[Second perspective: Star Luo Empire, Zhu Family, Zhu Zhuyun (Level 38 Soul Elder)]
At that moment.
Inside the Moon-Escaping Immortal Palace, on the way to White Emperor City.
After boarding the Moon-Escaping Immortal Palace, Jiang Xiaoxiao had gone off to do something unknown and had been absent ever since.
Now, Zhu Zhuyun was alone.
She stood quietly on the viewing platform at the front of the Moon-Escaping Immortal Palace, her hands resting on a white jade railing carved with flowing cloud patterns, curiously studying the sea of clouds racing past around her.
The white clouds were like cotton, layer upon layer, their edges gleaming gold in the sunlight.
The Moon-Escaping Immortal Palace flew so steadily that, if not for the sea of clouds rapidly receding, Zhu Zhuyun would barely have felt any sign of movement.
More wondrous still, despite flying at such high speed, she could not feel even a trace of fierce wind.
"What a strange Soul Tool..."
Zhu Zhuyun shook her head.
Just then, however, her gaze was suddenly drawn to a dark shape in the distance.
"What is that?"
At first, it was merely a black speck, appearing and disappearing amid the sea of clouds.
But soon, the dark shape grew larger and larger, its outline gradually becoming clear...
It was an enormous, strange bird with a wingspan of over ten meters. Blue-black feathers covered its entire body, and its hook-shaped beak gleamed with a metallic luster.
"A Soul Beast?"
At the sight, Zhu Zhuyun instantly grew alert.
On the Douluo Continent, she had accompanied her family's elders on several Soul Beast hunts and knew very well how powerful Soul Beasts were.
Although Zhu Zhuyun could not sense any Soul Power at all from the "Soul Beast" before her, she could feel the vicious presence radiating from that strange bird...
It was no ordinary bird!
"Judging by its size, it must at least be at the level of a ten-thousand-year Soul Beast..."
Zhu Zhuyun made her assessment with a grave expression.
Just then, the strange bird seemed to notice the Moon-Escaping Immortal Palace as well-or rather, Zhu Zhuyun standing on the viewing platform.
Caw-!
It abruptly turned its head, greed flashing in its scarlet eyes. With a beat of its wings, it hurtled toward the Moon-Escaping Immortal Palace!
"This is bad!"
Zhu Zhuyun's heart clenched.
Although she was one of the best of the Zhu Family's younger generation, her cultivation was ultimately only at the Soul Elder level.
Against a "ten-thousand-year Soul Beast," she had no chance of winning.
"Sister Xiaoxiao! Sister Xiaoxiao, something's wrong! A Soul Beast... a Soul Beast is attacking!"
She spun around and shouted into the palace.
Yet the depths of the palace halls remained silent. Jiang Xiaoxiao gave no response.
Zhu Zhuyun's heart sank. Is Sister Xiaoxiao not nearby?
With that thought, Zhu Zhuyun turned and made to rush into the palace.
After all, only by finding Jiang Xiaoxiao could she probably deal with the threat of this strange bird.
But the instant she turned, she suddenly stopped again. What if... what if I leave, and this Soul Beast can't attack me, so it attacks the Moon-Escaping Immortal Palace instead? If it destroys the Moon-Escaping Immortal Palace, then...
In an instant, Zhu Zhuyun was caught in a dilemma.
"Damn it! Of all times, Sister Xiaoxiao has to be absent now!"
Meanwhile, on the Douluo Continent.
At the Zhu Family estate in the Star Luo Empire.
"Zhu Yun!"
Watching Zhu Zhuyun face danger on the sky screen, Zhu Hongfeng abruptly rose to his feet, his expression changing drastically.
As Zhu Zhuyun's father, he had previously said in front of Dai Weisi that he would teach Zhu Zhuqing and Zhu Zhuyun a harsh lesson.
But...
That had only been to quell the imperial family's wrath.
Now that he saw Zhu Zhuyun truly in danger, he was instantly overwhelmed with worry.
"Damn it!" Zhu Hongfeng cursed under his breath.
"Where's that woman named Jiang Xiaoxiao?"
"How can she be so unreliable at a critical moment? Such a powerful Soul Beast shows up, and she's nowhere to be found?"
At Spirit Hall.
Inside the Supreme Pontiff Palace, Bibi Dong sat quietly upon the Supreme Pontiff's throne, her fair legs crossed.
"A Soul Beast of unknown strength is about to attack the Moon-Escaping Immortal Palace? Interesting!"
"Just as well..."
Bibi Dong grew thoughtful.
"I can use this opportunity to take a good look at just how strong the defenses of this Soul Tool called the 'Moon-Escaping Immortal Palace' really are."
She watched with keen interest. "Let me guess..."
"How many hits will it take to destroy it?"
"Ten? Twenty? Or more?"
But at that thought, Bibi Dong grew somewhat curious again. "What exactly has that woman named Jiang Xiaoxiao gone off to do?"
"She actually failed to notice an attacking Soul Beast in time. Could she be very weak?"
But soon, Bibi Dong frowned slightly. "That shouldn't be right, though. White Emperor City looked so magnificent, after all. The people of that world shouldn't be so weak, should they?"
"But if she isn't weak, why hasn't she appeared?"
Bibi Dong was deeply puzzled.
After all, they were high in the air. Although she did not know their exact altitude, it had to be over a thousand meters, right?
Once the Soul Tool was destroyed, a fall from such a height would surely leave even a Titled Douluo dead or crippled.
Could that Jiang Xiaoxiao be stronger than a Titled Douluo?
In the Far North.
Inside a crystal-clear palace, the Ice Empress and the Snow Empress were watching the same scene.
However, the Snow Empress was not curious about Zhu Zhuyun or Jiang Xiaoxiao. Her attention was entirely focused on the "Soul Beast" flying toward the Moon-Escaping Immortal Palace.
Gravity and doubt flickered in her cool eyes.
"Something isn't right..."
The Snow Empress spoke softly, a trace of confusion in her voice. "Is this really a Soul Beast?"
She stared intently at that "Soul Beast," sensing the presence emanating from its body.
Although that power was violent, it faintly carried an eerie feeling that did not belong to a Soul Beast.
"This Soul Beast seems unlike any kind of Soul Beast I know..."
"Is it really a Soul Beast?"
And while everyone on the Douluo Continent was worried, curious, or puzzled.
At that moment.
Zhu Zhuyun watched the strange bird, now less than a hundred meters away, approaching with its mouth open to swallow her. Her eyes were filled with determination.
"Since Sister Xiaoxiao isn't here, I'll just have to rely on myself!"
As she spoke, the phantom of an elegant, agile Hell Spirit Cat took shape behind her.
Almost simultaneously, the three Soul Rings beneath her feet lit up in succession, halos of yellow, yellow, and purple flowing around them...
"First Soul Skill, Hell... huh?"
Zhu Zhuyun gave a sharp cry, her figure instantly becoming a blurred black streak. She intended to use the Hell Spirit Cat's advantage in speed to strike first and fight for a sliver of survival.
However, just as she was about to attack, she discovered...
Less than ten meters from her, the strange bird lunging at her with its bloody maw wide open and boundless ferocity suddenly jolted to a halt, as though it had struck an invisible wall.
Immediately afterward, an unbelievable scene unfolded.
The strange bird's body suddenly shuddered violently. Starting from its head, its blue-black-feathered body was devoured inch by inch by an eerie gray light.
In just one short second, that ferocious "ten-thousand-year Soul Beast"...
Without the slightest warning, it turned entirely into a handful of drifting ash, fluttering down before finally dissipating into the air.
Not even a single feather remained.
"Wh-what... what just happened?"