Faith Red Lotus, Eternal and Undying!

The pitch-black night sky was torn apart by firelight.

At that moment, the city lord was frolicking in bed with a beauty in his arms.

Several Soul Masters stationed in the city blocked Bai Fan's path. "Bold of you to launch a sneak attack on territory under Imperial rule."

They revealed their martial souls—four Soul Ancestors, each with the same white, yellow, yellow, purple soul rings.

Bai Fan showed no reaction.

Thinking Bai Fan was looking down on them, the men shouted sharply, "You coward who dares not show his face, how dare you ignore us?"

The four men unleashed their soul skills at Bai Fan in unison, but he did not dodge.

"Killing God Domain, activate!"

A blood-red mist enveloped the people before him, and Bai Fan easily blocked the incoming soul skills.

The overwhelming killing intent spreading through the area coiled around the four men, eroding their minds.

"Don't kill me! The city lord made me do all those filthy things."

"Get lost! You dead bastards dare cause trouble for me? If you want someone to blame, blame your granddaughter for being too beautiful."

"Don't kill me! I only killed a few old people in my life. I just thought they were suffering too much, so I wanted to help free them."

As if trapped in an illusion, they muttered to themselves while wildly waving their hands before them.

Bai Fan's gaze shifted from calm to furious as the World-Destroying White Lotus gathered in his palm.

"Repent for the sins you have committed!"

The white lotus drifted toward the people trapped in the illusion. Bai Fan gave a soft shout. "Explode!"

The lotus suddenly detonated. A powerful wave of energy annihilated them, and even the city gates trembled from the blast's aftershock.

"All of you, heed my command! Capture the city lord alive and kill anyone who resists!"

"Remember, do not harm a single civilian in this city. Those who violate this order will die!"

"Understood!" the crowd behind him shouted in response.

The vast crowd rushed into the city, while Bai Fan stood atop the gates and watched silently.

"Let tonight's blood cleanse this place of its sins. Prepare to welcome the rebirth of light."

Suddenly, Bai Fan closed his eyes as an endless stream of motes of light entered his body.

Under Bai Fan's spiritual control, all the motes gathered in his palm and gradually took the shape of a lotus.

"Power of Conviction? It can actually form a second lotus?"

The emergence of the World-Destroying White Lotus had already been a miracle. Bai Fan had never imagined that he could condense a second one.

The World-Destroying White Lotus had been formed while Bai Fan trained in Slaughter City. Fierce killing intent had invaded his heart, and he had nearly been devoured by slaughter. At that critical moment, he relied on memories of the past to forcibly stay lucid.

Imitating the self-created soul skill Bibi Dong had taught him, he controlled the killing intent within his body and created a unique soul power circulation route.

Under Bai Fan's control, the killing intent flowed along that route into his heart, where it slowly took the shape of a lotus.

During the period when the lotus took shape in his heart, Bai Fan had passed out from pain several times. Yet the beautiful memories buried deep in his mind pulled him back again and again.

In the end, the lotus successfully stabilized. The killing intent flowed into the white lotus along that route. After being refined by the lotus, pure soul power was expelled and flowed into every part of Bai Fan's body.

This time, the formation of the Faith Red Lotus had been entirely due to that route within his body.

Their first battle had ended in victory, and everyone in the group developed sincere faith in Bai Fan. The Power of Conviction flowed through the route in Bai Fan's body and into the lotus at his heart, turning the originally pure-white lotus into a blend of white and red.

"Bring peace to troubled times, save all living beings."

"Faith Red Lotus, eternal and undying!"

The transparent lotus in Bai Fan's hand instantly turned red—the red that symbolized faith.

With my current level 65 soul power, I should be able to rival a Late Soul Saint. Bai Fan assessed his own strength.

"Boss, everything in the city has been dealt with. What should we do next?" Da Niu ran up behind Bai Fan and reported the current situation.

Bai Fan gazed into the distance with deep eyes. "Tonight, identify every noble who has committed every kind of evil. Investigate their network of connections with the landlords and local gentry in the city. Tomorrow, punish them according to the severity of their crimes."

"Boss, we captured the city lord alive too. You have no idea what a beast he is. When we found him, there were still many young girls in his chambers. We've already arranged for them to be sent back to their homes."

Bai Fan's eyes turned cold. "Execute him by firing squad in front of everyone in the city. We'll use the opportunity to show off our strength and intimidate the petty scum in the city."

"Oh, and if the members of the local Spirit Hall branch have not committed evil, release them."

"Got it, Boss." Da Niu turned and left the city gates.

After this battle, Bai Fan did not relax in the slightest. Many thoughts ran through his mind.

Those who slay dragons eventually become dragons themselves. Our future organization must never follow the Empire's old path.

The next day.

All the city's civilians were gathered together.

All the city's former nobles knelt neatly atop the raised platform.

"Boss, the investigation was completed last night. Every noble present has blood on their hands. Even the least guilty among them bears at least five lives."

Bai Fan sat in his chair, lightly tapping a finger against the armrest. He was waiting—waiting for someone to step forward and speak.

Da Niu, at his side, seemed to receive an order and shouted loudly.

"Following the investigation, these people have disregarded the law and murdered at will. They are to be executed immediately."

"Wait."

A voice of objection swiftly drew everyone's attention. A group of young Soul Masters walked toward the platform.

"What right do you have to deal with officials appointed by the Empire? You are nothing but rebels. Just wait for the Empire to deal with you!"

Bai Fan slowly rose from his chair and clapped his hands. "Not bad. I've finally been waiting for you."

"You masked rebel who dares not show your face, I already sent the situation here back to Imperial headquarters last night. Just wait to be purged by the Empire!"

"Do you know why I wasn't in a hurry to kill them? Because I was waiting for you—for people like you who collude with the nobles to step forward on your own."

"I really don't know whether to call you bold or ignorant. I've gone this far already, so what makes you think I don't dare kill people?"

Bai Fan said no more. He raised his right hand and pushed his palm forward. Dozens of warriors behind him pulled the triggers of their AK-47s.

A dense barrage of bullets streaked past Bai Fan and tore toward the nobles on the ground and those Soul Masters.

The ground was covered in blood and mangled flesh, while the area beneath the platform fell deathly silent.

Several minutes later, an elderly voice sobbed, "My child! Did you see it? These people have finally been punished."

That voice acted like a catalyst. More and more civilians began to cry and shout, pouring out their grievances.

Once the crying had subsided, Bai Fan stood on the platform and spoke loudly.

"Fellow citizens, quiet down. From this day onward, this place will no longer be governed by the Heaven Dou Empire."

"We will establish a new nation here, a nation where everyone is equal. Everyone will be supervised by the people, and no one will stand above the law. Our purpose is to serve the people."

"From today onward, the Republic Empire is officially established!"