Evil Lord Soul Engineer Legion, Dai Hao, the Source of All Evil

"This aura... a Titled Douluo!?"

Ji Juechen was greatly surprised, and Jing Ziyan was not much better.

Xiao Hongchen and Meng Hongchen were far calmer. They had faced the Titan Snow Demon King in the Extreme North and experienced the pressure of the Ice Jade Emperor Scorpion. This ordinary Titled Douluo-level aura barely stirred them at all.

Yan Jingchuan, meanwhile, had an obvious guess after hearing that tiger's roar.

What Star Luo Empire army was stationed in the Ming Dou Mountains besides the White Tiger Legion?

A White Tiger Soul Master at the Titled Douluo level was most likely Dai Hao.

As they rapidly approached the Ming Dou Mountains, another even more violent and scorching aura erupted shortly afterward. Two distinct soul pressures confronted each other in open rivalry.

"Another Titled Douluo!"

While the others were astonished, Ye Yulin and Zheng Zhan sensed familiar soul power fluctuations and could not help exchanging a glance.

"Elder Ye, please conceal our tracks."

Yan Jingchuan did not particularly want to interfere. He intended to observe first before making a decision.

Dealing with the Original Douluo Three Kingdoms was far too troublesome. Not only were they dim-witted and unreasonable, but this trip also involved important business. They had no spare attention to waste on them.

Ye Yulin nodded and raised his hand. A massive circular metal soul tool swiftly soared into the sky.

Inside its metal casing, golden and silver spheres of light echoed one another as they revolved around the center, intertwining into an even larger ball of gold-and-silver light.

"The Sun Moon Divine Needle? Isn't it an offensive and reconnaissance soul tool? How can it conceal our tracks?"

Seeing Ye Yulin take out one of his prized possessions, Zheng Zhan was not merely puzzled but thoroughly baffled.

As the Sun Moon Empire's renowned Class 9 offensive soul tool, the Sun Moon Divine Needle had been personally forged by Ye Yulin, the Starry Sky Douluo. It was exceptionally suited for aerial combat and long-range strikes, and its power was formidable.

"It previously could only attack and scout. But after Elder Kong and I improved it, it can now use spiritual power to conceal one's body and aura as well."

As Ye Yulin spoke, he activated the Sun Moon Divine Needle, which had already risen to an altitude of sixteen hundred meters, releasing spiritual fluctuations that affected an area within ten li.

The previous Sun Moon Divine Needle had been purely a strategic strike and reconnaissance soul tool. It could strike far and see far, but its size and commotion had been considerable flaws.

In the original story, Yan Jingchuan had been deeply impressed by this soul tool. Now that he had transmigrated here and had the chance to meet Ye Yulin—and Ye Yulin was one of his own—he was naturally willing to offer a few suggestions.

With a few pointers from Yan Jingchuan, whose perspective far exceeded that of the present era, Ye Yulin felt as though he had suddenly been enlightened. With Kong Deming's assistance, he made several improvements to the Sun Moon Divine Needle.

The current Sun Moon Divine Needle had gained the additional ability to conceal its form and aura. Its core metal components had also been replaced with Spirit Forged metal, allowing it to achieve an initial fusion with Ye Yulin himself.

Not only could it strike far, see far, and hit hard, but no one could even find it.

Ye Yulin's explanation only made Zheng Zhan more astonished. Of course, he knew who was responsible for this. He had not believed in Yan Jingchuan, that little brat, before, and had held far more doubts than trust toward him.

But with the facts laid out before him, his attitude toward Yan Jingchuan gradually began to change.

Yan Jingchuan himself was rather speechless. He thought it was an obvious idea: hide a devastating weapon like the Sun Moon Divine Needle, then suddenly give the enemy a few shots. If they could not even find it, they had no way to counter it.

He had never thought himself particularly clever. Rather, many Douluo natives seemed as if they had never grown brains at all, with Shrek serving as the prime example.

Under the cover of the Sun Moon Divine Needle's spiritual power, the seven gradually descended and stopped above the Ming Dou Mountains.

Below them, two armies stood in confrontation, with two Titled Douluo at the forefront facing each other needle for needle.

Yan Jingchuan's gaze locked onto the Titled Douluo with the White Tiger martial soul. The man was powerfully built, with golden hair and heterochromatic eyes. He was none other than Dai Hao, Duke White Tiger.

Yan Jingchuan had seen Dai Hao while he was still at Shrek Academy. Come to think of it, Dai Hao seemed to have been in the same class as his nominal father, Yan Shaozhe.

Their soul power levels, however, were worlds apart. Yan Shaozhe was now Rank 95, while Dai Hao was at most Rank 93.

"The Evil Lord Soul Engineer Legion... so it really is that fellow Wang Yiheng."

Ye Yulin and Zheng Zhan recognized the other Titled Douluo.

Upon hearing this, Yan Jingchuan looked over as well. Xiao Hongchen and Meng Hongchen, meanwhile, gave Ji Juechen, the sword fanatic who knew nothing but sword practice, and the half-informed Jing Ziyan a detailed explanation of the Evil Lord Soul Engineer Legion.

"Our Sun Moon Empire's soul engineer legions are divided into different ranks. The Hand of the Empire is the highest rank, consisting of five elite legions: one Imperial Soul Engineer Legion and four Beast King-level soul engineer legions."

"The four Beast King-level soul engineer legions are the Evil Lord Soul Engineer Legion, Terrorclaw Soul Engineer Legion, Fire Phoenix Soul Engineer Legion, and Imperial Dragon Soul Engineer Legion."

"A Beast King-level soul engineer legion has around three hundred members. Every member is a soul engineer, with Soul King as the minimum requirement. They are equipped with the most advanced soul tools, and their combat strength far surpasses that of traditional Soul Master armies."

Comparing them with Star Luo's White Tiger Legion, everyone could clearly see the disparity. Every member of the Evil Lord Soul Engineer Legion was equipped with excellent offensive soul tools, while the rear ranks had a great many soul cannons.

Although the White Tiger Legion did indeed have more high-level Soul Masters overall than the Evil Lord Soul Engineer Legion, taken individually, its number of high-level Soul Masters was merely decent and not particularly vast.

The most crucial difference was still their soul tools. The White Tiger Legion did not merely lack soul cannons; many of its soul tools had been discarded by the Sun Moon Empire.

In a battle without top-tier powerhouses capable of deciding everything with a single blow, the gap in equipment was the gap in strength.

"The Evil Lord Soul Engineer Legion's commander is Wang Yiheng, the Mad Bull Douluo. He is a Class 9 soul engineer and a Rank 94 Titled Douluo, stationed near the Ming Dou Mountains year-round to guard against the Star Luo Empire."

"That big idiot from Star Luo is the White Tiger Legion's commander. He seems to be some kind of duke, and his soul power is only around Rank 91 or 92."

Pointing at the two Titled Douluo, Xiao Hongchen made no attempt to hide his contempt for the Star Luo Empire.

Yan Jingchuan said nothing. He quietly looked down below and watched the show in silence.

Beneath Dai Hao and Wang Yiheng's feet, nine identical soul rings—yellow, yellow, purple, purple, black, black, black, black, black—pulsed in rhythm. The latter was even larger than Dai Hao, with a pair of bull horns pointing skyward. His voice was rough and low.

"Duke White Tiger, what is the meaning of your men crossing the border into our territory without authorization!?"

Dai Hao's expression was grave. His side was already weaker overall, and this time, he truly was in the wrong. Yet he could not bow his head so easily at a time like this.

"Commander Wang, this is a misunderstanding. My men were pursuing Evil Soul Masters, eager to rid the people of harm, and accidentally crossed the border..."

"Hmph!"

Wang Yiheng's heavy snort interrupted Dai Hao, followed by a cold sneer.

"Evil Soul Masters again? Dai Hao, can't you come up with a fresher excuse? Do you really take me for a fool!?"

Dai Hao's eyes darkened at having his name called directly. As the Duke White Tiger of the Star Luo Empire, his status was immensely noble. No one had ever dared speak to him like that.

If not for the disparity in strength, he truly wanted to fight Wang Yiheng.

"Mad Bull Douluo, then tell me, how do you wish to settle this?"

Dai Hao asked through gritted teeth.

"Hand over the people who entered Sun Moon Empire territory!"

Wang Yiheng's words made Dai Hao's expression change drastically.

"Impossible!"

Dai Hao could never hand over his own men in front of so many eyes. If he did, he would not only be condemned as weak and incompetent, but the White Tiger Legion's soldiers would also lose heart. Once their morale collapsed, the consequences would be beyond control.

"Then there's nothing left to discuss!"

A phantom of a mad bull emerged as soul power surged around Wang Yiheng.