Battle Against a Star Luo Empire Soul Saint

After knocking Dai Yutian back, Di Hong did not make another move. Xue Ye was behind him, and the enemy's Soul Saint had already arrived. That Soul Saint was level seventy-nine, already close to becoming a Soul Douluo.

He was even stronger than the Soul Saint protecting Xue Ye.

The situation, which had only just stabilized, now tilted once more toward the Star Luo Empire.

"Big Brother, take His Highness the Crown Prince and leave."

Di Hong knew they could not continue this battle. Xue Ye had to leave. If anything happened to him, it would undoubtedly be a devastating blow to the Heaven Dou Empire.

"Be careful, Fourth Brother!"

With that, Di Yang grabbed Xue Ye and left, retreating toward the military camp.

"You kill him. I'll capture Xue Ye!"

Dai Yutian was still unwilling to let Xue Ye escape just like that. He ordered their Soul Saint to kill Di Hong while he continued pursuing Xue Ye.

Di Hong wanted to give chase, but the Star Luo Soul Saint blocked his way.

"Junior, I am your opponent."

As he spoke, he summoned his Martial Soul—a Flame Lion.

Seven Spirit Rings rose from beneath his feet.

Di Hong frowned slightly. This was his first time facing a Soul Saint-level Spirit Master, and his opponent was already close to becoming a Soul Douluo.

Even so, he could not back down.

"In that case, please enlighten me, Senior."

After cupping his hands, Di Hong spread his wings and flew into the air.

The Star Luo Soul Saint gave a cold laugh.

"You think flying into the air will keep you safe?"

"What a pity for such a genius. Still, dying at the hands of me, Zong Yan, should be considered your honor."

As soon as he finished speaking, his Fifth Spirit Ring lit up.

"Fifth Spirit Skill: Lion's Roar!"

"Roar!"

With a lion's roar, rolling sound waves surged toward Di Hong in the air.

Di Hong immediately unleashed his First Spirit Skill to defend himself. Zong Yan seized the opportunity, bent his legs slightly, and leaped fiercely into the air, arriving before Di Hong. He gathered Soul Power into his right fist and smashed it into the shield.

With a single blow, he shattered Di Hong's Li Fire Shield.

Seeing this, Di Hong hurriedly retreated to widen the distance.

A thirteen-level gap in Soul Power was simply too great. He absolutely could not confront him head-on, or he would be the one to suffer.

After Zong Yan landed, he immediately unleashed another wave of flames. This time, Di Hong did not dodge and instead took the flames head-on.

"You're courting death." Just as Zong Yan thought Di Hong had been burned to death, the flames dispersed, revealing Di Hong standing there completely unharmed.

"How is that possible?!"

Zong Yan was greatly shocked. Di Hong had been directly scorched by his flames without putting up any defense, yet he had not suffered the slightest injury.

"I forgot to tell you, Senior. I have Fire Immunity. Flames are useless against me."

As he spoke, he even gave him a thumbs-down.

"You're a Soul Saint, yet you're not much of anything."

With that, he flapped his wings and flew into the distance.

"Bastard!"

Being mocked by a junior whose Soul Power Level was thirteen levels lower than his own, Zong Yan flew into a rage and immediately gave chase.

As he fled, Di Hong maintained a safe distance from him, occasionally tossing a few fireballs at Zong Yan. Zong Yan wanted to retaliate, but his flames were completely ineffective against Di Hong. He could only rely on Soul Power attacks.

The repeated attacks were still consuming him heavily.

"Martial Soul Avatar!"

In his fury, Zong Yan unleashed his Martial Soul Avatar, transforming into a massive lion whose mane, tail, and limbs burned with flames.

"He's already losing his temper." Di Hong glanced back. His opponent had lost his cool so easily, but that was fine. Using his Martial Soul Avatar would drain even more of his Soul Power.

In a direct clash, he was no match for Zong Yan, so he could only slowly wear him down. Once the duration of the Martial Soul Avatar ended, it would be time for his counterattack.

Zong Yan naturally understood this as well. He had to kill Di Hong as quickly as possible. Otherwise, once his Martial Soul Avatar ended and he entered a weakened state, he would no longer be Di Hong's match. After all, he was not a Titled Douluo.

But Di Hong could fly, which was incredibly troublesome.

"Third Spirit Skill: Berserk!"

After activating the Spirit Skill, red light burst from Zong Yan's entire body, and even his eyes glowed scarlet. Both his speed and strength increased severalfold in an instant.

"Damn!"

Di Hong was startled and hurriedly accelerated.

However, even as he fled, he did not forget to turn back and unleash his Second Spirit Skill.

"Second Spirit Skill: Fire Feathers."

Countless Vermilion Bird Feathers wreathed in flames rained down. Although Zong Yan avoided most of them, some still struck him.

"Soul Power Combustion."

Zong Yan immediately stopped. Feeling his soul power draining away as the flames on his body burned through it, he found it somewhat unbelievable.

He tried to extinguish the flames, but no matter how hard he tried, they simply would not go out.

"Do you like these Vermilion Bird Feathers of mine, Senior?" Di Hong teased. As long as he dragged things out, the situation would favor him.

Zong Yan snorted coldly, and a red light lit up on his right leg.

"A Spirit Bone?" Di Hong was somewhat astonished. He had not expected Zong Yan to possess a Spirit Bone, and one that appeared to be of considerable age.

"Positional Tracking."

As the Spirit Bone skill was unleashed, a Lion Mark appeared on Di Hong's body.

"A Lock-On Skill?"

Realizing something was wrong, Di Hong began retreating to widen the distance between them.

"Useless."

Zong Yan raised a hand, and a Black Spirit Ring lit up around him.

"Fourth Spirit Skill: Blazing Lava."

The surrounding rubble continuously gathered above Zong Yan's head, quickly forming an enormous boulder that was soon engulfed in roaring flames.

Zong Yan pointed into the air, and the Lava Boulder smashed toward Di Hong.

"So that's how it is."

What Di Hong hated most were lock-on attacks. First, the Spirit Bone skill marked him, then that massive molten boulder was hurled at him. If it hit, he would be crippled even if he survived.

"Third Spirit Skill: Li Fire Descent!"

A Flame Vortex appeared above Zong Yan, followed by countless fireballs descending from within it.

Zong Yan immediately circulated his soul power to defend himself. Seizing the opportunity, Di Hong circulated his soul power and shattered the incoming Lava Boulder with a single punch.

By now, the area within dozens of meters was already a sea of flames. Zong Yan stood at its center as the surrounding Vermilion Bird Li Fire continuously scorched him.

His soul power was constantly being burned away, the area around him was filled with Li Fire that could not be extinguished, and Di Hong kept hurling fireballs down at him from above.

Di Hong's principle was to make full use of his advantages.

"Ah!"

Unable to endure it any longer, Zong Yan let out an enraged roar. This was the first time he had ever been reduced to such a sorry state, and his opponent was merely a level sixty-six Soul Emperor.

"I'll definitely kill you!"

Di Hong shook his head. "Senior, it's time to end this."

With that, he retracted his wings and landed on the ground.

"Li Fire Domain!"

A burst of red light erupted, and the domain instantly enveloped Zong Yan. At that moment, it was as though he had entered a world of flames, and the rate at which his soul power burned away accelerated.

"First Spirit Skill: Flame Burst!"

He threw a fierce punch, yet nothing happened.

"What's going on? Why has my spirit skill failed?" Zong Yan's pupils constricted in disbelief.

Di Hong slowly approached, explaining as he walked.

"Within my Li Fire Domain, as long as one is below the rank of Titled Douluo and does not exceed me by twenty levels of soul power, all fire-element spirit skills are ineffective."

After explaining, the Black Spirit Ring around him lit up.

"Sixth Spirit Skill: Li Fire Array!"

A massive Vermilion Bird Array lit up beneath Zong Yan's feet, followed by the appearance of a Flame Mark on his forehead.

Sensing the soul power fluctuations beneath his feet, Zong Yan was just about to dodge when a pillar of fire surged from the array and instantly engulfed him.

"Farewell, Senior."

As Di Hong clenched his right fist, Zong Yan, engulfed by the pillar of fire, turned to ashes amid pained screams and unwillingness, leaving behind only a streak of red light.