Yueshu Island

While Elder Cheng treated Ju Zi, Wang Xiao returned, carrying Leng Jun's corpse in one hand.

There was no miraculous escape from certain death, much less any "thirty years east of the river, thirty years west."

A genius who had yet to grow was no more than someone who could be crushed at will. Where could so many accidents possibly come from?

Xu Zihuang waved a hand with little interest. "Elder Wang, have someone dispose of the corpse and clean this place up. Don't let it dirty the area."

"Yes, Young Master." Everyone had noticed the lone grave in the distance, and their hearts felt heavy. The mother and daughter had both been pitiful victims dragged into the war. As fellow citizens of the Sun Moon Empire, they could not help but feel a sense of shared sorrow.

Unfortunately, given their current position, they could not interfere in the war between the Sun Moon Empire and the Star Luo Empire.

"He would rather send the Evil Monarch Soul Engineer Corps to assassinate the Young Master than dispatch reinforcements to the front lines. What a disgrace to a ruler!" Elder Yu mocked coldly.

Xu Zihuang gave a derisive smile but said nothing.

In the eyes of his Imperial Brother, the throne was probably more important than anything else. It was understandable that he would want to eliminate Xu Zihuang, a threat. Still, Xu Zihuang wondered whether his Imperial Brother feared him a little too much. All he had displayed back then was Innate Full Soul Power and a pure Purple Blazing Sky Dragon Martial Soul.

Even with the remnants of the Imperial Dragon Soul Mentor Corps added in, they should not have been able to stir up much trouble.

Or was it related to the purple dragon corpse he had seen when he fused with the External Soul Bone, the Brilliant Dragon Claw?

At that thought, Xu Zihuang subconsciously looked at his left hand.

Not long afterward, yellow lightning flashed, and two figures suddenly appeared before Xu Zihuang. Dropping to one knee, they reported, "Young Master, a Soul Master team is approaching. It appears to be the Fire Phoenix Soul Mentor Corps."

Xu Zihuang and the others instinctively looked into the distance. They could vaguely make out the dazzling trails of flame emitted by Flying Soul Tools.

Though they were still some distance away, their course was unerringly direct as they rapidly closed in on this place.

The disturbance from earlier must have been too great and drawn them over.

Understanding dawned on Xu Zihuang. Golden patterns shimmered around his pupils, and only after he clearly saw the familiar Fire Phoenix insignias on those people's armor did he turn to the others and order, "Enter the Ming Dou Great Forest through the mountain range."

"Yes, Young Master." Everyone understood Xu Zihuang's intentions. Using Flying Soul Tools now would only make them too conspicuous. Besides, the Ming Dou Great Forest was not far from here.

Ju Zi's injuries were merely superficial. Her fainting had been caused by mental exhaustion and overwhelming grief. Elder Cheng had already healed her injuries during that time.

Hearing Xu Zihuang's order, he hesitated before asking, "Young Master, what should we do with this little girl?"

"Leave her here. Let the Fire Phoenix Soul Mentor Corps settle her." Xu Zihuang had long made plans for Ju Zi. Compared to his ruthless Imperial Brother, he might not have been much nobler.

What he wanted to exploit was simply Ju Zi's hatred for the Star Luo Empire. Only if the Sun Moon Empire once again launched a war against the Three Great Empires of the original Douluo Continent, as in the original story, would he have a better chance of seizing the throne. Taking Ju Zi away now would serve no purpose at all.

What he needed was an Empress War God capable of commanding the Sun Moon Empire's Soul Engineer army, not a decorative vase. Leaving Ju Zi here best served his current interests.

Almost immediately after Xu Zihuang and his group left, soldiers of the Fire Phoenix Soul Mentor Corps descended onto the cliff one after another, clad in exquisite crimson armor and carrying themselves with heroic poise.

Like the Imperial Dragon Soul Mentor Corps, the Fire Phoenix Soul Mentor Corps was one of the Protectors of the Nation. From its Regiment Commander down to every ordinary soldier, all were female Soul Engineers.

At their head was a striking woman who appeared to be twenty-six or twenty-seven years old. Her equally fiery red hair was tied into a neat ponytail, and even her armor could not conceal the fullness of her chest.

The woman swept her gaze over the surroundings. When she noticed the one-meter-deep pit not far away, her delicate brows drew together tightly.

"Big Sis, there's a little girl still alive." A clear voice reached her ears, and the woman hurried forward to inspect the situation.

Under the effects of Soul Power, Ju Zi groggily opened her eyes, her expression carrying a touch of naturally dazed languor. Once she fully came around, however, her eyes filled with grief and hatred as she stared blankly at the lone grave by the cliff's edge.

How she wished it had all been a dream. But reality was cruel. Nothing could ever return to how it had been. Her parents, who had always doted on her, and the small town where she had grown up were all gone...

That look made the woman feel deeply stifled, and her gaze toward Ju Zi gained a few more traces of pity. If not for the war, the side Ju Zi had shown earlier was probably her true nature.

"Little girl, what happened here before this? Did the Star Luo Empire's army invade this place?"

As soon as she said that, her expression froze, and a flash of self-mockery passed through her eyes.

The ruins of a small town lay not far away. Wasn't she asking something completely pointless?

At the woman's question, a little color returned to Ju Zi's clear eyes. In her mind, she recalled a pair of imposing golden eyes.

That had been the last thing she saw before losing consciousness.

Then she looked at her smooth, exposed calves. Not a single wound remained, making her even more certain that what had happened before was not an illusion.

So it wasn't you who saved me?

Quick-witted as she was, she sensed that there was likely more to the matter. Shaking her head blankly, she said, "I don't know why I fainted either. When I woke up, the first thing I saw was all of you."

The woman did not suspect anything. Seeing that Ju Zi was not in a good mental state, she did not question her further. She sent some people to continue patrolling while the others asked Ju Zi what she wanted, then took her away from the place.

Throughout the entire process, Ju Zi remained calm, but her gaze became exceptionally resolute.

Only the thought of revenge echoed within her heart.

The war between the Sun Moon Empire and the Star Luo Empire continued.

Another half month passed. Xu Zihuang and the others, having departed from the South Sea coast of the Star Luo Empire, finally arrived safely at their destination—Yueshu Island.

Yueshu Island lay at the northernmost edge of the Yuenan Islands. It was also the largest and most prosperous island, with several major ports alone.

Xu Zihuang and his group had traveled aboard a merchant vessel from the Star Luo Empire and disembarked at the northernmost port of Yueshu Island.

Ships of all sizes were moored at the harbor. There were merchant ships conducting trade, fishing boats heading out to sea for distant catches, and small private boats making various purchases.

The docks bustled with people and resounded with all kinds of cries. Fresh sea fish and various fruits were displayed outside the shops. It was even livelier than some major cities in the Sun Moon Empire.

Xu Zihuang strolled along the docks with interest, surveying his surroundings. Besides Meng Lang, four guards from the Imperial Dragon Soul Mentor Corps with Cultivation above that of Soul Emperors followed behind him. Wang Xiao had dismissed everyone else to rest or purchase certain special Rare Metals.

Safety on Yueshu Island was still reasonably assured. After agreeing on a place to meet Wang Xiao that evening, Xu Zihuang decided to enjoy this rare stretch of leisure time.

This chapter was transitional. The Yueshu Island storyline will begin in the next chapter. There have been two updates a day lately.