"Your Highness the Princess, since this is the case, we shall take our leave now."
On the surface of the Ice Sea, Chen Junting and the others sat in the soul guide boat, bidding farewell under the Sea Princess and her group's escort.
No matter how much the Sea Princess tried to persuade them to stay, it didn't change Chen Junting's mind. After all, in five more days would be his engagement ceremony with Little Tian. How could the protagonist be absent from such a grand occasion?
As for the Sea God Family who had come to aid earlier...
Upon learning that the Deep Sea Demon Whale Empress had escaped, they immediately gave chase without stopping at the Sea Princess's side at all.
Soon, blessed with the Sea Princess's minor blessing, the soul guide boat gradually moved away from the Ice Sea's waters, shuttling through the great sea and heading toward the nearest coastal city of the Heaven Soul Empire.
"This trip can be considered quite fruitful."
The hatch opened, facing the blowing sea breeze. Ning Tian came before Chen Junting, "The Sea Princess agreed to cooperate?"
"She agreed, but it must also follow the will of the person involved." Chen Junting recalled the Sea Princess's original words, "That hundred-thousand-year mermaid needs to assess Yuhao, to see if he's worth her giving up three hundred years of life to become his spirit soul."
"So that's how it is..." Ning Tian thought briefly, then turned around and patted Huo Yuhao's shoulder, "It seems Yuhao, you'll need to work hard. Strive to gain that mermaid's approval when you get your eighth soul ring."
"It won't take long."
Huo Yuhao's tone was full of confidence.
With the mermaid clan's help, he easily established a spirit soul contract with a hundred-thousand-year Emperor Fang Sea Lion. Not only did he obtain a hundred-thousand-year soul ring, but also a hundred-thousand-year soul bone. Next, as long as he had his Spirit Eyes martial soul contract another hundred-thousand-year cultivation spirit soul, his cultivation would certainly break through to high-level Soul Saint, probably only one step away from level 80.
"Ambitious."
Whether it was due to the Sea Princess's blessing or not, the soul guide boat's speed in the sea actually exceeded their journey here. Moreover, when continuously passing through various sea soul beast territories, those sea soul beasts also actively yielded, allowing the boat to pass smoothly.
Under the sea breeze's caress, in less than a day's time, a black horizon appeared in Chen Junting and the others' line of sight.
The moment they set foot on land, Chen Junting determined their location through the coastal city's name, then rushed back toward the Nine-Treasure Glazed Tile Sect without stopping.
...
Five days later.
The Sun-Moon Empire's Mingdu City was already decorated with lanterns and colored banners, with red silk hanging from every street lamp in the city. Looking from afar, it was an ocean of red festivity.
On this day, the Sun-Moon Emperor celebrated with the people.
Even to celebrate this day, Xu Tianran granted a general amnesty—excluding crimes of treason and collusion with the enemy, all other prisoners were pardoned.
At this moment, on Mingdu City's East Avenue.
Countless common people knelt prostrate on both sides of the long street, continuously chanting: "Long live the Empress, thousand years, thousand thousand years."
A long procession of ceremonial guards seemed to stretch endlessly. The phoenix carriage carrying the empress was steadily lifted out of the Hongchen Family's residence by sixteen Soul Saints. Wherever the phoenix carriage passed, fresh red roses paved the ground—visible proof of the extravagance beneath this grand wedding.
However, in contrast to Mingdu City's laughter and joy, there was not the slightest hint of happiness on Meng Hongchen's face inside the phoenix carriage. Beneath her worried expression was a somewhat pale complexion. Clearly, she was ill.
A Soul Saint actually fell ill!
One must know, this illness wasn't caused by receiving some attack or having hidden injuries. It was simply, like ordinary people, falling ill due to some virus.
If this were placed across the entire continent, it would be a rare occurrence.
Meng Hongchen lifted a corner of the curtain, her gaze sweeping over the ceremonial procession and the kneeling common people. But before she could look for even a second longer, a large hand suddenly covered the lifted curtain corner.
A gentle pull completely blocked her vision.
Seeing this, Meng Hongchen could only sigh in resignation. Her once bright gaze at this moment had also completely transformed into a pool of stagnant water, not producing the slightest ripple because of this.
Staring straight ahead, as if continuing forward was a cage.
Though the world was vast, she had no right to choose.
What she had was only a fate of being chosen.
Slightly closing her eyes,
Meng Hongchen seemed to be mourning her love that had died a second time before it even began—also its final death.
Outside the phoenix carriage, Jing Hongchen released the hand that had pulled down the curtain. Looking at the Sun-Moon Imperial Palace ahead—that blood-red maw seemingly ready to swallow everything—he also sighed helplessly.
He was very clear about his granddaughter's standards for choosing a partner. Currently marrying her to a ruthless, vicious cripple, even he as her grandfather couldn't bear it, but similarly had no other way.
Otherwise, how would their family conduct themselves in the future?
After all, the current emperor was someone who could act without mercy against his own brothers and father, let alone people like them.
"Fortunately, this old man tied up Xiao in advance."
To avoid Xiao Hongchen acting on impulse for Meng Hongchen, even before this grand wedding, Jing Hongchen had used a Class 9 soul tool to bind him, then locked him in a room under guard.
"Meng, Xiao, don't blame Grandfather."
As if comforting himself, Jing Hongchen murmured for a moment before his figure flashed and vanished, no one knew where he went.
Meanwhile, inside the Sun-Moon Imperial Palace.
"How is it?"
Xu Tianran was different from usual. At this moment, he was dressed in red, sitting in the study. Only his expression showed that he wasn't very concerned about this grand wedding itself.
"Reporting to Your Majesty, it's almost ready."
Shadow Douluo Xue Chen reported: "The soul master legion's people have dispersed and infiltrated Nine Treasure City, Shrek City, and the cities surrounding these two major powers. And because of the great joy at hand, neither power is on guard. Once we launch our attack, both powers will certainly be caught off guard."
"Very good."
Xu Tianran slightly nodded.
Then, he turned his gaze to the side.
"State Teacher, you can now lead people and depart."
Although it was said to lead people and depart, in reality, the evil soul masters below Soul Douluo level who were to participate in the attack had already been sent to the three empires' territories under different pretexts.
And Soul Douluo level powerhouses who were to participate in the soul hunting operation had also arrived at the Sun-Moon border several days ago.
When the day of operation commencement arrived—that is, today—Zhongli Wu and Jing Hongchen would lead the Holy Spirit Church's Titled Douluo powerhouses, as well as Class 9 soul masters "funded" by the Sun-Moon Empire, to first arrive at the border, pick up the Soul Douluos, then fly to the Nine-Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and Shrek Academy. Before this, besides Jing Hongchen and Zhongli Wu as the team leaders, only Ye Xishui, the Demon Empress, and the Evil Emperor knew what the true purpose of this operation was.
This was to prevent spies.
At this moment, a terrifying light appeared in Zhongli Wu's eyes.
"Alright!"
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