Chapter 371: Turmoil in the Imperial Palace
Within the palace, the air was thick with tension.
Countless soldiers of the Heaven Dou Empire looked up at the two groups confronting each other in the sky, filled with confusion and uncertainty, unsure of what to do. Why had the Clear Sky Clan appeared so suddenly? And why were they clashing with the Crown Prince?
Meanwhile, the Wuhun Hall members hidden among the guards exchanged looks and remained silent, awaiting orders from Xue Qinghe.
Xue Qinghe looked at the four elders of the Clear Sky Clan, his cold gaze narrowing slightly, before glancing at Emperor Xue Ye, who was being protected by the Second Elder. He sneered and declared loudly:
"Soldiers of the Empire, today marks a moment of crisis for our nation. The treasonous Clear Sky Clan dares to subvert the government, seize my father, Emperor Xue Ye, and coerce me to achieve their vile, hidden agenda!"
"I hereby swear to drive these traitors out of the Empire and restore our land to peace! I implore you all to aid me in this!"
As soon as he finished speaking, the Wuhun Hall members knelt on one knee, and in an instant, nearly half of the ten thousand palace guards followed suit. The muffled sound of their armor hitting the ground echoed like thunder throughout the palace, causing it to tremble.
The soldiers chorused in unison:
"We obey the Crown Prince's command!"
Seeing this, even those soldiers loyal to the Heaven Dou Empire, still hesitant moments before, knelt down as well.
By now, over eighty percent of the guards were kneeling. Those who sensed something amiss and tried to speak up were quickly silenced, a blade stabbing into their backs. They stared in shock at their attackers—once comrades—now their executioners.
Seeing the fate of those who dared speak out, the remaining guards, though wary, remained silent.
Almost the entire guard force of the palace had pledged allegiance to Xue Qinghe.
"Soldiers of the Heaven Dou Empire, rescue His Majesty from the Clear Sky Clan traitors immediately! Defend the palace from any reinforcements the traitors might summon. The Empire's survival rests on you. When this is over, you will all be rewarded for your service. I entrust this task to you!"
The Crown Prince's impassioned appeal stirred the guards' sense of duty. Fighting for the Empire! Led by their commanders, waves of guards surged toward Emperor Xue Ye's quarters.
Meanwhile, another group took positions on the palace walls, preparing for any approaching reinforcements from the Clear Sky Clan.
Sure enough, down the empty streets, thousands of soldiers charged forward, each wearing a white cloth with the character "Tang" emblazoned on it. They held strange black boxes, shouting as they advanced on the palace.
Leading them were several dozen spirit masters wielding the Clear Sky Hammer, each with a murderous look on their face as they charged forward, clearing the path.
In the distance, from the direction of Shrek Academy, a golden triangle appeared, and a massive golden dragon rose into the air, roaring as it flew toward the palace.
The bustling streets of Heaven Dou City were now deserted. All the citizens and nobles had retreated indoors, closing their doors and waiting for the palace chaos to subside.
"Brothers, hold off these traitors, for the Empire!"
A Wuhun Hall spirit master disguised as a guard raised his spear and shouted.
Following the response from the Wuhun Hall spirit masters, even the unknowing guards began to shout in unison, bracing themselves for the enemy's approach.
Amid the ruins of Emperor Xue Ye's quarters.
The Second Elder and Tang San stood back-to-back, protecting Emperor Xue Ye as they watched the guards flood towards them. Both felt their nerves tense. The black-armored wave before them would intimidate even a Title Douluo. In the past, the Empire's battle formations had even been able to repel Dugu Bo and the Golden Iron Triangle's spirit fusion techniques.
But there was no retreat now; Emperor Xue Ye was behind them.
"This is getting truly difficult," Tang San muttered gravely.
The Second Elder's face darkened as he nodded. Clutching the Clear Sky Hammer with his withered hand, he tightened his grip.
Emperor Xue Ye, fully aware of the severity of the situation, coughed weakly and said, "The two of you have done well, but I must address the soldiers. Some are truly loyal to the Empire; if I speak, they will listen."
Tang San swept a cold glance at the advancing armored guards, his hands moving so quickly they seemed like afterimages. The hidden weapons flew out like scattered flowers, felling the soldiers in waves.
Hearing Emperor Xue Ye's words, Tang San replied sternly:
"Your Majesty, now is not the time for heroics. These soldiers are being manipulated; if you step out, those Wuhun Hall scoundrels will seize the chance to harm you, and even we may not be able to protect you."
Emperor Xue Ye sighed, understanding Tang San's meaning. But he couldn't bear to see loyal soldiers of the Empire die at the hands of Wuhun Hall. He took a deep breath and called out to the surrounding soldiers:
"Soldiers, stop at once…"
Before he could finish, a soldier with a red armband—a Wuhun Hall plant—shouted:
"The Clear Sky Clan traitors are threatening His Majesty! Don't listen to him; he's being coerced! The Clear Sky Clan is on the verge of defeat—finish off these two!"
Tang San's eyes flashed coldly. His right hand flicked, sending a blade of icy light at the speaking soldier. But, to his surprise, the soldier seemed to anticipate the trajectory of the hidden weapon, dodging it by a hair's breadth.
With a sly grin, the soldier vanished back into the ranks. Unlike the ordinary guards, the Wuhun Hall members were spirit masters.
"Damn it! The Wuhun Hall is manipulating them from the shadows!" the Second Elder cursed.
Emperor Xue Ye closed his eyes in resignation. "Enough; do what you must."
The Second Elder finally revealed his full strength. Nine spirit rings glowed brightly as an overwhelming force emanated from him, like a tornado destroying the surrounding buildings. Holding the Clear Sky Hammer, his figure crackled with lightning as he stared coldly at the soldiers, whose fear was palpable. He declared:
"Anyone who steps forward dies!"
At that, a voice roared from within the ranks of the soldiers:
"Form up!"
With a resounding hum, the guards synchronized, moving with flawless precision. Thousands of soldiers moved as one, emanating a presence that matched even the Second Elder's.
…
In the sky, the elders observing Emperor Xue Ye's perilous situation grew tense.
The Third Elder shouted, "Old Fourth, hold off Serpent Spear and Porcupine with me. Fifth and Seventh, take down those two juniors! Capture Xue Qinghe alive!"
Xue Qinghe wielded the Six-Winged Angel Martial Soul; if they killed him, the enraged Qian Daoliu would seek vengeance, possibly obliterating the Clear Sky Clan from the continent, regardless of Tang Chen's survival.
"Young Master, be careful. Leave those powerful elders to us," Serpent Spear Douluo said worriedly.
Xue Qinghe nodded.
Then, Serpent Spear Douluo's spear burst into light. Two yellow, three purple, and four black rings appeared in sequence. In a flash, he was upon the Third Elder, his spear splitting into nine shadows that closed in on the elder.
Feeling the sharp energy of the spear, the Third Elder's eyes shone with cold light. Years of suppressed hatred for the Wuhun Hall had only intensified. Now, facing both Wuhun Hall experts and a chance for vengeance, his fighting spirit surged.
With a single, powerful swing, the Clear Sky Hammer whipped through the air like a dark dragon, colliding head-on with the Serpent Spear.
A violent explosion echoed across the sky, sending a shockwave outward. The guards below clutched their ears in pain. The Serpent Spear bent into an astonishing arc as the Serpent Spear Douluo used the force of the recoil to launch another attack, thrusting his spear toward the Third Elder. But before he could make contact, the Third Elder had already raised the Clear Sky Hammer, swinging it down fiercely.
The Serpent Spear Douluo was stunned and raised his spear in defense.
Clang!
The recoil sent Serpent Spear Douluo flying backward, his entire body trembling as he barely held on, his hands nearly numb from the impact.
"So this is the legendary Clear Sky Hammer, the greatest weapon spirit in the world?" he thought in shock.
Although both were Rank 93 Title Douluos, the difference in their spirit rings and spirit quality left Serpent Spear Douluo at a clear disadvantage.
As he battled the Third Elder, the Porcupine Douluo was locked in combat with the Fourth Elder. Porcupine Douluo, a beast spirit master skilled in poison, found that his toxins had little effect against the overwhelming power of the Clear Sky Hammer. All he could do was withstand the blows.
At that moment, Wuhun Hall's two Title Douluos found themselves on the losing end. It was only a matter of time before they would be defeated.
Xue Qinghe glanced at the battle scene between the two sides, tightening his lips before shifting his cold gaze to the Fifth Elder standing before him.
The Fifth Elder sneered:
"You are a member of the Qian family. I may not be able to kill you, but I will make sure you suffer. So many members of the Clear Sky Clan have died at Wuhun Hall's hands—today, you won't escape!"
Xue Qinghe replied indifferently:
"Then should I also avenge my father's death at the hands of Tang Hao? Hmph, in this world, strength is the ultimate rule. Wuhun Hall is powerful, and wiping out the Clear Sky Clan is only natural!"
The Fifth Elder scoffed.
"Then isn't it only natural for us to kill you?"
"Of course," Xue Qinghe replied, "but that depends on whether you have the strength to do so!"
With those words, Xue Qinghe's six wings flared out, propelling him high into the sky. Within moments, he was several thousand meters above the ground. As he paused, the Fifth Elder chased after him and sneered:
"I thought you were running away in fear!"
Xue Qinghe crossed his arms and replied calmly:
"Running away? That's something only the Clear Sky Clan would do. The sky is the true domain of us angels!"
As he spoke, a golden aura spread rapidly, seeming to envelop the entire world. Behind him, an angelic figure appeared, and a mysterious, sacred voice echoed across the heavens.
With the golden aura's release, Serpent Spear Douluo and Porcupine Douluo felt a surge in their soul power, enhancing their speed, strength, and defense.
In contrast, the Clear Sky Clan elders felt their soul power slowing, and the advantages they once held were nullified.
Serpent Spear Douluo, feeling his newfound strength, shared a knowing look with Porcupine Douluo before sneering at the Third Elder:
"This battle is just beginning!"
The Clear Sky Clan elders looked grim.
In battles between Title Douluos, reckless attacks were rare; instead, each side would gradually exhaust the other's soul power until the final blow could be struck. However, under the effects of Qian Renxue's Angelic Domain, the balance had shifted, trapping both sides in a prolonged confrontation where victory was uncertain.
Tang San, watching the aerial battle, felt a pang of frustration. If only his own strength were greater, he could have countered the Angelic Domain with his Killing God Domain. But he was only a Soul Emperor, without even a hundred-thousand-year soul ring, and he stood no chance against a Soul Sage like Qian Renxue.
With the release of the Angelic Domain, the soldiers surrounding the Second Elder and Tang San felt their fatigue dissipate, and the pressure on Tang San and the Second Elder increased significantly.
...
As the battle below grew fiercer, the Fifth Elder began to realize Qian Renxue's importance. Without her presence, they would have the advantage.
"Kid, you think you can protect others? Take care of yourself first!" the Fifth Elder bellowed.
He still assumed Qian Renxue's identity as Xue Qinghe was male. With a fierce determination, he raised the Clear Sky Hammer, and his nine soul rings began to hum, with the fourth ring glowing intensely.
An enormous gravitational force appeared around Xue Qinghe, causing him to lower his stance and grunt. The difference in their soul power levels was over twenty ranks; a Soul Sage fighting a Title Douluo was pushing the limits.
Watching the ever-growing Clear Sky Hammer, Xue Qinghe's eyes flashed with resolve, and seven soul rings appeared, with the seventh ring radiating a brilliant light.
Buzz!
Golden light burst forth as the angelic figure behind Xue Qinghe gradually merged with him, enveloping her in a radiant glow. Her skin and hair turned golden, the intense heat distorting the air around her.
From the base of her wings, the golden hue spread to the tips, turning all six wings pure gold. With a gentle flap, she evaded the Fifth Elder's attack.
Now in her complete Six-Winged Angel form, her aura of holiness and pressure spread. The Fifth Elder's expression grew serious, sensing an unexpected threat from her fully revealed martial soul.
Seeing his reaction, Xue Qinghe couldn't help but smile. After hiding for twenty years, she, the prodigy with the Six-Winged Angel martial soul, felt a thrill in finally testing her strength. Though her opponent was a Title Douluo, she felt no fear.
Moreover, she knew that the outcome of this battle likely depended on her.
As Qian Renxue's aura grew stronger, the Fifth Elder took a moment of silence, then raised his Clear Sky Hammer with a cold smile:
"Wuhun Hall brat, your strength is indeed impressive—even Qian Xunji at your age was far below you. But today, you won't leave the Heaven Dou Empire alive. Defeating you this way may be dishonorable, but this is war!"
With that, the Fifth Elder's seventh black soul ring glowed brightly, and the Clear Sky Hammer grew until it resembled a small mountain.
Seventh Soul Skill: True Body of the Weapon Spirit.
To face a mere Soul Sage, he had resorted to his True Body form—a testament to the pressure Qian Renxue was exerting.
The sheer power shook the windows throughout Heaven Dou Imperial City, causing the citizens to cry out in alarm.
"Now, let's see what else you've got!" the Fifth Elder said menacingly.
Xue Qinghe's expression grew solemn.
Meanwhile, within the palace, Dai Yao's battle with the Seventh Elder had begun...
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