However, the Six-Winged Angel Clan only wanted to maintain the status quo—relying on their powerful Martial Soul inheritance, as long as they conducted a purge of the Soul Master World every few decades or centuries, the Spirit Hall's transcendent status could be permanently secured.
As the core Six-Winged Angel Clan, they can naturally remain supreme forever.
They have always looked down on the mortal world; otherwise, they could have rallied Soul Master to unify the continent thousands of years ago, instead of waiting until the birth of the two great empires before stepping forward as the rulers of Soul Master to establish the Spirit Hall.
Even the current strength of the Spirit Hall is entirely due to her efforts.
Qian Daoliu didn't care about any of this, but the Elder Hall were quite concerned—after all, the world of Soul Master only recognized strength, Six-Winged Angel Clan had a stable and powerful lineage, while they did not.
While they may be powerful themselves, the next generation may not be so.
Her proposed plan would allow them to obtain the same hereditary status and benefits as the nobles of the two great empires.
She was able to secure her position as Pope and control the Spirit Hall because she understood people's hearts. Not everyone is born into a high place, untouched by worldly dust, like the Six-Winged Angel Clan.
What most people want is a stable social status and readily available wealth and luxury.
The Soul Hunting Plan was proposed by her at the beginning of her tenure and was approved by the Elder Hall.
The Spirit Hall has been preparing for this for years. Once Qian Renxue's identity is exposed, the annihilation of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan must be launched immediately!
Strike first, strike hard!
Otherwise, things will become complicated once all parties realize the Spirit Hall's intentions and are prepared.
Chapter 279 Rainy Night Raid
Ten days have passed, and the journey is already halfway complete.
The night was as dark as ink, pressing heavily upon the earth. Due to obstacles encountered along the way that delayed their journey, and with the next city still dozens of miles away, the caravan had no choice but to set up camp on the spot.
Campfires flickered throughout the camp, their light illuminating tired yet vigilant faces and dispelling some of the chill.
Xuan Ming was still protected in the central area of Pope's convoy. More than sixty Soul Emperor- level Saint Emperor Warriors formed a defensive formation, and three Titled Douluo were also present—let alone assassination or sneak attack, even getting close was absolutely impossible.
As midnight approached, most of the people in the camp had gone to their tents to rest, and the camp, which had been filled with the flickering firelight, gradually fell silent.
Xuan Ming and Gu Yuena sat side by side by the campfire, still awake.
"Shouldn't you go back after the competition?" Xuan Ming said softly.
Gu Yuena paused slightly, then nodded gently. "Mm."
What have you been thinking about the human world lately?
Gu Yuena was silent for a moment, then said only, "It's very complicated."
"I will do my best to keep my promise." Xuan Ming looked at her. "Even if I can't fully fulfill your wish, at least I will try my best to help."
Gu Yuena's eyes flickered slightly. "What do you mean?"
Xuan Ming looked up at the starry sky. "If I cannot reach the top, at least I will clear the obstacles below for you."
Gu Yuena's eyes flickered, and she reached out to grab Xuan Ming, but suddenly a gust of cold wind swept in—carrying an eerie aura—and extinguished most of the campfires in the camp in an instant!
"All alert!"
The leader of the Royal Knights shouted, instantly waking the entire camp.
Immediately afterwards, several dark clouds blanketed the camp without warning. Before anyone could react, thunderclouds surged and torrential rain poured down!
The raindrops were cold and dense, pounding against the tents and armor with a dull thud.
Xuan Ming and Gu Yuena quickly stood up and looked around warily.
"This is no ordinary rain," Gu Yuena whispered, the Silver Dragon Spear already in her hand.
Xuan Ming nodded; he could sense the Soul Power fluctuations contained in the rainwater—clearly the work of Soul Master.
Martial Soul capable of manipulating the weather, similar to Xue Wu's ability at the Skywater Academy, but capable of causing such widespread rainfall, indicates that the opponent's cultivation level is extremely high, at least at the Soul Saint level.
"Alert!"
Yue Guan gave a cold shout, and the Holy Emperor Warrior Corps quickly formed a formation, circulating their Soul Power and Martial Soul Possession. The terrifying aura instantly kept the torrential rain at bay.
"These people actually dared to make a move?" Yue Guan squinted at Lei Yun. "They even dared to attack the Pope's convoy? Do they really think they're Tang Hao?"
Even if Tang Hao himself were to arrive, he would have to think twice before acting in this situation!
Bibi Dong stepped out of the main tent and looked toward the chaotic academy caravan.
Groups of men in black emerged from all directions and, under the cover of night, engaged the Royal Knights in battle. Students from various academies also joined the fight.
"A thief?" Hu Liena asked in confusion.
"Have you ever seen a thief who dared to attack the Pope?" Bibi Dong reached out and caught a few raindrops, sensing them carefully.
Seeing the Royal Knights unleash a one-sided massacre on the men in black, Yue Guan's expression grew serious. " Your His Holiness the Pope, it seems they really are just ordinary thieves."
"It's just a feint." Bibi Dong looked towards the direction from which the dark clouds originated. "I'm curious, what method do they have to break through the defenses here?"
Before the words were even finished, the college convoy suddenly changed direction!
The Royal Knights and students, who had been advancing with unstoppable momentum, began to feel strange sensations in their bodies—their throats felt like they were being burned by fire, causing unbearable pain, followed by dizziness and weakness in their limbs.
"Oh no! The rainwater is poisonous!" an experienced royal knight cried out in alarm, only to immediately collapse to the ground.
Before those around them could react, they collapsed one after another.
In an instant, the fierce battle turned into chaos, and cries of agony filled the air.
" Your His Holiness the Pope, what should we do?" Yue Guan asked urgently.
"Ignore them." Bibi Dong said coldly, "Their methods are merely intended to create chaos and distract us. Their target is Xuan Ming."
"But..." Yue Guan hesitated.
Although the lives of these people are irrelevant to the Spirit Hall, what face would the Pope have left if the entire participating team were to be wiped out here?
Yue Guan realized this, Bibi Dong naturally understood it as well.
At this moment, she even began to suspect that the mastermind behind the attack might be Golden Crocodile Douluo.
If these students truly perish here, what authority will she retain upon returning to Spirit City?
" Holy Emperor Warrior Corps, heed my command! Annihilate the enemy!"
After weighing the options, Bibi Dong still ordered the Holy Emperor Warrior Corps to go to the rescue, leaving only the two Douluo, to guard them.
She refused to believe that anyone in the world could break through the defenses of the three Titled Douluo!
Upon receiving the order, the Holy Emperor Warrior Corps charged out, their Soul Power erupting like tigers released from their cages, carving dazzling trails in the rainy night. Wherever they passed, the black-clad thieves died instantly.
However, their good fortune was short-lived, Holy Emperor Warrior Corps had launched the attack also began to feel unwell.
Many Soul Master were mixed in with the thieves, and even the Holy Emperor Warrior Corps began to suffer casualties in this poisonous rain.
" Your His Holiness the Pope, this poisonous rain has unique properties. It is not very lethal, but prolonged exposure will cause weakness throughout the body and hinder the flow of Soul Power. Without precautions, only Soul Saint level being able to resist it," Yue Guan reported.
"If this continues, the Holy Emperor Warrior Corps won't be able to hold out for much longer."
The Holy Emperor Warrior Corps mostly Soul Emperor. When they are assembled, they can resist the poisonous rain, but when they are scattered and unprepared, they will probably collapse soon.
"The source of the rain is over there."
Xuan Ming, who had been sensing the Soul Power of the rain, suddenly opened his eyes and pointed to a dense forest a kilometer away.
" Yue Guan," Bibi Dong said coldly.
Yue Guan responded immediately, transforming into a streak of light that hurtled towards the dense forest. He left trails of afterimages in the rain before vanishing from sight in the blink of an eye.
"A wide-ranging poisonous rain, with an extremely strong paralyzing effect; this crowd control ability is almost on par with Dugu Bo." Xuan Ming Bibi Dong Dongdao, " The Spirit Hall has no information on this person?"
Bibi Dong shook her head. "No."
In the past, the Soul Master World was constantly embroiled in conflict, and the titles of "Number One Tool Martial Soul in the World" and "Number One Beast Martial Soul in the World" were all earned through fighting.
However, in recent decades, not only because Qian Daoliu purged the Titled Douluo refused to submit to the Spirit Hall when he served as the Judgment Elder, but also because of the expansion of the Spirit Hall, more and more Soul Master families have chosen to go into hiding.
They stopped displaying their abilities, fearing they would attract the attention of the Spirit Hall.
The Spirit Hall has no idea how much the Seven Great Families have hidden.
Even the Spirit Hall doesn't know how much the Star Luo Empire has hidden.
Everyone is hiding!
This made the Spirit Hall's prestige in the Soul Master World unassailable, but it also led to a huge loophole in its control over information within the Soul Master World.
Just like the person who released the poisonous rain right now, they have absolutely no clues!
"Although the Holy Emperor Warrior Corps are wounded, none have died. It seems they don't intend to completely break ties with the Spirit Hall," Gui Mei remarked, observing the battle in the distance.
The poisonous rain had an extremely strong paralyzing effect and was highly concealed. By the time the Holy Emperor Warrior Corps noticed the anomaly, it was too late to react.
"You stay here, I'll go check it out." Xuan Ming summoned his Blood Spear.
"What are you going to do?" Bibi Dong grabbed him.
"Since the target is me, this attack won't be that simple," Xuan Ming calmly analyzed. "If you keep guarding me, the other side will probably use other methods, such as kidnapping someone close to me to force me to show myself. Just thinking about it is troublesome."
"Why don't I take the initiative and lure them all out?"
"No," Bibi Dong persisted, "We don't know how many people they have, or what their backup plans are. What if they have some underhanded tricks up their sleeves?"
Xuan Ming is indeed powerful; even Titled Douluo would find it difficult to pose a fatal threat in a direct confrontation.
But what if it's a silent assassination like before, or other special Martial Soul or strange Soul Skill?
It's easy to dodge a spear in the open, but hard to guard against an arrow in the dark!
Xuan Ming gently held Bibi Dong's hand, "You have to have faith in me, I'm not that fragile."
"Besides, the feeling of being watched from the shadows like prey is disgusting. No matter how good his stealth is, he will inevitably be exposed after he makes his move. I'll be the bait, and you guys seize that opportunity to strike."
Bibi Dong frowned slightly, "But..."
"Trust me, okay?" Xuan Ming said.
Bibi Dong was silent for a moment, but finally let go of her hand. "Be careful."
"You two stay here too, don't wander off." Xuan Ming looked at Gu Yuena and Hu Liena.
"I..." Hu Liena was about to speak when Bibi Dong patted her hand, signaling her to listen.
Gu Yuena didn't say much, she just nodded slightly.
Xuan Ming nodded slightly, then his figure flashed, transforming into a streak of blood-red light as he rushed towards the academy's convoy.
As he approached, he saw that most of the once energetic students were now collapsed on the ground, and members of the Royal Knights and the Holy Emperor Warrior Corps were struggling to resist the attacks of the black-clad thieves while also enduring the corrosive effects of the poisonous rain.
Chapter 280 Isolated and Helpless
A cold white light suddenly spread from Xuan Ming's body, and the falling raindrops froze in mid-air.
The black-clad thieves were stunned by the sudden, terrifying pressure, and the Royal Knights and Holy Knights seized the opportunity to counterattack.
Xuan Ming did not linger, but quickly weaved through the crowd.
The area expanded as he moved, and every black-clad thief enveloped in the white light was greatly affected. The weak were immediately rendered powerless to resist, while the strong were briefly stunned by this sudden interference and were then swiftly killed by the Holy Emperor Warrior Corps.
In the past, his movement in this way would have resulted in overwhelming suppression without distinguishing friend from foe. However, after obtaining the Ice and Fire Dragon Origin Head Crown, he can even accurately distinguish and suppress both sides in the melee.
Xuan Ming barely intervened directly; his mere presence across the battlefield had a decisive impact on the outcome of the battle.
This also confirmed to him that most of these assassins in black were no more than level 50, and many of them were not even Soul Master.
If it weren't for this poisonous rain, they would never have been able to fight the Holy Emperor Warrior Corps for so long.
At this moment, the Shadow lurking in the darkness had its gaze fixed intently on Xuan Ming.
He had thought that he would have to wait until the hopeless sneak attack ended and everyone relaxed their guard before he could find an opportunity to make his move, but he never expected Xuan Ming to be so impulsive.
Not only did he leave the Pope's side, he even rushed into the melee!
If Xuan Ming had stayed by the Pope's side, he would never have had a chance. But now, this guy has voluntarily left the protection of the Titled Douluo and even barged into the chaotic battlefield.
However, Shadow still did not make any rash moves. He simply used his mental tracking to lock onto Xuan Ming, waiting until he was further away from the Pope and further away from Ghost Douluo.
He didn't know how Xuan Ming had detected his attack last time, but since the other party was capable of detecting his sneak attack, the difficulty of killing him with a single blow had greatly increased.