Dai Hengtian, the Star Luo Protector Douluo, carefully examined the features of the unconscious Zhu Zhuqing and declared with certainty,
"This child's features are unique to the direct line of the Star Luo Zhu Family. There's no mistake—she's a direct descendant of the Zhu Family."
"She's yours just because you say so? Do you take me for a fool?"
Poison Douluo Dugu Bo shot him a glance, not yielding an inch.
"I found this girl first, and I saved her. Naturally, she belongs to me."
How could he not know that Dai Hengtian didn't truly care about the Zhu Family's direct line?
He had simply set his sights on the girl as the sole survivor at the scene of the Devil Emperor's death, hoping to take her back to Star Luo and pry out the secret of the two-hundred-thousand-year-old Demon Spider Emperor.
If so, how could he possibly hand her over?
"If you want to verify her identity, that's easy. Just ask these people, won't you?"
Gui Mei's sinister laughter rang out without warning.
With a casual flick of his hand, several men in black, bound tightly in dark ghostly energy, were flung over.
It turned out he hadn't followed the others into the heart of the poison miasma at all. Instead, he had cleared out the perimeter and caught these suspicious stragglers.
Yue Guan sent a streak of pale golden Soul Power from his fingertip, and it sank into the forehead of one of the men in black.
It took only a moment for them to buckle under the Soul Power's interrogation. Trembling, they confessed everything.
They were assassins from the Star Luo Zhu Family, ordered to hunt down the family's second young lady, Zhu Zhuqing, who had fled the clan. They had pursued her all the way from the Star Luo Empire into the depths of the Star Dou Great Forest.
With her identity now confirmed beyond doubt, Dai Hengtian's tone grew even more forceful.
"Since she's a citizen of the Star Luo Empire, I should naturally take her back to Star Luo and deal with her. There's no need for you all to trouble yourselves."
"Even if she's from the Zhu Family, it's not the Star Luo Empire's place to interfere."
Dugu Bo flatly rejected him. Poisonous mist churned faintly around him. "This girl is mine now. Anyone who dares touch her is making an enemy of me, Dugu Bo."
"Fierce Tiger Douluo, Poison Douluo, you're both mistaken."
Yue Guan chuckled lightly, his tone naturally carrying the Spirit Hall's distinctive arrogance.
"This girl was found at the heart of the scene where the Devil Emperor died. Since this concerns the whereabouts and background of a two-hundred-thousand-year-old Devil Emperor, our Spirit Hall should take her back for questioning and investigate every detail."
"Once the truth comes to light, our Spirit Hall will naturally give you all an explanation."
As soon as he finished, Tang Wu, an elder of the Clear Sky Sect, let out a cold snort. The Clear Sky Hammer appeared in his hand.
The pressure of the world's greatest weapon Martial Soul spread in an instant.
"The hands of Spirit Hall are reaching far too wide!"
He already had a blood feud with Spirit Hall. The sect's forced seclusion all those years ago had been entirely Spirit Hall's doing.
Now that he saw Spirit Hall trying to monopolize the spoils again, how could he hold back?
"After all these years, Spirit Hall is still as overbearing and arrogant as ever, with no regard for anyone!"
"We haven't yet settled the score with you for all the underhanded things you did back then!"
Yue Guan's expression darkened. His Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum Martial Soul unfurled behind him, its petals filling the air with sharp Soul Power.
"The Clear Sky Sect has been in seclusion for all these years. Could it be that today you want to come out early and settle that old score with Spirit Hall?"
Ghost Douluo Gui Mei's figure vanished into the shadows. His ghostly energy joined faintly with Yue Guan's Soul Power, and the first signs of the Two Extremes Stillness Domain appeared.
The two sides were on the brink of a fight.
Yet in the midst of the standoff, several other Titled Douluo turned their attention to the open ground below, where the poison miasma had already dispersed.
"The poison's gone!"
Someone cried out, and two figures immediately lunged toward the Demon Spider's remains.
They unleashed their Soul Power, clearly intent on snatching the spoils and fleeing in the confusion.
That finally ignited the already taut situation.
The factions that had been facing off instantly became distracted. Some rushed to seize the corpse, while others tried to stop their rivals. The scene descended into chaos.
At that moment, a terrifying pressure swept down from the sky, crushing the air until it was hard to breathe!
The earth shook violently, and towering ancient trees toppled in swathes.
An enraged roar thundered through the forest.
"The Demon Spider Emperor is dead. The Star Dou territory doesn't welcome you humans. Now, get out!"
A black giant ape more than a dozen meters tall crashed to the ground, splitting the earth and sending rocks flying. It was the Titan Giant Ape!
Beside it, the Sky Azure Bull Python, with a bull's head and serpent's body, swept its cold, vertical pupils over everyone present.
In the forest's shadows, the Scarlet King, its body wreathed in dark red flames, and Xiong Jun, whose body loomed like a small mountain, also stepped out.
What made the Titled Douluo's expressions change even more was that the voice they had just heard had come from none of them.
Behind the Scarlet King and Xiong Jun, countless vines slowly spread, blotting out the sky.
At last, the Myriad Monster King emerged, its entire body wrapped in the endless aura of grass and trees!
Its pressure was several times more terrifying than Xiong Jun's, and the aura of a Ferocious Beast rolled out in layer upon layer.
The human Soul Masters present changed expression at once.
Earlier, while besieging the Demon Spider Emperor, they had indeed joined forces briefly with the Soul Beasts of Star Dou.
But now that the Demon Spider Emperor was dead, these Ferocious Beasts had immediately turned against them. They had never intended to let the humans take a share of the spoils.
What a bunch of backstabbers!
"Though the Devil Emperor was an outsider, it was still a Soul Beast of Star Dou."
The Myriad Monster King's voice rang out again, cold with murderous intent.
"Its corpse belongs in Star Dou. Humans, either leave now, or stay here forever."
Though it spoke those words, it had already launched its attack.
The situation had completely spiraled out of control!
The human Titled Douluo who had been facing one another could only turn their attention to the Soul Beast overlords rushing toward them.
Dugu Bo hadn't come here to fight anyone to the death in the first place. Seeing this, there was no way he would stick around.
He seized his chance, hoisted the unconscious Zhu Zhuqing up, and raced toward the outskirts of the Star Dou Great Forest.
Among the Titled Douluo present, Dugu Bo was the weakest by far.
He had attained the title of Titled Douluo long ago, but his cultivation had stagnated for far too long.
And with no sect backing him, there was no reason to risk his life fighting here.
No matter how valuable the Demon Spider Emperor's corpse was, he needed to be alive to claim it. Better to get this girl to safety first, then slowly investigate the secrets she carried.
But he hadn't flown far when two figures tore through the air and blocked his way.
It was Chrysanthemum Douluo Yue Guan and Ghost Douluo Gui Mei.
"Dugu Bo, leave her here."
All trace of a smile vanished from Yue Guan's face, leaving only a murderous chill.
"You can go. We'll pretend we didn't see a thing."
"You two really are like ghosts that won't leave me alone!"
Dugu Bo's face turned livid, and the Jade Phosphorous Serpent Emperor Martial Soul appeared behind him.
"You're leaving the Demon Spider Emperor's corpse alone and stopping me instead? Is this all Spirit Hall is good for?"
"Enough nonsense. Either leave her here, or..."
Gui Mei barked coldly.
"We'll give you a proper fight."
Before you continue