Chapter 576: The Tianxing Knights, Part Six
Not long after, a new force emerged on the tangled battlefield of the three nations on the Douluo Continent. Though small, composed of only six members, it shook everyone to the core.
The Sun Moon Empire's offensive had slowed but still pushed the Star Luo and Heavenly Soul coalition into retreat, forcing the Star Luo Emperor to request that Xuanzi return from Shrek Academy. After all, it had already been three years what kind of injury would require that long to heal?
However, with the debut of this small group, the Star Luo Emperor abandoned the thought. One of the six was his younger sister, Xu Jiujiu.
On this particular day, Jing Hongchen was locked in a fierce "peerless" battle in the skies with Xiao Ding. Suddenly, a blue and white streak shot in from the distance, intruding upon the battleground where ordinary soul masters dared not enter.
Jing Hongchen instinctively raised his defenses with the ninth level close range soul tools, Heaven's Judgment Sword and the Wall of Sighs. Yet a powerful force blasted him backward, smashing him into a distant mountainside and carving a deep trench into the ground.
Fortunately, his Wall of Sighs was reinforced to withstand tenth level attacks, so he avoided serious injury. Still, the intensity of the strike made Jing Hongchen vigilant. It was an attack at the level of a peerless Douluo.
"Who goes there?" Jing Hongchen demanded, glaring up at the two figures hovering in midair.
With a single look, Jing Hongchen's attention was fixed on the two women not due to any lascivious intent but rather the awe inspiring armor they wore.
"What magnificent soul tools..." he murmured, nearly spellbound. Catching himself, Jing Hongchen quickly shook off the thought, his expression becoming wary as he recognized their faces.
As one well informed of the empire's notable figures, especially Ye Wen's disciples, Jing Hongchen immediately identified them.
"Princess Wei Na of the Heavenly Soul Empire and Princess Xu Jiujiu of the Star Luo Empire."
But the recognition only deepened his dread. The Douluo Continent was not short on talent, and every few years a twenty something Soul Sage would emerge, even occasionally a Soul Douluo under thirty.
However, Jing Hongchen had never seen soul masters in their twenties possessing the strength of a peerless Douluo, yet here they were: two women with an aura befitting of such an exalted level.
Both women were in their spirit possessed states, each surrounded by a formation of two yellow, two purple, and three black rings.
Given the circumstances, Jing Hongchen could draw only one conclusion about the source of their strength. A look of bitter admiration crossed his face as he stared at their gleaming armor.
"This must be the handiwork of Tianxing Douluo Ye Wen. I should have anticipated it," Jing Hongchen thought, admiring the ingenuity that could equip such young warriors with the power of a peerless Douluo.
Wei Na said something to Xiao Ding, who grinned, transforming into a streak of light and leaving the battlefield.
Wei Na, though younger than Xu Jiujiu, had entered Ye Wen's tutelage first as his fifth disciple. She stepped forward, addressing Jing Hongchen:
"Toad Douluo Jing Hongchen, we'll be your opponents from now on."
Jing Hongchen did not immediately accept her challenge. His face darkened as he retorted, "As disciples of Tianxing Douluo, shouldn't you represent Tianxing Academy? I was told that your academy is a neutral party and wouldn't intervene in imperial wars. Aren't you afraid of Ye Wen's wrath?"
Xu Jiujiu summoned a weapon from her constellation like power, forming a long spear pointed at Jing Hongchen.
"We've already graduated. Today, we represent only the empires we stand behind, not our teacher. After all, the academy isn't a sect; it has never required graduates to remain tied to it."
Xu Jiujiu's words dismissed Jing Hongchen's accusations, while hinting at Shrek Academy's past. After all, Shrek often persuaded talented students to remain as loyal alumni, essentially becoming part of the academy.
For centuries, Shrek's retention of promising students had made it harder for the Douluo nations to produce their own high level soul masters, leaving them without even a single protector at the Super Douluo level. This practice had gradually driven a wedge between Shrek and the empires, eventually earning Shrek criticism for its domineering ways.
Wei Na raised her arms, and seven ninth level soul guided ray cannons hummed to life, each charging with power.
"Enough talk, old toad! Let's see what you've got!" she called, launching a volley before Jing Hongchen could respond.
Unlike the Sun Moon Empire's lesser versions, Ye Wen's ninth level ray cannons each unleashed a blast comparable to a strike from an Extreme Douluo. Wei Na wielded seven of them at once, and if her spiritual power were higher, she could have commanded even more.
The onslaught from seven cannons left Jing Hongchen barely able to maintain his defenses. He cursed under his breath as he struggled to keep up.
"Damn it! Does this girl have unlimited soul power?"
After withstanding her relentless barrage, Jing Hongchen finally decided to retaliate. He drew his own pair of ninth level ray cannons and returned fire.
With the added power of his Red Dust Golden Toad Armor, the two forces achieved an uneasy balance. Though his armor was tenth level, it fell short of true divine power. Jing Hongchen's attacks countered Wei Na's, but he couldn't help feeling a pang of frustration and envy toward Ye Wen's expertise.
Alas, Jing Hongchen knew he would never be able to learn such techniques directly. His allegiance to the Sun Moon Empire ensured that Ye Wen would never teach him.
But his eyes hardened with resolve. If he couldn't acquire the technology peacefully, he would resort to other means. And here, before him, were two perfect specimens.
"If I can capture these two," Jing Hongchen thought, "not only will I learn their techniques, but the Sun Moon Empire could benefit as well."
After observing the skirmish, Jing Hongchen deduced that Wei Na was a ranged soul engineer rather than a close combat fighter. With this in mind, he made his move.
First, he neutralized two of Wei Na's cannon blasts with his own ray cannons, then used the Wall of Sighs to block three more head on. Though his shield was damaged in the process, he had two remaining cannons in reserve, while Wei Na's final two rays were still charging.
But Jing Hongchen had a trump card. His Red Dust Golden Toad Armor was tenth level, granting him a crucial advantage.
With both parties now within close range, Jing Hongchen prepared to strike.
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Chapter 577: The Tianxing Knights, Part Seven
In the eyes of most, soul engineers who rely heavily on long range attacks are typically weak in close combat. Jing Hongchen's eyes gleamed with intent, making it clear his next target was Wei Na!
As Xu Jiujiu prepared to intercept Jing Hongchen, the synergy between her and Wei Na one excelling in close combat and the other in ranged attacks seemed flawless.
Yet, an astonishing scene unfolded. What should have been a strike aimed at Wei Na instead collided intensely with Xu Jiujiu's Star Force spear. Sparks flew as the impact lit up the sky, while the powerful shockwave split the ground below.
Xu Jiujiu was taken aback, sensing that Jing Hongchen had anticipated her move. As the head of Mingde Hall, Jing Hongchen was not only a tenth level soul engineer but also the principal of the Sun Moon Royal Academy, a master of combat tactics.
He knew that taking out the leader often leads to victory, and with a glance, he deduced that Xu Jiujiu was the real challenge between the two women. While Wei Na's martial spirit a spirit brain known for its mental attributes had little potential in close combat, Xu Jiujiu, inheriting the Star Crown martial spirit from the Star Luo royal family, possessed both powerful support abilities and solid combat prowess. Additionally, her stunning suit of battle armor made her all the more formidable.
However, disguising one's true intentions is a fundamental skill for any seasoned warrior. Jing Hongchen pretended to target the seemingly weaker Wei Na, only to then engage Xu Jiujiu head on. As he clashed with her, Wei Na took the opportunity to launch her fully charged ninth level soul guided rays. Jing Hongchen did not attempt to evade this was all part of his plan.
But his strategy extended beyond these initial moves. Capturing or injuring a soul master at the peerless level isn't something that can be achieved through mere exchanges of attacks, so he unleashed his next move!
At the moment the blasts struck him, Jing Hongchen flung out a massive web that ensnared Xu Jiujiu.
"They're only two young girls," he thought with disdain. "Their inexperience shows. No matter how powerful their master Tianxing Douluo may be, his strength isn't theirs. Without experience, their enhanced strength is limited."
Despite being knocked back dozens of meters, his luxurious Red Dust Golden Toad Armor now marred by burns, Jing Hongchen considered it a small price to pay. Without hesitation, he charged forward to press his advantage.
Every ninth level soul engineer in the Sun Moon Empire is a force to be reckoned with, each comparable to the strongest Titled Douluos of the Douluo Continent, even at the Super Douluo level. And as a tenth level soul engineer, Jing Hongchen was far beyond that level. Although not quite at the caliber of Kong Deming, Jing Hongchen had taken advantage of Ye Wen's innovations, designing his Red Dust Golden Toad Armor to briefly elevate his other soul tools to the strength of tenth level soul tools.
The web he threw was an enhanced ninth level soul tool, woven from the threads of a 90,000 year old Deep Cavern Spider King. The net, forged with rare metals, was an exceptionally powerful binding tool, capable of restraining even a Super Douluo and suppressing their soul skills.
With the Red Dust Golden Toad Armor's boost, the web's strength increased to the point of binding a peerless Douluo. Previously, Jing Hongchen hadn't used it on Xuanzi or Xiao Ding because of their overwhelming defenses; even if it momentarily restrained them, they could easily break free.
But against Xu Jiujiu, this soul tool was perfect.
In Jing Hongchen's expert eyes, these women's power resided primarily in their battle armor, masking their actual rank as mere Soul Sages. The web's power to disrupt soul abilities took effect, evident from the flickering shield that barely surrounded Xu Jiujiu.
"It worked!" Jing Hongchen celebrated inwardly.
His next move was clear: with Xu Jiujiu injured, he would be free to dispatch Wei Na, a mere ranged soul engineer, in close combat.
The two women seemed to realize the severity of their situation. Xu Jiujiu's expression darkened, not expecting the fight to take this turn. Her seventh spirit ring radiated black light as she unleashed her Star Crown true form.
But with her unstable soul power, she could no longer hold her peerless Douluo strength. Jing Hongchen, however, still stood strong, poised to strike her down.
"Jiujiu!" Wei Na cried out, preparing to fire another soul guided ray in support. But at this close range, precise aim was nearly impossible.
Seeing the Heaven's Judgment Sword swing towards her, Xu Jiujiu's eyes reflected regret, acknowledging the cunning of her older opponent.
"What a pain…"
Suddenly, a dissatisfied voice echoed across the battlefield, followed by a surge of intense frost. Unnoticed, Huo Yu´er appeared in front of Xu Jiujiu, her right hand, clad in emerald like armor, catching the Heaven's Judgment Sword effortlessly.
"This... this can't be!" Jing Hongchen was stunned, struggling to believe his eyes. The Heaven's Judgment Sword, reinforced to a tenth level soul tool, had been stopped so casually!
A seasoned fighter, Jing Hongchen quickly understood the implications. A true clash of peerless Douluos should yield cataclysmic effects, but his strike had seemingly hit a wall. There was only one explanation: the entire area had been suppressed by an immensely powerful soul force.
"A domain!" Jing Hongchen thought, feeling a shiver of dread. And there was more he scanned the surroundings, noticing the icy aura everywhere.
"This frost… it's an Ultimate Ice attribute?"
Huo Yu´er's presence alone exuded a chill that resonated throughout the area, yet she showed no urgency to retaliate, merely keeping Jing Hongchen pinned in place.
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Chapter 578: The Tianxing Knights, Part Eight
"Those who only know how to kill will never truly rise to power."
Huo Yu´er cast a cold sidelong glance at Jing Hongchen. "You may have won the previous battle, but I've spared your life in turn. Now, we're even."
As she spoke, she withdrew her domain, and her right arm, previously covered in a jade green armor, reverted to its original silver hue, revealing that the form was empowered by a spirit bone.
Jing Hongchen eyed the young woman before him with complex emotions. He recognized Xu Jiujiu and Wei Na easily enough after all, they were well known figures. But Huo Yu´er's presence took him by surprise. The once youthful champion of two consecutive Spirit Master Tournaments had grown into a powerful woman, her soft blue waves of hair and striking golden eyes radiating beauty and authority. Adorned in her exquisite silver armor, interwoven with intricate gold patterns, she possessed a regal bearing.
Although he had anticipated her future potential, he never imagined that Huo Yu´er would rise to the pinnacle of Douluo Continent's power so quickly. Jing Hongchen's earlier greed for her battle armor was now entirely extinguished by her overwhelming strength.
Swallowing hard, Jing Hongchen asked, "What exactly are you planning?"
Suppressing her irritation toward the two princesses, Huo Yu´er met Jing Hongchen's gaze and spoke calmly, "Intervening in your fight was a misstep on my part. That's why I let you go. Return now and deliver this message to Emperor Xu Tianran of the Sun Moon Empire: the Tianxing Knights have officially entered this war. It's time to end this cycle of endless bloodshed."
Her commanding tone and disdainful demeanor reminded Jing Hongchen of Mu En, the Dragon God Douluo, and his hands clenched involuntarily as he growled through gritted teeth, "What gives you the right?!"
The field Huo Yu´er had retracted now erupted around her once more, more powerful than before. In the blink of an eye, Jing Hongchen's entire body was covered in frost.
"My master once taught me that strength is everything," Huo Yu´er stated icily. "If you have any complaints, you're welcome to challenge me. But understand this: if you attack, I will kill you without hesitation."
With that, her killing intent flooded toward Jing Hongchen. Despite his experience in countless battles, Jing Hongchen found himself struggling for breath, overwhelmed by her murderous aura.
"How is this possible?! She's only a girl in her twenties how can she possess such terrifying power?"
Despair seeped into Jing Hongchen's heart. Though he had a vast knowledge of soul tools and a pragmatic nature, he wasn't foolish enough to court death. Otherwise, he wouldn't have resorted to bribery when confronted with the Dragon God Douluo Mu En.
Suppressing his frustration, Jing Hongchen murmured, "I understand."
Huo Yu´er nodded, satisfied, yet wary of any desperate moves from the Sun Moon Empire. She added, "The Tianxing Knights only wish to end this war. We won't interfere with the territories you've already occupied."
With that, she turned and left with Xu Jiujiu and Wei Na.
Jing Hongchen stood there, stunned, before a look of joy spread across his face. Although Huo Yu´er wielded power as arrogantly as Mu En once did, she truly embodied her master Ye Wen's neutral stance, unlike Mu En, who had forced the Sun Moon Empire to return conquered territories.
Mulling over her words, Jing Hongchen realized that the Tianxing Knights' intervention was intended to end the war without further gains for themselves. With no further reason to resist, he departed to deliver the message.
In the Sun Moon Empire's palace, Emperor Xu Tianran was the first to receive the news. Normally calm and composed, he lost control, sweeping everything off his desk in rage and staring furiously at Jing Hongchen.
"Is this true? The Douluo side suddenly has three soul masters at the level of peerless Douluos?!"
Though Jing Hongchen was a trustworthy source, Xu Tianran's face fell, despair replacing his disbelief.
Despite his lower body being paralyzed, Xu Tianran had long used a ninth level prosthetic soul tool, allowing him to walk freely. His life's ambition was unified: to conquer the Douluo Continent and achieve eternal glory for the Sun Moon Empire. His second wish was to restore his masculinity.
Yet, with three new peerless Douluo level opponents now in play, Xu Tianran was forced to confront an insurmountable obstacle. He knew his own talent would never reach the heights of 99th level in his lifetime. While he might achieve the rank of a tenth level soul engineer, he alone couldn't balance the scales; the Douluo Continent's side had gained not just one, but three new peerless Douluos, and there might be more to come.
It was impossible.
The emperor's previously resolute gaze dimmed, replaced with resignation.
Jing Hongchen tried to console him, but it was Juzi, Xu Tianran's right hand, who moved to his side and spoke first.
"Your Majesty, ending this war may actually be a blessing in disguise. Our coffers are almost depleted. And didn't Huo Yu´er say that they wouldn't force us to return the lands we've conquered? This is a monumental step forward compared to what Mu En once demanded."
As Juzi's words sank in, Xu Tianran's spirit revived slightly, and she continued, "Moreover, Your Majesty, based on Master Jing's description, Huo Yu´er and the others seem to derive their peerless strength from their armor, suggesting that Ye Wen's soul armor technology holds even more potential. Although we don't have access to the full knowledge of Tianxing Douluo, with a clear objective, we can marshal the resources of the entire Sun Moon Empire to pursue this advancement."
Xu Tianran's gaze sharpened, and Juzi added, "And, as for Your Majesty's concerns about the technology falling into Star Luo or Tianhun Empire hands, it's unlikely. Tianxing Douluo, for all his claims of neutrality, has proven to be far from impartial. After studying under him for years, I believe Ye Wen harbors his own ambitions."
Returning from the bitterness of his shattered ambitions, Xu Tianran instinctively asked, "What ambitions?"
"Tianxing Douluo," Juzi replied in a low, measured voice, "wishes to replace Shrek Academy."
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Chapter 579: The Tianxing Knights, Part Nine
Those with a corrupt heart see corruption in others. Obsessed with power, Xu Tianran naturally projected his own perspective onto Ye Wen, dismissing his so called neutrality as nothing but a sham for fame.
So, when Juzi suggested Ye Wen's true ambitions, Xu Tianran nodded instinctively, his lips twisting into a sneer.
"Thank you, Juzi. You truly are my perfect partner. Since the situation has reached this point, let's take advantage of it and agree to a ceasefire. Also, arrange to have more people praising Tianxing Academy. If the Tianxing Douluo wants to replace Shrek, we'll let them fight among themselves. This will give us the opportunity to regroup and focus on unlocking the secrets of the ultimate battle armor."
Seeing Xu Tianran regain his former vigor, Jing Hongchen breathed a sigh of relief, loudly praising the emperor's wisdom. However, he did not leave. Instead, he stood with an averted gaze, hesitating.
Xu Tianran frowned slightly, but since Jing Hongchen was the only peerless combat power he could command at present, he kept his tone calm. "Is there something on your mind, Lord Hongchen?"
After another moment of internal debate, Jing Hongchen finally bowed and said, "Your Majesty, while the empire's stability is secure, I still humbly request that you grant us an heir soon, to ensure a secure future for our imperial lineage."
Once he had spoken, Jing Hongchen remained in a deep bow, silent and unmoving.
Xu Tianran, usually skilled at concealing his emotions, found it impossible to mask his fury. For years, the rumor had circulated that he was only physically crippled, but in truth, Xu Tianran had also lost the ability to father children. Were his sterility known, it would destroy his legitimacy as emperor, no matter how brilliant he was.
Juzi sensed his discomfort. Although the couple publicly maintained an image of exclusive devotion and Xu Tianran often displayed his affection for her, three years had passed. Rumors that Juzi was a "jealous barren hen" circulated among the nobles, sparking animosity from many noblewomen. However, her worth lay in her political talents, preventing the gossip from spreading uncontrollably.
Juzi responded softly, "I appreciate Lord Hongchen's concern. His Majesty has indeed devoted himself to the affairs of state, and thus had little time to spend with me. But now that we are entering a period of peace, we'll make sure to focus on this for the sake of the empire."
Xu Tianran's expression softened, silently grateful for Juzi's tact and loyalty.
With a deep sigh of relief, Jing Hongchen offered a respectful bow. Xu Tianran was known to be ruthless, even with his own kin, so overstepping by mentioning a personal matter had made Jing Hongchen wary. But, as someone deeply loyal to the Sun Moon Empire, he believed securing the royal lineage took precedence over his own safety.
And so, Douluo Continent returned to a period of peace.
Xu Tianran had never wanted his beloved Juzi to bear another man's child, but for the sake of the throne and the future of the Sun Moon Empire, he had to select a distant relative from the royal family to secretly father an heir with her.
The chosen royal at first couldn't believe his fortune, knowing he would bed Juzi, the Sun Moon Empire's beloved empress. However, any reasonable person would recognize the danger of touching the emperor's possession. Eventually, the man's fate was sealed: death, his records erased from history, his existence scrubbed clean to maintain Xu Tianran's honor.
Juzi, though secretly harboring revenge in her heart, kept herself as pure as she could. As in the original story, she cast the foolish royal into a pleasant but fatal dream, in which he slowly awaited his death.
But with no sign of Huo Yuhao in this world, Juzi still required a child. So, she turned to Ye Wen.
One of Ye Wen's abilities allowed him to create life, yet without a male contributor, the power merely replicated essentially cloning her.
Upon learning this, Juzi smiled softly. "If the child were another version of myself, that would be wonderful," she murmured.
While most might feel uneasy about the idea of a clone, Ye Wen understood her meaning. Juzi's childhood had been relatively happy, but her later life had been fraught with hardship. She hoped that, in the future, on the Douluo Continent Ye Wen envisioned, this new Juzi could lead a life of joy.
Thus, a new life was born destined to become the Sun Moon Empire's future ruler. To fit the empire's needs and reduce any future opposition, Juzi had Ye Wen make the clone male.
Meanwhile, Star Luo and Tianhun Empires were in an uproar. Once rare, peerless Douluos had suddenly become commonplace, with six newly emerged alongside the older generation. For the first time in Douluo Continent's history, it now had over ten absolute peak warriors.
The common folk, however, were more focused on the end of the war, and the name of the Tianxing Knights began to spread. Though Wei Na and Xu Jiujiu returned to their respective empires, the other four members of the Tianxing Knights disappeared.
Nevertheless, Douluo Continent's attention turned toward the reclusive Tianxing Douluo at Tianxing Academy. Once again, Ye Wen had left an indelible mark. Now, it was clear that soul tools could reach unimaginable heights, enabling a young person to wield power that took others a lifetime of struggle to achieve.
And so, Shrek Academy's era as the premier institution finally ended, even with their own ninth level soul engineers.
Upon hearing the news, Xuanzi was struck with a sense of defeat. He knew his own limitations well. "Revive Shrek? Against opponents like these, it's impossible."
Tang Wulin, the arms dealer and once hopeful young man, was left reeling. "Is this truly the path of a 'Child of Destiny'? Such fortune is terrifying."
The gap between the factions had widened to the point of hopelessness. Tang Wulin, now fully grown and with support from the HaoTian Sect, put aside his youthful ambitions and focused solely on expanding the Tang Sect. Under the HaoTian Sect's full support, the Tang Sect thrived, and memories of Tang San, the legendary founder, resurfaced among the people, drawing renewed faith in his legacy.
(End of Chapter)
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Chapter 580: Tianxing Knights, Finale
Though he hadn't achieved the results he'd hoped for, Tang San in the Divine Realm could finally relax, as he had garnered a steady supply of faith power. For someone as cunning as Tang San, to have invested so much effort and gained nothing in return would have been maddening.
As for the news of the new battle armor conveyed to him by Da Ming, Tang San merely glanced over it before discarding it from his thoughts. To him, mortal crafted equipment was insignificant those who had not ascended to godhood would always be mere ants.
Meanwhile, Wei Na and Xu JiuJiu returned to their respective empires to grand welcomes and were hailed as heroes of their nations. But both felt uncomfortable. They'd almost been defeated despite their high profile debut, an embarrassing close call. Fortunately, no one else had witnessed it; otherwise, they might not have had the courage to show their faces.
At the reception, many guests tried to get them to reveal details about their armor, hinting at their questions indirectly, but both women declined to answer, stating that the armor was a closely guarded Tianxing Academy secret, one that could only be acquired directly from Ye Wen. Any who sought it would face the academy's wrath.
Faced with such powerful opponents, even the most foolishly greedy individuals kept their ambitions in check.
However, the two women did disclose some general information. Ye Wen's battle armor came in four levels.
The first level was a single word battle armor, which could grant any Soul Master the strength of a Soul Sage. This was currently the only tier of armor publicly known across Douluo Continent.
The second level, the two word battle armor, could grant a Soul Emperor the power of a Soul Douluo. For those who could reach this rank, it wasn't surprising that their power could be intensified even further.
The third level was the three word battle armor, which allowed a Soul Sage to attain the strength of an ordinary Titled Douluo.
Finally, the fourth level was the one that Wei Na and Xu JiuJiu wore. With this armor, a Soul Douluo could attain the strength of a Peerless Douluo.
They also revealed the names of their armor sets: Wei Na's white four word armor was known as "Holy Awakening Heart," and Xu JiuJiu's blue four word armor was called "Heaven's Star Radiance."
The basic information alone left the guests at the reception shaken. Over the following months, an endless flow of noble heirs flocked to Tianxing Academy, hoping to become Ye Wen's disciples and, in turn, bring absolute power to their families.
Thus, Shrek Academy began to decline, its glory fading.
During the reception, Xu JiuJiu and Wei Na subtly began to connect with influential nobles. Their respective emperors, who had long trusted them, paid little attention, assuming they merely wished to lighten the burdens of state an assumption that pleased the emperors.
After the reception, the two empires learned of the whereabouts of the other members of the Tianxing Knights.
Huo Yu'er had named the group the Tianxing Knights because all of its members came from Tianxing Academy, and because she intended them to act as knights and defenders of justice.
If Shrek Academy had an inspection group to hunt down and eliminate evil Soul Masters across the Douluo Continent, then why shouldn't Tianxing Academy have its own knightly force?
The difference was that the Tianxing Knights' primary mission was targeting evil Soul Masters within the Sun Moon Empire. While Shrek's inspectors roamed Douluo in the name of justice, they had never once set foot in the Sun Moon Empire. True to Tang San's influence, Shrek had shown the same hypocrisy, applying a double standard and treating the empire differently.
The Sun Moon Empire itself had no desire for Shrek's interference either.
But while the empire stood apart, its common people still suffered under the influence of evil Soul Masters. Now, with the Church of the Holy Spirit established as the Sun Moon Empire's national religion, life for ordinary citizens was all the more unbearable.
All that was about to change.
The Tianxing Knights, created by Huo Yu'er, operated independently of Tianxing Academy, serving instead as a self organized force for justice with the single mission of hunting down and eradicating evil Soul Masters. The days of reckoning had arrived for the Sun Moon Empire's Soul Masters who walked the path of darkness.
News of their exploits quickly spread, and soon, the Tianxing Knights became a household name within the Sun Moon Empire. Xu Tianran detested the Holy Spirit Cult's behavior, but he hated even more the idea of outsiders enacting justice within his borders, undermining his authority as emperor.
Low level evil Soul Masters fled in panic upon encountering Huo Yu'er and her team, but those who had reached the rank of Titled Douluo were deranged enough to attempt an ambush against the four beautiful knights, driven by wicked intent or other dark desires.
The Holy Spirit Cult gathered the power of twenty evil Titled Douluos, initiating an ambush in a bustling town square.
They believed that as long as the young women weren't clad in their full armor, they were mere Soul Douluos. Confident in their numbers and with the element of surprise, they felt assured of victory.
What they didn't know was that, under Ye Wen's training, Huo Yu'er's spiritual power had long since reached godly levels, allowing her to monitor everything within a thousand mile radius. The scope of her surveillance was so extensive that the ambushers had no idea they were already within her sight.
As attacks rained down upon them, Huo Yu'er exhaled a breath of chilling air, dispelling the disguises cloaking her and her allies.
"You're here now, so you can all stay here forever," she declared, her hands forming seals.
In the next moment, an overwhelming wave of cold engulfed the twenty Titled Douluos, drawing them into a separate dimension.
"Domain Expansion: Absolute Frost!"
All around them was an endless white landscape. A brutal blizzard raged, seemingly intent on snuffing out every trace of life.
This was the enclosed domain Ye Wen had taught Huo Yu'er, a divine ice field combining Snow Empress's Icebound Domain and Ice Empress's Eternal Frozen Domain.
Xiao Xiao and the other two remained outside, warily watching one direction.
There stood Ye Xishui and Long Xiaoyao.
While a closed domain was formidable, it could still be disrupted by powerful external forces.
With his hands behind his back, Long Xiaoyao watched and nodded approvingly. "This must be a domain. I never imagined it could be used in this way. Truly, she's a worthy disciple of the Tianxing Douluo."
Ye Xishui watched the frozen domain in silence, harboring no sympathy for the evil Soul Masters within. Though she was the Holy Spirit Cult's Supreme Elder, she held no affection for its members.
Moreover, their ambush reminded her of her own past. If not for the former cult leader, Zhong Li the Ghost Elder, who had once captured her with the help of others, she would not have faced so much tragedy.
"Let them perish here, these fools who can't see the reality before them," she said coldly before turning to leave.
Long Xiaoyao and Ye Xishui, both Peerless Douluos, could easily handle the trio of knights but saw no need to fight.
As the two departed, the trio of knights relaxed, and soon, Huo Yu'er dispelled her domain.
Back in reality, all that remained of the twenty ambushers were fragments of shattered ice.
(End of Chapter)
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