Chapter 295: Hesitation Before the Storm
"What should we do, Great Elder? Should we go help the Soul Palace?"
Inside a hotel in Mingdu, the captain of the Mingyu Sect team turned to the elder leading their sect's delegation to the All-Continent High-Level Soul Master Competition, his voice filled with uncertainty.
The members of their team were, at best, around level 50 or 60. Without a martial soul like the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda that could boost allies beyond levels, they had no ability to affect a battlefield at the Title Douluo level. In such a high-stakes conflict, they wouldn't even qualify as cannon fodder. So whether or not to step in was up to the elders. After all, only their Soul Douluo and eighth-tier soul engineer had any chance of surviving on that battlefield.
The elders of the Mingyu Sect looked toward the burning skyline where the battle raged between the Soul Palace and the Holy Spirit Church. Their brows furrowed deeply with concern.
As a local sect of the Sun Moon Empire, they were well aware of Xiao Qiang's background—and of the immense benefits reaped by those who had once supported him, such as Bai Qingshan and the Hongchen family. A hundred-thousand-year soul that could produce more than one spirit ring of the same grade? That wasn't just a treasure—it was a direct ticket to the Super Douluo realm. And not just any Super Douluo—those supported by such souls would far surpass the typical level 95 benchmark.
In this era, where hundred-thousand-year soul rings were rare supreme resources, a single soul of that level could allow someone to leap multiple class boundaries. Thus, the Mingyu Sect elders dearly wished for an opportunity to align with Xiao Qiang. And it wasn't just them. Throughout Mingdu, anyone who had glimpsed the depths of Xiao Qiang's foundation was eager to form connections.
But this time… the situation was different.
Xiao Qiang was seriously injured, caught in a desperate battle with the Holy Spirit Church—only shortly after the devastating Mingdu explosion.
Under normal circumstances, Ye Xishui would stand no chance against Xue Di. While both were theoretically Extreme Douluo, Ye Xishui was a demigod—barely—and her dual-core soul resonance hindered rather than helped. Even after a battle, Xue Di could utterly suppress her.
However, Ye Xishui had brought out the Level 10 soul tool: the Death God Tower. A weapon capable of harming even the beast god Di Tian, so long as sufficient soul power was available. With this, Ye Xishui—who should have been crushed—could now at least hold off Xue Di.
Long Xiaoyao, meanwhile, faced off against both Xue Di and Mu Qingxue. Though wounded, he was no frail elder like Mu En, nor an inexperienced Limit Douluo like Du Bu Si. Long Xiaoyao had walked the road of the Limit Douluo for many years—nearly reaching the realm of a quasi-god. Despite his disadvantage, Mu Qingxue couldn't overwhelm him quickly.
Especially when Ye Xishui's life was on the line, Long Xiaoyao fought like a madman. Even if Mu Qingxue had her Ring Fusion technique to boost her strength, he was willing to burn his soul power just to protect Ye Xishui.
In this world, when it came to loved ones—regardless of gender, age, or power—everyone turned into a lunatic. Mu Qingxue was finding that out the hard way.
Yet neither Xue Di's nor Mu Qingxue's battles were the true threats to the Soul Palace.
The true danger came from the other priests and elders of the Holy Spirit Church.
The fourth and fifth priests were both level 97. The sixth, seventh, and eighth were all level 96. The remaining priests were all Super Douluo level.
Had Xiao Qiang been at full strength, he could've taken them all on by himself. It would've been exhausting, but not impossible. Now, however, he was barely even a Super Douluo. After a series of brutal fights, the injuries from exploding his spirit ring left his body nearly broken. Worse still, his 100,000-year ring had already been detonated. If he wanted to explode a ring again, it would have to be one of 200,000 years.
But could his current body withstand such a burst?
Xiao Qiang didn't know—and he wasn't willing to gamble unless he had absolutely no choice.
Though the Deputy Leader Feng Ling and several Holy Maidens of the Holy Spirit Church had turned against the enemy and were helping the Soul Palace, they were still outmatched. With few Extreme Douluo on their side, they were slowly losing ground.
And when one side seems to be winning, everyone rushes to lend a hand—even if it's just to tag along for future favors. But when things start going downhill, people hesitate.
What if the Soul Palace loses?
Anyone who sides with them may not just die—they might bring doom upon their entire sect. The evil soul masters were known to be ruthless. With the Soul Palace's fate hanging by a thread, even those not ready to betray them didn't dare to assist.
These elders—mostly Soul Douluo or recently advanced Title Douluo—were no match for veteran evil soul masters. Challenging a Title Douluo or Super Douluo-level enemy was suicide.
"Let's wait and see," one Mingyu elder finally said after a long silence. "The evil soul masters are far too powerful. Even if I go, I might not be able to change anything. Let's observe the imperial palace. When they send someone from the Worship Hall… we'll decide."
His words echoed the decision of the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and other cautious factions. Everyone knew this could be their chance—but no one wanted to throw away the lives they had spent decades cultivating.
Still, not everyone chose to stand by.
"I am the leader of the Earth Dragon Gate!" A voice rang across the battlefield. "I come to help the Soul Palace!"
It was Nan Shuishui.
Two years ago, Xiao Qiang had risked himself to save Nan Qiuqiu from a battle between Titled Douluo. Nan Shuishui saw that as a debt too large to ignore. Leaving her daughter behind in safety, she charged to the battlefield alone.
"Hmph. A mere Soul Douluo dares to meddle in my Holy Spirit Church's affairs? Courting death!"
An evil soul master—an eight-ring Soul Douluo—lunged at her.
But before he could land a strike, he was kicked away by another figure—Ming Lei Douluo, the third elder of the Holy Spirit Church.
"Step aside," Ming Lei said coldly. "Her opponent is me!"
With that, the battle began.
To everyone's shock, Nan Shuishui held her ground. In fact—she pushed Ming Lei back repeatedly! Though a Soul Douluo, she actually had the upper hand against a Titled Douluo evil soul master.
The spectators stared, dumbfounded.
"…Didn't they say evil soul masters can fight across levels?"
"…So who's the one crossing levels now?!"
It looked as though Nan Shuishui was the real monster here.