Chrysanthemum Ghost Douluo vs. the Four Demon Gods

Three days later, outside Treasure Sword City.

The Heaven Dou Empire's army and Spirit Hall's contingent of Soul Masters arrived at nearly the same time.

Twenty thousand soldiers formed the outer ranks, with three thousand Soul Masters inside, their banners blotting out the sky.

The troops had barely halted when whispers broke out in the ranks.

"Just a beast tide. Did the empire really need to send this many people?"

An imperial soldier carrying a spear over his shoulder curled his lip and elbowed the companion beside him.

"These Soul Beasts can only bully little cities."

The veteran beside him smiled too. "How many defenders did Treasure Sword City even have? A few thousand at most, and not a proper Soul Master corps among them. If our twenty thousand had marched in, we could've trampled them flat."

"Exactly," another young soldier chimed in, his voice full of pride.

"I heard the city lord's a Soul Emperor. A Soul Emperor, and that's how he defended the city? Even I could've done better."

A few Spirit Hall Soul Masters in the front ranks were chatting too.

A young Soul Master in Spirit Hall robes folded his arms, his tone casual.

"Three thousand elites against a beast tide? Isn't His Holiness the Pope giving these beasts too much credit?"

"What do you know? His Holiness is being cautious. A beast tide sounds scary, but it's really just a bunch of low-level Soul Beasts running wild. Once our Soul Master corps charges in, a single Soul Skill will knock them down in droves."

"That's right."

"With Chrysanthemum Guan and Ghost Elder leading us, two Titled Douluo holding the fort, forget a beast tide-even if a hundred-thousand-year Soul Beast really did pop up, we wouldn't have to fear it."

"Hundred-thousand-year Soul Beasts aren't that easy to find," the young Soul Master scoffed.

"If there really is one, I'll eat this Spirit Hall token on the spot."

Laughter erupted through the ranks.

Qian Renxue sat on horseback, listening to the chatter behind her, and shook her head inwardly.

These people are truly ignorant.

An hour later.

The army advanced farther, and as the scene beneath the city walls came into view, the laughter gradually died away.

More than half the wall had collapsed, and only half the city gate remained, hanging from its hinges.

Corpses that had yet to be cleared away lay piled at the gate: defenders, civilians, and Soul Beasts alike.

Blood had soaked into the soil, staining the ground at the foot of the wall a dark brown.

A few carrion vultures perched atop the wall, enjoying their feast.

The young Soul Master who had been shouting so loudly just moments ago fell silent.

The imperial soldiers were dumbstruck too.

Qian Renxue dismounted and walked over to the Spirit Hall contingent.

Yue Guan and Gui Mei stood before the ranks. When they saw her approaching, they exchanged a glance and bowed slightly.

Yue Guan spoke first. "Your Highness, Crown Prince."

"Elder Ju, Ghost Elder, I've long heard of your names." Qian Renxue's voice was quiet.

Yue Guan smiled. "You're too polite, Your Highness. His Holiness the Pope was concerned for Treasure Sword City's safety and sent the two of us here with our elites especially to assist you."

Qian Renxue nodded and said nothing more.

Whether they were here to assist her no longer mattered.

"Vanguard, enter the city."

A squad of light cavalry rode out at the command, urging their horses toward the city gate.

The sound of hooves rang especially clearly across the open ground outside the city.

But the moment the vanguard came within a hundred paces of the wall, disaster struck.

Streaks of green light shot out with a series of sharp swishes, precisely coiling around every vanguard rider's limbs and neck before lifting them into the air.

Dozens of men and their horses were left hanging upside down from the ruined wall. The horses neighed as the men struggled desperately.

"Aah! Help!!"

"This is bad! It's an ambush!"

"Your Highness... save me!!!"

"Helmmph!!!"

But the green strands wound tighter and tighter, binding them so firmly they couldn't move.

The ranks fell silent in an instant.

The young Soul Master who had said he would "eat the token" opened his mouth, his face turning white in an instant.

Before anyone could recover their senses.

A green light shone before the city wall, and a lanky figure strolled out from behind the ruins.

Green scales covered his slender body, and his steps followed a peculiar rhythm.

Xi Er held his head high and spoke in a measured cadence:

"By day and night, ye fear the Demon God's might."

He spun around and spread his arms.

"For your own enjoyment, ye boil cattle and slaughter sheep."

He turned back, tilted his head at the army outside the city, and grinned.

"Pray for the Demon God's blessing; we love all."

"Little bugs, welcome to the Demon God's stage."

Yue Guan and Gui Mei froze for a moment, then exchanged a glance and couldn't help laughing.

"That's it? An ordinary Titled Douluo dares call himself a Demon God?"

"He certainly talks big."

The two stepped forward and activated their Martial Souls.

The pressure of Titled Douluo spread out in an instant.

Xi Er stood there without moving, his smile growing even wider.

The next second, three presences descended from the sky.

An Luoxian: "Welcome to the king's kingdom!"

Hagenti: "Come, give me a good fight!"

Saigong: "I haven't seen this many humans in ages!"

The three Demon Gods hovered in midair, looking down over the army below.

Every human who saw them turned pale.

What kind of monsters are these?

Soul Beasts?

Panic and unrest began to spread through the army.

"Hold steady! Hold steady! Anyone who flees in battle will be punished under military law!" an officer shouted at the top of his lungs, but even his own voice trembled.

This was their first time facing the might of Demon Gods.

Yue Guan and Gui Mei exchanged a glance.

"Let's go, Old Ghost!"

Yue Guan's Martial Soul flashed, and the Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum bloomed at his side. Golden petals circled him, blocking most of the Demon Gods' pressure.

Gui Mei's figure blurred, and he slipped around to the side.

"Old Chrysanthemum, there's something wrong with these Soul Beasts. Their presence doesn't feel like Soul Power."

"Don't panic!" Yue Guan shouted, his voice steadying.

"Their pressure is only at the level of ordinary Titled Douluo. If you and I join forces, we have nothing to fear!"

"You're right!"

Yue Guan met An Luoxian head-on, golden petals gathering into a pillar of light that blasted toward him.

"Sixth Soul Skill! Golden Stamen Outpours Flowing Rosy Clouds!"

An Luoxian didn't take the attack head-on. He stepped aside, his Flame Lion markings lighting up, and slashed back at Yue Guan's ribs with a claw.

"Interesting! This is the first time the king has met such a powerful human!"

Yue Guan stepped back half a pace, and his petals flew back to defend him. The two clashed and each retreated two steps.

Yue Guan shook out his wrist, his heart sinking. This monster was strong.

Gui Mei took the opening to circle behind Hagenti and reach out with a ghostly claw. It scraped across Hagenti's back with a screech, leaving several white marks.

Hagenti didn't budge. He slowly turned his head to look at him.

"Are you trying to tickle me?"

With that, he swung a slap at him.

Gui Mei drifted away, his heart sinking.

Saigong swooped down from midair, beating his wings to send two wind blades slicing toward Gui Mei.

Gui Mei dodged one, but the second grazed his shoulder, cutting it open.

Below, Xi Er suddenly whipped out a green strand, sending it coiling toward Yue Guan's ankle.

"How can this be!"

Yue Guan's face changed in an instant.

He hurriedly directed his petals back to defend himself and was nearly sent flying by a punch from An Luoxian.

"The king is very angry!"

"Stop using your flowers to block the king!"

With that, flames erupted around An Luoxian, instantly swallowing everything nearby.

Chrysanthemum Douluo's Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum began to grow scorching hot, slowly melting in the flames.