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"Senior Di Tian, in addition to our high-combat Spirit Beasts, we should deploy more poison-attribute beasts, such as the Man-Faced Demon Spider and the Death Spider Emperor," Ye Lan suggested. "These types can cause massive area-of-effect damage. Unlike the Douluo Continent, the Abyss dungeons allow them to release their toxins without any restraint. They can let loose completely."
"If they ever find themselves surrounded or overwhelmed, they can simply withdraw from the dungeon and receive treatment from our Support-system Spirit Masters," he added.
"Hahaha! A brilliant tactic indeed!" Di Tian roared with laughter.
"As for Dungeon No. 7, leave that to the Temple's Titled Knights," Ye Lan continued. "They have fully inherited my legacy. Every one of them has absorbed Spirit Bones, Whale Glue, and Spirit Rings at their absolute limits. Their Spirit Rings are at the pinnacle of what is possible in the Douluo Continent. You could say they are the strongest members of this generation!"
Hearing Ye Lan's praise, the Titled Knights stepped forward and shouted in unison, "We swear to conquer Abyss No. 7 or die trying!"
Among them were Ye Lingling, Zhu Zhuqing, Dugu Yan, Ning Rongrong, Huo Wu, Shui Bing'er, Hu Liena, Yan, Xie Yue, Yu Tianheng, Feng Xiaotian, Shi Mo, Shi Mo, Oslo, Yu Feng, and others. Every single one of them had reached the level of Spirit Saint.
However, their seventh Spirit Rings were either hundred-thousand-year rings or high-level artificial rings ranging from eighty to ninety thousand years. More importantly, their team compositions were masterfully balanced; any combination of them could form a world-class Douluo squad.
The Temple's Titled Knights were well-versed in Ye Lan's strategies. They knew exactly how much power his tactical formations could add to their combat effectiveness.
For instance, the "Shield-Poison-Heal" system—utilizing Dugu Yan, Ye Lingling, and the Shi brothers—would be a walking natural disaster inside the Abyss. The "Infinite Water-Prison" combo with Yu Tianheng, Dugu Yan, and the Shi brothers could output terrifying amounts of damage. Then there was Huo Wu's Ring-Fusion system, Shui Bing'er's ice control, and Yan's Flame Lord form.
The tactical possibilities available to the Temple Knights were nearly endless.
Furthermore, their individual combat power was extraordinary. Enhanced by the Limit Spirit Power Method and the Spirit Possession Adaptation Method, and geared with the "Four-Piece Set" of Immortal Herbs, Whale Glue, Spirit Bones, and artificial rings, each knight possessed combat strength comparable to a Titled Douluo.
They also boasted powerful Spirit Fusion Skills: Solar Flare, Ice Phoenix, Black Tortoise, and Fiend.
Supporting them were the world's finest Spirit Souls: the Nine-Hearted Saint Begonia for infinite recovery and the Nine-Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda as a supreme combat amplifier.
The Abyssal monsters certainly never wanted to cross paths with these once-in-a-century geniuses.
Once the knights gave their vow, relaxed smiles spread across the faces of the crowd. In their minds, the once immortal and frenzied monsters were no longer invincible; they were obstacles to be swept away.
Under Ye Lan's meticulous planning, the upcoming journey into the Abyss would no longer be a desperate struggle, but a crusade for glory—a journey to fight for the future of the Douluo Star.
Ye Lan looked at the gathered heroes and spoke once more: "A year and a half from now, I expect Dungeon No. 0 and Dungeon No. 7 to be completely conquered!"
"Yes, Hall Master!" the crowd roared, their morale reaching a fever pitch.
"And in a year and a half, I hope to see every single one of you standing whole and healthy at our victory banquet," Ye Lan said solemnly.
After settling the strategic matters, Ye Lan specifically supplemented the Spirit Bones for Ning Rongrong, Ye Lingling, Dugu Yan, Zhu Zhuqing, Bai Chenxiang, Hu Liena, Huo Wu, and Shui Bing'er. All of them were hundred-thousand-year Blue Silver Grass Spirit Bones.
Though these bones weren't the most offensive, they were still hundred-thousand-year grade, and most provided powerful recovery skills. With these, Ye Lan wouldn't have to worry about their safety during the No. 7 Abyss expedition.
The ones most delighted by the gift were Huo Wu and Shui Bing'er. To them, this was Ye Lan's formal recognition of their status. Even the usually cold Shui Bing'er felt her icy demeanor melt into a smile. The two of them hugged Ye Lan, each giving him a quick, affectionate peck on the cheek.
---
### The Zero Abyss: Southwest of the Far North, Douluo Empire
Outside the towering black octahedral monolith, layers of Abyssal monsters were piled high. However, today's combatants were not mere adventurers or soldiers, but Titled Douluos dancing through the air with incredible speed.
A thousand-meter-tall Six-Winged Angel unsheathed a massive holy sword. As holy light flared, any low-level Abyssal creature touched by the radiance was instantly purified, dissolving into Abyssal mist and drifting back into the dungeon.
To the legions of black-armored soldiers watching from below, the Angel Knight looked like a true Goddess of Seraphim, scattering divine grace across the battlefield.
At Ye Lan's request, the cleanup of the Abyssal battlefield was currently being handled by Bibi Dong and Qian Renxue. He wanted them to display their divine power as much as possible to inspire awe and devotion in the citizens of the Empire, laying the groundwork for their future ascension to godhood.
Under their joint assault, the frontline was forcibly pushed from the Abyss gates deep into the snowy plains of the Far North. Today was the day the outskirts would be completely purged.
Once the monsters were cleared, Qian Renxue tore through space and departed, leaving the Zero Dungeon to its true protagonists.
Standing before the entrance was a vast army of black-armored soldiers in perfect formation. They were encased in full plate armor, with only small slits for breathing and vision. Every joint and weak point was reinforced with internal chainmail. Despite the heavy plating, the master craftsmanship of the Temple's Construction Department ensured the "Iron Cans" remained extremely flexible.
They carried black spears, silver sabers, and recurve bows with full quivers. They were organized into units of ten thousand—one hundred soldiers per row, one hundred rows deep. The Douluo Empire had deployed sixty such units, totaling six hundred thousand fully equipped soldiers.
The plan utilized a three-shift rotation. Every twenty-four hours was split into eight-hour shifts, ensuring a constant presence of two hundred thousand soldiers inside the Zero Abyss to slaughter the Goblins.
Behind the front lines were rows of beast-hide tents created by the Temple. These tents were so well-insulated that even a commoner could sleep comfortably in the sub-zero temperatures. There were also specialized tents for Food-system and Support-system Spirit Masters to ensure the army had total logistical support.
Ten minutes after the perimeter was cleared, the first wave of two hundred thousand soldiers approached the entrance. They operated in small ten-man squads. Once they entered, each squad would coordinate their own movements.
With a flash of white light, the first wave was teleported inside.
---
Li Da felt an immediate wave of discomfort from the damp, dark cave environment of the Zero Abyss. As a squad leader, he suppressed his fear. Every leader had been trained by a platoon leader, who in turn was trained by a commander. He didn't know who trained the commanders, but he guessed they were likely Spirit Master lords.
Their training covered the cave environment, monster types, and weaknesses.
"Unit One, Squad Thirty-Six, assemble!" Li Da barked.
"Brother! Where are the other squads? Why are there so few of us?" asked a lean but sturdy soldier, looking panicked.
Li Da kicked him and snapped, "Li Shan! Out here, you call me Captain!"
"Yes, yes! Captain!" Li Shan stammered.
Li Da's aggressive personality helped dissipate the fear in the rest of the squad. After the roll call, he commanded, "Form up! The hunt begins!"
"Don't panic! The Empire even cares for Spirit Beasts; they certainly won't send us to our deaths!"
"In this Abyss, there is only endless military merit and honor!"
"The Empire said that those with great merit can even get hundred-thousand-year Spirit Souls and Spirit Bones for their children. Do I need to explain what that means?"
"Even if your kid awakens a pig spirit, with a hundred-thousand-year soul and bone, that pig is going to fly!"
The soldiers laughed at Li Da's encouragement. They moved forward in their trained formation: two sharpshooters in the center, flanked and guarded by eight burly warriors.
As they pushed deeper, the cave narrowed. Li Da surveyed the terrain and ordered, "Li Shan, stow the spears. Everyone, draw your sabers!"
"Yes, sir!"
Shortly after switching weapons, a sharpshooter with keen eyes whispered, "Captain, movement above!"
Suddenly, a hail of stones and arrows rained down on them.
Clang! Clang! Tink!
The squad raised their arms in a brief panic, bracing for the impact. After a few seconds, Li Shan looked down in shock. "I'm... I'm okay?"
The realization dawned on everyone. They felt no pain. The Goblins' ranged attacks couldn't even dent their armor. Now they understood why they hadn't been issued shields—they didn't need them.
Squad Thirty-Six looked at the green-skinned runts in the distance, their eyes turning from fear to greed. This wasn't a death trap; the Zero Abyss was a treasure trove of easy merit.
"Damn it, charge!" Li Da roared, leading his men up a spiraling path toward the Goblins.
It was a complete slaughter. The Goblins, seeing "Iron Cans" twice their height, panicked and swung wooden clubs and stone spears in vain. The weapons failed to leave even a scratch on the black armor.
The ten soldiers moved like demons. Dozens of Goblins were cut down like wheat, severed at the waist or split in two by silver blades. The smell of blood filled the air, fueling the squad's adrenaline.
By the end of the skirmish, eighty-six Goblins lay dead. Li Da breathed a sigh of relief. If they kept this up, he'd be going home a hero.
One of the younger soldiers leaned over and gagged, drawing laughter from the veterans. Li Da ignored them, focusing on a dark passage at the back of the Goblin camp where he heard a faint whimpering.
"Check that out," he ordered.
When Squad Thirty-Six stepped through the passage, they were met with a scene they would never forget.
Wild animals, Spirit Beasts, and human women were stripped and bound to wooden logs. Several Goblins were actively violating them. Others, who were not currently being tortured, had distended bellies—clearly pregnant. Infant Goblins crawled over larger animals like sows and cows, feeding greedily.
The most horrific detail was that the foreheads of all the captives had been mutilated, glowing with a faint, dark soul-light. Through some foul sorcery, their brains had been destroyed to turn them into mindless husks, yet they were kept physically alive.
The squad realized the cruel logic instantly: to exit the Abyss, one simply needs the mental intent to leave. To prevent their "breeding stock" from escaping, the Goblins turned them into idiots before bringing them into the dungeon.
"You bastards! You're worse than animals! I'll kill you all!" the young soldier who had been gagging earlier lost his mind to rage. He charged, hacking through the swarming Goblins with every swing.
The rest of the squad shared his heavy heart. They looked at each other and their resolve hardened. They weren't fighting for the Empire anymore, or for merit, or for honor.
They were fighting to wipe this sinful race from the face of the earth.
As time passed, other squads discovered similar breeding pits. The news spread, and the collective fury of the humans was ignited. The three-shift rotation was abandoned as the black-armored soldiers voluntarily stayed in the Abyss to hunt. They would eat a few bites, rest briefly, and head back in.
Under the weight of human wrath, the Goblins were systematically exterminated.
The conquest of the Zero Abyss proved Ye Lan's theory: by clearing the dungeons in order, the dead Goblins and Slimes did not turn back into mist to respawn, nor did the higher-level dungeons send mist down to replenish the losses. The Zero Abyss was finally silent.
(End of Chapter)