"It is a bit heavy," he commented objectively, then looked at Bibi Dong, "However, you'll get used to it. Your Demigod body has great potential; you just need time to adapt to this level of power."
Bibi Dong looked at his relaxed and carefree demeanor, and the corner of her mouth twitched slightly.
What she could barely lift with all her might be no different from picking up a tree branch to Xuan Ming.
Gu Yuena is right, this guy really can't be considered human.
"I'll adapt as soon as possible." Bibi Dong took a deep breath, struggled to carry the Asura Demon Sword on her back, and used her Asura Divine Power to fix it in place.
This single movement made her feel as if she were carrying a small mountain on her back, making her movements somewhat sluggish. But this was part of the cultivation process; under pressure, her body and Divine Power would adapt and grow more quickly.
"What's wrong?" Bibi Dong asked, noticing Xuan Ming's strange gaze.
"Don't you think you look like this..." Xuan Ming looked at Bibi Dong, who was carrying a giant sword on her back.
Is that strange?
The Asura Demon Sword is over two meters long, a wide and large heavy sword. Although Bibi Dong is also very tall, her figure appears rather petite compared to this heavy sword.
"Let me take it back to the Pope's Palace for you." Xuan Ming stepped forward and took down the Asura Demon Sword.
The moment Xuan Ming's hand touched the hilt of the sword, Bibi Dong felt a sudden lightness in her body; the terrifying weight that had almost crushed her vanished instantly. She watched as Xuan Ming effortlessly lifted the massive sword, taller than herself, with a single hand, as if picking up a feather. For a moment, she was speechless.
"That's indeed not very convenient." Gu Yuena nodded in agreement.
The Bibi Dong carries the giant sword makes her look less like a warrior and more like she's undergoing some kind of weight training. Not only is her movement restricted, but her posture also looks rather awkward.
"It doesn't reject you?" Bibi Dong asked, puzzled.
"I don't feel anything," Xuan Ming said.
"It's probably because I possess the Ring of Slaughter bestowed upon me by the Asura God, as well as the Slaughter Domain has reached its limit. If I were to unleash my full power, I could temporarily evolve the Slaughter Domain into God Level Asura Domain."
"So... you can even forcefully unleash the true power of this sword?" Bibi Dong asked curiously.
Xuan Ming thought for a moment, "Pretty much. If I had this, killing an ordinary god shouldn't be too difficult."
"..."
Xuan Ming's casual remark plunged both Bibi Dong and Gu Yuena into a brief silence.
Killing an ordinary deity shouldn't be too difficult, right?
If these words came from anyone else, they would only be seen as arrogant and ignorant. But coming from Xuan Ming's mouth, coupled with the way he casually wielded the Asura Demon Sword and his terrifying strength—which included several rudimentary forms of God Level laws—it sounded incredibly real, even carrying a chilling sense of naturalness.
Bibi Dong looked at the Super Divine Artifact in Xuan Ming's hand, which was incredibly heavy and unruly to her, yet became as docile as a kitten in Xuan Ming's hands, and could even unleash the power to kill gods. A complex emotion rose in her heart.
There was resentment at his own lack of strength, helplessness at Xuan Ming's abnormal growth rate, but more than anything, there was a sense of urgency.
She must become stronger faster to truly control her own destiny and stand by his side instead of always being "taken care of" by him.
Chapter 367 Violence for Violence
Spirit City, side hall of the Pope's Palace.
After escorting Bibi Dong to the Pope's Palace, Xuan Ming and Gu Yuena did not leave immediately. On the one hand, the information about the Fourth Trial had not yet arrived, and on the other hand, they were not in a hurry to return to Sea God Island.
On the other hand, Bibi Dong was struggling to master the Asura Demon Sword, so Xuan Ming decided to stay for a few days to help her adapt to this Super Divine Artifact, based on his own understanding of the laws of killing and the use of power.
Deep within the Pope's Palace, in a secluded meditation chamber.
Bibi Dong was drenched in sweat, her purple eyes fixed on the Asura Demon Sword floating in front of her, once again trying to communicate with and control it using her Divine Slaughter's Domain and Asura Divine Power.
The dark red energy clashed violently between her and the greatsword, producing a dull roar. The sword remained as heavy as a mountain, its resistance evident.
"Concentrate your mind, but don't force it," Xuan Ming instructed calmly from the side. "Imagine it as part of your body, an extension of your arm. Don't treat the Asura Demon Sword as a tool, and don't force it. Your killing intent is the trigger, not the whip. Try to resonate with it, not command it."
As he spoke, a trace of his own Slaughter Domain, which had reached its limit, was released. The pure and vast killing intent was like the arrival of a king, which instantly calmed the restless Asura Demon Sword, and even the dark red light on the sword became a little more docile.
Bibi Dong seemed to understand something, adjusted her breathing, and tried again...
Just as Xuan Ming was instructing Bibi Dong in her cultivation, soft footsteps sounded outside the cultivation room. A servant respectfully announced, " Your His Holiness the Pope, Prime Minister Ning requests an audience."
Bibi Dong frowned slightly, withdrew her divine Divine Power, and slowly placed the Asura Demon Sword on the ground. She took a deep breath to calm herself. "Let's go, let's go out and see them."
Ning Fengzhi capable and pragmatic. After the establishment of the Spirit Hall Empire, she appointed him as the Empire's Prime Minister, responsible for handling a large amount of government affairs. Especially in the past year, when she was away, Ning Fengzhi handled most of the affairs of the Spirit Hall Empire on her behalf.
The three arrived at the side hall council chamber, where Ning Fengzhi was already waiting.
Upon seeing Bibi Dong, Xuan Ming, and the others emerge, he immediately stepped forward to pay his respects. His gaze paused slightly when it fell upon Xuan Ming, clearly sensing the increasingly unfathomable aura emanating from the other party.
"Your Majesty," Ning Fengzhi, maintaining proper etiquette, "I heard you have returned, and I have come to report on recent state affairs."
Bibi Dong sat down in the main seat, gesturing for him to continue. Xuan Ming and Gu Yuena sat silently to the side.
Seeing the urgency in Ning Fengzhi's eyes, Bibi Dong glanced at Xuan Ming and said, "Ask whatever you want."
Ning Fengzhi was slightly taken aback. "Thank you, Your Majesty."
His gaze then fell on Xuan Ming, "I wonder... is Rongrong doing well on Sea God Island?"
Xuan Ming nodded. "She's doing well. The assessment is progressing smoothly, and her Soul Power is increasing rapidly. She should be able to break through to Soul Saint soon."
Hearing that his daughter was safe and sound and making rapid progress, Ning Fengzhi smiled with genuine relief, and his worries were greatly eased. The future of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect was promising.
But this relief didn't last long; his brows furrowed again, and a deep worry appeared on his face.
"Since you're here, there are some things I have to say." Ning Fengzhi's tone was somewhat heavy.
"The Empire... its current state is truly worrying."
Bibi Dong frowned slightly. "Speak."
Ning Fengzhi's voice was filled with deep weariness, "Your Majesty possesses great talent and ambition, unifying the continent with Thunderclap and decisive measures—a feat unparalleled in history. However, conquering the world is easy, governing it is difficult."
He paused, then continued, " The Spirit Hall is, after all, Soul Master organization. Although it had the responsibility of overseeing the world in the past, its core was still a violent institution that transcended the mundane. Now that it has suddenly transformed into an empire, many of its past problems have not only failed to be eradicated, but have actually intensified under the empire's halo!"
"The original temple masters and bishops of the various branch temples have become governors and nobles. They are used to being high and mighty, used to deciding everything with the power of Soul Master. Now that they hold great power, they are even more unscrupulous! They oppress the common people, forcibly levy taxes, and even settle grudges in private, disregarding the imperial laws! In their eyes, the Spirit Hall Empire is the empire of Soul Master, and mortals are all ants, so it is only right for them to take whatever they want!"
"Although His Majesty has issued orders to restrain them,... the problems are too deeply entrenched to be reversed!"
Ning Fengzhi looked at Bibi Dong with a heavy expression.
"As the saying goes, the lower levels follow suit, and the entire empire's operation is filled with naked violence! If this continues, public resentment will boil over, and even lower-level Soul Master will have no chance to rise. This empire may appear strong, but in reality, its foundation has begun to rot, and I'm afraid... it won't last long."
He recounted everything he had seen and heard over the past few years, as well as his inner anxieties.
The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect is deeply intertwined with the Spirit Hall Empire; their fates are intertwined, for they share both glory and ruin.
As the prime minister, he devoted himself wholeheartedly to the task, yet felt utterly powerless to reverse the situation.
If this "violent toxin" permeating the entire empire cannot be eradicated, the collapse of the Spirit Hall Empire may only be a matter of time.
Ning Fengzhi took out a file and presented it. "These are dispute cases reported from various places in the past six months, 70% of which involve conflicts between Soul Master and civilians. Although they have been dealt with according to the law, such incidents are still increasing."
Bibi Dong flipped through the files, a cold glint in her purple eyes. How could she not know these drawbacks? It was just that the empire was newly established and needed stability, so many things could only be done step by step.
"What suggestions do you have?" she asked Ning Fengzhi.
Ning Fengzhi pondered for a moment, "The most urgent task is to establish a sound oversight system and strengthen the assessment of officials. Soul Master are certainly important, but governing a country cannot rely solely on force. I suggest establishing oversight departments in the Spirit Hall at all levels, jointly managed by loyal and reliable Soul Master and civil officials proficient in government affairs."
Bibi Dong paused, then looked at Xuan Ming, "What do you think?"
Xuan Ming thought for a moment, "They're all in cahoots. A simple oversight system is meaningless. There are policies from above and countermeasures from below. Oversight can only really control the timid ones. The real culprits behind these problems probably won't care about so-called oversight."
" The Spirit Hall Empire is founded on military might. To change the status quo, we must use the methods they most approve of. Since they believe in force, then we must establish our authority through absolute force."
He looked at Bibi Dong: "Aren't you familiarizing yourself with the Asura Demon Sword? You can take this opportunity to let everyone understand what true power is and what insurmountable rules are."
"Stop killing with killing, suppress violence with violence. In chaotic times, harsh measures are necessary. Since gentle methods are ineffective, let's establish authority through the most direct means."
Bibi Dong frowned slightly, "But at this time, to carry out internal reforms using such direct and violent means... what will this do to the morale of the Spirit Hall Empire's army..."
"Morale?" Xuan Ming interrupted her. "Are you referring to the morale of those corrupt officials, or the morale of the soldiers who are truly loyal to you and willing to sacrifice for the future of the empire?"
He stood up, walked to the window, and looked down at the magnificent Spirit City.
"An empire built on violence, if it dares not even remove the rotten flesh within, will only collapse sooner. What you need now is not to maintain superficial stability, but to establish absolute order. Make everyone understand that power is not a privilege to bully the weak, but a tool to uphold the rules."
He turned to look at Bibi Dong: "You wield the Asura Demon Sword, holding the power of judgment and slaughter. This sword was born to sever evil and purify order. Use it to establish the first and most important ironclad rule for your empire—those who defy it shall die!"
Gu Yuena's cool voice rang out at the opportune moment. "Chaotic mercy is no match for orderly ruthlessness. Every cancer you eliminate now is prolonging the empire's life. Otherwise, the day internal strife erupts will be the day the empire collapses."
Ning Fengzhi stood aside, listening to their conversation, his heart filled with trepidation.
He had to admit that while Xuan Ming's method was extreme, it hit the nail on the head. The Spirit Hall Empire's problems were deep-seated, and mild methods were indeed insufficient to cure them. Perhaps, such a drastic remedy was truly needed.
Chapter 368 King Blue Clear Sky
"The morale you're worried about is nothing more than the core violence of the Spirit Hall Empire," Xuan Ming said.
"Violence, if you need it, I can help you."
Bibi Dong was slightly taken aback. "You are now Titled Douluo, and even Peerless Douluo. There are unspoken rules in the Soul Master World: high-level Soul Master cannot attack low-level Soul Master at will, especially Titled Douluo. Even on the battlefield, targets are mostly of the same level or Soul Douluo, and at the very least, they cannot be lower than Soul Saint. This is the bottom line that everyone tacitly abides by. If we are the first to break this rule, and you, as Peerless Douluo, slaughter low-level Soul Master, or even ordinary soldiers, the image of the Spirit Hall Empire will only become more tarnished, and it may even cause panic and resistance from all Soul Master."
This is exactly what she was worried about. While establishing authority through absolute force is effective, if the scale is not properly controlled, it can easily turn from "purging" into "massacre," thereby losing the hearts and minds of everyone.
Upon hearing this, Xuan Ming simply shook his head slightly.
"The violence I'm referring to is not intended to be inflicted on any specific individuals."
"True deterrence comes from the irresistible might of Heaven, from making them understand that the price of resistance is unbearable for them and for everything behind them."
As he spoke, his gaze passed over the window of the Pope's Palace and landed on the majestic mountain peak in the distance outside Spirit City. That was the " Broken Soul Peak," which he had cleaved in two a year ago when he came to Spirit City to help Bibi Dong stabilize the situation and triggered the aftershocks of heavenly lightning.
The charred mountainside remains clearly visible to this day, like a hideous scar on the earth, silently telling the story of the devastating power of that day.
"If anyone thinks that the laws of the Empire can be challenged, or that the authority of the Pope can be ignored..." Xuan Ming slowly raised his hand, a faint flash of dark purple lightning seemingly appearing at his fingertips, and the temperature in the entire council hall seemed to drop a few degrees.
"I wouldn't mind finding a few more similar mountains, or some cities or sects that think they're invincible... and making them disappear from the map completely."
His icy blue eyes swept over Ning Fengzhi, finally landing on Bibi Dong. His tone remained calm, yet it contained a chilling coldness that could freeze one's soul.
"I believe that not many people in this world would dare to gamble their lives, their fortunes, or even their inherited businesses, on whether my attack will land precisely on their heads next time."
"..."
A deathly silence fell over the council chamber.
Ning Fengzhi felt a chill run from the soles of his feet straight to the top of his head, and his forehead instantly broke out in a fine sweat.
He fully understood Xuan Ming's meaning. There was no need to hunt down any specific person; simply demonstrating unparalleled Destruction power to the world once would be enough to keep all those with ill intentions awake at night!
The cleaved Broken Soul Peak is the most terrifying warning!
Imagine if that attack had landed not on a deserted, desolate mountain, but on the governor's mansion of a province, or the heartland of a major sect...
What a sight that would be! Not even ashes would remain!
"They like violence, so I'll give them violence," Xuan Ming said calmly.
"If they can handle it."
This understated tone is more chilling than any menacing declaration. It is not a threat, but a statement of near-pity based on an absolute disparity in strength.
Just like humans don't threaten ants, they only consider whether to step on them.
In the depths of the imperial palace of the Heaven Dou Empire, in Heaven Dou City.
Unlike the somber atmosphere and undercurrent of reform in the Pope's Palace of Spirit City, the atmosphere in the Heaven Dou Imperial Palace was much heavier, carrying a sense of impending doom.
Since the rise of the Spirit Hall Empire and its Thunderclap conquest of nearly half the continent, all the Soul Master forces and families that refused to submit to the Spirit Hall's iron-fisted rule have flocked to the Star Luo Empire and Heaven Dou Empires like rivers flowing into the sea, attempting to build a final line of resistance.
Among these, the anti- Spirit Hall forces gathered by the Heaven Dou Empire are the largest and most complex.
The atmosphere inside the magnificent council hall was solemn.
On the throne, Emperor Xue Ye of the Heaven Dou Empire sat upright. His face was pale with a hint of illness, but his eyes remained sharp, revealing a sense of unwillingness and determination. At the critical moment of the empire's survival, this aging emperor, despite his illness, was presiding over the overall situation.
Below, several core forces that currently support the Heaven Dou Empire are gathered.
Seated at the head of the left, dressed in a simple black robe, with a stiff face but eyes full of wisdom and stubbornness, was Yu Xiaogang. As the son of the former sect leader of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, he was also Grandmaster of theory. After the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan was almost wiped out, he was appointed as the national advisor by Xue Ye, relying on his theoretical knowledge and connections with various forces, becoming the official link and strategist for uniting various forces.
At least that's the case on the surface.
Beside Yu Xiaogang sat a tall, resolute young man. He was very handsome, with calm eyes and a reserved demeanor, and he had matured considerably compared to a few years ago.
Because Tang Hao believed that he was not strong enough at the time, he did not send him to the Slaughter City. This decision, by a twist of fate, allowed him to escape the disaster that had recently wiped the Slaughter City off the map.