Battle with She Long of the Star Luo Empire

"Your Excellency, please show mercy!"

Wei Cang shouted and stepped forward again, placing himself at the front of the group.

"Seventh Soul Skill: Martial Soul Avatar!"

"Fourth Soul Skill: Rock Shield Void!"

A stone shield carved with the pattern of a rhinoceros stood before Su Yu, protecting him and everyone behind him.

As the group's only defense-type Soul Master and a royal guard, Wei Cang was only level 83, but his Martial Soul's defensive power far surpassed that of ordinary defense-type Soul Douluo.

At the same level, few could break through his shield.

Unfortunately, he faced a Titled Douluo—and a Power Attack System Titled Douluo at that. His defense was doomed to fail.

Crack!

The lance struck the stone shield. Its tip pierced through the defense in an instant and drove straight toward Wei Cang's chest.

Just as the lance was about to pass through the shield, a vast surge of energy rippled across its surface.

The shattered opening actually repaired itself at a speed visible to the naked eye, trapping the lance fast within the shield.

Defense was only the basic function of Wei Cang's Fourth Soul Skill. Its greatest strength was its ability to rapidly repair the shield with Soul Power, catching an opponent off guard.

"Hmph! With a nine-level gap in Soul Power, let's see how you stop me!"

She Long paid Wei Cang no mind. His gaze turned vicious as Soul Power surged within him.

"First Soul Skill: Thunder Serpent Thrust!"

The first Hundred-Year Soul Ring revolved twice and merged into the Snake Lance.

The next moment, thunder rumbled along the Snake Lance, greatly boosting its attack and piercing power.

Rather than retreat, She Long advanced. Gripping the Snake Lance with both hands, he drove off his left foot and twisted his waist, thrusting it forward with all his strength.

Boom!

Unlike the eras of Douluo II, Douluo III, and Douluo IV, when everyone cultivated by taking shortcuts, no Soul Master who reached Titled Douluo in this era was a simple opponent.

After all, cultivation in this era relied on the most basic meditation methods. Growing stronger depended entirely on talent; there were no shortcuts.

Exceptional figures like Yang Wudi might be able to strike down opponents above their level, but more than ninety-nine percent of Soul Masters could not fight across major level gaps.

She Long was a level 92 Titled Douluo to begin with, and the Snake Lance's piercing power had risen.

Once he activated his Soul Skill, the result was plain to see. Wei Cang's shield did not last even five seconds before it shattered under the Snake Lance's thrust.

The instant the shield broke, Wei Cang's last shred of hope broke with it.

Using the little time the shield had bought him, he turned sideways and dodged the Snake Lance's thrust, shouting:

"Everyone, attack! Get the First Prince and the young lady out of here!"

Zhu Chen, Su Yu, and Chu Yan wore different expressions as each quickly weighed the costs in his mind.

None of them wanted to make an enemy of a Spirit Hall Titled Douluo.

But now, whether they wanted to or not no longer seemed to matter.

"Attack! Get out of here."

"Martial Soul Possession!"

"Seventh Soul Skill: Martial Soul Avatar!"

Zhu Chen acted most decisively. After sweeping his gaze over everyone in the Library, he made up his mind.

Faint, dark Soul Power swirled around him, and his body transformed into a Shadow Panther more than eight meters tall.

The Shadow Panther's strength lay in neither attack nor defense, but few Martial Souls could match its speed.

"Third Soul Skill: Swift Movement!"

This Soul Skill doubled his speed for a short time and made his body lighter. It was the surprise-assault technique he often used on assassination missions.

Now he had to use it to flee.

"Your Highness, my lady, come with me!"

Zhu Chen seized Dai Weisi with his left hand, tucked Zhu Zhuyun beneath his right arm, and swiftly broke through toward the Library's main doors.

Fight?

Absolutely not.

As long as they left Spirit City and returned to imperial territory, their group would be safe.

"We have to risk it!"

Su Yu and Chu Yan groaned inwardly. The Titled Douluo before them had attacked without hesitation or restraint. He clearly intended to carry out his orders and cripple them.

They hesitated no longer and activated their Martial Soul Avatars.

"Martial Soul Possession!"

"Seventh Soul Skill: Martial Soul Avatar!"

"Third Soul Skill: Black Tiger Roar!"

Chu Yan, a member of a branch of the Dai Family, transformed into a thick-furred black tiger after activating his Martial Soul Avatar. Raging black flames burned around him.

Chu Yan opened his jaws, and a dark ball of energy formed inside his mouth in an instant.

Boom!

Chu Yan aimed at She Long and fired the ball of energy.

Su Yu's Martial Soul was the plant-type Soul-Binding Vine Whip. He activated his Martial Soul Avatar, swept up everyone from the Star Luo Empire, and raced toward the Library's exit.

"A mere Soul Douluo dares attack me!"

She Long drew back the Snake Lance and shifted from offense to defense. He swept it through a half-circle in the air, then struck, cleaving precisely into Chu Yan's energy blast and neutralizing it.

"Elder Wei, retreat!"

After unleashing his Third Soul Skill, Chu Yan was already running out of the Library.

Wei Cang had been ready. He turned and bolted toward the Library's main doors.

Of the four Soul Douluo, Wei Cang was defense-type, Chu Yan was Power Attack System, Zhu Chen was agility-type, and Su Yu was control-type.

Their roles were clear. Wei Cang covered the rear and held off the brunt of She Long's attacks.

Chu Yan attacked, harassing She Long while helping Wei Cang defend.

Zhu Chen took the key members away first, while Su Yu rescued the others from the Star Luo Empire.

The four worked together as seamlessly as a heavenly robe without a stitch, seizing the opening while She Long defended to put distance between themselves and the battlefield.

"Ci Xue, protect the people in the Library."

Ci Xue wanted to pursue them, but Qian Zong called him back.

The shockwaves from that brief clash had already knocked over some low-level Soul Masters who had been watching.

Several Soul Grandmasters standing at the front of the crowd had been knocked unconscious.

Two other foolhardy spectators with Soul Power below level 10 had dared stand up front and were already foaming at the mouth.

Qian Zong had no idea what those people were thinking. Watching was fine, but did they have the strength to stand in the front row?

This was Qian Zong's territory, after all. He did not want troublemakers in the Library hurting innocent Soul Masters and damaging the Martial Soul Library's reputation.

"Yes, Young Hall Master."

Ci Xue obeyed. He gave up the pursuit and used his Soul Power to shield the spectators on the first floor.

She Long's face darkened. He stared ahead, murder thick in his eyes.

A Titled Douluo like him had failed to kill a Soul Douluo.

Seeing Zhu Chen about to escape the Library, She Long let his Soul Power surge and prepared to use his full strength.

"Eighth Soul Skill: Fury Plummets from the Ninth Heaven!"

She Long hurled his lance into the sky, drawing in thunderclouds as violet-gold lightning gathered around its shaft.

He took aim at the fleeing Zhu Chen, ready to kill him in a single strike.

Ci Xue had partnered with She Long for more than twenty years. Seeing him prepare a wide-area attack, he guessed that She Long's impatience had flared up again and hurriedly warned him through a transmission:

"She Long, stop! Are you trying to destroy the Library?"

She Long paused, deliberately withdrew his power, and stopped activating his Eighth Soul Skill.

The Library covered a vast area, and its interior was spacious enough to accommodate sparring and battles between Soul Kings.

But for truly powerful fighters, it was still too small. There was no room for them to fight freely.

Unless they fought without restraint, willing to destroy the Library.

She Long's expression was grim, frustration burning within him.

But there was nothing he could do. He did not dare destroy the Library, so he gathered his Soul Power again and charged in for close combat.