Chapter 148: Full Fire
"Sir, misunderstanding."
Looking at the Snow Empress who exuded an abyss-like aura, Xuan Zi decisively chose to admit defeat.
He still had some brains and knew that he was definitely not an opponent of a strong figure of Mu En's level.
Although the difference in soul power between level 98 and level 99 seems to be only one level, the disparity is vast.
It's not that cross-level challenges don't exist, but they're based on overwhelming combat power gaps at the same level.
To be precise, it's about how combat ability manifests at the initial stage.
The lower the level, the greater the chance of cross-level challenges not only because the soul power difference is less terrifying, but also because the base number is too large, so individual capability can vary greatly.
However, the higher the level, the smaller the base number becomes, and individual differences gradually shrink.
For instance, while some may be called ordinary Titled Douluo, the truth is that anyone who reaches the Titled Douluo rank is far from ordinary.
All of them are top geniuses of their era.
Their differences in combat capability are actually minor, because all of them represent the pinnacle of soul master talent. Unless someone is as extraordinary as Ling Shuang, it's rare to challenge higher levels after reaching the Titled Douluo stage.
And to cultivate to the level of Ultimate Douluo is already a testament to terrifying talent.
Such individuals are the kind who could challenge those of higher ranks even at lower levels.
Although Xuan Zi lacked sense, he wasn't arrogant enough to believe he could match someone of that caliber.
"Misunderstanding?" Xue Di sneered, the killing intent in her eyes undiminished.
Without another word, she raised the longsword in her hand. The pressure of an Ultimate Douluo burst forth without restraint.
She would never show mercy to anyone who bore ill intent toward her, Xiao Shuang!
The once-clear sky turned heavy. Though it was spring, goose-feather snowflakes began to fall over Star Luo City.
"A celestial anomaly!"
Xuan Zi's pupils shrank, and his heart trembled.
So this... this is the terror of an Ultimate Douluo?!
Although there was Ultimate Douluo in Shrek Academy, Mu En had lingering injuries from years past, making it impossible for him to unleash his full strength like Xue Di.
Thus, this was the first time Xuan Zi had seen an Ultimate Douluo launch an all-out attack without restraint.
"Is this Sister Xue Er's true strength?!" Jiang Nannan stood beside Ling Shuang, watching the Snow Empress, who seemed like an ice and snow goddess, shock flooding her beautiful eyes.
What Xue Di now displayed was dozens of times more terrifying than what she had shown in the Great Star Dou Forest!
"It's snowing from the sky?!"
People in Star Luo City who were still awake looked up in surprise at the falling white snowflakes.
The streets filled quickly, as people poured out to witness the strange phenomenon.
Unlike the average folk or those with low cultivation, strong cultivators could sense much more.
In the Star Luo Palace, Emperor Xu Jiawei had already walked out and was staring in a certain direction.
The Star Luo Queen at his side gently pressed his shoulder and asked in a soft, puzzled voice, "Your Majesty, what is this?"
Though her cultivation was lower than Xu Jiawei's and she couldn't sense much, even she noticed the abnormal snow in spring.
Xu Jiawei stared toward the source of the terrifying energy and said calmly, "The one beside Ling Shuang has made a move..."
He could sense the origin of that terrifying aura it was the residence arranged for Ling Shuang.
Such a powerful cold force left only one possibility in his mind: the powerhouse beside Ling Shuang had taken action.
Hearing this, the Queen's expression shifted slightly.
As Queen, she naturally knew a bit about Master Ling.
She couldn't help but worry. "Who provoked that person? Could it be someone from our Star Luo?"
Xu Jiawei shook his head. He had recognized the other source of power, and a meaningful smile appeared on his lips. "No, the one fighting that person is Taotie Douluo."
"Taotie Douluo from Shrek Academy?" The Queen heaved a sigh of relief. As long as it wasn't someone from their Star Luo royal family, it was fine.
"Your Majesty, should we intervene?" she asked.
Xu Jiawei shook his head. "Intervene? Intervene in what?"
"We haven't seen anything."
He had no intention of stepping into such a matter.
"Queen, send two royal priests to have a look. Just remember do not act rashly."
"The royal family only protects its own people," the Queen answered knowingly.
She understood: His Majesty meant that as long as no citizens of Star Luo City were harmed, their royal family wouldn't intervene.
Outside of that? Let them fight.
Xu Jiawei even hoped Taotie Douluo would fall here. At most, they would symbolically "arrive too late" and offer some "condolences" to Shrek Academy.
Meanwhile, other masters in Star Luo City also noticed something was amiss, but all made the same decision as Xu Jiawei not to intervene, and to wait and see.
At the same time, others in Shrek Academy sensed the anomaly.
Compared to the unaware Huo Yuhao and others, Wang Yan, who had some guesses, wore a solemn expression.
Though his cultivation was not strong enough to detect all details, he could still sense the general direction of the battle between two top-level experts.
Wang Yan recalled that Ling Shuang had gone that way after leaving the competition.
Thinking of Old Xuan's abnormal behavior at the time, he had a vague idea of what happened.
"Old Xuan, how could you be so foolish..."
Wang Yan was weary.
At this moment, Xuan Zi was in extremely poor condition.
He had transformed into a gluttonous beast, struggling desperately under the Snow Empress's fierce assault.
She held nothing back Empress Sword, Empress Palm, Empress Cold Sky!
The terrifying power of ice and snow made her like the living core of the Extreme North.
If it weren't for the Ice Empress stepping in at Ling Shuang's request, the surrounding area might have already been in chaos.
Under Xue Di's unrelenting onslaught, Xuan Zi's massive Taotie true form began to flicker, becoming faint and ghostly.
He was barely hanging on.
Though the initial sword strike wasn't fatal, the extreme cold lingering in the wound forced him to divert some strength to keep it from spreading further.
And in terms of cultivation, there was a gap between them.
If not for the fact that Xuan Zi had long reached level ninety-eight and had some foundation, he might've already fallen under Xue Di's Empress Sword.
But Xuan Zi knew if this went on, he would certainly die.
This disturbance was far too massive. The Star Luo royal family couldn't possibly have missed it. But there was no movement so far.
Damn Xu Jiawei!
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(End of this chapter)