At that moment, Yu Xiaogang's entire right arm had turned black and swollen, the poison spreading wildly through his blood.
He could only clutch the base of his right arm with his remaining left hand, trying to slow the poison from reaching his heart. Unconscious moans escaped his lips:
"Ugh... help... help me..."
The Grandmaster, who had once cut a swath through the Soul Master World and proposed that no Martial Soul was useless, was now covered in snot and tears, as pathetic as a stray dog.
Spirit City, Pope Palace.
Beneath the Angel Statue that symbolized the highest authority on the Douluo Continent, the atmosphere was just as oppressive.
Pope Bibi Dong sat high upon her throne, dressed in a magnificent purple-and-gold imperial robe.
But now, this usually graceful and dignified empress could no longer maintain even a shred of composure.
She clutched her scepter tightly, her eyes filled with heartache.
"How could this happen? How could this happen..."
Bibi Dong stared at the man rolling in the mud and wailing on the Sky Screen, her heart bleeding.
That was the man she had loved all her life!
Though she resented his cowardice and his running away, deep down she had always believed Yu Xiaogang was wise, special, and the only person in the world who understood her.
But now, this man was like an ant. The double blow to her eyes and her heart made it so painful she could hardly breathe.
But what frightened her even more was the comparison of their fighting strength at that moment.
"That snake."
Bibi Dong drew a deep breath. The Soul Power radiating from her made Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo below her drop to their knees, trembling all over.
"Yue Guan, Gui Mei, both of you are Titled Douluo at level 95."
"Did you see how fast that snake was just now?"
At that, Chrysanthemum Douluo Yue Guan, kneeling on the ground, was also drenched in cold sweat. He swallowed and replied in a trembling voice:
"Y-Your Holiness the Pope."
"I... I saw it, but only just barely."
"Because it burst into that speed in an instant, I'm afraid I'd have trouble dodging it without using my Martial Soul Avatar."
Hearing this, Bibi Dong closed her eyes in despair and slumped back against her chair.
Even a Titled Douluo would have to activate their Martial Soul Avatar just to dodge an attack from a creature that looked like an ordinary Soul Beast?
What did that make her?
And what of the Rakshasa Godhood she had pursued so relentlessly?
As time passed, the images on the Sky Screen finally faded one by one.
Other than Yu Xiaogang, who was barely clinging to life through sheer will to survive, the other four were all dead!
Li Si, the soldier from the Star Luo Empire, hadn't escaped his fate either.
He had hidden in place for two hours, only to be discovered by a passing pack of first-tier beasts: Bloodthirsty Rats.
Each rat was as big as a cat, with teeth sharp as blades.
Hundreds, even thousands, of Bloodthirsty Rats swarmed over him. Li Si didn't last a second before he was reduced to a pile of white bones.
The first batch of explorers had been wiped out, except for Yu Xiaogang, who was still half-dead!
However, just as Yu Xiaogang was about to pass out, that grand voice rang out again.
[The first batch's survival test has ended. Interim assessment.] [Douluo Plane organism survival rate: 20% (critically wounded and near death).] [Evaluation: Extremely weak, like ants.] [In view of this, the system will begin the second batch of transmissions and randomly distribute one novice protection gift pack to increase the spectacle.] [Drawing the second batch of candidates...]
At the words "novice protection gift pack," the despairing people of the Douluo Continent instantly lit up.
A cheat?!
Why didn't you say so earlier? With a cheat, everything was different!
Hearing this, countless people lifted their heads and stared greedily at the Sky Screen.
There were always more people who weren't afraid to die than people who were, especially when it came to a chance at good fortune.
Buzz!
Golden light flashed again, but this time the beams were even more dazzling!
[Second batch of explorers announced!]
The first beam crashed straight through the roof of the Strength Clan's residence in Heaven Dou City!
[First: Heaven Dou Empire, young master of the Strength Clan, Tailong!]
In the image, a muscular man was lifting a stone lock. When the beam enveloped him, he still looked completely bewildered.
Next, the second beam descended into the depths of the Star Luo Empire's imperial palace!
[Second: Star Luo Empire, eldest prince and leading contender for the throne, Dai Weisi!]
The moment he saw that name, the Star Luo Emperor shot to his feet, his expression changing drastically. "Weisi? It's Weisi!"
Dai Mubai, who had been despairing at Shrek Academy, immediately crowed with delight when he saw the name. "Big brother, you're going too? Great! Hahahahaha!"
"Let's see what your so-called strength is worth in that world!"
Next, the third beam fell, this time aimed at Spirit Hall—and specifically at the Golden Generation's training camp!
[Third: Spirit Hall Golden Generation, Yan!]
By now, Soul Masters across the continent were all getting chills.
Because the second batch was far more impressive than the first!
A prince, a young clan master, a genius of the Golden Generation!
They were all rising stars among the younger generation of the Douluo Continent!
However, the fourth beam followed close behind, blazing down in a burst of radiant light. It ignored the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's supposedly impregnable protective formation and landed precisely on a girl who was throwing a tantrum.
[Fourth: Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, Ning Rongrong!]
"Rongrong!"
Inside the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, the teacup in Ning Fengzhi's hand shattered with a sharp crack. Usually so refined, he now looked utterly panicked.
In his desperation, he no longer cared about anything else. He roared, "Uncle Sword! Uncle Bone! Quick, stop that beam of light!"
"Don't even think about taking Rongrong away!"
Sword Douluo Chen Xin's eyes nearly burst with fury. The Seven Kill Sword sprang from behind him, and his level 96 Soul Power erupted without restraint, forming a hundred-meter-long sword aura that slashed violently at the golden beam!
That single strike could split mountains and sever rivers!
Yet the moment the Seven Kill Sword's aura, powerful enough to make even Titled Douluo retreat, touched the golden beam, it vanished into thin air.
"Pfft!"
The next second, Sword Douluo spat out a mouthful of blood from the backlash. He instantly looked ten years older, his sword-sharp eyes filled with shock and horror. "Is this the power of a god? I gave it everything I had, and I couldn't even touch it?"
"Dad! Grandpa Sword, save me! I don't want to go to that awful place!"
Inside the beam of light, the haughty and domineering Ning Rongrong was already terrified, her face pale and drenched in tears. Her usual willfulness was nowhere to be seen.
But no matter how she cried, that irresistible force continued to hold her firmly in its grip.
For a moment, everyone in the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect who had witnessed this scene stood frozen in place.
Even Sword Douluo's attack couldn't shake the Sky Screen in the slightest. Their last remaining hope had been shattered completely.
Just as everyone thought it was over, however—
The fifth beam of light descended, crashing straight toward the highest point in Spirit City: Pope Palace!
Before you continue