They had long received the news, learning of the great victory in the frontline decisive battle, but also the grim tidings of the allied army's horrific casualties. They had rushed here at top speed, bringing ample healing pills, soul tool supplies, and a large number of Soul Masters skilled in healing-type Martial Souls.
Upon seeing the gruesome sights of the battlefield, the belongings of countless fallen Soul Masters, and the critically injured and dying elites, the reinforcements couldn't help but redden their eyes, their hearts filled with shock and sorrow. Sect Master Ning of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect strode quickly up to Lin Mo. Looking at his pale face and severely depleted aura, he couldn't help but let out a long sigh. "Young friends Lin Mo and Zhao Feng, you have fought hard. The entire Douluo Continent owes you a word of thanks, and owes a word of thanks to all the heroic spirits who sacrificed themselves."
Lin Mo shook his head slightly, his tone calm yet firm: "We didn't do this for thanks, but to protect. To protect this continent, to protect the world that Lord Qian Renxue guarded with her life, and to protect all innocent living beings. This is our duty as Soul Masters, and the original resolve of everyone who fought in this war."
Over the following days, with the reinforcements' help, the recuperation efforts proceeded in an orderly manner. The severely wounded Soul Masters were escorted in batches back to the healing sanctuaries of the major sects and empires across the continent. A portion of the lightly wounded stayed behind to assist in guarding the sealed grounds, while the rest gradually began their journey home. After discussing it with Zhao Feng, Lin Mo decided to establish a permanent suppression temple in the heart of the Void Desert, naming it the "Holy Dragon Void-Suppressing Hall." Lin Mo himself would personally oversee it for a century, while selecting a group of Soul Masters with unwavering resolve and formidable strength to take turns standing guard, watching over the golden array day and night to prevent any accidents.
As for the belongings of the fallen Soul Masters, they were carefully gathered. Jointly, the two great empires and the major sects erected a "Shrine of Heroic Spirits" at the center of the Douluo Continent. The names of every fallen Soul Master were carved upon the monuments within the shrine, to be enshrined for generations, so that the descendants of the future would always remember who stepped forward in the darkness, and who used their lives to hold back the cataclysm of the Void. A statue of Qian Renxue was also erected at the very center of the Shrine of Heroic Spirits. She stood tall and upright, her wings spread wide, holding the Heart of the Angel in her hands. Her eyes were gentle yet determined, forever guarding this land to which she had devoted her entire life.
On the day of their departure, Lin Mo stood before the golden array one last time, gently stroking its surface. The Heart of the Angel within his embrace pulsed faintly, as if bidding him farewell, yet also as if standing shoulder to shoulder with him. He bowed deeply to the array and silently intoned in his heart: "Lord Qian Renxue, rest assured. I will guard this place well, and I will guard the entire continent. Your will and your convictions will never fade. They shall be passed down by us, and by the Soul Masters of future generations."
Zhao Feng stood at his side, also bowing to the array. Gripping his battleaxe tightly, his eyes were resolute: "We will not let your sacrifice be in vain, nor will we let the blood of all the fallen heroes be shed for nothing. As long as we draw breath, we will absolutely never let the power of the Void ravage the world again."
Only after doing all this did the two turn around and join the main force on the journey home. The sweeping yellow sands gradually faded into the distance behind them, while the light of the golden array shone brilliantly in the depths of the desert, forming an eternal barrier of protection.
The journey back was far slower than the march to the battlefield. The ranks were mostly composed of the wounded, along with countless carriages carrying the belongings of the fallen heroes. The entire march was shrouded in silence and solemnity. Lin Mo and Zhao Feng walked side by side at the front of the column. Instead of riding in soul-guided vehicles, they walked step by step across the border where the desert met the plains. Neither spoke, each centering their spirit, digesting the transformation of their power and the growth of their mindset brought about by the decisive battle.
Lin Mo could clearly feel that his Abyssal Dragon Emperor Martial Soul had undergone a complete metamorphosis. The original power of the dragon was derived from the domineering and ferocious nature of the ancient Dragon Emperor, excelling in attack and suppression. But now, after merging with the divine power of the Heart of the Angel, the Dragon Emperor Martial Soul had gained the attributes of protection and purification. The might of his ninth soul skill had increased drastically; even the age limit of his soul rings had silently risen by tens of thousands of years under the mutual nourishment of the divine power and the Dragon Emperor's origin. He was now merely a single step away from the realm of a Limit Douluo.
More importantly, Qian Renxue's will had merged into his soul, allowing him to completely cast off his former restlessness and impulsivity. He had transformed from a youthful Dragon Emperor who only sought to grow stronger and protect those close to him, into a guardian who carried the weight of the world in his heart and shouldered immense responsibilities. He no longer obsessed over personal strength, but instead came to understand the true meaning of power—with greater power comes greater responsibility. A true expert never lords over the masses, but shields them through times of peril.
During a rest stop along the way, Lin Mo walked alone to a secluded patch of grass and once again took out the Heart of the Angel from his embrace. The golden crystal emitted a soft glow in the sunlight, and the silhouette within grew ever clearer—it was the image of Qian Renxue wearing a faint smile. He sat cross-legged, circulating his Dragon Emperor origin and guiding the power of the Heart of the Angel to flow slowly through his meridians, attempting to thoroughly master this newly fused power.
As the power circulated, countless scenes suddenly flashed through his mind. They were fragments of Qian Renxue's memories: her dedication when cultivating her Angel Martial Soul in her youth, the solemnity of inheriting the Throne of the Angel God, her unwavering resolve to protect the continent, and her sheer determination in burning her Divine Spark and shattering the Heart of the Angel to seal the origin of the Void. Every memory made Lin Mo's state of mind more composed, granting him a deeper comprehension of divine power and the path of protection.
"So, true divinity is not the lofty majesty of gods, but the selflessness to willingly sacrifice oneself for the sake of all living beings," Lin Mo murmured to himself. A glint of epiphany flashed through his eyes as the aura around him surged once more. Light blue soul wings silently unfurled, interwoven with golden veins. The sounds of a dragon's roar and an angelic hymn faintly intertwined, forming a uniquely suppressive might that was simultaneously majestic and gentle. The resting Soul Masters in the vicinity all turned their heads, their eyes filled with reverence and awe.
Not far away, Zhao Feng quietly observed this scene, a gratified smile appearing on his lips. He could sense Lin Mo's transformation, just as he could feel his own growth. This decisive battle had completely elevated the power of his conviction; it was no longer just unyielding resilience and toughness, but now carried the weight of protection and responsibility. The quality of his Battleaxe Martial Soul had vastly improved. The cracks that once marred it were completely healed under the nourishment of his conviction and divine power, making it even harder than before. His conviction soul ring had also ascended to an unprecedented realm, pushing his overall strength right up against the top-tier Titled Douluos.
He looked down at the battleaxe in his hand and gently stroked its blade, vowing inwardly: "Lord Qian Renxue, Lin Mo, and all my fallen comrades—I will not stop moving forward. I will continue to grow stronger, becoming the sturdiest shield and the sharpest spear, defending everything we sought to protect."
As the company continued their march, they passed through towns and cities. When the local citizens learned that this army was the very one that had defeated the origin of the Void, and learned of the grievous price they had paid to protect the continent, they spontaneously took to the streets, lining the roads with flowers and food to welcome their returning heroes.
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