Under the night sky, the moon shone bright amid sparse stars.
The day's torrential rain had passed; clouds now cleared.
In the Crown Prince's eastern palace within Sun Moon Imperial Palace, Xu Tianran reclined on a soft couch, eyes half-lidded—until he suddenly snapped them open, sharp light flashing as he fixed his gaze on a black-clad man kneeling respectfully before him.
"How's the deployment?"
The man held up a battle map. "Reporting, Your Highness—all preparations are complete. Our strongest forces guard the east, south, and north—each anchored by Grade 9 soul engineers. Each direction also has over five fixed-load soul engineering artillery shells."
Xu Tianran didn't take the map, merely glancing at it. "And the west? How's that coming along?"
"The west is ready too," the man replied smoothly, still holding the map aloft. "All the targets are already there. We're giving them one last chance."
Xu Tianran nodded, a cold smile curling his lips. "Good. But leak word that the west is our weakest point. Let them believe escape lies that way—minimizing our casualties." He finally took the map, unfurling it with deliberate calm. "Maintain this deployment. Tell the legions to stay on highest alert these next two days. Don't let them corner us like desperate rats."
"Yes!" The man bowed deeply, rose, and vanished into the night.
Silence reclaimed the chamber, broken only by Xu Tianran's rustling map.
"The Crown Prince has leisurely tastes," a voice drawled from the shadows. Zhongli Wu materialized, smirking at Xu Tianran's absorbed scrutiny of the plans. "Is it excitement over your imminent ascension?"
Xu Tianran lifted his eyes, tone flat. "Excitement? With all princes but Fifth Brother slaughtered by the Three Great Empires' forces, the throne is mine by default. Why would I be 'excited' over what's already in my grasp?"
'What hypocrisy', Zhongli Wu thought. 'First fool yourself, then others.'
He cut through the pleasantries. "When do you strike?"
"The eve of the finals."
Zhongli Wu frowned. That timing felt… odd.
Sensing his doubt, Xu Tianran explained: "With no Sun Moon teams left in the finals, the tournament's pointless. Post-match, they might scatter—making our 'assassination' pretext messy. But on the eve of the finals? Perfect. We'll arrest them for 'attacking the palace,' ruining their reputations."
"Aren't you afraid the people will suspect?" Zhongli Wu pressed. Attacking the palace but not fleeing? Only fools would linger.
"Suspect?" Xu Tianran sneered. "Who dares? The state declares truth. The clever ones know better than to speak; the rest are just ignorant sheep." He gazed out the window, suddenly stricken. "Father… for the empire's future… it's time you departed."
(Sun Moon Emperor: What a dutiful son I've raised!)
—
One day later.
Mingdu's Dinghou Street lay in the western slums—a "boulevard" in name only, really just a narrow alley. Home to the city's poorest, it backed against the endless Sun Moon Mountains.
Night had fallen. In a shabby restaurant's private room, four cloaked figures huddled, faces hidden.
"Your strength is absurd," said the woman seated deepest inside, her voice clear as a bell, laced with awe.
Another feminine voice chimed in, soft yet awed: "Who'd have thought a mere Soul Saint could unleash Titled Douluo-level power? At this rate, you'll be invincible once you become a Title Douluo!"
"That's a bit exaggerated," came the hooded reply—calm, humble. "Beyond Level 95, each level is a chasm. Even as a Title Douluo, I'd only match a ordinary Super Douluo. Hardly 'invincible.'"
Ordinary Super Douluo power.
What a flex!
Beneath their veils, all three women rolled their eyes in perfect unison.
Chen Junting pulled back his hood, exasperated. "I'm serious. The gap between Limit Douluos dwarfs that between Super and Title Douluos."
"Sure, sure—'serious,'" the innermost woman teased, removing her veil alongside the others. Revealed: Xu Jiujiu (Xing Luo Princess), Wei Na (Tianhun Princess), and Zhang Lexuan (Shrek's Inner Sect prodigy).
They'd gathered here—representatives of four great powers—in this cramped eatery for one reason.
Xu Jiujiu leaned in, grave: "My scouts report Sun Moon's fortified Mingdu's east, south, and north with legions and Grade 9 soul engineers. Only the west is lightly guarded—our combined forces could break through. But…" She trailed off.
No need to spell it out. Three sides sealed, one left open—Sun Moon's classic trap. The west seemed vulnerable but surely hid ambushes.
Wei Na took over: "We've no choice. The other fronts are too strong unless a Super or Limit Douluo intervenes." She glanced at Chen Junting, noting his impassive face. "We scouted the west thoroughly. No signs of traps… as if Sun Moon truly left it undefended."
"So you'll charge through the west," Zhang Lexuan concluded, nodding. She'd have chosen the same—desperate odds, but the only sliver of hope.
Yet they needn't gamble. She admired Chen Junting's foresight: the Titan Gryphon, flying high above detection, would evacuate Shrek and Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect safely.
"Chen Junting," Xu Jiujiu pressed, "your thoughts?"
"My advice?" He met her gaze. "Abandon the west. Strike east. This world holds deadlier threats than men or soul beasts—places like the ocean or Far North where even Title Douluos perish."
"You mean…" Realization dawned on the trio.
But now Xu Jiujiu and Wei Na fretted. Must we force a breakout? Either their elites died here, or their next generation was wiped out.
Wei Na turned to Chen Junting. "How will you withdraw?"
He ignored the question, plucking a dish instead. "About our other plan—when do you strike?"
Xu Jiujiu and Wei Na exchanged glances. "Post-finals night. Sun Moon will expect us to flee under cover of darkness, deploying forces to the outskirts. That's when Mingdu's weakest—perfect for hitting armories, granaries, or even assassinating Xu Tianran for real."
Zhang Lexuan approved instantly.
Xu Jiujiu added hastily, "And if you're targeting the Guardian Hands… reconsider. It's tempting, but don't act rashly."
"I won't attack them," Chen Junting said.
Relief washed over the three. They'd feared he'd recklessly target the Guardian Hands—and never return.
But his next words left them stunned, validating Xu Jiujiu's earlier "reckless" label.
"What? You'll assault the legions?" Xu Jiujiu shot upright, hands slamming the table. Her hushed voice trembled: "Are you mad?!"
"Not at all." Chen Junting's smile was razor-thin. "We won't do it ourselves. Friends will handle it." He stressed "friends" with deliberate weight.
Their expressions turned peculiar. "Friends"? Who's this sucker?
"Don't worry about it," he said, withholding details. Not out of distrust—well, yes, distrust. Turning an evil soul master into a self-aware undead puppet? If exposed, no faction would tolerate such power. Who wouldn't fear an army of the risen dead?
"When chaos erupts, that's your escape window. Our 'friends' will sacrifice themselves to ensure it."
Xu Jiujiu's trio sat in solemn respect—though bewildered.
Wei Na sighed. "We owe those 'friends' our gratitude."
"Indeed," Zhang Lexuan added, eyes gleaming. "Can you share their names? We'll erect monuments to their heroism."
"Absolutely," Xu Jiujiu agreed. "I'll enoble their kin in Xing Luo—their families cared for life."
All eyes locked onto Chen Junting.
His face twisted awkwardly. After a long pause: "They go by… Yi Ming (Anonymous)."
Undead Evil Soul Masters: Yi Ming my ass!
The women's lips twitched. Can't remember names? "Anonymous"?! So flippant at a time like this?
Chen Junting's inner monologue threw up its hands. What could he do? He was helpless too.
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