The golden holy sword crashed down with the force to destroy heaven and earth. Its fierce, sacred sword energy tore through the air in an instant. Though the entrance to the Undead Demiplane had nearly closed, the lingering force still carried its sharp edge and slammed viciously into everyone around it.
Huo Yuhao felt as though every bone in his body was about to splinter. Holy power stabbed into his meridians like sharp knives. Du Busi and Xuan Zi fought back with every last bit of their Soul Power, but they were still shaken until they spewed blood. Several wounds, deep enough to expose bone, had been carved into their bodies by the sword energy. The holy sword was about to tear them apart completely.
At that critical moment, dazzling blue-gold light suddenly erupted from within Wang Dong. Her spiritual sea burst open, and a tall Blue-Gold Figure slowly appeared. Vast Sea God pressure swirled around him as he fixed a piercing gaze on Qian Daoliu and roared, "Who dares challenge the majesty of the Sea God!"
His voice shook the entire arena. Even the holy sword's assault stalled for a moment. Qian Daoliu's pupils contracted, but he did not stop his hand.
On the high platform, Xu Tianran stared at the Sea God Phantom near Huo Yuhao and muttered in shock, "The Sea God? Are there really gods in this world?" Xu Tianran seemed to have stumbled upon some earth-shattering secret. He trembled uncontrollably, overcome with excitement.
Only when the young woman behind him gently patted his back did Xu Tianran calm down a little.
"Ju Zi, thank you!" Xu Tianran instinctively stroked Ju Zi's delicate hand. Ju Zi instinctively tried to draw back, but in the end, Xu Tianran caught her hand. Fighting down her disgust, Ju Zi forced herself to indulge him.
Nearby, Elder Kong and the middle-aged man in finery stared at the Sea God Phantom, murmuring with shining eyes, "The Sea God?"
"You are the Sea God, the one responsible for destroying my Spirit Hall."
Qian Daoliu carefully examined the Blue-Gold Figure before him. He wore a blue-and-gold divine robe, its flowing sleeves embroidered with wave patterns. Pale blue divine radiance swirled around him. His black hair was tied up, and his handsome face bore a stern majesty. The Sea God Trident mark was set between his brows, and phantom Blue Silver Grass swirled around him. Every inch of him radiated the boundless might of a god.
The Blue-Gold Figure examined Qian Daoliu in turn. His brow furrowed, and after a long silence, he said, "You're Qian Daoliu?"
"You know me?"
Qian Daoliu searched his own memories, but found no one who resembled the Sea God before him.
"You don't remember me, the Sea God? Very well. Ten thousand years ago, I failed to kill you with my own hands. Today, I'll personally kill you, remnant of Spirit Hall."
The Blue-Gold Figure drew upon every bit of divine sense in Wang Dong's spiritual sea, intending to suppress Qian Daoliu with god-level mental power. He had no idea that Qian Daoliu had also cultivated god-level mental power, with unfathomable reserves.
Qian Daoliu's gaze turned cold. His vast divine sense surged out, forcefully overpowering the other in an instant and binding the Sea God's consciousness fast, suppressing it until all its divine power ground to a halt.
"Impossible! You've reached the divine realm too?"
Feeling Qian Daoliu's terrifying mental power, the Blue-Gold Figure's divine sense was suddenly overcome by fear.
"Qian Daoliu, you dare slay a god? You'll regret this! Regret—"
Qian Daoliu raised his hand and shattered the divine sense Sea God Tang San had left within Wang Dong.
Qian Daoliu looked disdainfully at the Sea God's divine sense as it turned into specks of light. "If your true body had descended, I might have feared you a little. But you're nothing more than a divine-sense avatar of the Sea God! Today, I'll slay a god!"
But that delay still gave Huo Yuhao and the others time to escape.
"Dong'er, are you all right? Qian Daoliu, you and I are sworn enemies!" Huo Yuhao's furious roar rang out from within as the Undead Demiplane closed.
On the viewing platform, Xu Tianran and Kong Deming were both breathing hard. "That Angel Your Holiness can actually slay a god!"
Nearby, Bo Saixi gazed at Qian Daoliu with even brighter eyes.
The million spectators inside and outside the arena fell silent at first, then erupted in a deafening roar like a surging sea: "Angel God!"
"Angel God!"
Qian Daoliu felt countless specks of light gathering between his brows. The divine throne behind him grew even more solid.
"Huo Yuhao really is hard to kill!"
Qian Daoliu felt rather helpless. He had used every killing move he had, yet Huo Yuhao had still managed to escape.
Fortunately, Bo Saixi came to his side just then and gently comforted him. "Qian Daoliu, I'll stay by your side until every evil in this world has been eradicated."
Bo Saixi's face was full of tenderness.
At the same time, on the viewing platform, Xu Tianran said something to Elder Kong beside him.
Then Elder Kong, at Xu Tianran's side, ordered the Royal Soul Engineer Corps to lower the protective barrier. He also ordered the crowd inside and outside the arena to disperse, then flew alone to Qian Daoliu and Bo Saixi.
Elder Kong landed in front of Qian Daoliu and Bo Saixi.
He bowed respectfully to them. "I am Kong Deming, Silver Moon Douluo. I greet both Your Holinesses! On behalf of His Majesty, I thank you for helping the Sun Moon Empire eradicate the evil Holy Spirit Cult today!"
"His Majesty has also specifically asked me to invite both Your Holinesses to join him for a discussion!"
Kong Deming adopted a humble posture as he conveyed Xu Tianran's command.
At that, Qian Daoliu noticed that the arena's layers of linked defensive shields had been lowered. He looked up and nodded to Xu Tianran on the viewing platform.
In doing so, he acknowledged Xu Tianran's assistance in helping him kill the fallen today.
Then Qian Daoliu curiously examined the old man before him.
This old man is clearly only a Titled Douluo. Why does he give me such a dangerous feeling?
That was Qian Daoliu's first impression of Kong Deming.
Qian Daoliu still had many questions. Since the Sun Moon Empire's emperor had invited them, he might as well accept and make an acquaintance with the Sun Moon Emperor.
He could also take advantage of the Sun Moon Empire's resources to investigate the history of Spirit Hall's destruction and find out what had happened to Douluo Continent in the ten thousand years since.
"We're honored by the Sun Moon Emperor's invitation. We'll accept. Silver Moon Douluo, lead the way!"
"Of course! This way, Your Holinesses!"
With that, Qian Daoliu led Bo Saixi after Kong Deming to where Xu Tianran, the Sun Moon Emperor, stood.
The layers of linked protective shields around Xu Tianran had already been lowered. Only Ju Zi behind him and the middle-aged man in finery beside him remained.
Kong Deming first introduced them to Qian Daoliu. "Your Holinesses, this is Jing Hongchen, president of the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy and head of Mingde Hall, the continent's foremost Soul Tool sanctuary." He pointed to the middle-aged man in finery.
"This is Her Majesty the Empress, Ju Zi." Kong Deming pointed to the young woman in orange behind Xu Tianran.
"And lastly, this is His Majesty Xu Tianran, the current emperor of the Sun Moon Empire, honored as the Sun Moon Emperor."
Kong Deming bowed slightly to Xu Tianran as he introduced him.
Following Kong Deming's introductions, Qian Daoliu looked at each of them in turn.
Finally, Qian Daoliu and Bo Saixi exchanged a glance, then politely greeted Xu Tianran. "Angel Douluo Qian Daoliu. My respects, Your Majesty!"
"Sea God Douluo Bo Saixi. My respects, Your Majesty!"
Neither of them even bent at the waist.
Xu Tianran did not think anything of it, but Jing Hongchen beside him was incensed.
"How dare you! Your Holinesses, that was far too rude of you. You see His Majesty and don't even kneel!"
At his words, Qian Daoliu and Bo Saixi's faces darkened.
Qian Daoliu turned and raised his hand, about to slap Jing Hongchen flying into the wall. In that instant, he saw a transparent membrane of light unfold around Jing Hongchen, blocking all his attacks.
At the same time, Kong Deming merely lit up his own shield and stood guard in front of Xu Tianran, making no attempt to stop him.
"Protect His Majesty!" Ju Zi cried, her voice trembling, as she called to the Soul Engineer Corps nearby.
Xu Tianran interrupted her. "Everyone, stand down!"
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