The western outskirts of Mingdu were a vast, open plain.
A concrete highway nearly a hundred meters wide stretched far into the distance.
High above, a spatial passage suddenly opened out of thin air. Yun Ze, Gu Yuena, and the others stepped out from within.
Yun Ze unfurled his phoenix wings, Gu Yuena released her dragon wings, while the rest hovered calmly in midair.
"These people are pretty slow," Gu Yuena said lightly. Clearly, their opponents had not yet arrived.
In the distance, three large flying vessels advanced in a triangular formation. On the lead vessel, Zang Xin ordered them to slow down.
"It seems the people from the Dragon Phoenix Hall arrived ahead of schedule," Zang Xin said to Guan Yue beside him.
"I can feel terrifying pressure coming from ahead as well," Guan Yue replied in a deep voice. "There are quite a lot of them."
"Yun Ming and the other two set out earlier and still haven't arrived, yet these people are already here. There must be soul masters among them who specialize in spatial abilities."
"It looks like we won't be able to set up in advance," Zang Xin said. "Let's move slowly. We'll wait for Yun Ming and the others before making a move."
As he spoke, he activated his communicator and informed Yun Ming of the situation.
"We'll get there as quickly as possible," Yun Ming replied curtly, immediately increasing their flight speed.
"Young Master, they should be several li ahead," Di Tian said, pointing forward as he sensed figures in the distance.
"Make your move," Yun Ze said coldly. "No need to hold back. Kill them all."
"Aren't we waiting for those bastards to arrive?" Xiong Jun asked. The "bastards" he referred to included both the enemies ahead and Yun Ming's group approaching from behind.
Gu Yuena, Di Tian, Lin Yi, and the others all gave Xiong Jun strange looks, making him visibly uncomfortable.
"Why are you all looking at me like that?" Xiong Jun asked awkwardly. "Did I say something wrong?"
"We're here to kill people, not to spar," Gu Yuena said bluntly. "Waiting politely for the enemy to assemble before attacking is stupid."
"They're our enemies," Di Tian added. "Are you worried they won't be strong enough if everyone hasn't arrived yet—or are you worried about something else?"
"Uh…" Xiong Jun finally reacted.
That's right—why wait for them?
They weren't here to chat. When you see the enemy, you kill them. Simple as that.
Yun Ze shook his head with a faint smile and took the lead, flying forward while leaving behind scorching waves of heat.
Gu Yuena followed closely behind. Di Tian patted Xiong Jun on the shoulder and moved after them.
Thirty-two figures flew through the air together, an imposing sight. Their combined aura converged into a terrifying pressure field.
In the distance, Zang Xin and Guan Yue's expressions changed drastically.
"These people really know how to take advantage of the situation—they actually attacked early," Zang Xin said grimly.
"Prepare for battle!" he shouted, flying forward as he released his martial soul.
The Affectionate Sword appeared in his hand.
Nine soul rings rose up—three red and six black—an extraordinary configuration that revealed his half-god strength.
Sharp sword intent burst forth, sword light soaring skyward and piercing through the clouds.
Guan Yue also flew out, standing shoulder to shoulder with Zang Xin. A milky-white long spear appeared in his hand.
This was his martial soul, the Sky-Piercing Divine Spear, a top-tier weapon, renowned alongside Yun Ming's Heaven-Piercing Spear as one of the continent's two strongest spears.
Nine soul rings appeared as well—three red and six black, identical to Zang Xin's.
However, his aura was slightly weaker. Though he had reached the extreme level long ago, he had yet to step from quasi–half-god into true half-god territory.
One powerful figure after another flew out from the vessels, gathering beside them and releasing their martial souls.
Twenty-five Title Douluo released their martial souls simultaneously. Soul rings pulsed as terrifying energy fluctuations spread in all directions.
Among them were thirteen from Shrek Academy, six from Tang Sect, and six from the War God Hall—none of them weak.
At the extreme level were only Zang Xin and Guan Yue. Several were level 98 Super Douluo, and even the weakest possessed at least level 93 soul power.
If anyone witnessed such a scene, they would be utterly speechless.
Title Douluo—existences considered unattainable legends—numbered twenty-five here alone.
In addition to them, over a dozen people remained aboard the flying vessels.
The vessels retreated backward as those aboard busied themselves adjusting soul-guided weapons.
This was part of their prior plan: if they couldn't set traps on the ground, they would deploy them directly from the vessels.
As the figures from the Dragon Phoenix Hall rapidly closed in, Zang Xin and Guan Yue grew increasingly grim.
Their gazes focused on Di Tian, Lin Yi, Bi Ji, Xiong Jun, and Wan Yao King.
As extreme-level experts themselves, their perception of such power was exceptionally sharp—they sensed it instantly.
"Dragon Phoenix Hall actually has five Extreme Douluo!" Zang Xin said, his heart sinking.
"How can they have so many extreme-level experts?" Guan Yue exclaimed in shock, unable to remain calm.
"And the number of Title Douluo is absurd—over thirty if you include the extremes!"
"I don't know," Zang Xin shook his head. "But we clearly underestimated them."
"Contact Chen Xinjie immediately. Tell him Dragon Phoenix Hall has five Extreme Douluo. Long Yeyue may be in mortal danger—tell him to find a way to reinforce us."
As he spoke, Zang Xin connected his communicator.
"This is Zang Xin. Immediately dispatch the mech corps to fifty li west of Mingdu."
"Only red-grade and black-grade mechs. Equip them with high-destruction weaponry. Level-one combat readiness."
Guan Yue, understanding the gravity of five Extreme Douluo, immediately contacted Chen Xinjie.
"You're not joking with me, are you?" a panicked voice came from the other end.
"No. Dragon Phoenix Hall has deployed thirty Title Douluo, five of them at the extreme level. If the battle truly breaks out, even I could fall."
"I'm in the East Sea and can't return in time. You must protect Long Yeyue at all costs—nothing must happen to her."
Chen Xinjie was clearly frantic, speaking rapidly.
"I'll immediately contact Xia Bin and Yu Guanzhi and have them assist."
On the Dragon Phoenix Hall's side, everyone released their martial souls as well.
Among them, Di Tian, Lin Yi, Xiong Jun, and Wan Yao King possessed the most terrifying soul ring configurations.
Their lowest soul rings were all hundred-thousand-year level.
Lin Yi and Di Tian shared the same colors—six red and three orange, both quasi-gods.
Wan Yao King and Xiong Jun were the same as well—eight red and one orange, both half-gods.
Lin Er and Lin San were soul beasts exceeding four hundred thousand years, their energy fluctuations extremely close to the extreme level.
Relying on their powerful physiques alone, they could already contend with Extreme Douluo.
Their soul ring configuration was eight red and one black.
When they released their martial souls and soul rings, the pressure surged like a boundless ocean wave, instantly overwhelming the momentum of Zang Xin and Guan Yue's side.
Xiong Jun struck first.
With a single claw swipe, a hundred-zhang dark-golden claw mark instantly formed, tearing through space as it flew forward.
(End of Chapter)