Wang Yiheng and Liao Mengkai's bodies rapidly retreated, landing back within their own formation at the edge of the battlefield.
"Death God Douluo, Ye Xishui!"
The two men's expressions grew grave as they fixed their gazes on Ye Xishui and the man beside her, Long Xiaoyao.
Only now, when truly standing before an Ultimate Douluo, did they realize how terrifying the oppressive might of one at that level truly was!
That additional soul core was not merely a difference in number — it was an overwhelming leap in essence!
Wang Yiheng and Liao Mengkai swiftly positioned themselves in front of Jiang Shengyu and Jiang Qingtong.
"Your Majesty, Your Highness, please withdraw first," Wang Yiheng said sternly. "We'll hold the line here! As the Empire's Hands of National Defense, we shall not retreat!"
To be able to fight an Ultimate Douluo, even at the cost of one's life — that alone was worth it!
But Jiang Shengyu placed a hand on Wang Yiheng's shoulder and said calmly,
"There's no need. To deal with those two, you need not throw your lives away. You are meritorious commanders of the Sun Moon Empire, veterans of a hundred battles — you cannot die here. I still need you to march against the former Three Nations of the Douluo Continent."
"Your Majesty… but…"
The two were deeply moved by his words, yet Ye Xishui and Long Xiaoyao's Ultimate Douluo aura still weighed upon them like a mountain.
If they didn't fight to the death, what other choice did they have?
Jiang Shengyu turned his head to look at Xue Di.
The Snow Empress stretched lazily and muttered with a hint of reproach,
"You brat… you just love to order me around! At this rate, this body of mine will collapse sooner or later!"
Jiang Shengyu laughed. "The capable should do more, Xue Di."
Xue Di?
She's the Snow Empress?!
Wang Yiheng and Liao Mengkai were both stunned by his words.
The Snow Empress — third among the Top Ten Great Beasts?
Each of the top three possessed strength surpassing even ordinary Ultimate Douluo!
If she was fighting on their side, then indeed, there was no need for them to die here.
They had never imagined their Emperor had such an ally!
Ye Xishui's cold gaze fell upon the Snow Empress. "Do you think you're Di Tian? With just you alone, you believe you can stand against the two of us? A beast is still a beast — overestimating yourself!"
Jiang Shengyu's expression darkened, and Jiang Qingtong stepped up beside him, both of them glaring at Ye Xishui.
"You filthy creatures who are less than beasts," Jiang Shengyu said coldly, "you should stop barking."
Ye Xishui's eyes flashed with fury as she raised her hand to strike. But before her soul power could land, the Snow Empress waved her hand lightly — and dispersed it in an instant.
The Snow Empress's tone was icy. "Human, boasting won't make your power any greater."
Ye Xishui snorted, then drew out her Soul Tool — the Death God Tower.
A terrifying wave of resentful spirit power erupted outward. The Soul Engineers from both corps turned pale at once, and even the Evil Soul Masters found it difficult to bear!
This aura… far surpassed that of an ordinary ninth-level Soul Tool.
"A tenth-level Soul Tool? Is that… a tenth-level Soul Tool?!"
Wang Yiheng stared wide-eyed at the Death God Tower in Ye Xishui's hand.
Even Jiang Shengyu and Jiang Qingtong furrowed their brows.
When they had intercepted her in the northern frontier, Ye Xishui had not yet unveiled this artifact.
It seemed she had only completed it recently.
It was far more powerful than a typical ninth-level Soul Tool, yet still fell short of a true tenth-level Soul Tool.
If it had to be classified, it would only count as a pseudo tenth-level Soul Tool.
Its core array lacked the exquisite intricacy of a genuine tenth-level artifact — the terrifying aura it exuded came purely from Ye Xishui's own Ultimate Douluo strength augmenting its power.
A true tenth-level Soul Tool, by contrast, would allow even its wielder to attain Ultimate Douluo-level might on its own!
"I've never slain any of the Top Ten Great Beasts before," Ye Xishui said coldly. "Today, I'll start with you. You'll make the perfect first soul for my Death God Tower."
Her gaze locked on the Snow Empress, and she added to Long Xiaoyao,
"The two brats are yours. Capture them alive!"
As her words fell, Ye Xishui activated the Death God Tower — a dreadful violet beam shot forth toward the Snow Empress.
The Snow Empress raised her hand, countless shards of frost condensing into blades of ice, cleaving through the beam as they surged back toward Ye Xishui.
Long Xiaoyao descended before Jiang Shengyu and Jiang Qingtong, saying solemnly,
"Lay down your arms. I'll find a way to help you escape — but if you resist now, more people will die for nothing."
Jiang Shengyu laughed mockingly.
"Senior, your words are amusing. If we surrender, would we still have any chance to escape?"
Long Xiaoyao sighed helplessly. His body trembled slightly as nine soul rings rose beneath his feet — two yellow, two purple, three black, and two red.
Among the three Ultimate Douluo — Ye Xishui, Mu En, and himself — Long Xiaoyao's configuration was the weakest.
Jiang Shengyu and Jiang Qingtong's expressions hardened.
Beneath their feet, soul rings also rose — four black, two red, and one chaotic-colored ring.
The terrifying lineup of rings stunned everyone present, especially that final ring — its color… chaotic?
A seventh-ring Soul Sage?
But how?! Weren't they just a Soul Emperor and Soul King the last time we saw them in Mingdu? How long has it even been?!
Long Xiaoyao's eyes widened in disbelief as the two unleashed their Martial Soul True Bodies.
"Martial Soul True Body — Serene Moon's Radiance!"
"Martial Soul True Body — Myriad Mirage Lotus!"
Their bodies merged into the crescent moon and lotus of mirrors — and then the two souls fused together.
A brilliant radiance burst forth, flooding the evil forest with light brighter than the rising sun itself!
"Martial Soul Fusion Technique — Mirror Flower, Water Moon!"
Silver light rippled through the air as the Goddess of Destiny gracefully emerged.
Lotus petals fell one by one, and the entire battlefield became a sea of soul techniques — soul skills of the Spirit Eye, Fire Phoenix, Ice Jade Emperor Scorpion, and Purple Flame Extinguishing Dragon all shimmered within the mirrored blossoms.
The Goddess of Destiny wielded the Icefire Dragon Spear, with the Golden Dragon Martial Soul shining behind her.
Ancient and majestic draconic might surged outward, completely suppressing Long Xiaoyao's Dark Holy Dragon. His aura plummeted from its peak in an instant!
Long Xiaoyao stared in shock at the figure before him.
"Ultimate Douluo!" he exclaimed.
From the Goddess of Destiny's body emanated an aura no less than that of an Ultimate Douluo!
Behind her, Wang Yiheng and Liao Mengkai were beside themselves with joy.
At this moment, they finally, wholeheartedly acknowledged the imperial couple they served.
Their Emperor and Empress possessed power that could erupt with the might of an Ultimate Douluo!
The Goddess of Destiny brandished the Icefire Dragon Spear. With a deafening dragon's roar, she thrust forward —
The blow shattered Long Xiaoyao's Dark Holy Dragon Martial Soul outright. His defensive soul power might as well have been nonexistent before that spear!
The Icefire Dragon Spear had been forged from the remains of the Dragon King's bones — an existence far nobler and stronger than Long Xiaoyao's Dark Holy Dragon itself.
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