"Eternal Bright Moon, You Deserve to Die!"

Although this was not the first time they had witnessed such a scene, seeing living human Spirit Masters—and not just any, but super-tier, peak Douluos standing at the very pinnacle of the profession—being personally transformed by the Tower Master into spirit beasts, spirit rings, and spirit bones right before their eyes still sent a chill down the spines of every Spirit Pagoda Douluo present.

Their worship and fear of Ming Yue deepened to a new level, yet they did not hesitate to retrieve their specialized Soul Tool devices to collect these "resources."

In no time at all, these vital strategic "resources" were completely gathered.

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

"Hmm... calculating the time, our Sea God Douluo should be arriving soon."

"So, once you have finished setting up those 'gifts' according to the plan, you shall all join me in presenting him with this 'surprise'."

With a wave of his hand to issue the order, Ming Yue gazed deep into the horizon.

The Spirit Pagoda Douluos dared not delay, donning the special Soul Tool devices provided by Ming Yue and equipping their standard-issue armor.

One Spirit Pagoda Douluo even took the time to stack the slaughtered corpses into a pile.

A moment later, a powerful surge of spirit power rippled through the air, and the mist concealing the entire island suddenly dissipated.

"So you've finally arrived? Heh... a bit later than expected, though."

Watching Chen Xinjie, who stood high in the sky with spirit power surging around him and a grave expression on his face, Ming Yue chuckled with keen interest.

"!!?"

At that moment, upon seeing the Spirit Pagoda Douluos standing in formation on one side and the pile of his clansmen's corpses on the other, the stern-faced Chen Xinjie instantly lost his composure.

Overcome with shock and rage, he didn't even speak; as his spirit rings lit up and his spirit avatar emerged, a spirit skill carrying a massive surge of spirit power came whistling toward them!

"Well struck!"

Seeing this, Qiangu Dieting instantly appeared in mid-air. Golden light flashed upon his Coiling Dragon Staff, and as his spirit rings ignited, he collided head-on with Chen Xinjie's spirit skill.

"BOOM!"

The energy explosion, accompanied by intense gusts of wind, emitted a piercing whistle. Qiangu Dieting, standing in the air with his Coiling Dragon Staff, stood in a standoff with Chen Xinjie.

For a moment, the scene fell into silence.

But soon:

"The Sea God Douluo has quite the temper, opening with such a heavy-handed strike. It's a pity, considering we prepared quite the welcoming ceremony for you."

Looking at his opponent with a smile, Ming Yue's intrigued voice broke the quiet confrontation.

"...A welcoming ceremony? Good! A fine welcoming ceremony indeed! Does that mean you, the Spirit Pagoda, expect me, Chen Xinjie, to be grateful to you?"

To slaughter an entire clan and then offer smiling greetings, speaking so casually right before his eyes—Chen Xinjie had lived for so many years, yet he had never seen such a shameless person! Driven to the brink of fury, he couldn't help but laugh back at Ming Yue.

"Hehehe, if the Sea God Douluo thinks that way, then that is for the best. It is only a pity about these clansmen of yours who colluded with the Evil Spirit Masters."

"Ah, though perhaps 'pity' isn't the right word. We simply overstepped our bounds and helped you clean house a step ahead of you."

As he tilted his head with a light laugh, Ming Yue did not forget to point toward the pile of corpses nearby.

Coincidentally, due to the collision of spirit skills between Chen Xinjie and Qiangu Dieting just moments ago, the resulting energy shockwaves had caused the heads of those corpses to turn toward Chen Xinjie's position.

Their eyes, filled with despair and agony, were wide and bulging, their terrified, deathly faces stained with crimson blood!

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

Seeing this sight, Chen Xinjie could no longer suppress the rage in his heart!

Channeling his full spirit power, he ignited his spirit rings and spirit avatar, roaring as he unleashed his Martial Soul Avatar and charged madly toward Ming Yue!

"Your opponent is me, old man."

However, just as Chen Xinjie reached the halfway point, Qiangu Dieting, wielding his Coiling Dragon Staff in its Martial Soul Avatar state, intercepted him with a single strike.

"Get out of my way!"

At this moment, Chen Xinjie seemed to have transformed into the embodiment of a surging tide; roaring waves rose in tandem with his fury!

There was even a faint sense that he was merging with the vast ocean itself!

"Raging Wolf Angry Waves!"

His crimson spirit ring lit up, and the surging waves instantly transformed into a giant wall of water that blotted out the sky, crashing forward with a massive amount of spirit power!

"Hmph! Indomitable Dragon Soul!"

Seeing the tsunami about to engulf them, Qiangu Dieting let out a cold snort. His own crimson spirit ring ignited, and the Coiling Dragon Staff in his hand erupted with brilliant golden light!

A golden dragon, as if manifested in reality, roared as it took flight. Amidst the continuous dragon cries, the tsunami was actually held at a stalemate by the golden dragon in mid-air!

"Now is the time, everyone, move!"

Seeing this, Ming Yue immediately raised his hand and gave a signal.

The Spirit Pagoda Douluos understood instantly, all taking flight and, led by Leng Yaozhu, they...

In the blink of an eye, they surrounded Chen Xinjie, who had unleashed his Avatar of the Martial Soul, in a peculiar formation!

Ming Yue, who had also risen into the air, suddenly snapped his fingers, and the special Soul Tools worn by the Spirit Pagoda Douluos surrounding Chen Xinjie instantly lit up!

Having long understood the function of these Soul Tools, the Spirit Pagoda Douluos immediately poured their soul power into them without hesitation.

In a matter of moments, as a strange barrier flared to life, both Chen Xinjie and Qiangu Dieting, who were enveloped within it, were instantly forced out of their Avatar of the Martial Soul mode.

"What is the meaning of this!?"

Clenching his fists in shock, Chen Xinjie found that he could not sense even a shred of soul power at this moment.

"Hehehe, it seems our Sea God Douluo has finally calmed down."

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

"Qiangu! Ming! Yue!"

Gritting his teeth and enunciating every word, Chen Xinjie glared at Ming Yue with eyes full of furious killing intent.

"Ah, although I know I am quite famous, isn't it a bit much for Lord Sea God Douluo to be so obsessed with my name?"

Tilting his head while toying with the Void Archives in his hand, Ming Yue maintained that same smiling expression.

"Hah! Hah--! Do you think you have me cornered?"

Taking two heavy, ragged breaths, Chen Xinjie stared fixedly at Ming Yue with bloodshot eyes.

"Hmm, a Limit Douluo without the reinforcement of soul power, if we are talking purely about physical constitution..."

"Then you should be destined to become one of the strategic 'resources' of my Spirit Pagoda."

Seeing that the other party was about to be angered to death, Ming Yue couldn't help but add fuel to the fire with an amused laugh.

His face, usually stiff and serious, flushed crimson before turning deathly pale; Chen Xinjie felt a sweetness rise in his throat.

Realizing he had fallen into a trap, he immediately pinched his own neck hard!

"You scoundrel! I didn't want to do this, but you forced my hand!"

Forcibly swallowing the blood that had nearly been coughed up from his heart, he deployed his Battle Armor and produced a brilliant, azure helmet that radiated a divine aura!