The good-for-nothing Yu Xiaogang collapsed onto the ground, his face pale as paper. Cold sweat poured from his forehead, mixing with the dust on the ground and forming a miserable gray smear.
His mouth hung wide open as if he were shouting something, but only a steady stream of old blood poured out, staining his collar and the ground beneath him red.
Yu Xiaogang's tongue unconsciously lolled out. From the extreme pain and shock, it trembled outside his mouth like an injured old dog panting beneath the scorching sun.
His eyes were wide open, filled with fear of the unknown.
Liu Erlong lay weakly beside Yu Xiaogang, and she was in no better condition. She clutched her chest tightly. Her black leather outfit had been soaked through with sweat and clung tightly to her body, outlining her graceful figure. Beneath the leather, her long legs were tightly curled, as if that could ease her pain. Her face was also covered in a mixture of dust and sweat, making her look utterly bedraggled.
The old bachelor Flender lay flat on the ground, his legs splayed apart in a disgusting posture. His face was likewise covered in dust and sweat, leaving him looking wretched. His reading glasses had been completely shattered by that strike, the fragments scattered across his face and leaving several tiny cuts. He gasped heavily, as though struggling to breathe in his final breaths of air.
All three stared in terror at Fairy Yuechan, who floated in the distant sky. Her skirts fluttered around her, and her beauty was peerless, like an immortal untouched by mortal dust.
Beneath her cold and aloof temperament lurked an overwhelming pressure that made people afraid to meet her gaze. There was not the slightest emotional fluctuation in her eyes, as if she were looking at three ants making their final struggles.
That look filled the good-for-nothing Yu Xiaogang, Liu Erlong, and the old bachelor Flender with inexplicable terror.
"Who exactly is that woman? Could she be the fake crown prince's helper?"
The good-for-nothing Yu Xiaogang said, his old face trembling.
Liu Erlong bit her seductive red lips and said with her delicate body shaking, "Very likely."
Flender also frowned. Looking at the woman's figure, he felt a powerful pressure. "That woman is so strong. What realm has she reached? I've never heard of Spirit Hall having such an expert, and one so young at that."
The good-for-nothing Yu Xiaogang shook his head. His face was pale, and his eyes revealed a deep sense of helplessness. He said slowly, "I heard long ago that within Spirit Hall, there is a legendary Worship Hall that stands above even the Papal Hall. Every worshipper in that Worship Hall possesses strength no weaker than a Super Douluo. That woman must be one of those worshippers."
Flender's heart sank at those words. He knew well how powerful and mysterious the Worship Hall was. It was Spirit Hall's most elite force. If that woman truly was an expert from the Worship Hall, then their situation was even more dangerous.
"What do we do?" Flender asked anxiously. "We need Sword Douluo and Bone Douluo to come support us."
The good-for-nothing Yu Xiaogang spat out another mouthful of old blood. His face became even paler, and his breathing more hurried. He said weakly, "That's the only option. With that woman's strength, only Sword Douluo and Bone Douluo can contend with her."
Fairy Yuechan lightly withdrew the emerald-green longsword. It seemed to become one with her as it silently returned to her waist, like an emerald-green flute that complemented her slender figure perfectly.
Her waist was exquisitely slim, giving her an aura that was both gentle and unyielding.
Fairy Yuechan floated quietly in the air. Her long black hair fluttered softly in the wind, radiating a fresh and natural beauty.
Her gaze was distant as she looked toward the palace below. The palace was majestic and magnificent, and its jade towers and jeweled halls carried an ancient charm.
Fairy Yuechan gently extended a hand. Her jade-like palm seemed to contain endless magic, and the nearly dead Xue Ye was drawn out by that invisible force and directly into her grasp.
Although Xue Ye was unconscious, he seemed to weigh almost nothing in her hand.
Yes, she had already intended to bring Xue Ye out earlier. But when she sensed that Shi Hao was in danger, she immediately flew out of the main hall and unleashed that astonishing sword strike.
Then, with Xue Ye in hand, Fairy Yuechan lightly stepped through the air. The air instantly trembled, rippling like the surface of water.
Her figure sped toward Shi Hao like a gust of wind. Her movement was light and elusive, as though she had merged with the breath of heaven and earth, making it impossible to grasp her true whereabouts. For a time, only the afterimages of her flowing gauze skirts and long hair remained in the air, along with that fresh yet mysterious aura.
In the blink of an eye, Fairy Yuechan arrived beside Shi Hao.
Shi Hao still stood atop the eaves of the main hall outside the plaza. The wind made his white robes snap loudly, yet he himself stood firm like a needle that calmed the sea.
Fairy Yuechan casually tossed the unconscious Xue Ye beside him. The movement looked casual, yet it was incomparably precise.
Xue Ye's body traced an arc through the air and landed steadily at Shi Hao's feet.
"This is the person you wanted, right?"
Fairy Yuechan asked faintly. Her voice was clear and distant, like the tinkling of a stream in a mountain valley. Her deep eyes seemed able to see through people's hearts and reach directly into their souls.
Shi Hao nodded and said with a faint smile, "That's right. Many thanks, Fairy Yuechan." After a pause, anticipation flashed in his eyes as he asked, "By the way, did you bring my dragon robe?"
Fairy Yuechan glanced at Shi Hao, a trace of barely perceptible tenderness in her eyes. She lightly stretched out her hand, her fingers slender as jade. With that motion, the dragon robe she had taken from Xue Ye's bedchamber floated toward Shi Hao as if it possessed a spirit of its own.
Shi Hao received the dragon robe and carefully put it on. It fit closely against his body, as though it had been tailored for him. Once he had fully donned it, his entire presence seemed to change, exuding an indescribable kingly aura.
He looked at Fairy Yuechan with a confident smile and asked, "Lady Yuechan, do I look handsome in this dragon robe? I'm about to become the new Stone Emperor."
Fairy Yuechan looked at Shi Hao, now imposing and majestic in the dragon robe, yet still appearing to be a handsome young man.
At that moment, a very special feeling suddenly rose within her. It was as though she had seen this person before, and also as though she had been destined to meet him—not in this Pocket World, but in the Desolate Domain beyond.
Could he be that person's incarnation?
She steadied herself, concealing the turbulence in her heart. She deliberately turned away with an indifferent expression and said flatly, "So-so. It's acceptable." Although she tried hard to remain calm, the slight tremble in her voice still revealed the unrest in her heart.
As Shi Hao's domineering and magnificent dragon robe fluttered gently, Fairy Yuechan silently stood at his side. At that moment, the thousands upon thousands of Tiandou Empire soldiers in the plaza, weapons in hand, all turned to look in their direction.
The two stood atop the eaves of a tall palace outside the plaza, a position visible to everyone in the square. Even Tang San, whose left leg hung limply as he raised his weak face, vaguely spotted the youth wearing the dragon robe.
He found the youth's back somewhat familiar, but the distance was too great, and Tang San did not recognize him as Shi Hao.
Then, a sharp-eyed soldier suddenly spotted Xue Ye, who stood with his head lowered beside Shi Hao. In an instant, many soldiers stopped in their tracks and cried out in alarm.
"What's going on? Why is His Majesty over there..." one soldier said, his eyes widening as the spear in his hand nearly fell.
"Could His Majesty be planning to pass the throne to that kid?" another soldier guessed, only to immediately shake his head, finding the idea far too absurd.
"But who exactly is that kid? The woman beside him seems to be the mysterious woman who swung that sword earlier." The soldiers whispered among themselves, discussing the matter heatedly.
As the soldiers stirred, the good-for-nothing Yu Xiaogang, who was lying on the ground with his tongue hanging out, suddenly saw the scene as well.
His face instantly turned pale, his eyes filled with terror and rage. He struggled to his feet. Though his weakened body nearly left him unable to stand, his dog eyes were opened wide.
"Not good!" the good-for-nothing Yu Xiaogang roared excitedly. "That man and that mysterious woman have actually kidnapped Xue Ye! That man has even put on the dragon robe! He must be trying to threaten Xue Ye and force His Majesty to pass the throne to him! No, we have to stop him!"
As the good-for-nothing Yu Xiaogang spoke, he spat out another mouthful of old blood. His face looked even worse, but the resolve in his eyes did not weaken in the slightest.
Liu Erlong looked anxious and said helplessly.
"But Xiaogang, all of our Soul Power has been exhausted. We can't do anything..."
Above that palace, under everyone's gaze, Shi Hao had already begun using the Soul Search Technique. This was also a basic spell taught to him by the Willow Deity, capable of invading another person's spiritual consciousness and controlling their thoughts.
After several attempts, his spiritual power finally successfully invaded Xue Ye's mind.
The unconscious Xue Ye suddenly opened his cloudy old eyes. His gaze was hollow and profound as he looked at the many soldiers in the plaza and spoke in an aged yet powerful voice:
"All officers and soldiers, and all citizens of my Tiandou Empire, listen carefully. I, Xue Ye, know that my days are numbered, and I can no longer lead the Tiandou Empire toward glory. From this day onward, I voluntarily pass the throne of the Tiandou Empire to this young man beside me. His name is Shi Hao. From this moment on, he is the new Stone Emperor of the Tiandou Empire. All warriors, nobles, and soul masters under my Heaven Dou Imperial Family must obey his commands."
After saying this, Xue Ye slowly lowered his head again, as though he had fallen back into sleep.
PS: In the following chapters, Fairy Yuechan will use the Heaven Mending Technique and the incomplete True Dragon Divine Technique to fight one against two and easily defeat Chen Xin and Gu Rong.
The Willow Deity will descend once more. With a single sentence—"Everyone, step back"—Shi Hao will officially become the new Human Emperor.
Before you continue