a closer look, one could discover that it was formed by linking skulls together. These skulls didn’t belong to humans. Instead, they seemed to come from different living creatures. They were filled with intense vengeance and sinister auras. At the top of the chain, there was a hook made from an unknown bone structure.
As the Abomination Douluo swung his hand forward, his huge chain whipped towards Tang Wutong’s head.
Compared to the Abomination Douluo, Tang Wutong was extremely small. However, she was still fearless in the face of such a powerful opponent. She lifted her arms in front of her body and clasped her palms above her head. Her dragon wings came together at this point, engulfing Huo Yuhao within them.
A giant blade of light appeared in mid-air as if it had just cut open the heavens. It was more than ten meters long. As Tang Wutong swept her hands down, the huge blade slashed down, echoing the furious roar of a dragon at the same time.
“Ding!” The Abomination Douluo’s chain collided against the blade of light, and was instantly struck away. Three different projections suddenly appeared on the Abomination Douluo’s body. He wanted to avoid the incoming blade.
However, the blade was simply too quick. As light flashed, the Abomination Douluo roared furiously.
The three projections combined to form one, and a huge wound appeared on the Abomination Douluo’s shoulder. This was the result even after he used a defensive soul skill to take most of the offensive strength from the light blade. Otherwise, he would be in an even more tragic state.
Tang Wutong was forcefully resisting two evil Titled Douluo. Not only did she not lose out, but she even suppressed her opponents.
The Myriad Soul Douluo had caught his breath by now. He was staring fiercely at Tang Wutong. His sixth soul ring lit up, and he raised his Myriad Soul Banner up high. His black banner exuded a bluish rippling glow, causing it to appear deep-blue.
This deep-blue was as deep as the color of the sea. Following this, twelve avenging spirits flew out from the banner.
These avenging spirits were all deep-blue. They appeared to be different from ordinary avenging spirits. These spirits actually possessed a form of their own.
One of them was even a living creature with a human body and a fish tail. This avenging spirit had long hair that flowed all the way behind his head. Its entire body even exuded a blue glow. It was just that there was spirit fire dancing in its eyes.
The other eleven avenging spirits also took different forms. The only similar characteristic between all of them was that they were aquatic creatures. They should be aquatic soul beasts. This evil soul master actually controls the avenging spirits formed from aquatic soul beasts.
The avenging spirits of twelve aquatic soul beasts appeared. Apart from that mermaid avenging spirit, the other eleven avenging spirits flew towards Tang Wutong. Each of them released a powerful aura.
The mermaid avenging spirit lifted her head. She seemed to sigh. After that, a weird voice was heard from her mouth.
Her voice was captivating, but she sounded like she was sobbing. She made one feel like crying.
Tang Wutong was stunned when she heard this voice. She was about to unleash her next soul skill, but she paused.
It was also at this moment that the eleven avenging spirits encircled her. One of them, which looked like a shark, picked up speed, and charged in front of Tang Wutong. It opened its huge mouth and was about to bite her.
While these avenging spirits were only spiritual entities, they could inflict more harm than real entities. This was because they could directly harm souls.
However, Tang Wutong was Tang Wutong. She was a nine- ringed Titled Douluo. She was even a Titled Douluo with top- grade twin martial souls.
Although the voice of the mermaid avenging spirit impacted her, she immediately regained her awareness she mimicked a lifting action. In front of her, a huge hexagram array that was more than five meters in diameter suddenly surfaced. Following this, a huge beam of light shot into the sky.
Ever since she got back with Huo Yuhao, Tang Wutong had separated some parts from her martial soul before fusing with them again later on. After her memory was fully restored, she was not only able to use every soul skill of her evolved martial souls, but she was also able to use the unevolved soul skills that Wang Dong’er had possessed. Right now, she was using the Hexagram Array!
The beam of light unleashed from the gigantic Hexagram Array was filled with spiritual undulations and an aura of light.
The moment the shark avenging spirit touched it, it let out a tragic scream and was glued to it. It couldn’t escape even if it wanted to.
Tang Wutong forcefully stomped the ground with her left foot. Suddenly, the hexagram array shone brightly, and the light also intensified. The shark avenging spirit completely melted as a result.
At this moment, the other ten avenging spirits stalled. The reason why they were so strong was because they conserved some fighting capabilities, and even streaks of soul memories. This was why they could feel fearful too. Evidently, they knew that Tang Wutong could completely curb them.
Tang Wutong didn’t care about all that. As she stomped her foot, her fourth soul ring also lit up. A strange layer of bluish- gold scales engulfed her body, turning into dazzling dragon armor. A huge golden dragon also started to revolve around her body.
This was her fourth soul skill, Dragon God’s Possession.
Tang Wutong’s figure flashed, and she charged towards the Abomination Douluo. She punched her right fist into the air. Suddenly, a terrifying blast rang in the air. This time, all space within a few hundred square meters seemed to collapse. The Abomination Douluo, who had just caught his breath, was delayed for a moment. After this, he saw a bright golden fist in front of him.
Compared to the Abomination Douluo, Tang Wutong was simply too small. However, at this instant, the Abomination Douluo felt a great sense of fear. It was as if this fist could crush the entire sky.
When Tang Wutong and Huo Yuhao were together, Huo Yuhao was generally the one who attacked. However, this didn’t mean that she couldn’t fight. On the contrary, Huo Yuhao might not even be able to beat Tang Wutong in a duel.
After Tang Wutong’s martial soul evolved, Huo Yuhao had the feeling that it was like a fusion of Wang Dong’er’s Radiant Butterfly Goddess and Wang Qiu’er’s Golden Dragon. In terms of physical strength and power, it had completely inherited Wang Qiu’er’s best abilities. This was why Tang Wutong was extremely terrifying right now.
As Tang Wutong charged out, she disabled her connection to Huo Yuhao. However, even so, she was still a Titled Douluo, and a powerful one at that!
“Boom!” A tremendous boom echoed. The Abomination Douluo used his fists to block her attack. He had already used all his strength and unleashed all his power. What he was most adept at was in fact his physical strength.
However, the clash of fists caused him to be flung back. As for the tiny Tang Wutong, she remained motionless in the air.
It was also at this moment that a pitch-black door appeared behind Huo Yuhao. If not for the fact that he had finished reciting his incantations, Tang Wutong wouldn’t have left his side.
A giant foot walked out from the pitch-black door. What appeared next was a massive creature.
It was a giant was even bigger than a Terror Knight! It was the Undead Ice Bear King, Er Bai!
Huo Yuhao didn’t move, and stood where he was. His spiritual senses had already covered the entire place. The reason why he summoned Er Bai wasn’t because he and Tang Wutong couldn’t deal with the two evil Titled Douluo. Rather, he needed to control the entire scene. He was the chief commander of the entire army, and not just fighting on his own. He had to minimize the number of casualties. Therefore, he had to focus on other aspects too, rather than just his own fight.
If this was before, fighting two evil Titled Douluo would be potentially fatal. However, he didn’t really regard them as a threat right now.
Er Bai squeezed out from the door and immediately roared. He took a step forward. After this, he charged towards the Abomination Douluo.
Tang Wutong drifted in mid-air. She was completely covered in dragon armor, and her wings were open behind her back. As a golden dragon revolved around her body, she was like a goddess of war.
She raised her right hand, and a beam of golden light shone. It was the Golden Dragon Spear that had belonged to Wang Qiu’er before.
Every day, Huo Yuhao cultivated with Tang Wutong. As he familiarized himself with her abilities, he passed the Golden Dragon Spear to her. In her hands, it was indeed much stronger as she used it with her Radiant Dragon Butterfly.
The spear drew an arc in the air, and a golden halo spread outward. The ten aquatic avenging spirits were forced back. At the same time, Tang Wutong turned her attention to the Myriad Soul Douluo.
Whether it was the Myriad Soul Douluo or the Abomination Douluo, they didn’t expect their opponents to be so strong. Tang Wutong’s consecutive strikes left them very frustrated. Furthermore, they couldn’t tell how strong she was. Was she a Transcendent Douluo? Only a Transcendent Douluo could possibly suppress them. Otherwise, she shouldn’t be so strong even if she had a light-type martial soul.
The Myriad Soul Douluo turned serious. He couldn’t be bothered with what the Ice Bear King was. At this moment,
Tang Wutong had completely locked onto him, and a life-or- death fight was about to break out.
The Myriad Soul Douluo’s seventh soul ring shone, and he turned ethereal. After this, he swept his right hand down, and his banner fell to the ground. Following this, it expanded once again. As for the Myriad Soul Douluo, he turned into an intense ball of red light.
A weird scene appeared. An image surfaced on the originally pitch-black banner. This image was, blood-red and seemed to be similar to the Myriad Soul Douluo’s face. However, the image of him appeared to be much fiercer.
Myriad Soul True Body! This was the Myriad Soul Douluo’s seventh soul skill. He had actually turned into an avenging spirit, and become the main soul of his banner.
A low-pitched groan sounded. As sinister winds blew, the entire soul formation turned dimmer. A cold and sinister aura filled the air as the screams of countless avenging spirits echoed.
Domain-type soul skill! After the Myriad Soul Douluo unleashed his Martial Soul True Body, he actually unleashed a domain-type ability. No wonder he was an evil Titled Douluo!
Tang Wutong revealed a cold look on her face. Domain-type skill? A domain created by his banner would likely strengthen all his avenging spirits. However, does he really think that’s going to work?
The image of the Myriad Soul Douluo wasn’t small. He had evidently realized that it wasn’t enough for him to deal with Huo Yuhao and Tang Wutong. He needed to deal with the others who had entered the soul formation too. This was why he used his strongest skill, Myriad Soul Domain.
To use this domain-type skill, the requirements were very strict. First, he had to unleash his Martial Soul True Body. In addition, it was also his eighth soul skill.
The combination of two powerful soul skills enabled the Myriad Soul Douluo to unleash his greatest strength.
Earlier, he was already very angry when Tang Wutong killed one of his aquatic avenging spirits. Seeing that the Undead Ice Bear King was out too, he knew that he no longer stood a chance if he didn’t turn to his most powerful skill.
Evil soul masters were most adept at fighting en masse. He had relied on his evil martial soul to turn the tables many times.
Initially, when Huo Yuhao first faced evil soul masters, a corpse explosion had caused many elite members of Shrek Academy to suffer greatly. This was how Huo Yuhao and Tang Wutong had gained the opportunity to take part in the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Soul Dueling Tournament.
It was a pity that they weren’t like they were before!
The deep-blue mermaid avenging spirit expanded to three times its original size. The banner was no longer visible, but this mermaid avenging spirit was extremely obvious.
Tang Wutong flew back. If it were any ordinary person in this Myriad Soul Domain, he wouldn’t be able to see anything. However, as Huo Yuhao was around, did it really matter that she couldn’t see anything?
Tang Wutong came to Huo Yuhao’s side in a flash. After this, the temperature in the entire soul formation fell tremendously.
Huo Yuhao was at the center of it. In the air, snowflakes started to fall.
Chapter 536: The Eastern Sun Falls
This was, in fact, the northernmost part of the northern area! Even though it was not as cold as the Extreme North Ice Field, it was way colder than anywhere else. Also, the Ice Sea was just outside of Eastern Sun City. There was plenty of water in the Ice Sea, so there would not be any problem with the water element here.
When Huo Yuhao first came here, he predicted that his power should increase by at least twenty percent here.
When Tang Wutong was shielding the blows for him, Huo Yuhao had already used his Spiritual Detection to scan the battlefield. He now had a complete picture of the battlefield, and had already established contact with He Caitou.
Everything was under control. After confirming that no other accidents would happen, he naturally would not go light on the enemy as he unleashed his true fighting power.
After returning to Huo Yuhao’s side, Tang Wutong opened up her butterfly wings and protected his back. This time around,
Huo Yuhao was at the front, and Tang Wutong was like a little bird as she hugged his waist from the back.
If Tang Wutong’s seal were to act up now, it would truly be a tragedy. However, she had long thought of this. Because she was wearing the Dragon God Armor, her body would not come into direct contact with Huo Yuhao. This meant that the seal would naturally not act up.
Huo Yuhao’s eyes turned an ice-blue color as he faced the avenging spirits that were swarming towards him. Even though he was just standing there calmly, those spirits were unable to get near him and Tang Wutong. They were stuck outside of a five-meter radius around the couple.
As Huo Yuhao unleashed the Snowy Dance of Ultimate Ice, the entire area where the soul tools were installed started to experience a plunge in temperature. Because this area had activated their linked defense system, the cold air was trapped inside. Hence, the rate at which the temperature was dropping was faster than usual.
The soul engineers who were trying to put up a struggle experienced a huge drop in their fighting power because of the
extreme cold. Even though Ji Juechen and the others would also be affected by the cold, they were much stronger, and thus were not affected as much as the soul engineers.
At this very instant, a loud cry could be heard. Following which, a pure white figure dashed out from the corner of the soul tool formation.
Even though the avenging spirits were spirits, they were also similar to packets of energy, and were affected by the extremely low temperature. Their flying speed and fighting power were also heavily reduced.
After this streak of white light emerged, the neighboring avenging spirits let out a deafening scream as they scrambled away from the white light in fear. As long as they came into contact with the white light, the avenging spirit would disintegrate. There was no chance for them to withstand the power of the white light. The Myriad Soul Domain no longer had any positive effects on them.
As the pure white figure floated in mid-air, a pair of white wings opened up behind her back. The figure was wielding a
white sword in her hands. She was none other than Ye Guyi— the cultivator with the Holy Angel martial soul.
After controlling the situation, the next thing Huo Yuhao wanted to do was maximize profits. He not only wanted to make sure he maximized the number of spoils he could take away from this area, but he also wanted his peers to maximize what they could take away for themselves.
Beyond acquiring soul tools and resources here, the one who could stand to gain the most among the Tang Sect was Ye Guyi
—the cultivator who was the natural enemy of evil soul masters.
Because she possessed the Holy Angel martial soul, she was able to improve her cultivation from killing evil soul masters and destroying their abilities. The Myriad Soul Douluo’s Myriad Soul Banner contained so many avenging spirits. If Yu Guyi were to cleanse and purify all of them, her cultivation would take a huge leap forward. This was why he did not immediately kill the two Titled Douluo evil soul masters. He merely unleashed his domain and competed against them with it. He only wanted to trap the Myriad Soul Douluo to give Ye Guyi a chance to kill him.
The avenging spirits had no chance against Ye Guyi as they disintegrated like the grass against a fire. All the avenging spirits were purified by her holy light. During the purification process, the pure energy released flowed into Ye Guyi’s body and continually improved her cultivation.
This was her first time fighting against evil soul masters since joining the Tang Sect. On top of that, the evil soul master she was facing was a Titled Douluo. With her current ability, she would not have been able to subdue a Titled Douluo even if she was his or her natural enemy. After all, as a Soul Sage, she was a lot weaker than a Soul Douluo. However, with the help of Huo Yuhao, Tang Wutong and Er Bai, the odds were actually in her favor.
As she waved the holy sword in her hand, she was almost invincible. As she flickered across the sky, a large amount of avenging spirits were vanquished, and the leftover spirits scattered in fear.
A deafening howl roared through the air. It was the Myriad Soul Douluo screaming in pain. How could he not be anguished by the death of the spirits he had painstakingly accumulated in his Myriad Soul Banner? Not every dead person would produce an avenging spirit. Avenging spirits could only
be formed from the death of a person or a beast with immense hatred. And the odds of that were one in ten.
The Myriad Soul Douluo was only able to cultivate to his current level because of the blood and sweat he had shed to accumulate the avenging spirits in his Myriad Soul Banner. He had been staying at Eastern Sun City to target aquatic soul beasts so as to acquire their avenging spirits. This was because the avenging spirits formed from the bodies of the aquatic soul beasts were a great fit for his martial soul.
Because of how Ye Guyi had rampaged around, the Myriad Soul Douluo had lost over a hundred avenging spirits. The spirits were completely purified, and had no chance of reviving. As the number of avenging spirits in his banner decreased, his powers waned. Even though he had over a thousand avenging spirits, he could not sustain this rate of losses for long!
After shouting in pain, the Myriad Soul Douluo increased the power of his Myriad Soul Banner. He steered his avenging spirits away from Ye Guyi and towards the other people, leaving gusts of wind buffeting against her.
However, Ye Guyi was not fighting alone. While she might not be strong enough to fight the Myriad Soul Douluo alone, she had the help of Huo Yuhao and Tang Wutong!
Huo Yuhao leaned slightly backwards, and a powerful light was released from both his body and Tang Wutong’s. A large eye—the Eye of the Asura—appeared. A Radiant Dragon God's Butterfly danced around the eye.
Following which, countless tiny black hammers were projected at the speed of light in all directions.
Mantra Amidst the Void, Spiritual Tempest.
Spiritual Tempest was the combination of the Spirit Eyes and the Clear Sky Hammer. It forged and strengthened Huo Yuhao’s immensely powerful spiritual power before releasing it as a devastating blow.
Martial soul fusion skill! It was a skill which was powerful enough to go up against a technique from a Transcendent Douluo. Back when they were facing more than ten Titled Douluo, Tang Wutong and Huo Yuhao had managed to burst
through their containment with this skill. The two evil soul masters would probably have no chance against it.
The Spiritual Tempest avoided their own people in a delicate fashion, and attempted to expand its range to envelope their enemies.
The Abomination Douluo, Myriad Soul Douluo and the avenging spirits released from the Myriad Soul Banner were all enveloped within the Spiritual Tempest.
This was truly a full power attack released by both Huo Yuhao and Tang Wutong.
Instantly, the avenging spirits that were flying clear of Ye Guyi found themselves frozen in mid-air. Their spiritual fire was solidified and frozen under the effects of Spiritual Tempest. Normally, the tempest would have destroyed a large number of the avenging spirits. However, Huo Yuhao was able to use his exceptional control to control the power of the tempest to create an advantage for Ye Guyi.
The Myriad Soul Douluo and Abomination Douluo both let out a groan.
The Myriad Soul Domain was also destroyed at that instant. Even if the two of them were to go up against Tang Wutong one-on-one, they would still find it hard to beat her. Furthermore, they were actually going up against a skill released by both Huo Yuhao and Tang Wutong.
Hence, it took only a short while before the outcome of the battle was decided.
The biggest winner was naturally Ye Guyi. As she spread out the wings behind her back, she flickered across the sky like a bolt of lightning. Large numbers of avenging spirits were purified wherever her holy sword landed. As the winds of Spiritual Tempest blew through the area, Ye Guyi cleaned up after them.
The avenging spirits that were hit by Spiritual Tempest and the Snowy Dance of Ultimate Ice could not dodge or defend themselves against Ye Guyi. They could only wait for their vengeance to be purified.
The Myriad Soul Domain might be extremely powerful in the eyes of an average soul master. It could not only release tens of thousands of avenging spirits, but also enhance their power exponentially. However as strong as this skill might be, it would only work in Ye Guyi’s favor.
Huo Yuhao could sense with his spiritual detection that Ye Guyi’s cultivation was shooting up at an insane rate.
This could only be a result of the strength of the opponent she was facing. She was going up against a Titled Douluo evil soul master. In addition, he was the kind of soul master who accumulated avenging spirits. He was the perfect target for her to improve her cultivation.
Over the past few years, Ye Guyi had never used such a method to improve her cultivation. Her foundation had always been solid and stable. Hence, this was a golden opportunity for her to consume the power of a Titled Douluo. It was impossible for her abilities to not improve.
As her cultivation improved, the holy light she was emanating became stronger.
After being caught in the spiritual tempest, the Myriad Soul Douluo took seven to eight seconds before he regained his composure from his shock. But when he finally became calm again, he realized he had already come out of his martial soul true body. His Myriad Soul Banner’s color had become a lot fainter, and only the most powerful avenging spirits were left around him.
As for the Abomination Douluo, he was already pinned down by Er Bai. His back had been crushed, and a thick layer of dense ice had formed on his body.
How could he stand a chance against Er Bai after suffering from the spiritual tempest? This was like fighting a battle against a combination of a Transcendent Douluo who specialized in spiritual control and a Transcendent Douluo who specialized in assault. Even an evil soul master could not withstand such blows.
However, Er Bai did not continue and kill the Abomination Douluo. Huo Yuhao had obviously ordered Er Bai to pin him down, but not kill him.
The Myriad Soul Douluo knew the battle was over. There was no point in him trying to fight a losing battle. As his figure flickered, he sent the remaining avenging spirits around him on a final onslaught. The mermaid avenging spirit released a series of loud howls as its powerful spiritual attack rippled from its body.
To protect his life, the Myriad Soul Douluo knew he had to sacrifice his avenging spirits to escape. He could always replenish his avenging spirits if they were to die. But if he were to lose his life, it would be the end for him.
His reactions were extremely quick, but why would Huo Yuhao not have thought of restraining him? He would not have left him there alone if he didn’t have the ability to control the situation.
Just as the Myriad Soul Douluo was retreating, he suddenly saw a strange eye in front of him. The humongous eye released a purplish-gold flash before his eyes.
Following which, the Myriad Soul Douluo felt as if a hammer which could have split the earth hit his head. After releasing a loud groan, his retreating body lost control and collapsed to the ground with a loud thud.
It was a spiritual shock from the martial soul true body version of the Eye of the Asura! The frighteningly powerful spiritual attack ensured the destruction of the Myriad Soul Douluo’s spiritual sea.
Because of the huge loss of his avenging spirits, the Myriad Soul Douluo had already suffered a drop in his cultivation. After sustaining this blow, he immediately lost consciousness.
The pure white holy light instantly transformed into a sharp sword which descended from the sky as though it was about to judge the evil beneath it. The sword stabbed straight into the chest of the Myriad Soul Douluo.
Following which, Ye Guyi’s body split from the holy sword. Afterwards, one could see copious amounts of grey energy current surging out from the chest of the Myriad Soul Douluo. While he was screaming in pain, he was unable to budge because he was pinned down by the holy sword.
The four wings behind Ye Guyi’s black glistened like white jade as golden streaks of energy raced into her body from the hilt of the holy sword.
Tonight’s battle was definitely a night full of rewards for this Soul Sage.
The Myriad Soul Douluo struggled for close to a minute before relenting. Finally, he transformed into black ash under the holy sword before vanishing. After breaking free from their master’s control, the remaining avenging spirits in the air were about to disperse and escape before they were stopped by Huo Yuhao’s spiritual power.
Ye Guyi immediately turned around to continue her attack. She took close to fifteen minutes before she was able to purify the bulk of the avenging spirits.
Among the avenging spirits, about a third of them were human. The rest of them were from soul beasts. While some of them were from the land, most of them were aquatic soul beasts.
In the end, Huo Yuhao ask Ye Guyi to spare the mermaid avenging spirit.
The spirit was putting up a fierce struggle against Huo Yuhao’s spiritual interference domain. Its once beautiful face was now twisted by rage and hatred.
Huo Yuhao let out a long sigh before chanting a purification spell.
Huo Yuhao’s purification was a level above Ye Guyi’s because he himself had inherited the power from Electrolux.
A white light shone down from the skies and onto the mermaid avenging spirit.
At that very instant, the spirit stopped struggling as streams of black energy current separated from its soul. The hatred and anger which were written all over its face started to slowly disappear. Gradually, all that remained on its face was melancholy.
Huo Yuhao released his spiritual power and attempted to establish contact with the mermaid. However, the mermaid spirit merely looked at him as it gently shook its head. Its eyes were brimming with sadness, but one could tell that it was a kind of sadness which one possessed after coming to terms with one’s predicament.
The mermaid nodded gently before opening her mouth to sing a melody.
At this moment, the battle within the city had ended. Bei Bei, Xu Sanshi and Ji Juechen were all coming back from different directions. However, they all heard the mermaid spirit’s singing.
Her singing was beautiful, but sorrowful. It sounded as though she was sobbing as she shared her tragic story of being captured by the evil soul master through her song. Her spirit
started to release spots of white light during her singing. As her voice became brighter, her body started to become fainter.
Huo Yuhao sighed. After all, she had already become an avenging spirit! Even if he were to help her remove her vengeance, she was still unwilling to communicate with him. Nonetheless, her soul was purified, and she must be feeling a lot better now.
The mermaid’s singing lasted for a couple of minutes before diminishing to silence. As the last note was sung, everyone’s eyes were brimming with tears.
This mermaid spirit was particularly skilled in spiritual power. She was one of the strongest avenging spirits that the Myriad Soul Douluo had possessed. Now, during her last song, she was able to move everyone present.
The mermaid’s faint spiritual image turned around to face Huo Yuhao before bowing before him, as though she wanted to thank him for his help. Following which, a pale blue glow started to fly towards him. Once the glow started to move towards him, the spirit disintegrated into tiny white particles that vanished into thin air.
Huo Yuhao could sense the kindness from the mermaid spirit, and extended his hand to receive the blue light.
To his surprise, the blue light went through his palm before landing on his body. As the blue light enveloped him, Huo Yuhao felt as though he had been rinsed by warm water. He felt particularly refreshed, but nothing else other than that.
Huo Yuhao was confident that he would be able to detect any problems with his powerful spiritual energy if there were any. But from the way things looked, there didn’t seem to be any problem with the gift from the mermaid spirit.
The Abomination Douluo who was temporarily “spared” by Er Bai was naturally Huo Yuhao’s gift to Ye Guyi. Without hesitating, Ye Guyi moved over to finish him off with her holy sword.
The deaths of different evil soul masters gave her different degrees of improvement. Even though she gained a lot from the death of the Abomination Douluo, the power she gained was a lot less than what she had received from the Myriad Soul Douluo.
After putting her holy sword away, Ye Guti realized the holy fire that was burning around her body was almost beyond her control. Even Er Bai refused to be in close proximity to her.
“Thank you.” Ye Guyi thanked Huo Yuhao before walking straight to the spectral gate behind him. She had purified far too many avenging spirits, and her body was bursting with purified energy. She needed to train immediately to digest this energy, or it would be wasted.
The battle on the walls of the city was nearing its end. Under the combined attack of two hundred soul engineers, each at least a Soul Emperor, the resistance above the walls of the city was destroyed in no time. Even though they had tried to retaliate with their linked soul tools, which were controlled by fifty soul masters, their attack was very feeble, considering how they had to defend at the same time. They simply could not breach the linked defense set up by the Tang Sect Soul Engineer Legion.
The linked defense on the city wall was destroyed by the furious attacks of the Tang Sect Soul Engineer Legion.
However, He Caitou was saddened to see so many soul tools destroyed in the battle! They were all precious soul tools which were very valuable!
The large commotion at the city walls naturally attracted the attention of Eastern Sun City’s City Defense Army as they gravitated towards the walls. However, it was apparent that they would be of not much use. The Tang Sect Soul Engineer Legion spread out in the air as they fired at the main road which led to the city walls. The series of shots completely cut off the road the army was about to take to provide reinforcement to the walls without taking too many lives. Otherwise, it would just be a one-sided massacre if the army were to actually come into direct conflict with the soul engineer legion.
Bei Bei moved towards Huo Yuhao and said, “Who would have known that there would be two evil Titled Douluo? Fortunately, we had the two of you to take them down.” Even though he was mainly expressing his gratitude towards Huo Yuhao and Tang Wutong, he was also expressing his amazement at the current strength of the Tang Sect.
Even though he hadn’t managed to witness the full battle earlier, he could tell that Tang Wutong and Huo Yuhao had
won the battle fairly easily from their composed expressions.
The two of them were authentic Titled Douluo, and yet they could not put up a fight against Huo Yuhao and Tang Wutong. In fact, Huo Yuhao was even able to control the situation, and allow Ye Guyi to improve her cultivation. Compared to the battle at Oak City which had a few unexpected incidents, things went pretty smoothly this time. This exemplified how strong the Tang Sect had become.
After the past few battles, everyone, including Huo Yuhao and Tang Wutong, had a brand new understanding of their own abilities. Huo Yuhao and Tang Wutong could probably put up a fight against the Heavenly Sun Douluo—who was a Rank 97 Transcendent Douluo!
The advantage of using martial soul fusion skills on their top-class martial souls was becoming increasingly apparent as Huo Yuhao and Tang Wutong became stronger. At the same time, the gap between them and their peers was also becoming larger. Without the Qiankun Fortune Pills, the gap between them would probably have been larger.
“Senior brother, clear up the battlefield!” Huo Yuhao ordered He Caitou. This was He Caitou’s favourite part of the battle.
Following which, Huo Yuhao first located the equipment which was connected to the nearby aerial surveillance soul tools before shutting the surveillance soul tools down and bringing them in. Afterwards, he chanted his incantations to open a spectral gate and release the remaining two legions.
Of course, the soul engineers came out of the spectral demiplane without their soul tools. After all, the dismantling work only required human labor.
The battle at Eastern Sun City was different from the one back at the Ming Dou Mountain Range. Here, at the biggest city in the northern region of the Sun Moon Empire, Huo Yuhao and the others did not have to flee right after they attacked as they did at the Ming Dou Mountain Range. Even if news of their attack spread to other troops, it would take a long time for reinforcements to arrive. Thus, they could plunder the city at will.
He Caitou led the way as he dismantled every single possible soul tool in the area and brought them back into the spectral demiplane. In fact, he even led the soul engineers to the top of the city wall to scavenge rare metal bits from the ruins.
The sky had started to turn bright by the time they had finished dismantling and packing everything up.
The troops who were planning to attack Huo Yuhao and the others were also fairly rational. They knew they were unable to compete against the soul engineer legions, and hence they merely surrounded the area while they waited patiently for the reinforcements they had called for.
The mission was not over after clearing the area of any remaining soul tools. It was now the Tang Sect Soul Engineer Legion’s turn to perform.
Eastern Sun City’s seven storehouses were plundered by the legions as they transported large amounts of resources, especially food, into the spectral demiplane.
While Oak City was already considered a huge granary, it was nothing compared to Eastern Sun City. If the food in Oak City was to be compared to a small mountain, the food in Eastern Sun City could be an entire mountain range. In fact, the granary in Eastern Sun City had several special products from the Ice Sea, such as the skin of aquatic soul beasts, etc. There were plenty of resources and money for the legions to plunder.
It was only in the afternoon on the next day when the plundering operation ended. The thirty thousand soldiers were pinned down near the northern city gate by the Fort Soul Engineer Legion until the entire operation ended. Afterwards, the Fort Soul Engineer Legion left the city and headed north.
This operation affected more than just Eastern Sun City. It affected the entire northern region of the Sun Moon Empire.
The newly acquired resources had exceeded the two storehouses built within the spectral demiplane. They had no choice but to erect another two additional storehouses to contain them.
Right from the beginning of their mission, Huo Yuhao had never told the three legions to bring many rations. Their strategy was to fuel the next fight with their plunder from the previous fight.
The rations which they had plundered from these two cities was already sufficient for them to survive for three to five years without any worries.
The group of cultivators from the Tang Sect gathered on top of a small knoll in the spectral demiplane.
Huo Yuhao sighed and said, “It seems like we have underestimated the Sun Moon Empire!”
“What do you mean?” Jiang Nannan asked curiously.
Huo Yuhao said, “Actually, our initial predictions were correct. The number of troops stationed in the northern part of the Sun Moon Empire was actually very limited. In fact, they were not viewed with much importance. Nonetheless, we still faced relatively strong resistance from them. If we had not planned for an unprepared foe, we might not have won so
easily, especially with the number of soul tools they had. Hence, we must be extra careful with our subsequent operations. Also, after our two victories, I am certain the Sun Moon Empire will be responding with some sort of plan. Thus, we must be even more unpredictable with our next move in order to achieve the best effect.”
Bei Bei nodded and said, “Yuhao is correct. Our biggest advantage is this spectral demiplane. We are only able to move faster than any other troops because of it. In fact, we can probably appear at any corner of the continent within three days. Even if we can only launch a single shell at the enemy and flee, we can still achieve our objective. We must remember to not get entangled in a battle with our enemies. Yuhao, didn’t you want to take a walk in the Ice Sea?”
Huo Yuhao nodded and said, “Yes, I’m about to go and take a look. Hopefully, I will be able to leave with some takeaways. In the meantime, I need everyone to remain in the spectral demiplane. Regardless of the outcome of my trip to the Ice Sea, I will immediately head to the southern parts of the Sun Moon Empire. By shifting our attack from the north to the south, they will be completely lost as to where exactly we plan to strike. This will be a perfect way to cause panic in their backlines.”
Xu Sanshi frowned and said, “But the problem is that we don’t really know how we’re doing at the frontlines. If we can find out what’s going on there, we might be able to strike at the Sun Moon Empire more effectively.”
Bei Bei replied, “We shouldn’t be too greedy about these things. It’s already incredible for us to achieve what we have done. At least for now, the entire northern part of the Sun Moon Empire is a mess because of the food shortage we’ve created. The Sun Moon Empire must devote resources and attention to solving this problem. At the same time, they will have to try and uncover our tracks. I am sure this will help our friends at the frontline. Once we expand the range of our operations, I am certain that the Sun Moon Empire will become even more chaotic, and when that happens, they will have no choice but to retreat.”
Xu Sanshi asked, “Little junior brother, do you need me to follow you to the Ice Sea? I’m better with water. Judging from the camp the Sun Moon Empire had set up here, the aquatic soul beasts in the Ice Sea might cause you some problems. You need to be careful.”
Huo Yuhao replied, “You can rest assured, senior brother! Even in the worst case scenario, Wutong and I should be able to
retreat safely. Don’t forget, I have an Ultimate Ice martial soul. I do have a big advantage up here in the extreme north. If I need any help, I will summon all of you.”
Xu Sanshi did not bug Yuhao any longer. After all, Huo Yuhao and Tang Wutong were already a level above them in terms of fighting ability.
Ji Juechen, who had been keeping quiet at the side, suddenly asked, “Yuhao, when can we spar?” He had finally asked the question that had been on his mind for the longest period of time.
Just now during the battle, he did not face any formidable foes, but saw how Huo Yuhao was able to play around with the two evil soul masters. As a sparring maniac, how could he resist the temptation to ask Huo Yuhao to spar with him?
Huo Yuhao looked at him helplessly before replying, “Brother Ji, let’s talk about it some other time. For now, can I get everyone to go and get some rest? We will head to the Ice Sea after finishing our preparations.”
He did not want to spar with Ji Juechen now. Ji Juechen’s sword intent was no joke. Even if he were confident in his abilities, he still had to put in a hundred percent in order to beat Ji Juechen. Huo Yuhao did not want to waste energy on sparring right now. He still had plenty of work to do.
Ji Juechen frowned as he looked towards the other people around him.
Immediately, Bei Bei walked away and sat down before beginning his meditation. Xu Sanshi looked up at the sky as he whistled and strolled away with Jiang Nannan.
He Caitou smiled awkwardly at Ji Juechen before saying, “Don’t look at me. I’m a soul engineer, so I won’t be a good sparring partner for you. Actually, Ye Guyi should be a good partner. Her cultivation must have improved a lot after the previous battle. Why don’t you spar with her once she’s done with digesting the newly acquired energy?”
Ye Guyi was currently cultivating in the storehouse, and soul engineers had been stationed there to protect her.
Ji Juechen sighed in despair. Why is it so hard to find someone to spar with?! Everyone was now avoiding him. He improved the most from finding inspiration in his sparring or battles with strong opponents. It was not sufficient for him to train alone. No one desired a strong opponent more than him.
Then, someone whom no one had expected stood up.
“Why don’t I give it a try?” The voice was tender, but one could still detect a tinge of competitiveness in it.
Ji Juechen turned around, and was surprised to find out who had accepted his challenge.
The voice belonged to a female! But the person was not Tang Wutong—the strongest female soul master among them. She was also neither Jiang Nannan nor Ye Guyi. The person was also not Nan Qiuqiu, who was getting ready to watch the performance before her eyes. She was none other than Xiao Xiao—the one among Shrek’s Seven Monsters who rarely showed her abilities.
Yes, the person who stood up and agreed to spar with Ji Juechen was none other than Xiao Xiao.
The first person who expressed his shock was He Caitou. He frantically asked, “Xiao Xiao, what are you doing? Are you crazy? How could you challenge Juechen? His sword intent is not something he can control properly.”
Xiao Xiao glared angrily at him and said, “Why do you have such little confidence in me? Or are you just a chauvinist by heart?”
“Uhmmm…” He Caitou was lost for words after hearing her words. He was simply too doting towards her. Even though he might be really busy all the time, he was never stingy on the care and affection he had shown for Xiao Xiao. This also resulted in a lack of opportunities for Xiao Xiao to get her hands dirty.
The truth was that even though Xiao Xiao gave off the vibes of a little girl—especially among Shrek’s Seven Monsters—she was actually a little older than Huo Yuhao and Tang Wutong. In fact, the three of them had won the freshman competition together when they had just entered Shrek Academy.
Subsequently, she once again showed her abilities in the Continental Elite Youth Soul Master Tournament.
But after that time, Xiao Xiao rarely had the opportunity to spar and showcase her abilities. Even He Caitou did not know exactly how strong she had become.
Ji Juechen stared at Xiao Xiao, but he did not belittle her because of her size. Instead, his eyes showed the respect and wariness he had for any challenger.
Xiao Xiao stood there plainly, but did not seem to reveal any flaws in her stance.
Jue Jichen was an expert at finding flaws in an enemy’s stance. Once the enemy revealed a flaw, he or she would face the wrath of his torrential attacks.
However, Xiao Xiao seemed to have blended in with her surroundings. She was simply not exhibiting any flaws at all.
Xiao Xiao stared at Ji Juechen before announcing, “Brother Ji, can I challenge you?”
Ji Juechen hesitated a while before looking at Huo Yuhao, who was standing by the side.
Huo Yuhao nodded without any hesitation.
While the others might belittle Xiao Xiao, Huo Yuhao would never do so. A year ago, Xiao Xiao had already gained her own spirit with Huo Yuhao’s help. Besides, Huo Yuhao and Tang Wutong would never forget her true abilities.
Huo Yuhao was not the only control system soul master among the new generation of Shrek’s Seven Monsters. Xiao Xiao was the other one.
However, she had taken a different path from Huo Yuhao. Huo Yuhao had chosen to focus on controlling and attacking, whereas Xiao Xiao chose to dedicate her training to controlling and defending.
The rationale for these two different focuses was because of Huo Yuhao’s twin martial souls. His Spirit Eyes would focus on controlling, while the Ice Jade Empress Scorpion would focus on attacking.
Chapter 537: Ninephoenix Worshipping Flute
What about Xiao Xiao? In fact, she also possessed twin martial souls! Yes, Xiao Xiao, the girl who usually kept a low profile, was a soul master with twin martial souls. Among Shrek’s Seven Monsters, she was the third person, other than Huo Yuhao and Tang Wutong, who had twin martial souls. They were the cream of the crop among the new students of Shrek Academy back then.
Even though Xiao Xiao rarely sparred with anyone, that did not mean she was weak. Under the powerful effects of the Qiankun Fortune Pill, her cultivation had improved tremendously. Also, she was the direct disciple of Elder Xuan, who was an actual Ultimate Douluo! If he was willing to hand his teachings over to Huo Yuhao and Tang Wutong, why would he not teach his final disciple?
Hence, amongst everyone present, Huo Yuhao was undoubtedly the person who had the most confidence in her.
Seeing how Huo Yuhao had given his consent, Ji Juechen said, “Alright, let’s do it then.”
He Caitou became anxious as he tried to grab Xiao Xiao’s arm. “Xiao Xiao, you shouldn’t! This is too dangerous. What am I going to do if something bad happens to you?”
Xiao Xiao replied casually, “Then go and find another person!”
He Caitou was angered by her words. “What do you mean by ‘find another person’? I only want you. Besides, you have already done that to me. You must take responsibility.”
His words hit everyone like a bolt from the blue. After hearing He Caitou’s words, Xu Sanshi immediately pulled Jiang Nannan back as they returned to listen to the juicy gossip.
Bei Bei’s eyes also widened in disbelief, while Huo Yuhao and Tang Wutong looked at Xiao Xiao with a surprised expression.
Xiao Xiao immediately became the center of attention. She started blushing as she glared at He Caitou in a vicious manner. “Can you not spout rubbish? You’re spoiling my spiritual state.
You’re going to be responsible if I lose later. And stop asking weird questions like who will be responsible for you and who did what with you. If you continue to ask stupid questions like that, I will ignore you.”
After seeing Xiao Xiao blush, He Caitou frantically said, “How can you fight against Juechen when you’re so flustered now? Come, let’s go and cultivate by the side to calm your mind and heart down.”
As he spoke, he was about to pull Xiao Xiao away.
However, his pull was ineffective. Xiao Xiao’s feet seemed to be rooted to the ground. Of course, He Caitou would not use his real strength to pull her away. However, he could sense the determination in her to spar with Ji Juechen.
As he lowered his head to look at her, he was surprised by the look on her face.
Xiao Xiao’s eyes had grown calm, and the flustered look on her face had disappeared. What was left was a look of calmness and determination.
“Xiao Xiao, you…”
“Caitou.” Xiao Xiao’s voice was very gentle. “I know you treat me well and are afraid that I will get hurt. I understand how you feel towards me. But you must know that I will not only become your wife in the future. At the same time, I will still be a member of Shrek’s Seven Monsters! All these years, I have seen how Yuhao has fought countless battles in the north and the south. All of you have also been busy with projects within the Tang Sect. But what about me? Under your protection, I have been like a bird who is unable to spread her wings. I know you care for me and dote on me. But I do not want to be a flower in a greenhouse. And I have the abilities to not be a flower in a greenhouse. I can stay strong without your protection. I am not just your lover and partner. In times of war, I can be your companion who can fight alongside you and help everyone.”
“I have never cut myself any slack on my training in all these years. And I train hard because I want to help everyone on the battlefield. But all of you have subconsciously excluded me from any dangerous or challenging tasks. I want this to stop, and I want to prove to all of you that I, Xiao Xiao, also possess the ability to become a true member of Shrek’s Seven
Monsters. So please don’t stop me, Caitou! Let me prove it to you, alright?”
Xiao Xiao’s words silenced everyone as they started to ask themselves if that was truly the case. Jiang Nannan empathized with her words most strongly. Other than Tang Wutong, she was the only female among Shrek’s Seven Monsters along with Xiao Xiao. Even though Tang Wutong was able to fight alongside Huo Yuhao and had experienced so much, both Jiang Nannan and Xiao Xiao were always living under the care and protection of everyone else.
Hence, after hearing Xiao Xiao’s words, which resonated strongly in her heart, she let go of Xu Sanshi’s hand and walked towards Xiao Xiao. “Xiao Xiao, I support you.”
Xiao Xiao held Jiang Nannan’s hand and smiled. She was truly beautiful.
He Caitou was a little dazed after staring at her beautiful smile. It took him a while before he shook it off and revealed an understanding smile. He sighed before saying, “I am sorry, Xiao Xiao. I must have neglected your feelings.”
Xiao Xiao let go of Jiang Nannan’s hand before walking towards He Caitou. She actually dove into his embrace in front of everyone. “No, Caitou. I am really fortunate and blissful to have you. To be honest, I actually hesitated back then when I chose you. But afterwards, I understood how right I was to have chosen you. Caitou, I really enjoy receiving the care and concern you have for me. But I am so sad to see how hard you work every day. I really want to help you.”
He Caitou hugged her tightly as he stared at her lovingly.
Ji Juechen, who had been standing by the side, suddenly slapped his forehead and muttered, “Why do I suddenly feel like I’m the antagonist of this show?”
After hearing his words, everyone burst into laughter.
Bei Bei smiled and replied, “Brother Ju, you are truly the biggest antagonist in our Tang Sect. Who asked you to challenge people to fights every day?”
Ji Juechen sighed, “I don’t really have a choice. In order to improve, I must find people to spar with. I am terribly sorry if I
have inconvenienced you. But I will not change my ways, and will continue to challenge all of you to fights.”
“Then bring it on.” Xiao Xiao escaped from He Caitou’s embrace, and her eyes were already burning with her desire to win.
Ji Juechen nodded and said, “Xiao Xiao, I will not go easy on you because you’re a girl.”
“Who needs you to go easy on me? We don’t even know who will be victorious yet.” As she spoke, she moved to a position that placed her moderately far away from Ji Juechen and opposite him.
Now, no one would stop them from sparring. They slowly moved back to give them space.
Tang Wutong whispered into Huo Yuhao’s ear. “If Xiao Xiao loses, it will be my turn next, okay?”
Huo Yuhao smiled. “Are you itching to get into a battle after dealing with the two evil soul masters?”
Tang Wutong waved her little fist in front of Huo Yuhao and said, “Nope. I just want you men to know that us ladies are not that easy to bully. We are not weaker than men.”
Huo Yuhao smiled. “Why do I have the feeling that I am your real target instead of Brother Ji?”
Tang Wutong raised her head and replied, “If I were to challenge you to a duel, would you accept it?”
Huo Yuhao was shocked. “You’re not being serious, right?”
Tang Wutong replied, “Why not? Yuhao, don’t you feel like you can’t find your own limits after our previous closed-door cultivation? It’s bad for us to not be able to accurately determine how strong we are. We will not be able to decide on the most effective way to deal with our enemies. Actually, Brother Ji’s cultivation method has many areas that are worth learning from. Regardless of what abilities we possess, we are
only able to truly understand those abilities by sparring and exercising them.”
Huo Yuhao mulled over her words before saying, “What you say makes sense. But I don’t think I can get myself to attack you…”
Tang Wutong burst into laughter and said, “Don’t worry. I’ll go easy on you.”
“Are you so certain that you can beat me?” Huo Yuhao asked with raised eyebrows.
“Of course,” Tang Wutong answered proudly, “Don’t forget I’m already a Titled Douluo, while you’re still a Soul Douluo.”
“But I also have a soul core,” Huo Yuhao replied, “this makes me pretty similar to a Titled Douluo!”
Tang Wutong said, “If you don’t agree with me, you can always challenge me!”
Huo Yuhao said, “So be it. Let’s do it after Xiao Xiao and Brother Ji are done.”
During their conversation, the way they stared into each other’s eyes seemed as though they were about to launch into a brawl. But it only stayed that way for a short while before both of them burst into laughter.
Yes! No matter what, they would never really fight with one another. Nonetheless, both of them were still fairly competitive. In fact, they were both really excited at the prospect of sparring with one another. It was exactly because they understood each other so well that they could not be certain who would emerge victorious.
Ji Juechen and Xiao Xiao faced each other and, without communicating, both of them took a few steps back. Since it was a proper spar, it had to be fair. Both of them retreated until there were about fifty meters between them. Xiao Xiao specialized in mid-range combat, while Ji Juechen was most adept at close quarters. If the distance was too far, it would not be fair to Ji Juechen. If it were too close, it would be unfair to Xiao Xiao.
Fifty meters was just nice for both of them. Both Ji Juechen and Xiao Xiao stood upright and stared at each other. Xiao Xiao once again radiated a calm aura, as though she was becoming one with her surroundings.
This time, Ji Juechen was not the only one who felt that Xiao Xiao’s abilities were unpredictable. Even her other companions could sense it.
Bei Bei could not help but nod. That’s right! Regardless of whether it’s Xiao Xiao or Jiang Nannan, all of us have grown a lot. Even they are no longer little girls who everyone needs to protect. They can all take on the world themselves.
Xiao Xiao’s soul rings started to rise from her feet. Her first soul ring was yellow, but the subsequent ones were all black. All seven of her rings hung quietly around her as a flute appeared in her hands. The first martial soul which she released was not her main martial soul, the Threelives Soulcrush Cauldron, but her second martial soul—the Ninephoenix Worshipping Flute.
Xiao Xiao waved her Ninephoenix Worshipping Flute, and her seven soul rings were drawn by the motion of the flute, and contracted before falling onto it.
Ji Juechen, who was standing opposite her, unsheathed his Judgement Sword. Just as he had said, he would not go easy on his opponents because of their gender.
Ji Juechen revealed a determined look on his face as he wielded his sword with both hands. As he pointed the tip of the sword to the ground, he was able to conceal his aura. At that very instant, everyone could sense that his life energy had disappeared. Even though he was standing right in front of them, it was as if he was not there at all. Even Huo Yuhao, who possessed incredibly powerful spiritual energy, could not detect him.
Even though they were not able to sense his presence, they could sense the energy from his sword. The Judgement Sword might not be reflecting any light, but it gave off the impression of a volcano that was about to erupt at any moment.
Xiao Xiao had never once sparred with Ji Juechen. This time, she finally experienced the immense pressure that one would have to face by standing before this sword fanatic. No wonder no one wanted to spar with him. His sword intent was simply out of this world.
Before making her move, Xiao Xiao already felt as though her entire person was imprisoned within a huge sword. And within the huge sword, there seemed to be hundreds and thousands of smaller swords which threatened to shred her to pieces.
What a powerful sword intent! Is this how it feels to go up against the sword of the sword fanatic?
At that instant, Xiao Xiao emanated a mysterious glow. Her small figure suddenly gave off an impressive aura which resembled that of a humongous mountain.
At that moment, it seemed as though her body could decide the fate of her country. Even Ji Juechen’s incredibly powerful sword intent was shattered when it reached a distance of ten meters from her. Xiao Xiao’s body was enveloped by a black glow which contained countless runes.
Ji Juechen almost lost his balance after his sword intent was shattered.
His face twitched a little after realizing what had just happened. He was seldom caught off-guard—even when he faced Huo Yuhao. He had toned down his sword intent, and no longer released it overtly.
Yes, Xiao Xiao had actually won their opening battle, in which Ji Juechen had pitted his sword intent against her aura!
Xiao Xiao’s aura could only be described as overwhelming!
It could overwhelm people, and even overwhelm the destiny and aura of a country. That was the power of the cauldron. The true cauldron could suppress and overwhelm any aura!
Hence, regardless of how powerful the opponent’s aura was, there was only one possible outcome. Their aura would be overwhelmed and suppressed by the cauldron. Hence, Xiao Xiao was near invincible when it came to comparing the
strength of one’s aura. That was the mystical power of the Threelives Soulcrush Cauldron.
Despite releasing her Ninephoenix Worshipping Flute, Xiao Xiao used the power of her Threelives Soulcrush Cauldron. This showed that she had developed incredible control over two martial souls.
At this very instant, her eyes brightened like shiny stars as she released a frightening amount of spiritual power.
Just when Ji Juechen was trying to find his balance, she started blowing her Ninephoenix Worshipping Flute.
A sad but melodic tune started to emerge from the end of her flute. The air around them started to become very viscous. The first soul ring on Xiao Xiao’s flute started to sparkle as its glow pulsed. The viscous air appeared to have been saturated by boundless fluid. Even the people who were spectating from the outside felt weighed down by the “heavy” air around them.
Delay! It was the first technique of the Ninephoenix Worshipping Flute.
Even though it was exactly the same technique, its power was already completely different from what it was the last time she had showed it to the group.
Back then, when Xiao Xiao executed this skill against her opponent, it could only slightly delay her opponent’s movements. But now, her soul skill was actually capable of making people struggle to move.
Ji Juechen stood there without moving. His aura might have been suppressed by Xiao Xiao previously, but he chose not to move even when he was up against her Delay. Since he was not moving, the soul skill did not affect him much.
Xiao Xiao’s eyes remained focused on Ji Juechen as she changed the flute’s melody.
The melancholic tune suddenly became gentle and bright. As the new tune emerged from the flute, one could see ripples of jade-green light emanating from Xiao Xiao’s body. These ripples were like circles of thread which expanded towards Ji Juechen as they attempted to entangle him.
Initially, they appeared to just be circles of light, but when they got closer to Ji Juechen, they suddenly solidified to become material. They seemed to be like rings which were trying to bind and trap him.
Nonetheless, Ji Juechen chose to stay where he was. But just when the rings were about to ensnare him, they shattered to bits and pieces and fell to the ground. They were unable to restrict him at all.
The Ninephoenix Worshipping Flute’s second soul skill— Binding Ring!
This soul skill could be executed in a simple or complex fashion. It possessed a powerful binding ability, but its powers seemed to have lost their effect when they came into contact with Ji Juechen’s sword intent.
Xiao Xiao’s face did not reveal any emotional change after witnessing the disintegration of her binding rings. She carried on with her flute playing as more rings started to gravitate towards Ji Juechen. Other than this, she did not seem to be casting any other soul skill. It appeared that she was hoping to drag the battle on in this manner.
After witnessing what Xiao Xiao was doing, Huo Yuhao nodded from the side of the sparring area. Xiao Xiao’s strategy was sound. By suppressing Ji Juechen’s aura with her advantage right from the start, Ji Juechen was unable to increase the power and range of his aura.
Aura was an extremely important component within Ji Juechen’s sword intent. If his aura were to be increased to its maximum, his attack would become incredibly piercing and penetrating. What Xiao Xiao was doing now was dragging out the battle to expend his soul power and determination.
It was important to note that Xiao Xiao’s soul power was not weaker than Ji Juechen’s. Even though Ji Juechen was almost at Rank 90, his martial soul was just a normal martial soul. He had only become strong because of his unique understanding of sword intent and the Judgement Sword—a powerful Class 8 soul tool—which he wielded.
Compared to Ji Juechen, Xiao Xiao possessed twin martial souls. Her second martial soul had seven rings, and that would only strengthen her first martial soul. Even though her total amount of soul power might be less than Ji Juechen’s, it was only slightly less. Besides, the possession of a strong martial
soul would allow a soul master to recover more quickly. When it came to this, Xiao Xiao definitely had an advantage. Hence, even though it seemed unwise for her to drag the battle out, it was actually a good move. Ji Juechen had no chance to showcase the explosiveness of his sword intent.
If he were to force his sword intent towards Xiao Xiao, he would expose himself to her attacks. In fact, as of now, Xiao Xiao did not have any flaws or gaps which he could take advantage of. Hence, Ji Juechen seemed to be at a disadvantage currently.
As their battle wore on, everyone held their breath as they waited for the next event to unfold.
Ji Juechen’s soul rings were unspectacular—they were just the ordinary soul rings. Nonetheless, he seemed very calm and collected as he stood still where he was. It was as though there was nothing in this world which he needed to be concerned about.
Even though Xiao Xiao looked like a girl who would be flustered easily, she was similarly calm and collected. She might not appear to have frozen still like Ji Juechen, but she
was still very stable and relaxed, as though everything was under her control. She continued to apply pressure on Ji Juechen, keeping him from releasing his aura.
Bei Bei, He Caitou and Xu Sanshi revealed expressions of disbelief. They were certain that they might not be able to face Ji Juechen with this amount of composure!
Xiao Xiao, have you really become this strong?
Jiang Nannan clenched her fists as she rooted for Xiao Xiao in her heart. She was especially happy to see her showcase her true abilities.
Very quickly, five minutes passed. Both of them were still in their original positions. If they were to continue in this fashion, it would probably take close to a day before they would finish expending all of their soul power.
Ji Juechen frowned as he looked at the situation before him. This was not the feeling he wanted. He would have preferred his opponent to pressure him directly. Instead, Xiao Xiao was using her binding rings to harass him. He felt as though he was
sinking into a marsh instead of fighting a fearsome battle. However, he was unable to detect any flaws or gaps in his opponent’s defence. If he were to strike haphazardly, he would expose himself to her.
However, he knew it was definitely disadvantageous for him to drag the battle on like this!
If there’s no gap or hole in your defence, I shall find one, or even create one! So what if there’s a hole in my defence? Let’s see who will strike first!
After making up his mind, Ji Juechen suddenly took a step forward with his left foot before stamping violently on the ground.
The silence stopped instantly as an unbelievably sharp sword intent formed from Ji Juechen’s body. The sword intent was greyish black, and its sudden appearance shattered all of the binding rings which had just been released by the Ninephoenix Worshipping Flute. That powerful sword intent flew away from Ji Juechen and zoomed towards Xiao Xiao. In the blink of an eye, it was already right in front of her, and was ready to tear her apart.
However, the moment Ji Juechen made his move, Xiao Xiao had already reacted to it. The flute in her hands suddenly released a piercing howl.
Following which, her body became illusory as she split in two. Even though the sword intent had locked onto her, it went straight through her illusory figure, and did not harm her at all. After that, it was Xiao Xiao’s time to retaliate.
Right after the greyish black sword intent passed through her, a jade-green image flew out of the Ninephoenix Worshipping Flute and reached Ji Juechen almost instantly.
Ji Juechen slashed the Judgement Sword upwards, and a formidable sword aura steamrolled towards the image of the jade-green phoenix.
The sword aura seemed to embody justice as it collided head- on with the green phoenix. However, the unexpected happened. Instead of shattering, the green phoenix magically melted and flowed along the sides of the sword aura as it continued to travel towards Ji Juechen.
That’s right. It flowed like a fluid before the green phoenix splashed onto Ji Juechen’s body.
At this juncture, everyone had started to gain a better appreciation of the situation.
Even though Xiao Xiao could not match Ji Juechen, she was probably not too far away from him. There was also an additional reason why she dared to challenge him today. It was because he was not familiar with her.
In fact, not many people within Tang Sect knew what soul skills Xiao Xiao possessed.
After witnessing this Ninephoenix Worshipping Flute’s soul skills, Bei Bei, Xu Sanshi and the rest were all surprised. What is this soul skill? It seems like it’s going to be very difficult to get away from the green light.
Ji Juechen definitely experienced the difficulty firsthand.
When he first saw the jade-green phoenix fly towards him, he thought that this would be an attack-type soul skill. However, he knew his guess was wrong the moment the sword aura pierced through the jade-green phoenix.
He expected his sharp sword aura to shatter the phoenix upon contact. However, the soul skill did not end with its shattering. In fact, it had been agitated.
The stream of jade-green light, which was very much like a viscous fluid, landed on Ji Juechen’s body instantly. It seemed to have been drawn to his sword aura. However, Ji Juechen
knew that it was only drawn to him because Xiao Xiao had locked it onto him. Otherwise, it would not have come straight to him.
As the jade-green light melted into his body, he felt his entire body become heavier. It was as though he had just put on a thousand-pound suit of armor, and had lost all of his agility.
In fact, he even realized that his blood flow and soul power had become sluggish. It was as though his entire person had become very sluggish and slow.
What a powerful soul skill! What exactly is it?
This was a question which only Xiao Xiao could answer. Its name was Phoenix Seal—a sealing technique from the Ninephoenix Worshipping Flute.
This soul skill was very powerful because of how indestructible it was. Unless it was obliterated on all fronts, it was practically unstoppable. Once it came into contact with an opponent, he or she would be in serious trouble. The jade- green Phoenix Seal would stick itself to the person like cotton
candy. It would require an unreal amount of soul power to dissolve. Xiao Xiao had been trying to expend Ji Juechen’s soul power right from the beginning. Now that her seal had landed on him, it would only accelerate the rate at which he was forced to burn his soul power.
After landing the seal on Ji Juechen’s body successfully, Xiao Xiao was over the moon, and the tune which she was blowing with her flute became even more melodic.
Warm halos were now being released from the Ninephoenix Worshipping Flute. These halos transformed into jade-green phoenixes as they flew towards Ji Juechen.
What a remarkable control-type soul skill! Everyone thought to themselves as they marvelled at Xiao Xiao’s technique. Xiao Xiao’s Ninephoenix Worshipping Flute could have been equipped with attacking-type soul skills. But from the looks of the soul skills which she had executed, all of them seemed to be control-type. This also meant that she had dedicated her entire second martial soul to control-type soul skills. It was apparent that she chose to do this for the team.
As an owner of twin martial souls, her Threelives Soulcrush Cauldron was already a defense-type control-type martial soul. If she were to only care about herself, she could have dedicated her second martial soul to attacking-type soul skills. This would have made her a more balanced soul master.
But Xiao Xiao did not choose to do that. Instead, she chose to focus purely on control-type soul skills on her second martial soul. This was a team-oriented decision. Because her boyfriend
—He Caitou—was already skilled in attacking-type soul skills, it would make perfect sense for her to focus on control-type skills to complement him, and improve their overall fighting power.
At this instant, Ji Juechen’s eyes suddenly brightened. He knew very well what kind of predicament he was in. Since Xiao Xiao did not stop releasing the phoenix seals, this meant that the effects of her seals could be compounded.
While he remained there, Ji Juechen’s aura suddenly changed. An indescribably sharp aura suddenly surged out from his body.
At that very instant, even the light from his Judgement Sword was covered by the aura surging out from him. Ji Juechen had transformed into a long sword with an unparalleled aura exploding from his body.
Xiao Xiao’s eyes were blurred by the sudden outburst of Ji Juechen’s aura. Following which, Ji Juechen made his move. Countless sword auras surged from his body as though they were gushing out from every pore. A faint green energy was also ejected from his body along with the sword auras. The first phoenix seal had been broken.
Ji Juechen lifted the Judgement Sword as though he was conducting the millions of sword auras which had been released from his body. Immediately, they formed a powerful wave which swept towards Xiao Xiao.
The greyish black sword auras were like a hurricane which swept across the ground that separated Xiao Xiao and Ji Juechen. The jade-green phoenixes which stood in the way of the huge hurricane were instantly shattered as they vanished into thin air.
Ji Juechen was able to turn the tables in a single move. Also, he was able to lock on his aura onto Xiao Xiao.
Xiao Xiao’s face was visibly paler. She could no longer sense her energy from Ji Juechen’s body. Naturally, her methods would no longer be effective on him. Instead, she felt an unparalleled murderous intent from him.
This murderous intent did not have a material form, but Xiao Xiao was certain that it existed. At that very instant, she felt as though every single pore on her body had been shut by the killing intent exhibited by Ji Juechen. The effect of the intent was so strong that her flute playing stopped momentarily.
Following which, Ji Juechen made his move. He flew towards Xiao Xiao at lightning speed like a sharp sword tearing up the sky.
This was Executioner’s Blade—Ji Juechen’s most commonly used ability. It was a soul skill which he had invented by himself. This soul skill was often able to create miracles during battles, and had an attacking power that was unparalleled by other soul masters on his level.
Xiao Xiao was startled by the sight before her, but she did not step back. This was undoubtedly a wise decision. She stopped playing the Ninephoenix Worshipping Flute, and instead she waved it in the air as though it were a short baton. After waving her flute, her delicate body once again became illusory. It was apparent that she had used the same soul skill which she had used to avoid Ji Juechen’s previous attack.
Phoenix Substitution!
In addition, the seventh soul ring on the Ninephoenix Worshipping Flute also started to shine.
As the Executioner’s Blade collided with its target, once again, it only managed to slash at Xiao Xiao’s illusory figure. The most powerful thing about the Phoenix Substitution was its ability to allow its user to break free from a lock on by his or her opponent. Even Ji Juechen’s sword intent could not strike Xiao Xiao.
However, this time round, Ji Juechen was attacking with his own body. Hence, he stopped right next to Xiao Xiao’s real body after destroying the illusory figure.
The Judgement Sword’s light became more intense as dense black energy instantly surged around it. As Ji Juechen released his fearsome sword aura, the air around it started to crack and shatter.
Ji Juechen knew that no soul skill could be continuously executed without stopping. Hence, he launched his attack precisely at the moment when Xiao Xiao was no longer able to use her Phoenix Substitution to evade his attack.
However, something unexpected happened.
Xiao Xiao’s body transformed into a streak of green light before melting into the Ninephoenix Worshipping Flute. Following which, the flute released a bright phoenix screech as it opened its own humongous pair of green wings and transformed into a flying green phoenix.
At the same time, a large green ring descended from the sky and bound Ji Juechen’s body. Even though it was shattered almost immediately by Ji Juechen’s dominating sword aura, it gave the green phoenix sufficient time to fly away.
The green phoenix was actually the Ninephoenix Worshipping Flute’s martial soul true body!
Once again, Xiao Xiao was able to surprise her peers with her soul skills.
The flying green phoenix extended its wings before flapping them intensely as the sixth soul ring on its body started to glow. Following which, a green light descended from the sky.
These green shadows looked like pillars from afar. However, once they landed, everyone realized that they were replicas of the Ninephoenix Worshipping Flute. Every single one of them had been magnified by at least ten times. The carvings of the nine phoenixes on it were particularly delicate.
After landing on the ground, those pillars became frozen, as though they were structures which had been there all along.
Ji Juechen’s body was originally poised to chase after Xiao Xiao. However, after the pillars landed, he found that he could not move.
Phoenix Pillars!
This was her sixth soul skill!
The effect of these pillars was incredibly strong. After the skill was executed, there seemed to be an incredible attraction wherever the pillars covered. This force of attraction was not gravity, but sound waves. It was an unbelievably strong sound wave which was similar to the cry of a phoenix. The sound wave exploded from bottom to top within the regions where the pillars lined themselves up. Every single pillar was producing a deafening sound wave which could cause a person to lose his or her concentration. If a weaker cultivator were to find himself within the pillars, he would probably have been shattered by the sound waves.
As the green phoenix in the sky flapped its wings again, the sound waves released by the phoenix pillars grew in intensity. If one were to pay attention to them, one would notice faint ripples in the air.
Attacking with sound waves was the Ninephoenix Worshipping Flute’s true trump card. All its previous soul skills
used sound waves, but their use was not as apparent as the Phoenix Pillars.
This time around, Ji Juechen was truly bound by the sound waves, as his body trembled under their effect. The sound waves were everywhere, and there was no chance of evading them. It was the first time he was going up against an attack like this, and he could not adapt to it in time. While his body was shaking under the powerful sound waves, he was busy trying to muster the sword auras around him as he tried to free himself from the impact of the sound waves.
Chapter 538: Huo Yuhao VS Tang Wutong
Xiao Xiao’s Ninephoenix Worshipping Flute might only have seven soul rings, but they were all ten-thousand-year soul rings, except for the one yellow hundred-year soul ring, which she had added back during the freshman competition to help Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong’er.
The reason why she used her Ninephoenix Worshipping Flute instead of her Threelives Soulcrush Cauldron was that everyone was familiar with her flute. At the same time, her flute granted her immense controlling power.
Even Huo Yuhao’s Spirit Eyes were not a pure control-type martial soul, but Xiao Xiao’s Ninephoenix Worshipping Flute was.
Back then, when Elder Xuan was mentoring her, he once told her how the simplest method to become a truly powerful soul master was to become the best at a certain field. Regardless of what field it was, as long as one was able to become the best in that area, he or she would possess immense power!
Apparently, Xiao Xiao had subscribed to that belief, and had persisted with her decision. And reality showed that she had succeeded. By using the powerful controlling ability of her Ninephoenix Worshipping Flute, she was actually able to restrain Ji Juechen.
The green phoenix in the sky tucked its wings in, and Xiao Xiao reappeared in mid-air. Following which, a huge black cauldron appeared.
When this cauldron appeared, the number of soul rings on Xiao Xiao’s body increased from seven to eight!
That’s right! Xiao Xiao had already attained the rank of a Soul Douluo! Her primary martial soul already had eight soul rings. She was now a powerful eight-ringed Soul Douluo with the Threelives Soulcrush Cauldron.
As the fifth soul ring on Xiao Xiao’s body lit up, the Threelives Soulcrush Cauldron expanded furiously against the wind. The matte black cauldron seemed to embody immense authority as the surrounding air became increasingly dense and heavy. The cauldron seemed to have transformed into a
humongous mountain as the people from the Tang Sect felt the immense pressure radiating from it.
The cauldron floated over Ji Juechen as it started to release a humming sound. It released countless humongous runes which started to circle around it.
At this instant, Ji Juechen, who was stuck within the formation formed by the phoenix pillars, seemed to have become frozen as he quietly stood where he was. However, his whole body had transformed into a greyish black color.
Even though the sound waves from the phoenix pillars continued to attack him, they were unable to penetrate his defense. At this instant, Xiao Xiao felt an inexplicable sense of danger. Even though she seemed to have the upper-hand over Ji Juechen, she did not feel as though she had an advantage over him. Instead, she felt very uncomfortable, as though something ominous was about to happen.
Xiao Xiao released a low growl as she pointed in the direction of the cauldron with her right hand. At that instant, the Threelives Soulcrush Cauldron released a loud and powerful humming sound as it dropped from the sky toward Ji Juechen.
A powerful black light was also ejected from the mouth of the cauldron. Endless authority descended from the heavens as the black pillar of light struck Ji Juechen ahead of the cauldron.
This was the fifth soul skill of Xiao Xiao’sThreelives Soulcrush Cauldron—Threelives Soulcrush. It was a powerful sealing soul skill which acted directly on the body and the soul.
Previously, with the help of the Threelives Soulcrush, Xiao Xiao was actually able to seal a powerful evil soul master and contribute to the team’s success.
However, the person she was facing now was Ji Juechen. The sword fanatic, Ji Juechen!
A bright cry escaped Ji Juechen’s mouth, following which, a matte black sword light erupted from the ground like black ink.
Both the Threelives Soulcrush and the sword light from Ji Juechen were black.
The two black forces collided with a humongous impact.
Ji Juechen’s figure rose up into the sky like a dragon ascending to the heavens. However, the Threelives Soulcrush Cauldron had vanished in that instant.
That’s right, it had somehow vanished.
The cauldron which was falling rapidly had disappeared without any warning. However, if one were to pay attention to Xiao Xiao, one would notice the sly smile that had formed on her face.
A humongous cauldron sneakily appeared below Ji Juechen’s feet. The same black pillar enveloped and trapped Ji Juechen after he had exploded up into the sky with his maximum effort.
Ji Juechen was caught in that moment when he had just exerted strength on a previous soul skill, and was recovering his energy for the next blow. Hence, his body froze upon
contact with the Threelives Soulcrush as he was sealed in mid- air.
A small thing that resembled a lizard rested itself silently on Xiao Xiao’s shoulder. This thing seemed to be a little strange, as it looked different from a normal lizard. However, because it was hidden within a ball of dark light, no one could see its true appearance.
Nonetheless, it was its existence that allowed the Threelives Soulcrush technique to suddenly change positions. This allowed Xiao Xiao to trick Ji Juechen into exposing himself to her attacks.
After the Threelives Soulcrush was completed, the matte black cauldron suddenly expanded before releasing a powerful suction force. Ji Juechen was sucked into the cauldron.
The eighth ring on Xiao Xiao’s body lit up, and nine humongous golden runes fell from the sky onto the cauldron. Instantly, the black cauldron was dyed a uniform golden color as it dropped to the ground!
The phoenix pillars disappeared, leaving only the cauldron sparkling on the ground. The ten golden runes on the cauldron glowed intensely in an intermittent fashion, as though they were trying to resist powerful blows from within.
Xiao Xiao floated back to the ground as she looked at the commotion before her with surprise. Even though she might have beaten Ji Juechen, she knew that she had not won by ability. She was only able to defeat him because of her tactics.
Ji Juechen was simply too unfamiliar with her abilities. Conversely, Xiao Xiao had watched so many of his spars with the others. Hence, she possessed a superior understanding of his abilities.
Ji Juechen’s final attack—his Sword Fanatic Domain—was undoubtedly his greatest skill. Xiao Xiao’s prior control was simply her way of waiting for that moment to come. When Ji Juechen launched his most powerful attack, it was also the time when he was most vulnerable to any form of attack. If he were to fail to land a blow in a single attempt, his aura and sword intent would drastically decrease.
Xiao Xiao had been waiting for this opportunity all along. Of course, she understood that Ji Juechen could have directed his final attack at her instead of her Threelives Soulcrush Cauldron. Even though he would most definitely get hurt, she would also not be able to escape unscathed. The truth was that even though Ji Juechen was a sword fanatic, he would still not put his own people in danger.
Xiao Xiao raised her right hand as the Threelives Soulcrush Cauldron transformed into a streak of light before returning to her body. A deafening sword aura flickered as Ji Juechen reappeared within the spectral demiplane.
He looked slightly ragged after reappearing. There were many holes in his clothes, and his face seemed to be slightly pale. However, the spark in his eyes showed that he was actually very excited.
The scariest thing about the sword fanatic was how he was not afraid of losing. In fact, the more he lost, the more excited he would become. That was why everyone had a headache when facing him. The more they tried to put him down, the more he wanted to fight them.
“I have lost. That was very impressive!” Ji Juechen nodded as he looked at Xiao Xiao.
Xiao Xiao shook her head and said, “No. I definitely can’t compare to you when it comes to our true abilities. You only lost because you did not understand my skills well enough. Also, you chose to go easy on me instead of putting me in harm’s way. When we fight the next time, I will definitely lose to you. I can sense that you haven’t even released your full fighting power.”
Ji Juechen shook his head and said, “It’s still a loss at the end of the day. I can sense that you did not go all-out on me either. It would be very difficult to say who would win if we were to fight to the death. But that would only result in serious injuries for both of us.”
Ji Juechen’s words were usually very objective. Hence, his praise had elevated Xiao Xiao to a new status. It meant a lot about Xiao Xiao’s ability when she was able to hold her own against the sword fanatic.
He Caitou gaped as he stared at Xiao Xiao. “Xiao Xiao, I can’t believe how strong you’ve become. If we were to battle within a
fixed physical range, I might not even be able to beat you.”
Xiao Xiao waved her little fist at He Caitou and said, “So you better watch out! If you dare bully me in the future, I’ll make sure I put you down.”
He Caitou gave her an awkward smile and said, “You are the one who’s bullying me every day now! When have I ever bullied you? Look, you even bit me yesterday.” Following which, he revealed a mark on his shoulder.
Xiao Xiao’s face became red as she turned and fled. The people who were listening to their conversation burst into laughter.
“Alright, now that they’re done, it’s our turn!” Tang Wutong’s voice attracted everyone’s attention. They were confused about what she meant.
Ji Juechen’s eyes lit up as he leapt forward. “Yes, let’s do it!”
Huo Yuhao laughed angrily before saying, “Hey! Hey! Hey! I’m not letting you fight my wife. Besides, I don’t think you can withstand her blows for even a minute with the current state you’re in. My wife is no pushover.”
As he clarified, he stepped onto the sparring ground with Tang Wutong.
Bei Bei looked at him and asked, “Little junior brother, what are you trying to do?”
Huo Yuhao sighed and replied, “Wutong was very inspired by what she saw, and mentioned to me how females should not be discriminated against. Hence, she challenged me to a duel.”
“Cough! Cough!” Even though a mocking look formed on Bei Bei’s face, he did not dare to say anything. From the look in his eyes, he seemed to be saying, “Good luck, buddy!”
Xu Sanshi did not seem to fear anything as he egged Huo Yuhao on, “Little junior brother, go for it! You must fight for all the men in the world.”
Jiang Nannan rolled her eyes and said, “It seems like you’re quite a chauvinist, eh? Come, fight with me!”
Xu Sanshi shook his head fervently before saying, “No way. Forget about it. Use your sleeping technique only after we return to our room. I promise I will definitely not resist.”
Jiang Nannan launched herself into the air as she kicked Xu Sanshi. However, she was already blushing.
Tang Wutong moved to the side of the sparring ground on her own. Huo Yuhao was also in no mood to care about what the others were talking about. Because he had been cultivating with Tang Wutong every day, he had a rough understanding of her ability. However, he had never faced her when she was in full fighting mode.
Before, when he duelled with Wang Qiu’er, it was already very difficult for him to defeat her. Currently, Tang Wutong’s current ability seemed to be a combination of Wang Qiu’er’s and Wang Dong’er’s abilities. She was also already a Titled Douluo. When it came to individual abilities, she was probably the strongest in the whole Tang Sect. Even though Huo Yuhao was boosted by his multiple spirits, he could not be complacent when going up against her.
After seeing how he had been excluded from this upcoming affair, Ji Juechen retreated to the side unwillingly. However, he was still very excited to watch a battle between two powerful cultivators. Watching their battle was still very useful for his cultivation.
After Ji Juechen retreated, Huo Yuhao took up his place as he allowed his energy to calm down. As he watched Tang Wutong, who was walking further and further away, he started to focus on his target.
Bei Bei, Xu Sanshi, He Caitou, and the others stopped fooling around. Xiao Xiao had quietly returned as she took up a place
beside He Caitou.
To be honest, everyone knew well enough that the two strongest cultivators in Tang Sect were none other than Huo Yuhao and Tang Wutong. However, they were not certain exactly how strong these two were.
When Huo Yuhao teamed up with Tang Wutong to pin down the two evil soul masters, they had fully demonstrated the power of their martial soul fusion skills. However, that was still fundamentally different from facing off against one another.
One-on-one battles were the true demonstration of an individual’s abilities. It would show everyone how strong they had become, and that was something that everyone from Tang Sect wanted to know.
Nan Qiuqiu, who was standing to one side moved over to talk to Tang Wutong. She waved her fist and cheered, “Wutong, go for it! Beat him! Beat him until he loses all his teeth.”
Huo Yuhao was at a loss for words. “Qiuqiu, do you really hate me that much?”
Nan Qiuqiu replied, “This is no longer an issue of hatred. It’s about the battle between the sexes. Ladies, am I right?”
Her words received support from her fellow ladies.
Xu Sanshi then cheered loudly, “Yuhao, you can do it. Brother Ji has already lost the first round. You must not lose again! If you lose, I am afraid every male in Tang Sect will have to walk around with our heads lowered.”
Huo Yuhao sighed. That’s easy for you to say. I don’t think it will be an easy fight against Wutong!
At this moment, Tang Wutong had already walked to a distance which would separate her from Huo Yuhao by about a hundred meters. When she turned around to face Huo Yuhao, her beautiful eyes showed the excitement in her heart. No one knew whether she was excited to fight, or excited by the prospect of destroying Huo Yuhao.
Huo Yuhao focused his gaze on Tang Wutong. Bei Bei walked forward a few steps before declaring, “I will be the referee for this duel. Are both of you ready?”
Compared to the previous duel between Ji Juechen and Xiao Xiao, this duel was obviously a lot more formal.
As of now, the higher-ups of Tang Sect were not the only spectators. After hearing the commotion above the knoll, many of the soul engineers from the three legions had left their resting areas and surrounded the knoll to watch the upcoming duel.
After hearing that they were about to witness a duel between Huo Yuhao and Tang Wutong, all of them were visibly more excited than the duelists themselves.
Most of the soul engineers in the Tang Sect Soul Engineer Legion, the Fort Soul Engineer Legion, and the Heavy Artillery Soul Engineer Legion were young people. Even the older ones were only middle-aged. They were all people who were full of bloodlust, and were raring to watch people fight. They were extremely interested to watch a battle between two top-class soul masters.
Besides, quite a number of people within the legions had witnessed Huo Yuhao demonstrate his abilities during the Sea God’s Fated Blind Date. It was also then that he got together with Tang Wutong.
Even people who were not fortunate enough to see them at the Blind Date would have definitely heard about them. Now, they were about to watch them duel in front of their eyes. It was an opportunity not to be missed! As people quickly passed the message about the duel that was about to start, a large number of soul engineers had surrounded the sparring ground. Even though they were keeping a safe distance from the actual ground itself, their excitement was still infectious.
Huo Yuhao and Tang Wutong were not anxious about the duel at all. Both of them merely stood there as they waited patiently for the duel to officially begin. Even though the fight was about to start, both of them were perfectly fine with having the legions spectate their battle, because it was a good way to improve their morale.
Everyone wanted to be assured of the strength of their commanders. A strong commander would not only lead them to victory, but would also be capable of keeping them safe.
Hence, Huo Yuhao and Tang Wutong chose to wait a little longer until everyone had found a safe viewing point before they nodded at Bei Bei.
Bei Bei naturally understood their intentions as he smiled. “Both of you really have great chemistry! Are you ready?”
Once again, they nodded. Bei Bei raised his right hand before looking at both of them. Then, he lowered his hand rapidly as he announced, “Start!”
As he announced the start of the duel, Tang Wutong made the first move. Her beautiful dragon wings opened up from her back as her soul rings ascended from her feet. The sight of this made the throngs of soul engineers cheer in delight.
They were not only cheering because she had nine soul rings. She possessed a combination of soul rings which far exceeded the best-known combination! The sight of Tang Wutong’s red hundred-thousand-year soul ring made the crowd wild.
Is this the true strength of the wife of our Chief Commander? That’s unbelievable! Will Chief Commander be able to beat her?
After witnessing the powerful soul rings Tang Wutong possessed, everyone turned their attention to Huo Yuhao. Once again, they were stunned by what they saw.
Huo Yuhao’s eyes released a gentle golden glow as a humongous golden eye formed behind his back. Seven soul rings gently ascended from his feet. Even though there were only seven rings, their colors were overwhelmingly attention- grabbing.
The first soul ring was milky-white, with a circle of golden carvings. The second soul ring was already black. The third, fourth and fifth soul rings were also black in color. And to everyone’s surprise, the sixth and seventh soul rings were red.
After the appearance of his seventh soul ring, the air around Huo Yuhao started to bend and twist, as though he were no longer real.
Tang Wutong slowly raised her right hand as her body emanated an intense golden glow, which spread outwards in the shape of a butterfly.
As she tapped the tip of her foot on the ground gently, she sprang forwards towards Huo Yuhao in flight. As her wings flapped intensely behind her back, she had already flown a hundred meters and was right in front of Huo Yuhao before anyone could even see how she did it.
That’s way too fast! Everyone cheered in unison after witnessing her incredible speed.
Tang Wutong leaned slightly to the side as her right wing went straight for Huo Yuhao. A deafening howl could be heard as the dragon wing extended to form a gigantic blade.
Huo Yuhao’s body had become illusory the moment Tang Wutong dashed over. He had activated his Spiritual Interference Domain. While the wing cut through his figure, it was not able to hit his real body. Huo Yuhao had silently moved towards behind Tang Wutong right before everyone’s eyes.
He threw out a simple punch at her back.
Even though the punch seemed extraordinarily simple, Tang Wutong froze after receiving the blow, as though she had become immobile. Huo Yuhao’s punch seemed to contain a black hole that was holding her in place.
Tang Wutong closed and folded the wings behind her back before releasing them again violently as she hoped to use the sharp edges of her wings to counter Huo Yuhao’s fist.
However, at this instant, Huo Yuhao's eyes flashed as he released a spiritual blast radiating from the center of his body into the area about ten meters from him.
The golden trident rune on Tang Wutong's forehead flickered and absorbed most of the force from the spiritual blast. This only delayed Wutong slightly, as her wings continued in their course and collided with Huo Yuhao's fist.
"Ping!" A loud metallic sound rang out.
Huo Yuhao retreated rapidly upon their collision. The others also noticed how the air around him had started to show signs of cracking and shattering. These cracks were caused by the sharpness of Tang Wutong's dragon wings.
However, things were also not easy for Tang Wutong. The golden light from Huo Yuhao's fist had followed the contours of her wings and flowed into her body. To her surprise, this golden glow caused her to lose her focus for a split second.
After being forced backwards, Huo Yuhao's third soul ring lit up. A vertical beam of white light shone on Tang Wutong. Mass Enfeeblement! Of course, it had been focused on a single target under Huo Yuhao's superior control. Its power was naturally magnified as it became a lot more concentrated.
Following which, his fourth soul ring lit up. A mysterious whirlpool formed above Tang Wutong's head. If one were to pay attention to the whirlpool, one would notice the little vertical eye which was flickering within it. Spiritual Confusion!
After releasing two powerful control-type soul skills simultaneously, Huo Yuhao's soul rings suddenly changed. The
original seven rings became eight different soul rings. Even their colors had become different. As he raised his right hand, a gigantic deep blue sword appeared. Following which, the sword went for Tang Wutong's head as it followed the two powerful soul skills.
Snow Empress’ Three Ultimate Techniques: Unparalleled Chill, Empress’ Sword!
This series of transformations was extremely rapid. Everyone found it hard to follow Huo Yuhao's movements, as his attacks were just too quick for their eyes. His transition from controlling to attacking was seamless. He did not seem like he was going easy on Tang Wutong at all.
Tang Wutong only lost her focus momentarily. When the Mass Enfeeblement landed on her body, she had already regained her focus. Her eyes revealed a flash as her body flipped on its own in mid-air. Afterwards, she raised her hands as her fourth soul ring lit up. Dragon God's Possession!
As the armor of dragon scales fitted itself onto Tang Wutong, her aura suddenly changed. Her powerful dragon aura blew away the Mass Enfeeblement. Even the dangerous Spiritual Confusion was blocked by the golden trident on her forehead.
The shiny Golden Dragon Spear appeared and blocked the Unparalleled Chill’s blade.
“Clinggg!” Once again, another bright sound echoed through the air. The Unparalleled Chill shattered in mid-air, while Tang Wutong also fell to the ground from the impact, her entire body covered with a layer of frost.
Huo Yuhao had been working on his Ultimate Ice, especially after he had absorbed the Manifold Mysterious Ice Essence previously. After the Unparalleled Chill shattered, it released the extremely low temperature trapped within it. The soul engineers who were watching the duel felt the sudden drop in temperature, and quickly mustered their soul power to warm their bodies.
Huo Yuhao let out a long growl as he accelerated instead of retreating. He flew towards Tang Wutong as he pulled his right hand to his waist. The image of the Ice Jade Empress Scorpion appeared behind his back as a Star Anise Mysterious Ice Grass formed on his shoulder. These increased the aura of his Ultimate Ice by orders of magnitude.
Meanwhile, Tang Wutong fearlessly tapped the ground with her feet. Following which, a gigantic golden dragon appeared with a loud dragon roar. Afterwards, the dragon shrank rapidly, and wrapped itself around the Golden Dragon Spear. Tang Wutong pointed the tip of the spear at Huo Yuhao as both of them prepared for the other’s next move.
Within the blink of an eye, both of them were inches apart. But suddenly, both of their figures vanished simultaneously. At that very instant, the surrounding soul masters felt the effects of a powerful suction force. The suction force seemed to penetrate their minds as most of the soul masters were forced to take a step forward to steady their bodies. They were struggling against the power of the suction force.
But then, in the next instant, both Huo Yuhao and Tang Wutong reappeared in the other’s former positions.
Both of them revealed a shocked expression on their faces. Following which, both their expressions revealed a look of amazement. I can’t believe we have so much chemistry. We’re even using the same technique.
It seemed like both of them had executed Instant Teleportation at the same time. They had both wanted to teleport to the other person’s back before launching an attack. But it seemed like both of them had foiled the other’s plan unintentionally. Even their tactics were exactly the same.
Huo Yuhao was lost for words after he realized this, whereas Tang Wutong burst into laughter.
But even then, their emotions would not get into the way of their fight.
After teleporting to where Huo Yuhao was, Tang Wutong spun around as her Golden Dragon Spear lashed back like a whip towards him.
Huo Yuhao moved as he barely dodged the jab from Tang Wutong’s spear. The current situation was starting to show the
advantage that weapon wielders had over soul masters who did not wield weapons. Because Huo Yuhao did not have a weapon, he could only react passively to Tang Wutong’s attacks.
After barely dodging the attack from her spear, Huo Yuhao placed his right palm above the tip of the Golden Dragon Spear as he pressed it downwards.
Suddenly, Tang Wutong injected her strength into the spear in an explosive manner. This sudden imbalance in energy caused Huo Yuhao to be tossed aside as though he had just been electrocuted. In addition, his hand was bursting with light and energy. It was apparent that he had expended copious amounts of soul power to barely block off the lifesteal ability of Tang Wutong’s Golden Dragon Spear.
Meanwhile, after suffering from a blow from the Snowless Glacier, the glow on the Golden Dragon Spear became slightly fainter. However, the golden dragon light, which had wrapped itself around the spear, suddenly intensified as it forced the cold aura out of the spear.
Once again, Tang Wutong’s body released an unbelievable amount of golden light as her soul power intensified once
more. As she flapped the wings behind her back, she chased after Huo Yuhao like a comet. It took her no time at all to appear behind his back.
In their previous collision, Huo Yuhao was undoubtedly the loser. He was at a disadvantage because he did not have a weapon.
Tang Wutong was not about to let him catch his breath. A golden dragon head appeared in front of her chest and dragon let out a low roar. A streak of golden light emerged from the dragon’s mouth as it shot straight towards Huo Yuhao. Dragon God’s Roar!
Tang Wutong’s fifth soul skill was the skill which made the evil soul master suffer a lot previously. It was going to be very difficult for Huo Yuhao to evade this attack when it was fired at such a short distance from him.
Tang Wutong’s tactics could be said to be very unpredictable. Just when everyone thought that she was about to begin a close-combat battle with Huo Yuhao after chasing after him, she suddenly released a ranged skill. And this ranged attack
was released precisely before Huo Yuhao could predict her next move.
Because Huo Yuhao could use his spiritual detection to predict Tang Wutong’s moves, he was supposed to be able to know what she was about to do next. However, Tang Wutong now possessed superior soul power, and her attacks were unprecedentedly unpredictable. She was undoubtedly trying to reduce the advantage of Huo Yuhao’s spiritual detection by trying to be as unpredictable as possible.
After being knocked away by the previous blow, he landed in a position where he could look straight at Tang Wutong. As he saw the golden streak of light from the Dragon God’s Roar coming towards him, his face revealed a faint smile—much to everyone’s surprise.
Following which, Huo Yuhao’s eyes brightened as his hands made a hugging motion in front of his chest.
Then, a strange scene unfolded before their eyes. The airflow around his body suddenly became very violent and rapid. It was suddenly infused with an agitated Ultimate Ice aura as it formed a whirlpool around his body. He extended his left hand
outwards while retracting his right hand as an icy blue whirlpool formed.
“Booommm!” A violet humming sound reverberated across the sparring ground. Once again, Huo Yuhao was thrown backwards before he slowed himself with his feet. However, Tang Wutong was no longer able to chase after him. Her body paused in mid-air as her eyes revealed her shock at what had just happened. A layer of ice had formed on her Dragon God’s Armor.
Tang Wutong shook her body as though the Dragon God itself was shaking its armor. The layer of ice shattered, but her speed was visibly slower than before. Huo Yuhao also took this opportunity to catch his breath. As he looked at Tang Wutong, he slowly raised his right hand as a tornado suddenly formed around his body.
This was not any normal tornado. If one were to be precise, it was an Ice Snow Tornado.
The tornado’s diameter was only about five meters. But it was as tall as the heavens as it stood towering above everyone,
with its top beyond anyone’s field of view. Huo Yuhao seemed to have disappeared within the tornado.
Tang Wutong's eyes narrowed as she paused momentarily. She did not immediately attack as she let out a cold battle-cry. She raised the Golden Dragon Spear which she was wielding with her right hand as she pointed it at the tornado. At the same time, her small frame exploded with an invincible aura.
Even Huo Yuhao had never seen this aura that Tang Wutong had just released. She released the pair of wings behind her back. At this instant, she seemed to have become a circle. With her body as the center of a greater circle, a blinding purple- gold glow illuminated her surroundings.
The diameter of this purple-gold glow was a good ten meters. After its appearance, almost the entire spectral demiplane’s aura seemed to have become agitated and more violent. If one were to pay attention to Tang Wutong’s soul rings, one would notice that her eighth soul ring had just lit up.
Tang Wutong’s body disappeared as though she had transformed into a beautiful butterfly flying within the humongous purple-gold glow. At this instant, it seemed like the
spectral demiplane had a sun for the first time, a beautiful purple-gold sun.
Xu Sanshi’s jaw dropped as he witnessed the sight before him. “That’s way too insane. What the hell are they trying to do? They have been executing impossibly difficult moves one after another. Ji Juechen, are you still planning to challenge Wutong? I think they might still have some cards up their sleeves.”
Ji Juechen had a worried look on his face. In his mind, he knew that he might have stood a chance against the previous moves that Tang Wutong had executed.
But after he saw the purple-gold sun before his eyes, he knew that there was an impossible gap between them. In order to bridge this gap, he first had to attain the rank of a Titled Douluo. But was it really that easy to move from eight to nine rings? Ji Juechen’s martial soul was not considered a strong one. It was more than just a game of probability as to whether he could get his soul core.
Yes, the soul skill that Tang Wutong had just executed was her eighth soul skill—Dragon Dance of the Radiant Sun. It was
an immensely powerful offensive soul skill.
As the purple-gold sun slowly rose into the sky, the Radiant Dragon God’s Butterfly danced within its glow. As the sun climbed higher into the sky, the pressure it released became even greater. All the soul masters who were watching the battle started to retreat from the area. No one wanted to be injured by this powerful soul skill.
Countless spectral creatures which were prowling around the other end of the spectral demiplane howled in fear as though they were being attacked by the sun’s glow. All of them started to flee as far as possible.
Meanwhile, the Ice Snow Tornado that Huo Yuhao had created stood proud and tall. As the soul masters started to retreat further from the sparring ground, its size started to grow as it became more powerful.
“Yuhao, watch my Dragon Dance of the Radiant Sun!” Tang Wutong warned Yuhao. In the next instant, the brightness of the sun grew to its maximum. Following which, a gigantic purple-gold pillar of light tore the sky apart as it raced towards Huo Yuhao’s Ice Snow Tornado.
However, before the sun’s blow even reached the tornado, the Ice Snow Tornado suddenly disintegrated. That was something no one had expected.
Huo Yuhao had vanished. He was replaced by two figures who were holding each other’s hands.
One was white as snow.
The other was pale as ice.
The Ice and Snow Empress were holding each other’s hands as they carried a smile on their pretty faces. A similarly gigantic beam of light was released from their bodies as it accelerated towards Tang Wutong’s Dragon Dance of the Radiant Sun.
This pillar was formed from the combination of the pure white color of snow and the pale jade color of ice. The two tones of light blended perfectly with one another as they released an invincible aura.
Yes! This was the most powerful soul skill that Huo Yuhao had acquired after fusing with the Snow Empress. It was a skill that came with his Ice Jade Empress Scorpion martial soul’s fifth soul ring. Ice and Snow Empress' Arrogance!
“Boom!”
A radiant sight unfolded before everyone’s eyes. After colliding with one another, both the purple-gold glow and the ice jade glow exploded into sparks which flew everywhere as the burning brightness of the sun fought the intense cold.
This collision caused the entire world to be shaken as the spectral demiplane trembled, and radiant sparks lingered in the air for an extended period of time.
The soul masters had long become dazed from watching the battle before their eyes. Even though these blows were not targeted at them, they could still feel the frightening power within those attacks.
Is this the strength of a top-class cultivator? What would happen if we were the ones receiving these blows?
It took a good ten seconds before the collision of the two soul skills to start showing signs of subsiding. In the end, the fight between Tang Wutong and Huo Yuhao came to a deadlock. Neither of them could overwhelm the other.
Chapter 539: Sigh of the Frozen Goddess, Morning Dew Dagger!
Finally, the dazzling light dissipated. Tang Wutong and Huo Yuhao also reappeared in mid-air. At least, it wasn’t possible to find anything wrong with them just by looking at them.
Well-matched?
Tang Wutong fluttered her wings, and a sonic boom suddenly rang out. She turned into a beam of flowing light and charged towards Huo Yuhao.
Both of them had just unleashed a powerful skill, which drained quite a lot of their soul power. They couldn’t keep up such an expenditure. Given this, close-combat was undoubtedly the best choice.
Tang Wutong’s figure flashed, and she moved five meters in front of Huo Yuhao. Her Golden Dragon Spear turned into thousands of streaks of golden light that surrounded Huo Yuhao. A sonorous dragon roar sounded at the same time.
Her spear gave her an advantage! Tang Wutong had a wealth of fighting experience. Through their earlier clash, she could tell that she had an advantage in the aspect of weapons.
Dragon Dance of the Radiant Sun versus the Pride of the Ice and Snow Empresses. Tang Wutong had originally believed that she could suppress Huo Yuhao. After all, he wasn’t a Titled Douluo yet. Both of them even had twin martial souls. In terms of soul power, she should possess a distinct advantage over him. However, she was stunned to realize that not only did she not gain an advantage over him as they fought, but she even felt as if her entire body had been invaded by chilly energy. She knew that that was because Huo Yuhao’s Ultimate Ice was superior to her martial soul.
She couldn’t really accept this fact. She couldn’t believe that her Radiant Dragon Butterfly was inferior to Huo Yuhao’s Ice Jade Empress Scorpion!
Everyone was competitive, including Tang Wutong. Furthermore, she had her own secrets. She already had nine rings. How could she possibly not gain the upper hand using her eighth soul skill against Huo Yuhao’s fifth soul skill?
In fact, she had neglected one matter, which was very important. It was Huo Yuhao’s five Spirits.
Yes, he only had eight rings. However, he had five powerful Spirits! When he first obtained the Manifold Mysterious Ice Essence, he wasn’t the only one who managed to absorb it. His five Spirits absorbed it at the same time. His spiritual sense was strengthened, and his five Spirits all had some level of strength. Even if they couldn't fully rely on Huo Yuhao, they still had their own fighting strength.
As a result, they could reflect some of their abilities onto Huo Yuhao when necessary. The earlier attack was an example of that. Clearly, the difference between Tang Wutong and Huo Yuhao was in terms of Spirits.
Huo Yuhao smiled when he saw the competitive look in Tang Wutong’s eyes.
My dear, did you really think that I had no chance against your Golden Dragon Spear?
A trace of deep-blue light appeared from Huo Yuhao’s hand without any warning. At that instant, everything seemed to freeze up in the spectral demiplane.
“Ding!”
A crisp ringing sounded. A tragic dragon scream also echoed at the same time. Tang Wutong shook tremendously. Her bright gold spear started to turn icy-blue right from the tip. At the same time, this icy-blue was spreading to her body. The streaks of light that she had formed also instantly vanished, turning into nothingness.
Tang Wutong exclaimed in shock before she collapsed to the ground.
Huo Yuhao also shook slightly in the air. There was an intense look of astonishment in his eyes.
At this moment, he was holding a dagger. It was a very weird dagger. It was completely black, and around thirty-six centimeters long. The hilt was around twelve centimeters long and five centimeters wide. The back of the dagger was very
thick, but the blade was thin. There was a blue, diamond- shaped gem at the bottom of the hilt. This gem shone with a dim and mysterious glow.
The most special part about it was that there was a thin layer of white fog surrounding the blade of this dagger. This layer of fog was formed by countless dense droplets of water. They weren’t formed from the consolidation of Huo Yuhao’s Ultimate Ice soul power, and didn’t experience any changes because of his soul power either.
“Dang!” The spear fell to the ground. Tang Wutong also collapsed at the same time. She had no choice but to let go of her spear. If she didn’t do that, the terrifying chill would have corroded her body through her spear.
She couldn’t possibly resist that terrifying chill with her soul power. It was completely unimaginable.
What was this?
This was Tang Wutong’s first time seeing the dagger in Huo Yuhao’s hand. Her spear had actually been completely defeated
by that dagger.
Huo Yuhao drifted and landed on the ground. Right now, there was a passionate look in his eyes. He thought to himself - no wonder it’s a weapon from a god! At the start, the Ghostcarving Blade had shocked him greatly. Without it, he wouldn’t have possibly become a Class 9 soul engineer in such a short period of time.
Nian Rongbing, the God of Emotions, didn’t give him one, but two daggers. The other one was in his hand right now.
Huo Yuhao had never used this dagger before. It was his first time taking it out, and he had used it to curb the Golden Dragon Spear.
When he first held this dagger, he sensed that his life seemed to be connected to it. Even his five Spirits felt it. When he waved the dagger, it was as if all the Ultimate Ice energy in heaven and earth had gathered around it. Huo Yuhao was completely certain that the temperature of this dagger was below negative two hundred and fifty degree Celsius. Just by simply waving it, half the amount of soul power he had used on his Pride of the Ice and Snow Empresses was drained. This was
a testament to how much strength was needed to wield it. Even so, Huo Yuhao felt a little dizzy. Evidently, he wasn’t completely able to tap into the strength of this dagger with his current abilities.
“Wutong, are you ok?” Huo Yuhao looked at Tang Wutong as he was in awe.
Tang Wutong bit her lower lip and glared at the dagger in Huo Yuhao’s hand. “I’ve not lost yet.”
As she spoke, she suddenly pressed her own forehead with her right hand. Instantly, blinding light was released from her forehead.
This was...
Tang Wutong’s terrifying might was instantly unleashed. At this instant, Huo Yuhao felt as if his entire body had turned rigid. He felt a little helpless at this point, as if he couldn’t resist at all.
It wasn’t just him. Everyone present had the same feeling.
It was also at this instant that a weird feeling surfaced. A refreshing feeling flowed into his body from the dagger. Huo Yuhao suddenly felt as if the pressure on him had been alleviated considerably.
Tang Wutong pointed her left hand at her spear, which was still on the ground. She also slowly moved her right hand.
It was clear that there was an extra ball of intense golden light in her right hand. That ball of golden light appeared like a fluid. It fell from her hand and landed accurately on the spear.
The spear, which was covered in a layer of ice, had started to drift up. When Tang Wutong flung the ball of light at it, it started to shine with golden light. The originally tough layer of ice was scraped away with a deafening sound. Following this, the layer of ice broke, and a beam of golden light shot into the sky.
A terrifying might spread at this moment. This time, Huo Yuhao could clearly sense his demiplane shaking
tremendously. It was shaking because of Tang Wutong’s golden light.
Terrifying pressure spread in the air. The Golden Dragon Spear had transformed!
It was no longer a spear. The tip divided into three, and it instantly turned into a golden trident. In addition, Huo Yuhao also discovered that the golden trident rune on Tang Wutong’s forehead had disappeared as a result.
Tang Wutong groaned, but was a little provocative as she stared at Huo Yuhao. She said, “Let’s see whether your dagger can resist me this time.”
The golden trident fell from the air, and Tang Wutong caught it with her hand. However, her body shook a little as she caught it. Evidently, using this golden trident took a huge toll on her too.
What was going on?
Before Huo Yuhao could think any further, Tang Wutong had already made her move. Her golden trident moved slightly in the air, and halos immediately shot toward Huo Yuhao.
When Tang Wutong moved her golden trident, her dragon scale armor also turned golden.
Her aura was simply too powerful and restraining. Even those from the Tang Sect were unable to take it, and had to step back. The surrounding soul masters naturally retreated even further.
Huo Yuhao was very sharp. He slashed with his dagger, and something strange happened. His dagger actually formed many dense projections. They appeared to be very chaotic and messy. However, on a closer look, they actually contained the principles of heaven and earth.
The halos that were released from the golden trident were crushed as they clashed with the dense projections. However, Huo Yuhao’s dagger could no longer freeze Tang Wutong’s weapon.
Tang Wutong was becoming more and more astonished. She clearly knew how strong her move was. She didn’t expect Huo Yuhao to have been able to resist her attack.
In fact, Huo Yuhao was under more pressure than she thought. Right now, he had already unleashed the Rain Dragon’s Dance that Nian Rongbing had imparted to him.
Huo Yuhao’s dagger had an extremely domineering name, Sigh of the Frozen Goddess, Morning Dew Dagger!
This dagger had its own history. Before Nian Rongbing became the God of Emotions, this dagger was the first weapon he had obtained just as he was becoming famous in his plane. This Morning Dew Dagger was a dagger made by a master smith whose martial soul was a Chill Dagger. After that, Nian Rongbing provided a rock of the Frozen Goddess to this master, who attached it to the dagger and named it the Morning Dew Dagger.
This dagger followed Nian Rongbing everywhere, and was one of his most important weapons. After he became a god, this dagger remained by his side. It grew stronger as Nian
Rongbing’s divine sense became more and more acute. It was a true godly weapon.
Right now, Huo Yuhao couldn’t fully unleash the strength of this Morning Dew Dagger. He didn’t have divine sense yet, and had yet to inherit the godly seat of the God of Emotions. This was why his soul power was rapidly drained as he unleashed his Rain Dragon’s Dance.
Of course, he wasn’t drained without reason. As he used this dagger to unleash the Rain Dragon’s Dance, his understanding of the dagger became deeper. At the same time, it was also his first time sensing the secrets of this dagger.
The rock of the Frozen Goddess on this dagger released a strong chilly energy. This energy further cultivated and compressed his soul power. After that, he poured his soul power into the dagger, mustering its true strength. The aura of divine sense was even released from the rock, further boosting his soul power. This was why he could partly unleash the strength of this godly weapon. It was also because of this that he was drained so quickly.
Tang Wutong was equally drained as well. Her golden trident was abnormally heavy. Even though she was only using a projection of the trident, she still had to support a third of its actual weight. Furthermore, she was also using a godly skill.
The two of them became slower and slower. Tang Wutong’s face was completely red, while Huo Yuhao turned paler and paler. Their soul power was being drained very rapidly.
Whoever’s soul power was drained first would immediately lose this fight.
Suddenly, Huo Yuhao staggered a little, and his dagger also paused for a brief moment. The halos that were formed by Tang Wutong’s trident hit him.
Huo Yuhao’s body stiffened. He was restrained by the halos, and couldn’t move a single inch.
The tip of the golden trident was pointed at Huo Yuhao’s chest, but Tang Wutong pursed her red lips.
Golden light flashed, and the trident turned back into the Golden Dragon Spear. The golden halos on Huo Yuhao’s body also disappeared.
It was only now that everyone watching the fight heaved a sigh of relief. The backs of their shirts were completely drenched.
This fight was simply too exciting. From the first clash to the subsequent flaunting of big moves to the final exchanges, it didn’t seem very lively, but the sense of doom in the air was unprecedented.
Ji Juechen was already very grim. This was because he knew that he didn’t stand a chance against either Huo Yuhao or Tang Wutong, given his current abilities.
He was a sword fanatic, and thus he was especially sensitive towards weapons. Huo Yuhao’s Morning Dew Dagger and Tang Wutong’s golden trident completely erased his desire to challenge either of them. This was because he knew that his Judgment Sword would immediately be crushed by those two weapons. The same would happen to his sword aura. This was the difference in their qualities. Even if he became a Titled
Douluo, things would still not change. He would only possibly stand a chance if he was a Transcendent Douluo.
How could the rest not feel the same way? They had learned that Huo Yuhao and Tang Wutong were already as strong as Titled Douluo. In addition, they weren’t just as strong as ordinary Titled Douluo. They might even be able to challenge a Transcendent Douluo. No wonder their fusion skills were so strong.