No one saw what had happened. They only saw the Third Elder's lofty figure suddenly stiffen. Then his gray-haired head seemed to be struck by an invisible giant hand, bursting apart in an instant!
Blood and unidentifiable fluids sprayed everywhere!
The headless corpse fell straight down, hitting the ground with a thud and kicking up a cloud of dust!
Dead!
A Titled Douluo had been slapped to death just like that, like an ant!
The entire scene fell deathly silent!
All the students were stunned. They didn't even know what had happened. They had only seen a Titled Douluo suddenly die!
Above them, the golden pillar of light still enveloped Meng Yiran, but everyone watching through the Sky Screen was also plunged into the same shock and bewilderment!
"Who... who did that?"
"A Titled Douluo was slapped to death? What level of powerhouse could do that?"
"A Limit Douluo? Or...?"
"Who made the move? Did no one see?"
Even the Sky Screen's live broadcast couldn't capture a trace of the person who had struck!
It was as if that terrifying force transcended space and time, making it impossible to observe!
Only Meng Yiran, at the instant the Fifth Elder's head burst apart, felt boundless tenderness surge into her once-cold eyes!
She recognized that power!
That familiar feeling, that scorching aura that had made her lose herself in dreams countless times and grow stronger in cultivation.
It was Brother Cao!
It had to be him!
At her most dangerous moment, he had struck from afar in such an overbearing, shocking manner, slapping a Titled Douluo to death.
He had declared to everyone: whoever touched her would die!
Meng Yiran lifted her head and gazed at the empty sky. Tears glimmered in her eyes, yet a smile of breathtaking beauty curved her lips.
"Brother Cao... thank you!"
She said nothing more. She simply put away the Soul Bone, then turned and drifted away beneath countless gazes filled with awe, shock, and bewilderment.
All that remained was the Exotic Beast Academy in ruins, and the headless corpse of a Titled Douluo.
Above them, golden light still swirled across the Sky Screen.
Rank Thirteen, Meng Yiran.
Like Doudou and Zhu Zhuyun, she had left with resolve and grace.
From Meng Yiran's brief words and expressions before she left, it wasn't hard for everyone to guess that the one who had struck was none other than the mysterious Brother Cao.
All the forces across the continent were now gripped by unprecedented tension and dread.
Slapping a Titled Douluo to death... Such strength was beyond the imagination of most people!
Inside the Clear Sky Sect, the remaining elders watched the images relayed through the Sky Screen, their faces deathly pale. One by one, they seemed to have their throats clamped shut, unable to utter a sound.
That was their Third Elder! A Titled Douluo!
He had been slapped to death just like that?
And they hadn't even seen the shadow of the one who did it!
How... how could they investigate this? How could they take revenge? How would they dare?
Qian Daoliu, Ning Fengzhi, Tang Xiao... Every powerhouse standing at the pinnacle of the continent had fallen silent.
The hidden figure behind the Yin-Yang Reincarnation Technique had likely reached a terrifying level of power they couldn't even begin to imagine!
The training grounds in the imperial garden of the Heaven Dou Empire's palace.
Two figures were sparring, waves of Soul Power stirring gusts of wind.
"Ha!"
Xue Beng shouted. The phantom of a swan, his Martial Soul, flickered behind him as he threw a punch, its fierce gust of wind aimed straight at the petite figure opposite him.
Xue Ke swayed lightly, seeming to narrowly evade the punch. She stumbled a little, as if she might fall at any moment.
"Thump!"
Xue Beng's fist stopped a mere three inches from Xue Ke's cheek. He smugly drew it back.
He patted his sleeve, which wasn't even dusty, raised his chin, and laughed. "Little sister, your strength isn't even that of a rabbit. You need to train harder!"
He planted his hands on his hips, his face full of a victor's pride.
It seemed his cultivation talent really was outstanding. He had even left far behind his sweet, obedient little sister.
A mischievous smile appeared on Xue Ke's delicate, lovely face.
She didn't argue, only shook her head gently.
"My imperial brother is right. I do still need to work harder." Her voice was soft and sweet, as gentle and obedient as ever.
Xue Beng grew even more pleased with himself, about to boast a little more.
But at that very moment—
BOOM!!!
A dazzling golden pillar of light descended without warning, enveloping Xue Ke's petite figure!
The sudden golden light was so bright that Xue Beng couldn't keep his eyes open. He stumbled back several steps and looked up at the sky in terror.
Above them, the golden vortex on the Sky Screen spun wildly, and the rankings had already been updated!
[The Genius Ranking, Rank Twelve: Xue Ke.]
[Identity: Little Princess of the Heaven Dou Empire.]
[Strength: Level 89 Soul Douluo.]
[Technique: Yin-Yang Reincarnation Technique.]
[Reward: The age of all Soul Rings increases by 2,000 years.]
Xue Beng stood frozen in place, his mouth agape and his eyes nearly popping out of their sockets.
He mechanically turned to look at the petite figure shrouded in golden light.
"You... little sister... was it you?"
The same frail little sister who had just been forced back by his punch, whom he had mocked for being weaker than a rabbit.
The same little sister who had been gentle and unassuming since childhood was now bathed in divine golden light, a terrifying aura radiating from her.
Xue Ke gently raised her hand, feeling the increase in her Soul Rings' age. At last, a smile unlike her usual one appeared on her exquisite face.
"Imperial brother," she said, her voice still soft and sweet, "I really was holding back just now."
Xue Beng: "..."
Level 89... Soul Douluo?
"You... when did you..." he stammered.
Xue Ke gently shook her head without answering. She looked at the Sky Screen, a complicated glint passing through her eyes.
The Yin-Yang Reincarnation Technique... Brother Cao...
How many mornings had she woken from a dream, looked at her still-frail reflection in the mirror, quietly suppressed the surging feelings within her, and continued playing the part of a frail younger sister who needed protection?
What's more, in the dream, she had learned that her elder brother "Xue Qinghe" was actually Qian Renxue in disguise.
Brother Cao had said that the time wasn't right and she mustn't act rashly.
Now that the Sky Screen had exposed everything, none of the secrets remained secrets.
In the distance, a group of palace maids and eunuchs who had rushed over after hearing the commotion were now kneeling in a daze, staring at the princess bathed in golden light, their minds utterly blank.
That little princess who was usually so gentle and weak, who spoke in such a soft voice... was a Level 89 Soul Douluo?
What was happening to this world?
At the same time, in the imperial study of the Heaven Dou Empire's palace.
"Crash!"
Emperor Xue Ye sprang to his feet. The teacup on his desk was knocked to the floor, but he didn't even notice.
He stared fixedly at the words on the Sky Screen—"Xue Ke, Level 89 Soul Douluo"—his lips trembling, his eyes faintly reddening.
"A Ke... my A Ke..."
If Doudou's appearance on the ranking had filled him with wild joy, then Xue Ke's had brought him indescribable shock and pride.
"Pass down my decree!"
"Effective immediately, Princess Xue Ke is promoted to Protector Princess. She will receive a prince's stipend and rank equal to the Crown Prince! Phoenix Cry Palace is hereby bestowed upon her as her residence, and she may draw freely upon all the resources in the imperial treasury!"
"Furthermore, let the entire realm be informed in the highest manner befitting the empire: The Heaven Dou Empire has a daughter named Xue Ke, a peerless genius and the pride of the emperor! Any force that dares lay a finger on her will be declaring war on the entire Heaven Dou Empire!"
Crown Prince Xue Qinghe stood to one side, his eyes lowered and silent. Deep in her eyes, however, a complicated glimmer flashed.
It was time to leave!
Having cultivated the Yin-Yang Reincarnation Technique, she knew that everyone who had entered the Dream Space had learned their own future fate.
She had been exposed!