Kong Deming and Jing Hongchen remained stationed in Mingdu, overseeing the aftermath of the catastrophic explosion that had shaken the capital and dealing with the chain of crises that followed.
During this time, an unexpected incident occurred — the Mingde Hall discovered that all of their soul-guided satellite signals had suddenly been lost! Even when they launched replacements, every new satellite would immediately go offline. The communications department fell into a state of alarm.
Without satellite relays, the soul communication network — including the function of "soul phones" — would be drastically weakened.
Upon hearing this report, Jiang Shengyu immediately understood what was happening. Tang San might not be able to descend to the mortal world personally, but outside of Douluo Star, he still possessed the means to erase the satellites they sent into orbit.
However, Huo Yuhao and Xuan Ziwen quickly threw themselves into the research of an alternative: a ground-based relay communication system to replace the lost satellite network.
Meanwhile, the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, with the assistance of the Spirit Hall's branch, had already withdrawn into the territory of the Sun Moon Empire. Their crossing of the border even sparked a brief skirmish between the northern forces of the Heavenly Soul Empire and the Sun Moon Empire.
Having ensured Mingdu was in good hands, Jiang Shengyu then personally set out for the outskirts of the Evil Demon Forest.
To him, the conflict with the three former Douluo Continent empires was urgent, but the issue of the Evil Soul Masters was even more pressing. He needed a stable and secure rear base.
The two regiment commanders — Wang Yiheng of the Evil Monarch Soul Tool Regiment and Liao Mengkai of the Terrorclaw Soul Tool Regiment — reported the latest situation to Jiang Shengyu. The two great regiments had completely surrounded the Evil Demon Forest, sealing it so tightly that not a single Evil Soul Master could escape.
During this time, several Titled Douluo–level Evil Soul Masters had attempted to break through their lines, but all were driven back.
As for the two Ultimate Douluo of the Holy Spirit Cult — Ye Yishui and Long Xiaoyao — neither had appeared.
Jiang Shengyu listened to the report, then slapped the papers on the table and said sternly,
"Tell the soldiers — three days from now, at dawn, we launch the full assault! The enemy we face is an Evil Soul Master sect that may have two, perhaps even three, ultimate Douluo. Be on your utmost guard."
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
Wang Yiheng and Liao Mengkai nodded heavily.
So what if they have Ultimate Douluo?
From their founding, the imperial Soul Engineer Regiments — the Hand of the Nation — had been established with one purpose: to stand against the ultimate Douluo of the former three empires and Shrek Academy!
Three days later.
At dawn, before the sun had fully risen, a thin mist still hung over the Evil Demon Forest.
A barrage of fixed-installed soul-guided shells streaked through the sky, trailing blazing firelight as they arced downward into one corner of the forest. The thunderous explosions that followed shook the land — flames erupted skyward, consuming the surrounding trees, and a raging inferno ignited in an instant.
The bombardment heralded the beginning of the all-out assault. The two great Soul Engineer Regiments surged forward into the Evil Demon Forest.
Panic swept through the Holy Spirit Cult. Feng Ling, flustered and pale, ran to the door of Ye Yishui's room, shouting anxiously,
"Grand Elder! The Soul Engineer Regiments of the Sun Moon Empire have begun their attack — what should we do?"
From within came Ye Yishui's cold, disdainful snort.
"What are you panicking for? They're just a bunch of Soul Engineers!"
She pushed open the door and stepped out. From another room, Long Xiaoyao emerged as well. Ye Yishui looked to Feng Ling and commanded,
"Have all cult members prepare for battle! Today, we'll make sure these arrogant fools never leave this forest alive!"
Seeing her calm and confident demeanor, Feng Ling finally relaxed a little and nodded hurriedly.
"Yes, Ma'am!"
She bowed and left to organize the Evil Soul Masters. As soon as she was gone, Long Xiaoyao turned to Ye Yishui and said quietly,
"Yishui, this may be our one chance to break free. The Holy Spirit Cult cannot win this battle."
Ye Yishui's eyes flashed.
"The Sun Moon Empire doesn't even have a single ultimate Douluo. What makes you so sure we'll lose? A ninth-rank fixed soul-guided shell may equal a Ultimate Douluo's full strike, but each one used is one less remaining! Once Zhongli Wu completes his breakthrough, with the three of us combined — forget these two Soul Engineer Regiments — even the entire Sun Moon Empire will fall before us!"
A wild, feverish light burned in her eyes. She stared hard at Long Xiaoyao and asked,
"Long Xiaoyao… are you with me, or will you betray me?"
After the great explosion in Mingdu, Ye Yishui had not lingered. She gathered countless souls and departed immediately. Thus, she was unaware of what had occurred afterward — of Niu Tian and Tai Tan's descent to the mortal world.
Yet, given Ye Yishui's temperament, even if she had known that Jiang Shengyu and Jiang Qingtong's Martial Soul Fusion Technique could rival a ultimate Douluo, she would not have retreated. On the contrary, it would have only thrilled her further.
Long Xiaoyao looked at her for a long moment, then sighed deeply.
"You know I would never turn my back on you."
"Then fight with me — and kill every last one of these Soul Engineers!" Ye Yishui said coldly, sweeping her sleeve as she strode away.
Outside the Holy Spirit Cult's headquarters, waves of Evil Soul Masters charged the encircling regiments again and again. But how could their chaotic and disorganized assaults possibly shatter the perfectly coordinated defensive formations of the Soul Engineer Corps?
Their bodies, too, were no match for the devastating blasts of the soul-guided cannons.
In that moment, the Evil Soul Masters finally understood the terror of a modern army fully armed with advanced soul-guided weapons.
Even Feng Ling, once formidable, found herself forced into constant retreat under the combined assault of the two regimental commanders.
At the command center, Jiang Shengyu and Jiang Qingtong personally oversaw the battle.
The front line advanced relentlessly. More and more Evil Soul Masters perished beneath the rain of soul-guided artillery.
Flames roared, spreading outward through the forest. Snow Empress turned to the two of them and said softly,
"The Evil Emperor's eyes are upon this place. He's watching."
"That's exactly what I wanted," Jiang Shengyu replied, rising to his feet.
He strode out of the tent. Jiang Qingtong followed close behind. The two vice commanders standing guard outside, alarmed, hurried forward to stop them.
"Your Majesty, the battlefield is far too dangerous — please, allow us to handle this. You and Her Majesty should—"
"When have we ever feared danger?" Jiang Shengyu interrupted calmly.
Reassuring them with a brief gesture, he and Jiang Qingtong continued toward the front. The vice commanders could only grit their teeth and follow.
When Feng Ling caught sight of the two of them, her eyes widened in shock. The nightmare of Mirror Flower, Water Moon resurfaced vividly in her mind.
Her body faltered for an instant — and in that instant, Liao Mengkai's silver Blade Soul cleaved across her body, cutting from her left shoulder down to her abdomen.
Already fighting with only one arm and far from her peak strength, Feng Ling was overwhelmed. Against two opponents, she could barely hold out even before the injury. Now, grievously wounded, she collapsed to the ground.
From above, Wang Yiheng descended like a falling meteor and slammed his fist into her chest. The blow tore open her wound even further — blood spattered, bones shattered.
The remaining Titled Douluo–level Evil Soul Masters were thrown into panic. None of them had ever seen Jiang Shengyu and Jiang Qingtong's Martial Soul Fusion Technique, but seeing their pillar Feng Ling so brutally crushed, fear seized their hearts.
Just as Wang Yiheng was about to deliver the final strike, a powerful aura erupted from within the Holy Spirit Cult's headquarters.
Ye Yishui shot into the sky, her palm sweeping outward. A surge of terrifying energy crashed toward Wang Yiheng and Liao Mengkai. The defensive soul tools on their bodies flared desperately — but in the next moment, the sound of shattering filled the air!
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