"Buzz—"
Without warning, both sides surged forward like a tide. The bright colors of soul rings erupted alongside clouds of blood mist, dazzling soul skills, and thunderous soul tool cannon blasts.
"You were prepared all along…"
Mu En's expression grew increasingly grim. At this moment, ordinary Title Douluos and newly advanced Super Douluos like Yan Shaozhe were already locked in fierce, life-or-death combat. The sounds of battle echoed endlessly, but the top-tier powerhouses like Xuan Zi and the others stood apart, confronting each other at a distance, none yet making a move.
For the Royal Soul Engineering Academy students below, battles between ordinary Soul Douluos were rare enough, let alone life-and-death duels between Title Douluos. The magnificent scene left them stunned even from behind the protective barrier, blood boiling, each wishing they could rush to the battlefield themselves.
Xue Ling'er stared intently at Xu Cheng, soul power surging around her. She was waiting for a command.
"This is what a true man should be like!"
Yu Tianlong looked at that central, commanding figure, his blood stirred with excitement.
Countless students nearby also had burning gazes, full of envy and reverence. Though they were all of similar age, they could only stay obediently behind the barrier, protected. That one person, however, was already part of the core battlefield. Every word and action influenced the outcome of this war.
But… with him there, it really felt secure.
Had they not prepared in advance and instead been caught off guard by a surprise attack from the former continent's coalition, the casualties would've been beyond disastrous.
"Since you've come, the Empire naturally had to prepare in advance. How else could we be worthy of this once-in-a-millennium performance?"
From within a black-and-white mecha nearly a hundred meters tall, Xu Cheng's calm voice rang out.
His unhurried calm made the enemies frown deeply, but to the Sun Moon Empire's side, it was incredibly reassuring.
Yu Yanlong and the others rushed out from behind him to engage several Shrek Pavilion elders.
The Holy Spirit Church's worshippers also revealed themselves, intercepting the Title Douluo experts from the Haotian Sect.
Meanwhile, the Level 9 soul engineers from the Mingde Hall, along with the commanders and vice commanders of the Beast Soul Tool Corps—and Xu Jiangnian—intercepted the remaining forces from the three other nations and hidden sects.
Kong Deming, Long Xiaoyao, Jing Hongchen, and other top-tier powerhouses stood at Xu Cheng's side.
"We have a traitor among us?" Titan asked coldly.
"This isn't the time to argue about that. Since we're here, there's no turning back. Now that we've gathered all the top forces on the continent—more than forty Title Douluos—and the battlefield is in your Mingdu, the worst outcome would be Mingdu reduced to ashes," the Azure Bull Python grinned.
But he couldn't completely hide the anxiety in his expression.
After all, everyone had their own motives in this war. Some were so confident beforehand, they had already divided the spoils.
And one of their goals… was to capture Wang Dong'er.
After breaking through the eastern defenses, they had sent some Haotian Sect experts to search for her. Now, having launched a surprise attack over the Royal Academy of the Sun Moon Empire, he sensed Dong'er's presence within.
Which meant—there was only one way to take her: break the barrier and capture her by force. The difficulty of the mission skyrocketed.
He glanced toward Xu Cheng.
Not to mention the domineering black-robed elder, even that white-haired man in imperial attire exuded a difficult aura. He was likely another Limit Douluo.
"Sect Master, don't panic. We have three Limit Douluos; the other side only has two. Each Limit Douluo is a strategic-level force. With one extra, we can completely tip the battlefield." Mu En's voice transmitted telepathically.
"Alright. My brother and I will restrain their two Limit Douluos. You, sir, are in charge of breaking the trial field's shield. We of the Haotian Sect have only one request: bring back Wang Dong'er! If this succeeds, the Haotian Sect will be eternally grateful!" the Azure Bull Python said solemnly.
"Fine. I'll move quickly. But unless it's absolutely necessary, try to move the battlefield into the skies. If I'm right, the Mingde Hall isn't far away. If it's destroyed, the loss would be too great…" Mu En murmured.
The Mingde Hall was their greatest prize. It contained countless blueprints and soul tools. Whatever they were after was likely inside.
And right now, they had the advantage. Their number of Title Douluos surpassed the enemy by seven or eight, and they had one extra Limit Douluo. With the enemy already playing their trump cards, the longer the battle dragged on, the better their chances.
There was no need to rush destruction. Better to win and take their time.
They might even force a surrender treaty…
But they had to stay wary of desperation moves from the other side.
Mu En exhaled softly.
"Everyone, move!"
"Boom!"
With Mu En's order, the battlefield erupted.
Da Ming and Er Ming revealed their true forms.
A towering Titan Giant Ape, crimson eyes gleaming, muscles bulging—muscles visible even beneath thick brown-black fur. Beside him, the Azure Bull Python, with a bull's head and a snake's body, appeared.
The two great beasts, after millennia, once again revealed their forms. But they were not what they once were—they now had the power of Limit Douluos and monstrous soul ring configurations, akin to soul beasts over 600,000 years old.
Their powerful and ancient auras spread outward, primitive and vast, like they came from the dawn of time.
"That's… Big Dad and Second Dad?!!"
Wang Dong'er's lips parted slightly as she stared, stunned.
Even though they had turned against each other, their past care for her was real. The Haotian Sect's training and the countless treasures they'd given her were also real. Though things had changed, she couldn't help blurting it out.
"These are Haotian Sect experts? Two Limit Douluos?"
Xiao Xiao was also wide-eyed. She quickly grew worried:"Doesn't that put the Sun Moon Empire in danger?"
"…"
Wang Dong'er shook her head.
She believed in Xu Cheng's calm composure—it wasn't blind confidence. Knowing him for so long, very little ever fell outside his plans.
"The Sun Moon Empire won't fall. Even with two Limit Douluos, the worst outcome is a surrender treaty, territory concessions. To face one Limit Douluo, you must either kill him on the spot or suffer future revenge. Clearly, neither Shrek Academy nor the Haotian Sect can bear that."
She spoke softly.
"Then… the Haotian Sect isn't here for you, are they?"Xiao Xiao hit the mark with one question.
Wang Dong'er clenched her fists, her face paling slightly.
If this was about her, then surely… her name was part of this grand game.
She thought of the time spent learning about soul tools and spirit forging—each day filled with anticipation, learning new things, heading toward the future her teacher had envisioned. Every day had been a fresh adventure.
"If… handing me over can stop this war—then I'm willing…"
(End of Chapter)