Douluo Dalu 2: The True God King

The icy-blue thunderbolt shot straight into the massive pit in the hall.

The terrifying destructive power of the ultimate lightning ravaged everything in an instant. Amidst shrill wails, two eerie and sinister phantoms shattered into fragments. These were the souls of the Great Saint Spirit and the Second Saint Spirit. Compared to the ordinary white-robed individuals, they were undoubtedly more resilient and troublesome.

If one were careless, even destroying their bodies might not prevent their souls from escaping. The members of the Holy Spirit Sect indeed possessed many bizarre abilities. However, under Su Yu's finishing move with the Azure Dragon's Thunder, they were utterly annihilated, and reduced to dust.

Though it sounds lengthy, the battle ended in just an instant.

The commotion in the hall finally alarmed the true monster of this stronghold.

"Who dares to cause trouble on the territory of the Holy Sect?"

A sharp voice came from within the hall, echoing through a narrow, dark corridor. Along with it, a wave of sinister and eerie black mist surged.

An elder with a sinister expression emerged, dressed in a black robe. His body radiates malevolence so intense it seems almost tangible. One can only imagine how much harm he has caused. His aura bears some resemblance to that of the Great and Second Saint Spirits, but it is far more powerful.

Seeing the massive pit covering the hall and the scattered remains, fury filled the elder's face.

"No matter who you are, daring to attack the Holy Sect means you will all remain here."

"I will tear apart your souls and turn you all into my puppets!"

The elder's sharp voice echoed as black mist swirled around him. Suddenly, his entire body transformed into a massive black skeleton. Seven soul rings—yellow, yellow, purple, purple, black, black, black—shimmered beneath him. This was a Soul Sage Evil Soul Master.

"Young Master, be careful!"

Feng Luo warned, activating his martial soul once more.

Purple, purple, black, black, black, black, black, red—eight soul rings revolved around him. The chilling cold spread outward from Feng Luo, covering the entire hall with frost. Such a soul ring configuration was astonishing.

The opposing Evil Soul Master Soul Sage's expression immediately changed.

Evil Soul Sages might contend with ordinary Soul Douluo, but not with someone like Feng Luo. With such a soul ring combination, Feng Luo could even challenge a Titled Douluo.

Although Feng Luo wasn't the most outstanding of the younger generation in the Ice God Temple, he ranked in the top five. As the grandson of Feng Xue, a 97th-level Super Douluo and the Temple's protector, mediocrity was out of the question.

The elder, initially intent on annihilating the intruders, began to retreat.

Knowing when to yield is wise; escaping seemed the prudent choice.

Quickly, the elder pulled out a flag with a pained expression. Soon, however, the pain faded as he unfurled the flag. Instantly, countless wraiths surged from it, lunging toward Su Yu and the others.

This flag was the Ten Thousand Souls Banner. When used in combat, it could unleash wraiths to launch wide-range attacks. Any creature affected by these wraiths would become a host, rapidly transforming into part of an undead army.

Once these undead bodies were destroyed, their souls would return to the Ten Thousand Souls Banner, evolving by devouring the souls of other creatures.

Legend has it that when fully evolved, the banner could even contend with deities.

Naturally, the elder's Ten Thousand Souls Banner hadn't reached such a level.

The wraiths before them numbered around four to five hundred, far from terrifying. Yet the elder seemed aware that these wraiths wouldn't suffice to defeat Su Yu, Feng Luo, and their companions.

While releasing the wraiths, he darted toward a side passage, clearly intending to use the distraction to escape.

"Not good, he's trying to flee!" Feng Luo shouted, blasting away the wraiths before him.

"Don't worry. He won't get away."

True to Su Yu's words, as the elder attempted to enter the corridor, Mu Wu caught him by the neck. The chilling aura emanating from Mu Wu froze the elder's soul power and spiritual energy instantly.

With Mu Wu present, letting the elder escape would be the real mystery.

"Young Master."

"Kill him."

The Ten Thousand Souls Banner was an extremely vile artifact. Each wraith represented an innocent life. Su Yu didn't shy away from killing, for life in the martial world often demanded it.

But slaughtering innocents, tormenting their souls, and condemning them to eternal damnation—these were acts he could not tolerate.

The Holy Spirit Sect's infamy was well-deserved; they never engaged in anything remotely decent.

At Su Yu's command, Mu Wu crushed the elder in his grip and obliterated his soul with spiritual power, ensuring eternal damnation.

With the elder's death, the wraiths from the Ten Thousand Souls Banner went berserk without guidance, attacking and devouring each other.

Su Yu sighed, chanting an incantation softly. As the chant echoed, his eyes turned gray, and a shadowy, aged figure appeared faintly behind him.

It was one of Su Yu's martial souls—the Necromancer. Though it couldn't host soul rings or serve as a primary martial soul, the Necromancer greatly enhanced necromantic magic.

Though Su Yu had only recently acquired necromantic magic, his high-level spiritual power made learning swift. While not yet a master, he had firmly entered the path.

The hall resonated with a faint, mysterious chant, ancient and sacred.

Suddenly, Su Yu raised his head slightly, pointing skyward with his right hand.

A circle of pure white light radiated from his Eye of Life.

His powerful spiritual energy transformed instantly into the purest cleansing force. The purifying energy swept through the area, halting the frenzy of wraiths that had been tearing at each other. Strands of blood-red light and black mist escaped from the wraiths' forms.

The once ferocious wraiths began to calm, regaining clarity and reason. They bowed toward Su Yu, expressions of relief and joy appearing on their faces.

"Sigh..."

Su Yu sighed softly again.

If the evil soul masters deserved to die, these wraiths were the truly innocent ones.

"Go now," Su Yu said, waving his hand.

One by one, the pure white souls disappeared with gratitude and relief. Once all the souls had faded away, Su Yu's cold demeanor returned.

"Let's go."

He led the way out of the corridor and headed straight back to the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineering Academy.

Upon returning to his dorm, Su Yu had barely taken a seat when he was informed that Jing Hongchen wanted to see him.

Straightening his attire, Su Yu quickly made his way to the Illustrious Virtue Hall. He had some matters he wanted to discuss with Jing Hongchen as well.

In the Illustrious Virtue Hall's main chamber, Jing Hongchen sat dominantly on the main seat, with Xiao Hongchen and Meng Hongchen standing on either side of him.

Their expressions contrasted starkly—Xiao Hongchen yawned incessantly, his sleepy demeanor suggesting he had just woken up. Meng Hongchen, however, looked around anxiously, her delicate face visibly tinged with worry.

The moment Su Yu stepped into the hall, Meng Hongchen's eyes lit up. She hurried forward, grabbing Su Yu's arm and inspecting him anxiously. Finally, she let out a sigh of relief.

Since returning from their outing the previous day, Su Yu had suddenly vanished without a word. Wang Dong'er even reported that Su Yu hadn't returned all night. Staying out all night without warning—how could Meng Hongchen not worry?

Even Jing Hongchen had been alerted, given Su Yu's significance. Su Yu wasn't an ordinary student, and nothing involving him was a trivial matter. This was the first time Su Yu had disappeared overnight without notice.

Gently patting Meng Hongchen's hand, Su Yu reassured her.

Jing Hongchen's stern voice broke the moment. "I heard you didn't return all night. Why didn't you notify anyone?"

"Do you know how worried Meng was about you?" Jing Hongchen's gaze carried a hint of reproach.

It was precisely because they cared about Su Yu that they were upset. If it had been an ordinary student, Jing Hongchen wouldn't have bothered. Such trivial matters weren't worth his attention.

Still holding Meng Hongchen's hand, Su Yu explained, "An urgent matter came up yesterday, and I didn't have time to send word. That was my oversight."

"Oh?" Jing Hongchen raised an eyebrow. "What kind of urgent matter?"

Su Yu smiled faintly. "Do you remember the Death God Envoy?"

Jing Hongchen mused, "The one who even forced Phoenix Douluo to retreat?"

"That's right," Su Yu said calmly. "Yesterday, someone from the Ice God Palace informed me that the Death God Envoy had been captured. I rushed over to confirm."

"And the Death God Envoy?"

"Chopped into mincemeat and fed to the dogs."

Jing Hongchen: Σ(°△°|||)︴

Xiao Hongchen: ('_')

Meng Hongchen: (=^▽^=)

Jing Hongchen and Xiao Hongchen were both stunned, while Meng Hongchen remained her usual cheerful self, entirely unconcerned about the Death God Envoy. As long as Su Yu was safe, that was all that mattered to her.

"Mincemeat… that's… a bit harsh, isn't it?" Jing Hongchen muttered, somewhat startled by Su Yu's ruthlessness.

"Harsh?" Su Yu's voice turned cold. "Compared to the heinous atrocities he committed, that's nothing."

"These evil soul masters—they all deserve death," Su Yu declared with icy conviction. Compared to their monstrous deeds, even the notorious Shrek Academy seemed gentle. No matter how flawed Shrek was, it was still far better than the Holy Spirit Sect.

Jing Hongchen: "..."

"You seem to harbor a deep hatred for evil soul masters."

"Who in their right mind wouldn't?" Su Yu shot back. "Do you like evil soul masters, Hall Master?"

Jing Hongchen: "..."

"Of course not."

"Then that's settled. Those who like evil soul masters, collude with them, or align with them deserve to die," Su Yu said coldly.

Jing Hongchen's mouth twitched. By Su Yu's standards, half the Sun Moon Empire's royal family might be wiped out. After all, traces of evil soul masters could be found in several royal power struggles.

"Hall Master, you haven't been colluding with evil soul masters, have you?" Su Yu asked abruptly.

Xiao Hongchen's face darkened. "Hey, Su Yu! Watch your words. How could my grandfather associate with those despicable people?"

Meng Hongchen tugged at Su Yu's hand. "Yu, you're overthinking. Grandpa would never work with evil soul masters."

Jing Hongchen said nothing, though his expression hardened slightly.

"Su Yu, do you think this Hall Master would collude with evil soul masters?"

Su Yu shook his head and said calmly, "I'm just concerned."

"Concerned about what?"

"I'm concerned that you might make the same mistake as the Sun Moon royal family," Su Yu replied. "Colluding with evil soul masters is an act that defies the heavens. It's an open betrayal of the entire continent. Honestly, I think the Sun Moon royal family must have a death wish."

Evil soul masters weren't just enemies of humanity—they were also enemies of soul beasts and nearly all living beings on the continent. Conflicts between races might lack clear lines of good and evil, but the actions of evil soul masters were pure malevolence. Colluding with them was unforgivable, an act that couldn't be justified or defended.

Jing Hongchen's heart was in turmoil. How could Su Yu possibly know that the Sun Moon royal family had ties to evil soul masters?

"Su Yu, don't speak recklessly without evidence," Jing Hongchen warned.

"Yeah," Xiao Hongchen muttered. "I can't imagine the royal family being foolish enough to collude with evil soul masters. What's the point of working with those vermin?"

"Evidence?" Su Yu chuckled. "If the Hall Master wants evidence, I can provide it."

"For instance, does Crown Prince Xu Tianran's close ties with the Holy Spirit Cult count?"

"Or the fact that there's a known base of evil soul masters in Radiant City?"

"How about the Sun Moon Empire's successive emperors relying on the Holy Spirit Cult to secure their thrones?"

"Or perhaps Kong Deming's collaboration with Death God Douluo Ye Xishui to create the Death God Soul Tool?"

Each statement was more shocking than the last. By the time Su Yu finished, Jing Hongchen was utterly shaken.

"You… how do you know about that?" Jing Hongchen's face turned pale. The collaboration between Kong Deming and Ye Xishui to create the Death God Soul Tool was an extremely well-guarded secret. Yet Su Yu knew.

"Our Ice God Palace has its ways of uncovering information," Su Yu said. "There are very few things we can't find out. We even know the identities of the Holy Spirit Cult's top experts."

"Hall Master, what do you think there is that I don't know?"

Su Yu continued, "I'm aware that while you knew about the Sun Moon royal family's dealings with the Holy Spirit Cult, you haven't had direct contact with them."

"You still have the chance to sever ties. I'd hate for the day to come when, during the cleansing of the Holy Spirit Cult, you find yourself swept up in it."

"Cleansing the Holy Spirit Cult?" Jing Hongchen's eyes widened. "You know how strong the Holy Spirit Cult is. They have…"

"You're referring to their two Ultimate Douluo, right?" Su Yu interrupted. "But… so what?"

"The fact that I'm bringing this up shows that I'm confident. The Holy Spirit Cult may be powerful, but our Ice God Palace can handle them."

"As for Ultimate Douluo, let me remind you—there are differences in strength even among them. It's not impossible for a strong one to crush a weaker one."

"The Ice God Palace's High Priest is unmatched in this world. Even the Beast God Di Tian wouldn't be an impossible opponent for them."

"As for the Holy Spirit Cult's two Ultimate Douluo, we can deal with them," Su Yu said, smiling faintly, his demeanor brimming with confidence.

Jing Hongchen fell silent, deeply troubled.

This Su Yu… was forcing him to take a side.