The indolent soldiers at the city gate were reduced to ash, flesh and blood alike, by the World-Destroying White Lotus. In an instant, they lost all signs of life and died without any pain.
Da Niu took the lead, tossing out a stick of explosives. The sturdy gate tower shattered amid the blast.
"Kill!"
Flames erupted from the muzzles of the AK-47s as explosions rang out one after another.
In less than two hours, the force led by Da Niu had broken into the core region of the Skyfrost Duchy.
Just as Bai Fan had anticipated, the Skyfrost Duchy had already been usurped by Spirit Hall. Those nobles had become puppets in plain sight, spending their days in debauchery.
An affiliated state was conquered by Bai Fan's forces with such ease.
The Republic Empire's soldiers had won so quickly partly because of their unity, but more importantly, because the Skyfrost Duchy was rotten from within.
Sheltered by the Heaven Dou Empire, they had lived in peace for far too long and had never imagined that anyone would dare attack them.
Bai Fan stood in the skies above Skyfrost City.
All his Soul Power and spiritual power flowed into the lotus at his heart, forming a massive green lotus before him.
The bloodlust from the battlefield below streamed endlessly into Bai Fan's chest, where it was converted into pure Soul Power.
Yet it could not keep up with the expenditure. The green lotus before Bai Fan continued to expand, then floated from before him into the skies above Skyfrost City. The immense drain of Soul Power made his legs go weak.
At the final instant, when Bai Fan's Soul Power and spiritual power were completely exhausted, the World-Nurturing Green Lotus covered the skies above all of Skyfrost City.
Bai Fan fainted atop Little Golden Dragon's back as the enormous World-Nurturing Green Lotus descended into Skyfrost City, covering every inch of it.
The frail old people in the city instantly felt their bodies grow lighter, while the middle-aged people whose faces had become haggard from years of toil gained rosy complexions under 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 mother's illness. I am willing to brave fire and water for you."
All the citizens of Skyfrost City knelt on the ground, bowing toward Bai Fan atop Little Golden Dragon's back.
Da Niu arranged for his brothers to settle the citizens, while he personally took the unconscious Bai Fan down from Little Golden Dragon's back.
Yu Yuanzhen, who had been observing everything from the shadows, sighed softly. "Foolish child... why must you do this? With your current talent, you will surely become a powerful Titled Douluo in the future. 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, even going so far as to threaten 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 chose to tacitly approve of Bai Fan's actions and silently watch from the shadows.
Beyond the Heavenly Screen.
Xue Ye cried out in utter discomposure, "Impossible! How could the Skyfrost Duchy have been taken so easily, even if it is only the weakest affiliated state?"
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 the others had effortlessly seized one of his affiliated states.
The ruler of the Star Luo Empire looked thoughtfully at the Skyfrost Duchy on the Heavenly Screen.
"A second Bai Fan will never appear in the same era. Perhaps I can become the greatest ruler in 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 increasingly intense.
"All of you, heed my command!"
The moment his words fell, every civil official below the throne instantly dropped to their knees.
Unlike the Heaven Dou Empire, where nobles monopolized the court, the Star Luo Empire revered strength.
The Star Luo Empire possessed a highly centralized system. Its court had a prime minister and six ministers, while nobles could enjoy privileges but held no autonomous territories.
A group of military generals stood to one side in armor. At their head stood a tall, gaunt man with vicious eyes.
"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, hurriedly tried to stop him. "The Heaven Dou Empire is our enemy. How can we help them eliminate their rebels?"
"Hahaha! Who told you I intended 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 even lower at the waist and declared in an admiring tone, "Your Majesty is wise! This humble subject will devote all his efforts to this matter and present Your Majesty with a perfect result."
Wei Yong had risen from commoner status through slaughter to become prime minister. Was he truly foolish? Could he really have failed to see Dai Lie's intention from the start?
Within the Heavenly Screen.
Bai Fan, drenched in sweat, suddenly sat upright and gasped for breath.
"Why did that dream feel so real? No, it can't be. Dreams are all fake."
As Bai Fan pondered, waves of noisy voices reached his ears.
"Sir, these are eggs from my family's hens. They're very nutritious. Please hurry and deliver them to the Holy Lord."
"Sir, my daughter is very good at taking care of people. Let my daughter care for the Holy Lord!"
"Sir, these are steamed white-flour buns my mother specially made. You should all have some."
Because Bai Fan had summoned the Radiant World Golden Lotus the moment the battle began, the desolate battlefield had slowly begun to regain its vitality the instant the battle ended.
Combined with the effects of Bai Fan's World-Nurturing Green Lotus, everyone in Skyfrost City had burst with life.
The citizens here were sincerely grateful to Bai Fan and the others, offering them what they considered their best possessions.
Bai Fan rose despite his pounding head, then pushed open the door. Before his eyes was a dense sea of people.
"The Holy Lord is out!"
No one knew who shouted it, but everyone saw the pale-faced Bai Fan.
Da Niu and the others, who had been blocking the citizens, were ultimately unable to withstand their enthusiasm and were pushed aside.
The citizens stretched out buns, chickens, honey, and other offerings 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 anything in return. We only want every ordinary person to live with dignity."
"I appreciate your kindness. From this day onward, this place will no longer be called Skyfrost City. This place is the Republic Empire, and every citizen is a master of the empire!"
Bai Fan's impassioned speech brought tears to the citizens' eyes.
"Long live the Holy Lord! Long live the Holy Lord!"
After the interlude, Bai Fan brought Da Niu into a private room.
Seeing Bai Fan's solemn expression, Da Niu did not dare speak carelessly.
"Da Niu, what level is your Soul Power at now?"
"Boss, I'm a little slow-witted. Even with your help, I'm still only at level nine Soul Power." Da Niu answered Bai Fan sheepishly.
"No, you are not stupid. You were simply born at the wrong time."
"Do you know what is most important for a person?"
"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 creative ability and innate thoughts. Perhaps many people's thoughts are altered after birth, but we must admit that some people will always be different."
Da Niu listened in a daze, not understanding Bai Fan's purpose in saying all this.
"Do you know why I said you were born at the wrong time?"
Da Niu shook his head.
Before you continue