"Qiangu Ming Yue! You Deserve to Die!"

Although this wasn't the first time they'd seen such a scene, living human Soul Masters—

super, Peak Douluos who stood at the very top of the Soul Master world, transformed into Soul Beasts, Soul Rings, and Soul Bones before their eyes by the Tower Master herself—

still sent chills down the spines of every Spirit Pagoda Douluo present!

Their awe and fear of Ming Yue rose another level. Without wasting a moment, they took out special Soul Tools and began collecting these "resources"!

In no time at all, these important strategic "resources" had all been gathered.

The Spirit Pagoda Douluos turned their attention back to Ming Yue.

"Mm... judging by the time, our Sea God Douluo should be arriving soon."

"So, once you've arranged those 'gifts' as planned, everyone, join me here and we'll deliver him a 'surprise.'"

With a wave of her hand, Ming Yue gave the order, then gazed into the distance with profound eyes.

The Spirit Pagoda Douluos naturally didn't dare dawdle. They donned the special Soul Tools Ming Yue had given them, then put on their standard armor.

One of the Spirit Pagoda Douluos also took the corpses of those who had been killed and piled them all together.

A moment later, as a powerful surge of Soul Power rolled through the air, the mist that shrouded the entire island suddenly dispersed.

"Finally here, huh? Heh... you're a little later than I expected."

Ming Yue regarded Chen Xinjie with interest as he hovered high in the sky, Soul Power surging around him, his expression grave. She chuckled softly.

"!!?"

When Chen Xinjie saw the Spirit Pagoda Douluos standing ready below on one side and the piled-up corpses of his clansmen on the other, his solemn expression instantly shattered.

Overcome with rage and shock, he didn't even speak. As his Soul Rings lit up and his Soul Spirit appeared, a Soul Skill wrapped in an enormous surge of Soul Power came roaring toward them!

"Just what I wanted!"

Qiangu Dieting appeared in midair in an instant. Golden light flashed across the Coiling Dragon Staff, and as his Soul Rings lit up, he collided with Chen Xinjie's Soul Skill.

"Boom!"

The energy burst unleashed a fierce, shrill gale. Holding the Coiling Dragon Staff, Qiangu Dieting hovered in the air, facing Chen Xinjie from afar.

For a moment, the scene fell silent.

But soon—

"The Sea God Douluo certainly has quite a temper. You opened with such a powerful blow, even though we went to the trouble of preparing quite the welcoming ceremony for you."

Ming Yue looked at him with a bright smile, her amused words breaking the tense silence.

"...A welcoming ceremony? Good! What a welcoming ceremony! So the Spirit Pagoda expects me, Chen Xinjie, to be grateful to you now?"

They had slaughtered his entire clan, then greeted him with smiles—and now she was standing before him, calmly carrying on as if nothing had happened.

In all his years, Chen Xinjie had never met anyone so shameless. In his fury, he could only stare at Ming Yue with a disbelieving laugh.

"Heh heh. It's best if the Sea God Douluo sees it that way. It's just a shame about your clansmen, who colluded with Evil Soul Masters."

"Ah, I wouldn't say it's a shame. We simply overstepped our bounds and helped you clean house before you could."

With a light laugh, Ming Yue tilted her head and pointed toward the pile of corpses.

As it happened, the energy gale unleashed by the collision between Chen Xinjie and Qiangu Dieting's Soul Skills had left every corpse's head turned toward Chen Xinjie.

Their eyes bulged wide, filled with despair and anguish. Their faces were drenched in blood, frozen in terror and deathly stillness!

"QIANGU MING YUE! YOU DESERVE TO DIE!!!"

At the sight, Chen Xinjie could no longer hold back his rage!

His Soul Power surged through his entire body. His Soul Rings lit up, his Soul Spirit appeared, and he roared as he unleashed his Martial Soul Avatar and charged straight at Ming Yue!

"Your opponent is me."

But before Chen Xinjie could get halfway there, Qiangu Dieting, wielding his Coiling Dragon Staff in its Martial Soul Avatar form, struck him and cut him off.

"Get out of my way!"

At that moment, Chen Xinjie seemed to become a surging, tangible tide. Roaring waves rose with his fury!

He even seemed to be on the verge of merging with the sea!

"Raging Wolf Angry Waves!"

A crimson Soul Ring lit up, and the surging waves instantly became a towering, sky-darkening swell. Carrying an enormous surge of Soul Power, it rushed straight ahead!

"Hmph! Indomitable Dragon Soul!"

Seeing the tsunami about to engulf him, Qiangu Dieting gave a cold snort and lit up a crimson Soul Ring of his own. The Coiling Dragon Staff in his hand blazed with golden light!

A golden dragon, made seemingly tangible, roared into the sky. Amid its rumbling cries, it held the tsunami at bay in midair!

"Now! Everyone, move!"

At the sight, Ming Yue immediately raised her hand and gave a signal.

The Spirit Pagoda Douluos understood at once and soared into the air, led by Leng Yaozhu.

In a matter of moments, they had surrounded Chen Xinjie, who was still using his Martial Soul Avatar, in a strange formation!

Ming Yue rose into the air as well and snapped her fingers. The special Soul Tools worn by the Spirit Pagoda Douluos surrounding Chen Xinjie lit up at once!

Knowing exactly what the Soul Tools did, the Spirit Pagoda Douluos immediately poured their Soul Power into them without pause.

A moment later, a strange barrier flared into being. Chen Xinjie and Qiangu Dieting, trapped within it, instantly dropped out of their Martial Soul Avatar forms.

"What's going on!?"

Chen Xinjie clenched his fist in shock. At that moment, he couldn't feel even the slightest trace of Soul Power.

"Heh heh. It seems our Sea God Douluo has finally calmed down."

Seeing Chen Xinjie's expression, Ming Yue, who was also inside the barrier, strolled over with a bright smile.

"QIANGU MING YUE!"

Chen Xinjie ground out each word, his gaze fixed on Ming Yue with murderous fury.

"Ah, I know I'm famous, but is the Sea God Douluo really so fixated on my name? Isn't that a bit... much?"

Ming Yue tilted her head and toyed with the Void Archives in her hand, still wearing that same bright smile.

"Hah... hah...! You think you've got me?"

After two heavy breaths, Chen Xinjie stared at Ming Yue, his eyes bloodshot.

"Hmm... an Limit Douluo without Soul Power to bolster him, relying on nothing but his physical strength..."

"Then you'll probably become one of the Spirit Pagoda's strategic reserve 'resources.'"

Seeing that the other man was about to be angered to death, Ming Yue couldn't resist adding fuel to the fire with an amused smile.

Chen Xinjie's normally stern, rigid face turned red, then pale. He felt a sweetness in his throat.

Realizing he'd fallen for it, he immediately clamped a hand around his throat!

"You scoundrels! I didn't want to go this far, but you forced my hand!"

He forcibly swallowed the heart's blood he'd nearly spat out in rage, then unfurled his Battle Armor and took out a dazzling, deep-blue helmet that shimmered with a divine aura!