Xue Ye's Death, Civil Unrest in Tiandou

Given Li Bai's unpredictable movement during the "Bring in the Wine Song" event and the almost bug-like invulnerability during the Green Lotus Sword Song" skill, how could he possibly be "eliminated" in that initial explosion?

Even if he couldn't withstand it, he was absolutely capable of avoiding the most fatal damage, at most suffering minor injuries.

The only explanation is that this guy simply doesn't want to fight anymore.

Perhaps from the very beginning, Li Bai clearly judged that this battle was hopeless. Since he knew he was doomed to lose, why fight to the bitter end and reveal all his cards? It would be better to use the explosion as an excuse to "seriously injure" himself and leave the battlefield, thus avoiding unnecessary losses and the potential exposure of more of his cards.

This calm insight into the battle situation, and this carefree attitude of "taking it easy," are quite in line with his personality.

Kai withdrew his gaze, ignoring his teammate who was pretending to be asleep. He was the type who would go all out and fight to the death once a battle started, so while he could understand Li Bai's approach, he didn't agree with it. But he was too lazy to call him out on it, after all, everyone has their own way of fighting and their own philosophy of life.

He raised his head and looked at Qian Renxue and the others who were receiving treatment and cheering over the Spirit Hall side, his eyes still cold and resolute.

The loss in this final was not a big blow to him. Ever since his sister Luna wiped out his family, Kai felt that losing a match was nothing compared to that.

·································

After a night's rest, the atmosphere in Spirit City reached another climax.

The much-anticipated awards ceremony was finally held in the Pope Palace. Sunlight shone on the magnificent square, illuminating countless excited, envious, and even jealous faces.

The reward was Soul Bone, which had been announced beforehand and was a coveted treasure for any Soul Master. The three Soul Bone that the Spirit Hall had offered this time were of such high quality and perfectly matched in terms of attributes that they secretly alarmed all the representatives of the various factions.

These three Soul Bone emitted chilling energy fluctuations:

A piece of the Sunbird's External Soul Bone, as clear as a bright crystal, flowing with pure and holy light, seemingly containing a miniature sun.

A crimson red, as if burning with an inextinguishable golden flame, the heat wave slightly distorted the surrounding space.

The last piece is the most peculiar; it appears white but is shrouded in colorful light, radiating a powerful and alluring spiritual ripple.

These Soul Bone perfectly match the needs of the core members of the Martial Soul Hall Team —light, fire, and Mental Attribute. Their rarity and specificity make one wonder if Pope Qian Xunji emptied the entire collection of Qian Daoliu, the Great Enshrined the Worship Hall, to be able to gather these three top-quality soul bones so perfectly.

Under the spotlight, Qian Xunji, dressed in a solemn and luxurious white-gold Pope robe, stood with a dignified and majestic expression. He stepped forward slowly and, under the watchful eyes of countless ardent gazes, solemnly handed over the three rare Soul Bone to Qian Renxue and Xiang Yu, the representatives of the Martial Soul Hall Team.

Qian Renxue accepted the light-attribute Soul Bone, feeling the sacred aura within it that shared the same origin as hers, her beautiful face remaining calm and undisturbed.

Having already begun her divine trial, she had long since started absorbing the Angel Set inherited from the Spirit Hall. The quality and power of that set of Soul Bone far surpassed those of other Soul Bone.

At this moment of glory, Qian Xunji's gaze seemingly casually swept across the entire venue, passing over Ning Fengzhi and Xue Qinghe in the VIP seats, and over the other team members below the stage with their various expressions.

The awards ceremony may mark the end of a celebration, but it could also be the beginning of another storm.

········································

Just as everyone's attention was focused on the arena, immersed in the shock and emotion of the Spirit Hall winning the championship and awarding the Soul Bone, an unexpected change suddenly occurred, catching everyone off guard!

No one expected that the attack would happen so suddenly in Spirit City, the main city that Spirit Hall had managed like an ironclad fortress, at the awards ceremony of the Advanced Soul Master Tournament, which was hosted by the Spirit Hall itself and brought together representatives of almost all the top forces on the continent!

The target of the attack was extremely clear, and the first target was the most valuable one— Ning Fengzhi, the sect leader of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect!

He was standing with Xue Qinghe, the eldest prince of the Heaven Dou Empire, in the most prominent position in the VIP section. Perhaps it was because they were in the heart of the Spirit Hall, perhaps it was because they were relaxed after the competition had just ended, or perhaps it was because the attack came too quickly... When several Gui Mei figures suddenly sprang up from the shadows beside the VIP section without warning, Ning Fengzhi didn't even have time to summon his Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda!

A dark green mist enveloped him instantly, like a venomous snake. Its toxicity was potent and cunning; it was not a lethal poison, but rather an extremely strong neurotoxin.

Ning Fengzhi felt a blur before his eyes, his Soul Power instantly froze, and his body went limp, causing him to fall forward. Xue Qinghe, who was beside him, showed a look of horror on his face and subconsciously supported his falling body.

"Metropolitan!"

Sword Douluo Chen Xin and Bone Douluo Gu Rong, standing behind Ning Fengzhi, reacted extremely quickly. The moment the attack occurred, their powerful Titled Douluo auras erupted!

"Seven Kill Domain!"

"Bone Transforming Divine Dragon!"

Chen Xin's sword energy soared into the sky, and the Seven Kill Sword was unsheathed with fierce force, its incomparably sharp sword intent piercing straight at the approaching figures. Gu Rong roared even more furiously, his body instantly expanding and skeletalizing, like a real bone dragon descending, blocking Ning Fengzhi's path.

However, the attacker was not alone; it was premeditated!

Yue Guan, Gui Mei, and the other three Titled Douluo elders of the Spirit Hall appeared simultaneously from different directions, as if they had rehearsed countless times beforehand, instantly surrounding Sword Douluo and Bone Douluo! The violent fluctuations of Soul Power exploded like a tsunami in the VIP seats, and the tables and chairs instantly turned to dust!

Sword Douluo and Bone Douluo are indeed Power Attack System Titled Douluo, with physiques and combat strength far exceeding Ning Fengzhi, who is a support-type. However, they are facing an attack from five equally powerful opponents, who are clearly well-prepared and work together seamlessly, unleashing a barrage of control and attack Soul Skill like a storm!

Chen Xin cleaved through Yue Guan's Qi Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum with a single sword strike, but was then entangled by Gui Mei figure from the side, while another elder's destructive energy attack was already upon him. Gu Rong's massive Bone Dragon True Body withstood the frontal bombardment of the two elders, and cracks had already appeared on its dragon bones, but the third elder's binding Soul Skill Entanglement to it like a leech.

They wanted to fight their way out, hoping to break through with the poisoned Ning Fengzhi, but the Spirit Hall clearly wouldn't give them that chance. This was Spirit City, their home turf, and the manpower and preparations they had mobilized far exceeded their expectations!

The battle was almost immediately dominated by an overwhelming force.

Once Ning Fengzhi, Bone Douluo, and Sword Douluo are captured, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect will be finished.

And this was just the beginning. Almost simultaneously, chaos and conflict erupted in other areas of the audience, with the targets being important figures from other major factions!

The Spirit Hall's "Decapitation Operation" officially began the moment Qian Renxue received the Soul Bone!

Qian Renxue was already prepared for the scene in the VIP section.

Even as a high-level combatant at the Soul Saint level, she herself was a member of the operation, except that her responsibility was to control or kill which Soul Saint.

······································

The entire Pope Palace Square erupted into chaos! Screams, exclamations, and angry questions rose and fell, creating a symphony of disorder.

"Spirit Hall! What are you trying to do?!"

"How dare you make a move here?!"

"Shameless! Traitorous!"

No one wanted to believe that the Spirit Hall would dare to defy the world and launch such a blatant attack right after the conclusion of its highest-level tournament, when representatives from all sides had gathered! This completely shattered the unspoken rules and fragile balance that had been maintained on the continent for thousands of years!

However, once prey has fallen into the trap, how can it easily escape?

Faced with the absolute power of the Spirit Hall, all resistance seemed futile. This was Spirit City, the core stronghold that the Spirit Hall had cultivated for countless years, filled with powerful guards and loyal believers.

Not to mention that for this operation, Qian Xunji mobilized more than ten elders at the Titled Douluo level, as well as a large number of elites at the Soul Douluo and Soul Saint levels.

The battle ended quickly.

Although the Sword and Bone Douluo of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect were strong, they were ultimately no match for the overwhelming number of opponents of the same level. They were severely injured and subdued one after another. Ning Fengzhi had already been poisoned and was unconscious, and was firmly under control.

Crown Prince Xue Qinghe of the Heaven Dou Empire was also arrested and imprisoned.

Representatives from other kingdoms and duchies, as well as some powerful figures from various sects, were also swiftly suppressed if they made any unusual moves or attempted to resist.

The entire plaza was quickly taken over by the Spirit Hall's forces.

The most desperate of all, besides the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, was the Star Luo Empire.

Because both of their most talented heirs, the princes, were captured in one fell swoop.

Chapter 240 Death on Xue Ye, Internal Strife in the Heaven Dou Empire

Dai Weisi and Dai Mubai are the two most talented princes of the Star Luo Royal Family in this generation, vying for the throne. At this moment, they are both in Spirit City, and have been captured at the same time without any warning! For an empire, this is almost a devastating blow!

In the past, both countries would send ministers as representatives to watch the Advanced Soul Master Tournament. This year, however, they attached great importance to it and sent princes from both countries as representatives to watch the competition. The guards they sent were also much stronger than in the past, but they were only Soul Douluo. Facing the Titled Douluo of the Spirit Hall, they were defeated with almost no power to fight back.

Because Xue Qinghe's bodyguards were close to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, they were forced to face the combined attack of five Titled Douluo elders from the Spirit Hall, along with Bone Douluo and Sword Douluo. They had already been severely injured and unconscious.

The Soul Douluo Captain responsible for protecting the Star Luo Royal Team lay in a pool of blood, his chest armor completely shattered, blood foam constantly oozing from the corner of his mouth, his face ashen white. The long sword in his hand was broken in two and scattered not far away.

This year, because both princes participated in the Advanced Soul Master Tournament, the Star Luo Empire dispatched a much stronger guard than in previous years. As a level 85 Soul Douluo captain, he should have been a powerful figure capable of intimidating most villains.

However, he was facing Titled Douluo from the Spirit Hall.

The battle was decided almost from the very beginning. When the Spirit Hall elder unleashed the terrifying pressure unique to Titled Douluo, he knew it was over. There was an insurmountable chasm between Soul Douluo and Titled Douluo.

Before losing consciousness, he mustered his last strength to look in the direction of Dai Weisi and Dai Mubai. Seeing that the two princes had been subdued, he couldn't help but feel deep despair and guilt in his eyes. Then everything went black and he completely lost consciousness.

Dai Weisi's chest heaved violently, and his sinister eyes, which resembled Dai Mubai's, seemed to spit fire. He clenched his fists tightly, his nails digging deep into his palms, causing a sharp pain, but it was nothing compared to the humiliation and resentment in his heart.

He finally managed to defeat his younger brother, who had always been his rival, in front of everyone, winning the battle for succession. The throne of the crown prince was almost within his grasp!

In the blink of an eye, he had become a prisoner! This enormous fall from the heavens to the abyss gnawed at his heart like a venomous snake. He hated it! He hated the Spirit Hall's despicable nature, and he hated this damned fate even more!

In contrast to him, Dai Mubai, after his initial shock and defeat, couldn't suppress a twisted sense of pleasure and excitement flashing in his eyes.

Yes, he also became a prisoner, which is terrible.

But for him, who had just lost to Dai Weisi in a head-on competition, this sudden turn of events could be a way to break the deadlock!

if...

If Dai Weisi were to "accidentally" die in this turmoil, the future throne of the Star Luo Empire would once again be uncertain. He was confident that among his remaining brothers and sisters, he would still be the most competitive one!

This dark thought even made him temporarily ignore the shame of being a prisoner.

····································

Dai Mubai ultimately left the power center of the Star Luo Empire too early, and was constantly suppressed by Dai Weisi, resulting in a shallow understanding of the true power structure on the continent.

In his mind, no matter how strong the Spirit Hall was, it was still just a "church." It might be able to mediate the conflict between the two great empires, but did it really want to wage war against them head-on? He didn't think that was possible. As long as the Star Luo Empire reacted and assembled a large army, it would definitely be able to rescue them. At that time... his opportunity, Dai Mubai's, would come.

He never imagined that the Spirit Hall's ultimate goal might not be kidnapping and extortion, but rather...

In the stands, the viewing area of the Spirit Hall Academy was relatively calm, protected by the powerful members of the Spirit Hall, and was not affected.

Zhu Zhuqing sat there alone, her beautiful, aloof face filled with bewilderment and helplessness. The bloody suppression, the constant screams, and the disheveled state of those usually high and mighty figures completely shattered her understanding of the world. She subconsciously glanced towards the VIP section, her gaze piercing through the chaotic crowd, and landed on her sister, Zhu Zhuyun, bound by specially made chains, her expression complex.

Zhu Zhuyun seemed to sense something as well and raised her head.

The two sisters' eyes met in mid-air.

At that moment, circumstances and positions formed an extremely sharp contrast.

One is in a safe zone, yet feels lost like an outsider; the other is imprisoned, along with Dai Weisi, and their future is uncertain.

There was no plea for help in Zhu Zhuyun's eyes, only a deep complexity and a hint of barely perceptible... resignation. Zhu Zhuqing, on the other hand, looked confused with a touch of pity.

Her feelings towards Zhu Zhuyun were complex, a mixture of hatred and familial affection.

On the high platform, Pope Qian Xunji remained seated leisurely, as if everything that was happening below was nothing more than a pre-arranged drama. His bright golden eyes swept indifferently over the subdued "big shots" whose faces showed despair or resentment, like a god looking down on struggling ants.

The game of power has always been this cruel, this direct, and this unreasonable.

From this day forward, the millennia-old order of things on the mainland will be completely shattered and reshaped.

The Spirit Hall will ruthlessly trample over the dignity and future of these former giants to ascend to the unique and supreme pinnacle of power. The old order has collapsed, and a new era is about to begin.

··································

The despair and disbelief that permeated the entire venue stemmed precisely from the Spirit Hall, or rather the Qian Clan, and their painstaking efforts over a thousand years.

Everyone feared the Spirit Hall's unfathomable foundation and power, and everyone secretly guarded against this Soul Grandmaster organization that stood above the secular world.

But at the same time, an almost instinctive trust had already taken root in the hearts of all forces on the continent, and even ordinary Soul Master, without anyone realizing it.