The sudden appearance of the Evil Soul Masters achieved what the Shrek Academy members could not: they rescued Ma Xiaotao from Xu Tianxi's meticulously prepared bombardment.
However, they were not satisfied with just that. The leading Evil Soul Master handed Ma Xiaotao to someone behind him, then waved his Scepter, dispersing the Vast Mist that had saved Ma Xiaotao and rapidly enveloping the spectator stands.
Behind him, a large group of black-clad figures also revealed their Martial Souls and Soul Rings: there was a Phoenix with an extremely evil aura, a roaring Scorpion Tiger resembling a Dark Demon Evil God Tiger, a Ten Thousand Souls Banner that condensed a sea of blood, and hideous centipedes.
In an instant, a great storm of evil Soul Power erupted in the sky. The Holy Spirit Church had arrived with overwhelming force, revealing more than thirty powerhouses above the eighth Soul Ring. Some Evil Soul Masters in the northern stands, who had not joined Zhongli Wu to rescue Ma Xiaotao, had already begun a massacre, killing swaths of spectators with a flick of their hands.
"All Guardian Enshrinement, heed my command! With me, protect Star Luo!"
Xu Jiawei, on the Imperial City, saw this and roared in fury. His Star Crown Martial Soul ascended, and nine Soul Rings rose again. As the emperor of a nation, he led several Titled Douluo into battle. Within the overwhelming black mist, a brilliant starry sky seemed to rise, isolated from the world.
As he made his move, more than a dozen auras of Titled Douluo immediately swept over from outside Star Luo Square, their halos soaring into the sky and not dispersing. These were the Guardian Douluo of the Star Luo Empire.
"Heheheh, with our Holy Maiden returned, it's time for a grand celebration and massacre! You still can't stop us!"
Zhongli Wu calmly unleashed his Level 98 Super Douluo aura, deep as an abyss, chilling as Yellow Springs.
He waved his Scepter and pointed it skyward. Dense Wind Element condensed high in the sky into roaring, struggling tornadic storms, howling in all directions and instantly darkening the sky, making it gloomy and terrifying.
Feng Ling and the others also erupted with overwhelming auras. There were actually six Super Douluo, instantly overwhelming the powerhouses of the Star Luo Empire and displaying their absolute strength to the world for the first time.
However, just then, a powerful surge of energy shot up from the south. More than ten auras of Titled Douluo and Super Douluo were released, pressing down on the reveling Evil Soul Masters.
"They can't stop you, so what about us?"
The dim sky regained its light. Phoenix-shaped ice crystals drifted down like snow, and pillars of Black Water shot into the sky, heading straight for Zhongli Wu and the others.
From the direction of the Xuanming Sect, Xiao Changfeng was at the forefront. He coldly shouted, and his Phoenix Domain, swirling with wind and snow, swept forward, surging towards the large group of Evil Soul Masters. It actually pushed back the boundless black mist, causing snow to drift for miles and dissolving the tornadoes.
"Ice Phoenix? Xuan Ming? You've come too?"
The distinctive techniques immediately made Zhongli Wu recognize who had arrived. His wild demeanor couldn't help but recede a bit, and he inwardly thought, This is trouble.
He had finally chosen a good place and a good day for a massacre, but the Xuanming Sect had come to interfere. Xiao Changfeng, with his Ultimate Ice, might not be much weaker than himself. With the Xuanming Sect added to the Star Luo Empire, he would no longer have any advantage here; in fact, the number of powerhouses on their side might even be fewer.
However, at this moment, he was locked onto by Xiao Changfeng's aura. Retreat was utterly unacceptable; there was only battle!
An ice-blue light flashed like a fleeting glimpse, appearing before Zhongli Wu. Zhongli Wu channeled his power and struck with his palm, engaging Xiao Changfeng who had arrived before him.
"——!"
In an instant, ice-blue and purplish-black Soul Light divided a large section of the sky. The Xuanming Sect's numerous experts, except for Xu Xiaoyun, each sought out their own opponents. Even Xu Fu, with his Level 94 cultivation, chose to fight head-on with a Super Douluo, who was none other than Scorpion Tiger Douluo Zhang Peng.
Xu Tianxi, observing from the Competition Stage, noticed that the Evil Soul Masters, who had not yet been strengthened by the Mingdu Great Explosion, were not as terrifying at this moment.
Feng Ling, the Vice Sect Master of the Holy Spirit Church, was at Level 96, and the cultivation of the other Super Douluo was not excessively high either. The combined efforts of several Defense Type Super Douluo from the Xuanming Sect actually managed to slow down the offensive for a time.
Of course, if the situation today was not controlled properly, even without the Mingdu Great Explosion, Star Luo might still suffer greatly, and the Evil Soul Masters' strength would still rapidly increase.
"Charge! Star Crown, protect my Star Luo!"
Zhongli Wu was preoccupied, and the tornadic storms he unleashed could no longer trap the Star Luo powerhouses. Xu Jiawei broke free and activated the Star Radiance Art of the Star Crown lineage:
Dark golden starlight pierced through the sky, falling onto the heads of every Enshrinement of the Star Luo Empire and every expert of the Xuanming Sect. It was clearly a full-field auxiliary ability performed by a Titled Douluo.
The Star Crown lineage's auxiliary capabilities were almost on par with the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School. The Xuanming experts, once amplified, instantly saw their auras greatly boosted, and the Star Luo Guardian Douluo also found opportunities to unleash their skills, engaging their respective opponents in fierce battle.
"Audacious Evil Soul Masters, don't you dare be so arrogant! We of the Body Sect are here too!"
Suddenly, a thunderous roar, powerful enough to pierce clouds and shatter rocks, came from the eastern spectator stands. Golden Body Douluo Jin Peng ascended with about ten figures. There were three Super Douluo and Titled Douluo each, and the rest were all elite Soul Douluo, each exuding an extraordinary aura.
Compared to the other groups, the Body Sect had the fewest people because their Sect Master was in seclusion for healing. But since the Xuanming Sect had already made their move, how could they just sit by?
It wasn't about fighting for a steamed bun, but for dignity. Evil Soul Masters were enemies to be eliminated by all. If the Body Sect didn't act, they would lose face on the continent forever and always be inferior to the Xuanming Sect. Their Sect Master would scold them to death if he found out!
"Even the Body Sect has come? Where did Star Luo City get so many hidden Sect masters?"
Zhongli Wu, who was exchanging palm strikes with Xiao Changfeng, noticed a group of Body Martial Soul experts entering the fray. More than thirty Titled Douluo, double their number, were surrounding them. The countless Soul Douluo also made him frown deeply.
As strong as the Evil Soul Masters were, they couldn't withstand the encirclement of so many powerhouses, let alone the fact that every expert from the Xuanming Sect and Body Sect was an elite, their individual strength not much inferior to theirs. The Xuanming Sect was mostly like impenetrable tortoises, while the Body Sect had powerful explosive force. The two complemented each other perfectly.
Just then, Xu Jiawei's Star Crown light shone upon Xiao Changfeng's head. Xiao Changfeng's Ice Phoenix palm strike immediately grew several times stronger, emanating dark golden starlight that surged forward like an overwhelming tide. Zhongli Wu couldn't help but lose some momentum, and his face darkened considerably.
Xiao Changfeng coldly declared, "You Evil Soul Masters have always been like rats scurrying across the street, despised by the orthodox Soul Masters of the world. Since you have appeared in full force today, we will never tolerate you!"
Zhongli Wu chuckled sinisterly, "Orthodox? What is orthodox? Our path of cultivation as Evil Soul Masters is the strongest! If you weren't ganging up on us today, you would never have gained this advantage!"
As the two exchanged shouts, their palm strikes continued. The two ascended from a thousand meters in mid-air, and in a blink of an eye, they had exchanged dozens of blows, soaring to an altitude of five thousand meters.
A figure rose behind Zhongli Wu, instantly making everyone present feel a tightening in their chest. Behind Xiao Changfeng, an Ice Phoenix with spread wings rose, its clear and resonant phoenix cry echoing.
The sky was split by the Soul Light of the two powerhouses. On one side was boundless ice and snow, with the long cry of a phoenix; on the other was a vast, bewitching black mist, with demonic shadows appearing.
On the Competition Stage, Xu Tianxi couldn't help but say to the bald old man who had suddenly appeared beside him, "Senior Ye, the Evil Soul Masters have launched a massive attack, drawing the encirclement of the three top forces. This is a great opportunity for us to completely eradicate these scoundrels. Let's prepare to make our move on them too!"
Ma Xiaotao was currently in Feng Ling's hands. Feng Ling was being jointly attacked by Golden Body Douluo Jin Peng and a Star Luo Empire Enshrinement. Carrying Ma Xiaotao with one hand, she was clearly at a disadvantage. As long as they seized the right moment for a few more strikes, there was still a chance to kill Ma Xiaotao.
Ye Yulin, titled "Starry Sky," shook his head, troubled. "No, Old Man Kong's order to me is to ensure your absolute safety. Although I deeply dislike those Evil Soul Masters, I cannot act rashly."
Xu Tianxi encouraged him, "I heard you're known as the 'Starry Sky Controller' and are most skilled in offensive Soul Guided Devices.
The Sun God Needle is an unparalleled killing weapon. A couple of hits on those Evil Soul Masters, and wouldn't killing them be effortless?"
Starry Sky Douluo Ye Yulin was one of the top three Level 9 Soul Engineers in the Sun Moon Empire, second only to Kong Deming and Ye Xishui. He was older and had more seniority than Jing Hongchen, and his combat power was slightly superior, though Hongchen Hall Master himself had never admitted this.
In the original work, Ye Yulin created the top-tier offensive Soul Guided Device, the "Sun Moon God Needle." It hadn't been created yet, but even the Sun God Needle alone was powerful enough to ambush a Level 96 Feng Ling without issue.
"I understand what you're saying, but my child, the Evil Soul Masters are a special case. It's not easy for me to just make a move."
Ye Yulin's expression became even more troubled. Of course, he knew Evil Soul Masters were bad news, but those despicable people were colluding with the one on the Sun Moon Empire's throne. The King of Evil Soul Masters, Death God Douluo, even had a seat in their Sun Moon Empire's Hall of Worship, nominally as the first enshrinement. How could he possibly act against them?
If he did, it would mean a complete break between the Sun Moon Empire and the Evil Soul Masters. Though this step was inevitable sooner or later, the Sun Moon Empire wasn't ready yet, and those two Limit Douluo were already a headache.
Just then, a figure in a wheelchair was pushed onto the Competition Stage by an attendant. That person smiled at Ye Yulin.
"Starry Sky Your Majesty, you've seen how complicated the situation is today. The top Sects and powers of the Three Great Empires are besieging the Evil Soul Masters. You are a highly respected figure in our Sun Moon Empire, so you must make a decision."
Ye Yulin raised an eyebrow. "What does Crown Prince mean by that?"
Xu Tianran's expression turned cold, and he made a throat-slitting gesture. "With so many powerful individuals from the Three Great Empires here, wouldn't it be a shame not to kill a few? Especially those enshrinements from the Star Luo Empire. If we get rid of one now, we'll have an easier time in the future."
Ye Yulin's expression hardened. "Crown Prince, if we act now, won't we become everyone's target?"
Xu Tianran smiled. "The situation is complex right now. What's so strange about making a few wrong moves by accident? We'd be killing elites from the Three Great Empires, not directly helping the Evil Soul Masters. What do you think?"
Upon hearing this, Ye Yulin frowned deeply, lost in thought.
Xu Tianxi immediately retorted, "No! The Three Great Empires and our Sun Moon Empire are not mortal enemies right now, but the Evil Soul Masters are public enemies of the world! We absolutely cannot help them in this situation; it would make the Sun Moon Empire a public enemy in the eyes of all Hidden Sects!"
Xu Tianran's gaze sharpened, as if he hadn't expected anyone to refute him at this moment, and so mercilessly. He subtly frowned, then said calmly,
"You must be Kong Tianxi, right? I've heard many people mention you as an unparalleled genius of our Sun Moon Empire, but matters of the world are beyond your current understanding. You should just keep quiet."
He naturally knew what Xu Tianxi was saying, but he had appeared at this moment because he had received a message from a high-ranking individual in the Holy Spirit Church. As long as he convinced the Sun Moon Soul Engineers to assist, the Holy Spirit Church would fully support him in securing his position as Crown Prince and even helping him ascend to the throne.
Compared to some future troubles, securing his own position was, of course, more important. Xu Tianran currently lacked strong supporters, so he had no reason to refuse the olive branch from the Evil Soul Masters.
"Crown Prince, I know that the most powerful individuals in the world reside in Hidden Sects. If we help the Evil Soul Masters now, the consequences for the Sun Moon Empire will be unimaginable. If they dared to attack Shrek, why wouldn't they dare to come to Mingdu?"
"Senior Ye, since you're currently unwilling to act, I'll do it myself."
Xu Tianxi said calmly, then moved the Level 7 Fixed Soul Cannon, aiming and locking onto Feng Ling's direction from afar.
Xu Tianran's expression instantly turned cold, and he imperiously commanded, "I order you to stop!"
Xu Tianxi smiled. "You have no right to order me around."
Before his words had fully faded, Xu Xiaoyun's imperceptible aura instantly descended upon the Competition Stage. Xu Tianran, who was about to speak further, swallowed his words, and even Ye Yulin, who was about to mediate between the two, was struck speechless.
"Whoosh whoosh—"
Under countless astonished gazes, Xu Tianxi activated the Fixed Soul Cannon, and immediately, twelve magnificent parabolic arcs rose again, heading straight for the battle between Feng Ling and Golden Body Douluo.
-----------
Translation by: randomtranslator.com
Read 2500+ original & fanfic translations and Translate for Free at: randomtranslator.com