Chapter 581: The Fall of the Holy Spirit Cult, Part 1
"Ehehehe..."
A sinister laugh suddenly echoed around the four women as chains flew out from a short distance away, entangling something in midair. Anyone with strong spiritual senses would have detected the chains binding twisted souls.
At the end of the chains appeared a young man in a gray robe, who spoke with a chilling tone.
"Every cause has an effect, and I am your retribution! You're coming with me!"
This man was none other than Electrolux, the seventh, and publicly unknown, member of the Tianxing Knights.
Xiao Xiao, who was somewhat timid, broke out in goosebumps at the sight of Electrolux, this usually handsome man, now emanating a sinister aura. She couldn't help but complain:
"Ugh, seriously! How many times have I told you not to pick up those weird habits from our master! Your powers already look like a dark Soul Master's, and when you laugh like that, I can't stop getting chills!"
"Sorry, sorry! But it just feels like the right atmosphere for this kind of job," Electrolux replied with a grin, although his voice held a hint of fondness.
Soul Masters who fell into darkness were despicable, and Titled Douluos among them were even worse. But to let them simply return to the earth as ordinary souls would be a waste. And so, Electrolux, a death practitioner with mastery over light elements, was the perfect match for this role. Although his powers resembled those of a dark Soul Master, his command over light assured that he would always remain righteous.
When Huo Yu'er proposed creating the Tianxing Knights to uphold justice, Ye Wen assigned Electrolux, who had been honing his skills in isolation, to the team. His addition not only strengthened their purification capabilities but also provided Huo Yu'er with the means to train a formidable group of allies in secret.
Through Electrolux's rituals, the souls of these twenty greed driven, now dead evil Soul Masters were transformed into undead entities within his own pocket dimension, permanently becoming Electrolux's subordinates. With twenty Titled Douluo under his command, Electrolux could easily revive his past reputation as the Scourge of the Undead on the Douluo Continent if he chose.
But times had changed, and Electrolux had no desire to use his power for meaningless revenge. Instead, he had begun a new life, ensnared by Xiao Xiao, who, though gentle on the surface, had shown impressive resolve in winning his heart.
Watching the pair's flirtatious exchange, Huo Yu'er grew impatient.
"Enough! You two can flirt all you want tonight! Focus on the task at hand and keep it professional!" snapped Huo Yu'er, the team's lone single member, clearly irked.
Nan Nan, who had experienced heartbreak, averted her gaze, uninterested in such things, while Tang Ya, who had also endured a painful love, simply watched with amusement.
Xiao Xiao and Electrolux shared a sheepish smile before Electrolux pulled forth the strongest of the captured evil Soul Masters to begin interrogating him. Although he had yet to regain his former demigod powers, Electrolux's expertise with necromantic magic allowed him to manipulate any non divine spirit with ease.
Under his mastery, the Titled Douluo soon divulged all the information he knew about the Holy Spirit Cult. Electrolux's skill had been invaluable to Huo Yu'er's campaign, allowing their crusade against dark Soul Masters to go as smoothly as it had.
Having lost so many of its Titled Douluos, with even the cult's Supreme Elders, Ye Xishui and Long Xiaoyao, remaining uninvolved, the power of the Holy Spirit Cult had been decimated to a fraction of its former might.
In the shadows, Ye Xishui watched as the times changed before her eyes. She thought back to how the previous cult leader had ruined her, dragging her from a beloved prodigy to a dark Soul Master, ultimately setting her against the White Holy Dragon and casting all of Douluo into chaos.
Watching the Holy Spirit Cult disintegrate and even seeing Xu Tianran subtly aid Huo Yu'er's team in eradicating the cult's remnants, Ye Xishui felt only a sense of emptiness.
Long Xiaoyao mistook her somber expression for sorrow over the fall of the cult she had dedicated herself to, and he tried to console her. In the original timeline, Ye Xishui had cultivated an overwhelming sense of superiority after reaching Rank 99 and approaching the tenth level Soul Engineer threshold. This arrogance led her to attempt to test Long Xiaoyao's love for her by willingly entering Xu Tianran's trap a ten bomb array of ninth level Soul Cannon shells.
Her fatal mistake in underestimating her power left her nearly dead and forced her to relinquish her essence to Tang Wutong. Like the tragic Bibi Dong of the past, Ye Xishui's end was entirely her own doing, the result of overestimating her strength and seeing herself as above all others on the continent.
But now, with the existence of the humble yet terrifying Ye Wen, and her near death experience at the hands of the self destructive Du Busi, Ye Xishui finally understood the truth: she was still a weakling capable of being subdued. No longer daring to act recklessly, Ye Xishui reflected on her past.
Apart from the child she had been forced to bear by Zhongli the Ghost Elder, she had only ever borne a child with Long Xiaoyao. Although they had never been close, with her own lineage, her child's life should not have been too difficult.
Coupled with Long Xiaoyao's steadfast loyalty, the resentment within Ye Xishui had slowly faded away. No longer willing to wage a fruitless vendetta against the continent, she turned to Long Xiaoyao and said,
"Xiaoyao, if I told you I wanted to withdraw from all of this and live a quiet life somewhere, would you join me?"
Long Xiaoyao was stunned by her words but quickly nodded eagerly. As someone who had chosen to follow Ye Xishui down her dark path, he had always been devoted to her. How could he refuse this chance?
Seeing Long Xiaoyao's enthusiastic response, Ye Xishui felt her heart stir. For the first time, she understood how much he had sacrificed and how deeply he had cared for her over the years.
"I've been such a fool, haven't I? All this time, a man who truly loved me was by my side, and I never even noticed..."
The two of them withdrew from the world, living out their lives hand in hand, spending their days together. And so, the two Peerless Douluos, once infamous across Douluo Continent, vanished from history.
(End of Chapter)
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Chapter 582: The Fall of the Holy Spirit Cult, Part 2
By this time, Juzi was five months pregnant, no longer suited to assisting Xu Tianran in handling state affairs.
Granting the Holy Spirit Cult the title of state religion had marked Xu Tianran as a tyrant in the eyes of many, and though the cult had provided Sun Moon Empire with significant combat power, it brought only fear and unrest to the common people.
The Tianxing Knights, under Huo Yu'er, struck hard and dismantled the Holy Spirit Cult's high ranking forces. Using this opportunity, Xu Tianran quietly weakened the cult's influence in the imperial court. These actions were subtle, as Xu Tianran still considered the real threat to be the Peerless Douluos, Ye Xishui and Long Xiaoyao.
After multiple attempts to track the two, Xu Tianran realized they had truly vanished, likely abandoning the Holy Spirit Cult entirely. This allowed him to act even more brazenly.
Within a year after the war's end, the once powerful Holy Spirit Cult was erased from the empire. With the country now at peace, commoners celebrated the cult's downfall. Living under murderous evil Soul Masters as a state religion would terrify any sane person.
But rather than Xu Tianran, the people credited the Tianxing Knights a group of selfless young women dedicated to eradicating dark Soul Masters. Their popularity earned them a new title: the Valkyrie Knights. These noble and beautiful warriors, possessing immense power, had become almost divine figures.
With the evil Soul Masters' headquarters destroyed, dark practitioners in Sun Moon Empire scattered across the continent. Yet, with the Knights' presence, they no longer dared to act brazenly, behaving even more cautiously than they had during Shrek's reign.
The Tianxing Knights, meanwhile, remained relentless. The four women split up, leading a growing number of Tianxing Academy alumni to hunt dark Soul Masters. Soon, hunting evil Soul Masters became a proving ground for Tianxing's graduates.
As for the Shrek Guardians...
With Tianxing Academy's reputation growing, enrollment at Shrek Academy dwindled. Shrek's once prestigious admission now required not only talent but also a recommendation letter from the city lord, a considerable demand. Few city lords were willing to extend such a favor without personal ties or substantial bribes. For many, it was simply easier to apply to the open access Tianxing Academy.
Now Shrek's arrogance had come full circle, and the cycle of fate hit hard. As talented students flocked to better options, enrollment in Shrek's outer court thinned, and with fewer students overall, inner court candidates dwindled too.
The Shrek Guardians, who once were inner court elites, struggled as the smaller intake weakened Shrek's pool of future warriors. Though dark Soul Masters had grown more cautious, they were still ruthless, and Xuanzi, haunted by past failures, hesitated to send recruits to battle.
One day, a new inner court student requested to join the fight.
"Old Xuan, please give me an assignment to hunt dark Soul Masters! I need to prove myself!" the student pleaded.
Xuanzi, looking sleepy eyed, glanced briefly at the new recruit before muttering, "What? Dark Soul Masters? Ha! The Tianxing Academy has them all wrapped up by now. And you, just a lowly Soul King, think you have the guts to face them? You should know that even some Soul Emperors barely made it out alive against Soul King level dark Soul Masters. Why not use this time to train and avoid wasting your life?"
Sighing, Xuanzi took another swig from his wine flask, his air of resignation palpable.
The young student flushed with anger. After overcoming many challenges to join the Shrek Guardians, was this what he'd signed up for? Where was the justice? The duty to protect the continent? This this was it?
A slender hand touched his shoulder. The student turned, surprised to find himself gazing into a pair of ruby like eyes, stunningly beautiful. It was none other than Ma Xiaotao, now a Soul Sage at rank 79, who had graduated from the inner court.
She led the frustrated student to a secluded area and gently said, "I understand what you're thinking, but the Shrek you dreamed of isn't what it used to be."
This student, an orphan raised by Shrek, deeply revered its glory. Ma Xiaotao's words snapped him out of the dazed admiration he'd been in, and he shouted,
"But precisely because of that, shouldn't we as Shrek disciples step up? Shrek's honor should never be tarnished! We must restore it!"
"Restore Shrek?" Ma Xiaotao murmured. Her soul power surged, blazing hot.
She fixed a steely gaze on him. "Reviving Shrek's honor is indeed our duty, but what makes you think your weak skills are worthy of such a claim?"
The young man's body trembled under the crushing pressure of Ma Xiaotao's Ultimate Fire, forcing him into martial soul possession. Two yellow, two purple, and one black ring a perfect setup encircled him, but he was no match for her.
He tried to respond, but she spoke first.
"Strive to get stronger." She let her soul power ebb, then continued, "Old Xuan may be too cautious, but fighting dark Soul Masters is no joke. With your power, you'd be annihilated against even a slightly formidable one."
She paused, then added, "And remember, the times have changed. Hunting a few lowly dark Soul Masters won't restore Shrek's legacy. Only by becoming the strongest can we hope to revive Shrek."
The young man nodded, her resolute stance rekindling his determination.
"I understand, Senior. I'll train harder!" he declared.
(End of Chapter)
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Chapter 583: The Changing of Empires, Part 1
Since the end of the war, the Douluo Continent had begun to recover its prosperity at a visible pace. But amid these calm, thriving days, an event occurred that left everyone on Douluo Continent astonished: the Emperor of the Heavenly Soul Empire, in his prime, abdicated in favor of Princess Wei Na.
Although there were historical precedents for women ascending to the throne, traditionally the imperial title was passed to male heirs, with women only considered when no direct male successor existed. Nonetheless, the people of the Heavenly Soul Empire readily embraced this situation. After all, their new Empress Wei Na was the disciple of a legendary Peerless Douluo, and she herself possessed godlike strength.
At this moment, within the palace of the Heavenly Soul Empire, the once proud Emperor of Heavenly Soul who, following the annexation of Dou Ling Empire, had dreamed of leaving an eternal legacy now appeared aged, with a head of white hair, looking as though he'd aged decades.
The emperor's expression was complex as he looked at Wei Na, and after a long silence, he sighed.
"Are you satisfied now, Na Na? Can you release your royal brothers and sisters?"
Wei Na, adorned in an imperial gown radiating cold aloofness, nodded slowly.
"Since I took this throne, I've already released them. My siblings never posed a threat, and over half the nobles in court support me. I would never harm them, Father. You're overthinking things."
Wei Na's words were reasonable, but the former emperor knew better than anyone the solitude of holding absolute power; he, too, had once killed his kin in the pursuit of it. While he accepted her outward assurances, he felt a small measure of comfort at the thought that his other children would be unharmed. Yet there was one question he couldn't shake.
After some deliberation, he gave in to his curiosity.
"Wei Na, you're a good child, and once I'd never have expected you to covet the throne. So… can you tell me why you had to take this position?"
Wei Na looked down at her father, her expression unreadable. Her plans had already unfolded, and with her now holding the reins of power, she saw no harm in sharing her reasons.
"Father, the endless wars that have spanned millennia have not only tired me but have wearied the people of Douluo Continent as well. It's time to end it all, and my taking the throne is merely the beginning."
The emperor's eyes widened as he looked at his youngest daughter, his pride and joy. A single sentence was enough for him to understand her intentions. He chuckled bitterly, glancing out at the clear blue sky.
"You've truly played a large game of chess."
He furrowed his brow, considering his thoughts, before asking seriously,
"Wei Na, I don't care what your plans entail. I just want to know: will your plans endanger our family?"
Wei Na gave her father a bemused look.
"Father, what do you take my master for?"
Reassured by her words, the emperor's gaze softened, full of a bittersweet sentiment. The times were indeed changing.
Shortly after Wei Na's ascension, the Sun Moon Empire celebrated the birth of an heir, born to Xu Tianran and Juzi. Less than a month later, news of another abdication arrived from Star Luo Empire. But unlike Heavenly Soul's father to daughter transition, Star Luo's brother to sister succession sparked considerable controversy. Custom dictated that the throne passed from one generation to the next, making this same generation succession appear more like a coup.
Yet, while there was plenty of murmuring, most nobles in Star Luo, like those in Heavenly Soul, had already been won over by Xu Jiujiu's influence. Former Emperor Xu Tianxing may have had his misgivings, but looking at his daughter's fierce determination, he conceded quickly, stating,
"The throne of Star Luo is for the most capable. Ever since the Dai family's reign four thousand years ago, it's been a matter of principle that the throne does not necessarily pass from father to son."
In the corner of the ceremony hall, Dai Hao's face twitched, sensing a pointed dig from the previous emperor. But against the absolute strength held by a now unified Douluo Continent, Dai Hao found himself no longer able to wield the authority he once had. Instead, he could only stand quietly, his clenched fists revealing his inner turmoil.
Thus, Douluo Continent ushered in an unprecedented era of twin empresses. Although neither Wei Na nor Xu Jiujiu had officially joined the Tianxing Knights, their history as founding members of the organization was well known. Their rise to power, combined with their shared mentor at Tianxing Academy, further bolstered the academy's prestige and allowed the empresses to institute policies that removed border restrictions, fostering unity across Douluo Continent.
In the Sun Moon Empire, Xu Tianran found himself increasingly distressed. First, the thought of raising a child that wasn't biologically his rankled him, and second, the situation on Douluo Continent only intensified his frustration.
Though the Sun Moon Empire was confident in its strength, their previous advantage had come from the fractured relations among Douluo's three kingdoms. Now, with Douluo Continent growing ever more unified, Xu Tianran's fears of an unstoppable allied front loomed larger.
Staring at the map before him, he ground his teeth.
"We can't keep going like this. If those two empires unite fully, they could easily crush us before we're ready! If only the Holy Spirit Cult were still intact, if only Elder Kong still wielded the power of a Tier Ten Soul Engineer we wouldn't be in such a tight spot!"
It's human nature to only realize the value of things after they're gone. Despite the trouble the Holy Spirit Cult had brought to the Sun Moon Empire, its elite strength had been undeniably valuable.
Beside him, Juzi who, just a month after giving birth, was back to handling state affairs said nothing, though a cold gleam flickered in her eyes. Xu Tianran had wasted no time in turning her into a tool to serve his ambitions once again, with no regard for her well being. While most empires kept their inner palaces separate from state matters, Xu Tianran went against this tradition to mask his own inadequacies and promote an image of an adoring royal couple.
Lowering her head to focus on her work, Juzi's lips curled into a subtle smile, pleased that his arrangements would facilitate her own plans.
Xu Tianran's gaze shifted to Shrek Academy, a once proud institution now in decline, and a self assured smile spread across his face.
"Once discarded by Douluo Continent, Shrek Academy has lost its status. Let the Sun Moon Empire support them now, reviving them as a force in our favor."
(End of Chapter)
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Chapter 584: The Changing of Empires, Part 2
Juzi feigned indifference but was mentally processing at lightning speed. She quickly deduced Xu Tianran's intentions regarding his plans to support Shrek Academy and disrupt the balance on Douluo Continent. A deeper coldness glinted in her eyes.
"An ant trying to shake a tree," she scoffed internally, deciding not to inform Ye Wen of Xu Tianran's meddling scheme to disturb Douluo's political landscape. After all, the power disparity between Tianxing Academy and Shrek Academy was vast; simple manipulations would have little effect. This could also serve as a fuse for future plans.
In a matter of months, Xu Tianran assembled a group of the Sun Moon Empire's top students to study at Shrek Academy, even dispatching an imperial envoy to negotiate an alliance with Shrek. Xu Tianran proposed to provide data on ten types of ninth level soul tools and assist in Shrek's development of their soul engineering division, in exchange for guidance from Shrek's inner academy a bid to cultivate the Sun Moon Empire's future elite.
The intent behind "future elite" was obvious: to cultivate rank 95 Super Douluo. With the Empire's ninth level soul tools, even a rank 94 could challenge a rank 98. But if they managed to produce a rank 95 soul master with this level of equipment, they would have a pathway to contend with Peerless Douluo. Though far from matching Ye Wen's Four Word Battle Armor, it was still theoretically a way to cultivate elite warriors.
The possibility of a rank 95 Super Douluo emerging from the Sun Moon Empire was something no faction on Douluo Continent wanted, especially with four thousand years of enmity between them. Yet, even though Shrek Academy was on the decline, no one dared dictate their decisions, leaving them to watch with wary eyes.
As Head of the Sea God Pavilion, Xuanzi was tasked with receiving the envoy, though his expression was sour as he regarded the grinning Sun Moon envoy across from him.
"Lord Taotie," the envoy addressed Xuanzi, "have you come to a decision?"
Xuanzi didn't immediately respond. He tore off a piece of chicken, washed it down with a swig of liquor, then looked over at the academy's soul power and soul engineering deans, Yan Shaozhe and Xian Lin'er.
"What do you two think?" he asked.
The two exchanged glances. Yan Shaozhe, an orphan raised by Shrek Academy and a direct disciple of Mu En, was somewhat tempted by the offer, as his master had always encouraged the academy to develop its soul engineering department. Xian Lin'er, on the other hand, was a proud native of the Heavenly Soul Empire and bore a natural disdain for the Sun Moon Empire. Though she was the dean of the soul engineering division, she had no desire to accept Sun Moon's assistance.
Ironically, the dean of soul engineering was reluctant, while the soul power dean was tempted. Left in this dilemma, both fell silent.
Seeing their hesitation, Xuanzi, visibly irritated, added,
"Well, the decision is yours. Agree if you think it's right; decline if you don't. I'm just an old brute, not much help here. You're the experts."
Yan Shaozhe and Xian Lin'er locked eyes, each arriving at their decision: Yan Shaozhe favored the proposal, while Xian Lin'er was firmly against it. The disagreement reignited old grudges from their youth, and soon they were at each other's throats in the meeting room.
"Xian Lin'er, what's the meaning of this? I'm doing this for the sake of Shrek's soul engineering division!"
"Don't meddle where it's not your place, Shaozhe! I'm already a ninth level soul engineer! Even without Sun Moon's help, Shrek's soul engineering will thrive eventually!"
"Easy for you to say! Even I, an outsider, can see we're far behind. On your own, how will you catch up to Sun Moon, let alone Tianxing Academy?"
"You bastard! You think I'm incompetent?"
"Stop being irrational, Xian Lin'er! I'm speaking from facts!"
Their heated argument intensified, soul power rippling dangerously through the chamber as both grew increasingly agitated. The envoy, thoroughly flustered, dabbed his forehead with a handkerchief. Both were rank 95 Super Douluo, and he didn't dare intervene.
With a frustrated huff, Xuanzi slammed his gourd on the table, roaring,
"Enough!"
The room fell silent, the two deans turning away from each other with grudging silence. Xuanzi felt utterly drained; he was just a lazy eater, not someone meant to endure all this bickering.
Xuanzi's gaze fell on the envoy. "You heard them. Your students are welcome, but there will be no formal partnership."
The Sun Moon envoy kept his composure, bowing respectfully before departing. The factions across Douluo Continent collectively sighed with relief at Shrek's decision, though they remained uneasy, as Sun Moon continued covertly recruiting Shrek's inner academy students, as though laying some unseen groundwork.
Once suspicion is sown, trust becomes fragile. Despite Shrek's refusal, the Empire's ongoing moves hinted at some clandestine scheme. Wary of betrayal, allied forces on Douluo became increasingly reluctant to entrust their young to Shrek. Consequently, the academy's enrollment dwindled further a fact that weighed heavily on Xuanzi, leaving him feeling even more worn down.
As the years passed, three to be exact, Juzi of the Sun Moon Empire had finally completed her plan.
(End of Chapter)
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Chapter 585: The Changing of Empires, Part 3
An emperor's role includes handling imperial affairs but also involves public appearances during certain seasonal events to display various personas that help stabilize the people's morale.
As the autumn season's cool breeze settled over the Sun Moon Empire, Xu Tianran, with his wife and son, headed to the royal gardens for the autumn hunt, a traditional event meant to showcase the strength and unity of the imperial family alongside its officials. However, en route, Xu Tianran, preoccupied with state matters, was suddenly thrown forward in his carriage.
The jolt was so forceful that even a Titled Douluo would have struggled to maintain their balance, let alone Xu Tianran, whose lower half was prosthetic. He stumbled, bracing himself on the table in front of him.
"Damn it! What's going on?" Xu Tianran barked.
Thick skinned as he was, he quickly regained his posture. With his sharp instincts, he knew better than to blame the driver this was no ordinary mishap. As the emperor, his route was meticulously cleared by imperial guards. Such an incident could only mean something serious had gone wrong.
Instantly, Xu Tianran sensed a terrifying surge of soul power heading straight toward his carriage. His face paled as he activated his ninth level soul tool prosthetics, using them to blast himself out of the carriage.
Once outside, he realized the gravity of the situation. Events had unfolded so quickly that he hadn't even registered that his personal bodyguard, Jing Hongchen, was already locked in combat with the assailant. The attacker, their face hidden behind a ghastly, demonic mask, was clad head to toe in pitch black armor a disguise that barely hid the overwhelming power of a Peerless Douluo.
Knowing the fatal risk, Xu Tianran had no time to think twice. He immediately turned to flee, abandoning the carriage and everyone in it, including Juzi and his nominal son. To him, a wife could be replaced, a fake son could be reproduced, but his life was irreplaceable. As for his public persona, he wasn't about to let it hold him back now.
Yet barely moments after escaping the scene, a figure clad in orange armor intercepted him. Xu Tianran's face went ashen.
His blood ran cold. He knew with chilling certainty that the enemy would never assign a weak guard to obstruct him. Realizing the truth, he couldn't ignore the conclusion forming in his mind: a high level soul master, armed in armor, could only mean one thing Tianxing Academy.
Xu Tianran barely needed to consider Tianxing's objective here; if they were making a direct move to assassinate him, their ambitions clearly extended far beyond a mere show of power. He cursed himself, regretting his arrogance and failure to bring additional guards or even summon Elder Kong, still recovering in seclusion. If he had, perhaps he wouldn't be trapped in this deadly situation.
Clinging to a faint hope, Xu Tianran cautiously spoke, "Your Excellency, I may not understand what you want, but perhaps we could negotiate. I beg you to spare my life."
After a moment of tense silence, the orange clad figure let out a familiar, mocking laugh.
"That voice…?" Xu Tianran's face contorted in shock and disbelief.
Juzi slowly removed her mask, revealing the face he knew so well. Gone was the soft, tender smile she once wore. In its place was a mocking smirk, a pure expression of disdain.
"Turns out, my master was right. There's no such thing as innate nobility. In the face of absolute power and life or death choices, all beings are equal," she said coldly.
Xu Tianran, desperate, tried to use his words to negotiate with her, but Juzi moved with swift finality, plunging a sword straight into his heart.
His life force extinguished, even his Titled Douluo level power couldn't save him. Xu Tianran stared in utter disbelief, blood trickling from his mouth, a look of regret flashing through his eyes as he collapsed toward the ground.
But before he fell completely, Juzi seized his body, following Ye Wen's advice to leave no trace. "Leave no room for chance," he had taught her. "If you make a move, erase even the enemy's soul."
As she vanished from the scene, her voice lingered in the air, soft but resolute: "It's time for this era to end."
Within the hour, the shocking news of Xu Tianran's death spread through the imperial court. Everyone who had accompanied him, except for Juzi and her son, had perished, including Jing Hongchen.
The court officials found it strange but somehow credible that Juzi and her son had survived. After all, Juzi had once studied at Tianxing Academy and was known to have some connections with Hua Yu'er and the other girls. That they might have saved her on their way past seemed plausible. After all, the Tianxing Knights were known for their honor and righteousness.
However, the incident's strange timing couldn't be ignored, raising questions and suspicions among the officials.
A group of ninth level soul engineers arrived on the scene for a thorough investigation. After meticulous analysis, they concluded that a group of rogue soul masters, in a last act of defiance, had ambushed and killed their valiant emperor. It seemed these deranged fanatics had even dared to assassinate a nation's sovereign.
Behind closed doors, those with knowledge of the truth weren't entirely shocked. Given Xu Tianran's ruthless actions, it was no surprise that a group might seek vengeance. The main regret was the further loss of valuable high level talent. However, in this era of relative peace, they consoled themselves that an immediate crisis was unlikely.
When Juzi received the final verdict, her heart finally settled. She knew full well that her sisters from the Tianxing Knights had carried out the mission, and the rogue soul master aura was thanks to Hua Yu'er and Electrolux's expertise in handling the souls of deceased rogue masters. Faking the scene was child's play for them.
With the case officially closed, rogue soul masters became even greater targets for hatred, facing fierce and relentless hunts. Their lives grew harsher by the day.
But when all the dust had settled, the high ranking members of Douluo Continent's other factions were struck by an unusual observation: the Sun Moon Empire's court was surprisingly unshaken. Juzi had naturally assumed the position of regent, ruling on behalf of the young emperor Xu Yunhan.
Juzi, who had been assisting Xu Tianran with governance, had already made many covert changes, gradually replacing a large number of officials with people from Tianxing Academy. As for the old nobility, they had long been weakened by years of war and further swayed by subtle pressure from Hua Yu'er and the other women.
On Douluo Continent, power still spoke loudest. Strength allowed one to do as they pleased.
Although stability returned to the Sun Moon Empire, a sense of unease grew among the common folk. Rumors had begun to circulate that even the formidable Jing Hongchen had perished in the ambush, creating a wave of anxiety.
(End of Chapter)
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