It is not easy to keep a Super Douluo.
Just like when the Sun Moon Empire attacked the Tianhun Empire, even though Zhongli Wu succeeded in a sneak attack, Du Busi still managed to escape.
If Zhongli Wu had been determined to escape now, Wang Nan alone would not have been able to stop him. What's more, if he truly fell into a desperate situation, he could even ignite the fire of his life and gain the power of a Limit Douluo.
However, Zhongli Wu did not seize the opportunity to detonate the beast spirit and escape. Instead, he wanted to launch another sneak attack, aiming to eliminate Wang Nan—a threat to the Holy Spirit Cult—right here.
The power of the Death God Puppet could silently attach to an enemy. Zhongli Wu could use his spirit's unique abilities to approach an opponent and attack when they were unprepared. Countless Spirit Masters had died in such sneak attacks.
Therefore, when Zhongli Wu appeared behind Wang Nan, he was already confident of victory. Although detonating the beast spirit would cause him backlash—even leading to a regression in cultivation—as long as he could remove a major threat to the Holy Spirit Cult, it would be worth it.
It was a pity that the greatest advantage of a sneak attack was its unexpected nature. Once the opponent was prepared, a sneak attack amounted to nothing more than delivering oneself to them.
Wang Nan was well aware of Zhongli Wu's methods. The moment he sensed something abnormal, he had already anticipated Zhongli Wu appearing behind him.
Although his body's movements were restricted for an instant, the spirit power within him surged endlessly. The trunk bone on his back lit up, and a golden light shone through his body, revealing the shape of his spine.
Immovable as a mountain.
Zhongli Wu's black scythe was about to stab into the armor on Wang Nan's back, but in the next instant, no matter how he circulated his power, the scythe could no longer descend.
Wang Nan's ninth spirit ring, which had never lit up before, finally glowed for the first time.
At first, there were only a few scattered points of starlight, seemingly brighter than usual. They flickered and danced around Wang Nan. Immediately after, more and more stars joined in, gathering together to form a silver river of light.
Ancient, majestic, proud, yet carrying lingering sorrow—a complex aura spread out from Wang Nan, as if it had opened another world between heaven and earth. Specks of starlight drifted through that world, like a slumbering dragon awakening from the river of time and soaring once again across the universe.
Ninth Spirit Ability: Sleeping Dragon Returns to the Universe.
This was another Domain skill.
The moment the Domain unfolded, Zhongli Wu—standing behind Wang Nan—could no longer feel the existence of his spirit or spirit power, and the long scythe in his hand dissipated.
Wang Nan's fifth spirit ring lit up as well. Zhongli Wu's body remained motionless, only able to watch as the golden Coiling Dragon Staff grew larger and larger in his vision.
Domain attacks did not distinguish between friend and foe. Even though Wang Nan had controlled the range, Du Busi on the other side was also affected. His spirit power suddenly stagnated, and for a moment he was like an ordinary person.
Du Busi's body fell from the sky, but his eyes remained fixed on Wang Nan, watching as a giant golden phantom appeared behind him, raising a long rod high and smashing it fiercely toward Zhongli Wu.
Time stretched infinitely. Countless fragments flashed through Zhongli Wu's mind. He possessed a mutated spirit, his parents were peerless powerhouses, and under the cultivation of the Holy Spirit Cult, he grew up smoothly and became the Sect Master.
He had thought he could continue like this, growing into a powerhouse like his parents. But he never expected his life to end here.
Feeling the continuously rising aura from Wang Nan, and seeing the spirit rings lighting up around him, Zhongli Wu finally understood—Wang Nan had not lied to him. He was not just pretending after being ambushed; he had truly been waiting for this sneak attack.
He no longer wondered why Wang Nan understood his methods so well, nor did he attempt resistance. With his spirit and spirit power suppressed, he had no means left.
With the Domain unfolded and Zhongli Wu's power suppressed, the force binding Wang Nan naturally dissipated. His soul core rotated, spirit power surged, and his essence, energy, and spirit merged into one, condensing onto the Coiling Dragon Staff.
Turning to face Zhongli Wu, he swept his arm down, and the huge phantom behind him swung its rod as well.
Wang Nan's ninth spirit ability was released and withdrawn in an instant. Du Busi, still in mid-air, regained his balance—but could no longer sense Zhongli Wu's aura.
"Boom—"
Only then did a massive roar erupt from the spot.
---
On another battlefield, on the main peak of the Mingdou Mountain Range, Ye Xishui was meditating cross-legged in her tent. Suddenly, her mind stirred. She slowly opened her eyes and stepped outside.
A gentle breeze wafted by, and the surrounding space fluctuated. Dragon Xiaoyao appeared and stood beside Ye Xishui.
"What's wrong?" Dragon Xiaoyao looked at the densely stationed Sun Moon Empire army at the foot of the mountain and spoke softly.
"Nothing." Ye Xishui glanced toward the Star Luo Empire. A vague sense of loss rose in her heart—but accompanied by the feeling of breaking free from chains that had bound her for many years.
In Mingdu, the Crown Prince's bedchamber suddenly lit up. With Ju Zi's help, Xu Tianran put on his Soul Guidance Device prosthetic legs and stood up from the bed.
"You are pregnant. Rest well. I'll handle it."
"Yes." With the war stabilizing, Ju Zi had returned to the palace. Hearing this, she lowered her head in assent, but did not look up until Xu Tianran left the room. Only then did she straighten her back.
"What happened?"
Xu Tianran walked along the corridor toward the study, escorted by guards. Before even reaching the door, he spoke to those behind him.
Hearing his low voice, the guard who had just woken him felt a chill run down his spine. Although Xu Tianran still handled state affairs as Crown Prince, the old emperor was critically ill, and Xu Tianran's aura grew stronger by the day—no different from a true emperor.
Coupled with his unpredictable temperament due to his physical disability, the guard felt his heart sink. But since Xu Tianran had asked, he had no choice but to answer.
"Just now, a battle report arrived from the Tianhun Empire front line. Three Titled Douluo from the Body Sect broke through the empire army's defensive line and detonated a ninth-grade fixed soul tool in the camp. The Fire Phoenix Soul Engineer Legion—"
"Hmph!" A cold snort slipped from Xu Tianran's nose. The guards on both sides instantly knelt.
"What about Luan Feng?"
"Fire Phoenix Douluo… was also killed by the Body Sect Master, Du Busi."
Luan Feng, whom Xu Tianran referred to, also known as Fire Phoenix Douluo, was the old woman who had confronted Du Busi head-on.
Hearing the guard's trembling voice, Xu Tianran took a deep breath, his tone calming. "You may rise. Where is the Imperial Advisor? Has he returned?"
"Reporting, Your Highness… after the reinforcement army arrived at the Fire Phoenix Soul Engineer Legion, they found no trace of the Imperial Advisor. However, according to surviving soldiers, a major battle also broke out in the rear at the same time the camp was attacked. The Imperial Advisor is likely also…"