With the secret push of Tang Old Dog, the joint siege of the Holy Spirit Cult by the Four Great Empires officially began!
At this moment, the soldiers and powerhouses of the Four Great Empires had already pressed into the Jingyang Mountain Range, surrounding it so tightly that not even water could leak through.
The Four Great Empires uniting against a common enemy was something that had not happened for tens of thousands of years.
The last time the empires of the continent showed such unity was when the Three Great Empires joined forces to resist the Sun Moon Empire.
The evil soul masters on Jingyang Mountain had mixed reactions—some went mad, some worried, while others wanted to flee.
Standing at the top of the central tower, hands clasped behind her back, Tang Ya, the current leader of the Holy Spirit Cult, gazed into the distance where the armies of the empires were already visible.
Tang Ya's mood was unexpectedly calm.
Perhaps it was because she had long foreseen this day.
At present, besides herself, the Holy Spirit Cult's top strength included three Grand Elders—the Corpse God, Xu Qiudi, and Cain—plus the eight Worshippers led by Compassionate Demon, and twelve Elders whose weakest member was still a Contra.
Beneath them, there was no shortage of Soul Saints and Soul Douluos serving as the backbone.
But even with such strength, opposing the united army of the Four Great Empires was still utterly impossible.
Tang Ya did not yet know that the Sun Moon Empire had produced seven deities.
But that didn't matter—Tang Ya had already prepared her retreat route long ago.
"Is the Cult Leader worried for the Holy Spirit Cult?" A woman's voice sounded behind her.
Xu Qiudi, clad in a blood-red robe, silently appeared behind Tang Ya.
Tang Ya turned and looked at her, not denying it. "What is Grand Elder's opinion?"
Xu Qiudi chuckled softly. "Cult Leader, why be so foolish? Have you forgotten the essence of an evil soul master?"
"The essence of an evil soul master?" Tang Ya frowned slightly.
"Evil soul masters are simply wicked beings who cultivate through life and blood," Xu Qiudi said with a smile. "War and death have never been the crisis of evil soul masters—they are our fertile soil!"
"So, what Grand Elder means is…"
"We have decided to make this war even bloodier. We shall use the lives of the Holy Spirit Cult and the soldiers of the Four Great Empires to forge our own paths. Does the Cult Leader wish to join us?"
Xu Qiudi extended an invitation to Tang Ya.
Tang Ya's pupils shrank. She hadn't expected these Grand Elders to be so bold.
But it was understandable. These powerhouses had only joined the Holy Spirit Cult midway, and their loyalty to it was shallow at best.
Perhaps, from the moment they joined, they already had such thoughts. It was only with their help that the Holy Spirit Cult had come this far.
"As expected, the weak have no other choice…"
At last, Tang Ya let out a breath. A smile curved her lips as she spoke:
"Then I'll be in your care, Grand Elders."
If the Holy Spirit Cult had no future, then let it become the nourishment for her own advancement!
Of course, Tang Ya didn't fully trust Xu Qiudi. She could not guarantee that she herself wouldn't also become fodder in the eyes of the Grand Elders.
The essence of evil soul masters wasn't just cruelty—it was also mercilessness.
"Attack!"
Under the command of the coalition marshal, the soldiers of the Four Great Empires began their advance into the Jingyang Mountains.
The marshal chosen to lead the coalition was none other than the Right Prime Minister and Great General of the Sun Moon Empire, commander of the Fire Phoenix Legion, a Rank 96 Super Douluo, Juzi—titled Hell.
In terms of both strength and position, no one could compare to Juzi. As for her leadership ability, no one doubted it either—for if Juzi lacked ability, Xu Tianchen would never have entrusted her with command of one of the Beast King Legions, the Fire Phoenix Legion.
Xu Tianchen was lustful, yes, but there was no denying he was a grand ruler with far-reaching strategies.
At least, that was what the outside world believed.
Standing atop the high platform built for command, Juzi watched the soldiers and powerhouses marching into the mountains. A trace of unwillingness flickered in her eyes.
For Xu Tianchen's order to her was not to completely annihilate the Holy Spirit Cult…
But soon, she extinguished that faint hesitation in her heart.
She had no choice. She could only obey. At this point, she had no way back.
Xu Tianchen, standing in front of her, had already ascended to godhood. Then what of Huo Yuhao, hidden in the shadows—how terrifying must he be?
Through communication soul tools, the order was passed. The armies of the Four Great Empires entered the mountains together, soon encountering the Holy Spirit Cult's outer sentries.
The battle ignited instantly.
The Holy Spirit Cult's outposts were quickly wiped out.
The coalition's casualties were negligible.
But this was the cult's lair—evil soul masters had already set many traps across the mountains: poison mists, miasma, venomous insects, and more.
In many areas, the harsh environment caused considerable casualties.
Only then was the advance of the coalition slowed.
By sunset, the Four Great Empires' forces hadn't even pushed halfway into the mountains, far beyond what the high command had expected.
But they had no choice—the generals ordered the army to camp on the spot, for night marching was unwise.
In the central command tent—
Juzi sat at the head, flanked by the three Douluos: Mo Ying, Qing Ci, and Fire Phoenix.
The representatives of the Four Great Empires and Yan Shaozhe of Shrek Academy sat on either side.
Below them sat the representatives of the various sects and academies.
This war against the Holy Spirit Cult was not just for the Four Great Empires and Shrek Academy; most of the sects and academies had also sent people to aid.
The Clear Sky Sect did not attend the meeting but stayed in Shrek Academy's camp.
As always, the Body Sect remained missing, as if it had completely vanished from the world.
Juzi studied the reports streaming in from every direction, her expression growing more and more solemn as she grasped the situation inside the mountains.
"So far, we have yet to encounter the cult's top powerhouses, but their sinister methods have caused significant losses among our soldiers."
"Does anyone have a countermeasure against the vile tactics of these evil soul masters?"
Her question was met with silence and helplessness.
The Four Great Empires were not short on healing-type soul masters, but they could hardly extend that aid to ordinary soldiers.
After all, the lives of common soldiers were worth very little.
At this moment, Yan Shaozhe stepped forward with a proposal:
"Marshal, I have an idea. We can withdraw the ordinary soldiers and instead form elite strike squads of powerhouses, targeting the enemy's core directly with decapitation tactics."
"I volunteer to join such a strike team!"
Several other powerhouses nodded in agreement.
But Juzi thought for a moment, then shook her head.
"Dean Yan's suggestion is reasonable, but the army cannot retreat. In fact, we must press more soldiers forward."
Many frowned at this.
Juzi didn't give them time to object, explaining directly:
"I don't mean for these soldiers to continue advancing, but rather to fortify and secure the ground we've already taken."
"Forming strike squads to eliminate the cult's leaders is fine. But what then? What of the remaining evil soul masters? We absolutely cannot allow them to scatter and roam the continent once again."
"If that happens, the Holy Spirit Cult's legacy will survive. In a few thousand years, they might rise again, bringing catastrophe upon the world."
Only then did the others nod in agreement.
"The Marshal is truly thorough."
"I think it's feasible."
"A contribution for the ages."
Even Yan Shaozhe conceded.
Though it might mean more soldiers dying, it would ensure that the evil soul masters and the Holy Spirit Cult were eradicated root and branch.
And Yan Shaozhe, more than anyone, loathed the Holy Spirit Cult.
"In addition," Juzi continued, "our knowledge of the cult's current state is limited. If we send a strike squad recklessly, they could easily fall into a trap."
"So, I propose dispatching two forces: one overt, to draw the cult's attention; and one covert, to remain hidden until the perfect moment, when they must strike a fatal blow at the cult's heart!"
After a meeting, the representatives of all forces had a deeper understanding of Juzi.
They witnessed Juzi's wisdom and strategy, saw her caution, and even felt her ruthlessness.
Because many of the strategies Juzi formulated were truly meant to uproot the Holy Spirit Cult completely, leaving no trace of inheritance.
After marveling at Juzi's excellence, all the factions also grew more wary of her. Because once the Holy Spirit Cult was dealt with, who could guarantee that Juzi wouldn't turn against the other three empires and various forces?
Some even began considering whether they should take advantage of this war to kill with a borrowed knife.
The alliance had just begun, and cracks had already appeared.
When everyone left, in the central military tent, Juzi, clad in fire-red battle armor, was momentarily lost in thought.
Because her arrangements targeted not only the Holy Spirit Cult but also involved sending more soldiers and experts into the Jingyang Mountains, waiting for the final harvest.
Among them were not only strong individuals from the other three empires but also their own Sun Moon Empire's soldiers and experts!
At Juzi's side, another figure appeared—it was Shadow Douluo, who had always been secretly responsible for protecting her.
Fire Phoenix Douluo, Ink Shadow Douluo, Celadon Douluo, and Shadow Douluo all stayed with Juzi. They understood the true goal of this war.
Unlike Juzi, their feelings were not so complicated—only joy for the imminent harvest.
Ink Shadow Douluo and Celadon Douluo were utterly loyal to Xu Tiancheng, their spirits carrying his imprint. They cared for nothing else, only to fulfill his orders.
Fire Phoenix Douluo and Shadow Douluo, on the other hand, were directly under Huo Yuhao's control and thus had no other thoughts.
"Worthy of Marshal Juzi—your consideration of everything is so thorough. I believe His Majesty will not treat you unfairly." Ink Shadow Douluo smiled.
"His Majesty has always rewarded and punished clearly. After this, Marshal Juzi will have the chance to ascend to godhood. As for us brothers, we only hope to remain His Majesty's divine envoys, serving by his side—that alone is enough." Celadon Douluo sighed, while reaffirming his loyalty.
Juzi pursed her lips. Before coming here, Xu Tiancheng had indeed promised her a godhood. But… was a divine seat truly so easy to obtain?
The absent-minded Juzi looked at her left palm, where there was a flame-shaped mark.
Luan Feng, Fire Phoenix Douluo, said nothing—for she awaited her own ascent into the Divine Kingdom.
When the four empires went to war against the Holy Spirit Cult, Huo Yuhao was already on his way back to the continent. He had a clear grasp of the situation.
The reason they didn't wait for Huo Yuhao before starting the war came down to three factors:
First, the participation of the Clear Sky Sect, which brought several extremely powerful figures.
Second, the Sun Moon Empire had seven deities as a safeguard.
Third, several Shrek members who had gained divine trials—their trials were tied to the Holy Spirit Cult, requiring them to defeat its evil soul masters.
With these reasons, only a small spark was needed for the war to erupt.
With gods intervening, Huo Yuhao—"the hope of the entire continent"—was no longer critical.
At best, he was icing on the cake.
Originally, Huo Yuhao had intended for the four empires and the Holy Spirit Cult to exhaust each other, and then let the Cult "escape" onto the continent to begin the slaughter.
But now, that plan would not work.
However, Huo Yuhao was not worried.
If they couldn't be whittled down outside, then all strong individuals and soldiers would simply be trapped in the Jingyang Mountains and devoured in one go.
Both Xu Tiancheng and the Holy Spirit Cult—Huo Yuhao had already arranged for them.
As long as the Sun Moon Empire dispatched large forces, and the other three empires followed, the rest of the powers would see nothing amiss.
On his return journey to Douluo Continent—
Huo Yuhao suddenly stopped mid-flight.
He deftly extended his power into the deep sea, pulling out a three-hundred-thousand-year sea soul beast and tossing it into the Divine Kingdom for Tianmeng Iceworm to process.
Along the way, he did not miss any powerful sea soul beast he encountered, casually collecting them to prepare for his demon sons and grandsons to plant their banners in the southern seas.
Tianmeng Iceworm had dealt with so many by now that his heart was as cold as someone gutting fish at a supermarket for ten years.
But this time, Huo Yuhao found more than one powerful sea soul beast.
Looking ahead, he saw a cloud of destiny's auspicious qi—the sign of a powerful soul beast clan.
Within the cloud's flow was a soul beast's phantom darting about.
It was—the Devil Soul Great White Shark!
"Isn't this the Devil Soul Great White Shark clan the Demon Empress was hunting? Didn't expect to run into them. Then I definitely can't let them go." Huo Yuhao laughed.
From their cloud of fortune, it was clear that the Devil Soul Great White Shark clan thrived well in the ocean.
No wonder they managed to survive even twenty thousand years later.
"Unfortunately, since you belong to the Sea God, I can't let you live."
Huo Yuhao extended his left hand toward their clan.
The sharks, leisurely in their home waters, suddenly saw the sky split apart. A massive black hand plunged into the deep sea.
Their clan leader—Xiaobai, once the Sea God's first mount and the second Sea God's assistant—reacted first, throwing everything into resisting.
But against that hand, her struggle was as feeble as an infant's—she could not halt its descent.
Before being seized entirely, Xiaobai gritted her teeth and used her last strength to send her daughter away.
"Bubble, run!"
"Mother, no! I want to stay with you!!"
The princess was wrapped in her mother's power and rushed away with the currents. But she did not want to escape—she wanted to face everything with her mother.
Yet with Xiaobai's ability, trying to spirit someone away under a God King's eyes was pure wishful thinking.
She watched helplessly as her daughter, who had already escaped the hand's range, was seized by a figure and vanished.
"No——!!"
Xiaobai let out a wail of despair.
The next moment, she and her clan were gripped by the black hand, instantly losing consciousness.
When the hand covering the sea vanished, the entire Devil Soul Great White Shark clan disappeared with it.
"A family should stay neat and tidy together~"
Huo Yuhao didn't kill them, but transferred them into a newly created sea within the Divine Kingdom.
Xiaobai, her daughter, and the other sharks slowly awakened.
To their shock, they weren't dead—they had appeared in a golden ocean.
As confusion and disbelief filled them, a woman in rainbow robes, with long blue-gold hair, walked across the waves.
Sensing the familiar soul power she emitted, Xiaobai's pupils shrank—she cried out, "Sea God?"
But… why had the Sea God become a woman?
The sharks grew restless.
Lotus Heart smiled gently, gazing at them: "Welcome to the Divine Kingdom, children of the sea."
Her divine aura calmed the sharks, making Xiaobai believe even more that this was truly the Sea God.
"I wonder what orders Sea God has for us?" Xiaobai asked cautiously.
"The ocean's authority was stolen by an Outer Realm Heavenly Demon. Thus I was born, swearing to reclaim the ocean's authority and restore order. Will you aid me?"
The sharks' eyes grew hazy, until at last they all nodded.
The Sea God's power could control not only the seas—but also those sea soul beasts who had faith in her!
The next morning, as the blazing sun rose—
The war against the Holy Spirit Cult officially began!
Led by the powerhouses of Shrek Academy, the four empires and the strongmen of the various great factions organized two strike teams—one overt, one covert—and together launched a surprise assault on the Holy Spirit Cult.
At the same time, the armies of every side also pressed into the area of the Jingyang Mountain Range. The main forces did not charge in, but rather completely encircled the range, ensuring that not a single evil soul master could escape.
Of course, the armies were not merely blockading. They also dispatched some elite squads to raid the Holy Spirit Cult's defensive points, drawing out evil soul masters and dispersing their strength, in order to aid the decapitation strike plan.
The overt strike team was led by Yan Shaozhe and the Protector Douluo of the four empires. To draw attention, Juzi herself even came to the battlefield. Altogether there were thirty-five Titled Douluo and over fifty Soul Douluo.
The covert strike team, however, was composed solely of elites—just ten members, but all were Super Douluo. Moreover, each of them was equipped with ninth-rank stationary soul guidance shells provided by the Sun Moon Empire.
Until the right opportunity arose, this ten-man Super Douluo squad would remain hidden.
"Evil soul masters of the Holy Spirit Cult, get out here and die!" Yan Shaozhe charged forward, shouting in fury. His Radiant Phoenix radiated dazzling brilliance, wreathed in holy flames of light, as though ready to burn away all evil and darkness in existence.
"Hehehehehe…"
A strange laugh echoed from within the Holy Spirit Cult's encampment, enveloping all directions.
"Dean Yan, long time no see. What play are you staging this time? Surrounding my Holy Spirit Cult so early in the morning?"
Tang Ya's figure silently appeared in midair, facing Yan Shaozhe across the distance.
Yan Shaozhe's gaze toward Tang Ya was complicated. He never would have imagined that the useless master of the Tang Sect from years ago would now have become the leader of the Holy Spirit Cult.
That was precisely why she deserved death even more!
For her to reach this point with her meager talent, countless lives must have been sacrificed in vain.
And by falling into the path of an evil soul master, she had utterly defiled the honor of both Shrek and the Tang Sect.
Though Tang Ya's path into evil soul mastery had some ties to their teacher-student relationship, with the destruction of Shrek Academy, Yan Shaozhe would never again discuss rights and wrongs with her.
Everyone in the Holy Spirit Cult must repay blood with blood!
"Tang Ya, your end and the Holy Spirit Cult's end are here!" Yan Shaozhe declared solemnly.
Tang Ya still smiled. "Then let's try and see~"
"Dean Yan, no need to waste words with an evil soul master. Let's attack together!"
A Titled Douluo spoke up.
In the next instant, all the Titled Douluo struck at once, concentrating their power to kill Tang Ya instantly.
Yet, right then, a surge of Super Douluo-level power erupted from Tang Ya's body, blocking all incoming attacks. At the same time, six black and three red soul rings appeared around her—nine in total—making her look all the more sinister.
"Super Douluo? Impossible!" Yan Shaozhe cried out in shock.
Tang Ya only smiled, offering no explanation.
After taking control of the Holy Spirit Cult, she had indeed been bound to it. But in return, she had also reaped great benefits from it.
To her surprise, the process of refining those benefits went incredibly smoothly, propelling her without hindrance all the way into the realm of a Super Douluo.
Huo Yuhao: Shouldn't you thank Brother Hao for planting a little toy inside you?
Indeed, Huo Yuhao had left behind a hidden measure within Tang Ya, which indirectly helped accelerate her cultivation.
After all, if a BOSS were too weak, how could it draw heroes to come and challenge it?
The other Titled Douluo were shocked as well, but not so shocked that they couldn't accept it. The new generation on the continent had already grown terrifying.
Take Huo Yuhao—the strongest genius of all—as an example. In just his twenties, he had reached a peak many powerhouses couldn't touch even after two hundred years, already possessing the strength of an Ultimate Douluo.
Or consider Xu Tiancheng, the Emperor of the Sun Moon Empire, who had managed to ascend to godhood together with his consort—shattering everyone's worldview.
In this era, Soul Emperors and Soul Saints in their teens were everywhere, and Titled Douluo in their twenties were no rarity.
So many veterans could no longer understand this world.
Some even began to suspect that the continent's environment itself had changed, giving rise to this flood of geniuses.
Huo Yuhao: Brother Hao's Accelerator—everyone says it works!
Tang Ya stopped attacking, instead giving a cold command toward the ground: "Twelve Elders, why haven't you acted yet?"
At that, the Twelve Elders of the Holy Spirit Cult led their subordinates out of cover and clashed with the coalition's elites.
Not all Twelve Elders were Titled Douluo. Still, thanks to the Cult's legacy and her resources, Tang Ya had managed to raise six of them to the Titled Douluo level—though only at rank 91.
Fortunately, the rest included many Soul Douluo, Soul Saints, and Soul Emperors. Together with the other evil soul masters providing support and the advantage of terrain, they could barely resist the coalition's forces.
Normally, in a battle between top powerhouses, the weak had no place.
But with soul tools, even weaker ones could provide long-range support for their allies.
The clash did not attract soul beasts, for the creatures of the Jingyang Mountains had long ago been devoured as fodder for the Cult's revival.
Of course, the Twelve Elders alone could not stop the coalition's Titled Douluo.
Luckily, at that moment, the Eight Worshippers also appeared!
Eight sinister auras emerged from eight directions, surrounding the fighters and then plunging into the fray.
In the blink of an eye, several coalition Soul Douluo were slain. The Titled Douluo had to divert manpower just to barely hold the Eight Worshippers at bay.
These Eight Worshippers were actually eight great monsters. The strongest of them, hidden under a hood, had heterochromatic eyes—one red, one blue. This was none other than Compassionate Demon in disguise.
Amid the chaos—
Yan Shaozhe was held off by one of the Worshippers.
Tang Ya did not engage him, but instead faced Juzi.
"Long time no see, Sister Juzi. You're an auxiliary-type soul master—why would you come fight on the frontlines? Has the coalition run out of people?" Tang Ya teased with a grin.
"Tang Ya, the corrupted you are no longer the Prime Minister of the Sun Moon Empire. Today, I will strike you down here!" Juzi declared solemnly.
Tang Ya paid her no mind and attacked decisively.
If she could wound or even kill the coalition's marshal, it would be a massive blow to their morale.
The strange part was that none of the strongmen from the other three empires came to support Juzi.
Even more strangely, the Sun Moon Empire's own elites did not protect her either—they remained focused on their respective opponents.
Countless dark Blue Silver Grass vines spread like a sky-blotting curtain, surging to engulf Juzi.
Juzi closed her eyes, calming her heart. When she reopened them, blazing firelight shone in her pupils.
At the same time, the flame mark on her left palm transformed into a Martial Soul sigil.
Juzi too had awakened a second Martial Soul.
But now, that second Martial Soul had been overwritten. She had received from Xu Tiancheng a—God-Bestowed Martial Soul!
Emerald flames burst forth, like meteorites falling from the heavens, smashing apart the sky-darkening Blue Silver Grass.
Tang Ya's pupils shrank sharply.
At that moment, Juzi seemed clad in battle armor forged of molten magma, radiating scorching heat—undoubtedly the Ultimate Fire!
Nine blood-red soul rings encircled her body.
"God-Bestowed Martial Soul—Hellfire!"
"Please, enlighten me."
Juzi's voice was calm as she faced Tang Ya.
Boom—
The mountain range shook violently. Both sides of the battlefield were forced to retreat from the center of the explosion, afraid of being swept away by the terrifying aftershocks.
A God-bestowed Spirit, with ultimate elemental attributes, and wielded by a Super Douluo — at this moment, every move of Juzi's carried devastating power. Unless an Ultimate Douluo arrived, or another Super Douluo with the same combination of gifts, no one could hope to withstand her.
Not only was Tang Ya utterly shaken, but even the experts of the Four Great Empires were stunned beyond words.
Even the strongest of the Sun Moon Empire themselves had not realized that Juzi's power had grown so terrifying.
Her overwhelming combat strength instantly boosted the morale of the coalition army, especially among the Sun Moon Empire's own elites.
The Holy Spirit Cult, which had only just managed to equalize the battle moments ago, was once again pressed down hard. Even Tang Ya herself found her situation turning dire.
Her expression twisted with disbelief as she demanded coldly,
"Stop joking! How could you possibly have a God-bestowed Spirit?!"
Juzi raised her hand, a verdant-green ultimate flame burning in her palm. This was no ordinary fire — it was the flame born of Hellfire itself: the Hellflame.
"Loyalty to the Empire… this is the reward!" Juzi said with a smile.
Tang Ya's eyes turned frigid.
"Xu Tianchen? Damn him!"
Hatred rose in her heart. She too had once been Xu Tianchen's "woman." So why had she received nothing?
Regret gnawed at her.
"If I had known Xu Tianchen could grant godhood to his consorts, I never would have left the Sun Moon Empire!"
This traced back to her so-called "sacrifice" years ago.
Back then, following Ye Xishui's advice, Tang Ya had used her charms to serve in the imperial harem, gaining a high position and abundant resources.
But the one she had truly "served" was not Xu Tianchen himself — it had been Huo Yuhao, disguised as Xu Tianchen.
Tang Ya and Juzi had even once shared a night with Huo Yuhao together.
Whether it was the Frost Sky Armor Emperor of the underworld powers, or the Sun Moon Emperor in the palace, the only man who had ever possessed Tang Ya's body… was Huo Yuhao.
Huo Yuhao (smirking): "Didn't see that coming, did you? It was me all along!"
Believing she had already gained plenty, Tang Ya never returned to the Sun Moon Empire after the attack on Shrek Academy. She had feared they might sacrifice her as an offering.
Another reason was that she had lost contact with Zhongli Wu, Ye Xishui, and Long Xiaoyao — without them, she had no courage to face Xu Tianchen again.
But by leaving… she had missed the chance to ascend to godhood!
To her mind, had she remained in the imperial harem, she would surely have been chosen! Instead, it had gone to those "cheap women."
Juzi had no intention of wasting any more time. She planned to end Tang Ya quickly.
After all, in the eyes of Juzi and the coalition, Tang Ya was not the real threat. The true enemies were the likes of Zhongli Wu, Ye Xishui, Long Xiaoyao, and the terrifying powerhouses such as Corpse God and Compassionate Demon.
Other than Huo Yuhao, none of the factions yet knew that the Holy Spirit Cult's three great Sacred Pillars had already fallen.
Behind Juzi, the phantom of Hellfire coalesced. It rose into the sky, curled inward, and solidified from illusion into substance. Then, like a blazing comet, it descended from the heavens, trailing a long green tail of fire.
"Innate Soul Skill — Heaven-Crushing Descent!"
Hellfire, like the Xuanwu Spirit, was itself a divine beast spirit, imbued with innate soul techniques of terrifying might.
Tang Ya raised her eyes to the comet blazing toward her, her face pale as she felt the icy grip of death.
"Are all my ambitions about to vanish into nothingness? In the end… was I only ever a pawn of those three Elders?"
It wasn't just Tang Ya who felt death approaching. Others too were struck by the sheer destructive force, abandoning their fights and fleeing the Jingyang Mountains altogether.
If that strike landed, the mountains themselves would collapse!
The others could flee — but Tang Ya could not.
Caught between life and death, she felt as though she understood something… or perhaps nothing at all. But it didn't matter anymore.
"Cult Leader, now is not yet the time for your life to flash before your eyes. Jie jie jie—"
A grotesque laugh whispered into Tang Ya's ear. A powerful aura erupted behind her, instantly enveloping her in protection.
The next second, the comet fell.
BOOM!!!
Juzi's attack was detonated midair.
As the shockwaves dispersed, Tang Ya was revealed, completely unharmed — protected by a strange black-robed figure. Beneath the robe gleamed a pair of heterochromatic eyes, one red, one blue, glowing with eerie light.
"Who are you?" Juzi demanded coldly.
The figure gave a shrill laugh.
"Chief Worshiper of the Holy Spirit Cult — Compassionate Demon!"
Huo Yuhao couldn't help but grumble at this point: These younger imitators of Compassionate Demon — their demonic aura is far too strong. They don't carry the steady dignity of their forefather… me!
The name Compassionate Demon made many pupils shrink in fear. His record was infamous — assassinating Shrek Academy's inner court disciples, wiping out the Xu Family of the Xuanwu Sect, and evading Shrek's pursuit without a scratch.
Many had heard of his legendary battle skills, but this was the first time most had seen him in person. Now they understood how he had survived unscathed —
He was an Ultimate Douluo!
The aura radiating from him was at the very peak of power.
"Cult Leader, you should retreat to the rear and rest. Leave this to me," Compassionate Demon said lightly.
Tang Ya nodded and began to retreat.
But she had not gone far before another figure blocked her path.
"Xiao Ya, I cannot let you go astray any longer!"
Tang Ya looked at him and sneered.
"And who might this be? Ah, Beibei. Why aren't you playing your righteous hero at Shrek? Why meddle in our Holy Spirit Cult's affairs?"
Beibei's eyes glowed crimson. His face showed no emotion.
"Xiao Ya, I will defeat you, strip away your evil Spirit, and take you back!"
"Then try it, if you have the strength!"
Tang Ya lashed out, clashing violently with Beibei. Though Beibei's ultimate attribute of Evil was strong, Tang Ya's Dark Blue Silver Grass displayed astonishing resilience, holding her ground.
Meanwhile, Juzi and Compassionate Demon also engaged in fierce combat.
But suddenly, another figure charged into the fray.
"Compassionate Demon! You will pay with blood for blood!"
Xu Sanshi roared, his Xuanwu Spirit fully awakened, attaching to his body as he launched his attack.
Two divine beast Spirit wielders — Juzi and Xu Sanshi — besieged Compassionate Demon together, forcing him to fight seriously.
Dark-golden light shone from Compassionate Demon's body, forming an impenetrable defense against their blows. His black robe whipped apart, revealing the phantom of a massive dark-golden centipede encircling him.
Juzi and Xu Sanshi immediately unleashed their Spirit True Bodies, channeling the full might of their divine beast Spirits into their assault.
Compassionate Demon snorted coldly. His robe tore completely, revealing his own golden form.
A colossal dark-golden centipede appeared before all eyes, radiating blinding golden light. Along its flanks stretched rows upon rows of countless centipede legs.
Most shocking of all — the aura it released was no weaker than that of Xuanwu or Hellfire. It too was the aura of a divine beast!
The one masquerading as Compassionate Demon was in fact the most gifted of the original brood of centipedes — the Golden Armored Centipede.
No — it was no longer merely a Golden Armored Centipede. Having awakened its golden bloodline, empowered by Huo Yuhao's divine blood and the holy Creation Cigar of Heaven and Earth…
It had surpassed even the Dark-Gold Dreadclaw.
It had ascended as a true divine beast —
The Hundred-Limbed Golden Centipede!
The battle of the three divine beasts in the Jingyang Mountain Range caused the mountains to quake violently, as if a dragon beneath the earth was turning in its sleep.
The Holy Spirit Cult's stronghold was reduced to rubble during the battle, forcing the evil soul masters to fight desperately against their attackers.
Yan Shaozhe and the others felt an immense pressure.
Among the three, the weakest without question was Xu Sanshi, who had transformed into the Xuanwu true body.
Not only because Xu Sanshi himself was the weakest, but also because his Xuanwu bloodline had only just awakened and was far from reaching its peak.
In the Douluo Universe, Xuanwu was not the pinnacle of its race—it was merely a standard form.
Fortunately, by Xu Sanshi's side was Ju Zi, who had transformed into the Hellfire true body—the strongest bloodline among the three divine beasts present.
A Hellfire that had once been reared by the Fire God itself was already considered a rare and powerful existence, even among its kin.
What's more, Ju Zi did not only possess Hellfire's power—she also carried the divine power bestowed upon her by the Fire God.
Even so, in terms of raw strength, the strongest was none other than the Centipede King, disguised as the demoness Cihang.
After evolving into a divine beast, the Golden Centipede's bloodline was not especially overwhelming. It lacked the ancient origins of Hellfire or Xuanwu.
But its backing was unmatched!
Blessed with a single drop of a God King's divine blood, the Golden Centipede had not only reached the mortal world's absolute limit, but also gained the augmentation of divine power. Even against two opponents, it did not falter—in fact, it faintly held the advantage.
Most importantly, the Golden Centipede was fighting in its true form, allowing it to unleash its full might.
Activating the power of its dark-golden bloodline, the Golden Centipede's defenses and strength reached terrifying levels. Neither Hellfire's ultimate flames nor Xuanwu's water-and-earth fusion could shake its golden body.
"Xuanwu Roar!"
Xu Sanshi directly fused his first six soul rings, unleashing his bloodline innate skill at the Golden Centipede. This strike carried power equivalent to a 100,000-year soul skill, and even had a compulsory effect.
"Hellfire Fist!"
At the same time, Ju Zi activated the other innate bloodline ability of the Hellfire. Alongside the "Collapse of Heaven" skill, this was one of Hellfire's only two gifts of nature.
Hellfire's two innate abilities lacked special effects or control—they were purely destructive, maximizing raw attack power.
The Hellfire Fist's strength had already reached the quasi-demi-god level!
Yet when the two attacks closed in, the Golden Centipede neither dodged nor blocked. Instead, it activated its own innate ability.
"Divine Radiance Golden Body!"
Buzz—
The Golden Centipede's entire body turned dazzling gold, radiating divine light that brooked no violation. Under its brilliance, the incoming attacks were weakened, and when they landed, they failed to cause any damage at all.
Ju Zi and Xu Sanshi were both stunned.
"That's the same type of skill as Invincible Golden Body!" Xu Sanshi recognized it instantly—after all, Jiang Nannan possessed the Invincible Golden Body soul skill.
The Divine Radiance Golden Body reduced incoming damage, ignored special effects, and rendered the user immovable and unstoppable.
And it lasted for five full seconds!
When the golden radiance finally faded, the Golden Centipede sneered at Hellfire and Xuanwu, then activated its offensive innate skill.
"Let's see how you handle my power!"
"Centipede Avatar!"
Its many centipede legs quivered, spawning over a hundred smaller Golden Centipedes that swarmed toward the two divine beasts, launching a coordinated assault.
Hellfire and Xuanwu were forced back step by step.
Each clone carried at least half the combat strength of the main body. Combined, they were formidable.
Huo Yuhao couldn't help but sigh—the clash of Golden Centipede, Hellfire, and Xuanwu was truly a meeting of equals.
All three wielders of divine beast power only possessed two innate abilities each, none of them having awakened a domain—except Ju Zi, who had obtained Hellfire's ultimate flames.
If any one of them had a domain, the entire battle would have shifted.
But overall, the Golden Centipede held the upper hand.
—Level was the foundation of everything!
For ordinary soul masters, chasing after rare paths was meaningless. Raising one's level was the most direct road forward.
Outliers like Huo Yuhao, who could fight across such large gaps in level, were exceedingly rare throughout Douluo history.
As Hellfire and Xuanwu failed to quickly defeat the Golden Centipede and instead fell into disadvantage, the coalition forces were dragged into a war of attrition, showing signs of collapse.
The Golden Centipede's clones also broke off to attack the allied army.
Han Ruoruo, Wu Ming, Hua Yao, and Meng Hongchen were among the ranks.
Meng Hongchen had come especially from Shrek Academy as reinforcement.
Alongside her came Xiao Xiao, Jiang Nannan, Xie Huanyue, Lulu, and Cao Jinxuan.
Among them, Meng Hongchen, Xie Huanyue, and Hua Yao had joined the war to fulfill their God Tests.
Zhang Lexuan, Ma Xiaotao, and Ling Luochen were not present—they remained at Shrek Academy, entrusted as seeds of survival in case the worst happened.
Shrek now had new students; it could not risk annihilation.
Sensing the crisis, Yan Shaozhe's gaze swept over Jiang Nannan, Hua Yao, Meng Hongchen, and Xie Huanyue—the four juniors undergoing God Tests.
He had already made up his mind. If today was their doom, he would sacrifice everything to ensure their escape.
They weren't just Shrek's hope—they were the continent's hope!
The coalition morale plummeted. In contrast, the evil soul masters grew more frenzied.
Though they had suffered heavy losses, those who remained only became more bloodthirsty, fighting with reckless abandon.
Just as the situation spiraled downward—
The hidden strike force finally revealed themselves.
"A filthy centipede dares act so brazenly? Today, I'll crush you like the disgusting insect you are!"
"Gravity Control Domain!"
Boom!
The domain spread out, pressing down on the Golden Centipede. Under the immense weight, its massive body sagged, and its clones were crushed flat against the ground.
In the sky, a tall, muscular figure appeared, looking down imperiously upon the battlefield.
"Who are you?" the Golden Centipede growled.
The giant man's voice rumbled like thunder:
"Clear Sky Sect—Titan!"
In the next instant, Titan clenched his fist and swung. A colossal fist-shadow crashed down like a cannonball.
Boom!
The blow smashed the Golden Centipede's enormous body deep into the earth. Even with its great defense, it felt something far from ordinary.
"His strength… this is no mere Ultimate Douluo!"
Meanwhile, the battlefront shifted dramatically.
The nine other Super Douluo who had lain hidden now joined the fight, instantly reversing the tide.
"All forces gather—I'll aid you in battle!"
Kong Deming revealed himself, followed by Shadow Douluo Mo Ying and Porcelain Douluo Qing Ci.
Both Mo Ying and Qing Ci had broken through to Super Douluo, joining the operation.
Alongside them appeared the Guardian Douluo of the three empires: Nanmen Yuzhi, Lion King Douluo, and Battle God Douluo. Their arrival bolstered everyone's morale.
"Evil Dragon Beibei, though you've fallen into darkness as an evil soul master, for Dragon God Douluo's sake, today I'll lend you a hand."
Nan Shuishui stepped onto the battlefield, joining Beibei to encircle Tang Ya.
Finally, Cai Meier and Xian Lin'er charged in, left and right, supporting the Shrek forces.