Chapter 290: Chapter 290: The Annihilation of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan
The events in Spirit City quickly spread like wildfire across the entire continent, shaking the soul master world to its core.
Spirit Hall, the great power that had long stood alongside the Star Luo and Heaven Dou Empires, had finally bared its fangs, no longer concealing its ambition to unify the continent.
And the "Ring Condensation Method" and "Vein Sculpting Method" proposed by the Holy Son Lin Feng were like two massive bombs that had blasted the entire soul master world, leaving everyone in a frenzy.
The two great empires were now like stripped, delicate young maidens, weeping helplessly beneath the tall and ferocious beast that was the Spirit Empire.
"What? Condensing your own soul rings? Reshaping soul veins? How is that possible?"
"The Holy Son Lin Feng is truly a peerless talent to be able to come up with such a world-shocking cultivation method!"
"The Spirit Empire... the times are changing!"
Upon receiving the news from Spirit City, the high-level officials of the Heaven Dou Empire immediately convened an emergency court session. The atmosphere in the great hall was solemn. The ministers and nobles looked at each other, their eyes flickering with unease and worry.
"This Spirit Empire is so arrogant, brazenly announcing its founding and even proclaiming its intent to unify the continent!" an elderly minister slammed the table and rose to his feet, his face full of indignation.
"What’s even more terrifying are the ’Ring Condensation Method’ and ’Vein Sculpting Method’ proposed by that Holy Son Lin Feng. This is simply going to subvert the traditions of our soul master world!" another minister said with great concern.
"Spirit Hall’s power has expanded extremely rapidly over the years. Now, with powerhouses like the Angel God Qian Renxue and the Holy Son Lin Feng at the helm, coupled with that ambitious Empress Bibi Dong, our Heaven Dou Empire is in imminent danger!" a middle-aged man in gorgeous robes said in a deep voice.
"If I had known earlier, we never should have handed over the soul master subsidy funds to Spirit Hall. Now they have won the hearts of the people and their power has grown, and they are threatening us in return!" another minister said with regret.
A noble beside him glanced at him and lowered his head without speaking. Is this guy an idiot? Without Spirit Hall, would the two empires have given funds to those peasant soul masters? In your dreams. Not to mention that from the imperial palace nobles to the mountain peasants, ninety-nine percent of the people on this continent had their martial souls awakened by people from Spirit Hall, and that didn’t even count as funding.
He glanced up at Xue Qinghe, who was sitting high on the imperial throne, and shook his head secretly. This fellow was also unlucky, having just sat on the dragon throne only to encounter such a powerful opponent as the Spirit Empire.
He sneered in his heart. These nobles and ministers were truly naive. Did they think the rise of Spirit Hall was a coincidence? If not for their silent hard work and accumulation over the years, how could they have today’s glory?
All this chirping is so annoying. At a time like this, one should protect oneself, say nothing, and do nothing. As long as I don’t do anything, I won’t make a mistake. I just want to be an idle noble, lie flat, and enjoy life. As for who the emperor is, or if there’s an emperor at all, it’s not important.
There were not a few nobles who shared his thoughts. They either lowered their heads in silence or let their gazes wander, clearly not intending to take a side in this storm. Although the hall was abuzz with discussion, there were very few who were truly willing to contribute to resisting the Spirit Empire.
Xue Qinghe sat on the imperial throne, his gaze sweeping over the ministers and nobles below, a cold sneer in his heart. These so-called loyal ministers would only flatter and fawn on a normal day, but once a real crisis hit, they all became cowards who hid in their shells.
"Stop arguing," he said faintly. "You’ve complained. Do you have any strategies?"
The entire hall fell silent in an instant. The voices from just a moment ago vanished without a trace.
"Heh," Xue Qinghe sneered. "Why have all my dear ministers stopped talking? Don’t you like to talk? Your silence is truly deafening."
Xue Qinghe’s words carried a hint of sarcasm and coldness, like a chilly wind blowing through the hall, causing the temperature to seem to drop. The ministers and nobles looked at each other, but no one dared to be the first to break the silence.
"Your Majesty," a general in armor finally stood up, his voice firm. "The plan for now should be to first strengthen our border defenses, mobilize our elite troops to prevent a sudden invasion by the Spirit Empire. At the same time, we should increase our efforts in training soul masters, encouraging civilian soul masters to join the imperial army to enhance our overall strength."
The general analyzed with clear logic, "In addition, we can try to form alliances with other forces to jointly resist the Spirit Empire. The Star Luo Empire is our natural ally; they face the same threat from the Spirit Empire."
"Absolutely not," a noble-born civil official jumped out. "Our Heaven Dou Empire has never been skilled in military affairs. The plan now should be to seek peace. Besides, if we initiate an alliance, and we are defeated in the future... the full force of Spirit Hall’s reckoning will fall on our heads."
Hearing this, the general glared angrily. "Nonsense! To be timid before a fight is a slow death! You should be punished for this!"
"You’re the one talking nonsense! Did His Majesty say we are going to war? Yet you speak of war first. This is insubordination and rebellion! You should be punished for the crime of defying your superior!" the civil official retorted sharply, not backing down.
It looked as though the argument between the two was about to devolve into a brawl involving a whole group of people.
"Enough!"
Xue Qinghe slammed his palm on the dragon throne. The heavy sound was like a clap of thunder, instantly silencing all the arguments in the hall.
"Don’t think I don’t know what you’re thinking. Heaven Dou is in decline. The number of nobles leaving these years is not small. Such a large empire doesn’t even have a Titled Douluo to stand guard. It is all because of the short-sightedness and selfishness of all of you that has led to today’s situation! Has the funding for the Heaven Dou Royal Academy been lacking? Has the number of students enrolled each year been small? It’s all because of the rule of only accepting nobles that has led to the loss of geniuses! Each and every one of you only thinks about your own power and status, but you have never thought about how to truly cultivate talent for the country, to think for the future of the empire!"
His gaze swept over every person present. "It’s too late to talk about change now. I will give you three days. War or peace, give me a clear answer! After three days, if you are still so indecisive, then I will make the decision myself. Hmph, I don’t think it’s a bad idea for the empire to become a duchy."
He flicked his sleeve and left, leaving a hall full of ministers and nobles looking at each other in utter shock.
"What did His Majesty mean by his last sentence? Are we to surrender and become a vassal?"
"Actually, surrendering is also an option... Those provincial duchies just pay taxes every year. We can do that too..."
Unexpectedly, Xue Qinghe’s last sentence did not cause a huge uproar. The entire hall fell somewhat silent, and people began to leave in twos and threes.
Xue Qinghe sneered in the shadows. "The Heaven Dou Empire is full of cowards, nothing but clay chickens and pottery dogs. Hmph, what war or peace, it’s all futile. Three days from now, no matter what answer you give, you cannot change the fate of the Heaven Dou Empire’s destruction," Xue Qinghe recited silently in his heart.
The residence of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan.
This place was situated between mountains and river valleys, on top of nine interconnected mountain ranges. To enter their residence, one needed to take a boat through the river, or simply fly over. The geographical environment was relatively perilous, making it difficult for enemies to breach. It was a natural fortress, easy to defend and hard to attack. However, once the strength of the two opposing sides was unequal, this environment became a self-made cocoon—an irony, a tragedy of being unable to turn the tide. They had no way to retreat. Once the clan faced a large-scale attack, they could only defend it to the death, or face annihilation.
Not long after the news of the Spirit Empire arrived, Yu Yuanzhen received another report on the movements of the Heaven Dou Empire. The Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, which had originally planned to ally with the Heaven Dou Empire to jointly resist the Spirit Empire, decided to quickly head south and join forces with the Clear Sky Clan.
On this day, at the foot of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan’s mountain, an ordinary clan disciple, Passerby A, was standing by the river, tightly gripping a fishing rod in his hand, pulling with all his might, a look of joy on his face.
"As expected, a true fisherman never goes home empty-handed. It doesn’t matter what I catch, as long as I catch something. This is so heavy, it must be a big fish. Up!" Passerby A thought to himself with pride.
"Splash—"
A black shadow leaped up from his fishing hook, drawing a beautiful arc in the sky. But it was not a big fish, but the corpse of a disciple dressed in the uniform of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan. There were no obvious bloodstains on the corpse, only a thin line of blood on the throat. Passerby A’s face instantly turned deathly pale. He loosened his grip on the fishing rod with trembling hands, and it fell to the ground with a clatter.
"What... what’s going on? Can’t I just go home empty-handed? How did I fish this thing up?" Passerby A looked around in terror. He looked up at the sky, which was covered with dark clouds, and an inexplicable sense of unease welled up in his heart.
Just then, a cold light flashed, and a sharp blade silently pierced through his chest. Passerby A’s eyes were full of astonishment and confusion. He slowly collapsed, sliding to the ground and splashing a few drops of water, but he could no longer stir up any sign of life.
Immediately after, on a watchtower at the foot of the mountain, a sentry was intently watching the distance, trying to catch any possible threat. However, his vigilance could not save his life. A black shadow flashed past. The sentry’s throat was slit by a sharp dagger. Blood gushed out, dyeing his collar red, and also dyeing the ground beneath his feet red. The torch on the watchtower flickered a few times and finally went out, symbolizing that the first line of defense of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan had fallen.
As the soul masters of Wuhun Hall moved through the mountain forest like ghosts, the disciples of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan fell one by one. Their blood formed small streams, winding down the mountain path, dyeing the earth a shocking red. The air was filled with a thick smell of blood, mixed with an aura of despair and fear.
Finally, some disciples on the mountain began to notice the abnormality. They hurriedly blew the warning horn, trying to summon their fellow clan members to jointly resist the external enemy. However, it was all too late. The soul masters of Wuhun Hall had already silently infiltrated the core area of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan. They were like the scythes of the Grim Reaper, mercilessly reaping lives.
Yu Yuanzhen was currently in the deepest part of the clan, discussing countermeasures with several elders. However, when they heard the alarm and rushed out of the room, they were so shocked by the scene before them that they were speechless.
"What... what is going on?" Yu Yuanzhen’s eyes widened. He looked at the fleeing disciples and the constantly falling figures, his heart filled with anger and unwillingness.
"Spirit Hall, you bastards are looking for death!" he roared. Lightning wrapped around his entire body, and he instantly turned into a flash of lightning, charging towards the battlefield.
"Where is Clan Master Yu going?" a voice suddenly sounded behind Yu Yuanzhen, carrying a hint of playfulness and mockery.
"Lin Feng, it’s you!!!" Yu Yuanzhen’s figure suddenly froze. He turned around in disbelief, his gaze fixed on the figure slowly walking towards him, his eyes almost spitting fire.
"Are you surprised, Clan Master Yu?" Lin Feng smiled faintly, but that smile held an endless chill. "I secretly gave you many chances, but you were stubborn. Not long ago, you even abducted Spirit Hall’s important fugitive, Tang Hao. Did you really think my Spirit Hall has no temper?"
Yu Yuanzhen looked at the clan that was already in ruins, his heart filled with endless regret and anger. He clenched his fists tightly, his nails almost digging into his palms, but he felt no pain, because the pain in his heart far exceeded any physical injury.
"Lin Feng, you bastard!" Yu Yuanzhen roared. Lightning once again erupted from his entire body. Like an enraged dragon, he prepared for a final, desperate struggle. "Even if the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan is annihilated, we will never submit to your Spirit Hall!"
Yu Yuanzhen’s eyes were wide with fury. The lightning around his body was like a substance, turning into streaks of lightning that struck towards Lin Feng.
Lin Feng’s figure flashed, and he easily dodged Yu Yuanzhen’s attack.
"How is that possible!" Yu Yuanzhen was shocked. How could he have grown so fast?
"Where is Tang Hao?"
"Tang Hao? Hmph, he has already been safely transferred by us. Don’t even think about finding him again!" Yu Yuanzhen snorted coldly. His Martial Soul Avatar was instantly activated. The enormous figure of a Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon appeared behind him. The dragon’s roar was deafening, carrying an endless majesty and anger. Endless lightning power raged in the air.
"Oh, is that so? That’s good," Lin Feng said with a faint smile.
Looking at Yu Yuanzhen flying towards him, a cold glint flashed in his eyes.
He gently raised his hand. Instantly, the world seemed to be grasped by an invisible giant hand. Space froze, and time stood still. Yu Yuanzhen’s attacking motion became slow and clumsy, as if he were trapped in a swamp, unable to free himself.
Lin Feng slowly walked up to Yu Yuanzhen, looked at his eyes that were full of terror, and the corner of his mouth curved into a cruel smile. "After today, there will be no more Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan in this world."
"..."
Yu Yuanzhen’s eyes were bloodshot, and he was panting like an ox, but he couldn’t say a single word. He could only watch as Lin Feng casually walked past him and nonchalantly raised his hand.
In that space, a terrifying soul power fluctuation instantly surged. A giant, illusory five-colored palm condensed out of thin air and, with devastating force, slapped towards the core buildings of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan.
"No!" Yu Yuanzhen let out a heart-wrenching roar. He tried with all his might to stop it, but his body was as if bound by invisible chains, unable to move. He could only watch as the giant palm came crashing down, instantly turning the centuries-old foundation of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan into ruins.
Dust and smoke rose everywhere. Cries and sounds of despair intertwined, forming a tragic scene of a living hell. The disciples of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan were now like lambs to the slaughter, struggling and wailing helplessly in the ruins.
Yu Yuanzhen’s eyes were filled with despair and anger. He watched as his clan, the place that held the memories and glory of countless generations of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon family, was completely destroyed. His heart was filled with regret. If he had been more cautious back then, or had not been so impulsive as to become an enemy of Spirit Hall for the sake of his good-for-nothing son, perhaps the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan could still have had a chance of survival. But now, everything was too late. The clan was destroyed, countless disciples were dead or injured, and he himself was severely injured, powerless to turn the tide.
This Holy Son Lin Feng, so young, yet his cultivation was so terrifying. With just a thought, he could turn him into a stone statue, imprisoning him on the spot, unable to move. The gap in strength between him, a rank 97 Super Douluo, and Lin Feng was already like a chasm, impossible to cross.
An astonishing thought rose in his mind. Yu Yuanzhen suddenly realized that perhaps Lin Feng had already broken through that legendary realm and become a true god-level expert. Otherwise, how could he have such terrifying strength and pressure?
"You... you are already a god?" Yu Yuanzhen managed to say, his voice filled with endless shock and unwillingness.
Lin Feng smiled faintly and did not answer directly, but the confidence and composure in his smile had already given the answer. He slowly raised his hand, and with a gentle wave of his fingertip, an invisible force surged towards Yu Yuanzhen, slowly lifting his body.
With a single clench of his palm, Yu Yuanzhen’s enormous body, like a crushed eggshell, made a "crack" sound.
Tears of blood flowed from Yu Yuanzhen’s eyes. His entire aura instantly weakened to the extreme. His life force rapidly dissipated under Lin Feng’s terrifying power. Finally, he fell powerlessly to the ground, turning into a cold corpse.
The Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, this once glorious clan, was now nothing but ruins and endless silence. Lin Feng stood on the ruins, his gaze sweeping over the surroundings indifferently, as if watching a farce that had nothing to do with him.
"From now on, the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan will become history," he said faintly. His voice was not loud, but it clearly spread throughout the entire valley.
As Lin Feng’s words fell, the people he had brought began the final cleanup work.
"Pass down the order: leave no chicken or dog alive. Even the earthworms are to be chopped in half," an old man instructed. If one looked at his face, it was the same old man who had participated in the abduction of Tang Hao a few days ago.