One after another, they looked down in panic and discovered that, at some point, hands formed from shadows had seized their feet and were slowly dragging them down into the darkness.
By the time their brains told them to struggle, the black figures that had long been lying in wait had already lunged at them, claws flailing, and delivered a fatal embrace.
The black figures enveloped and assimilated them, then slowly flowed like pools of liquid into the dark shadows on the ground.
No one escaped.
Only after every intruder who had entered the main hall vanished did the dark shadows on the ground gradually disappear.
Just then, a streak of starlight shot skyward from behind the Star Luo Emperor's throne. It flew out of the main hall and transformed into a vast, dazzling Star Crown hundreds of meters across, suspended above the Star Luo Imperial Palace.
The gems on the Star Crown erupted with blinding light at that very instant.
Streams of radiance spilled outward, spiraling around that profoundly mysterious light as they soared into the sky, then suddenly expanded in every direction. At last, they formed a protective barrier that enveloped the entire Star Luo Imperial Palace.
From that moment onward, the Star Luo Imperial Palace was cut off from the outside world.
The Star Crown's fourth soul skill, Star's Protection.
With the Star Luo Empire's two Titled Douluos taking action, the tide of battle seemed to have turned once again.
It was also at that moment that several more streaks of light shot up from various parts of the Star Luo Imperial Palace and arrived before the enormous Star Crown.
The Star Crown dissolved into a skyful of starlight, becoming an elderly man in his seventies with a Star Crown above his head.
His back was straight,