Lin Xiao sensed the somewhat unfamiliar aura emanating from the person before him, while also speculating about her identity.
It seemed that the Dark Lightning Douluo had spread the news of the Soul Guidance Master Tournament, attracting quite a bit of attention. The person in front of him was likely an expert who had entered Mingdu alongside other academies or sects.
And those capable of dispatching a Titled Douluo to probe for information were probably only the three great empires.
The several strands of spiritual sense he had released detected no other experts' auras, which put Lin Xiao slightly more at ease.
"Since Your Excellency has come from afar and is interested in Mingdu, why not spend half a gold soul coin to hire a guide to introduce the sights of Mingdu? It would save you much more trouble than wandering around aimlessly."
As Lin Xiao spoke, a sudden fierce wind surged around him. That figure rode the wind and arrived in the blink of an eye right before Lin Xiao.
A palm struck out, soul power already surging forth.
Lin Xiao frowned slightly. He did not release his martial soul either, simply raising his palm to meet it head-on. Soul power rapidly surged through his meridians, and a faint dark red glow seemed to emanate from his entire right arm.
"Bang—"
With a muffled sound, Lin Xiao remained rooted in place without budging an inch, while the Titled Douluo who had struck first was instantly sent flying backward, her speed even faster than when she had approached.
"You—"
Her eyes were now filled with astonishment. From that probing exchange just now, she had felt that Lin Xiao's cultivation was in no way inferior to hers. Yet how could such a Titled Douluo have no prior information circulating about him?
Looking at Lin Xiao, whose breathing remained perfectly steady, a sudden sense of unease rose in her heart.
"Since Your Excellency wishes to test my cultivation, then please receive one palm from me as well."
As the words fell, his figure suddenly vanished from the spot. When he reappeared, he was already in front of that Titled Douluo.
Still without releasing his martial soul, it appeared to be an utterly ordinary palm, yet an inexplicable trace of fear emerged in the Titled Douluo's eyes.
Her right hand extended, and a seemingly illusory giant fan appeared in her grasp, filled with swirling clouds and mist, dotted with twinkling stars.
As her arm swept through the air, fierce winds rose once more, stars shining brightly, countless specks of light completely shrouding Lin Xiao's perception.
Lin Xiao's right palm landed on the giant fan, yet it felt as though it struck nothing but air. When he looked up, he saw the Titled Douluo's figure flickering as she fled into the darkness.
Lin Xiao stood in place and frowned, but he did not pursue.
He already knew who she was. That martial soul was called the Cloud Fan; the one who came should be the Star Cloud Douluo Yi Man, responsible for protecting Xu Jiujiu on behalf of the Star Luo Empire.
It seemed the news from here had caught Xu Jiujiu's attention.
However...
Thinking of this, he glanced toward the direction of the imperial palace, recalling his experience when he had crossed the border back then. The experts hidden in Mingdu had likely been detected by the Sun Moon Empire long ago.
At the top floor of the Mingyue Hotel, Xu Jiujiu was pacing back and forth in her room with furrowed brows when, suddenly, heavy breathing sounded from outside the door.
"Grandma Yi Man!" With a low cry, Xu Jiujiu hurriedly stepped forward to open the door.
"Grandma Yi Man, what happened to you?" Seeing the bean-sized beads of sweat on Star Cloud Douluo's forehead, Xu Jiujiu quickly supported her to sit down nearby.
"Your Highness, I'm afraid the plan to attack Mingdu needs to be reconsidered." After letting out a long breath, Star Cloud Douluo spoke, immediately causing Xu Jiujiu's expression to change slightly.
"Grandma Yi Man, what did you encounter just now?" Xu Jiujiu quickly guessed something.
"The waters of Mingdu run even deeper than we imagined." Star Cloud Douluo shook her head slightly, seemingly recalling something.
"Our information was inaccurate. Just now, I encountered a Titled Douluo I've never heard of before."
As she spoke, Star Cloud Douluo lifted her cloak, revealing that the skin on her entire right arm had turned an extremely eerie shade of gray-white.
"His strength surpasses mine, and his abilities are quite bizarre. I only received one palm from him, and I've ended up like this."
Xu Jiujiu's gaze fell on Star Cloud Douluo's arm, her complexion growing even uglier. Although she couldn't fully understand what had happened to Star Cloud Douluo, for an opponent to inflict such injury on a ninety-third-rank Titled Douluo, their strength certainly couldn't be low.
Over these years, she had constantly gathered information on the Sun Moon Empire, but only after entering Mingdu did she realize how little she truly understood this place.
After a long silence, Xu Jiujiu shook her head. "No, if we don't do something now, it will really be too late."
Seeing this, Star Cloud Douluo also stood up. "Your Highness, we can only contact His Majesty and have him send a few more experts over."
At this point, Xu Jiujiu's expression grew even darker. "Grandma Yi Man, ever since we entered Mingdu, everyone we've sent out has vanished without a trace like a stone sinking into the sea. I'm afraid..."
Silence fell over the room. After a long while, Star Cloud Douluo finally spoke to comfort her. "Since our messages can't get out, His Majesty will certainly take action on his side. Your Highness need not worry."
"That is all we can do." Xu Jiujiu nodded, walked to the side, and sat down. Soon after, she slightly raised her head again. "No, we can't just sit and wait like this. Grandma Yi Man, I must trouble you to accompany me to a place."
"Very well."
On the other side, within the imperial palace, some people had likewise not yet rested.
One report after another was continuously delivered to Xu Tianran's study. Juzi sat to the side, her gaze sweeping over the incoming messages from various sources one by one.
"How is the situation?"
Behind the desk nearby, Xu Tianran, seated in his wheelchair, slightly raised his head.
"Reporting to Your Highness, according to messages from the border and the various soul guidance divisions around Mingdu, several Titled Douluo-level experts have already entered Sun Moon Empire territory."
"Counting those who entered Mingdu alongside the participants of the elite tournament, there are at least ten or more Titled Douluo currently within Mingdu."
"Among them, there are likely Super Douluo at rank ninety-five or above from Shrek Academy and the Body Sect."
"Good." Xu Tianran's expression showed no alarm but rather delight upon hearing this. "Let them come. Pass down the order: all surrounding soul guidance divisions are to operate day and night without the slightest relaxation. No matter who it is, only entry is permitted, no exit."
"Hmph, as long as we can keep these experts here, the opponents our army faces will only grow weaker... What about the Holy Spirit Cult's side?"
"The Holy Spirit Cult is currently monitoring all participating teams, and no team has left."
"Excellent." Xu Tianran nodded lightly. "How is the Mingdou Mountain Range?"
Juzi's expression shifted slightly upon hearing this. "The trap for the White Tiger Duke has been set. Once trouble arises in Mingdu, simultaneous action can be taken at the Mingdou Mountain Range."
"It's just a pity you can't personally take revenge."
Xu Tianran sighed softly and waved his hand to summon Juzi closer.
"Juzi understands Your Highness's difficulties and will naturally not ruin the great affairs of our Sun Moon Empire over personal desires."
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Here are the chapters for today (づ￣3￣)づ╭～
"Don't forget there are 40 early chapters available on Patreon
[email protected]/facficmax10--------(@→a)