On a rooftop in Mingdu, a group of figures watched the imperial palace in the distance. Though far away, it posed no issue—every one of them was at least Level 90.
"They've been putting on this show for a while now," remarked a green-haired, bald elder, grimacing at the distant "fireworks." "Xu Tianran truly is a filial son."
"Filial son?" Elder Xuan chuckled, gnawing a chicken leg but too nervous to drink his wine. "That's too kind. He's more like an animal with a human face. Kills his own father, slaughters his brothers—oh wait, he kept one as a breeding stud. Tsk tsk tsk… Truly unprecedented!"
"Such is the throne," sighed Heavenly Sun Douluo. "Power corrupts—it twists good men into monsters, stripping them of all morality."
As a royal retainer, he'd seen such betrayals before—but Xu Tianran's ruthlessness was rare even among tyrants.
"Enough chatter," Elder Song cut in, eyes sharp. "Their act's winding down. Prepare to move."
Xuan Zi and Du Busi instantly sobered. Their disciples were already positioned; they'd exploit the chaos to break out under cover of night.
But Du Busi turned to Zhi Yong, uneasy. "Old Green Vine, are you certain this is safe?" He cared little for his own life—but his Body Sect's prodigies were irreplaceable.
"Trust Xiao Chen," Zhi Yong said, stroking his beard.
"Move out," Xuan Zi ordered, swallowing his chicken leg. His eyes turned icy. "Let's see if we can kill that damn animal emperor."
Over twenty streaks of light shot across the sky. Zhi Yong's voice echoed in their ears: "If Xu Tianran can't be killed, don't force it. Remember our true goal: buy time for the children."
"From today, I am emperor."
Xu Tianran wheeled to the window, letting cold wind sting his face. Below, the staged battle raged—grandiose but bloodless. Melancholy filled him, though doubt never crossed his mind.
"Time to end this."
He activated a signal soul tool. A flare shot skyward—the cue to wrap up the performance.
But three breaths later, the fighting intensified. Bodies plummeted from the sky, splattering on the ground.
Casualties. Xu Tianran realized: something had gone off-script. This was no longer a theater.
A soul-power transmission hissed in his ear, shattering his post-regicide euphoria. His face turned ashen.
Eyes flashing with malice, he snarled, "I hadn't even moved against them yet, and they dare attack first? Fine! All of you stay here tonight! Hall Master Jing—defend the palace!"
Before he finished speaking, Jing Hongchen burst outside. A soul-engineered barrier enveloped the palace. Jing Hongchen's body glowed as metallic gun barrels unfolded around him—fortifying the structure instantly.
Then, a black soul power wave surged outward, saving the Sun Moon and Holy Spirit Cult forces. From beyond the palace walls, an ancient, authoritative voice boomed: "Since you're here, stop skulking around! Are mighty warriors reduced to thieves and dogs? Show yourselves!"
Suddenly, the night sky blazed white. A figure hovered above the palace—black robes fluttering, radiating dominance. His aged face bore indescribable pride, as if heaven and earth bowed to him.
Long Xiaoyao, Dragon Emperor Douluo.
"Thieves and dogs?" A mocking voice split the heavens like thunder. From a dark green cloud stepped Du Busi, crushing a Soul Douluo-level evil soul master's neck like a chick. The corpse dropped freely.
Du Busi's presence darkened both Xu Tianran and Long Xiaoyao's faces—not just for the provocation, but for the double insult:
Long Xiaoyao = watchdog.
Xu Tianran = livestock.
Xu Tianran's real concern: How did the Three Great Empires learn of his plan? He trusted his subordinates—so the leak must be…
"Heh! Spies among the evil soul masters," he muttered.
Long Xiaoyao heard—and misunderstood. Xu Tianran suspected the Holy Spirit Cult deliberately leaked the plan, not merely harbored traitors.
"The Body Sect learned some sharp tongues," Long Xiaoyao sneered, his temper frayed by unhealed wounds. A dragon's roar shook the skies as he forced hidden Title Douluos into the open.
But over twenty elites emerged—more than double his side's count. Many lay dead already; they'd never expected this.
Still, Long Xiaoyao fixed Du Busi with a glare. "Your brother died by Mu En's hand. Today, I'll send you to join him—'Twin Saint Dragons of Black and White bury the Body Sect'—a tale for generations!"
He shot skyward. A colossal black dragon lunged, jaws agape toward Du Busi.
"Hmph!" Du Busi shattered the dragon with a palm strike, then soared on emerald clouds. "Long Xiaoyao! You betrayed the Tianhun Empire to aid tyranny. As the Guardian Sect Master, I'll execute you and parade your corpse for public judgment!"
He feared nothing—not even at Long Xiaoyao's peak, let alone now, wounded and facing Xuan Zi too.
"Come if you dare!"
"Gladly!"
Du Busi charged without hesitation—a true "you invite, I accept" warrior.
Xuan Zi followed instantly, earth-yellow light flooding the sky. With Long Xiaoyao injured, eliminating him might even boost Di Tian's chances by half.
ROAR—!
A dragon's thunderous cry shook the heavens. Long Xiaoyao's palms slammed down—two mountain-sized spirit palms, black as abyssal peaks.
"Hah!" Du Busi roared,dark-green light erupting behind him. His arms swelled, blocking the black palms.
Xuan Zi's fist punched through the air—
BOOOOM—!
The palace trembled. Attacks shattered. Both sides flew back ten meters—yet even the Limit Douluo Long Xiaoyao recoiled.
Clearly, his unhealed wounds left him vulnerable.
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