Whimper, whimper—
"Do you yield?"
"I yield, I yield."
With the killing intent of the Zhuxian Array Diagram suspended in mid-air, and under Chen Junting's half-smiling gaze, Little Bai directly stuck his big white butt in the air, prostrated himself on the ground, and let out a series of low whines.
Was Little Bai injured?
No.
His fur was intact, still as white as ever.
Did they fight?
Still no.
Just as Chen Junting was preparing to set up the Zhuxian Sword Array to test its might, the moment he handed control of one sword over to the Snow Empress, Little Bai surrendered without a second word, purely highlighting his absolute desire to avoid suffering.
"For real?"
"Yes, yes, for real."
Seeing Little Bai nodding his head frantically, Chen Junting laughed, reached out to rub his head, and pulled out an ice flower with a backhand.
Little Bai took a gentle sniff, and his eyes instantly lit up.
"This is!"
"Ten-Thousand-Year Profound Ice Marrow."
Before Little Bai could finish his sentence, Chen Junting stated the true nature of the ice flower. Clearly, this was the Ten-Thousand-Year Profound Ice Marrow obtained from the Profound Ice Cave back at the Earth Dragon Gate.
Although there was very little of it left, even this small amount was an exceptionally rare treasure for Little Bai.
"You're really giving it to me!?"
Seeing Chen Junting nod, Little Bai couldn't wait to swallow the ice flower in one gulp. He lay on the ground and rapidly began refining it.
Because the amount of Ten-Thousand-Year Profound Ice Marrow wasn't large, refining it didn't take much time for Little Bai. Before long, a continuously climbing aura emanated from his body.
As time passed second by second—Roar—
A pair of massive eyes snapped open. His colossal body rose like a giant mountain, letting out a bear roar that shook the heavens and the earth.
At this moment, he was one step closer to a cultivation of three hundred thousand years.
Chen Junting stepped forward, and Little Bai immediately retracted his aura and obediently lay on the ground. He even slightly turned sideways to make it easier for Chen Junting to climb onto his back.
It looked as if he had completely forgotten about his own immense strength.
Seeing Little Bai's posture, Chen Junting's forward momentum paused slightly, but then he calmly continued to Little Bai's side, smoothly climbing onto his back, the corners of his mouth curling upward.
Truly sly as a fox.
Not a trace of the honest-looking facade on the outside.
"Since you've decided to come with us, go say goodbye to your clan. You won't be seeing them for quite a long time."
Little Bai nodded in agreement.
As for his clan's future after he left…
To be honest, he wasn't too worried. Because apart from losing him, a Beast King, their high-end combat power would be somewhat lacking, but it wouldn't be a massive deficit.
After all, in the Extreme North, in terms of overall clan strength, the Ice Jade Scorpions, the Titan Snow Demons, and the Ice Bears were the absolute top tier. Furthermore, he had a clan member whose cultivation had already reached over ninety thousand years, only a single step away from a hundred thousand.
However, right at this moment—Beep beep beep—
A somewhat urgent sound suddenly rang out. Chen Junting immediately took out a soul tool from his chest. The original green light had turned red, and the red light was flashing wildly.
This meant an emergency had occurred at his master's end.
Of course, it definitely wouldn't be a threat to his master's life. Otherwise, the old man wouldn't have just flashed a red light; he would have destroyed the soul tool entirely, creating a loss of contact.
Realizing this, Chen Junting's expression shifted slightly.
He had roughly guessed that the battlefield situation was probably not looking good. After all, everything was linked; the Sun Moon Empire wouldn't just pin their hopes on the beast tide bringing "results" in the Extreme North. They would use a diversionary tactic to strike at other parts of the Tian Hun Empire.
Because of this, all the Supreme Elders of the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda were currently stationed at the sect, ready to step in as external reinforcements to "put out fires" at a moment's notice.
"Little Bai, go inform your clan first, then meet me at Extreme North City." Perhaps worried that Little Bai didn't know where Extreme North City was, Chen Junting added, "Extreme North City is the first city you attacked during the beast tide. The very broken-down one."
"Alright."
Hearing this, Little Bai immediately set off.
Chen Junting then looked at Gu Tianchen. Almost without needing him to say much, Gu Tianchen had already opened a Void Gate.
The three stepped in and vanished from the Extreme North ice field in an instant.
Meanwhile, inside Extreme North City.
Ye Xuanji stood on the city walls, a trace of worry revealed in his eyes as he gazed into the distance. And the reason for this was a piece of news received from the Tian Hun Empire half an hour ago.
The moment they received the news, the two Enshrined Elders stationed at Extreme North City—the Serpent Spear and the Coiling Dragon Staff—turned pale and uneasily relayed the message to Ye Xuanji.
At that time, Ye Xuanji had already felt something was wrong.
And because this news confirmed his suspicions, he had been eager to recall Chen Junting and the others.
Just then, sensing something, Ye Xuanji looked toward the empty space beside him. As space twisted, Chen Junting, leading Gu Tianchen and Huo Yuhao, returned to Extreme North City.
Seeing Ye Xuanji nearby, "Master."
Chen Junting had just greeted him and was about to bow when Ye Xuanji cut him off. "Enough. The situation is urgent, so let's skip the pleasantries. Look at the news from Tian Hun first."
Hearing the Great Elder say this, Gu Tianchen and Huo Yuhao's hearts sank. Chen Junting's expression remained unchanged, but his heart was not calm. He took the letter and read:
"On the Sun Moon Empire's side, the Father of Soul Tools, Silver Moon Douluo Kong Deming, personally took action, inflicting heavy damage on the Tian Hun Empire's navy multiple times, essentially crippling half of it. Simultaneously, the Holy Spirit Cult struck, attacking the Tian Hun Empire's coastal cities, resulting in nearly half of the Body Sect's elites being lost. The Body Sect's Golden Body Douluo is missing, his fate unknown. Body Sect Sect Master Du Busi was ambushed while heading south, suspected to be under attack from some sort of soul tool. He suffered heavy injuries and fell into a coma after narrowly escaping."
"Currently, nearly half of the Tian Hun Empire's coastal cities have fallen. The Sun Moon Empire is using the captured coastal cities as a base, continuously pouring troops into the Tian Hun Empire via sea routes. They now have a total army of one hundred and fifty thousand, including four great Soul Tool Legions. Of the nation's trump cards—the two Beast King-tier Soul Tool Legions—aside from the Evil Monarch Soul Tool Legion having been destroyed and the Imperial Dragon Soul Tool Legion not yet participating, all others have joined this operation. Now, over a dozen cities in the northwestern region of the Tian Hun Empire have been captured by the Sun Moon Empire. Tian Hun's losses are simply too massive."
This...
Hearing this, Gu Tianchen and Huo Yuhao were dumbfounded.
They clearly had the advantage before, but now...
"This is the strength of the Sun Moon Empire."
Chen Junting closed the letter. "To be honest, if we hadn't robbed two of their armories beforehand, and if they hadn't lost quite a few soldiers, soul engineers, and high-end combat power during their operations in the Sun Moon Imperial City and the Soul Hunting campaign, the Tian Hun Empire would probably have been defeated even faster. They might have been destroyed by now."
Huo Yuhao pursed his lips and gave a dry laugh.
"Brother Junting, you must be joking."
But obviously, he didn't even believe his own words.
Chen Junting shook his head, his eyes narrowing as killing intent burst forth. "We can't let the Sun Moon Empire's army continue like this. No matter what, this one hundred and fifty thousand-strong army must be buried here."
"What should we do?"
The question made Chen Junting look at Ye Xuanji.
But the response he got was, "Make the decision yourself."
Therefore, "Old Gu, take the letter and head to the battlefield!"
As soon as these words were spoken, everyone felt the temperature of the surrounding air drop by several dozen degrees in an instant. It was bone-chillingly cold.
After a brief silence, "Alright, I'll go right now."
Just as Gu Tianchen was about to get up and leave, "Wait!"
The sudden stop almost made him stumble.
"Something else?"
Chen Junting didn't speak, merely placing his fingertip at the center of his brow.
The next second, a drop of verdant water suspended from his fingertip.
Gu Tianchen frowned slightly. "Golden Life Essence?"
"It can't be called that yet." Chen Junting handed the water droplet to Gu Tianchen. "It's just a Life Water Droplet. You know who to give it to."
...
Inside the Tian Hun Imperial Palace in Tian Dou City.
The Tian Hun Emperor was pacing back and forth outside a door, his expression somewhat gloomy. Beside him were Princess Wei Na and Long Aotian.
Just then, the door suddenly opened.
Seeing the doctor walk out, the Tian Hun Emperor and Long Aotian could no longer hold back and chased after him, asking, "How is the situation?"
"How is my master!?"
Du Busi being heavily injured and remaining in a coma was practically a bolt from the blue for the Tian Hun Empire.
When he learned this news, the Tian Hun Emperor's first reaction was to completely seal off the information; it absolutely could not be leaked.
After all, Du Busi was a Limit Douluo. Once the fact that he was severely injured and on the brink of death was exposed, it would deal a massive blow to the morale of the Tian Hun Empire and even the original Three Great Empires of the Douluo Continent.
But shortly after he gave the order, the news of Du Busi's critical condition somehow spread throughout the Three Great Empires anyway.
The Tian Hun Emperor immediately locked onto the Sun Moon Empire and the Holy Spirit Cult as the culprits based on the logic of "whoever benefits did it." But unfortunately, the Body Sect and the Tian Hun Navy had suffered heavy casualties, the Spirit Empire was only securing logistics, and the Star Luo Empire was tied down by the Sun Moon army in the south, unable to extricate themselves.
Those they could temporarily rely on were pitifully few.
"How did Star Luo respond? Did they get the Immortal Doctor Douluo?" The Tian Hun Emperor suppressed his chaotic thoughts and asked a nearby eunuch.
"Please rest assured, Your Majesty. Lady Immortal Doctor is heading north."
While breathing a slight sigh of relief, the Tian Hun Emperor's heart tightened again. "What about the various major powers? How did they respond?"
"Six Sea God Pavilion Elders from Shrek Academy, four Elders from the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda, the Sect Master of the Heavenly Dragon Sect... a total of sixteen Title Douluo-level experts have agreed to reinforce us and are currently rushing to the battlefield."
Hearing this lineup, the Tian Hun Emperor's anxiety lessened somewhat.
But even so, his heart was still in his throat.
"Order the Great Worship that no matter what, the Jialuo Pass must not be lost. Once the Jialuo Pass falls, the central gates of our Tian Hun Empire will be wide open. This is absolutely, unequivocally something I will not allow!"
"Yes."
The eunuch immediately took the order and left to draft the decree.
And shortly after he left, another eunuch came to report. "Your Majesty, Gu Tianchen of the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda requests an audience."
"Gu Tianchen?"
The Tian Hun Emperor frowned slightly, seemingly trying to recall who this was.
Just as Wei Na and Long Aotian were about to remind him, a look of sudden realization appeared on the Tian Hun Emperor's face. "Ah, the young man proficient in spatial abilities whose martial soul is a Bone Dragon, right?"
He quickly said to the eunuch, "Bring him in."
The eunuch immediately acknowledged the order and left.
A short while later, Gu Tianchen stood before the Tian Hun Emperor and the others. Looking at Gu Tianchen's imposing and spirited appearance, the Tian Hun Emperor couldn't help but sigh, "What a youthful hero."
"Your Majesty flatters me."
Gu Tianchen was neither arrogant nor servile. He cupped his fists, gave a slight bow to the Tian Hun Emperor, nodded in greeting to Wei Na and Long Aotian, and then stated his purpose.
"Truly!?"
Hearing that he could wake Du Busi, the Tian Hun Emperor was instantly overjoyed! He even lost his regal composure, crying out in surprise.
He couldn't help it; Du Busi was simply too important!
Even if it only woke Du Busi up, that was better than ninety-nine percent of alternatives. At least his life could be saved.
At this moment, Long Aotian and Wei Na were also overjoyed.
Only Gu Tianchen remained calm and confident.
He had seen the power of the Golden Life Essence firsthand. His claim that it could only wake Du Busi was likely just being modest.
After all, since they didn't know the full extent of Du Busi's injuries, and a liquid drop of Golden Life Essence had weaker life force compared to its solid state...
"I thank the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda Sect."
Gu Tianchen accepted without any psychological burden. He swiped his hand over his storage soul tool, and a porcelain vial dropped into his hand.
After handing the vial to the Tian Hun Emperor, it was ultimately passed to the doctor beside him. The moment the stopper was opened, an incredibly rich aura of life instantly filled the surroundings.
With just a light sniff—"Ah~~"
The doctor's old face instantly flushed red with embarrassment.
He quickly cupped his fists to apologize, "Your Majesty, I..."
"Cough, cough. Enough."
The Tian Hun Emperor coughed dryly a few times, interrupting the doctor.
"I ask you, can this wake Lord Body Douluo?"
"I guarantee it with my life!"
The doctor agreed without the slightest hesitation!
As the chief physician of the Tian Hun Imperial Family, a Soul Douluo-level healing Soul Master, if he couldn't wake up a Body Martial Soul Limit Douluo who had merely suffered "minor" fatal injuries with such a treasure, he might as well smash his head against a block of tofu and die!
"Good, good, good!"
Hearing this, the Tian Hun Emperor immediately ordered the doctor to get to work.
After the doctor went inside, Gu Tianchen asked to take his leave. The Tian Hun Emperor originally wanted him to stay, but when Gu Tianchen said he was going to take Dugu Xin to turn the tide of the battle, the Tian Hun Emperor fell silent. And he wasn't the only one.
The name Dugu Xin was known to all emperors and generals.
For no other reason than that he was a true weapon of mass destruction in group battles.
At this point, the Tian Hun Emperor no longer tried to keep him.
Right now, he couldn't wish for Dugu Xin to hurry to the battlefield and turn all those Sun Moon Empire bastards into white bones and pus.
Hehe—Sun Moon Empire, just you wait.
The Tian Hun Emperor sneered, but when he cast his gaze toward the tightly closed door, a trace of worry couldn't help but flash in his eyes.
Just what kind of soul tool could beat a Limit Douluo to the brink of death?
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