The moment he finished speaking, Qian Lingche's expression stiffened for an instant. But, hoping to keep his identity hidden, he still tried to dissuade them. "Leave now, and we can pretend none of this ever happened."
Xue Beng's expression darkened further. He gritted his teeth and roared, "What are you waiting for? Seize them! How dare you disobey this prince?"
Seeing that they still wouldn't listen and continued closing in on him, Qian Lingche's last shred of patience finally ran out.
He turned to Lin Yuan beside him and said calmly, "There's no need to hold back anymore. Deal with these people, but leave Xue Beng alive."
A flash of excitement crossed Lin Yuan's eyes. She raised the corners of her mouth slightly. "As you command."
As soon as she finished speaking, Lin Yuan released her Martial Soul. Nine Soul Rings appeared around her in an instant, radiating a suffocating pressure.
The blood-red Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring in particular unleashed a terrifying might that instantly enveloped Xue Beng and the others.
Before the attendants and the young men could react, the terrifying pressure forced them to their knees. It was as if a thousand-jin weight bore down on their bodies; they couldn't even move a finger.
Their faces turned deathly pale, their eyes filled with terror and despair.
"This... How is this possible? A Titled Douluo..." Xue Beng's voice trembled. His lips quivered, and he could no longer utter a single arrogant word.
Lin Yuan slowly raised her hand and pointed skyward. Her fifth Soul Ring suddenly lit up, black light swirling around her.
"Fifth Spirit Ability—Heavenly Fire!"
Before she had even finished speaking, strange ripples spread across the sky, like a pebble tossed into a still lake. The waves rapidly expanded.
Then searing flames erupted from the center of the ripples, a pillar of fire descending from the heavens and engulfing the Soul Kings in an instant.
"Boom—"
They didn't even have time to scream before the flames devoured them completely. Their bodies vaporized in the blink of an eye, leaving not a trace behind.
Once the flames faded, a faint smell of charred flesh hung in the air. The silence was chilling.
At the sight of this, Xue Beng's eyes bulged. The blood drained from his face, leaving it deathly pale.
It was as if something had clogged his throat; he couldn't utter a single word.
He had watched his guards vaporize in an instant, utterly powerless to resist. Terror surged through him like a rising tide, nearly drowning him.
Just then, hurried footsteps sounded in the distance.
A richly dressed middle-aged nobleman and a middle-aged man clad in dark green, whose presence radiated an unsettling aura, rushed over.
The man in dark green flashed forward and instantly stood in front of Xue Beng, fixing Qian Lingche and Lin Yuan with a cold stare.
At the same time, the nobleman hurried over to Xue Beng and helped him up, his voice full of concern and anxiety. "Fourth Prince, are you all right? Are you hurt?"
Still shaken, Xue Beng could barely get the words out. "Uncle... They... They..."
The nobleman was Xue Xing, a prince of the Heaven Dou Empire and the younger brother of Emperor Xue Ye.
His gaze swept over Qian Lingche and Lin Yuan, dark with displeasure, before he waved a hand.
Elite troops poured in from every direction, surrounding Qian Lingche and Lin Yuan.
Swords were drawn and spears bristled, an air of murderous hostility descending over the area.
If Qian Lingche wasn't mistaken, the middle-aged man in dark green was the Heaven Dou Empire's only Titled Douluo serving as a guardian: Poison Douluo, Dugu Bo.
Still, he wasn't afraid. His gaze swept casually over the troops and Dugu Bo, and a faint smile tugged at his lips. "Poison Douluo, I've heard much about you."
Before Dugu Bo could respond, Prince Xue Xing stepped forward, glaring at Qian Lingche and Lin Yuan in displeasure. "You two have caused such a commotion in my Heaven Dou Imperial City and killed the Fourth Prince's attendants. Don't you think you owe us an explanation?"
Lin Yuan looked at Prince Xue Xing with scorn. "An explanation? You mean for your Fourth Prince trying to attack us over a piece of clothing?"
Xue Xing snorted, a trace of anger flashing in his eyes. "The Fourth Prince's faults are for His Majesty to punish. You attacked him in public and killed Soul Masters of the Heaven Dou Empire. Do you think you can simply walk away?"
Qian Lingche looked at Prince Xue Xing in disbelief. He might never have been to the Heaven Dou Empire, but he knew how things stood.
Was something wrong with this man's head? He was demanding an explanation from a Titled Douluo over a spoiled Fourth Prince who was clearly in the wrong?
Qian Lingche shook his head slightly and said helplessly, "Forget it. There's no reasoning with them. Let's turn this place to ashes."
A cold glint flashed in Lin Yuan's eyes. "Understood."
She flew straight into the air, and her Ninth Spirit Ability lit up. Blood-red light instantly enveloped everyone nearby.
"Ninth Spirit Ability—Heaven-Burning Ash Feathers!"
In an instant, countless flaming red feathers rained down from the sky.
Every feather contained terrifying energy. The moment one touched an object, it exploded.
"Boom! Boom! Boom!" Explosions thundered one after another as flames swept through the area. The nearby buildings became ruins in the blink of an eye. The soldiers didn't even have time to scream before the flames devoured them and reduced them to ashes.
Dugu Bo's expression changed drastically. He hurriedly raised a Soul Power barrier, shielding Xue Beng and Prince Xue Xing inside.
Yet even with all his strength, he could protect only the three of them.
The entire street became a sea of fire, and the scorching heat made the air ripple and distort.
Even that was Lin Yuan holding back. If she unleashed her full power, half of Heaven Dou City would be destroyed.
Lin Yuan gave Dugu Bo a disdainful glance, then took Qian Lingche's hand and turned toward the city gates. "Young Master, let's go."
Qian Lingche nodded. "Mm. Let's return to Spirit Hall. Once we're back, have Brother Ling tell Elder Ju to come deal with this mess."
Ning Fengzhi's carriage hadn't yet entered Heaven Dou City when a deafening explosion sounded in the distance.
He pulled back the curtain and saw flames soaring into the sky in the direction of the city, with thick smoke billowing above them.
He knew at once that something had gone wrong. Turning to Chen Xin beside him, he called, "Uncle Sword!"
Chen Xin immediately stood and steadied Ning Fengzhi with one hand. Soul Power surged around him as he sped toward Heaven Dou City.
A short while later, they reached the site of the explosion.
The sight before them made Ning Fengzhi and Chen Xin draw in sharp breaths. The once-bustling street had become a field of ruins, flames raging amid the rubble.
Turning their heads, Ning Fengzhi and Chen Xin saw Prince Xue Xing and Xue Beng trembling nearby, along with Dugu Bo, whose face was pale and whose lips were stained with blood.
The moment they saw the three together, they pieced together what had happened.
When Prince Xue Xing saw Ning Fengzhi and Chen Xin, he seemed to have spotted his saviors and hurriedly called out, "Sect Master Ning, Sword Douluo, you're finally here!"
"Two ignorant fools caused trouble in Heaven Dou City and even injured Senior Dugu. You must help us get justice!"
Ning Fengzhi and Chen Xin exchanged a glance. They could see the deep helplessness and exasperation in each other's eyes.