Just as Mask Douluo silently infiltrated the Wang Family estate, ready to begin his slaughter…
At the highest point of the Wang Family compound, Wang Chen stood with cold, piercing eyes fixed in the direction of the intruder.
Back during the family meeting, Wang Chen had already noticed the strange blue-black maggot embedded in the Tenth Elder's body.
However, rather than exposing it outright, he chose to play along — to turn the trap back on its creator.
He allowed the Evil Soul Master to complete his setup, quietly observing and laying his own plans in secret.
He waited patiently for the enemy to step into the web he had woven, and only then would he strike to kill.
Over the past few days, Wang Chen had used the Origin of Spirit (Ling zhi Benyuan) to completely remodel the Wang Family estate.
Every object, every stone, every leaf within the grounds had been infused with a spark of sentience.
This land had become his domain — a true Spiritual Territory.
Within it, as long as the Origin's power remained, Wang Chen was the absolute master.
No movement, no sound, no whisper of soul power could escape his perception.
Mask Douluo's stealth was impressive, but within Wang Chen's domain, it was as glaring as a torch burning in the darkness.
"So, you've finally come."
Wang Chen sensed a vast, malignant soul power — far beyond that of a Soul Douluo — entering the family grounds. His lips curled into a faint, cold smile.
This Evil Soul Master had indeed reached the Titled Douluo realm, but compared to Jing Hongchen, the gap was clear.
In terms of danger, he was far inferior — after all, Jing Hongchen's strength as a Level 93 Titled Douluo placed him at the level of a Super Douluo.
"Perfect," Wang Chen thought, his mood brightening. "A suitable opponent to test how strong I've truly become."
If a Super Douluo had appeared instead, his goal wouldn't have been to kill, but to stall for time.
A Super Douluo's explosive soul power was like a blazing meteor — the moment it flared, it would trigger Mingdu's soul-power detectors.
Then, not only the Imperial Dragon Soul Engineer Regiment, but even the palace's Offering Hall experts would rush to the scene.
In that case, the intruder would have no choice but to flee.
Feeling the dark soul power creeping through his domain, Wang Chen smiled faintly.
"Let me see for myself… just how powerful a Titled Douluo truly is.
I hope you're not too weak, or it would make all my preparation a waste."
Behind him, Wang Yan and Great Elder Wang Lu both stiffened, their eyes sharpening, murderous intent surging.
After the clan meeting had ended days ago, the three of them had held a private discussion.
Upon learning from Wang Chen that an Evil Soul Master was targeting the Wang Family — and that the Tenth Elder had been implanted with a parasitic maggot — they had been horrified.
Their first instinct had been to avoid confrontation.
Their second was to report it to Emperor Xu Jing, forcing the Evil Soul Master to retreat out of fear of imperial retribution.
After all, the existence of Evil Soul Masters was no secret among high-level soul masters of the Sun and Moon Empire.
Everyone knew that they were twisted, insane, and monstrously powerful — far stronger than ordinary Soul Masters or Soul Engineers of the same level, often capable of fighting across entire realms.
But after hearing Wang Chen's plan, both elders had changed their minds.
He had told them that his strength was already comparable to a Level 9 Soul Engineer — equivalent to a Titled Douluo.
He would no longer hide in the shadows.
He would crush an Evil Soul Master beneath his feet and make his name resound throughout the Sun and Moon Empire.
Wang Yan and Wang Lu both knew exactly how terrifying Wang Chen's talent was.
If he revealed his true power, every upper echelon of the Empire — perhaps even Emperor Xu Jing himself — would be stunned beyond belief.
They were so overcome with emotion that they had knelt to him on the spot, bowing deeply in awe and reverence.
They realized then that had the Evil Soul Master not appeared, they might still have been in the dark, unaware of the overwhelming strength of their young patriarch.
In their hearts, they even began to believe that the power Wang Chen showed them might not be his full strength — that there might still be layers of hidden trump cards beneath.
Now, to them, Wang Chen was shrouded in endless mystery — a man wrapped in veils upon veils, unfathomable and commanding awe.
They were certain:
No matter how strong this Evil Soul Master was, the moment he stepped into the Wang Family's domain, he was doomed.
He would die without a grave, becoming nothing more than a stepping stone for Wang Chen's rise to fame!
"Are all preparations complete?" Wang Chen asked coldly.
The Great Elder replied,
"Patriarch, the defensive Soul Tool formation is fully active. All members are in position. Except for the Tenth Elder, every elder is stationed as planned. We await the intruder's arrival."
Wang Yan added,
"Against such a powerful Evil Soul Master, the other elders won't be able to engage directly.
But they can control the long-range Soul Tools from the perimeter to provide interference.
It's a pity we don't have the military's coordinated soul-link systems — otherwise, with the Wang Family's combined might, even a Titled Douluo would have to think twice."
Meanwhile, Mask Douluo slipped like a shadow through the Wang Family's territory, swiftly approaching the heart of the estate — the residence of Wang Yan.
Naturally, his first target was the family's publicly acknowledged strongest member — a peak Soul Douluo.
As for Wang Chen, in outsiders' eyes, he was just a young junior, hardly worth notice.
Mask Douluo licked his lips, the maggots squirming across his face glowing faintly blue.
"A peak Soul Douluo's soul essence… that'll make for a fine meal."
Just as greed and hunger burned in his mind —
Twelve pillars of soul light erupted around him, linking together into a vast, shining energy web that enclosed him completely!
Mask Douluo's expression darkened.
"Not good — an ambush!"
Countless thoughts raced through his mind, but he quickly dismissed them all.
He simply couldn't fathom how he'd been discovered. In his view, the Wang Family was mere ants — there was no way they could detect his techniques.
That meant… the ambushers had to be someone from the imperial high command.
Tap… tap… tap…
Footsteps echoed.
Fully armored, Wang Chen stepped forward, flanked by Wang Yan and Wang Lu, both radiating Soul Douluo-level pressure.
Wang Chen's expression was icy as he stared down Mask Douluo.
He wore an eighth-tier Soul Tool battle armor, with an eighth-tier flying Soul Tool mounted on his back — the Wang Family's treasured equipment.
In his hand gleamed a long spear — an eighth-tier peak Soul Tool, forged under his specifications by Wang Yan and Wang Lu.
"Since you've come this far," Wang Chen said coldly,
"You won't be leaving alive."
The long spear was forged from the Wang Family's top-grade rare metals — unimaginably tough, rivaling even ninth-tier Soul Tools in resilience.
Once his cultivation advanced further, Wang Chen could inscribe a new core formation array, evolving the weapon into a true ninth-tier Soul Tool.
This time, it wouldn't shatter under his strength like before.
Mask Douluo, initially cautious, burst into mocking laughter as he scanned his opponents.
With a mere glance, he could sense their soul power levels — two Soul Douluos and one Soul Emperor.
"Hah! I thought I'd be facing a Titled Douluo.
Turns out it's just three insects!
Two Soul Douluos and a pitiful Soul Emperor — you dare speak so arrogantly before me?"
The maggots on his purple-black face wriggled in rhythm with his laughter, making him look even more hideous.
Recognizing Wang Yan and Wang Lu — both of whom his leader Zhongli Wu had ordered him to kill — he sneered inwardly.
"Perfect. Saves me the trouble of hunting them down. I'll finish them all at once."
"Arrogant ants," Mask Douluo snarled,
"All of you — die!"
With a roar, his soul power erupted like a storm.
Nine rings appeared around him — two yellow, two purple, and five black — the mark of a Titled Douluo.
A suffocating, evil pressure filled the air as the distorted phantom of a pale, maggot-covered face loomed over the three Wang Family members.
His second, third, and fourth soul rings flared simultaneously — a chorus of piercing, mind-rending wails filled the air, seizing at their souls.
Wang Chen instantly felt a terrifying force pulling at his spiritual sea, as if something were trying to tear his soul apart.
A chill of death crept toward him from all directions.
But his spiritual sea, tempered by the Life-Gold Essence and his cultivation method, was immensely strong.
His spiritual power had already reached the Soul Douluo level. Though the attack made him uncomfortable, it couldn't harm him.
With a cold snort, Wang Chen's spirit, soul power, and will merged into one, forming a brilliant shield that blocked Mask Douluo's mental assault.
After all, those three soul skills were only of the hundred- and thousand-year levels — not enough to truly threaten him.
However, the Great Elder Wang Lu wasn't so lucky. His face turned pale as he struggled under the psychic onslaught.
Wang Yan, on the other hand, with years at the Soul Douluo peak, managed to endure without serious damage.
"Fall back!" Wang Chen ordered through spiritual transmission.
"Use long-range Soul Tools for support."
The two obeyed immediately, retreating and activating long-range Soul Cannons from a distance.
Mask Douluo gave a contemptuous snort, raising one hand.
Twisted shadows rippled around his body — their attacks vanished like stones sinking into the sea.
The gap in power was simply too vast. Even if he stood still and let them attack, they might not even scratch him.
Cold sweat dripped down Wang Yan and Wang Lu's backs. Just a single exchange had made it clear — this Evil Soul Master was a monster.
"Can the Patriarch really handle this?" the Great Elder whispered nervously.
"Don't worry," Wang Yan replied calmly.
"The Patriarch hasn't even used the secret technique he used against me."
Mask Douluo sneered at the retreating elders, then turned his malicious gaze on Wang Chen.
"A mere Soul Emperor, commanding two Soul Douluos? How amusing. Come, let me see what makes you so bold."
He waved his arm — a twisted shadow lashed toward Wang Chen, moving faster than even most Soul Douluos could react to.
Wang Chen didn't dare take it lightly. Facing a Titled Douluo-level Evil Soul Master, he unleashed his full power at once.
He activated the Ring Explosion Secret Technique, detonating his first and second soul rings simultaneously!
Terrifying energy surged through his body, his strength skyrocketing.
The last time he had used this technique, combined with his battle arts, he had easily defeated the peak Soul Douluo Wang Yan.
Now, after perfecting it, the technique's side effects had greatly lessened — only a single day of cooldown remained — and it no longer restricted his ability to use soul skills while active.
Behind him, three black soul rings flared to life.
He simultaneously activated all his enhancement-type abilities except the sixth, which burned blood essence, channeling them into his eighth-tier peak Soul Tool spear.
With his strength magnified by the Ring Explosion, Wang Chen launched a thrust — his battle art amplifying the blow further.
The long spear pierced straight through the distorted shadow that Mask Douluo had unleashed.
A shriek split the air — the shadow disintegrated into a wriggling maggot before vanishing entirely.
Mask Douluo staggered, a muffled grunt escaping him. His expression twisted in disbelief.
"Impossible! A mere Soul Emperor ant… destroyed my Demon Maggot?!"
Before he could recover from his shock, Wang Chen's body flared with radiant white light. His black pupils turned pure white —
Spiritual Domain — Open!