Douluo: One Man Returns, Heaven-Defying Seal Smashes Tang San to Death

"If my sister doesn't know what's good for her, I'll knock her out and deliver her to you!"

Lu Yu stopped in his tracks and frowned at Xie Yue.

This guy who stuck to him like a stubborn plaster, chattering away without pause, was nothing like the Spirit Hall Golden Generation leader Lu Yu knew—calm, steady, and decisive in every situation...

Not the same at all!

Good grief! Knock her out? Was he some sister-selling maniac?

Looking at the silver-haired young man whose personality seemed completely at odds with his manner of speech, Lu Yu simply could not make sense of it.

After a moment of silence, Lu Yu said, "My name is Lu Yu. I hope you'll stop following me. Otherwise, don't blame me for being rude!"

There was no point in hiding his name. It would not be long before word spread that his cultivation had reached Rank 40 and that he possessed a ten-thousand-year soul ring.

After all, compared to the Heavenly Talisman and Thunder Arts—methods that did not match his martial soul abilities—his Soul Power cultivation and soul ring configuration hardly counted as secrets.

With that, Lu Yu quickened his pace and ignored Xie Yue.

Watching Lu Yu's departing back, Xie Yue did not continue pestering him. Instead, his eyes flickered continuously.

Chatterbox? Fool? Sister-selling maniac?

All of it had merely been Xie Yue's disguise!

He had been testing Lu Yu's attitude while also doing his best, half sincerely and half deceptively, to recruit him.

Naturally, he would not truly sell off his sister. But if Lu Yu was willing to join Spirit Hall, Xie Yue would not mind putting in a good word with his sister and giving Lu Yu a chance.

A genius who had reached four-ring cultivation at such a young age, possessed a soul ring beyond the limits, mastered a domain, and was flawless in appearance—even if his sister had high standards, she would surely be moved.

The only thing making Xie Yue hesitate was that he still did not know Lu Yu's character well enough.

Although Lu Yu had not acted out of justice earlier, and everyone had simply gotten what they wanted, Lu Yu had exposed both his soul rings and his domain, yet he had not tried to silence him.

From that alone, this person's character should not be bad.

Moreover, Lu Yu did not seem opposed to Spirit Hall. They simply did not know each other, so Lu Yu had not given him a chance to recruit him and had left in a hurry.

After thinking for a moment, Xie Yue shook his head and chuckled. "I'll leave these matters to Elder Gui to worry about!"

He would first find his sister, then meet up with Ghost Douluo and tell him about Lu Yu.

At that point, Ghost Douluo would naturally test him.

Whether to kill him or recruit him would be for Ghost Douluo to decide.

Beside the main road, a group of nearly a hundred people sat around a clearing in the woods. Everyone wore gloomy expressions.

They were none other than the Heavenly Dou Empire exchange delegation.

However, compared to when they had first entered Star Luo Empire territory, nearly twenty people were missing from the group.

Several high-level soul masters had died in battle, while some unlucky students had met with accidents while fleeing for their lives.

This was the border of the Star Luo Empire, where bandits ran rampant. There were also several small soul beast gathering grounds nearby. The students generally possessed only two- or three-ring cultivation, leaving them unable to protect themselves.

In the center of the clearing, Xue Qinghe was pale and extremely weak. A wound deep enough to expose bone marred his left shoulder.

"Those Star Luo Empire bastards!"

A royal powerhouse gritted his teeth and cursed, "They were clearly trying to assassinate His Highness the Crown Prince!"

Hu Yanzhen suddenly said, "We have no evidence. Even if we know the Star Luo Empire did it, what can we do?"

Everyone fell silent. After a long while, Meng Shenji suddenly said in a hoarse voice, "Lu Yu still hasn't returned..."

Upon hearing those words, everyone's expressions changed slightly, while Xue Qinghe frowned.

Lu Yu still had not returned?

Could something have happened to him?

That should not be possible...

The teachers from the other academies wore varied expressions, though most had a trace of schadenfreude in their eyes.

Lu Yu had been hailed as the Heavenly Dou Empire's foremost genius. His soul ring configuration that surpassed the limits and his astonishing cultivation talent had eclipsed the geniuses of every academy.

If something had happened to him, the academies would naturally be glad to see it.

Just then, Xue Qinghe suddenly said in a deep voice, "Rest here. Stay for three days and search the surrounding area for Lu Yu!"

"Dead or alive, we must find him!"

The teachers from the various academies naturally did not dare object, while the royal powerhouses immediately sprang into action.

The sky gradually darkened, and the temperature fell with it. The wild wind blew through the camp. Although the soul masters of the Heavenly Dou Empire exchange delegation no longer feared such cold, everyone felt a heavy weight in their hearts.

They had only just entered the Star Luo Empire and had already encountered such danger. The road ahead would likely be fraught with peril.

"Your Highness!"

At that moment, a delighted cry suddenly rang out, instantly drawing everyone's attention.

Everyone looked toward the sound...

Several soul masters from the royal delegation hurried back. One of them said, "We found Lu Yu!"

Xue Qinghe's eyes lit up slightly, and Meng Shenji shot to his feet.

Then a figure emerged from the forest, elegant as jade and incomparably handsome.

"Your Highness." Lu Yu stepped forward and bowed to Xue Qinghe, then smiled at Meng Shenji.

"Are you all right?" Xue Qinghe looked Lu Yu over and asked softly.

Lu Yu shook his head. "Thank you for your concern, Your Highness. I merely lost my way and did not encounter any danger."

Xue Qinghe nodded. "It's good that you're alive. We'll rest for the night and continue tomorrow morning."

Early the next morning, the Heavenly Dou Empire exchange delegation once again set out for Star Luo City.

However, without carriages, their pace became much slower.

After all, the students, who generally had only two- or three-ring cultivation, could not sustain rapid travel for long periods.

It was not until the afternoon of the third day that the group bought carriages and horses in a small city.

To everyone's surprise, no accidents occurred during the rest of the journey, and they traveled safely all the way.

Only a handful of people knew the truth and had never been worried.

On the seventh day, the Heavenly Dou Empire exchange delegation encountered a small military force from the Star Luo Empire.

The other side claimed that the Star Luo Empire royal family had learned of the exchange delegation's attack at the border and had therefore dispatched people to escort and protect them.

Many students and teachers scoffed, believing it was all an act.

But Lu Yu knew...

The Star Luo Empire was scared!

Only the Star Luo Empire royal family knew best that the people who had attacked the exchange delegation had not been sent by them at all!

This was clearly an attempt to frame them!

If something happened to Xue Qinghe in the Star Luo Empire, war would inevitably erupt between the two nations.

Although the Star Luo Empire did not fear a war, the problem was...

Spirit Hall had always been watching them like a tiger eyeing its prey. If the two great empires fought until both were crippled, Spirit Hall would reap the rewards!

The Heavenly Dou Empire exchange delegation departed from Heaven Dou City and traveled by way of many detours, finally arriving in Star Luo City after twenty days on the road.

Throughout the journey, Lu Yu had not continued to devote himself wholeheartedly to studying the second layer of the Summoning God Talisman as he had before. Instead, he had continuously cultivated various techniques.

The Summoning God Talisman ultimately relied on external power. Only one's own strength was the real foundation!

After obtaining his fourth soul ring, Lu Yu's Soul Power had directly reached the peak of Rank 43. By the time he arrived in Star Luo City, he had just broken through to Rank 44.

With no bottleneck holding him back, his Reverse Birth Triple and Golden Light Spell had also progressed rapidly. The former had reached the peak of major mastery in the second layer, nearing perfection.

The Golden Light Spell had entered the perfected realm in one stroke!

Even the absurdly powerful Old Heavenly Master from the Inhuman World had only reached perfection in the Golden Light Spell!

Beyond that lay the legendary Dao Realm!

This was the highest level of all Daoist techniques!

Even with Lu Yu's talent, cultivating a technique from the perfected realm to the Dao Realm would require an extremely long time.

His Thunder Arts had reached the peak of major mastery as well, only one step away from perfection!

Star Luo City.

Today, large numbers of soldiers guarded the city gates, and these soldiers were all soul masters.

The main city gate had been sealed off by the soldiers, leaving civilians to enter and exit through the smaller gates at the sides.