Chaos in the Imperial PalaceThe air inside the palace was unusually heavy.
The soldiers of the Heavenly Dou Empire stared at the two opposing forces in the sky, their hearts filled with confusion and bewilderment, unsure of what to do. Why had the Clear Sky Sect suddenly appeared? And why were they fighting with His Highness the Crown Prince?
Meanwhile, the Spirit Hall personnel hidden among the many guards exchanged glances, tacitly remaining silent and awaiting Xue Qinghe's instructions.
Xue Qinghe glanced at the four elders of the Haotian Sect, his indifferent eyes narrowing slightly. He then looked at Emperor Xue Ye, who was being protected by the Second Elder, and couldn't help but snort coldly, saying loudly:
"Soldiers of the Empire, today is a day of critical survival for the Empire. The traitors of the Haotian Sect are plotting to overthrow the government, have taken my father, Emperor Xueye, hostage, and are now trying to blackmail me in an attempt to achieve their ulterior motives!"
"I hereby solemnly swear that I will expel these traitors from the Empire and restore order to the Empire! I beseech all my soldiers to lend me their strength!"
As soon as the words fell, the members of the Spirit Hall immediately knelt on one knee. In an instant, half of the nearly ten thousand guards in the entire palace were kneeling. The dull thud of armor hitting the ground, like muffled thunder, echoed throughout the palace. The entire palace seemed to tremble.
Many soldiers responded:
"I will obey His Highness's orders."
Those guards who originally belonged to the Heavenly Dou Empire and were somewhat at a loss, hesitated for a moment upon seeing this, and then knelt down on the ground.
By this time, more than 80% of the guards were kneeling on the ground. Some guards who sensed something amiss tried to speak up, but a sharp blade was already plunged into their backs. They stared in disbelief at the person who had stabbed them in the back; their once close comrades had become their deadly adversaries.
Seeing the miserable state of the guards who dared to speak up, the remaining guards, who knew something was amiss, dared not utter a sound.
The nearly 10,000 guards in the palace all obeyed Xue Qinghe's orders.
"All of you belonging to the Heavenly Dou Empire, immediately rescue His Majesty from the traitors of the Clear Sky Sect. Furthermore, defend against the rebel reinforcements' attack on the city. The survival of the empire rests on your shoulders. After this is accomplished, you will all be meritorious individuals of the empire and will be richly rewarded. Gentlemen, I entrust this task to you!"
The Crown Prince's request stirred the blood of many guards; this was for the empire! Led by their leader, countless guards flowed like a river toward Emperor Xueye's palace.
Another group stood on the palace walls, guarding against reinforcements from the Haotian Sect.
Sure enough, thousands of people suddenly rushed out of the empty streets. Each of these thousands of people wore a white cloth with the character 'Tang' written on it on their head, carried a strange black box in their hand, and shouted battle cries as they charged toward the imperial city.
At the very front of the thousands of people were dozens of Soul Masters wielding Clear Sky Hammers, leading the way with murderous intent on their faces.
Further away, towards Shrek Academy, a golden triangle spread out, and a golden dragon soared into the sky, roaring loudly as it flew towards the imperial city.
The once bustling and prosperous Tiandou City was now deserted, with all the common people and nobles having returned to their homes, their doors tightly shut, awaiting the end of the palace turmoil.
"Brothers, hold back these rebels, for the sake of the empire!"
A Spirit Master from the Spirit Hall, disguised as a guard, raised his gun and shouted.
With many Spirit Masters from the Spirit Hall echoing their cries, many guards, unaware of the situation, also shouted, preparing for the arrival of the enemy.
On a snowy night, amidst the ruins of the Emperor's palace.
The Second Elder and Tang San stood back to back, protecting Emperor Xue Ye. They watched as countless guards charged towards them, their scalps tingling with fear. Even a Title Douluo would hesitate to retreat in the face of this black torrent. In the anime, the combined power of the Empire's military formations repelled the spirit fusion technique of Dugu Bo and the Golden Iron Triangle.
However, they had nowhere to retreat; behind them stood the Great Emperor Xueye.
"This is really troublesome."
Tang San said in a deep voice.
The Second Elder, his face ashen, nodded. He gripped Haotian Sect's withered arm, his grip tightening even more.
Emperor Xueye was well aware of the crisis at the moment. He coughed a few times and said weakly, "You two have worked hard, but I must speak with the soldiers of the empire. Some of them are outstanding soldiers who are loyal to the empire. They will listen to me."
Tang San coldly surveyed the armored soldiers who kept attacking, his hands never stopping, almost leaving afterimages as his hidden weapons rained down like a shower of flowers, and the armored soldiers fell one after another.
Upon hearing Emperor Xueye's words, Tang San replied with a cold expression:
"Your Majesty, now is not the time to be reckless. These soldiers have already been used. Once you leave, those treacherous villains from the Spirit Hall will surely strike in secret. Even if we are by your side, there is a risk that we will not be able to come to your aid in time."
Emperor Xueye sighed; he understood the meaning behind Tang San's words. But he couldn't bear to see so many loyal soldiers of the empire being used by the Spirit Hall and dying at the hands of their own people. He forced a breath and shouted to the surrounding soldiers:
"Soldiers, stop immediately..."
Before he could finish speaking, a soldier with a red armband on his shoulder, who was from the Spirit Hall, immediately shouted:
"That traitorous Haotian Sect! They dare to threaten His Majesty and say things against his will! Everyone, don't listen to His Majesty! He's being threatened! These guys from Haotian Sect are about to give up! Give it your all and take them down!"
A cold glint flashed in Tang San's eyes, and with a tremor of his right hand, a gleaming weapon shot towards the soldier who had spoken. However, unexpectedly, the guard seemed to sense the direction of the hidden weapon, and with a slight twitch, he dodged the attack.
Then, he gave Tang San a wicked smile and disappeared into the crowd of soldiers. The people of the Spirit Hall were, after all, Soul Masters; they weren't the ordinary people Tang San had killed.
"Damn it, these Spirit Hall people are stirring things up in the shadows!"
The Second Elder cursed angrily.
Emperor Xueye closed his eyes in pain and said, "Enough, enough, you can do it."
The Second Elder finally ceased concealing his strength. Nine spirit rings flashed, and his powerful aura, like a tornado, destroyed all the surrounding buildings. Gripping the Clear Sky Hammer in one hand, lightning crackled around him. He coldly surveyed the soldiers who were now terrified by his exposed power, and said in a chilling voice:
"Anyone who takes another step forward shall die!"
A similar, stern shout rang out from the black torrent of soldiers:
"All soldiers, form ranks!"
Buzz—
The soldiers began to move in perfect unison with a speed visible to the naked eye; thousands of men moved as if they were one. An aura no less powerful than that of the Second Elder emanated from the soldiers.
······
Above, seeing Emperor Xueye's perilous situation, the elders looked grave.
The Third Elder said sternly:
"Fourth brother, you and I hold off those two old bastards, Serpent Spear and Porcupine. Fifth brother, seventh brother, quickly deal with those two juniors! As for Xue Qinghe, we must capture him alive!"
Xue Qinghe possesses the Six-Winged Angel Martial Soul. If they dare to kill Xue Qinghe, the enraged Qian Daoliu will not care whether Tang Chen is still alive. At that time, the Haotian Sect may really have to be removed from the continent.
"Young Master, be careful. We'll take care of the two more formidable elders."
"Snake Spear Douluo said with concern."
Xue Qinghe nodded.
Immediately, the Serpent Spear Douluo's serpent spear flashed, and nine spirit rings—two yellow, three purple, and four black—lit up. In an instant, he appeared in front of the Third Elder, and with a flick of his serpent spear, nine spear shadows split off, covering the Third Elder's face.
Sensing the sharp edge of the spear, the Third Elder's eyes flashed with a fierce light. Years of forbearance had not diminished their hatred for the Spirit Hall; on the contrary, it had intensified. Now, not only could they fight against the experts of the Spirit Hall, but they could also seek revenge, and their fighting spirit soared even higher.
With a flick of his wrist, he swung the Haotian Hammer, its dark light resembling a black dragon, colliding head-on with the serpent spear.
With a deafening explosion, a shockwave erupted in the sky, causing countless guards below to clutch their ears in agony. The Serpent Spear twisted in an astonishing arc, and as the Serpent Spear Douluo used the force to propel himself forward, preparing to strike the Third Elder again, the Third Elder had already raised his Clear Sky Hammer high and slammed it down upon him.
The Serpent Spear Douluo was horrified and raised his serpent spear to block the Clear Sky Hammer.
when--
Using the force of the recoil, Serpent Spear Douluo was forced back, feeling his hands trembling and his tiger's mouth almost cracking.
"Is this the world's number one weapon spirit, the Clear Sky Hammer?"
He thought with some surprise.
Although both were level 93 Title Douluos, due to the difference in their spirit ring configurations and spirit quality, the Serpent Spear Douluo was at a disadvantage from the very first contact.
While he was fighting the Third Elder, the Porcupine Douluo was also battling the Fourth Elder. The Porcupine Douluo possessed a Beast Martial Soul and was skilled in using poison, but against the incredibly powerful Clear Sky Hammer, his poison was largely ineffective. He could only passively take the beating.
For a time, both Title Douluos of the Spirit Hall were at a disadvantage, and their defeat was only a matter of time.
Xue Qinghe glanced at the scene of the two fighting and pursed her lips slightly. Then she looked coldly at the Fifth Elder in front of her.
The Fifth Elder sneered:
"You are also a member of the Qian family. Although I cannot kill you, I will cripple you to vent my hatred. How many members of my Haotian Sect have died at the hands of your Spirit Hall? Today, you won't escape!"
Xue Qinghe said calmly:
"So Tang Hao killed my father, shouldn't I seek revenge against your Clear Sky Sect? Hmph, in this world, only strength matters. Our Spirit Hall is strong, so killing your Clear Sky Sect is only natural!"
The Fifth Elder snorted coldly and said:
"Then isn't it perfectly justified for us to kill you now?"
"Of course, but that depends on whether you have the capability!"
As soon as she finished speaking, Xue Qinghe's six wings flapped, propelling her upwards until she appeared thousands of meters above the ground. The instant she stopped, the Fifth Elder caught up, glaring at the now-stopped Xue Qinghe, and sneered:
"I thought you were scared and wanted to run away!"
Xue Qinghe stood with his hands behind his back and said calmly:
"Run? Only someone from your Haotian Sect would do something like that. The sky is the domain of our angel race!"
As she spoke, a faint golden halo rapidly spread out, seemingly enveloping the entire world. Moreover, an angelic phantom rose behind Xue Qinghe, and a series of inexplicable, divine pronouncements echoed across the sky.
As the golden halo spread, Serpent Spear Douluo and Porcupine Douluo were invigorated. They clearly felt that the speed of their soul power circulation had increased significantly, and their speed, strength, and defense had all been improved to varying degrees.
In contrast, several elders of the Haotian Sect felt their soul power becoming stagnant.
The two battlefields that had previously held the advantage were immediately balanced after the release of the Angelic Domain.
Feeling the surge of power within him, Serpent Spear Douluo exchanged a glance with Porcupine Douluo, then looked at the Third Elder with a cold smile and said:
"This battle has only just begun!"
A shadow fell over the faces of the elders of the Haotian Sect.
Battles at the Title Douluo level rarely involve desperate, all-or-nothing duels, which are clashes of final soul skills; otherwise, both sides could easily suffer heavy losses.
Generally, players would exploit the difference in strength to wear down the opponent's soul power before delivering the final blow. However, under the influence of Qian Renxue's domain, the gap between the two sides was erased, leading to a protracted battle. Who will emerge victorious and who will lose is anyone's guess.
Tang San gazed up at the battle in the sky, a bitter feeling welling up inside him. If his strength had increased further, he could have used the Killing God Domain to counteract the amplification of the Angel Domain. However, being only a Soul Emperor and lacking a 100,000-year Soul Ring, he posed no threat whatsoever to Qian Renxue, who was at the Soul Saint level.
With the release of the Angelic Domain, the soldiers who had been besieging the Second Elder and Tang San immediately felt their fatigue relieved, while the Second Elder and Tang San clearly felt that the pressure had increased significantly.
······
As the battle below intensified, the Fifth Elder realized the importance of Qian Renxue. Without Qian Renxue, they would gain a complete advantage.
"Kid, you think you can control others? You'd better worry about yourself first!"
The Fifth Elder roared angrily.
In his mind, Qian Renxue's identity was unclear, so he assumed she was male. Immediately, the Clear Sky Hammer in his hand suddenly enlarged, its nine spirit rings hummed, and the fourth spirit ring lit up.
A tremendous gravitational force suddenly appeared around Xue Qinghe, causing him to hunch over and let out a muffled groan. A difference of over twenty levels in soul power was still somewhat of a strain for a Soul Saint to fight a Title Douluo.
Gazing at the ever-growing Clear Sky Hammer, a resolute glint flashed in her eyes, and seven spirit rings suddenly appeared, the seventh black spirit ring radiating a dazzling light.
Buzz—
Golden light burst forth, and the illusory figure behind Xue Qinghe slowly embraced her, gradually merging with her. Xue Qinghe's skin and hair turned golden, and the intense heat even caused the air to distort.
On Xue Qinghe's wings, gold began to spread from the roots to the tips of each feather, dyeing all three pairs of wings gold. With a gentle flap, he dodged the Fifth Elder's attack.
The true form of the six-winged angel was fully revealed in his Martial Soul True Body state. A sacred aura and a sense of oppression rapidly spread out. The Fifth Elder frowned slightly, because Xue Qinghe in his Martial Soul True Body state actually posed a great threat to him.
Xue Qinghe looked at the Fifth Elder, whose face was solemn, and a smile involuntarily appeared on his lips.
Having hidden her abilities for twenty years, Qian Renxue, a genius with a six-winged angel martial soul, felt an irresistible urge to prove her strength. Although she was now facing a Title Douluo, she showed no fear whatsoever.
Moreover, the outcome of this battle may very well be in her hands.
Watching Qian Renxue's aura grow stronger, the Fifth Elder remained silent for a moment, as if making a decision. He slowly raised the Clear Sky Hammer and sneered:
"You brat from the Spirit Hall, your strength is indeed formidable. Even Qian Xunji back then was far inferior to you at the same age. But today, you won't leave the Heaven Dou Empire. Although defeating you in this way is somewhat dishonorable, this is the battlefield!"
As soon as he finished speaking, the seventh black aura on the Fifth Elder's body slowly and suddenly lit up. The Haotian Hammer in his hand continued to grow larger and larger, eventually resembling a small mountain.
The seventh soul skill, the true form of the weapon spirit.
To use his Martial Soul True Body to deal with a Soul Saint shows the pressure Qian Renxue put on him.
The powerful aura, even from thousands of meters away, shattered countless windows in the Heavenly Dou Imperial City, eliciting gasps of surprise from the people.
"Now, I'd like to see what other tricks you have up your sleeve!"
The Fifth Elder said in a sinister tone.
Xue Qinghe's face became extremely solemn.
Meanwhile, within the palace, the battle between Dai Yao and the Seventh Elder has begun... (End of Chapter)