World-Nurturing Green Lotus, Endless Life!

The lazy gate guards were directly burned to ashes by the World-Destroying White Lotus, losing all life in an instant and dying without any pain.

Da Niu took the lead, tossing out a stick of explosives. The sturdy gate tower shattered in the blast.

"Kill!"

The muzzles of the AK-47s flashed with fire as explosions rang out one after another.

Da Niu's forces broke into the core region of the Skyfrost Duchy in less than two hours.

Just as Bai Fan had predicted, the Skyfrost Duchy had already been usurped by Spirit Hall. Those nobles had become puppets on the surface, spending their days in debauchery and excess.

A vassal state had been captured by Bai Fan's forces with such ease.

The Republic Empire's soldiers had won so quickly partly because of their unity, but also because the Skyfrost Duchy was rotten from within.

Sheltered by the Heaven Dou Empire, they had remained at peace for so long that they had never imagined anyone would dare attack them.

Bai Fan stood suspended above Skyfrost City.

All of his soul power and spiritual power flowed into the lotus at his chest, and a massive green lotus condensed before him.

The blood aura from the battlefield below streamed endlessly into Bai Fan's chest, where it was transformed into pure soul power.

Yet the intake could not keep up with the expenditure. The green lotus before Bai Fan continued to expand, then drifted from before him to the skies above Skyfrost City. The immense drain of soul power left his legs weak.

At the very last moment, when Bai Fan's soul power and spiritual power were completely depleted, the World-Nurturing Green Lotus covered the skies over all of Skyfrost City.

Bai Fan fell unconscious atop Little Golden Dragon's back as the enormous World-Nurturing Green Lotus descended into Skyfrost City, covering every inch of it.

The sickly old people in the city instantly felt their bodies grow lighter. Middle-aged people whose faces had become haggard from years of toil turned ruddy beneath the green lotus's blessing.

"A miracle! This is truly a miracle!"

"Thank you, Holy Lord, for your mercy!"

"Thank you, Holy Lord, for curing my old mother's illness! I am willing to brave fire and water for you!"

All the people in Skyfrost City knelt on the ground and worshipped Bai Fan atop Little Golden Dragon's back.

Da Niu arranged for his men to settle the citizens, while he himself took the unconscious Bai Fan from Little Golden Dragon's back.

Yu Yuanzhen, who had been watching everything from the shadows, sighed softly. "Foolish child... Why must you do this? With your current talent, you are destined to become a powerful Titled Douluo. Why risk your life for these people?"

Yu Yuanzhen could only sigh helplessly. He had tried to persuade Bai Fan before, but Bai Fan had been resolute and had even threatened to sever their father-son relationship. Though Yu Yuanzhen knew Bai Fan was doing this for the sect's future.

In the end, Yu Yuanzhen still chose to support Bai Fan's actions and observe silently from the shadows.

Outside the Heavenly Screen.

Emperor Xue Ye cried out in disbelief, "Impossible! How could the Skyfrost Duchy have been taken so easily? Even if it is only the weakest vassal state!"

Emperor Xue Ye had lost the ability to think calmly. He paid no attention to Spirit Hall's infiltration of the Skyfrost Duchy, focusing only on how Bai Fan and his people had effortlessly seized one of his vassal states.

The ruler of the Star Luo Empire gazed thoughtfully at the Skyfrost Duchy displayed on the Heavenly Screen.

There will never be a second Bai Fan in an era. Perhaps I can become the greatest ruler in the Star Luo Empire's history.

The Star Luo Empire has a chance to unify the continent!

As his thoughts deepened, the light in Dai Lie's eyes grew ever brighter.

"All of you, heed my command!"

The moment his words fell, every civil official below immediately knelt.

Unlike the Heaven Dou Empire, where nobles monopolized the court and ruled the government, the Star Luo Empire revered strength.

The Star Luo Empire possessed a highly centralized system. The court had a prime minister and six ministers, while nobles could enjoy privileges but held no autonomous territories.

A group of military officers stood to one side in armor. At their head was a tall, thin man with a vicious gaze.

"From this day onward, send spies to monitor the rebels in the remote regions of the Heaven Dou Empire."

"Your Majesty, you must not!" Prime Minister Wei Yong, kneeling on the ground, urgently spoke up to stop him. "The Heaven Dou Empire is our enemy. How can we help them eliminate rebels?"

Dai Lie laughed loudly. "Hahaha! Who told you I intend to help the Heaven Dou Empire? I want you to secretly support those rebels. Better yet, make sure they can fight the Heaven Dou Empire to a standstill."

Wei Yong's eyes shifted. Then he bent lower at the waist and declared in an admiring tone, "Your Majesty is wise! This minister will certainly devote all his efforts to this matter and present Your Majesty with a perfect result."

Wei Yong had fought his way up from commoner origins to become prime minister. Was he truly stupid? Could he really not see Dai Lie's intentions from the beginning?

Inside the Heavenly Screen.

Bai Fan, drenched in sweat, suddenly sat upright and gasped for breath.

"Why did that dream feel so real? No... dreams are all fake."

As Bai Fan pondered, waves of noisy voices reached his ears.

"Sir, these are eggs from my family's free-range chickens. They're very nutritious. Hurry and deliver them to the Holy Lord."

"Sir, my daughter is very good at taking care of people. Let my daughter go attend to the Holy Lord!"

"Sir, these are white-flour steamed buns my old mother made especially. You should all have some."

Because Bai Fan had summoned the Radiant World Golden Lotus as soon as the battle began, the desolate battlefield had slowly begun to regain its prosperity the moment the battle ended.

Coupled with the effects of Bai Fan's World-Nurturing Green Lotus, everyone in Skyfrost City was brimming with vitality.

The people here were sincerely grateful to Bai Fan and his companions, offering them what they considered their finest possessions.

Bai Fan rose with a pounding head, then pushed open the door. Before him was a sea of people.

"The Holy Lord has come out!"

No one knew who shouted it, but everyone saw Bai Fan's pale face.

Da Niu and the others, who had initially been holding back the citizens, could not withstand their enthusiasm and were pushed aside.

The people stretched out steamed buns, chickens, honey, and other goods toward Bai Fan.

Bai Fan could not withstand everyone's enthusiasm and hurriedly explained.

"Fellow villagers, we are all soldiers of the Republic Empire. We did not help you in order to receive repayment. We only want every ordinary person to live with dignity."

"I accept your goodwill. From this day onward, this place will no longer be called Skyfrost City. This place is called the Republic Empire, and every citizen is a master of the empire!"

Bai Fan's impassioned speech brought tears to the people's eyes.

"Long live the Holy Lord! Long live the Holy Lord!"

After the interruption, Bai Fan took Da Niu into a private room.

Seeing Bai Fan's solemn expression, Da Niu did not dare speak carelessly.

"Da Niu, how much soul power do you have now?"

"Boss, I'm a little slow. Even with your help, I still only have level-nine soul power." Da Niu answered Bai Fan embarrassedly.

"No, you are not stupid. You were simply born at the wrong time."

"Do you know what is most important to a person?"

"A martial soul?" Da Niu looked at Bai Fan and answered tentatively.

"No. It is ideology. It is the dimension of thought."

"As everyone knows, spiritual power is extremely important to soul masters, and spiritual power is another manifestation of ideology and the dimension of thought."

"The reason humans are human, the greatest difference between us and soul beasts, is that we possess abundant creativity and innate thought. Perhaps many people's thoughts are changed by their circumstances, but one must admit that some people will always be different."

Da Niu listened in a daze, not knowing what Bai Fan's purpose was in saying all this.

"Do you know why I said you were born at the wrong time?"

Da Niu shook his head.