Yu Yuanzhen was already beginning to regret it, but with the arrow on the bowstring, he had no choice but to let it fly. He gave a low shout and launched the first attack on Ling Yuan.
His Seventh Soul Ring suddenly lit up. The Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Avatar appeared in an instant, its enormous dragon shadow coiling behind him with astonishing power.
Immediately afterward, his Eighth Soul Ring lit up as well. His voice boomed like thunder: "Eighth Soul Skill—Dragon Soaring Heaven Thunderstorm!"
In an instant, dark clouds blanketed the sky. Countless bolts of lightning, each like a giant dragon, plunged from above and swept toward Ling Yuan.
Wherever the lightning passed, the air seemed to tear apart, releasing a piercing roar.
Facing such a terrifying assault, Ling Yuan remained calm. Her Eighth Soul Ring suddenly lit up. "Eighth Soul Skill—Boiling Blood!"
As her voice fell, flames swirled across the sky, and scorching heat spread through the air.
Then fiery feathers came drifting down, clashing with Yu Yuanzhen's lightning.
"Boom! Boom! Boom!"
The flaming feathers and lightning clashed fiercely in the air, erupting in deafening roars.
What shocked everyone was that Ling Yuan's flaming feathers completely nullified the Eighth Soul Skill Yu Yuanzhen had unleashed while in his Martial Soul Avatar state.
Everyone present was stunned. Yu Yuanzhen was a Level 95 Titled Douluo, famous for many years, yet Ling Yuan had countered his attack with such ease.
Yu Yuanzhen's expression turned grave. He clearly hadn't expected Ling Yuan to have reached such a level of strength. The boost from a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring was indeed formidable.
He took a deep breath, his fighting spirit burning even brighter. "Good! Just what I'd expect from a Titled Douluo with a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring!"
Yu Yuanzhen's expression was solemn, and a trace of resolve flashed in his eyes. "Ninth Soul Skill—Dragon Soul Nine Heavens Fury!"
In an instant, his Ninth Soul Ring merged into his Martial Soul. The Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Avatar swelled dramatically, and its dragon shadow shot into the sky, transforming into nine enormous lightning dragons, each containing enough power to destroy the heavens and the earth.
The nine dragons roared as they swept toward Ling Yuan with overwhelming force, as if they meant to swallow her whole.
Seeing this, Ling Yuan didn't dare be careless. Her Seventh Soul Ring lit up. "Seventh Soul Skill, Martial Soul Avatar!"
Her enormous Spirit Kite Avatar appeared in an instant, its fiery red wings spread wide.
Right after that, her Ninth Soul Ring lit up, its blood-red light burning like a blaze. "Ninth Soul Skill—Cinder Fire!"
As her voice fell, a gigantic magic circle suddenly appeared in the sky. Flames swirled within it, and scorching heat instantly filled the air.
After a brief buildup, a terrifying pillar of fire erupted from the center of the circle, blasting relentlessly toward Yu Yuanzhen.
Where it passed, the air seemed to catch fire, releasing a piercing crackle.
"Boom! Boom! Boom!"
In the end, the pillar of fire swallowed the nine lightning dragons with irresistible force. Its power undiminished, it continued toward Yu Yuanzhen.
Yu Yuanzhen's expression changed drastically. He hurriedly channeled his Soul Power to defend himself, but the terrifying force still sent him staggering several steps back, blood spilling from the corner of his mouth.
The Titled Douluos present saw this and their expressions shifted. They hurriedly released their Soul Power to raise protective barriers around the onlookers.
Roaring like a giant dragon, the pillar of fire slammed straight into Yu Yuanzhen.
It blasted his body into the sky. He spat out a mouthful of blood, and his face turned deathly pale.
Then the pillar of fire suddenly exploded in midair. The blast echoed through the heavens as scorching flames swept outward.
The surrounding buildings were destroyed like paper under the force. Even the Pope Palace and Angel God Statue were battered by the shock wave.
"Rumble!"
The entire Spirit Hall seemed to tremble. Countless cracks split the ground as smoke and flames surged into the sky, blotting out the sun.
Despite the protection of the Titled Douluos, everyone present was still knocked off balance by the shock wave, their faces filled with terror.
When the smoke gradually cleared, everyone finally saw what had happened.
Yu Yuanzhen lay on the ground, his clothes torn and his body charred black. He was barely breathing and had clearly lost consciousness.
The people from the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan saw him and cried out in alarm, "Sect Master!" Without a thought for anything else, several of them rushed over and surrounded Yu Yuanzhen.
Looking at Yu Yuanzhen's sorry state, Qian Lingche almost couldn't stop himself from laughing. That old fool had gone looking for trouble and found it.
Before anyone else could speak, he leaped down from the high platform. "Sect Master Yu risked everything to instruct Douluo Ling Yuan, even using himself as an example. Truly admirable."
"Take Sect Master Yu away and have a physician treat him properly. Make sure he recovers safely."
Several guards immediately stepped forward and respectfully lifted the unconscious Yu Yuanzhen, carrying him away with great care.
The people from the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan were displeased, but given the circumstances, they didn't dare say anything. They could only swallow their frustration and follow the guards away.
After Qian Lingche left, representatives from the various forces stepped forward one after another to congratulate Ling Yuan.
Meanwhile, Qian Lingche had already quietly left the square with the Heaven Dou Empire's envoys.
Before leaving, he glanced toward Ning Fengzhi and Chen Xin in the distance and gave them a slight nod, signaling that he would head out first.
As for matters on the Spirit Hall side, Ji Lin would handle them and see to the aftermath.
The Heaven Dou Empire's envoy bowed deeply to Qian Lingche and spoke deferentially. "Young Master Qian, His Majesty sent me to apologize to you."
"His Majesty has investigated what happened to you in Heaven Dou City. Xue Beng and Xue Xing provoked you, and His Majesty deeply regrets it. He has already severely punished them both."
Qian Lingche looked at the envoy, somewhat surprised. "Oh? His Majesty is very considerate. That matter was just a misunderstanding. Since he's already dealt with it, I won't pursue it further."
Seeing that Qian Lingche wasn't holding a grudge, the envoy breathed a sigh of relief and hurriedly said, "Young Master Qian is most magnanimous. His Majesty also prepared a generous gift to express his apology."
He carefully took a delicate little box from his robes and held it out to Qian Lingche with both hands. "Young Master Qian, please accept it."
Qian Lingche didn't refuse. He took the delicate box from the envoy.
He gently opened the lid. Inside lay a decree edged with gold.
He took out the decree and slowly unfolded it, scanning its contents.
A moment later, a faint smile appeared on his face. Xue Ye had actually gifted him the Falling Star Mountain Range within the borders of the Heaven Dou Empire as his personal territory.
"His Majesty has been very thoughtful." Qian Lingche folded the decree and looked back at the envoy. "Please tell His Majesty that I'm very pleased with this gift."
When the envoy saw that Qian Lingche had accepted the gift, delight appeared on his face. He hurriedly bowed. "Yes, Young Master Qian! I'll relay your words to His Majesty exactly as you said them."
Qian Lingche nodded slightly, then placed the decree back in its box. "All right, Envoy, you may return. Please give His Majesty my regards."
The envoy promptly agreed, bowed respectfully once more, then turned and left.
Watching the envoy walk away, Qian Lingche's lips curled into a smile. Now he had everything he needed...