Perilous Situation

Afterward, Qian Daoliu, Bo Saixi, and the others followed Kong Deming out of the hall to welcome Xu Tianran.

Outside the Soul Hall's Worship Hall!

Qian Daoliu, Bo Saixi, and the others saw Xu Tianran arriving with Ju Zi, Jing Hongchen, and Xu Tianyuan, whom they had met not long ago.

"Xu Tianran pays his respects to Your Graces!"

Xu Tianran stepped forward first, beating Qian Daoliu and Bo Saixi to the greeting.

"Heh, heh, heh~"

As he spoke, Xu Tianran couldn't stop coughing.

Ju Zi, standing behind him, kept patting his back, as if trying to ease his discomfort.

Feeling the warmth against his back, Xu Tianran immediately took Ju Zi's hand in his right hand and gently patted it, signaling that he was fine.

Then Xu Tianran continued speaking to Qian Daoliu and Bo Saixi.

"My legs are inconvenient, so I can't bow to Your Graces!"

Seeing this, Qian Daoliu and Bo Saixi furrowed their brows slightly.

They exchanged a glance, thinking the same thing: In just one year, His Majesty has grown so old! And it seems he's gravely injured!

Qian Daoliu looked at Xu Tianran and could tell at a glance that he was in extremely poor condition. He simply didn't know the full extent of his injuries.

Qian Daoliu turned to look at Bo Saixi, and their eyes met.

Bo Saixi immediately understood what Qian Daoliu was indicating.

She used a little of her life force to examine Xu Tianran, and sensed wisps of death energy coiling around inside his body. His vitality was rapidly draining away.

His symptoms resembled those Bo Saixi had suffered after being struck by the Death God Ray, though Xu Tianran had not sustained as much damage as she had.

At the same time, Bo Saixi sensed something else inside Xu Tianran, something like a toxin that was also consuming his vitality.

With both forces working together, Xu Tianran's fate was already sealed.

But Bo Saixi was no longer the same as before.

Bo Saixi secretly transmitted to Qian Daoliu, "Qian Daoliu, Xu Tianran is wrapped in death energy!"

At her words, a chill entered Qian Daoliu's eyes.

Qian Daoliu met Kong Deming's gaze, and Kong Deming nodded to confirm it.

Qian Daoliu let out a long sigh, then composed his expression.

He said to Xu Tianran, "Your Majesty, I'm very curious about the situation on the Douluo Continent!"

"Would you mind explaining it to me in private?"

Qian Daoliu had chosen his words carefully.

Whoever had poisoned Xu Tianran right under Kong Deming's nose must be someone close to him.

Qian Daoliu's gaze passed over Kong Deming, the first person he ruled out.

Next was Xu Tianyuan, but Qian Daoliu couldn't be sure.

Then there was Jing Hongchen, whom Qian Daoliu also couldn't rule in or out.

Finally, there was Ju Zi, who had been standing behind Xu Tianran the whole time. Qian Daoliu still couldn't be sure about her either.

In the end, Qian Daoliu could only speak with Xu Tianran in private, so that he could help restore Xu Tianran's vitality.

After all, Bo Saixi now possessed the Life Scepter, the Super Divine Artifact of the Life God King.

Besides, this was no mere loss of vitality. Xu Tianran's legs and lower body were crippled.

If Bo Saixi wished, she could resolve all of it for him.

Nearby, Xu Tianran was overjoyed to hear that Qian Daoliu wanted to speak with him privately.

He had already given up hope for his body.

But the arrival of Qian Daoliu and Bo Saixi had rekindled his hope of living.

"Of course. I wouldn't dare refuse!"

Xu Tianran held back his coughing and signaled for Kong Deming to push his wheelchair.

Ju Zi, standing behind him, spoke up to stop him. "Your Majesty, you're not feeling well!"

"Why don't I push you?"

Xu Tianran stopped her. "Ju Zi, you and Jing Hongchen and the others wait outside the hall!"

"Your Graces, Angel and Sea God, please lead the way!"

"Elder Kong, let's go!"

Outside the hall, only Ye Guyi, Qiangu Zhenyue, Qiangu Zhenxie, Jin Lin, Guang Yao, Ju Zi, Jing Hongchen, Xu Tianyuan, and the others remained.

Inside the Soul Hall's Worship Hall.

Kong Deming had just pushed Xu Tianran into the Worship Hall behind Qian Daoliu and Bo Saixi.

Qian Daoliu immediately summoned his Six-Winged Angel Martial Soul and released the Angel Domain, sealing off the surrounding space.

After finishing, Qian Daoliu addressed Xu Tianran first. "Brother Kong, tell me what happened to His Majesty's injuries."

Xu Tianran and Kong Deming relaxed slightly, seeing how cautious Qian Daoliu was.

Then, at Xu Tianran's signal, Kong Deming began to speak.

He said to Qian Daoliu, "Brother Qian, half a year after you disappeared..."

"The Holy Spirit Cult made more than one attempt to assassinate His Majesty!"

"During the most vicious attack, the Holy Spirit Cult's leaders first—!"

"His Majesty was attacked by Ye Xishui and Zhongli Wu during that most vicious assault!"

By this point, Qian Daoliu had more or less understood what had happened.

He added, "Brother Kong, did the Holy Spirit Cult fire a beam of death energy?"

At this, Kong Deming's pupils contracted. "Brother Qian, how do you know about the Death God Ray?"

Qian Daoliu didn't hide anything from Kong Deming. "Because Xixi and I were struck by Ye Xishui of the Holy Spirit Cult and her Death God Soul Guidance Device. That's what sent us tumbling into a canyon!"

"What?"

Hearing that Qian Daoliu and Bo Saixi had survived being struck by the Death God Ray, Kong Deming's mouth fell open like a goose egg.

No one knew better than he did how terrifying the Death God Soul Guidance Device was.

The Death God Soul Guidance Device could be called the Holy Spirit Cult's ultimate weapon, a forbidden Soul Tool that came infinitely close to Level Ten.

The Death God Ray it fired possessed the terrifying destructive power of a Limit Douluo, and carried with it the overbearing, frigid Origin of Death.

Once the ray pierced the body, it took root in the meridians and bones, constantly devouring the victim's vitality and wrapping them in death energy. It was nearly impossible to eradicate. Even those lucky enough to survive would be permanently left gravely injured, their vitality scattered.

Thinking of all this, Kong Deming dropped to his knees before Qian Daoliu and Bo Saixi, leaving them both stunned. "Brother Qian, on behalf of the billions of people in the Sun Moon Empire, I beg you—please save His Majesty!"

"The situation on the Douluo Continent is treacherous and unpredictable! The Holy Spirit Cult, Shrek Academy, the Star Dou Great Forest, and the Xingluo Empire are all eyeing the Sun Moon Empire covetously!"

"The Sun Moon Empire can't be without His Majesty!~"

Kong Deming knelt on the ground, his words utterly sincere.

Qian Daoliu could hardly believe this old fellow Kong could look so serious.

He had originally wanted to tease the old fellow a little.

But now, it seemed he couldn't do that.

For the Soul Hall to continue developing in peace, and for the billions of people in the Sun Moon Empire, Qian Daoliu decided to have Bo Saixi save Xu Tianran, the powerful ruler before them.

Qian Daoliu decided to have Bo Saixi save Xu Tianran, the powerful ruler before them.

Nearby, Xu Tianran saw that Kong Deming was willing to go so far for him.

The tough man's eyes brimmed with tears, but he didn't let them fall.

He simply watched Qian Daoliu and Bo Saixi with an expression full of hope.

Silence spoke louder than words.

Seeing this, Qian Daoliu didn't want to put Kong Deming in a difficult position.

So, in front of Kong Deming, Qian Daoliu said to Xu Tianran, "Xu Tianran, I can save you today!"

"But I'm doing it for the billions of people of the Sun Moon Empire!"

"And for Kong Deming, the Worshipper of my Soul Hall!"

"I hope that once you've been given a new lease on life, you'll govern diligently and bring prosperity to the people!"

After saying this, Qian Daoliu turned to Bo Saixi. "Xixi, go ahead."

At his words, Kong Deming's body trembled slightly.

Hope ignited in Xu Tianran's eyes. He repeatedly swore, "Your Graces, I, Xu Tianran, swear that if I can be given a new lease on life this time..."

"I'll treat Your Graces like my own parents!"

"I also promise to govern diligently and bring prosperity to the people!"

"I won't let down the kindness of Your Graces in giving me a new life!"