For the common people of the Douluo Dalu continent, becoming a Soul Master was practically the only chance to rise in status; the Soul Master system was the "version's answer" for this world.
The Sun Moon Empire might have free Martial Soul Awakening centers, but those were strictly for its native residents, excluding the citizens of the former three Douluo Kingdoms.
Deep Abyss City was different. Anyone who came to Deep Abyss City, regardless of origin or affiliation, could receive a free Martial Soul Awakening. After registration, they could also receive corresponding subsidies.
Although this policy consumed vast sums of money and resources and showed no clear short-term returns, Lu Jingming never considered stopping it.
He valued the long-term future.
A greater investment of money and resources now would lead to incalculable returns in the future.
In the future, as long as Deep Abyss City controlled most of the continent's Soul Master resources, no matter what new power arose, it could not shake the city's foundation.
Moreover, his Deep Abyss City was incomparable to the former Spirit Hall (Wuhun Temple).
The very existence of Deep Abyss City had already infiltrated the fabric of Douluo Dalu like a fine spiderweb.
The Stigmata System reshaped the Soul Master growth path, the Simulated Universe broadened cognitive boundaries, Soul Tool Technology revolutionized the productive landscape, and the top-tier combat strength shattered the old power balance—Deep Abyss City, the stone tossed into the Douluo Dalu lake, had already created layered ripples, subtly rewriting the continent's operational trajectory.
Its influence was profound, like roots spreading underground, and only the few individuals at the apex of power could glimpse the signs of a fundamental shift under the guise of surface changes.
The invitation letter from the Sun Moon Empire lay quietly on the desk, its gilded emblem reflecting the light coldly.
Lu Jingming lightly tapped the desktop, his gaze sweeping over the countless lights of Deep Abyss City outside the window. He then rose and summoned all the current Masters and Servants of Deep Abyss City.
A grand event destined to shock the continent was about to begin, and they were ready to embark for the stage named Ming Dou City.
Wang Qiu'er stood shoulder to shoulder with Durandal, her golden hair and the silver armor reflecting each other's light.
Ye Guyi whispered to Lemuen, a soft halo flowing around them. Zhang Lexuan looked calm, and the Cerydra beside her was full of imposing majesty.
Gu Yue's eyes were deep. Istaroth, still looking lazy and bored, squatted on the ground, yet remained untouched by dust.
Lu Jingming stood in the center, with Raiden Mei's purple hair cascading like a waterfall, a katana tucked at her waist.
Ye GuyiNot far away, Xu Jiujiu arrived with Hysilens, and they would join the Deep Abyss City team for the journey.
Six pairs of Master and Servant combinations were formed.
Judging solely by the Servant lineup, they were far from weak.
Durandal, Cerydra, Hysilens, and Istaroth were all beings capable of rivaling demigods (Half-Gods).
Even the so-called "slightly weaker" strength of Raiden Mei and Lemuen was only relative; in the former Douluo Dalu, they would still be top-tier combat forces.
It was precisely for this reason that the Holy Grail War about to unfold in Ming Dou City had already transcended mortal imagination, becoming a true "battle of the deities."
An ordinary Titled Douluo who rashly got involved would merely be cannon fodder, instantly annihilated.
Carelessness could result in the entire capital of the Sun Moon Empire being flattened or wiped out by the clash of these peak powers.
This also indirectly confirmed the near-arrogant confidence of Xu Tianran—by daring to set the battlefield in Ming Dou City, he must have believed he had the ability to control the situation, both defeating all the Masters and Servants and protecting the heart of his empire.
"A Lord of Destruction..."
Lu Jingming curved his lips into a smile, thinking to himself, "Without a strong enemy of equal standing to restrain him, he might actually be able to pull off such a thing."
A Lord of Destruction was such a terrifying existence; for the Douluo Dalu, it was undoubtedly a dimensional reduction attack.
Even if it was just the Memory Body of a Lord of Destruction, the principle remained the same.
Clearly, the power of Celenova had thoroughly inflated Xu Tianran's ambition.
Lu Jingming's gaze swept over everyone present, resting on Istaroth who was casually leaning against the side, seemingly uninterested in everything, then glanced at Durandal, who was stretching with her golden hair tied back in a neat ponytail.
These two were not simple characters.
Even if they couldn't match the Lord of Destruction Celenova, it wouldn't be easy to force them into submission.
Furthermore, Lu Jingming also knew that Skirk was equally exceptional and definitely not someone to be trifled with.
Lu Jingming had a vague premonition that this Holy Grail War was destined to be turbulent and full of unexpected twists.
He could already imagine the spectacular expression that would cross Xu Tianran's confident face when his entire plan fell apart.
Even if things went beyond expectation and Xu Tianran truly held a trump card, Lu Jingming was not without backup.
Lu Jingming's eyes turned to the figure who always wore an eye patch—Jingliu.
An indescribable sense of reassurance instantly filled his chest. With the Sword Master present, even if the opponent was Celenova, how could a mere Memory Body withstand the sharp sword that could cleave stars?
Not only that, Herta was stationed in the Aetherium space above them.
With the spatial authority of the Aetherium, Herta could provide support at any time and could even instantaneously transfer Deep Abyss City's entire army to Ming Dou City. This trump card was enough to make any opponent wary.
Besides Herta and Jingliu, Lu Jingming had also specifically summoned Mobius, Snow Empress, and Ice Empress, instructing them to act in the shadows under the name of World Serpent.
Their presence was to ensure that the direction of the Holy Grail War remained under his control and did not deviate from the predetermined path.
Accompanying the team, besides the Masters like Wang Qiu'er and their Servants, Lu Jingming also brought Firefly and Castorice.
As for March 7th, Elysia, and others, they were left in Deep Abyss City.
Robin was also unable to accompany them, as she was pregnant and truly unsuitable for the unpredictable situation in the Sun Moon Empire.
March 7th initially wanted to join the fun, but she was closest to Robin and ultimately chose to stay and care for her friend.
Elysia's nature dictated her choice; she disliked war and was unwilling to participate in it.
With all preparations complete, Lu Jingming led Wang Qiu'er, Gu Yue, and the others aboard the massive vessel already waiting nearby—the Hyperion.
This was Lu Jingming's exclusive flagship, perfectly replicated from his memory. Its streamlined hull exuded a sense of speed, primarily colored silver-white and deep blue, complemented by delicate gold or red accents. Every line was sharp as a blade, emanating both the coldness of technology and a chilling battle-ready pressure.
Its length of several hundred meters cast a huge shadow on the ground, like a lurking steel behemoth.
The numerous top-tier Soul Tools mounted on the ship highlighted its terrifying combat capability.
Most eye-catching was the gigantic main cannon at the bow, a genuine Tier 10 Soul Tool. A single full-power blast was enough to level a bustling city; its offensive power was in no way inferior to a demigod's all-out strike.
The bridge, located in the upper forward section of the hull, featured a panoramic viewport design. An advanced holographic projection tactical panel floated in the center of the command room, displaying various data and maps clearly.
The Stellar System Thrusters equipped on both sides of the hull gave this giant vessel unparalleled high-speed mobility.
The outer armor was covered with Herta's high-resistance alloy, a memory metal that combined ultra-high strength with self-repairing functions, making the defense virtually impenetrable.
The Honkai Energy Thrusters mounted at the stern allowed the Hyperion to break free from planetary gravity and travel into the cosmos.
The interior facilities were complete: command center, living quarters, training rooms, recreation rooms, labs, weapon bays... The functionality was comparable to a small, mobile city.
Energy shields, stealth mode, missile arrays, spatial warping... various defensive, offensive, and auxiliary functions were all present.
Lu Jingming had meticulously reconstructed this ship based on the Hyperion from the Honkai world. Although the inner core utilized the Soul Tool technology of Douluo Dalu, and even integrated a Honkai Energy Reactor, with different materials and weapon systems from the original, the identical exterior was enough to evoke the deepest nostalgia in his heart.
After all, he had once been the "deck cleaner" on that battleship and held a unique, profound affection for it.
Now that he had the chance to recreate it in reality, he naturally wouldn't miss it.
One could only say: Lady Herta is unparalleled, Lady Herta is peerlessly beautiful, Lady Herta is omnipotent!
Lu Jingming sighed with emotion again.
He remembered the first time he saw this Hyperion; he was so excited that he picked up Herta and spun her around several times on the spot. Though he was beaten up by the embarrassed and furious Herta afterward, he felt it was worth the price.
Of course, he would never tell anyone that Herta's body was actually soft and light, making it effortlessly easy to hug her.
"Is this... the Hyperion?"
As the blue and white giant ship slowly descended from the clouds and deactivated its stealth mode, Raiden Mei and Durandal simultaneously showed looks of incredible surprise.
However, once they stepped onto the warship and examined it closely, they realized this was not the Hyperion from their memories.
Despite the identical exterior, the internal Soul Tool technology was completely different from the Hyperion they knew. Even though it utilized a Honkai Energy Reactor, the materials and the weapons equipped were far apart.
Even so, seeing such a familiar object in a different world still filled them with warmth and pleasant surprise.
"Hyperion, launch! Destination: Sun Moon Empire, Ming Dou City!"
Lu Jingming stood in the center of the command room, waving his hand. The already-standing-by AI immediately responded, manipulating the floating warship as it slowly ascended.
The detailed map of the Douluo Dalu continent had long been inputted into the AI's database. Without manual control, it could accurately deliver the team to their destination.
Accompanied by a slight vibration, the Hyperion ascended to several thousand meters, and the stern suddenly erupted with dazzling blue-violet light particles. Like a streaking light cutting across the sky, it quickly vanished from the sight of Robin, March 7th, and the others.
On the ground of Deep Abyss City, watching the battleship depart, March 7th did not show much envy.
After all, the Star Rail Express was much more advanced than this floating warship.
Robin, having seen countless cosmic battleships, did not find it particularly remarkable either.
"Let's go back, Sister Robin."
March 7th turned around, her eyes shining as she looked at Robin.
"I found an amazing clothing store earlier. The designer there is excellent. Let's go get some pretty clothes made for the little baby!"
Her gaze fell on Robin's lower abdomen. Although there was no obvious swelling yet, a vibrant new life could already be perceived. Even without life-based abilities, March 7th could clearly sense that burgeoning vitality.
"Yes, she's a lovely little girl, you know. She absolutely must be dressed beautifully!"
Elysia also chimed in with a smile, her voice full of tenderness.
As for how they could be sure the child was a girl, that was thanks to Mobius and Herta.
One was a top authority in biology, and the other was a cosmic-level genius scientist; determining the gender of an unborn baby was effortless for them.
"Oh dear, has A'Ming thought of a name for the child yet?"
March 7th bounced excitedly next to Robin, asking with anticipation.
"If the name isn't nice, I'll be the first to object!"
Robin gently stroked her abdomen, her face radiating a blissful glow—an unparalleled maternal radiance that made her appear exceptionally soft.
"Mm, A'Ming said that since it's a girl, she will be called Lu Mingyin."
"Ah! A girl who's about to be a mother is truly the most beautiful!"
Seeing Robin at this moment, Elysia sincerely praised her.
The current Robin was different from her usual intellectual gentleness. When the light of motherhood bloomed upon her, that beauty was captivating and equally dazzling.
"Lu Mingyin..."
March 7th softly mumbled the name a few times, then grinned widely.
"A'Ming was too lazy with the naming, but... it sounds pretty good!"
The character Ming came from Lu Jingming, and the character Yin (sound/music) originated from Robin—after all, she was a renowned songstress known for her music.
"Little Mingyin, you must grow up quickly!"
March 7th said to Robin's abdomen in a cheerful tone.
"Auntie March 7th has prepared lots and lots of fun toys and lots and lots of pretty dresses for you!"
"That's right, that's right! Auntie Ely also has a unique gift prepared for you!"
Elysia added with a laugh, her eyes full of expectation.
Robin looked at the two "aunties" who were even more excited than she was, shaking her head helplessly, yet her heart was filled with warmth.
With so many people genuinely looking forward to her child's birth, little Mingyin would surely be very happy in the future.
However... she looked at March 7th and Elysia, murmuring inwardly, these two keep calling themselves "Auntie," but they're actually going to be her Mothers!
Knowing Lu Jingming, it was impossible for March 7th and Elysia to be Little Mingyin's "aunties"—they could only be her mothers.
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