Nine Stars Hall

"Seventh Spirit Ring, Martial Soul Avatar!"

With an angry roar, Feng Bailong's pitch-black Seventh Spirit Ring suddenly erupted. Intense black light instantly spread across his entire body, and in the blink of an eye, he transformed into a massive blue dragon nearly ten meters long, extremely similar to the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon.

Feng Bailong's grandmother had been a disciple of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan before marrying Feng Bailong's grandfather.

His father had not inherited the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Martial Soul, and thus had not been brought back into the clan by the bloodline-conscious Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan. They had thought the two families would have no further connection, but when Feng Bailong reached the third generation, his Martial Soul awakening unexpectedly triggered the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan's bloodline within him. He awakened a dragon-shaped Martial Soul and possessed level-six Innate Soul Power.

However, since his grandmother had originally belonged to a collateral branch and her bloodline was thin, Feng Bailong's Martial Soul only possessed the rudimentary form of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon. It had not inherited the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon's other defining trait, the power of lightning. It could not be considered a pure Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Martial Soul. After sending people to assess him several times, the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan ultimately decided not to accept him into the family.

Yet the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan's repeated visits had given outsiders plenty of reason to speculate about Feng Bailong's background. Using that tiger's skin as a banner, coupled with the fact that his Martial Soul and talent were considered outstanding in a small kingdom, he had become a local tyrant in the Silvia Kingdom over the decades.

After taking beast form through his Martial Soul Avatar, Feng Bailong attacked without hesitation. His enormous body shot forward as overwhelming Soul Power pressure erupted, blanketing Xiao Yu like a tidal wave. His five claws curled slightly as a gigantic dragon claw lunged directly at Xiao Yu.

Feng Bailong had been able to develop his sect into a local powerhouse partly because of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan's influence, but his ability to read situations and adapt was not lacking either.

There was at least one Soul Douluo among the opposing group. The gap of an entire realm was not something he could confront head-on. Yet Xiao Yu was clearly their leader. A mere child could not possibly be a Soul Douluo or stronger, which meant this child must hold an extremely high position among them. Thus, he could only gamble now and seize Xiao Yu. Perhaps that would give him a sliver of hope for survival.

The idea was certainly a good one, but did Feng Bailong have any chance of succeeding?

Clearly, he did not!

"Sixth Spirit Skill, Crystal Wall."

Mu made his move. As his Soul Power circulated, countless crystals formed an invisible, impassable protective wall before them. The unaware Feng Bailong slammed headfirst into it and was instantly sent flying backward, even faster than he had charged in.

"Sect Master!"

Whether it was the Soul Emperor and Soul King elders behind Feng Bailong or the Dragon Peak Sect disciples below, all of them were dumbfounded as they watched Feng Bailong crash heavily to the ground, smashing out a huge crater. For a moment, not a single person dared to go help him up.

"Kill!"

Xiao Yu did not care what they were thinking. With a cold command, the crowd that had long been poised to strike immediately charged at the enemy.

"Eighth Soul Skill, Dark Sun Radiance!"

Hui Huo attacked first, unleashing his strongest move. With both hands raised, a pitch-black sphere hung high in the sky like a rising sun, hurtling straight toward the Dragon Peak Sect elders in the air.

"Boom!"

A deafening explosion resounded through heaven and earth. The sphere burst apart, instantly transforming into a vast, multicolored sea of flames several miles across. It released incomparable radiance and scorching heat, making it feel as though they had been plunged into a blazing hell.

The tremendous energy spread at incredible speed. In another world, that sun-like heat could melt even Gold Cloth, let alone a few Soul Emperors and Soul Kings. Within only a few breaths, those Dragon Peak Sect elders were swallowed by the immense energy, leaving not even intact corpses behind.

"Kill!"

Black Tortoise below also shouted and led the Soul Masters in their charge.

Hundreds of differently colored Soul Ring lights instantly appeared among the crowd. The lights flashed, quickly scattering in all directions and raining down upon the opposing crowd. Without question, they were all Soul Skills unleashed by Soul Masters.

"Fight them to the death!"

Only when the enemy's Soul Skills had already exploded amid their ranks did the people of Dragon Peak Sect snap awake as if from a dream and attempt to retaliate. But how could there still be time?

Though the Sanctuary Candidate Saint Corps who had been converted into Soul Masters had their memories of their former lives erased by the system, they still retained the combat experience and techniques gained through training in the Sanctuary. They were many times stronger than these Dragon Peak Sect disciples, who had lived in comfort and only knew how to lord it over commoners.

In less than a moment, the Dragon Peak Sect had been turned into a river of blood. Miserable screams and wails echoed everywhere. Feng Quan, the Dragon Peak Sect's young sect master whose crimes were countless, first had both legs broken by several Soul Skills and knelt on the ground, howling endlessly. But at a time like this, how could his former lackeys spare a thought for saving him? In the end, he was trampled beyond recognition amid the rushing crowd.

More than half an hour later, the battle came to an end. Aside from a small number who sensibly surrendered, the only one left in the entire Dragon Peak Sect was Feng Bailong, who had been blasted into the crater at the start and could not get back up.

After the battle ended, Feng Bailong was dug out of the crater and dragged before Xiao Yu.

"Who exactly are you people?"

Feng Bailong's eyes were filled with fury as he glared at Xiao Yu and asked bitterly.

Xiao Yu's expression remained calm as he answered lightly, "Nine Stars Hall, Xiao Yu."

Nine Stars Hall!

That was the name Xiao Yu had chosen for the sect he had founded.

Whether Saint Seiya or Underworld Fighters, they all had their own corresponding constellations. Nine was the ultimate number between heaven and earth, and Xiao Yu was determined to make his sect the foremost power in the Douluo world. Thus, he named his sect Nine Stars Hall.

"Nine Stars Hall, Xiao Yu, Xiao Yu!"

Feng Bailong gritted his teeth as though he wanted to carve the name into his memory. Trembling, he raised a hand and pointed at Xiao Yu. "Boy, you don't know the immensity of heaven and earth. You will definitely come to a bad end someday!"

"I have never cared about the impotent barking of losers!"

Xiao Yu waved a hand dismissively. Having just exterminated the man's sect, there was no possibility that he would recruit him. The people below understood at once and immediately dragged him away to be dealt with.

"Investigate those who surrendered. See whether any of them are Feng Bailong's relatives by blood or marriage. The sect has only just begun, so we cannot keep ticking time bombs at our side.

"Also, those who have provoked great public resentment cannot be allowed to remain and ruin the sect's reputation. Cripple their Soul Power and throw them out. Let the oppressed commoners avenge their grievances and their hatred.

"Inventory the Dragon Peak Sect's treasury. Take out half and distribute it to those who suffered persecution from the Dragon Peak Sect in the past. Do not be stingy with money. The sect has only just begun; its reputation matters more than anything."