Outside the Spirit Pagoda, clouds stretched across ten thousand miles of sky.
Long Yeyue remained imprisoned within the runic cage, watching the two figures high above across the distant void.
"Please." Light blossomed in Yun Ming's hand as he grasped the Heavenly Spear. His four-word Heaven-Supporting Heaven Dou Battle Armor covered him layer by layer, silvery-white light flowing over his entire body.
The pressure of a Level 99 Limit Douluo spread outward. The Air-Banishing Domain abruptly unfurled, its invisible rules enveloping the entire sky. This was the authority of the Heaven-Supporting Douluo. Ordinary powerhouses who entered this domain would be stripped of their ability to remain airborne.
Qian Gu Fenfeng held the Coiling Dragon Staff in one hand. An ancient coiling dragon phantom circled and rose behind him, the underlying power of his god-level physique surging as his expression remained composed.
Dust Break!
Golden light rippled from the staff, disregarding the domain's rules completely.
The Air-Banishing Domain, which Yun Ming had relied upon to reign supreme, was like thin ice struck by a heavy hammer. A massive opening was torn straight through it. The domain's suppressive laws had no effect whatsoever on Qian Gu Fenfeng. He remained standing steadily high in the sky, entirely unrestrained.
Yun Ming turned his wrist, and the Heavenly Spear conjured layer upon layer of spear shadows that filled the sky. Real and illusory intertwined as countless images bore down upon his opponent from every direction, confusing perception and making the true spear difficult to distinguish.
Unyielding Staff Technique: Heaven-Supporting Pillar!
The staff's shadow swelled, thrusting upward like a pillar supporting the heavens. Its tremendous power slammed into the Heavenly Spear's point.
BOOM-!!
A deafening explosion thundered through the clouds, and vast spiderweb cracks spread through space.
Gold and silver light collided violently, savage shock waves sweeping outward. Yun Ming's entire body shuddered as crushing pressure surged through his limbs and bones.
Several fine cracks opened across the surface of his Heaven-Supporting Heaven Dou Battle Armor. His body involuntarily drifted backward more than a hundred zhang in succession, and the web of his hand had already split.
The Heavenly Spear shattered with a thunderous crash.
This move bypassed shields, Battle Armor, and Soul Power barriers, its attack reaching directly into the very foundation of the physical body.
A single strike had smashed Yun Ming's Martial Soul apart.
Yun Ming's chest rose and fell slightly. His Battle Armor was damaged in several places, and a faint trickle of blood seeped from the corner of his mouth. He did not attack again, staring blankly at his empty palm.
"I lost."
Qian Gu Fenfeng withdrew the Coiling Dragon Staff, and the coiling dragon phantom slowly faded. He looked toward the solemn-faced Yun Ming. His voice was calm, devoid of overbearing murderous intent, yet it carried the weight of a thousand jun.
"You conceded graciously, Pavilion Master Yun Ming."
The sea of clouds churned, and wind howled across the sky.
After a stretch of silence.
Yun Ming raised his eyes and looked at Qian Gu Fenfeng in utter dejection. He had considered that he might lose, but had never imagined he would lose so completely.
"Hmph, set Shrek Academy's tax rate at seventy percent, then... forget it, ninety percent. Fenfeng, consider this my plea. Leave Shrek Academy one last shred of dignity."
Qian Gu Fenfeng glanced at him, then ordered him to leave.
"Shrek Academy dared to take the lead, setting an example for the other existing powers. I will remember that."
"From this day forward, every power with a market value exceeding ten million Federation dollars must pay ninety percent in taxes each year. Those who disobey will be killed without mercy."
Yun Ming brought Long Yeyue out of the cage and walked back to Shrek Academy with her, his steps unsteady.
"Ming, what's wrong?"
A glimmer flashed through Yun Ming's hollow eyes, and he forced a smile. "Nothing, Ya Li."
"Thank you. Thank you for always staying by my side."
As he spoke, he moved to embrace her.
Ya Li's brows furrowed slightly, and she slipped aside unobtrusively.
The sight dealt Yun Ming another heavy blow. He felt that this hurt even more than Qian Gu Fenfeng shattering his Martial Soul.
"Boo-hoo-hoo, why?! Ya Li! Ever since we got married, you haven't let me touch you. Even holding hands would be enough!"
"Ming, don't cry. You know I can't quite accept that sort of thing. Don't make things difficult for me."
Ya Li's gaze gradually grew dreamy. "Besides, my daddy won't let you touch me either."
"Who exactly is my father-in-law? It's been so many years, and you still won't let me meet him..."
Ya Li gave a secretive smile. "It's not time yet."
Ever since Qian Gu Fenfeng introduced the new rules, the major powers could no longer sit still.
Some feared that Qian Gu Fenfeng would once again use thunderous methods to wash the major powers in blood, and obediently paid up. Others resisted fiercely, only to be subdued by the Federation Soul Police in the end.
The Dugu Family.
Dugu Jin, the family head, frowned as he looked at his wife and daughter. "Now the council chairman is making us pay ninety percent in taxes! How is our family supposed to survive?"
"That won't do!" A shrill voice suddenly rang out. It was his wife, Liu Ruyan. "I'm a young lady from a distinguished family. I can't endure hardship! Dugu Jin, you useless good-for-nothing! You can't make money, and you're such a spineless coward!"
"I'm taking our daughter and leaving! I'm not staying with you anymore!"
"Fine! I knew you were having an affair! Shameless!"
Bang, bang, bang!
Brutal pounding suddenly came from outside the door.
"Federation Soul Police, here to bring you warmth!"
At once, the whole family turned pale with fright. Dugu Jin tottered forward, opened the door, and said with an ingratiating smile:
"Sir, what brings you here?"
"Your family doesn't want to pay taxes anymore?"
"Oh, no, no, no, no, no! I'm undoubtedly being wronged. It's all this woman's fault! She even said she wanted to demand an explanation from the council chairman!"
"Sir, I'll pay right away, right away!"
But her daughter stepped forward. "Who are you? You stinking man! Mommy said you should be outside suffering every day! You can't hit women!"
"Fine, fine, fine. These vile abyssal creatures actually dare impersonate my adorable Federation citizens! I'll rid the people of this menace right now!"
With that, several Soul Police officers rushed forward together and impaled both mother and daughter straight through.
Then they turned to Dugu Jin. "Brother, you've suffered, but you still have to pay what's due."
"Yes, yes, yes!"
"The Liu Family? Exterminate the entire household!"
Similar incidents played out one after another, and a nursery rhyme slowly began circulating among the people:
An imposing presence, killing intent in the air,
Hand over every penny of income, don't spare.
Out of a hundred, transfer me ninety-five,
You know my methods if you want to survive.
Don't squander the five you have left tonight,
Transfer me four eighty tomorrow night.
Don't touch those twenty cents you retain,
The day after tomorrow, ten have a use again.
Remember the final ten cents you hold,
Five buy your child a path to unfold.
The other five, say I've saved them with you,
Later, principal and interest both come due.
If you object, go file your complaint,
The Federation Soul Police won't be late.
If that won't do, head out and go,
Two sunlit roads lead north and south below.
Go north, become a lamp to light the street,
Go south, become a big bar of soap, plump and neat.
Before you continue