Leave None Alive

The Clear Sky Sect was located within the Star Luo Empire. With Spirit Hall's soul master army entering its territory, the Star Luo Royal Family naturally could not remain unmoved.

Spirit Hall had, in fact, already notified the Star Luo Royal Family in advance.

Yet when Spirit Hall's party arrived at Taronas City, which lay on the route to the Clear Sky Sect, they still encountered people sent by the Star Luo Royal Family.

"Everyone from Spirit Hall, please halt."

A sturdy, golden-haired middle-aged man stood at the city gate, leading a squad of armored soldiers.

"This is?"

Pei An frowned slightly. He had no memory of this man.

Chrysanthemum Douluo quietly reminded him from the side, "Pope, this man is Dai Tianfang, a prince of the Star Luo Royal Family."

A prince...

Honestly, Pei An had no impression of him.

Pei An had investigated the people of the major factions, but only their leaders and certain important figures.

He had not gone so far as to specifically learn about an ordinary prince in advance.

Did they really think he had that much free time?

Pei An said nothing, while Chrysanthemum Douluo tactfully spoke on his behalf.

A mere prince was not qualified to stand on equal footing with Pei An, the Pope.

Moreover, Dai Tianfang had led people to block their path. Whatever his reason, Pei An had even less reason to address him first.

Chrysanthemum Douluo spoke softly, "Prince Dai, what is the meaning of this?"

"Could this be the Star Luo Emperor's intention?"

A faint smile appeared on Dai Tianfang's resolute face. He shook his head. "Please do not misunderstand. This is not His Majesty's intention."

"This is my own action and has nothing to do with the Star Luo Royal Family."

The moment those words fell, the atmosphere turned icy.

Nine soul rings slowly emerged around Chrysanthemum Douluo. The pressure of a Title Douluo immediately bore down on them.

A faint killing intent shone in his peach-blossom eyes.

No one believed Dai Tianfang's words.

Without the Star Luo Emperor's approval, would Dai Tianfang dare lead troops to block their path?

That was practically no different from treason.

In the end, the Star Luo Emperor had to be behind this.

Everyone understood that perfectly well.

Although Chrysanthemum Douluo was merely average among Title Douluos, a Title Douluo was still a Title Douluo. To ordinary soul masters, his pressure was immensely oppressive.

As the Title Douluo's aura descended, Dai Tianfang's face turned slightly pale.

He was only a Soul Saint. Facing the deliberate pressure of a Title Douluo head-on, he could not help but tremble.

But the pride of being a member of the Star Luo Royal Family would not allow him to show weakness.

Dai Tianfang forced himself to remain upright, doing his best to keep his expression calm as he explained,

"Your Excellency Chrysanthemum Douluo, Pope, please do not misunderstand. I mean no harm."

"I came only to persuade you all."

"Oh?" Pei An's interested voice finally came from the Pope's carriage.

"Go on, then. What do you wish to persuade This Seat of?"

Hearing Pei An's words, Dai Tianfang's expression brightened, and he hurriedly said,

"Pope, I believe Spirit Hall should abandon its campaign against the Clear Sky Sect."

"Although Tang Hao of the Clear Sky Sect killed your hall's former master, he has already left the Clear Sky Sect."

"Debts have their debtors. If your hall seeks vengeance, you should seek Tang Hao."

"Spirit Hall and the Clear Sky Sect are both major powers in the Soul Master World. Fighting each other to the death would be a loss for the entire Soul Master World!"

"I am personally willing to offer one hundred million Gold Soul Coins as an apology on behalf of the Clear Sky Sect."

At that point, Pei An in the carriage immediately lost interest.

He had thought it would be something significant, but it turned out to be this utterly impossible proposal.

It seemed the Star Luo Emperor still harbored illusions.

That was understandable.

After all, the Clear Sky Sect was within the Star Luo Empire's borders and could sometimes be considered an ally of the Star Luo Royal Family.

Naturally, the Star Luo Emperor did not want Spirit Hall to do anything to the Clear Sky Sect.

In his eyes, having someone capable of checking Spirit Hall was the best outcome.

Thus, even though he knew the chances of making Spirit Hall give up were slim, he had still sent Dai Tianfang to try and negotiate.

One hundred million Gold Soul Coins sounded like a great deal, but to Spirit Hall, it was nothing much.

Pei An did not particularly care what happened to Qian Xunji. His desire to avenge him existed only because of Qian Renxue.

But if he truly let the matter go over one hundred million Gold Soul Coins—

Setting aside how the world would view him as the new Pope, Pei An could not do such a thing for Qian Renxue's sake alone.

"Elder Ju."

Understanding Pei An's meaning, Chrysanthemum Douluo had already made his decision.

The others in Spirit Hall did not know that Chrysanthemum Douluo had been taken under Pei An's command years ago; it had simply never been made public.

Aside from Bibi Dong, who had already consumed one, only Chrysanthemum Douluo knew that Pei An possessed Immortal Herbs.

The Immortal Herbs obtained from the Ice Fire Yin Yang Well had been identified by Yue Guan.

Pei An had even specifically given him a Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum.

That was why Chrysanthemum Douluo's cultivation now surpassed Ghost Douluo's.

In truth, if Yue Guan and Ghost Douluo had not made excuses to avoid joining the operation to besiege Tang Hao, Tang Hao might not have been able to kill Qian Xunji at all.

And because of that Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum, Chrysanthemum Douluo was utterly loyal to Pei An.

He was practically one of Pei An's deathsworn men.

Thus, even though Pei An had not said much, Chrysanthemum Douluo already understood.

Accurately reading one's leader's intentions was an essential skill for a subordinate.

Chrysanthemum Douluo's expression turned cold as he waved a hand.

The Spirit Hall soldiers behind him released their martial souls one after another, their brilliant soul rings flashing.

For a moment, the atmosphere became taut with deadly tension.

The nearby pedestrians fled in panic, afraid of being caught in the crossfire.

Dai Tianfang had not expected Pei An's attitude to be so resolute.

Feeling the killing intent radiating from Chrysanthemum Douluo, he began to feel uneasy.

Compared to Spirit Hall's lineup, the people behind him were not even in the same league.

Once a real battle began, the outcome needed no explanation.

Dai Tianfang still valued his life, so he hurriedly warned, "Pope, you had better not act recklessly. I am a prince of the Star Luo Empire, and this is Star Luo territory!"

Pei An's slightly lazy voice came from the carriage:

"Oh? But did Prince Dai not just say that you came here of your own accord, and that this had nothing to do with the Star Luo Royal Family?"

"Privately leading troops to block our path is a grave crime. The Star Luo Emperor should thank us for eliminating a treacherous rebel for him."

The Star Luo Royal Family liked playing dumb, so Pei An would play along.

"Leave none alive."

As Pei An's voice fell, a cruel smile appeared on Chrysanthemum Douluo's beautiful face.

"Kill!"

Having received the order, the Spirit Hall soul masters launched the first battle of this campaign.

The Spirit Hall soul masters were already stronger than the people Dai Tianfang had brought, and with a Title Douluo overseeing the battle, the situation was naturally one-sided.

At the city gate, only endless screams remained.

The stench of blood gradually spread. Scarlet blood filled the patterns between the paving stones, crisscrossing in every direction.