Chapter 561: Moral Blackmail, Part 1
The two battlefields where the Absolute Douluo were fighting could only be described as sites of utter devastation. Ordinary soul masters under level 97 couldn't even get close.
While the Heavenly Soul Empire front held a tense stalemate, the Star Luo Empire's battle was a one sided slaughter. Despite Duke Dai Hao's famed military prowess, Star Luo lacked the high level combat power necessary to withstand such overwhelming strength. And Dai Hao, talented as he was, did not possess the strategic genius to overcome such odds.
In truth, wars fought on the Douluo Continent had followed this same tragic pattern for thousands of years.
In this age of soul tools, it was well known that lagging behind technologically invited disaster. Star Luo, however, had been held back by a major faction that for centuries championed the old fashioned cultivation model.
That faction was none other than Shrek Academy.
Historically, the Sun Moon Empire had always lacked top tier combatants, despite its powerful low to mid level forces. Its feudal system made the imperial family susceptible to Shrek's absolute martial might, allowing Shrek to wield power over the emperors and hold the Sun Moon Empire in check. Yet Shrek had always presented itself as righteous and impartial, pretending to maintain a "neutral" balance while declaring itself "merely an academy."
Now, with the Sun Moon Empire gaining the support of two powerhouse Supreme Douluos from the Holy Spirit Cult, the balance had shifted. Star Luo and Heavenly Soul had lost their long held advantage.
And now, Shrek Academy would finally have to face the consequences of its own inaction.
When Dragon God Douluo Mu En saw a large delegation approaching him, he could only sigh.
"So, we've come to this point, after all," he muttered. "Let's go and hear what Star Luo has to say."
With that, Mu En transformed into a streak of light and appeared in Shrek's outer reception hall.
After all, no one outside of Shrek was permitted inside the Sea God Pavilion.
"Your Holiness Dragon God Douluo, please save Star Luo Empire!" cried a heavyset official, his face wet with tears as he knelt before Mu En.
This scene wasn't new to Mu En. In his youth, he had often seen officials from the Douluo Continent's empires coming to his master with such appeals. And after he became head of the Sea God Pavilion, Mu En had received similar supplications from dignitaries and kings, once a point of pride. But now, instead of pride, all he felt was a bitter pang.
Shrek had fallen into a period of transition, stuck without a new generation of elite talent, and Mu En himself had almost exhausted his strength.
The Star Luo official noticed that Mu En was unresponsive, and although the situation was awkward, those chosen for such diplomatic appeals all had exceptionally thick skin. He threw himself forward and clung to Mu En's leg.
"Your Holiness, you can't abandon us! Star Luo has provided Shrek with so many resources over the years, and so many of Shrek's alumni are loyal Star Luo citizens. You can't just leave them all to die!"
Had it been a beautiful woman, Mu En might have allowed her to cling to him. But this greasy official had lunged and latched onto his leg before he could dodge, much to Mu En's distaste.
"I've heard you, now let go," Mu En said sharply. "If you don't release me, I will make you let go myself."
Sensing the displeasure in Mu En's voice, the Star Luo official awkwardly released his grip, laughing nervously.
The other senior leaders of Shrek Academy entered the hall a moment later, hurrying in after hearing Star Luo's urgent request. For some, the notion of assisting Star Luo Empire in such a large scale battle did not sit well.
While Shrek had long maintained its lofty position on the continent, it was not due to the now ancient reputation of the first generation Shrek Seven Monsters; it was the sustained legacy of the Sea God Pavilion's successive leaders. And now, these leaders were fearful of confronting the Holy Spirit Cult's Supreme Douluo.
"Your Holiness," the official pressed, "I beg you, we must set out at once! Every moment we delay, more of our brave men fall on the battlefield."
Mu En frowned. This man might seem respectful in his pleas, but he was clearly using every tactic possible to pressure Shrek to join the war. Mu En, a soul master who had devoted his life to justice, was too wise to fall for such tactics, but the reality was that Shrek could not refuse without risking its reputation.
One misstep could permanently tarnish Shrek's honor, for a single act of perceived cowardice would outweigh a lifetime of noble deeds.
As the official's words sank in, Mu En felt the weight of the situation pressing on him.
Mu En was willing to go to the battlefield himself; at his age, he didn't have much time left. But he hesitated, as one of Shrek's senior figures, Xuan Zi, was on the verge of a breakthrough, and without Mu En there to protect him, Shrek might face utter ruin.
This opportunity for breakthrough would not last long. Mu En estimated that Xuan Zi needed only a day or two to succeed, and so he prepared to politely decline the official's request.
Just then, Yan Shaozhe, misunderstanding Mu En's silence, spoke up, eager to dismiss the request himself.
"Honored official, you must see that my master is not well. He won't be able to help much on the battlefield. Why don't you try next door at Tianxing Academy? This time, Shrek can't assist."
Mu En froze, stunned at his disciple's reaction. Although he knew Yan Shaozhe's character could be narrow minded, such a response was unthinkable, especially spoken so openly.
But the Star Luo official's next statement struck Mu En like a thunderbolt.
The heavyset official looked to Yan Shaozhe with a pitiful expression. "My lord, I would have tried that if I could. But Tianxing Academy is already assisting the Heavenly Soul Empire. The Sun Moon Empire has gone mad, deploying no fewer than four Supreme Douluo level forces across the Star Luo and Heavenly Soul fronts.
"If we weren't facing imminent collapse, we would not have come to Shrek seeking aid. Please, Your Holiness, for the sake of all life on the Douluo Continent, lend us your strength!"
Yan Shaozhe scoffed at the official's plea, refusing to believe that the Sun Moon Empire had fielded four Supreme Douluo. And even worse, he detected in the official's words a subtle suggestion that Tianxing Academy held greater esteem than Shrek. If Star Luo was in such dire straits, why hadn't they come to Shrek first?
He was about to protest further when Mu En raised a hand to stop him.
"That's enough, Shaozhe! I haven't spoken yet, and here you are, prattling on. Do you no longer respect me?"
(End of Chapter)
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Chapter 562: Moral Blackmail, Part 2
Though Yan Shaozhe had been scolded by Mu En many times before, he had never seen his master this grave. The sight made him realize the severity of the situation.
Mu En furrowed his brow, turning to the portly Star Luo official. "Explain clearly what do you mean that the Sun Moon Empire has deployed four Supreme level combatants?"
On a continent where the gods no longer interfered, Supreme Douluos represented the highest combat strength among soul masters, with each era producing only a few of them. In Mu En's view, the potential for Supreme Douluo breakthroughs was rare; talent, opportunity, and deep foundations were all essential. Without Shrek's accumulated heritage, Mu En himself might never have reached Supreme Douluo, and the same went for any soul master on the continent, with their relatively limited resources.
One Supreme Douluo Ye Wen was already a rare anomaly. But now, the Sun Moon Empire supposedly had four? Surely this must be some kind of joke.
Mu En's instincts told him that the official was lying.
In this era, long distance communication was still primitive. Shrek's intelligence network was limited compared to the empires of the continent. When the war began in the Heavenly Soul Empire, news reached Star Luo immediately, quashing any hope they might have had of borrowing troops from Heavenly Soul. With two Supreme Douluo attacking them, the Heavenly Soul Empire was barely holding its own.
When Mu En learned that two of the Supreme Douluo attacking Heavenly Soul were former friends of his, now Evil Soul Masters in the Holy Spirit Cult, he was stunned into silence. He had never thought that his old companions would turn to such dark arts to achieve breakthroughs. But with their talent, and those twisted techniques, their success suddenly made sense.
Mu En was also taken aback how could such a small empire as Heavenly Soul produce two Supreme Douluo, and without Ye Wen?
"A clever move from the Tianxing Douluo," Mu En thought to himself. "Not only did he help Poison Not Die break through to level 98, but he even found the missing Heavenly Cauldron Douluo, Xiao Ding, who vanished during the Great Beast War."
Now, Mu En felt more pressure than ever.
After years of maintaining the continent's order as its preeminent powerhouse, Mu En felt he had become something of a joke. With so many Supreme Douluo having risen under his very nose, he knew that Shrek would be in dire straits should he perish.
Shrek had never made it a secret that they opposed Evil Soul Masters, and they'd certainly caused the Holy Spirit Cult their share of trouble. But now two Supreme level Evil Soul Masters had emerged on the side of the Sun Moon Empire, making it clear that these Evil Soul Masters had established a base there. If the Sun Moon Empire won the war, Shrek Academy's end might follow soon after.
In the face of such a threat, Shrek had no choice but to act. This was no longer about honor; it was a matter of survival.
The official, perspiring heavily, took a handkerchief and wiped his brow, casting a pitiful look at Mu En. "Your Holiness Dragon God Douluo, please hurry. If we don't reinforce our front soon, Star Luo will be lost."
Hearing this, Mu En could only sigh in resignation.
But in truth, Mu En felt somewhat relieved. If he were only up against the Sun Moon Empire's "Tenth Level" Soul Tools and not true Supreme Douluo, he should be able to handle it. These so called "Tenth Level" Soul Tools were ultimately just external enhancements. If he had to face his two old friends, however, it would be a different story. The twisted techniques of Evil Soul Masters could be far more potent than those of traditionally trained soul masters.
In this case, it seemed that the saying "blackened, they're three times stronger" applied well.
Evil Soul Masters were so universally reviled because their breakthroughs demanded numerous lives a price unacceptable to the continent's empires, who needed living citizens to sustain their rule.
Mu En was ready to leave, but something struck him as odd in the official's previous words. He hesitated, then asked, "You mentioned the Heavenly Soul Empire was receiving assistance from Tianxing Academy. What about Tianxing Douluo, Ye Wen?"
The portly official maintained a subservient and respectful demeanor, though he privately sneered. As a loyal Star Luo official, he was well aware of Shrek's past interference and their habit of overstepping boundaries even to the detriment of the empires' operations. Yet now, Star Luo needed them.
Outwardly, the official gave a deferential answer. "Tianxing Academy is a neutral institution and merely a school, and by agreement among the empires, it is not required to involve itself in wartime efforts. So, Your Holiness Dragon God Douluo, we must rely on you to save the Star Luo Empire."
The Shrek leaders looked like they had just swallowed a fly.
For so long, Shrek had prided itself on being a bastion of justice, dedicated to aiding the continent. Yet when push came to shove, it was their Supreme Douluo who were called upon to risk their lives, while Tianxing Academy's powerhouse could remain comfortably uninvolved.
The Shrek leaders grimaced but held their tongues, knowing that upholding Shrek's values of charity and justice sometimes meant facing uncomfortable truths.
In one corner of the room, a young man watched the scene with a heavy heart this was Bei Bei. Mu En, anticipating his impending battle, had called his beloved grandson to give him some final instructions.
Witnessing the exchange between Mu En and the Star Luo official, Bei Bei, who had recently been training in combat and strategy under Mu En's guidance, couldn't help but think of the Tang Sect's fall. The once noble sect had sacrificed much for the continent but had been left vulnerable due to its lack of power. Bei Bei couldn't shake the thought that Shrek was in danger of repeating Tang Sect's history.
The thought made him feel as if he couldn't breathe. But he was painfully aware of his own limitations; as a Soul Emperor, Bei Bei might be considered a strong fighter among ordinary people, yet he was hardly more than a larger than average fish in the vast sea of Douluo's soul masters.
"I understand," Mu En said to the official with a sigh. "I'll head to the front after I've given my instructions."
The Shrek leaders wanted to protest, but Mu En's burdened expression silenced them. Shrek's proud legacy had become a heavy chain around his neck, binding him to duty.
Then Bei Bei stepped forward, as if he had something to say but held back.
Mu En gently placed his hand on Bei Bei's shoulder, his touch filled with affection. "You've grown up, my boy. From now on, the family will rely on you."
A gentle light began to flow from Mu En's palm into Bei Bei, filling him with warmth and strength.
(End of Chapter)
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Chapter 563: The Tenth Level Soul Mentor, Part 1
At this moment, Bei Bei felt a profound transformation surge through his entire being.
But it was already too late.
With tears in his eyes, he choked back sobs and spoke to Mu En, "Grandfather, I wish you strength and victory. And… and…"
Bei Bei's voice faltered, and he could say no more.
Yet, from their brief conversation, Mu En understood that Bei Bei had finally let go of that one girl in his heart. With a comforting smile, he encouraged him, "Live well with Xuan'er. What's coming isn't something you can involve yourself in now. Remember the family precepts: Be wise, self protective, and act within your limits."
With those words, the Dragon God Douluo Mu En transformed into a streak of golden light, departing from Shrek Academy without a moment's hesitation.
The guest room was silent, and Shrek's high ranking members all felt a weighty unease. They didn't know if Mu En would ever return. While the Sun Moon Empire's Tenth Level Soul Mentors seemed like a far fetched tale, their high ranking Ninth Level Soul Mentors could already match someone like Xuan Zi, a Super Douluo at level 98. If the Tenth Level Soul Mentor was even more formidable, Mu Lao could be in serious trouble this time.
Meanwhile, the battlefront in the Star Luo Empire was even more brutal than Shrek had imagined.
The Sun Moon Empire had mobilized nearly ten Soul Mentor legions, five of which were deployed on the Star Luo battlefield. Though these legions were spread across different areas rather than focused on one point, it was enough to put intense pressure on the Star Luo forces.
Alongside these legion attacks, the two Tenth Level Soul Mentors and the elite Sun Moon Empire Royal Soul Mentor legion swept forward like an unstoppable tide. If not for the sheer number of Star Luo's Titled Douluo and the various high level soul tools they had gradually accumulated over the years, they wouldn't have managed to hold out for this long.
But all they could manage was a temporary defense.
The Sun Moon Empire didn't have a single Super Douluo on this battlefield, but even a Douluo of level 95 or above was a rare powerhouse for the Three Kingdoms of Douluo. The Star Luo Empire's strongest Guardian Douluo was only level 97. Without the advantage of numbers, Jing Hongchen, a level 94 Ninth Level Soul Mentor, would have torn through Star Luo's ranks like paper.
Jing Hongchen soared high above, his luxurious red and gold Soul Mentor armor gleaming, looking down at Star Luo's Titled Douluo below with a contemptuous gaze.
"Xu Tianxing, in the last five encounters, you've only managed to exhaust my soul power by sheer numbers to force a draw," Jing Hongchen sneered. "But I'm running out of Soul Mentor tools, and your forces won't be able to hold out much longer. If you're wise, surrender to the Sun Moon Empire now. Otherwise, once we break through Star Luo's defenses, I'll personally see to it that the Xu family is wiped out."
Xu Tianxing, the previous emperor of Star Luo and father to the current Emperor Xu Jiawei, was an elderly figure, his body draped in tattered yet regal battle armor. Nearing two hundred years of age, Xu Tianxing looked weary and worn, yet his aura remained infused with an undeniable majesty.
Ignoring Jing Hongchen's taunts, Xu Tianxing turned to an imposing elder beside him. Compared to the newly promoted Tenth Level Soul Mentor Jing Hongchen, this older man Kong Deming, the Sun Moon Empire's Grand Worshiper was an even more formidable adversary.
"Enough words," Xu Tianxing replied, "no ruler would surrender in a time of war. Let's fight!"
With his family's inherited Star Crown Martial Soul above him, wielding a Ninth Level soul tool lance, Xu Tianxing radiated immense soul power. The other Guardian Douluo of the Star Luo Empire drew courage from his fighting spirit, their own battle wills strengthening.
Titled Douluo were a proud class, and none of them would willingly become the humiliated subjects of a conquered nation.
The battle erupted anew.
Jing Hongchen darted forward, his form becoming a blur as he brandished his Judgment Blade and cut toward the Star Luo Douluo.
Though once an emperor, Xu Tianxing could not compare to the top Titled Douluo of Shrek. His soul ring composition was standard: two yellow, two purple, and five black. Yet no one on the Douluo Continent looked down on him.
The Star Crown Martial Soul was not only a powerful supportive tool, but also an exceptional combat martial soul. Indeed, the Star Crown Martial Soul was so uniquely battle oriented that the Star Luo royal family openly augmented their power with soul tools.
As Xu Tianxing's soul rings flared, a cascade of starlight bathed the battlefield.
First Soul Skill: Star Attraction Technique!
Using the Star Crown Martial Soul's ability to lock onto opponents, this technique ensured his attacks would not miss, making it particularly effective against agile and evasive enemies.
Second Soul Skill: Starfall Technique!
An offensive soul skill that struck with starlight, capable of stunning and disorienting foes.
Third Soul Skill: Starshine Technique!
An augmenting skill, it boosted various physical and soul attributes, producing different effects depending on the user's physical state. Besides self enhancement, it could strengthen allies, giving the Titled Douluo around him a considerable power boost.
Fourth Soul Skill: Star Guard!
A potent defensive skill, which could be applied to either a single target or an area.
Fifth Soul Skill: Star Transfiguration!
This skill doubled the force of one of Xu Tianxing's attacks, delivering a powerful blow to his enemies.
Sixth Soul Skill: Star Mark Technique!
Harnessing the ambient starlight on the battlefield, this technique allowed him to move with near instantaneous speed, even repositioning allies similar to Xu Sanshi's Mysterious Nether Replacement.
Seventh Soul Skill: Star Crown True Form!
The true form of his Star Crown Martial Soul, doubling Xu Tianxing's strength while enhancing all Star Crown techniques.
Eighth Soul Skill: Celestial Starfall!
Concentrating massive starlight into a bomb of soul power, this skill devastated everything within a ten mile radius.
Ninth Soul Skill: Holy Star Spear!
A supreme attack, gathering starlight to an intense degree and capable of piercing nearly anything in its path.
For two days, Xu Tianxing had managed to hold back the Tenth Level Soul Mentors and their forces by relying on these skills, aided by Star Luo's Guardian Douluo.
Among these Titled Douluo, however, Dai Hao was nowhere to be found.
At his mere level 94, Dai Hao was simply too weak to join the fight. If his jealous wife could wield the Hell Civet to perform a martial soul fusion, she might qualify to enter the battlefield. Unfortunately, their years of separation and lack of harmony prevented them from achieving the necessary rapport. Additionally, due to her pampered lifestyle, the White Tiger Duchess had allowed her own strength to deteriorate to a disgraceful degree; she likely wouldn't survive a single round.
Moreover, for the time being, Dai Hao's leadership on the command line was more valuable than what he could offer as a single combatant.
(End of Chapter)
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Chapter 564: The Tenth Level Soul Mentor, Part 2
Dai Hao looked out over the battlefield, where the clash of forces seemed to alter the very landscape, gripping his fist with resentment. Though he had little desire to step onto that battlefield himself, his pride burned with frustration. The Dai family had dwindled, and facing the Sun Moon Empire, which had fortified itself for decades, Star Luo was clearly outmatched in firepower especially given that the Sun Moon Empire had such vast mineral resources.
Having grown used to bullying a cautious Sun Moon Empire, Dai Hao was now struggling to accept the brutal reality before him, with his confidence thoroughly shaken.
"Damn Sun Moon Empire!" he cursed. "All you have are more soul tools! Well, we on the Douluo Continent have the numbers. If we have to, we'll throw lives at you until your soul cannon shells run dry let's see if your ammunition lasts longer than our soldiers!"
With this ruthless thought, Dai Hao's supposed "care for his soldiers" revealed itself as nothing more than an act. Could a man who disregarded his own concubines and illegitimate children really care about anyone outside his immediate family? It was all for appearances.
However, Dai Hao did have a strategic mind. Instead of rallying his troops for concentrated formations, which would have been easy targets, he spread his forces to conduct guerrilla warfare. The Sun Moon Empire was also reluctant to waste soul cannon shells indiscriminately, achieving only limited damage with this approach.
Thus, the battle on the Star Luo front fell into a tense deadlock. The soul tool's greatest advantage widespread, devastating bombardment was mitigated by the scattered approach, allowing the Star Luo soul masters, accustomed to traditional fighting, to maneuver more freely.
But both sides knew that the ultimate fate of this battle would be determined by a small group of powerful individuals.
Dai Hao often dreamed of returning the White Tiger lineage to the throne of Star Luo. Yet, after years of preparation, that dream seemed as distant as ever. Even so, he could not bear the thought of this land, once ruled by the Dai family, falling under Sun Moon control.
"What is Shrek Academy doing?" he fumed inwardly. "Aren't they supposed to be the protectors of the Douluo Continent? With the situation this dire, how have they not shown themselves?"
At that moment, a wave of intense, fiery soul power surged over the distant battlefield. Even though it was miles away, Dai Hao felt an involuntary shiver run through him. Mu En had once entered the battlefield himself, but Dai Hao, weaker back then, had not felt such a direct, visceral power.
For an ambitious man like Dai Hao, Mu En's sheer strength even at a distance was mesmerizing.
"If only… if only the Dai family had power like this," he mused bitterly. "I wouldn't have to put up with that fool Xu Jiawei."
As Dai Hao's thoughts churned with resentment and envy, Xu Tianxing's battlefield was a scene of heightened tension.
The battlefield stilled momentarily as Mu En arrived, his very presence seeming to command silence. The elder's hunched, frail appearance belied the terrifying soul power radiating from him.
Kong Deming, who had been fighting with restraint, now stepped forward. "It's been a long time, Mu En," he sneered. "You've really aged. It looks like you won't be able to stop us this time."
Mu En met his gaze steadily. "Turn back. If I have to act, you'll die here."
Mu En's voice was calm, but it carried a weight that resonated with everyone present, as if he had spoken an unassailable truth.
Kong Deming, who had seemed relaxed just a moment before, abruptly sprang into action.
Kong Deming was a twin souled master, but he had focused exclusively on his first soul, the Silver Moon, given that the secrets of twin soul cultivation had not been widely available to the Sun Moon Empire, isolated as it was. Even if Kong Deming had learned of these secrets, his frail body worn by years of supplementing his strength through external substances could never withstand the added strain of a second soul.
Yet, this limitation hardly mattered. Even with only one soul, Kong Deming's mastery as a Tenth Level Soul Mentor left him with nothing to fear from Mu En.
A massive silver moon materialized above him, descending straight toward Mu En.
Seeing this, Mu En realized there was no turning back. Channeling his vast reserves of radiant soul power, he transformed before their eyes, appearing youthful, vigorous, and imposing a man reborn.
With his iconic soul ring configuration of two yellow, one purple, three black, and three red rings, the legendary Dragon God Douluo, who had suppressed Douluo Continent for a century, was making his stand.
Without hesitation, Mu En unleashed his signature ability: Supreme Dominion. Faced with an opponent of unknown capabilities, he opted for an all out attack, aiming to obliterate his enemy before they could retaliate.
A colossal dragon claw tore through Kong Deming's silver moon, hurtling toward both him and Jing Hongchen. Xu Tianxing, seeing this opening, infused Mu En with the power of his Star Crown, strengthening him further. The effort left Xu Tianxing drained, but he marveled at Mu En's legendary strength, noting how even a mere boost left him exhausted.
But as Xu Tianxing looked on, he noticed Mu En's expression twist in frustration. "What is this?"
Xu Tianxing followed Mu En's gaze and was stunned by what he saw.
Encased in a massive, translucent barrier, Mu En's Supreme Dominion attack was gradually dissipating. The claw, though immensely powerful, was dissolving in this containment field as if its very soul power was being stripped away.
Mu En narrowed his eyes, cursing the turn of events and recalling his clash with Ye Wen. While this barrier was not as sophisticated as the spatial abilities Ye Wen had displayed, it was indeed spatial in nature and space based powers were notoriously difficult to counter.
Mu En, a battle hardened master, was not without ideas. His golden wings unfurled as he darted around the containment field, lunging at Kong Deming from the side with remarkable speed.
But he had underestimated Jing Hongchen, who swiftly produced a massive red shield to intercept him. Mu En's charge was met with a resounding crash, and he quickly realized he would need to pull back.
"So, this is what a Tenth Level Soul Mentor can do," Mu En muttered, his face serious. "Not quite at the level of a god, but certainly equivalent to a True Douluo."
(End of Chapter)
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Chapter 565: The Tenth Level Soul Mentor, Part 3
At this moment, Kong Deming and Jing Hongchen began to smile with anticipation. It had been four thousand years since the collision of the Sun Moon and Douluo Continents, and in that time, the Sun Moon Empire had often suffered at the hands of Shrek's peerless Douluo masters. Although the empire had long aspired to cultivate its own peerless Douluo, they had abandoned this goal over a thousand years ago.
The reason was simple: the heritage of the Sun Moon Empire made it challenging for its soul masters to even break through to a Rank 95 Super Douluo, let alone advance further. With each additional level as arduous as ascending to the heavens, they realized their chances were slim. Instead of fruitlessly pursuing this path, the Sun Moon Empire's elite turned to soul tools for a solution, giving rise to the concept of the Tenth Level Soul Mentor.
But for Kong Deming, reaching this theoretical level was one thing; without directly clashing with a true peerless Douluo like Mu En, they couldn't be certain of its effectiveness. Now, at last, this centuries old ambition was within reach.
Overwhelmed with emotion, Kong Deming quickly composed himself, exchanging nods with Jing Hongchen. Unspoken, they both understood: they were here to end this, to eliminate the peerless Douluo who had been a looming threat over the Sun Moon Empire for so many years.
Kong Deming struck first, launching his Tenth Level soul tool, the Silver Moon Divine Radiance Barrier, straight at Mu En. Recognizing the danger, Mu En dodged rather than meet it head on, knowing that, as a spatial soul tool, it likely had many strange and unpredictable capabilities. With his health already weakened, Mu En had no desire to risk a direct confrontation.
Seeing Mu En's caution only strengthened Kong Deming's and Jing Hongchen's determination to bring him down. If he was avoiding a confrontation, it meant he wasn't confident. Now was the perfect time to remove a thorn from the Sun Moon Empire's side once and for all.
But no tool is flawless, and while the Silver Moon Divine Radiance Barrier was powerful, its lack of speed meant it struggled to keep up with Mu En's agile maneuvers. Mu En, although cautious, remained capable; he sought every opportunity to close in on Kong Deming for close quarters combat.
Fortunately for Kong Deming, Jing Hongchen newly elevated to Tenth Level Soul Mentor stood as a shield before him, preventing Mu En from attacking him directly. However, this constant back and forth could not continue indefinitely, as Kong Deming's soul power, even as a Rank 94, was not unlimited and could not match Mu En's Rank 99 reserves.
Realizing this, Kong Deming prepared a gambit. "Is this how far Shrek has fallen?" he taunted. "The great Dragon God Douluo reduced to skittering about like some agility type soul master hiding in the shadows?"
Mu En, nearly two hundred years old and no stranger to mind games, ignored the bait, maintaining his focus as he waited for an opening.
Seeing the potential target, Kong Deming's gaze turned murderous. Though the Silver Moon Divine Radiance Barrier had spatial manipulation abilities, it also held raw offensive power. He shared his plan with Jing Hongchen, who immediately agreed to provide cover.
Jing Hongchen, despite being a newly minted Tenth Level Soul Mentor, was equipped with the unique Red Dust Golden Toad Armor, a set of gear he'd developed based on his grandson Xiao Hongchen's mutated Golden Toad Martial Soul. It allowed him to temporarily enhance the quality of his equipment to Tenth Level, albeit at the cost of rapidly wearing down his high level soul tools. But with the empire's deep pockets backing him, Jing Hongchen didn't care about using up a few Ninth Level soul tools; victory was all that mattered.
Turning his attention to the gathered Douluo of the Star Luo Empire, Kong Deming felt a new opportunity. Though they had held back from attacking these Douluo with full force to avoid revealing their hand before Mu En arrived, now the tables were turning. Since Mu En refused to engage directly, Kong Deming saw an opening.
Locking onto Xu Tianxing with his spiritual power, Kong Deming prepared to launch a decisive strike.
Realizing he was the target, Xu Tianxing turned pale. Although he was a Rank 97 Super Douluo and a former emperor, he felt utterly vulnerable before the Tenth Level Soul Mentor's killing intent. He tried to shake the lock, but breaking free from the Silver Moon Divine Radiance Barrier's grip was nearly impossible.
Blinding silver light filled the battlefield, announcing Kong Deming's attack. Mu En's expression darkened, frustrated by the Sun Moon Empire's underhanded tactics. Here he was, facing these Tenth Level soul mentors, and yet they turned their attacks on a mere Super Douluo. But he couldn't ignore it. If Xu Tianxing the former emperor of Star Luo were killed, it would tarnish Shrek's reputation further. Shrek could not afford to lose any more standing.
As Kong Deming unleashed the Silver Moon Divine Light Beam, the energy compressed into a deadly, concentrated attack aimed straight at Xu Tianxing, illuminating the sky in its wake.
Seeing the attack locked solely onto Xu Tianxing, the other Douluo relaxed momentarily, but their relief turned to horror as they realized Xu Tianxing was about to face it alone. Though gripped with fear, Xu Tianxing's pride as a former ruler forbade him from fleeing.
Summoning his fourth soul skill, Star Guardian, Xu Tianxing concentrated his energy to its utmost, forming a massive light blue shield to stand before him.
The beam struck the shield in a blinding clash.
(End of Chapter)
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