Alone in an Empty City, Killing Intent in the Dark Night

News of Yue Guan leading fifteen guard members away from Spirit City was like a stone thrown into a calm lake, its ripples swiftly spreading. With its strongest Titled Douluo gone and nearly half its elite forces removed, Holy Son's Palace looked, in many people's eyes, like a tiger with its teeth pulled.

Inside Golden Crocodile Douluo's residence, several trusted elders gathered.

"The opportunity has come." One elder said sinisterly, "With Yue Guan gone, that boy only has a Soul Elder-level Zhu Zhuqing and a bunch of green troops by his side. If we handle this properly and make him commit a major mistake, perhaps even..."

Golden Crocodile Douluo sat in the seat of honor, his gaze flickering. Though he desperately wanted to drag Yang Yu down at once, he remained cautious. "Do not underestimate him. That boy is extremely strange. Bibi Dong may not have sent Yue Guan away with good intentions. She might be trying to kill with a borrowed knife as well."

"Then we..."

"Test him first," Golden Crocodile Douluo said gravely. "Did he not just establish his authority? Then give him some 'trouble' and see how he handles it. Pass down the order: have the Law Enforcement Hall shove several backlogged and troublesome cases involving disputes among the Nobles within the city onto Holy Son's Palace. Let us see how he deals with them. Also, find a few 'thoughtless' people and have them provoke the guard members he has left behind."

"Yes!"

Holy Son's Palace, study.

Yang Yu looked at the pile of case files before him, originally belonging to the Law Enforcement Hall, without any expression on his face. These cases either involved powerful nobles within Spirit Hall or were trivial matters that could easily offend people. Golden Crocodile Douluo's suppression had arrived faster, and more crudely, than he had expected.

He pushed the files aside and said to the attendant official beside him, "Reject them all. Tell the Law Enforcement Hall that the Holy Son's Guard is responsible only for fighting external battles and protecting the Holy Son. We do not handle internal administrative affairs. If they dare send anything here again, they will bear the consequences themselves."

The official accepted the order and left.

Zhu Zhuqing stood below and said, "There are several spoiled young nobles outside the hall provoking our patrol members. Their words are disgraceful."

"Have they been beaten yet?" Yang Yu asked.

"Not yet. The members have maintained discipline and are merely confronting them."

"Tell the team leader that if anyone provokes them again, there is no need to ask for permission. Break their legs and throw them out. If anything happens, I will take responsibility." Yang Yu's tone was calm.

"Yes." A cold glint flashed through Zhu Zhuqing's eyes as she turned and went out to relay the order.

Very soon, several miserable screams and the sounds of bones breaking came from outside Holy Son's Palace. After that, the world became quiet.

When Golden Crocodile Douluo received the report, his expression turned even uglier. Yang Yu simply did not act according to common sense. He was crude and direct, yet he still had the justification—the guard was indeed responsible for protection, and those who provoked them could only blame their own misfortune when their legs were broken.

The first test had met a hard wall.

Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.

Ning Rongrong successfully made a second Poison Bracelet and began trying to make its trigger mechanism more concealed. She even used her authority over the sect's treasury to obtain several damaged blueprints for Soul Tools related to mental interference, hoping to combine poison with mental attacks.

Before Hu Liena departed for the City of Slaughter, she sent another "gift"—several copied volumes from Spirit Hall's collection of the Records of Ancient Poisons, along with a message hoping that Ning Rongrong would "focus on scholarship and not concern herself with outside affairs."

This seemingly caring gesture made Ning Rongrong feel an even deeper chill. She felt like a flying insect caught in a spiderweb; Hu Liena's and Bibi Dong's gazes had never left her.

She carefully put away those copied volumes instead of reading them immediately, focusing even more intently on her research. She knew this knowledge might be poison, but it might also be a sharp weapon.

A hidden outpost somewhere along the border of the Star Luo Empire.

A figure entirely cloaked in black robes and wearing a bizarre metal mask listened to his subordinate's report.

"Cult Master, Spirit Hall's Holy Son, Yang Yu, has had his strongest companion, Yue Guan, transferred away. According to information from our inside source, Golden Crocodile Douluo and the others have already begun suppressing him. This is the perfect time for us to act."

The figure called the Cult Master gave a hoarse laugh. "Rakshasa's pawn... as expected, she cannot bear to remain quiet. Since she has given us this opportunity, we shall gladly accept it. Have 'Shadow Ghost' lead a team to Spirit City. The target is Yang Yu. It would be best to capture him alive, but if that cannot be done... bring back his head. Remember, make it clean, like the handiwork of the Holy Spirit Cult."

"Yes, Cult Master!"

Night fell, and the lights of Spirit City began to glow. Everything appeared peaceful.

The defenses of Holy Son's Palace were noticeably tighter than usual. The fifteen guard members left behind had divided into three shifts and patrolled without interruption. Zhu Zhuqing personally led the watch for the first half of the night.

Yang Yu sat in the study without cultivating. Instead, he watched the pitch-black night sky outside the window as an almost imperceptible ripple of time slowly spread from his fingertips. He seemed to be waiting for something.

Just after midnight.

Several black shadows that seemed to blend into the night silently crossed the outer perimeter of Holy Son's Palace. Their movements were as nimble as wildcats, their auras completely concealed. Even when patrol members passed right beside them, they failed to notice them.

The leader was Shadow Ghost, the person in charge of this Holy Spirit Cult operation, an assassin at the Soul Douluo level. Behind him followed four elite cultists at the Soul Saint level.

Their target was clear—the Holy Son's sleeping quarters.

However, just as they were about to approach the sleeping quarters, one Soul Saint cultist at the rear suddenly halted, as though he had stepped on something invisible.

Buzz!

An extremely faint flash of light vanished in an instant.

Almost at the same time, Yang Yu, seated in the study, opened his eyes.

"They're here."

His figure moved, and he vanished from the study.

Outside the sleeping quarters, Shadow Ghost sensed that something was wrong and abruptly raised his hand to signal a halt. But it was already too late.

The shadows all around them seemed to come alive. Ten guard members emerged like ghosts from every corner, instantly surrounding the five of them in reverse! There were no battle cries, only icy killing intent and Spirit Abilities poised to strike.

"It's an ambush!" a Soul Saint cultist growled.

Shadow Ghost's gaze turned cold. "Kill our way out! The target is Yang Yu!"

The battle erupted in an instant!

The five Holy Spirit Cult experts were formidable, especially Shadow Ghost. His Martial Soul seemed to be related to shadows, making his figure elusive and his attacks strange and vicious. Yet the guard members showed no fear. Working in groups of three, they formed battle formations to meet the enemy. Their coordination was seamless, offense and defense united, and they forcibly held back two Soul Saints.

Zhu Zhuqing went straight for Shadow Ghost. She knew he was far stronger than her, but she had to stop him!

With the Netherworld Spirit Cat Martial Soul possessing her, Zhu Zhuqing pushed her speed to its limit, constantly circling Shadow Ghost and attacking. Her claw strikes could not inflict fatal wounds upon him, but the Netherworld Power within them caused him some trouble and slightly hindered his movements.

"An ant trying to shake a tree!" Shadow Ghost snorted coldly as his seventh Soul Ring lit up—Martial Soul Avatar! His body seemed to transform completely into a shadow, and his speed and attack power soared! A condensed blade of shadow shot straight toward Zhu Zhuqing's heart!

It was unimaginably fast!

Zhu Zhuqing's pupils contracted. Her Fourth Spirit Ability, Instant Movement, activated, and her figure vanished from where she stood.

But Shadow Ghost's blade of shadow seemed to predict where she would reappear, following her like a shadow!

Sshk!

The blade grazed Zhu Zhuqing's shoulder, scattering a spray of blood as a wave of icy energy instantly invaded her body!

Zhu Zhuqing gave a muffled groan, her movements stalling.

A cruel light flashed through Shadow Ghost's eyes. Another blade of shadow followed close behind, aimed directly at her throat!

At that critical moment!

A calm voice suddenly rang out. "Time... Stop."

Buzz!

With Zhu Zhuqing at its center, the space within a ten-meter radius seemed to have had its pause button pressed. Falling leaves, splattered blood, Shadow Ghost's savage expression, and the blade of shadow about to touch Zhu Zhuqing's throat... all froze!

Though it lasted only a brief instant!

For Zhu Zhuqing, it was enough!

The Dark Demon Evil God Tiger bloodline within her was stirred once more by the threat of death and that icy energy! A strange and savage aura, far clearer and more violent than before, burst from her body!

Her eyes instantly turned a pure black. The silver-black lightning around her cat claws was gone, replaced by profound darkness that seemed capable of devouring everything!

Roar!

A low, inhuman roar forced its way from her throat!

Frozen time resumed its flow!

But at that moment, Zhu Zhuqing's speed and strength surged explosively! Ignoring the blade of shadow, her cat claws, wreathed in dark energy, struck fiercely toward Shadow Ghost's chest at several times their previous speed!

The cruelty on Shadow Ghost's face instantly turned to horror! He had never expected his opponent's aura to suddenly become so terrifying and evil! In his haste, he could only gather shadow power before his chest to defend himself!

Splat!

The dark cat claws tore through Shadow Ghost's shadow defense as easily as rotten leather and plunged deep into his chest! A force filled with destruction and erosion exploded within him in an instant!

"Argh!" Shadow Ghost let out a miserable scream as his body flew backward like a kite with its string cut, smashing heavily into the courtyard wall. His chest was a mangled blur of flesh and blood, while dark energy continuously eroded his life force!

Everything had happened too quickly!

Seeing their leader severely wounded in an instant, the other four Soul Saint cultists were shaken to the core!

And Yang Yu had appeared at the edge of the battlefield at some point. He had not even made a move, merely watching calmly.

Zhu Zhuqing stood where she was, breathing heavily. The black in her eyes slowly faded, and that savage aura swiftly receded. She looked at the hand stained with dark energy, then at the severely wounded Shadow Ghost. A trace of confusion flashed through her eyes before it was replaced by coldness.

With their leader severely wounded, the guard members' morale soared, and their attacks became even fiercer. Before long, the four Soul Saint cultists were killed one after another under the siege of guard members twice their number.

Shadow Ghost watched Zhu Zhuqing and the guard members close in step by step, then glanced at Yang Yu in the distance, who seemed entirely uninvolved. Despair and madness flashed through his eyes. He suddenly struck his chest and spat out a mouthful of Essence Blood, his body rapidly swelling!

"Holy Spirit Immortal!" he roared, about to self-destruct!

At that moment, Yang Yu raised his hand and gently clenched it toward him.

"Return to Silence."

The violent Soul Power around Shadow Ghost and the energy of his self-destruction were instantly soothed and extinguished as though by an invisible hand. His swollen body rapidly shriveled, his gaze scattered, and he completely lost his life.

The battle was over.

Seven guard members had suffered light injuries, but none had died. All five invading Holy Spirit Cult experts had been wiped out, including one Soul Douluo.

Zhu Zhuqing walked up to Yang Yu and dropped to one knee. "This subordinate is incompetent. Please punish me, Your Highness." She was referring to the uncontrollable power she had unleashed at the end.

Yang Yu looked at her and said calmly, "Power is neither right nor wrong. It depends only on the person who wields it. You did well."

His gaze swept over the wreckage covering the ground and the Soul Douluo's corpse.

"Clean this up. Tomorrow morning, deliver the bodies and their tokens to the entrance of Elder Hall."

"Yes!"

Yang Yu turned and walked back to the study.

That night, many people were destined to remain sleepless.

Even with half its blade broken away, Holy Son's Palace remained sharp. And certain enemies hidden in the shadows had finally revealed themselves.

The game was becoming more and more interesting.