The Alternation of Sun and Moon

Douluo Continent, Sun Moon Empire, Mingdu, Imperial City.

Tonight is unlike any other; the pitch-black sky is boundless, with only a mirror-like moon hanging above, appearing exceptionally monotonous and lonely.

The clear, flowing moonlight pours into the magnificent Imperial City, adding a touch of beauty to the scene.

However, at this moment, the Imperial City is filled with the sounds of roaring, battle cries, and the occasional mix of weeping and pleading.

The air is thick with a pungent, almost tangible scent of blood, as if taking a few more breaths would clog one's nose.

The elegant and majestic buildings, with their pale blue glazed tile roofs, white jade railings, and meticulously carved bluestone foundations set against pale yellow walls, once appeared refined and beautiful. Now, they have been utterly destroyed by the battlefield, left in ruins and smeared with blood as if painted with red lacquer.

The Imperial City is brightly lit, as if it were daytime. As time passes, the attacking side has gained an absolute advantage, surrounding the defenders layer by layer and closing in step by step.

The outcome is already foreseeable; it won't be long before these Imperial Guards, who are protecting the final line of defense, are routed and annihilated.

The eyes of these Imperial Guards are filled with confusion and the fear of impending death. They do not understand why, while sleeping soundly in the middle of the night, they were suddenly invaded, and by their own national army at that.

It is not that they haven't thought about surrendering—no one is unafraid of death, especially when dying so inexplicably. However, those who surrendered earlier were met with countless soul guidance rays, instantly blasted into bloody, mangled corpses, which left them in total despair.

The Imperial Guard Commander, his eyes bloodshot, stares fixedly at the figures standing behind the enemy lines and roars, "Brothers! They want to wipe us all out! Even if we die, we must take a piece of them with us!"

Hearing this, the Imperial Guards launch a frenzied, suicidal attack, completely abandoning their defense, which causes significant casualties to the opposing side for a moment.

Blood-colored flames ignite on the Imperial Guard Commander's body as his soul power surges, pouring fully into the two-meter-long giant metal blade in his hands. Two yellow, two purple, and five black—a total of nine soul rings—swirl around the giant metal blade, with the third, seventh, and ninth soul rings flashing in sequence.

He is, in fact, a Title Douluo and a Rank Nine Soul Master.

The blood-red blade light continuously extends, expands, and condenses from the giant metal blade of the Rank Nine Soul Tool. Its momentum is towering, stirring the spiritual energy of heaven and earth across the entire battlefield.

"Full defense!"

The officer commanding the attack turns pale. He senses a thick aura of death, his entire body prickling as if stung by needles. He wants to retreat, but his master is right behind him; how could he possibly retreat?

As soon as the words fall, the blood-red blade light strikes like Mount Tai. The dozen or so soul guidance shields that had just been erected shatter instantly. Wherever the blade light passes, the soldiers don't even have time to scream before they are turned into blood, transforming the scene into a living hell.

The officer's face contorts in pain; his entire left hand is gone. It is only through his strength as a Soul Douluo that he escapes death. He channels his soul power to seal the wound, enduring the agony to stabilize the situation.

After passing through layers of obstacles, the blood-red blade light is slightly dimmed, yet it still whistles with great momentum toward the middle-aged man in the luxurious yellow robe standing behind.

"Stop!"

A figure blocks the front of the man in the yellow robe. A silver-white metal shield emerges, and the figure steps forward with his right foot, holding the shield with both hands to block. Two yellow, two purple, and five black—the same optimal configuration of nine soul rings—appear behind him.

Rank Nine Soul Master, Bupo Douluo, Zheng Zhan!

His seventh and eighth soul rings flash, connecting the silver-white metal shield to the earth beneath him. An earthy-yellow rock layer covers it, making it indestructible. At the same time, he tosses out defensive soul tools as if they cost nothing.

The two forces collide, and time seems to freeze for a moment, followed by:

"BOOM—"

A deafening sound echoes through the heavens and earth, and a powerful shockwave spreads out in a semi-circle, lingering for a long time.

Thick smoke and dust fill the air, making it impossible to see the battlefield clearly.

Looking down from the sky, one can see a blood-colored trench a thousand meters long and dozens of meters wide spanning the Imperial City.

The blade light gradually subsides in front of Zheng Zhan. The aftermath of their collision has reduced the buildings in this area to ashes, and the ground is as ruined as if it had been plowed countless times. However, the ground behind Zheng Zhan remains level, having escaped the destructive impact.

Zheng Zhan's hands tremble, his face flushed, and his internal blood surges. He coughs up blood uncontrollably, and the giant silver-white metal shield is covered in cracks, as if it might shatter into countless fragments at any moment.

Seeing this, healing-type Soul Masters immediately go up to treat his injuries.

The man in the yellow robe walks to Zheng Zhan's side. His temples are gray, and he looks to be in his fifties, yet his physique remains burly, and his chiseled face is heroic and noble.

"Elder Zheng, is your injury serious? Do you need to step back and rest?"

"Cough, cough, cough. Your Highness, this old man is fine. If he hadn't been fighting for so long and exhausted much of his soul power, I fear that even if I could have blocked that desperate strike, I would have been severely wounded."

Zheng Zhan shakes his head, a flash of relief in his eyes.

"Time is tight, Your Highness should hurry and attend to the important matters. This old bag of bones can still be of use."

Hearing this, the Prince looks toward the hall ahead, which no longer has any defensive power, his face full of fanaticism and excitement.

"Indeed, the longer the night, the more dreams. I will trouble Elder Zheng to continue accompanying me."

They step over the Imperial Guard Commander, who has already died while kneeling with his sword in both hands.

"CREAK—"

The doors of the hall are slowly pushed open. Soldiers crowd around the Prince as they walk inside, with Zheng Zhan following closely by his side.

The hall is magnificent and brightly lit, yet the vast space is empty, save for one person sitting on the dragon throne at the end of the steps: the current Emperor of the Sun Moon Empire.

"Where is Elder Kong? Where is the Imperial Dragon Soul Master Legion? Such a huge incident has occurred in the palace, why is there no reaction from them at all?!"

The Sun Moon Emperor stares fixedly at the Prince from his sunken eye sockets and realizes the truth in an instant. He puts on a brave front, his voice hoarse: "Second brother, it is not too late to stop now. If you have any grievances, can we not sit down and talk this out peacefully?"

"Hahaha! Sit down and talk peacefully?"

The Prince laughs wildly as if he has heard a massive joke. He looks at the Sun Moon Emperor's frail body, hollowed out by wine and lust, his eyes filled with disdain.

"For so many years, you have only known how to scrape the fat off the people, indulge in pleasure, ignore the government, and allow corruption to fester. So many brothers have died at the borders, and in the face of the original three great nations of the Douluo Continent, you have only retreated again and again, choosing compromise. Can they rest in peace? Strong medicine is needed for chronic illness, and heavy codes for troubled times. Only by striking a ruthless blow can the malignant tumor be cut out!"

The Sun Moon Emperor points at the Prince, his withered fingers trembling, and screams at the top of his lungs: "Before I die, I will drag you to hell with me!"

The lights flicker, causing the shadow of the Sun Moon Emperor to sway.

Zheng Zhan's expression shifted, the sense of unease in his heart magnifying intensely. He whipped his head around to look at the Prince's shadow, only to see a dark figure crawling out from within, a black blade slashing toward the Prince's neck.

Ying Sha Douluo? Hadn't he died long ago? How could he possibly still be alive, and why was he staying by the side of the Sun Moon Emperor?

Zheng Zhan wore an expression of utter disbelief. He wanted to intervene, but found his body unable to move; his shadow had been pinned down.

In the blink of an eye, space distorted. A flawless, jade-white hand appeared abruptly, reaching out to grasp the blade.

Ying Sha paused, then immediately redirected the blade, stabbing it into the newcomer's chest at a tricky angle before diving into the Prince's shadow. A moment later, he emerged from the Sun Moon Emperor's shadow, grabbed the Sun Moon Emperor, shattered the dome, and fled.

"Kill them!"

"Anyone belonging to the Emperor's faction, leave none alive!"

The Prince was filled with shock and rage, his back soaked through with cold sweat. It was chilling; he had almost capsized in the gutter.

The dark night sky was pitch black. Ying Sha Douluo flew rapidly while carrying the Sun Moon Emperor, his body shrouded in darkness to conceal his form and aura.

Just then, a crimson beam of sunlight descended from the sky, instantly swallowing Ying Sha and the Sun Moon Emperor in mid-air. The terrifying heat melted everything; the air hissed as white heat waves erupted. Immediately following, thousands of white meteors swayed downward, resembling a meteor shower streaking across the horizon—beautiful yet lethal.

"Ahhh!!!"

Ying Sha and the Sun Moon Emperor struggled for only a brief moment before turning to ash in the dazzling light, leaving not even a corpse behind!

The remaining power of the crimson solar beam slammed into the ground, melting a bottomless red hole. It was truly terrifying.

One thousand meters above the Imperial City.

Five figures stood suspended in the air. At the center was a tall, ruddy-faced, bald old man. A crimson ball of light hung above his head, radiating a shocking might. Countless Soul Tools orbited him, shimmering brightly like a galaxy of fine, crushed sand lying across the night sky.

Rank Nine Soul Master, Starry Sky Douluo, Ye Yulin!

The other four figures were also formidable, all Rank Eight Soul Masters with the cultivation of Soul Douluo.

Their purpose here was to be responsible for exterminating any enemies attempting to escape by air, preventing any accidents.

Ye Yulin's aura was weak; that strike had nearly drained all of his soul power. Only by combining the strength of the five of them could they achieve a one-hit kill.

Relying on his Rank Nine Soul Tool, the Sun God Needle—the crimson ball of light above his head—he could clearly perceive every blade of grass, every brick, and every tile within the Imperial City.

Yet, before Ying Sha appeared, he hadn't sensed anything amiss. By the time he reacted, he couldn't find an opening to strike; he couldn't very well blast the Prince to death along with the target.

"Sigh, what a pity for the Princess Consort..."

The main hall was brightly lit, yet the Prince could not feel a shred of warmth, only a bone-chilling cold.

At this moment, only the Prince, the Princess Consort, and an old woman treating the Princess Consort were in the hall.

He gripped the Princess Consort's increasingly icy jade hand tightly. The Dark Poison had already invaded her heart; she could not hold on much longer.

"Why are you so foolish? Didn't I tell you to stay in the bedchamber and not come out?"

A smile rose on the Princess Consort's delicate face. Her red lips were stained with the black blood she had coughed up, looking bewitching and tragic. Her ethereal voice was intermittent.

"I... was worried about... you. I don't... regret it, truly. I only regret... that I won't be able to... accompany... you by your side anymore..."

As she spoke, the Princess Consort struggled to lift her hand to stroke her protruding belly, her eyes filled with endless tenderness.

"I'm... not going to make it. Save... the child. He is... kicking me. He is about to... come out. Uh... ah..."

The old woman providing treatment paused and looked at the Prince. The Prince's eyes were already bloodshot and swollen. He said in a hoarse voice, "Save the child!"

Those four words seemed to drain all his strength. He knelt beside the Princess Consort; though he was already the Emperor, he could do nothing now but watch in agony from the side, utterly powerless.

"Yes."

Two yellow, two purple, and three black soul rings flickered incessantly around the old woman, and countless Emerald Green Leaves filled with vibrant life swirled around the Princess Consort.

"Princess Consort, please endure it. The child is coming out; it might be very painful."

"Mm... ah... ha..."

The Princess Consort's pale face was covered in beads of sweat, her jade hands gripping her skirt tightly until her veins bulged. She felt a heart-wrenching pain piercing her soul; the trauma Ying Sha had inflicted upon her was insignificant compared to this.

"Relax, hold on a little longer. It will be over soon."

"It's done, it's done. The child is safe; it's a boy."

The old woman moved gently, using mild soul power to clean the filth from the infant. However, the boy was somewhat strange; instead of crying like a normal baby, he was wide-eyed, looking around with curiosity.

"Let me... see... my... child."

The Princess Consort's weak voice rang out, her pale face devoid of any color.

The cleaned boy had extremely fair, supple skin, as if a gentle touch would make it drip with moisture. He had jet-black hair and a pair of large, black eyes.

The Princess Consort tremblingly reached out her jade hand, her slender fingers gently stroking his cheek. Her beautiful eyes stared fixedly at him, as if she wanted to engrave him into her heart.

She wished so much that she could just keep looking at him like this, stay by his side, and watch him grow up.

But her body, like a candle in the wind, made her understand the cruelty and helplessness of reality. Her eyes were filled with tenderness and reluctance.

"Mommy... is sorry... to you. Mommy brought you... into this... world, but cannot... love you... or cherish you properly. When you grow up... don't hate Mommy... okay..."

"You are so... cute. When you grow up, you will surely... attract many girls... who like you. You must... not be fickle or heartless. I hope you can... find a good girl... who loves you... takes care of you... and tolerates you..."

"You don't have a... name yet. Hmm... how about Lan Qing? Standing firm with integrity... containing the luster of jade... with a clear and pure exterior. What a wonderful name..."

"My Prince... tell me... is it good..."

"Fine, fine, fine, whatever you say is right. It's my fault, I'm sorry to you, sorry to all of you..."

The Prince held the Princess Consort tightly, his throat choked with sobs; he had never felt such heartache and regret.

"Lanqing, Mother... is leaving..."

Inside the towering and magnificent Imperial City, the thick scent of blood lingered in the air after the brutal battle, like a faint red mist that added a touch of eeriness to the city, as if some Evil ritual were being performed.

Wisps of red mist swirled and rose into the sky, and the space visibly distorted, as if some terrifying existence were being drawn toward it.

Just then, an indescribable, horrific aura suddenly descended. Under its pressure, every living creature within a radius of hundreds of kilometers was unable to move, their thoughts grinding to a halt.

A dazzling golden light pierced the pitch-black night, falling for ten thousand zhang onto the Imperial City. Immediately after, two, three, and countless more golden lights followed. A golden dragon, as if cast from solid gold, soared through the sky before transforming into a golden orb of light that dove into the boy's mind.

The boy's soft, rosy skin gradually began to glow with golden light. The light flowed slowly through his blood, spreading throughout his entire body. It was stable at first, but soon became restless and agitated.

At that very moment, a thunderous roar erupted high in the sky. In that instant, the dazzling golden light seemed to be shrouded in darkness, and an equally suffocating pressure descended from above.

A stream of gray energy, as if caught in a massive gravitational pull, plummeted from the sky. In a mere heartbeat, it landed at the back of the boy's head and quietly burrowed inside.

A highly blurred figure manifested behind the boy, and an aged voice filled with an indescribable majesty rang out, "Holding the sun and moon in my hand, plucking the stars! There is no one in this world like me! I never expected that I, this old man, would still have a Remnant Soul left behind."

The blurred figure "whooshed" and dove into the back of the boy's head, vanishing without a trace.

After entering Xu Lanqing's mind, the gray energy immediately transformed into a gray bead the size of a soybean. It stood in opposition to the golden orb, forming a delicate balance between the two before both fell silent, and the boy calmed down as well.

Time began to flow once more. The strange phenomena dissipated like smoke and clouds, and no one knew what had happened.

Within the vast and boundless Star Dou Forest, in the core area where no one dared to tread, deep beneath the Lake of Life.

Loneliness, silence, darkness.

This was a void space independent of the world. A massive Silver Body lay coiled within it, radiating an ancient and intense aura. The breath it exhaled whistled like a passing hurricane, dissipated, and then cycled again.

Vibrant, emerald-green liquid dripped from high above, merging into its body, and its aura became increasingly heavy and long-lasting.

Suddenly, as if it had sensed something, it let out a desolate and tragic Dragon's Roar. It wanted to awaken; its once-steady aura became chaotic, but eventually, it gradually calmed down.

The surface of the pale green Lake of Life shimmered with a thin mist. From a distance, it looked like a piece of green jade embedded in the ground, clear and beautiful.

Beside the Lake of Life stood several figures, short, tall, fat, and thin, each with their own distinct features.

Leading them was a burly middle-aged man nearly three meters tall. His long black hair hung loose behind him, with a single strand of bright golden hair falling over his forehead. His face was handsome and resolute, carrying an air of irresistible arrogance.

He was none other than the current ruler of the Star Dou Forest, the first of the Ten Great Ferocious Beasts, the Beast God, Di Tian!

Yet, at this moment, upon hearing that Dragon's Roar, an uncontrollable look of fanaticism appeared on his face. He knelt down toward the void space in excitement, as did the several figures behind him.

"My... My Lord, are you finally going to wake up?"

A voice full of piety and anticipation echoed through the area. Ripples spread across the pale green lake, but after waiting for a long time, the only response was the silent air...