Lu Qibin's control abilities were formidable.
Unfortunately, his opponent was Azure Luan, a level 97 Peak Douluo.
The gulf between their soul power was like the difference between clouds and mud.
It was like trying to bind wild bulls with hemp rope when even iron chains could not hold them.
Azure Luan merely stirred his soul power, and its volcanic force tore through Lu Qibin's control.
"Pfft!"
Lu Qibin flew backward, blood spilling from his mouth, his eyes unfocused and his face filled with disbelief.
Zhao Wuji charged toward Azure Luan with a golden sphere of light cradled in his arms.
Azure Luan pointed one hand skyward. Fierce azure winds swirled around him, snapping his robes and sending his hair streaming.
"Sixth soul skill, Thousand Winds Split the Sky!"
In an instant, countless raging winds converged, turning into wind blades that tore through the air with the sound of ripping silk.
"Aaaah..."
Before Zhao Wuji's all-out attack could strike Azure Luan, the wind blades shredded it to pieces.
Zhao Wuji's body was torn apart as well. His head, torso, and limbs were severed, his belly sliced open, and his organs scattered across the ground.
Such was the terrifying might of a level 97 Peak Douluo!
Even Zhao Wuji had died. Li Yusong, whose strength fell short of Zhao Wuji's, met an even more gruesome end.
Countless wind blades ripped Li Yusong apart, inflicting the equivalent of death by a thousand cuts and reducing him to a heap of shredded flesh and bone.
"Old Zhao, Old Lu, Old Li..."
Watching his old brothers die one after another at Azure Luan Douluo's hands, Shao Xin completely broke down. Though he was a support Soul Master, he charged at Azure Luan, screaming at the top of his lungs.
"Don't think being a support Soul Master means I can't have Shrek Academy's backbone! Those who don't dare stir up trouble are mediocrities, and I, Shao Xin, am no mediocrity!"
As he charged, Shao Xin pulled out the Flying God Claw and fired its claw at Azure Luan.
Azure Luan raised an eyebrow, then darted forward as fast as lightning, dodging the Flying God Claw and appearing right in front of Shao Xin.
He thrust out a finger. The fierce wind formed a spiral of force that pierced Shao Xin's heart in an instant.
As he killed Shao Xin, Azure Luan also snatched the Flying God Claw from his hand. He examined it from one side, then the other, letting out a soft sound of surprise.
"So this is Tang San's hidden weapon?"
"Its construction is indeed quite intricate, but it's useful only up to the Soul Ancestor stage at most. This couldn't possibly let Tang San stand against our Spirit Hall."
"I'll take it back for a thorough study!"
Qin Ming, Zhao Wuji, Lu Qibin, Li Yusong, and Shao Xin-all these core members of Shrek Academy had died at Azure Luan's hands.
Azure Luan tilted his head and cast a cold glance into the distance.
A group of teachers from the former Blue Tyrant Academy remained there.
"Cut down the weeds without pulling up their roots, and they'll grow again when the spring wind blows!"
"You joined Shrek Academy. Consider yourselves unlucky!"
Azure Luan swept his hand, unleashing Thousand Winds Split the Sky again. Thousands upon thousands of azure wind blades shot forth.
Amid screams and anguished cries, Azure Luan slaughtered every last teacher of Shrek Academy.
Apart from Flender, Yu Xiaogang, and Liu Erlong, Shrek Academy had been utterly wiped out.
Meanwhile!
At the gates of Heaven Dou Imperial City!
Under Ge Long's protection, Xue Ye, Xue Xing, Xue Beng, and the others ascended the gate tower. Flender, Yu Xiaogang, Liu Erlong, Dugu Bo, and Ning Fengzhi went up with them.
With such fierce fighting erupting inside the city, it was impossible not to notice.
Xue Ye was already frail. Seeing Heaven Dou City completely engulfed in battle, he coughed violently several times, then his eyes rolled back and he fainted.
"Your Majesty!"
"Imperial Brother!"
"Father!"
Those around Xue Ye cried out repeatedly in shock and alarm when they saw him faint.
"Everyone, stand aside. Let me."
"Seven Treasures Turn, Glazed Light Appears!"
Ning Fengzhi stepped forward, sending rays of light onto Xue Ye's body and revitalizing his bodily functions.
Xue Ye drew a deep breath and regained consciousness.
When Xue Ye awoke, Heaven Dou City was still engulfed in battle. His chest heaved violently as he pointed toward the city with a trembling finger.
"Villains! Fiends! Traitors!"
"Spirit Hall is the most unreasonable band of terrorists on the continent! They actually dared attack Heaven Dou City!"
"Ge Long, Grandmaster, think of something, quickly! My Heaven Dou City is about to be destroyed at Spirit Hall's hands!"
Yu Xiaogang had already lost his composure. Only recently, Xue Ye had appointed him imperial preceptor, responsible for training the Heaven Dou Empire's million-man army.
But hardly any time had passed. He had not even seen the Heaven Dou Empire's million-man army yet. What solution could he possibly offer now?
Clenching his fists until his veins bulged, Yu Xiaogang turned, pointed at Ning Fengzhi, and shouted harshly:
"Sect Master Ning, didn't you already persuade Qian Daoliu to withdraw? Why has he sent people here again?"
"You caused this! Your Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect should resolve it!"
Yu Xiaogang was like a nonstick pan, unwilling to let even a speck of responsibility stick to him. He tossed the problem straight to Ning Fengzhi.
That was how cowardly he was.
Back when he had gotten involved with Bibi Dong, he had run away in the face of Qian Xunji's threats.
Later, when he had gotten involved with Liu Erlong, he had run away again when Yu Luomian exposed the truth.
He simply lacked the courage to make any major decision.
Now, too, he was shifting the blame onto Ning Fengzhi.
Ning Fengzhi did not even look at Yu Xiaogang. Remembering that he had once said, "Whoever gains Grandmaster gains the world," he burned with shame every time the words came to mind.
After watching the Sky Screen for so long, he had finally seen them for what they were.
Yu Xiaogang was cowardly and incompetent; Tang San was hypocritical and full of double standards.
This master and disciple were utterly beyond saving.
He had actually placed his hopes on them once. Looking back now, it truly had not been worth it.
What a pity that the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's utterly loyal Sword Douluo and Bone Douluo had ultimately met an end of shattered sword and splintered bones.
For the sake of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's survival, Ning Fengzhi forced himself to rally and addressed Xue Ye:
"Your Majesty, unfortunately, our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's Sword Douluo and Bone Douluo are not here. If those two were still with us, with my support, we would have a fighting chance. But now..."
"Where can we find a top-tier fighter for me to support?"
Xue Ye was deeply disappointed by those words, but he also knew that without Sword Douluo and Bone Douluo at his side, Ning Fengzhi was merely a support Soul Master without even the strength to truss a chicken.
He could only place his last hope in Ge Long.
"Marshal Ge Long, what do you think we should do now?"
Ge Long was a hard-line military hawk, but faced with the situation before him, he was merely a powerless Soul Douluo.
He lowered his proud head and said:
"Your Majesty, please accompany me to the Heaven Dou military camp. Heaven Dou City has only a hundred thousand troops. The situation in the city remains unclear, and we still don't know how many Soul Masters Spirit Hall has deployed. A direct confrontation would be unwise right now."
"Our Heaven Dou Empire still has several hundred thousand troops in the Heaven Dou military camp. Spirit Hall's Soul Masters would never dare force their way in. Before an army arrayed in full formation, even Qian Daoliu would have to give us a wide berth."
Xue Ye clenched his teeth, his temples throbbing. Waves of darkness clouded his vision, and black blood seeped from the corner of his mouth.
"Relocate? This is my Heaven Dou City, yet now I'm being forced to relocate! This is fleeing... hateful! Shameful! Infuriating!"
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