The ground trembled violently, and a massive crater over a hundred meters in diameter appeared on the surface. Huge cracks spread outward from the crater's center. As the ground shook, earth and stones continuously fell into the fissures, making a rustling sound.
The sky also seemed affected by this vibration. The darkness, already fissured in several places, shattered, and sunlight once again fell upon the ground, bringing a touch of warmth.
However, no one noticed the changes in the sky anymore.
Dust rose, filling the air and obscuring the entire crater, preventing everyone from seeing what was happening inside.
At the bottom of the deep pit, Wang Nan held his Coiling Dragon Staff in front of him, his expression stern as he looked at the old man before him.
The black dragon had dissipated, leaving only an old man standing before Wang Nan. Long Xiaoyao's once meticulously groomed silver hair was disheveled, his face pale, and blood seeped from the corner of his mouth, staining his back through his clothes.
"Cough, cough."
Long Xiaoyao coughed twice, raised his hand to press against his chest, and said, "I felt your 'intent.' So this is the path you intend to walk."
"No wonder." Long Xiaoyao closed his eyes and sighed deeply. "One day, the Holy Spirit Cult will be destroyed by your hand."
He opened his eyes and looked at Wang Nan. "The Holy Spirit Cult's headquarters are in the Fiend Forest, and it maintains a close connection with the 800,000-year Spirit Beast, the Evil Emperor, within it. Do not venture in rashly before you possess the power to defeat the Evil Emperor."
"Furthermore, you should know that the Holy Spirit Cult has a ritual called 'Soul Ascension.' It is a method of sacrificing to gods to obtain power. Even Ye Xishui has not fully mastered that power."
As he spoke, the surrounding dust gradually dissipated.
Long Xiaoyao looked up at the sunlight shining into the pit from outside. His spirit power circulated, making his robes flutter and billow.
After glancing at Wang Nan, Long Xiaoyao's body shot into the sky.
It wasn't until Long Xiaoyao left that Wang Nan lightly coughed, swallowing a trace of metallic sweetness in his throat.
Directly confronting a Limit Douluo was by no means an easy task. In the collision in the air just now, even with Wang Nan's physique, he had still sustained considerable injuries. Long Xiaoyao's violent power surged into his body, leaving marks in his meridians.
However, absorbing so much life gold was not in vain. As his energy and blood circulated, the injuries within his body rapidly recovered.
Moreover, Wang Nan could feel that Long Xiaoyao had not used his full strength.
Although he had displayed his Martial Soul True Body and every attack contained the power of a Limit Douluo, he rarely used his Spirit Abilities.
He had two 100,000-year spirit rings beside him, and Black Dragon's Breath was only one of his four 100,000-year Spirit Abilities. His Spirit Bone abilities were never released. Furthermore, being able to stand on par with Mu En, Wang Nan did not believe that Long Xiaoyao lacked his own Domain ability.
Only that single move, "Heavenly Might," was a complete manifestation of a Limit Douluo's power.
Although Wang Nan had always been wary of Long Xiaoyao's Domain ability and thus had not used the power of his ninth spirit ring, he was still no match for a true Limit Douluo at present.
His right leg bone flickered slightly, activating the Revival Spirit Ability. The spirit power accumulated within it was released to replenish Wang Nan's body. With a thought, his figure also rose into the air.
"Xiaoyao!"
Seeing Long Xiaoyao reappear, Ye Xishui rushed forward to support him. Looking at the bloodstains on his back, her gaze swept over the Shrek group with ill intent.
Xuan Zi's heart tightened, but he ignored the formidable enemy before him and stared intently at the crater on the ground.
It was only when he saw Wang Nan's figure fly out that he secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
"Xiaoyao, leave this brat to me." Ye Xishui glanced at Wang Nan, who did not seem to have many injuries.
She made a move to attack.
"Wait." Long Xiaoyao grabbed Ye Xishui, his gaze sweeping over the people in the air before finally pausing on Wang Nan for a moment.
"Let's go back. Yu Ming City cannot be taken. Cough, cough."
"Xiaoyao." Ye Xishui still wanted to say something, but seeing Long Xiaoyao constantly coughing while holding his chest, she ultimately did not make a move.
With a cold snort, Ye Xishui supported Long Xiaoyao, and their figures flew toward the Sun Moon Empire's military camp.
The Shrek group looked at Wang Nan. Seeing that he made no move and did not obstruct the two, they watched them return to the Sun Moon Empire's camp.
Looking at Long Xiaoyao's retreating figure, Wang Nan sighed inwardly.
There are no purely good or bad people. Long Xiaoyao, on one hand, stayed with Ye Xishui, and on the other, harbored feelings for his old country, unwilling to see the Sun Moon Empire break through the defenses of the Three Great Empires so easily. In the end, he even told Wang Nan some things about the Holy Spirit Cult.
Being defeated by Wang Nan while displaying his Martial Soul True Body, and using this as an excuse to no longer intervene, was perhaps what Long Xiaoyao wanted to see. The only thing he might not have expected was that Wang Nan's strength far exceeded his expectations, causing him considerable injuries.
Perhaps it would not be long before, even if he went all out, he would no longer be Wang Nan's opponent.
Inside the Sun Moon Empire's military camp, a figure shot into the sky. Wang Yiheng, the leader of the Evil Monarch Soul Guidance Group, came before Ye Xishui and Long Xiaoyao.
"Both of you—"
"Get lost!" Ye Xishui growled, her low voice carrying far. For a moment, the surrounding air seemed to grow several degrees colder.
Wang Yiheng's figure paused slightly, his face grim. He silently opened and closed his mouth, then finally bowed slightly, making way for Ye Xishui and Long Xiaoyao to return.
Looking at Yu Ming City from a distance, several figures still stood in the air. Their gazes lingered on Wang Nan for a moment, just as they saw Wang Nan looking back from afar.
Although he knew Wang Nan was not looking at him, a strange sense of retreat arose in his heart.
"Retreat!" After a moment of silence, Wang Yiheng finally issued the order to withdraw the troops.
Moments later, the Sun Moon Empire's army below Yu Ming City began to retreat. The distant military camp also became chaotic. The countless tents stretching across the land outside Yu Ming City were packed up, retreating in the direction of Tianming City.
Innumerable Spirit Masters on the city walls of Yu Ming City all looked at Wang Nan. Although Wang Nan was not releasing his spirit at this time, and his figure did not appear particularly robust, in the eyes of these Spirit Masters, a towering figure as tall as the heavens stood there.
The light barrier covering Yu Ming City gradually dissipated. Marshal Dai Hao looked up, took a steady breath, and flew into the air.
"Thank you for the rescue." Marshal Dai Hao came before Wang Nan and cupped his hands in greeting, then turned to the Titled Douluo from Shrek Academy. "Thank you, everyone. Please come into the city to rest."
"Marshal, there is no need to be so polite."
A cheer erupted from Yu Ming City. Looking at the retreating Sun Moon Empire, the soldiers who had endured fierce fighting shouted loudly, releasing their emotions. It was a long time before they gradually quieted down, even after Wang Nan and the others had returned to Yu Ming City.