Peacemaker

The poison Lin Jin had used was not particularly potent. At most, it could make ordinary people lose their fighting strength; for a Soul Master's physique, its effects were negligible.

But for Lin Jin, that was enough.

After all, Soul Masters made up less than a tenth of the continent's population.

Iron Rock Fortress might have had over fifty thousand people, but it would have been impressive if more than a hundred of them were Soul Masters.

"My lord, should we attack now?" A Tu asked.

"Wait a little longer. Once our Main Force breaks through the Defense Line and reaches the walls, we'll slip in amid their chaos and crush Star Luo in one stroke." Though victory was already assured, Lin Jin was in no hurry.

Meanwhile, having long received Lin Jin's message, General Qin Yue took the lead in launching the final assault.

"Brothers, victory or defeat rests on this one battle! Charge with me!"

At Iron Rock Fortress, fewer than one in ten Taxi Soldiers could still organize effective resistance. The Defense Line was like paper, easily torn apart by the Heaven Dou Army.

The defeat collapsed like a mountain!

"Hold the line! Hold the damn line!" Dugu Xiong roared, his eyes bloodshot as he tried to organize a defense, but the tide had already turned.

He watched the Heaven Dou Soldiers surge forward like a tide and watched his subordinates fall and vomit around him. His heart sank to the bottom.

He knew they had lost this time. Iron Rock Fortress and Gray Rock City were both finished.

And he himself would become a stepping stone for someone else's fame.

"General! Leave quickly! It'll be too late if you don't!" Several Personal Guards desperately shielded Dugu Xiong, trying to escort him out of the encirclement.

"Leave?" Dugu Xiong gave a bitter laugh.

Looking at the hellish scene before him, watching the Iron Rock Fortress banner that represented Star Luo's glory get cut down by Heaven Dou Soldiers, he suddenly shoved the Personal Guards away. A trace of resolve flashed in his eyes. "Even if I die in battle, I will never retreat!"

"Take the others and withdraw. I'll hold them back. After you retreat, tell Grand Marshal Dai Tianfeng to find that Little Beast Lin Jin and avenge our Northern Border Army!"

Seventh Soul Skill, Martial Soul Avatar!

After speaking, Dugu Xiong activated his Seventh Soul Skill, Martial Soul Avatar, and climbed onto the fortress wall, blocking the endless Heaven Dou Main Force pouring into Iron Rock Fortress.

"General..."

"Retreat, quickly!"

"Hold us back? How are you going to do that? Dugu Xiong, face reality!" Seeing this, Qin Yue immediately activated his own Martial Soul Avatar and charged at Dugu Xiong.

Yet behind those preparing to retreat, a force that seemed dyed red with blood appeared and dealt them the final blow.

At that moment, a Dark Greenish-Black figure appeared soundlessly on the wall not far from Dugu Xiong, like the god of death.

It was Lin Jin!

He had not taken part in the frontal assault. Instead, he led the Blood Blade Elite into Iron Rock Fortress through the retreat route amid the chaos, heading straight for the command center.

"Dugu Xiong, your road ends here."

"Little Beast, I'll kill you!" The instant he saw Lin Jin, Dugu Xiong completely lost his mind.

Soul Power blazed wildly around him as he prepared for one last desperate struggle.

"Hmph. Anger has clouded your mind, surging blood has disrupted your Soul Power, and hatred has thrown your Soul Skills into disarray. How are you going to kill me?" Lin Jin said unhurriedly.

As soon as he finished speaking, Qin Yue's Town Mountain Axe Martial Soul instantly cleaved through Dugu Xiong's waist.

"You dared to let your mind wander while fighting me!"

After this battle,

Lin Jin's name thoroughly entered the High-level circles of both nations.

With his own strength, Lin Jin had turned the Northern Border war around, offered the ingenious "Break the Spine" strategy, and ultimately joined forces with Qin Yue at Iron Rock Fortress to slay Star Luo's Commander, Dugu Xiong.

Without Dugu Xiong, the backbone of its Northern Territory Legion, the Star Luo Empire lost several cities in succession within just half a month and expanded its territory by nearly five hundred li.

Thus, the Northern Border territorial situation that Heaven Dou and Star Luo had maintained for nearly Fifty Years was completely shattered by Lin Jin.

Just as they had wanted to continue expanding, the Star Luo Empire reacted and dispatched another army and Commander.

The Northern Border battle situation once again fell into a stalemate.

However, the Star Luo Empire was unwilling to let the matter rest. It swore to reclaim its lost territory and continuously sent troops as reinforcements.

One year, two years... The Northern Border war grew increasingly fierce and began to affect the kingdoms surrounding the Northern Border. Both sides had invested over four hundred thousand troops there.

In the third year, a peacemaker appeared: Spirit Hall!

Above the clashing armies, two Titled Douluo with Nine Rings around them appeared.

Half the sky was shrouded by the incomparably dazzling and magnificent phantom of the Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum. Its petals spread open, yet it radiated a heart-pounding sharpness.

The other half of the sky instantly fell into eerie, bizarre absolute darkness, as if even light had been swallowed. Countless shrieking ghostly shadows flickered within it, letting out soundless wails.

Two terrifying pressures with completely opposing attributes, yet both as vast as the sea, suddenly blanketed the entire battlefield like the Milky Way pouring down from the heavens!

"Ti-Titled Douluo! It's Spirit Hall's Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo!" A knowledgeable Soul Master let out a terrified scream.

Yue Guan and Gui Mei!

Bibi Dong, Spirit Hall's Pope, had sent her two most loyal right-hand men, two peak Dulo whose strength had reached Ninety-Five Rank!

Under the pressure of these two long-renowned powerhouses, the movements of the hundreds of thousands across the battlefield—ordinary Soldiers and powerful Soul Masters alike—completely froze.

"Spirit Hall has finally intervened." Lin Jin stood atop the wall, narrowing his eyes.

From within the phantom of the Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum, Yue Guan's alluring and feminine voice rang out, clearly reaching every ear with an irresistible charm and chill.

"By order of His Holiness the Pope: the All-Continent Soul Master Elite Tournament is about to begin. Heaven Dou and Star Luo, cease hostilities immediately!"

On the other side, from the endless darkness filled with ghostly shadows, Gui Mei's hoarse, low voice sounded as though it came from the Nine Underworlds. "The Northern Border conflict ends here. The actual control line from three years ago shall serve as the boundary. Neither side may restart the war! Those who disobey... die!"

The order was issued—simple, direct, and overbearing! It carried the unique eeriness and might of the Chrysanthemum and Ghost Douluo!

This was Spirit Hall's authority! With the greatest number of Titled Douluo and influence spread across the continent, it had enough absolute power to forcibly press pause when the Two Great Empires were locked in an inseparable slaughter.

"This is impossible! Heaven Dou fought so hard to win this territory, and so many people died over the past three years. Spirit Hall says give it up, and we just give it up?" Qin Yue immediately protested.

Chrysanthemum Douluo drifted lightly onto the wall and looked down at him. "Are you questioning the orders of Spirit Hall and His Holiness the Pope?"

Just as Qin Yue was about to argue further, an Imperial Edict from the Imperial Palace of Heaven Dou City arrived.

"By order of Xue Ye: Grand General Qin Yue is to lead his troops back to the Iron Blood Pass Defense Line. Furthermore, within one month, Grand General Qin Yue and Heavenly Wolf General Lin Jin are to return to the Imperial City to report."

"I obey the Great Emperor's order!" Qin Yue reluctantly accepted the edict.

"Fuck..." Qin Yue immediately cursed.

It turned out Spirit Hall had not only sent people to the battlefield; it had also sent people to persuade Xue Ye and the Star Luo Great Emperor.

After Xue Ye accepted fifty million Gold Soul Coin in compensation from the Star Luo Great Emperor, he returned the conquered territory and moved the border back to Iron Blood Pass.

There was only one reason: the All-Continent Soul Master Elite Tournament would begin in three years.

To make the two nations cease hostilities.