ROAR—!
Almost simultaneously, a massive gray gate swung open within the extradimensional space behind the spatial portal—unseen by any outsider. The ferocious skull of a Bone Dragon lunged forth, bursting through the void and into the real world.
Dark Lightning Douluo's blood ran cold.
"This pressure…?!"
Sweat poured down his spine. He was certain—this presence was no ally.
Otherwise, it wouldn't have spoken those words.
This overwhelming aura… he'd only felt it from Long Xiaoyao, the Grand Worship, and Ye Xishui, the Sect's Supreme Leader. Which meant—
Run!
In a flash, the thought struck him.
But the moment he tried to flee, the sky darkened above him. A terrifying binding force sealed off all space around him—and then… nothing.
Nan Qiuqiu, who'd been flung aside by Dark Lightning earlier, froze in shock at the sight. By the time she processed what happened, the Bone Dragon's head hadn't even glanced her way.
Gritting her teeth, she forced herself up again—and raced toward Mingdu!
Right now, her mind was chillingly clear.
But she hadn't run far when the recently vanished spatial gate reappeared before her. Alert, she watched as two figures—one clad in white, the other in black—stepped calmly through.
All she heard was the white-clad figure murmur:
"We're late."
At the Eastern Outpost – Soul Engineer Legion Headquarters
Inside the main tent, Commander Li and his deputy sat drinking and chatting. Their current mission was simple: intercept and capture eliminated teams from the original Three Great Empires. With little action, they had ample downtime.
"Commander," the deputy said, holding his wine cup but not drinking, "it's been a while… could something have gone wrong?"
He checked the time—an entire incense stick had burned, nearly half an hour—and still no sign of the evil soul master Title Douluo. Worry crept in.
Not for the man's safety—no. He feared that damn fool might have let the mother-daughter pair slip through, jeopardizing the empire's plans.
"Should be fine," Commander Li replied, pausing mid-pour. "I despise that Holy Spirit Sect bastard too—but I'll admit, his strength rivals a Level 97 Title Douluo. Capturing two non-Title Douluos? Trivial."
As if on cue—
Less than three breaths after he spoke, a black-robed figure stormed into the tent. Guards outside tried to stop him—but were effortlessly subdued.
"Insolent!" the deputy roared, whirling around.
But when he saw who it was—and the unconscious soldiers dragged in—his face turned ashen, words choking in his throat.
The intruder's power was on another level entirely. To rebuke such a being would be like a weakling challenging a god. And if that evil soul master used it as an excuse to strike? The victim would simply be deemed unlucky.
The deputy dared not speak—but Commander Li did.
"Dark Lightning!" he bellowed, slamming his palm on the table. "This is a Sun Moon military camp! Don't overstep your bounds!"
"Heh." Dark Lightning Douluo sneered. "Think I wanted to come here? Just telling you—you can resume surveillance now."
He turned to leave, clearly eager to depart.
Which suited the commanders just fine. But before he vanished—
"Wait—what about the mother and daughter?" the deputy called.
"Self-detonated."
With that, Dark Lightning disappeared.
Commander Li fell silent. After a long pause, he ordered: "Send ultra-high-altitude detection soul tools back to that sector. Not one person escapes. And send scouts—verify the situation."
The deputy nodded. "Understood."
After all, seeing was believing.
Soon, reconnaissance confirmed Dark Lightning's claim: blast marks, traces of annihilation energy, no soul engineering residue. Clearly, a soul master's suicide technique.
So Commander Li marked the Earth Dragon Sect's name on the tournament roster with three stark words:
"All Members Deceased."
—
Mingyue Hotel, Mingdu
"For now, just rest well," Ning Tian said gently, smoothing the bed sheets for Nan Qiuqiu, who had just washed up.
No pity—only quiet warmth.
She placed prepared meals on the bedside table. "If you're hungry, eat something. If you need anything, we're right next door."
"Th-thank you…" Nan Qiuqiu's voice hitched slightly—then instantly steadied, as if the vulnerability had never been.
She looked up. "Um… this is your room, right? Where will you stay if I take it?"
"Me?" Ning Tian smiled softly. "I have a boyfriend."
With that, she left without lingering.
She recognized Nan Qiuqiu's pride—a fiercely independent girl who'd never show weakness before strangers. Yet right now, she needed to break down completely, to unleash every suppressed tear.
Staying would only stifle that release.
"Rest well," Ning Tian whispered—and closed the door.
The moment it shut, Nan Qiuqiu—who'd seemed composed—collapsed.
She crumpled to the floor, sobbing uncontrollably.
"MOM!"
Her wails echoed through the room.
Fortunately, Mingyue Hotel's soundproofing was impeccable—no one outside noticed.
So Nan Qiuqiu wept freely, without restraint.
Outside, Ning Tian walked down the fourth-floor corridor, glancing back at the closed door with a sigh.
Then she approached Chen Junting's room.
Pushing it open, she found Chen Junting and Gu Tianchen sitting in silence—waiting for her.
"Xiao Tian, how is she?" Chen Junting asked.
"She was holding it together… but now she's letting go."
Chen Junting nodded. "Let her grieve. What she's endured—near-total sect annihilation and losing her mother—is unbearable."
It had been Chen Junting and Gu Tianchen who intervened at the last moment, snatching Nan Qiuqiu from Dark Lightning's grasp.
Sadly, they'd arrived too late to save Nan Shuishui.
Now, only Nan Qiuqiu remained.
As for Dark Lightning Douluo…
"When she first woke," Ning Tian said, sitting beside Chen Junting, "she asked about Dark Lightning. Can you tell me exactly what happened? And who is Dark Lightning?"
When Nan Qiuqiu was brought back, she'd been unconscious. Ning Tian had been too busy tending to her to ask for details—only learning vaguely that Nan Qiuqiu was now an orphan.
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