Traveling the WorldThree years later, in the old capital of the Martial Soul Empire, Xingluo.
In three years, the Star Luo Empire has become a thing of the past. Although Star Luo City is still called Star Luo City, it is no longer a city.
A ferry carrying the nobles of the former Star Luo Empire departed from Star Luo City, heading north downstream to Wuhun City, the center of the continent today.
A young girl leaned against the railing, gazing at the ever-receding Star Luo City. A wave of sadness welled up within her, and her gaze gradually became lost in thought.
"Your Grace is going too far. Although the empire has fallen, you are still the daughter of a former duke. You don't even know what that bishop looks like, yet Your Grace has betrothed him to him, and to be a concubine at that."
Beside the girl, a woman dressed as a maid said indignantly:
"He's just a cardinal, who knows how old he is? Back when the empire was still around, how dare these guys act like this?!"
Upon hearing this, the girl sighed softly and gave a bitter smile, saying:
"Qing'er, you don't understand, when the nest is overturned, how can any egg remain intact?"
"With the empire defeated, those of us who depend on it are left to be slaughtered. My father betrothed me to that cardinal to preserve the family. As the daughter of the family patriarch, I have enjoyed a life of luxury, and I should bear the responsibility of continuing the family line."
"Even if that cardinal is too old to move, I still have to take good care of him and hope that he will have mercy and help my father out of his predicament."
Qing'er's expression changed drastically.
Although the entire capital was in a state of panic when the empire collapsed not long ago, as if the sky had fallen, she, as a servant of the most noble Xu family in the Star Luo Empire, was not greatly affected. Therefore, she was not clear about the Xu family's situation and still thought of the Xu family as the high and mighty Xu family.
Hearing such pessimistic words from the young lady, he was deeply shocked and looked at her with eyes full of sorrow.
"Miss, this is too unfair to you."
Feeling wronged? Do I even have a choice?
The young woman surnamed Xu smiled faintly, her pretty face filled with an expression of resignation.
That cardinal is highly regarded by the current Pope Hulena, and she has already been given to that cardinal. If she breaks the agreement, her entire family will be implicated.
After she finished speaking, there was a long silence. As Xingluo City gradually disappeared below the horizon, the girl withdrew her gaze, glanced at the well-dressed, clinking glasses figures on the ship, and a hint of disgust flashed in her eyes.
They're nothing but a pack of stray dogs, barely managing to maintain a laughable facade. Once they arrive in Wuhun City, they'll all rush to tear off this so-called dignity, wagging their tails and begging for mercy from those high and mighty figures, hoping for a chance to live.
"Qing'er, what is that young master doing?"
Suddenly, as if remembering something, the girl asked casually.
Qing'er was taken aback for a moment, then a look of surprise appeared on her face, and she immediately replied:
"That young master stays in the cabin all day long, reading books all day long, only coming out for some fresh air when he eats. Miss, should I tell that young master? It is his good fortune to be favored by you."
Is that so?
The girl looked lost and dejected.
The young master they were talking about was a blond youth, tall and handsome, with a striking and rugged face. In particular, his mysterious and noble aura was so captivating that it was impossible not to be drawn to him.
A single meeting was enough to make the young girl's heart flutter.
"After more than 20 years, I finally met someone who moved me, but I was no longer in control of my own destiny."
The girl was filled with bitterness, her expression sorrowful, her teeth clenched tightly. After a moment, she slowly said:
"Qing'er, what kind of blessing is it for a prisoner like me to take a liking to someone? Perhaps once they know my identity, they will be eager to distance themselves from me. Besides, we don't even know that young master's name, nor do we know if he is married. It would be really inappropriate for us to ask him so presumptuously."
"Most importantly, I have already been promised to another man as a concubine, so I must not cause any further trouble."
"The honor of the Xu family of Xingguan will not be tarnished."
"As for that young master..."
The girl gave a bitter smile:
"I'm content just to have met him, why bother him? If he doesn't match my image of him, wouldn't that leave me with no room for fantasy?"
The girl and Qing'er both fell silent for a moment.
······
As the sun rises and sets, the ferry travels north.
They had already reached the outer edge of the Star Dou Great Forest, and Wuhun City was not far away. After disembarking from the ferry, they would transfer to a carriage, and it would only take two or three days to reach their destination.
Although she had decided not to disturb the young man, when he appeared outside the cabin, holding a book and frowning, the girl couldn't help but focus her attention on him.
After a while, the young man seemed to notice the girl's observing gaze. He turned around occasionally, and when he met her eyes, he smiled slightly. Just as the girl was at a loss and blushed, he turned his attention back to his book.
The girl looked lost and dejected.
This was the first time she had ever felt so lost and helpless; as a former duke's daughter, she was always composed and unhurried.
But after being noticed by this young master, especially after being caught spying, all her years of self-restraint vanished. Like an ordinary woman gazing into the eyes of her beloved, she was overwhelmed with surprise, shyness, and trepidation.
However, the young man's nonchalant smile left her utterly disappointed.
She knew perfectly well what a man who liked her would feel when she looked at him.
They might avoid eye contact, or be anxious and stutter when speaking; or be shy and awkward, their movements becoming extremely restrained; even when encountering some bold people, they find it difficult to remain calm.
She had seen far too much before.
But the young master's reaction was so indifferent, as if he had just met an ordinary person, which meant that he had no interest in her at all.
For the first time, the girl felt insecure about her appearance.
"The falling flowers are full of longing, but the flowing water is heartless..."
The girl watched the young man's retreating figure, murmuring sadly to herself.
Although she had realized that the young master had no feelings for her, the girl still kept an eye on him from time to time.
As dawn broke, the golden sunlight pierced the night, illuminating the emerald green river with breathtaking beauty. On one side of the river lay a human town, while on the other, the renowned Starry Sky Forest stretched across the continent.
Many guests came to the bow of the ship to admire this rare and beautiful view.
In a few days, these days of freedom may be over.
"Miss, why don't you go and get to know him? Once you reach Martial Soul City, you might never see this young master again!"
Qing'er said urgently.
The girl's face showed struggle, her beautiful eyes fixed on the young man's direction. Her hands clenched and relaxed several times before she finally made up her mind. She walked slowly through the crowd admiring the scenery and approached the young man.
"Young master, is this place occupied?"
The blond youth slowly looked up from the pages of the book, seemingly troubled by something, his annoyance still lingering on his face.
A pair of golden-rimmed eyes swept over, dignified and noble. The girl froze, a feeling of inferiority welling up within her. At the same time, a strange sense of familiarity surged into her heart.
She felt like she had seen this person somewhere before.
"Of course not, please sit wherever you like."
The blond youth smiled slowly.
Despite his gentle demeanor, his authority was increasingly palpable, making the young girl feel that he was even more imposing than her father.
The girl's heart raced, and she somewhat regretted her rash action. Seeing the blond man lower his head again to ponder the book's contents, a chill ran through her, but thinking of her future, she gritted her teeth and forced a smile, saying:
"Young master, may I ask your name?"
The blond youth looked up, paused for a moment, as if he understood something, closed the book, and smiled:
"It's fate that we met, why bother knowing each other's names? What would you like to drink? It's on me."
A strange glint flashed in the girl's eyes. This ship was full of captured nobles from the Star Luo Empire, but this person came and went freely, making him a very special individual. She took the drink and asked:
"Young master, your elegance is unparalleled in my life. The nobles on this ship are all filled with a heavy sense of gloom, unlike you."
"Miss, you misunderstand. I am not a member of the Star Luo noble family..."
At this point, the blond youth paused, then smiled helplessly and said:
"I guess I am, but I have long since left the Star Luo Empire, so I am not a prisoner and my mindset is completely different from everyone else's."
"Oh? Then how did you manage to board this ship, young master?"
The girl became even more curious.
"It's a long story. I have a past relationship with a high-ranking official of the Spirit Empire. I was able to board the ship this time thanks to his connections. I have been traveling across the continent for three years. Not long ago, I returned to Star Luo City to settle some personal matters. I am boarding the ship this time to see that old friend."
The young man spoke lightly, but it stirred up quite a ripple in the young girl's heart.
This ship almost encompassed the offspring of the most important nobles in the Star Luo Empire. Even the Martial Soul Empire valued it highly, and many bishops were not allowed to board it.
The old friend this person mentioned is probably of very high status!
The girl's mind immediately started racing, but after thinking about it, she found it ridiculous. Why should anyone help her?
Just as she was about to continue chatting with the man and learn about his identity, she found that he suddenly turned around and looked at the Starry Sky Forest on the other side of the riverbank, his gaze instantly becoming extremely sharp and cold.
A rustling sound came from the forest.
The next moment, a colossal creature burst out of the woods, its eight spider spears reflecting a chilling light, their bases covered in white, downy hairs resembling human faces—a truly eerie and terrifying sight.
It was indeed the Human-Faced Demon Spider!
Judging from its size, its cultivation level has exceeded 60,000 years!
In an instant, sharp screams rang out throughout the ferry, and the once bustling crowd scattered in all directions, fleeing into the cabin.
Many of those present were nobles, and there should have been no shortage of strong individuals, but those with even a little cultivation had already been taken away by the people of the Martial Soul Empire, leaving behind only insignificant figures.
Therefore, when suddenly encountering danger, most people behave poorly.
Especially when encountering renowned soul beasts like the Human-Faced Demon Spider.
A thousand years of cultivation is enough to fight a ten-thousand-year-old soul beast. The one in front of us has a cultivation of over sixty thousand years. Even an ordinary titled Douluo might not be a match for it. The highest cultivation on the ferry is only a bishop at the Soul Douluo level. In other words, once the Human-Faced Demon Spider decides to kill, everyone will surely die!
"Activate your Martial Soul!"
Just then, a loud shout rang out from inside the cabin, and an old man rushed out of the cabin, eight soul rings surrounding his body.
As soon as he finished speaking, the twenty guards of the Martial Soul Empire unleashed their Martial Souls: five Soul Saints and more than ten Soul Emperors.
A Soul Douluo-level powerhouse, along with more than twenty Soul Emperor-level powerhouses, already constituted the top combat force on the continent, but they still seemed inadequate in front of this Human-Faced Demon Spider.
It's important to know that when the Spirit Hall attacked the Heaven Dou Empire's participating team in the original novel, apart from Chrysanthemum and Ghost, the highest-ranking member was only a Soul Douluo.
"When the ferry docks, everyone must disembark immediately!"
The old man's gaze was solemn as he forcefully steered the ferry to turn and move it toward the shore.
It is absolutely impossible for a human-faced demon spider with such cultivation level to appear on the outskirts of the Star Dou Great Forest, let alone on the border between the Star Dou Great Forest and humanity.
Therefore, something must have happened inside the Star Dou Great Forest.
However, a human-faced demon spider with this level of cultivation must possess a certain level of intelligence. If it were to commit massacres in the outer areas, it would surely enrage the human powerhouses, making it impossible for it to return to the core area of the Star Dou Great Forest.
The core area of the Star Dou Great Forest is teeming with spirit beasts of profound cultivation, so human powerhouses dare not act recklessly. However, they show no mercy to spirit beasts that are alone on the outskirts.
Therefore, the old man was not too worried. After releasing his martial spirit, he remained cautious and on guard.
Unless the human-faced spider is completely insane, it will leave on its own after a brief standoff.
However, to his dismay, after seeing numerous Soul Masters release their Soul Rings, the Human-Faced Demon Spider immediately went berserk. Its eight spider spears bent slightly and leaped up like springs, its enormous body crashing down. The ever-growing shadow seemed to collapse like a curtain of the sky, covering the entire ferry.
The eight purplish-black spear tips emitted a chilling light.
The old man, who had been barely managing to maintain his composure, suddenly turned deathly pale.
"Run! Everyone run!"
With a loud shout, the old man activated his eighth soul ring and instantly fled to the shore, shielding everyone in front of him.
Seeing this, the other guards seemed relieved and were not surprised. They also fled, but at a much slower pace than the old man.
In just a few breaths, the ferry, once teeming with powerful figures, was now filled only with unarmed prisoners of the Star Luo Empire.
Despair was written all over everyone's faces.
In this desperate situation, several people summoned their martial spirits, leaped over the fence, and jumped into the water. Seeing this, the rest of the people also jumped into the water, even if they couldn't swim, at least they had a chance to survive.
In an instant, dumplings began to fall beside the ferry, the sound of them hitting the water like a death knell in the hearts of everyone who was still hesitating.
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"Miss, jump quickly!"
Qing'er pulled the girl to the railing and anxiously tried to persuade her.
The girl turned around and looked at the blond man sitting upright in his original seat. She was puzzled and surprised. She asked urgently:
"Young master, let's go!"
The gasps were barely noticeable on the noisy ferry, like splashes of water, but the blond man seemed to notice them, his gaze gentle as he nodded slightly.
The girl paused for a moment, feeling a warm, comforting power flowing through her body, and her intention to jump into the water instantly stopped.
The man suddenly disappeared.
The next moment, a golden light suddenly shone in the increasingly dark sky, and beneath the terrifying human face on the abdomen of the human-faced spider, a figure appeared.
He pointed slightly upwards.
As if realizing something, the human-faced spider rapidly contracted its eight spider spears, merging them into one to try and block the finger strike. Its crazed eyes were now filled with terror and despair.
The weakness of the Human-Faced Demon Spider lies in its human face on its abdomen, while its sharpest and toughest parts are its eight spider spears. With these eight spider spears as its defense, even a Title Douluo would find it troublesome.
But when the eight spider spears touched the man's fingertips, the world seemed to freeze.
The human-faced spider's body hovered silently in the sky, its cold eyes devoid of consciousness.
The Spirit Hall Soul Masters who escaped to the shore, the prisoners who fell into the water, and the nobles who were still hesitating on the ferry, were all stunned by the scene in the sky, as if they had forgotten to breathe.
A breeze from the Star Dou Great Forest swept across the river, causing golden hair to flutter slightly. The human-faced demonic spider on her fingertips vanished like ashes.
Only the jet-black soul ring floated silently.
Everyone was terrified, but no one dared to utter a sound.
The old man with eight rings twitched his eyelids and swallowed hard. He had just left this powerful man on the ferry, and if the matter were investigated, he would be doomed.
"Abandoning the ferry just now was truly beyond my capabilities; please forgive me, Your Majesty!"
The old man bowed deeply, his head almost touching the ground, his voice trembling slightly.
Everyone waited quietly for the person in the sky to respond.
The man glanced at the old man but didn't care much. After all, if he were in that situation, he would also choose to protect himself if he lacked the strength.
With a wave of his hand, the people who had fallen into the water floated up and, in astonishment, slowly returned to the ferry.
Sensing the change in his surroundings, the old man's eyes darted around. He slightly raised his head, glanced at the man's expression in the sky, and then slowly rose to his feet, proclaiming loudly:
"Your Majesty rescued those in distress and saved the lives of a ship full of people. I do not know Your Majesty's name, but once His Holiness the Pope learns it, he will surely treat Your Majesty as an honored guest!"
Upon hearing this, the man finally turned around, but a strange expression appeared on his face. He remained silent, only looking into the depths of the Star Dou Great Forest, his gaze growing cold.
"After watching for so long, it's time to come out."
The sound was faint, as if it had descended from the sky.
Confused, the crowd followed the man's gaze to the Starry Sky Forest, where a figure slowly emerged. His skin was green, and his face wore a bitter expression. He said:
"Lord Sea God, the appearance of the Human-Faced Demon Spider on the outskirts of the Star Dou Great Forest is indeed our responsibility, but it was not our intention."
The crowd was still somewhat puzzled, not understanding the identity of this person, who was dressed in green, which was really strange.
Only the old man stared intently at this person, his gaze solemn and puzzled. As a Soul Douluo, he could naturally sense the terrifying aura emanating from this person, which was as deep as an abyss. Combining this with the rumors in the temple, this person was probably the legendary ferocious beast that had existed for hundreds of thousands of years—the Demon King!
Upon hearing the words "Sea God," everyone seemed struck by lightning, their eyes filled with disbelief. The once silent ferry instantly erupted into a frenzy of noise.
The gods, who had been extinct on the continent for ten thousand years, have suddenly appeared, which is hard for everyone to believe.
However, the scene of the human-faced spider being obliterated with a single finger was real, adding a touch of authenticity to this shocking news.
"Miss, is this young master really...?"
Qing'er barely managed to control the turmoil in her heart, her tone heavy with shock and a hint of disbelief.
The girl surnamed Xu stared blankly, remaining silent for a long time. The light in her eyes slowly faded, replaced by a calm, or rather, a calm gaze devoid of illusions.
"It should be true."
The girl gave a self-deprecating laugh.
"I never imagined that I would chat with a legendary deity for so long."
"No wonder I always felt a sense of familiarity when I saw him. Qing'er, do you still remember the person who left the Xingluo royal family, eventually returned to the empire with his men, assassinated the emperor, and then disappeared without a trace?"
Qing'er's eyes lit up.
"Miss, you mean he is...?"
"That's right, it's Dai Yao."
The girl gave a bitter smile.
The competition among the Star Luo royal family was of utmost concern to these nobles, and thus, the name Dai Yao repeatedly reached her ears.
But it was only hearsay. Dai Yao had been cultivating in seclusion for many years, and she had never met him until later when Dai Yao broke into the Star Luo Empire, destroyed the country and killed the emperor. Standing on the ground, she saw Dai Yao's face as he fought in the sky.
No wonder she felt a strange sense of familiarity with Dai Yao.
At the same age, Dai Yao was already famous throughout the world, and even the bishops of the Spirit Hall had to bow down respectfully, while he himself was imprisoned and drifting like a duckweed.
Just as the girl was feeling sentimental, a distant and majestic voice once again echoed from the sky.
"King of Ten Thousand Demons, you know what I've been doing all these years. When it's done, the benefits to you soul beasts will be self-evident."
"But before things have even settled, ferocious beasts like the Human-Faced Demon Spider have already invaded the outer perimeter of the Star Dou Great Forest. Fortunately, no bloodshed has occurred. If we succeed, and your soul beasts become rampant, who among you can bear the consequences?"
"Do you expect me to cleanse the entire Star Dou Great Forest?"
Dai Yao looked down with a stern expression, his voice indifferent.
Over the years, he has been researching artificial spirit rings, traveling the world to broaden his horizons in hopes of making a breakthrough.
Traveling by carriage and on foot, step by step, they set off from Hanhai City, passed through the far north, the former land of Tiandou, and the Martial Soul Empire. After three years, they finally arrived at the Star Luo Empire to pay homage to their mother.
Three years have passed, and some progress has been made, but it will take more time to refine the creation of a true spirit ring.
However, upon witnessing the Human-Faced Demon Spider break out of the Star Dou Great Forest today, he secretly became wary and knew he had to give the Soul Beast race a good warning to prevent them from causing even greater trouble in the future.
Upon hearing this, a flicker of barely suppressed panic crossed the Demon King's green face, and he inwardly groaned in despair.
As one of the few plant-type soul beasts in the core area, he can use the power of plants to control the actions of many high-level soul beasts, so he has always been in charge of dividing up the territories of many soul beasts.
However, for some reason today, this human-faced demon spider seemed to have gone mad, rushing towards the edge of the forest. Coupled with his slow reaction, this resulted in him catching up with it only at the edge of the Star Dou Great Forest.
Unfortunately, Dai Yao happened to be there.
"Lord Poseidon, you flatter us. This incident was accidental. We will definitely strengthen our defenses to prevent such a thing from happening again."
Knowing that he could not avoid this matter, the King of Ten Thousand Demons had no choice but to grit his teeth and make a promise.
She was inwardly groaning. The commotion just now would surely attract the attention of Di Tian and the others. Bi Ji and Zi Ji should hurry over. Only with the relationship between the two women and Dai Yao could they dispel Dai Yao's wariness!
Otherwise, the Soul Beast race could not bear the hostility of a god!
Dai Yao remained noncommittal, coldly replying:
"Is your guarantee any good?"
He noticed the aura emanating from the core area of the Star Dou Great Forest and said calmly:
"Let's go. To avoid future trouble, I still need to clarify some boundaries."
The Demon King, feeling as if granted a pardon, immediately wanted to lead Dai Yao into the core area. However, at that moment, a weak yet firm voice rang out on the ferry. Everyone looked in the direction of the voice and saw the young woman surnamed Xu kneeling on the ground, saying sorrowfully:
"Lord Sea God! The Star Luo Empire has fallen, and our Xu family has become prisoners. My father was once a close friend of Prince Hengyu. We beg the Sea God to have mercy on the Xu family for Prince Hengyu's sake!"
Dai Yao slowly turned around, a hint of surprise appearing in his cold gaze.
This girl knows how to seize an opportunity.
"Are you from the Xu family of Xingguan?"
"Exactly."
The young woman surnamed Xu prostrated herself, ignoring the various strange gazes from the nobles of Xingluo, and said tremblingly.
"The Xu family of Xingguan..."
Dai Yao sighed slightly.
Ten thousand years later, the Xu family of Xingguan replaced the Dai family as the new emperors of Xingluo. In this life, because of his existence, the Xingluo Empire was destroyed, and the Xu family was wiped out.
That's partly his fault.
"Out of respect for Prince Hengyu, I'll help the Xu family this once, but this is a one-time exception."
Dai Yao said calmly.
With a flick of her finger, the girl slowly floated up. In her ecstatic expression, countless golden dots gathered on her forehead, and the pattern of a golden trident gradually took shape.
"Go to Wuhun City, meet Hu Liena, and after she sees the mark on your forehead, she will understand what I mean."
After saying that, Dai Yao's figure disappeared into thin air, leaving only the black soul ring, which gradually merged into the ancient, flowing river.
"Thank you, Lord Poseidon!"
The girl knelt on the ground, weeping with joy. (End of Chapter)