Ning Fengzhi, Feng Bailong, and Yu Yuanzhen — the three Sect Masters — all turned pale in shock.
"The Spirit Empire is marching on Blazing Fire City?!"
Threads of lightning crackled through Yu Yuanzhen's graying hair.
"Just a month ago they lost two Titled Douluo — where did they find the nerve to fight again?!"
Ning Fengzhi and Feng Bailong were equally bewildered.
Li Zhexian remained silent for a while before saying:
"Have the seniors forgotten the Spirit Master undead in the ruined city during the Seven Sects Re-selection Conference?"
The instant he said this—
even Chen Xin's expression flickered with alarm.
"Zhexian… you mean those dead in the ruined city can be summoned?"
Li Zhexian gave a slow, solemn nod.
Ning Fengzhi and the others immediately grew ashen.
That ruined city…
Just thinking back on it still made them shudder.
In those endless rows of yellow mud courtyards,
thousands—tens of thousands—of corpses could easily be hidden.
"In other words…"
Feng Bailong frowned.
"The Spirit Empire's Spirit Master army effectively has two lives."
"To kill them, we must destroy not only their bodies—
but their undead form second time."
"It's not just the Spirit Master army." Chen Xin's voice chilled: "The one I encountered in that ruined city was a Spirit Hall expert who had already fallen years ago."
"If all the Spirit Masters the Spirit Hall has lost over the years can rise again…"
"That would be… horrifying."
Li Zhexian exhaled a long, heavy breath.
Chen Xin's concern was also his own.
In the original timeline,
Bibi Dong had also summoned an undead army.
But from the way it was depicted,
there must have been many limitations.
Yet in this life—
Bibi Dong had flawlessly passed the eighth Rakshasa Trial, severing every past weakness and emotional tie.
She was likely far more terrifying than in the original story.
"Honored Douluo…" Amidst the suppressed atmosphere, Emperor Xue Ye said with deep concern:
"Our first priority is to reinforce Blazing Fire City."
"Blazing Fire lies dozens of cities south of Heaven Dou, and the message we received describes events already several days old."
"Even with the academy stationed there, with Spirit Masters and soldiers holding the defense…"
"It is difficult to resist the Spirit Empire's army."
"I'll go to Blazing Fire first." Li Zhexian said immediately.
Ning Fengzhi frowned, concerned:
"Zhexian, you've only just returned from Star Luo a month ago. Why not rest a little?"
Dugu Bo sighed:
"Zhexian, with us old fellows here, you need not shoulder everything alone."
Li Zhexian shook his head.
"I have friends in Blazing Fire City. If I don't go, I won't be at ease."
"And as His Majesty said — the situation is dire. The sooner the reinforcement arrives, the better. If I travel using my Martial Soul True Body, I should be the fastest to reach them."
"Besides… I have a sword intent that restrains undeads."
"…"
Looking at the young face before them, Feng Bailong, Dugu Bo and others felt both pride and heartache.
At his age…
He should have been drinking with a few close friends beneath drifting petals, basking in spring breeze and autumn moon, knowing nothing of sorrow.
But this youth had stepped again and again into Titled-level life-and-death battlefields —
Shouldering burdens weighing a thousand mountains.
"Sigh…" Feng Bailong breathed out softly. "This time, this old man shall accompany young friend Zhexian."
Chen Xin added: "Sword cultivators excel at speed."
"Then let the three of us take this trip."
Just like when Li Zhexian and Dugu Bo left for Star Luo—
Emperor Xue Ye stood tall.
He bowed toward the three Titled Douluo who bore the nation's burdens.
...
When word spread across the imperial capital—
That the Spirit Empire had invaded Heaven Dou's territory, and that the three greatest swordmasters of the age were all heading south—
Heaven Dou City erupted in a fervor.
Tea stalls and taverns buzzed with discussion.
"Why is it Sword Wine Douluo again?! Didn't he just return from Star Luo?!"
"Sigh, Sword Wine Douluo used to love visiting Fragrant Pavilion, but now with war everywhere he hasn't had time to go!"
"I thought storytellers exaggerated his legend — now I realize it was me who was narrow-minded!"
"Pray to the gods to protect Heaven Dou…"
"Heh — I haven't seen any gods. But Sword Wine Douluo has been right in front of us, exhausting himself for the empire!"
"With Sword Wine Douluo in Heaven Dou, who needs gods?!"
This time, supporting Blazing Fire was too urgent.
Li Zhexian had only enough time to say a few words to Zhu Zhuqing before leaving with Chen Xin and Feng Bailong, riding their swords south.
—
Blazing Fire City
Located at the southern border of Heaven Dou.
Because of its unique geography, fire-attribute energy naturally gathered here, and most local Spirit Masters possessed fire-attribute Martial Souls.
The towering city walls—
Were built from "Blazing Ember Stone" mined from deep underground.
These stones were innately fire-attuned.
Once infused with fire-attribute Spirit Power—
Their surfaces flowed like molten lava, burning any ordinary Spirit Master who dared touch them.
At this moment—
The entire city defense was fully ignited.
The walls roared like an awakening volcano, spewing waves of blistering heat.
The undead army surged like a tide—
Yet the moment they touched the ignited walls, they were set ablaze by streaming magma, twisting into burning black silhouettes before collapsing into drifting ash.
High above—
Spirit Douluo-level experts from Blazing Fire Academy had released their Martial Soul True Bodies, clashing violently with Spirit Douluo-level undeads.
Spirit Abilities exploded in blazing bursts of light, raining fiery embers like falling stars.
On another side—
Led by Huo Wu and Huo Wushuang, the Blazing battle team fought desperately, holding back five Spirit Saint-level undeads.
Seven people combined their Spirit Power, their flames amplifying one another.
Though a level weaker, their synergy and powerful Martial Souls kept them from losing ground.
Huo Wu's pale face glowed with swirling sparks.
Huo Wushuang roared again and again, each punch bursting with explosive fire, the air trembling with every collision.
Boom—!
Clashing head-on with a Spirit Saint undead—
Huo Wushuang staggered back dozens of meters, blood trickling from his mouth.
Feeling the cold, poisonous undead Spirit Power wreaking havoc inside him, he wiped his mouth bitterly:
"How the hell does that freak Zhexian cultivate?!"
"He killed a Titled Douluo when he was a Spirit Saint!"
"And we have to join forces just to fight beyond our level!"
The Spirit Saint undead he fought blazed with dark-red flame.
Huo Wu shouted sharply as she and two teammates leapt high, their sixth Spirit Rings igniting.
Three sixth Spirit Abilities detonated against the undead, burning it into nothingness.
She flicked burning sparks off her hand.
"Hmph! Who can compare to that monster?!"
"That Li Zhexian never treats me like a friend!"
"He went all the way to the Extreme North—why not visit the south?!"
As she spoke,
the seven from the Blazefire Team attacked another Spirit Saint undead.
With one undead down,
their pressure eased greatly.
They pushed the Spirit Saint undead back blow after blow.
However—
just as victory began tilting in their favor—
two suffocating auras suddenly descended from behind the undead army.
The fiery-red sky dimmed.
Under hundreds of horrified gazes—
a massive black hand, large enough to blot out the sun, wreathed in terrifying, evil Spirit Power—
reached toward Huo Wu, Huo Wushuang, and the others.
The seven froze in terror; their blood felt like ice.
Their burning Spirit Power extinguished instantly.
"Huo Wu!!"
"Wushuang!!"
Academy experts battling the Spirit Douluo undeads looked over, pupils contracting violently, shouting in panic—
but they were entangled in their own fights and couldn't save them.
Just as the black hand was about to crush them—
between heaven and earth,
a clear, ringing sword cry resounded.