Chapter 319: Qian Daoliu Intervenes
Qian Renxue instantly arrived outside the Douluo Hall and asked sternly, "Elder Gui, what kind of 100,000-year soul beast was that?"
Ghost Douluo respectfully replied, "It was a 100,000-year Bright Pegasus, perfectly suited to your spirit, Young Master."
A 100,000-year Bright Pegasus.
A flash of contemplation passed through Qian Renxue's eyes. Even with the Spirit Hall's extensive knowledge, without direct combat or sensing the soul power accumulated within the beast, it was impossible to determine if it had truly cultivated for over 100,000 years.
A Bright Pegasus soul beast of this level indeed matched the Six-Winged Angel spirit. However, if its cultivation was below 130,000 years, she would change her decision and opt to absorb a God-bestowed soul ring instead. Because a God-bestowed soul ring is truly the one most compatible with a spirit. Her Six-Winged Angel had three attributes—light, holiness, and flame. A Bright Pegasus under 130,000 years simply could not provide a soul ring superior to a God-bestowed one.
While Qian Renxue was preparing to gather soul masters and set out, in the Heaven Dou Empire, Element City, and the Four Element Academies…
A large number of well-trained soul masters from the Heaven Dou Empire launched an offensive. The reason Xue Qinghe gave was simple: after investigation, it was determined that the poisoning of Crown Prince Xue Luochuan and Fourth Prince Xue Beng was done by Spirit Hall. He accused Spirit Hall of harboring wolfish ambitions and being utterly inhumane. Any faction allied with Spirit Hall was guilty and should be executed.
Tianshui Academy, founded by the Shui family, had intricate ties with Spirit Hall. Divine Wind, Botany, and Blazing Fire Academies—aligned with Tianshui and planning to form the Four Element Academies—were all considered accomplices, to be executed without mercy!
Some ministers tried to report that these accusations sounded absurd, but Emperor Xue Ye believed them wholeheartedly. The news of Qian Xunji's death in battle had not yet spread. The destruction of the Haotian Sect, the world's strongest sect, was attributed to two factions: one being Bibi Dong, whose life and death were still uncertain, and the other being Spirit Hall.
Emperor Xue Ye was more inclined to blame Spirit Hall. Over the past few years, the Haotian Sect had sent multiple warnings to the imperial family, cautioning against Spirit Hall and against Xue Qinghe. His own health had also been deteriorating, leaving him increasingly powerless. Thus, after the fall of the Haotian Sect and under the influence of fabricated reports manipulated by Bibi Dong, Emperor Xue Ye became fully convinced. He believed the long-dead Bibi Dong was just an excuse used by Spirit Hall to deflect suspicion, and it was indeed Spirit Hall that destroyed the Haotian Sect. If Spirit Hall sought to dominate the entire continent, then the imperial family would begin by eliminating their pawns—Tianshui Academy and all its allied forces.
Inside the Four Element Academies.
All the teachers and students were dumbfounded by Xue Qinghe's declaration and the dense ranks of fully armored Heaven Dou Royal Knights.
"Your Highness, could this be a misunderstanding? Spirit Hall would never commit such acts!"
Tianshui Academy's headmistress, Shui Qianrou, hurriedly questioned.
Before Xue Qinghe could respond, Xue Hailuo stepped forward and coldly declared, "The evidence is irrefutable. Tianshui Academy—anyone who resists shall be executed without mercy! Divine Wind, Blazing Fire, Thunderclap Academies—if you dare collude with Tianshui, you are traitors to the Heaven Dou Empire and guilty of treason. Death without pardon!"
After speaking, Xue Hailuo glanced at Xue Qinghe with suspicion. He was surprised that even Divine Wind, Blazing Fire, and Thunderclap—who were mere vassals of Tianshui—were also to be eliminated. Betraying the empire could mean the extermination of three clans, but with the death of a prince involved, it was grounds for wiping out nine. Targeting these three additional academies equated to wiping out ten clans.
Wouldn't keeping the thousand soul masters from these three academies to fight Spirit Hall later be more beneficial? Destroying them and the families behind them would just drain the Heaven Dou Empire's resources. This command was completely at odds with the usually refined character Xue Qinghe displayed.
In the shadows, Bibi Dong narrowed her eyes slightly upon hearing Xue Hailuo's statement. She waved her hand, and an evil Rakshasa soul force surged into the back of Xue Hailuo's head, as well as into the heads of several leading officers.
Just as the principals of Divine Wind, Blazing Fire, and Thunderclap Academies were preparing to distance themselves from Tianshui, Xue Hailuo, Xue Qinghe, and the leading officers all gave the same order in unison:
"Full mobilization! Wipe out the entire Four Element Academies!"
To the soldiers, obeying orders was their sworn duty.
As the words were spoken, the Heaven Dou Royal Knights showed no hesitation. They instantly formed up, raised their shields, and from the narrow gaps between them, launched a barrage of spears like a torrential rain, covering the Four Element Academies.
"Counterattack!"
The four academy principals roared simultaneously. As proud soul masters, they had their dignity. They hailed from clans of Soul Douluo-level power. If the Heaven Dou Empire tried to destroy them, they wouldn't just stretch their necks out for execution.
Shui Bing'er's six soul rings—two yellow, two purple, and two black—lit up under her feet. She transformed into a four-meter-long Ice Phoenix, unleashing icy blue light and soul power that quickly created a towering ice wall to shield the students behind her from the spears.
"Beautiful girls, fight to the last breath! Take your own lives if it comes to it—do not get caught!"
Shui Qianrou shed her usual gentle demeanor, shouting murderously to her all-female Tianshui Academy students behind her.
In these two empires, women weren't even counted as people. Once a beautiful girl was captured by Heaven Dou soldiers as war spoils, the outcome was obvious. And soul masters were considered superior beings—female soul masters were rarer, with a ratio of one to nine compared to males. Beautiful female soul masters, even more so, were treated as trophies of conquest. Once captured, they would be handed over to nobles as playthings.
"Ice Storm!"
"Flame Dance of Glory!"
"Gale Demon Wolf—Fifty-Three Slashes!"
"Boom! Boom! Boom!"
Ice, thunder, and fire exploded continuously. All sorts of plant vines erupted from the earth, entangling Heaven Dou soldiers. Corpses piled up rapidly—some from the empire's side, some from the Four Element Academies.
No one noticed that each fallen body was enveloped by a formless purple soul force. Their life essence was being absorbed and drained by Bibi Dong, hidden in the shadows. Injured from Qian Xunji's self-destruction, she was recovering at lightning speed.
Without favorable terrain for a defensive battle, the Four Element Academies, outnumbered by the elite Royal Knights, suffered heavy casualties.
In mid-air, a gorgeous crystalline Ice Phoenix soared, dropping icicles that killed a Heaven Dou soldier with each strike.
"Bring her down!!"
"Swish! Swish! Swish!"
Specially equipped soldiers activated ancient soul tools—strange wings extended from their armor. They flew up and threw special chains that wrapped around Shui Bing'er's wings. These chains were made from rare materials and could seal soul power.
"Bing'er!"
"Sis!"
Shui Qianrou, protecting the Soul Sect-level Shui Yue'er, screamed upon seeing the Ice Phoenix engulfed by enemy soldiers. Her soul rings lit up, and with each wave of her hand, over a dozen soldiers died.
Shui Bing'er, bound tightly by the soul-sealing chains, had all her soul power sealed. She returned to human form, her long ice-blue hair flowing messily behind her. Her ethereal charm was gone, but her stunning face made every nearby soldier swallow hard with desire. They all knew the unspoken rules of war: after conquering a city, soldiers could indulge freely. No emperor opposed it.
"Shui Bing'er, marry me, and I'll spare your life. You'll live a life of riches and honor," Xue Hailuo said as he approached, eyes full of greed, reaching for her chin. Taking the woman of Spirit Hall's Holy Son would be the ultimate insult.
Just as his hand was about to touch her chin, Shui Bing'er bit down hard, tearing through flesh and bone.
"You bitch!"
Xue Hailuo used his soul power to retaliate, ripping out four of her teeth along with his finger.
Blood spilled from Shui Bing'er's mouth, but she didn't even groan. Her eyes blazed with murderous rage. "I'd rather die than be defiled. Xiao Chuan will avenge me! He'll destroy the Heaven Dou Empire!"
"You slut!"
As Xue Hailuo raised his hand to slap her, an overwhelming soul force burst forth from the sky.
"EVERYONE STOP!!"
A terrifying golden sword aura slashed down, opening a deep chasm before Shui Bing'er that seemed to split the entire Four Element Academies in two. Everyone within three meters of her—including Xue Hailuo—vanished without a trace.
Qian Daoliu had timed the strike carefully to minimize collateral damage. If it weren't for his granddaughter-in-law being one of Spirit Hall's own, he wouldn't have intervened. As for Xue Hailuo—the third prince of the Heaven Dou Empire and Emperor Xue Ye's precious son—so what?
"Qian Daoliu!"
Hidden in the shadows, Bibi Dong, who had already absorbed the life force of over a thousand people and recovered 80% of her injuries, narrowed her eyes. Had this old man come to avenge Qian Xunji? He must have followed the trail of her Rakshasa soul force to find this place.
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