Chapter 66: Juhua Guan's Breakthrough, Domain Evolution
Spirit City.
The sun had already set, but the entire Supreme Pontiff Palace exuded an unusual aura.
A few months ago, Sea God Island had rejected Spirit Hall's invitation to build a branch hall and even injured a Titled Douluo sent to deliver the pontiff's decree. Supreme Pontiff Qian Xunji had erupted in thunderous anger, immediately wanting to lead an expedition himself, but was severely reprimanded by High Priest Qian Daoliu.
At this moment, in the main hall of the Supreme Pontiff Palace, Qian Xunji stood with his hands behind his back. Two personal Titled Douluo guards stood by his sides. Behind him were the Holy Maiden Bibi Dong and the four Titled Douluo assigned to this mission: Ghost Leopard Douluo, Devil Bear Douluo, and two others who were little more than cannon fodder.
Outside the hall, led by 80 Cardinals, a total of over 2,000 Spirit Masters were neatly arranged, their momentum soaring.
"Everyone is here, right, my disciple?" Qian Xunji asked with narrowed eyes, his back to Bibi Dong.
Today, Bibi Dong wore golden female armor, looking heroic and valiant. "Reporting to Teacher, including the four Titled Douluo Elders and 80 Cardinals, a total of 2,086 Spirit Masters have assembled. Please inspect them, Teacher." Her tone radiated unprecedented determination. She thought Qian Xunji was testing her, preparing her to inherit his position. She had no idea that this battle would be the beginning of her descent into the abyss.
Qian Xunji slowly turned around, his gaze sweeping over everyone. With a wave of his hand, he said in a deep voice, "Depart." His voice was majestic, his red robe draped over golden armor moving without wind.
"Depart!" Bibi Dong's clear and powerful voice rang out as she led the way. The four Titled Douluo followed a step behind her, their faces filled with bloodthirsty smiles, eagerly anticipating the war to come. They did not know it would become the unforgettable nightmare of their lives.
In another building on Pope Mountain, Gui Mei, who had just come out of seclusion, stood with his arms crossed, staring blankly at the figures moving down the mountain. His face, shrouded in shadow, was exceptionally solemn.
"What are you looking at, old ghost? You're so gloomy every day," a sharp, effeminate voice sounded as Juhua Guan walked over. "You just came out of seclusion, can't you be happier? We're about to become Titled Douluo."
"What are the Holy Maiden and those Elders doing?" Gui Mei asked, his voice slightly hoarse.
Juhua Guan pondered for a moment. "It seems Sea God Island resisted being reorganized a few months ago, which angered His Holiness. He's sending troops to conquer them."
"Tsk. Those guys from the Elder Palace always flaunted their strength in front of us. When we also become Titled Douluo, let's see what they'll have to say." Thinking of the glory awaiting them, Juhua Guan couldn't help but feel a sense of longing.
The two possessed an extremely powerful Martial Soul Fusion Technique, the Two Extremes Static Domain. Even as Spirit Douluo, their position in Spirit Hall was no less than that of ordinary Elders. After becoming Titled Douluo, their status would only be higher. The Supreme Pontiff had even privately told them that if they could advance in time, they would have a place on the new pontiff's decree he planned to issue to consolidate power across the continent. This was enough to show Qian Xunji's high regard for them.
Gui Mei continued to ask, "I remember the High Priest didn't approve of this proposal, did he?"
High Priest Qian Daoliu was the only person in Spirit Hall who had truly set foot on Sea God Island. After he and the previous Clear Sky Clan Master, Tang Chen, returned from there, Tang Chen soon stepped down, and Qian Daoliu also began to retreat behind the scenes. Gui Mei had a premonition that it was an extremely dangerous place.
"Shh! This is not something we should inquire about," Juhua Guan whispered. "The High Priest has been in seclusion for years. His Holiness is doing this behind his back. Otherwise, why would he specifically choose this time to send troops?"
Gui Mei sighed lightly and said no more. As the expedition team disappeared down the mountain, he unfurled his body and swept away.
Juhua Guan was stunned and quickly chased after him. "Old ghost, where are you going?"
"To hunt for a spirit ring."
In the darkness, the voices of the two echoed.
Sunset Forest.
In the afterglow of the setting sun, Qin Xuan and Jing Ni stood thirty paces apart. At this time, Qin Xuan had already refined the Immortal Herbs and absorbed a 100,000-year spirit ring.
Because the Autumn Water Dew only amplified spiritual force, and the Inferno Apricot and Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass focused on improving physique, even with the 100,000-year spirit ring's enhancement, Qin Xuan's spirit power stopped after soaring to Rank 75. However, his spiritual force and physique had been enhanced to an unprecedented degree, reaching a level not inferior to a Rank 95 Titled Douluo.
At the same time, due to the influence of the seventh spirit ring, Qin Xuan's Slaughter God Domain and Vermillion Bird Domain finally evolved.
The Slaughter God Domain's evolution was not much different from Tang San's in the original work.
The Vermillion Bird Domain, however, had already evolved once before. Its first evolution was named: Vermillion Bird Sword Array. Similar to Sword Douluo's Myriad Swords Returning to the Sect, it used the Vermillion Bird as a center to release thousands of flaming flying swords that would cause violent explosions on impact—a super-powerful area-of-effect attack.
After absorbing the seventh spirit ring, the Vermillion Bird Domain evolved again. It was now named: Vermillion Bird Purgatory.
Within the domain, his fire attribute would increase by 50%, and all other attributes by 10%. It would suppress an opponent's fire attribute by 80%, and all other attributes by 20%. It also granted immunity to all poisons. Enemies within the domain could not use stealth or instant transmission skills. At the same time, it would generate mental deterrence, increasing his own spiritual force intensity by 20% and weakening the opponent's by 20%. The entire area would be filled with Vermillion Bird Flame, with extreme temperatures capable of incinerating all enemies—a catastrophic presence in any war.