"The Sun Moon Empire's soul tools are terrifying. If an army of Soul Elders or higher attacked us, could we really hold them off?" Xu Jiawei couldn't help but express his concern.
Around him, the civil and military officials were all silent. Even the White Tiger Duke, Dai Hao, had no words.
How could mere flesh and blood withstand the firepower of such long-range soul tools? The Sun Moon Empire already had several armies armed with these devices.
If the Sun Moon Empire launched a large-scale attack with these long-range soul tools, it would be catastrophic for traditional armies.
Three thousand years ago, the soul tools of the Sun Moon Empire had almost wiped out the original three nations of the Douluo Continent. Now, three millennia later, who could guess how much stronger their soul tools had become?
The progress of soul masters paled in comparison to that of soul engineers. More crucially, soul tools could be stockpiled.
Once a Rank 9 soul engineer crafted a Rank 9 soul tool and preserved it properly, that tool could still be used by future generations long after the engineer's death. Over three thousand years, who knew the scale of the Sun Moon Empire's soul tool reserves?
In the original story, the Sun Moon Empire even developed complex humanoid soul tools. Without Tang San's influence through Huo Yuhao, the Sun Moon Empire might have been even more likely to conquer the three nations than the Spirit Empire had been. Perhaps even the Spirit Empire at its peak, ten thousand years ago, was no match for the Sun Moon Empire of today.
A well-trained army of soul engineers, fully prepared for battle, was enough to make even Ultimate Douluo wary.
In fact, many had already deduced that the Sun Moon Empire had grown far beyond what they could contend with, but they dared not dwell on such thoughts.
"Perhaps only exceptionally powerful soul masters can defeat such an army," someone suggested.
"Especially those with large-scale area-of-effect soul skills."
Dai Hao immediately thought of the Ice Emperor, who had once frozen several kilometers in an instant, snuffing out the lives of thousands of elite soldiers with a single move.
Even a soul engineer army led by Soul Elders would be helpless against such overwhelming power.
Xu Jiawei was thinking the same thing, recalling the Ice Emperor's freezing abilities. On the battlefield, the Eternal Frozen Domain could achieve effects even more miraculous than the soul skills of an Ultimate Douluo.
Soul tools were made of precious metals, which were highly sensitive to temperature. Under extreme cold, many soul tool formations would fail to function.
"Let's watch the match," Xu Jiawei said, looking curiously at Qian Ran.
According to the records, Ling Luochen, a disciple of Shrek Academy's inner court, also possessed the ultimate ice attribute. It would be interesting to see how two ultimate ice soul masters fared against seven long-range soul engineers, the weakest of whom were Rank 5.
The previous match against the Zheng Tian Battle Team had already left Xu Jiawei amazed by Qian Ran's capabilities.
This time, however, Qian Ran's opponents were the much stronger Sun Moon Battle Team, which included Rank 6 soul engineers. Rank 6 soul engineers were more formidable than even most Soul Emperors. Moreover, the Sun Moon Empire often equipped them with Rank 7 soul tools.
On Qian Ran's side, it seemed to be just him and Ling Luochen. The five reserve team members had already been dismissed from consideration.
In the audience, countless spectators were anxiously watching the direction of the Shrek team.
"Qian Ran will definitely win," Xu Jiujiu said with bright eyes fixed on Qian Ran, exuding confidence. She trusted him unconditionally now—if Qian Ran claimed he could defeat a Titled Douluo, she would believe it.
"This guy is too reckless," Zhu Ying muttered, her face full of worry. Seeing Qian Ran's apparent overconfidence made her anxious for his safety. She had completely forgotten his earlier threats against her and now worried over him as if he were her husband.
"I hope he gets killed. It would be best if Qian Ran dies right here," Xiao Hongchen muttered darkly, wishing the soul tool cannons would blow Qian Ran to pieces.
"Brother! How can you say that?" Meng Hongchen snapped angrily upon hearing Xiao Hongchen's muttering.
"You don't understand," Xiao Hongchen replied coldly. "Qian Ran is our enemy. His death would benefit both our academy and our empire. Stop dreaming of being with him. I've already found a suitable husband for you, and I'll discuss it with Grandfather when we return."
"How could you do this, Brother?" Meng Hongchen's eyes brimmed with tears. She couldn't believe Xiao Hongchen's sudden and ruthless transformation.
"It's for your own good," Xiao Hongchen said coldly. He had no doubts about Qian Ran's ability to charm women. If he didn't intervene, his sister would surely fall for Qian Ran.
He couldn't tolerate that.
Qian Ran's talent might surpass his own, but Xiao Hongchen would never allow his sister to end up with someone like that.
On the Shrek Academy side, Qian Ran and Ling Luochen exchanged a glance before simultaneously releasing their martial souls.
A powerful hundred-thousand-year soul ring appeared beneath Qian Ran as he unleashed his second martial soul, the Ice Dragon.
With his second martial soul activated, Qian Ran's Eternal Frozen Domain grew even stronger. Ling Luochen also released her martial soul, surrounded by two yellow, two purple, and one black soul ring.
Both of them unleashed their martial souls at the same time.
Qian Ran naturally used his Eternal Frozen Domain, a soul skill perfectly complemented by Ling Luochen. In such an extremely cold environment, Ling Luochen's combat power soared to rival that of a Soul Sage.
Now a Rank 60 ultimate ice soul master with the support of Qian Ran's Eternal Frozen Domain, Ling Luochen's strength was off the charts. Even an ordinary Soul Sage would struggle to match her.
As the Eternal Frozen Domain spread, the Sun Moon Battle Team members activated defensive soul tools to raise their body temperatures, clearly prepared to counter ultimate ice.
But they had underestimated the true extremity of ultimate ice. Ordinary soul tools couldn't withstand such cold, especially against two ultimate ice soul masters.
"Winter has come," Ling Luochen intoned, her staff pointing forward. Countless ice arrows materialized, colliding with the soul tool beams ahead. The density of her ice arrows matched the concentrated firepower of the seven soul engineers perfectly.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Ice arrows intercepted soul tool beams and shells in mid-air, not a single projectile reaching the Shrek team's territory.
Qian Ran's powerful spiritual force mapped out every movement of the Sun Moon team, feeding it directly to Ling Luochen's mind. With such precise guidance, she couldn't miss.
This scene left the Sun Moon Battle Team completely stunned.
They had expected the Shrek team to evade, but never that they would meet their soul tool barrage head-on—and match it! Ling Luochen was no different from a humanoid soul tool herself.
(End of Chapter)