The expressions of the Mingluo Sect Disciples changed instantly. They subconsciously released their Spirits one after another, their spirit power fluctuations intertwining to form a fragile defensive barrier.
Luo Tianchi also sensed that something was wrong. His Shadow Demon Wolf Spirit instantly possessed him, and the Aura of an eighty-eighth rank Spirit Douluo erupted with a bang.
He jerked his head up, a flash of horror crossing his eyes. Just as he was about to shout a question, he saw space twist and shatter without warning.
Several figures stepped out from the Void Realm like Gui Mei, appearing above the main hall of the Mingluo Sect without any prior sign.
The speed of that movement completely exceeded the scope of Luo Tianchi's understanding.
The leader was a tall figure draped in a large black cloak embroidered with intricate blood-colored patterns that looked like flowing blood.
His face was completely covered by a hideous Skeletal Claw mask, revealing only a pair of eyes flashing with dark red light in the darkness. Just a sweep of that gaze made people feel like their Souls were trembling.
Behind him followed seven young people.
They didn't look very old, twenty at most, yet each possessed a strange and powerful Aura.
But the most eye-catching among the seven was one who wore a lifelike Rakshasa mask.
The fangs on that mask were grim, exuding a bloodthirsty and ferocious air.
These eight sudden arrivals were like Asuras from Hell, instantly shattering the peace of the Mingluo Sect.
Without any nonsense, a terrifyingly evil Aura instantly centered on the Mingluo Sect hall and spread madly in all directions.
It was a power of pure evil, like physical shackles, instantly enveloping the entire Sect.
The hundred-plus members of the Mingluo Sect felt as if they had been thrown into a ten-thousand-year-old icy pond. Their spirit power instantly stagnated, and a bone-chilling cold spread through their limbs and bones.
They desperately circulated their spirit power, trying to resist, only to find that their spirit power was as if frozen, completely unable to be mobilized.
That sense of helplessness was like Mount Tai pressing down, plunging them into instant despair.
"A... Titled Douluo!"
Luo Tianchi's heart sank violently, and a chill rushed up his spine straight to the top of his head.
His eyes widened as he stared fixedly at the cloaked powerhouse, the wrinkles on his face trembling violently with fear.
A Spirit Douluo and a Titled Douluo were worlds apart!
Even though he had reached rank eighty-eight, there was still a Realm between them—an insurmountable chasm.
With the meager strength of their Mingluo Sect, let alone resisting, the opponent could easily crush the entire Sect into fine powder with just a flick of a finger.
Fear spread through the hearts of the Mingluo Sect members like a plague.
The young Disciples' faces were pale, and some even began to tremble uncontrollably.
The skeletal-masked powerhouse at the lead seemed to enjoy this atmosphere of despair. He let out a low, raspy laugh that came through the mask with a gratingly eerie tone.
He slowly raised his hand, and with a light wave of his black-gloved palm.
"I shall borrow your Sect, and your lives, for a moment."
The moment the words fell, a terrifying evil Aura surged out from his body like a volcanic eruption.
It was evil power of the utmost purity, carrying a terrifying might that could devour all things.
Wherever this Aura passed, the spirit power within the Mingluo Sect Disciples was instantly drained. Their bodies slumped to the ground, losing all ability to resist, leaving only eyes full of horror.
The entire process took only a breath's time. The group of over a hundred people was instantly reduced to lambs for the slaughter.
Luo Tianchi collapsed on the ground. He looked at the eight people, his eyes filled with despair and indignation, yet he couldn't even utter a complete sentence.
Then, the skeletal-masked powerhouse slowly turned around and looked at the seven young people behind him.
His tone was flat, as if he were inviting a group of children to enjoy a feast rather than carry out a massacre: "Children, the meal begins."
Upon hearing this, not one of the seven young people moved immediately.
Their gazes all shifted toward the figure wearing the Rakshasa mask, their eyes filled with respect and anticipation, as if he were the true leader.
The air fell into a brief, dead silence.
The figure in the Rakshasa mask felt the gazes of his companions. He took a step forward and bowed slightly toward the leading skeletal-masked powerhouse, his movements standard and respectful.
"Thank you, Teacher."
His voice, filtered through the mask, sounded muffled and cold.
The moment his words fell, a terrifying evil Qi, even more violent than his teacher's, surged madly from his body like a blood-colored torrent.
The Rakshasa mask seemed to come alive, and the patterns on it began to flash with an eerie red light.
Following that, a ferocious Demon Scythe, a full two meters long and dark red throughout, quietly appeared in his hand.
The Demon Scythe emitted a heart-palpitating bloodthirsty Aura, as if it could easily tear a Soul apart.
"Kill—"
The figure in the Rakshasa mask let out a low roar and swung the Demon Scythe, instantly slashing out a world-destroying blood-colored Saber Qi.
At the same time, the other six young people finally moved.
Fanatical light flickered in their eyes as they released their Spirits to the fullest, their evil spirit power intertwining into a terrifying energy storm.
Like hungry wolves pouncing on prey, they charged madly toward the collapsed and defenseless members of the Mingluo Sect.
Cries of agony and shrill screams instantly rang out over the once-peaceful Mingluo Sect.
Blood stained the bluish-black halls red, and the evil Aura completely swallowed this land.
...
A week later, Xu Tianhao and his group arrived at Star Luo City and checked into the Star Emperor Grand Hotel.
Because the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy was the champion of the previous session, Xu Tianhao and the others stayed in the most luxurious rooms on the top floor this time.
Ma Rulong and the others had been waiting for a long time. Having not seen each other for three years, one could imagine how much everyone missed their home country.
When they saw Xu Tianhao and the others, Ma Rulong and his group were so excited they almost moved to tears.
In addition to Ma Rulong and the seven official team members, Ji Juechen, Ju Zi, and Ke Ke were also present.
Three years had passed, and after undergoing advanced studies at Shrek, the current Ji Juechen was already a rank sixty-nine Spirit Emperor.
His cultivation was even higher than in the original story, and his spirit power was more condensed.
Unfortunately, he was already over twenty years old and had no chance to participate in this tournament.
As for Ju Zi and Ke Ke, they were just nobodies in Xu Tianhao's eyes, not worth paying attention to at all.
Although Ju Zi's improvement over these three years was decent, her talent was limited after all, and her hope of seeking revenge on her own was basically nonexistent.
Alas, she hadn't had any standout performances during her time at Shrek Academy, and her original ideas hadn't been realized.
Seeing Xu Tianhao now, Ju Zi naturally wanted to have more contact with him. If there was even a slight possibility, she...
Unfortunately, Xu Tianhao didn't give her a second look. After reminiscing with Ji Juechen, he led Ma Rulong and the others into the conference room.
With only one week left before the opening of the tournament, Xu Tianhao naturally needed to prepare properly.
When Ma Rulong and the others learned of Xu Tianhao's current cultivation levels, they were all speechless with shock.
The highest-ranked, Ye Guyi, was already at rank sixty-five, while the lowest, Meng Hongchen and Nana, were both at rank fifty-three.
And the oldest among them was only fifteen years old.
Meanwhile, Ma Rulong was twenty this year and was only at rank sixty-two.
Compared to Xu Tianhao and the others, Ma Rulong instantly felt that his own strength was nothing.
Ma Rulong looked at Xu Tianhao and the others excitedly: "Your Highness, with you all here this time, our Sun Moon Empire will definitely be able to defend the championship."
Xu Tianhao smiled: "That is natural, but you have also studied at Shrek Academy for three years; it's time for you to put on a good performance as well."
Ma Rulong and the others nodded: "With Your Highness backing us up, we have no more concerns."