Although the two beams of golden and silver light condensed and fired by the Sun Moon Divine Needle had been compressed into thin strands, making the attack range appear relatively small, that was only in comparison to other Class 9 soul tools.
Once the golden and silver radiance unleashed by the Sun Moon Divine Needle descended, Starry Sky Douluo Ye Yulin, beside Wang Yiheng, the division commander of the Fearclaw Soul Engineer Legion, and the other five Class 8 soul engineers would inevitably be caught in the aftermath.
These high-ranking soul engineers, each holding lofty status within the Sun Moon Empire, disregarded all decorum and let out strange cries as they frantically retreated.
All sorts of differently colored protective shields flared madly around their bodies. No matter how precious a defensive soul tool might be, one had to be alive to use it.
Ye Yulin himself was no exception. He had personally researched and developed the Sun Moon Divine Needle, so he understood its power better than anyone. The Sun Moon Divine Needle, charged by absorbing sunlight and moonlight, could only be fired three times before needing recharging, and each use consumed a massive amount of the user's soul power—but its might was equally terrifying. It was nearly equivalent to a full-powered strike from a Super Douluo-level expert.
It was precisely thanks to this top-tier Class 9 soul tool, the Sun Moon Divine Needle, that he had earned his fearsome reputation as the Starry Sky Douluo.
What shocked and unnerved Ye Yulin the most was how incredibly fast this young man had locked onto his target with the Sun Moon Divine Needle, completing the process in an instant. Even he, the creator, could not lock onto a target and attack so effortlessly with the Sun Moon Divine Needle.
The Sun Moon Divine Needle was indeed immensely powerful, but it came with extremely high requirements, especially in terms of spiritual power. Only sufficiently strong spiritual power could assist the Sun Moon Divine Needle in precisely locking onto a target.
If his spiritual power had been just a little stronger, White Tiger Duke Dai Hao would have long since been blasted to death by him.
While Ye Yulin's mind was filled with a whirlwind of thoughts, the golden and silver light had already descended.
Ye Yulin promptly slapped his right hand against his own chest. Countless golden points of light shimmered into existence across his body. These points resembled stars suspended in the night sky; the moment the two golden and silver beams from the Sun Moon Divine Needle struck, those starlights instantly connected into a stellar net of light, blocking the Sun Moon Divine Needle's assault for him.
For powerhouses at the Titled Douluo level, Invincible Shields actually had very limited effectiveness. The highest rank of Invincible Shield currently available in the world was only Class 7.
A Class 7 Invincible Shield could at most withstand a full-powered strike from an ordinary Titled Douluo.
If Ye Yulin had relied solely on a Class 7 Invincible Shield to block the Sun Moon Divine Needle head-on, even if he weren't instantly vaporized, he would certainly have suffered grievous injuries.
The defensive soul tool he was using now was called Starsky Guardian, his most powerful defensive soul tool, and likewise a Class 9 soul tool.
Moreover, Ye Yulin hurriedly activated yet another layer, a Class 7 Invincible Shield. With Starsky Guardian absorbing and weakening the Sun Moon Divine Needle's power upfront, the Class 7 Invincible Shield could then fulfill its role effectively. Double insurance.
No one would gamble their life so recklessly.
The high-ranking soul engineers around Ye Yulin each employed their own methods, releasing layers of colorful defensive shields.
However, they lacked the profound foundation Ye Yulin possessed. Although the division commanders of the Evil Monarch Soul Engineer Legion and Fearclaw Soul Engineer Legion were also Class 9 soul engineers, their strongest defensive soul tools were only Class 8.
Now they, too were forced to pair them with Class 7 Invincible Shields.
At the very center of the Sun Moon Divine Needle bombardment stood Mad Bull Douluo Wang Yiheng, his eyes filled with fury and shock as he inwardly cursed his bad luck.
The Sun Moon Divine Needle's attack was clearly directed at him. While the others would also be affected, the pressure they endured was far less than his.
Boom, boom. Two explosions thundered through the sky. In that instant, it was as though two golden and silver suns had suddenly appeared in midair.
The shockwaves of the explosion violently hurled back Ye Yulin and the Fearclaw Soul Engineer Legion's division commander. The golden and silver radiance crazily scorched the defensive soul tools covering their bodies, but fortunately, they suffered no substantial damage, only some churning of blood and qi within.
The five Class 8 soul engineers appeared far more miserable: blood streamed from all seven orifices, clearly suffering serious internal injuries. Yet what shone most prominently in their eyes was the joy of surviving calamity.
Only by living could one have unlimited possibilities. Having finally attained such status and position, they were naturally unwilling to perish here.
Also caught in the Sun Moon Divine Needle's area of effect were the members of the Evil Monarch Soul Engineer Legion and Fearclaw Soul Engineer Legion.
However, under Xu Zihuang's control, the two golden and silver beams had detonated precisely in the space where Ye Yulin and the others were located. The members of the Evil Monarch and Fearclaw legions were merely scattered by the terrifying explosive shockwaves, suffering minimal casualties.
But rebuilding their soul, engineering battle formations, and launching another assault would be impossible in the short term.
At the same time, from the center of the two golden and silver solar orbs emerged a massive bull over thirty meters long, its four hooves treading on empty air.
Among the nine soul rings pulsing around the giant bull, the seventh, black soul ring radiated profound light.
Crimson fireballs clung to Wang Yiheng's Mad Bull True Body, bringing rolling waves of heat that made him resemble a blazing flame bull. Each fireball surrounding the blazing flame bull shone like a miniature sun, releasing scorching radiance.
"Bastard! I'll kill you!" With a furious roar, Wang Yiheng dove straight toward Xu Zihuang. The intense heat distorted the surrounding air into rippling waves.
Mad Bull Douluo Wang Yiheng was one of the younger generation among the Sun Moon Empire's Class 9 soul engineers, and his own martial soul was far from weak. When studying soul tools, he had focused on high-explosive, high-energy, and high-heat directions, pursuing ultimate destructive power.
To become the division commander of one of the five Guardian Hands soul engineer legions, his strength could easily be imagined. Even if he was not quite on par with Starry Sky Douluo Ye Yulin, the gap was not large.
Attached to Wang Yiheng's Mad Bull True Body was his self-created Class 9 soul tool, Blazing Sky Net. The Blazing Sky Net consisted of three hundred sixty-five Heavenly Net Pearls, each under his complete control, with himself serving as the array eye.
This Blazing Sky Net integrated both offense and defense while also possessing control effects that restricted enemies. Among all Class 9 soul tools, it ranked roughly between tenth and twelfth.
Relying on his martial soul, true body, and the Blazing Sky Net's defense, Wang Yiheng had ultimately withstood the Sun Moon Divine Needle's attack. However, he had suffered extremely grave injuries—possibly even affecting his future development—and even his natal soul tool, the Blazing Sky Net, had sustained some damage.
He swiftly dispersed the Blazing Sky Net, causing the three hundred sixty-five fireballs, each over a meter in diameter, to spread out, dyeing the entire space in a raging sea of flames.
"Wait!" Having stabilized himself, Ye Yulin saw Wang Yiheng, blinded by rage, and immediately sensed something very wrong.
In truth, Wang Yiheng had not entirely lost his reason; he had also considered what worried Ye Yulin.
The fact that control of Ye Yulin's Sun Moon Divine Needle had been forcibly seized truly horrified him. But his Blazing Sky Net consisted of three hundred sixty-five Heavenly Net Pearls, each tightly linked to his spiritual power. How could they possibly be so easily controlled by an outsider all at once?
In terms of fusion with one's natal soul tool, he believed himself superior to Ye Yulin.
Yet in Mad Bull Douluo Wang Yiheng's field of vision, Xu Zihuang seemed to see right through his thoughts. With disdain, he extended his right hand in a grasping motion.
Instantly, a layer of brilliant golden radiance enveloped the three hundred sixty-five blazing fireballs. A strange spatial power abruptly severed Wang Yiheng's connection to those fireballs, then forcibly imprinted Xu Zihuang's own spiritual brand upon them.
Yet another Class 9 soul tool had changed hands!
Xu Zihuang's abilities were practically heaven-sent to counter soul engineers who relied on external tools. As long as it was not a soul tool completely fused into the body or a close-combat soul tool worn on the person, he could use his formidable spiritual power and spatial abilities to counter, or even seize control of, such devices.
Unless the opponent's spiritual power realm and cultivation far surpassed his own, or unless it was a Class 10 soul tool that exceeded conventional understanding, like those of Kong Deming.
The fireballs reverted to their original forms: three hundred sixty-five semi-transparent crimson Heavenly Net Pearls shifted through space and arranged themselves evenly, suspended behind Xu Zihuang.
The spiritual imprint Wang Yiheng had left on the Heavenly Net Pearls was forcibly erased by Xu Zihuang, causing Wang Yiheng's body to freeze as a severe backlash struck his sea of consciousness.
Meanwhile, Xu Zihuang, hovering in the void, slowly raised his left hand and extended a single finger.
His slender left index finger seemed to transform into a deep purple crystal, translucent and radiant. With his Golden-Eyed martial soul withdrawn, his deep purple eyes calmly regarded the Mad Bull Douluo Wang Yiheng before him, yet they carried a transparent quality that seemed to peer into annihilation and the fleeting splendor of a moment.
The entire aura around Xu Zihuang had changed, devoid of the slightest emotional fluctuation.
An enlarged version of that deep purple crystal finger seemed to instantly cross the void, casually piercing straight through the tough head of Wang Yiheng's Mad Bull True Body. Time appeared to freeze at that moment; the world dimmed, stripped of its former colors.
This one finger imprisoned heaven and earth, and held authority over life, death, and annihilation.
Xu Zihuang's stature was considered tall among human soul masters, yet compared to Wang Yiheng's martial soul true body, he appeared minuscule.
Yet with this single finger, he forcibly halted the Mad Bull True Body's diving charge.
In an instant, all vitality within Wang Yiheng extinguished into nothingness; his consciousness began to blur as despair and unwillingness flooded his eyes.
He could never have imagined he would fall at the hands of such a young brat.
But now, he could no longer even roar or bellow.
Cracks spread across the surface of the Mad Bull True Body, then it shattered with a boom, dissolving into countless specks of light that vanished into the void. Wang Yiheng's corpse fell limply downward. In his final moment of life, what he heard was Xu Zihuang's indifferent voice.
"Finger name: Silent Annihilation."
Silent Annihilation Finger, this was a self-created soul skill Xu Zihuang had comprehended by combining his own abilities. Unlike the Junlin Tianxia taught to him by Elder Mu, the Silent Annihilation Finger was purely a killing technique. It drew upon the true essence of destruction to command the power of annihilation over all things, while also containing abilities of space and time.
The clouds in the sky began to flow once more; the world returned to normal, but the entire scene sank into dead silence.
Not only Ye Yulin and the Sun Moon Empire soul engineers, but also those on White Tiger Duke Dai Hao's side, as well as Elder Song, Xu Jiujiu, and the others who had arrived later, all had personally witnessed this utterly shocking scene.
One finger caused heaven and earth to lose color, slaying the division commander of one of the Sun Moon Empire's Guardian Hands soul engineer legions.
Elder Song, Xian Lin'er, and Qian Duoduo were the first to react, landing beside Xu Zihuang.
"Such a powerful self-created soul skill," Elder Song sighed softly in admiration.
"In terms of talent, I'm afraid even Elder Mu back in his day could not compare. Tianhuang's appearance in this era is the fortune of the academy, and the fortune of the original Douluo Continent."
Shattered Star Douluo and the group of Titled Douluo from the Star Luo Empire soon arrived with Xu Jiujiu on Dai Hao's side.
Shattered Star Douluo himself found it difficult to tear his gaze away from Xu Zihuang. Thanks to his own unique spatial-attribute Shattered Star Light martial soul, he perceived the might of Yu Tianhuang's Silent Annihilation Finger with even greater clarity.
He could not help but sigh. This young man was truly blessed by the heavens; he dared not underestimate him in the slightest.
Even Princess Xu Jiujiu of the Star Luo Empire had brilliant gleams flashing continuously in her beautiful eyes.
This fellow was simply too outstanding.
But Xu Jiujiu quickly regained her composure. Looking at the disrupted formations of the Evil Monarch Soul Engineer Legion and Fearclaw Soul Engineer Legion in the air, her gaze instantly turned eager.
This was undoubtedly the perfect opportunity to annihilate the Evil Monarch and Fearclaw soul engineer legions. There were now sixteen Titled Douluo-level powerhouses on their side, an utterly terrifying concentration of top-tier combat power. This was very promising.
Xu Jiujiu was a woman with strong ambitions for power, which was why she had insisted on personally commanding the Star Luo Empire's soul master legion. Even in this operation to rescue White Tiger Duke, she had overcome all objections to participating.
Part of the reason was her wariness toward White Tiger Duke Dai Hao. Although the Xu family greatly trusted Dai Hao, he controlled the Star Luo Empire's most elite army and possessed the capability to rebel. Facing such a powerful minister, how could a member of the imperial family like her harbor no thoughts at all?
Moreover, she also yearned to achieve great military merit through this war.
"The Sun Moon Empire has trampled our nation's territory and massacred our people; their crimes deserve death!" Xu Jiujiu raised her chin proudly and declared righteously in her delicate voice.
"Jiujiu earnestly requests that all seniors take action!"
But before Xu Jiujiu could finish speaking, Ye Yulin, his face dark and grim, decisively issued the retreat order.
"Evil Monarch and Fearclaw forces, withdraw!"
Though filled with rage, he had no choice but to face reality. With the Star Luo Empire's reinforcements having arrived, the mission to assassinate White Tiger Duke Dai Hao had failed. What he needed to do now was minimize losses.
However, before departing at full speed, Ye Yulin glanced back, his gaze profound.
He actually hoped someone would give chase. After all, that person existed at the peak of the Ming Dou Mountain Range.
Seeing Ye Yulin lead the Evil Monarch Soul Engineer Legion and Fearclaw Soul Engineer Legion in retreat, Xu Zihuang, Elder Song, Xian Lin'er, and Qian Duoduo did not move. Coming from Shrek Academy, they naturally had no obligation to obey Xu Jiujiu's commands. Moreover, at the present stage, Shrek Academy was not suited to directly involve itself in the war.
Shattered Star Douluo and the Star Luo Empire Titled Douluo felt somewhat inclined to act, but Dai Hao stopped them.
"Princess, esteemed seniors, do not pursue a cornered enemy. The Sun Moon Empire's sudden assault on our Star Luo Empire must have been long in planning. There may very well be Class 9 stationary soul cannon emplacements at the peak of the Ming Dou Mountain Range. There is no need for the seniors to take such risks. The urgent priority now is to swiftly establish defensive lines and resist the Sun Moon Empire's invasion." Dai Hao supported himself with his war blade and stepped forward, speaking gravely.
"Father." Dai Yaoheng hurriedly supported the unsteady Dai Hao, but when his gaze fell upon Xu Zihuang, his expression became somewhat complicated.
By now, his cultivation had broken through to the Soul Saint realm. Among his peers, he was undoubtedly outstanding. Yet judging from the terrifying combat power Yu Tianhuang had displayed earlier, he knew there was an insurmountable gap between himself and Yu Tianhuang. Clearly, he was fully seven years older than Yu Tianhuang.
In just six short years, Yu Tianhuang had grown to such an extent.
This was a true peerless prodigy, destined for boundless glory. Perhaps the distance between them had been decided from the moment of birth.
Having her decision publicly overruled by Dai Hao, Xu Jiujiu's expression soured for a moment. But she quickly recovered and agreed with a nod.
"Duke, I was thoughtless."
"The princess was acting in the best interests of the empire; Dai Hao understands." Dai Hao sighed lightly, then sincerely thanked Xu Zihuang, Elder Song, and the others.
"Many thanks to Brother Yu and Shrek Academy for your assistance. Dai Hao will remember this kindness forever. If there is ever anything I can do for you in the future, please do not hesitate to ask."
This was only the second time Xu Zihuang had met Dai Hao. The reason Dai Hao recognized him was thanks to Dai Yaoheng's reminder at his side.
Xu Zihuang smiled faintly and replied neither humbly nor arrogantly, "The duke is too courteous."
Seeing Yu Tianhuang glance over, Elder Song smiled and continued, "Since we of Shrek Academy are also part of the original Douluo Continent, it is only right that we respond to your nation's distress signal with aid. There is no need for the duke to stand on ceremony. Now that the duke is safe, we shall take our leave."
"Old Song rarely comes here. Why not allow us to play the host?" Xu Jiujiu, harboring her own motives, hurriedly tried to persuade him to stay.
Elder Song smiled knowingly.
"Very well then. Lin'er, Duoduo, you two stay behind. Tianhuang and I will return to the academy and report this matter to Elder Xuan."
"As it should be." Xu Jiujiu's heart leaped with joy. Dai Hao, meanwhile, was somewhat surprised by Elder Song's decision.
Qian Duoduo and Xian Lin'er exchanged a glance, their expressions subtle. They had brought the newly completed Class 9 stationary soul cannon with other intentions in mind. Xu Jiujiu's invitation suited their wishes perfectly.
On the other side, Xu Zihuang swept clean all the soul tools from Mad Bull Douluo Wang Yiheng's body, taking the Sun Moon Divine Needle and Blazing Sky Net, these two Class 9 soul tools, then rose into the air.
The Star Luo Empire side watched with aching hearts. The equipment carried by a Class 9 soul engineer was of incalculable value. But they had no right to object, Mad Bull Douluo Wang Yiheng had been slain single-handedly by Yu Tianhuang; claiming the spoils of war was only natural.
"Princess Jiujiu, Duke, farewell."
Elder Song also rose cleanly into the air together with Xu Zihuang, flying toward Shrek Academy.
With no elder present to restrain him, Qian Duoduo's true nature emerged as he rubbed his hands together and smiled fawningly at Xu Jiujiu.
"Princess, White Tiger Duke, would it be possible for us to speak privately?"
Xian Lin'er rolled her eyes at Qian Duoduo's demeanor but did not expose him.
Producing a single Class 9 stationary soul cannon required vast quantities of precious top-grade rare metals. Even with Shrek Academy's channels, acquiring them was extremely limited. Cooperating with the Star Luo Empire would greatly alleviate the shortage of top-grade rare metals.
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Here are the chapters for today (づ￣3￣)づ╭～
"Don't forget there are chapters available on Patreon."
"From Douluo to Godhood by Defy 30 Advance chapters."
"Douluo: Far North Invincibledo 30 Advance chapters."
"Douluo Peerless: Living as an Evil Soul Master 40 Advance chapters."
"Douluo Dalu 2:Peerless Tang Sect Dawn of Sun and Moon 40 Advance chapters."
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