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The march of the great army was naturally majestic, their momentum as unstoppable as a blade splitting bamboo. Along the way, they crushed the soldiers of the Heaven Spirit Empire, leaving them in utter disarray. Although they faced various schemes and traps laid by the Heaven Spirit Empire and the Spirit Hall during this advance, they only suffered two to three thousand casualties—a loss that was essentially negligible in the grand scheme of the campaign.
However, just as the Star Luo army was on the verge of reaching Heaven Dou City, they encountered the Heaven Spirit forces personally led by Xue Qinghe.
When bitter enemies meet, their eyes burn with an especially intense hatred. Furthermore, Lie Tianhu harbored the ambition of capturing Xue Qinghe alive, hoping to seize the entire Heaven Spirit Empire in a single stroke. Driven by these thoughts, the two sides engaged in immediate, violent combat without exchanging a single word. As the rank-and-file soldiers fought a bloody war of attrition, Lie Tianhu and his companions sought to strike the head of the enemy. Thus, he and the Third Elder of the Clear Sky School attacked simultaneously, charging directly toward Xue Qinghe.
To their horror, they had vastly underestimated Xue Qinghe's true strength. Xue Qinghe had already ascended to become a First-Class Deity—the Angel God. During the fierce struggle, Xue Qinghe revealed her true identity: she was the daughter of the previous Pope of Spirit Hall—Qian Renxue!
Having broken through the rank-hundred barrier, Qian Renxue was now the absolute ceiling of combat power on the Douluo Continent. She defeated Lie Tianhu with effortless ease and even executed the Third Elder of the Clear Sky School with a single, devastating stroke of her blade.
Immediately following this, Qian Renxue summoned her divine tool: the Angelic Holy Sword. She stood alone against four Title Douluo. Lie Tianhu, Dugu Bo, the Blazing Sun Douluo, and Chen Xin all attacked at once, and with the support of a Soul Saint from the Seven Treasure Blue Lightning Sect, their combat effectiveness was doubled.
Under the combined might of these four Title Douluo, their collective power was no less than that of nine Title Douluo. Yet, even so, Qian Renxue suppressed them with ease, dominating the battlefield as if she were merely toyed with them.
The battle raged for two days and one night. Ultimately, Dugu Bo and Lie Tianhu were critically wounded, their lives hanging by a thread. Chen Xin's left arm was severed, and while the Blazing Sun Douluo attempted to take Qian Renxue down with him in a final, suicidal blast, he failed to achieve his goal.
Nevertheless, his sacrifice was not entirely in vain. It was precisely his life-risking strike that bought the others the precious time needed to escape. Lie Tianhu immediately ordered a retreat, while Xue Qinghe commanded her forces to give chase.
By the end of this disastrous engagement, the hundred-thousand-strong Star Luo army had lost thirty-five thousand soldiers. They had also lost two Title Douluo. Although Dugu Bo and Lie Tianhu narrowly escaped with their lives, they had been beaten into such severe states of injury by Qian Renxue that they remained unconscious in bed, completely stripped of their combat ability. At this moment, let alone a powerful Spirit Master, even an ordinary commoner could have ended their lives.
Upon learning that Xue Qinghe was actually Qian Renxue—the daughter of the former Pope Qian Xunji and the current Pope Bibi Dong—and that she had completed the divine trials to inherit the position of the Angel God, everyone was struck with profound shock.
Knowing his "elder brother" had become a deity, Xue Beng was consumed by terror. He understood perfectly that for the deified Qian Renxue, killing him would be as easy as moving a single finger.
The subjects and generals of the Heaven Spirit Empire were equally stunned, their mouths agape in disbelief. However, they ultimately chose to follow Qian Renxue to forge a grand new era! Since they were already branded as rebel ministers, there was no turning back for them. Only by following Qian Renxue and unifying the Douluo Continent could they claim the merit of being founding retainers, ensuring they would stand above others in the future.
For Dai Pojun and the other leaders of the Star Luo Empire, Qian Renxue's identity was shocking, but her power was terrifying. They finally understood the grim reality of the phrase: "Beneath the gods, all are but ants!"
With her power alone—and without even exerting her full strength—she had caused the Star Luo Empire to lose the strength of four Title Douluo. After discussing the situation with Emperor Dai Tianxing and his consort, Dai Pojun decided to reinforce the city defenses and maintain a posture of absolute defense, hoping to prevent any sudden raids from Qian Renxue. At the same time, they thought of Davis and Anna, once again marveling at Davis's incredible foresight.
Thus, Dai Pojun urgently dispatched Lin Qiuyang to the western coast of the Star Luo Empire to find the Sea-Suppressing Marquis, Sha Hengtian. They boarded a ship of the Mad Shark Fleet and set sail for Sea God Island to seek reinforcements.
"The situation happened exactly as I have described. Your Highness, the Crown Prince... I must ask, can Miss Anna truly complete the Sea God's trials and inherit the divinity to become the Sea God?"
Lin Qiuyang could not help but ask this question. If Anna could not become a god, she would be absolutely unable to defeat the deified Qian Renxue.
Davis replied with absolute certainty, "She can! I believe in Nana!"
If even a person like Tang San could become the Sea God, then the current Anna—who was far superior to Tang San in both strength and mental fortitude—had no reason to fail!
"However, we must also make preparations for both possibilities. Lin Qiuyang, wait here for a moment. I will return with you shortly!"
"Your Highness, do you mean to..."
Upon hearing this, Lin Qiuyang's expression changed drastically, his eyes filled with alarm. He thought to himself: The Crown Prince wants to return ahead of schedule? Does he intend to clash with that Qian Renxue?
At this thought, Lin Qiuyang gasped and hurriedly said, "Your Highness, surely you don't intend to face Qian Renxue? You must not! Your safety is more important than the entire Star Luo Empire. You absolutely cannot risk your life!"
"Hahaha, Dean Lin, you can set your mind at ease. I have already reached the peak of the Quasi-God rank, and I am only half a step away from becoming a true deity. Combined with the fact that Zhuyun and Zhuqing have both become Title Douluo, if the three of us work together, even if we cannot defeat Qian Renxue, we can easily escape her!"
"Hiss! The two Princesses have also become Title Douluo..." Lin Qiuyang was stunned. He wasn't particularly surprised that Zhu Zhuyun had reached that level, as she had broken through rank ninety over a year ago and only lacked a suitable soul ring.
However, he hadn't expected Zhu Zhuqing to have also reached the rank of Title Douluo. Combined with Anna, the ages at which they were reaching this peak were even younger than Davis. Were they even human? They were a group of monsters. If they joined forces, perhaps they truly could hold their own against Qian Renxue!
"The matter is settled. I will go speak with Zhuyun and the others!" With that, Davis leaped away and quickly reached the side of Zhu Zhuyun and the rest, relaying the sequence of events.
Upon learning that the Third and Seventh Elders of the Clear Sky School had fallen in battle, Tang Yuehua was devastated, tears streaming uncontrollably from her eyes.
Seeing this, Davis sighed helplessly. "Sister Yuehua, the dead cannot be brought back. You must take care of your health!"
While comforting Tang Yuehua, Davis gently stroked her soft hair while voicing his intentions.
"Sister Yuehua, you stay here to look after Nana. Once Nana inherits the Sea God's position, tell her everything that happened. I, Zhuyun, and Zhuqing will return to the Star Luo Empire first!"
"But..." Tang Yuehua wanted to protest. She had already lost two uncles and did not want to watch Davis go to his death.
But thinking of the dire situation in the Star Luo Empire, she understood that she could not stop Davis. Moreover, Anna was currently at her most critical moment and could not be left alone.
Ultimately, she could only nod helplessly. "Fine, I understand. Davis, Zhuyun, Zhuqing... you must be extremely careful. As soon as Nana inherits the godhood, we will return immediately to find you!"
"Good! Sister Yuehua, I leave Nana in your hands!" After saying this, Davis urgently boarded the warship, beginning his hurried journey back to the Star Luo Empire.
Zhu Zhuyun and Zhu Zhuqing, seeing his desperate state, were fully understanding. After all, their own families were also in Star Luo City, and they were equally anxious and worried.
(End of Chapter)