Whoosh—!
Chen Junting's eyes turned pale gray, resonating with the spectral silhouette behind him. As he raised his right index finger, swiftly tracing patterns in the air, an eerie gray hexagram materialized—drifting to merge with the phantom.
Next second, two bone dragons soared, pearls clasped in their jaws.
Claws interlocked, maws glowing—their skeletal frames transformed into a doorframe. A gateway resembling an entrance to the netherworld slowly swung open.
Up close, Gu Tianchen and the others distinctly felt a bone-chilling aura seep from the gate as it opened—deathly silence permeating the warehouse.
"This move again," Dugu Xin murmured, recognizing this gate as the same technique used to swallow Levels One and Two. Curiosity flickered in his eyes. "Junting, what is this? I recall you never specialized in spatial arts."
"This is the Undead Demiplane," Chen Junting explained without concealment. "A miniature plane created by my other teacher through immense power—existing independently of the Douluo Plane. Though monotonous and compact, it spans the size of the Far North, with security surpassing any worldly defense."
Gu Tianchen had experienced this once before. But neither the demiplane itself nor Chen Junting's teacher who forged it were known to them—leaving all three utterly stunned.
Such wondrous demiplanes exist? And masters capable of creating them?
"Brother Junting," Huo Yuhao hesitated after learning of the demiplane. "You plan to swallow these soul tools like the metals? But soul tools aren't inert—they're volatile. Especially fixed-load artillery shells. One collision could trigger detonation—catastrophic consequences."
"Of course not," Chen Junting anticipated his concern. "I'm not reckless. And now I have ample help—like the demiplane's native inhabitants."
As he spoke, emerald-green light flickered within the gray gate. Within three breaths, dark red and white hues joined—shimmering like phantoms.
Next second, the truth revealed itself:
Zombies, Abominations, Bone Dragons, Death Knights… thirteen distinct undead species emerged in staggering numbers.
Their soul flames flickered, "brightening" as they beheld the four living beings outside—poised to cross over.
Dugu Xin's brow furrowed toward Chen Junting. If he can't control them, this becomes chaos.
But instinct reassured him in under a second: Would he deploy uncontrollable forces?
Chen Junting wasn't Xu Tianran.
(Xu Tianran: Who are you calling reckless?!)
Chen Junting murmured an incantation, right hand sweeping forth. A gray energy ribbon lashed out—striking the foremost undead.
Like a tidal wave, it surged through the entire army. Every undead shuddered violently—then their soul flames leapt from their eye sockets, soaring skyward before plunging back in. Instantly, they froze in place.
But time was money.
So—
"Move out!"
At Chen Junting's command, undead of all sizes fell into perfect formation. The moment they crossed over, large and small alike sprang into action—each fulfilling its role with tireless diligence, hauling soul tools.
Guided by Chen Junting, they bypassed all traps. Leveraging their overwhelming numbers, they aimed to "cleanse" the warehouse of all "clutter" at maximum speed.
Watching the dwindling stockpiles, Chen Junting finally looked away.
We truly are benevolent souls!
—
BOOOOM—!
Two thousand meters above the Sun Moon Imperial Palace, the sky had shattered with explosive clashes countless times.
A hundred-meter-long black dragon dominated half the heavens. Its vast wings blotted out the sun and clouds. Beneath thick dragon scales gleamed pale-gold eyes—its mere flight warping the atmosphere.
Opposite it floated a colossal divine beast: spiral horns like a dragon's head, body resembling a celestial ox. Its twin horns thrust forward; beneath its feet, yellow light coalesced into clouds. Like a mountain rooted to earth—horns as peaks piercing the sky.
Two yellow, two purple, three black, two red—nine soul rings encircled it. A massive demon tiger shadowed its side, poised to strike.
Unquestionably, this demon tiger was Xuan Zi's spirit soul. Through ring-washing and other methods, it had become his eighth-ring soul spirit—and evolved to a hundred-thousand-year grade.
Whizz—whizz—whizz—!
Sky-blue vines shot through the air.
Leveraging their renewed toughness, Zhi Yong's Sky Azure Vines forcibly restrained Long Xiaoyao for a single breath.
ROAR—!
The demon tiger pounced—seizing the opening. Channeling Xuan Zi's Level 98 soul power, it clamped onto the Dark Holy Dragon's tail, claws sinking into scale and flesh.
The Dark Holy Dragon roared—a sonorous dragon's cry shattering the vines' grip. Its tail whipped, hurling the demon tiger toward Heavenly Sun and Sky Azure Douluos. Simultaneously, its claws slashed—condensing boundless darkness toward Xuan Zi's Taotie Divine Ox and a "petite" emerald giant.
This giant's "petiteness" was relative—only compared to the Dark Holy Dragon and Taotie Divine Ox. Against untransformed soul masters, Du Busi's emerald giant stood ten meters tall—a manifestation of his pure martial soul comprehension infused with Level 98 soul power.
Facing Long Xiaoyao's assault, Du Busi unexpectedly drew a massive black wolf-tooth club. Muscles bulged across his colossal frame. Behind him, a vast dark-green vortex spun wildly. Golden light flashed—converging onto the club before crashing down!
"Long Xiaoyao—the times have changed!"
BOOOOM—!
Club met claws. The high atmosphere fractured—space trembling, ripple-like shockwaves spreading outward.
The heavens seemed to collapse.
Xuan Zi's Taotie Divine Ox bellowed skyward—
A moo echoing with a dragon's roar, layer upon layer pressing toward Long Xiaoyao. Like continental plates shifting, crushing the Dark Holy Dragon.
One hoof stamped down—crushing toward Long Xiaoyao.
Simultaneously striking: Zhi Yong's azure vines, Tian Yang Douluo's celestial flames, the demon tiger's earth-shattering claws—and Du Busi's wolf-tooth club, a Grade-9 soul tool.
"Tch! Call it keeping up with the times," Du Busi sneered. "You gained a soul spirit—I'd be at a disadvantage staying unchanged."
He'd once disdained soul tools. But after witnessing their power repeatedly, he'd developed respect. He'd even planned to issue a sect decree after his generation's elders passed—mandating soul tool adoption.
But plans changed.
Sun Moon Empire's alliance with three or four Limit Douluo-level experts forced his hand. Without adapting—while imperial armies advanced and high-tier forces went unchecked—
National annihilation became inevitable.
Thus, Du Busi shed his prejudices.
The sect's transformation must begin with me.
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