Chapter 92: Lower Your Head, the World

“Me? Us?”

Long Chen and the four others stared in shock, doubting their ears— their Two-Character Armor, the Imperial Dragon, was nearly shattered, yet they didn’t even possess a One-Character Armor!

Two Soul Fusion Techniques were insurmountable barriers to others, but before Zhao Xuanzhen, that utterly monstrous being, they were just two Hakimi cats puffing air!

“Attack!”

Xu Tianzhao roared hoarsely, like a gambler who’d lost everything— from his initial rage at Zhao Xuanzhen taking on six at once, to now rejoicing in Zhao’s arrogance.

What of the one-on-one agreement? What of the dishonor of group fighting? Zhao Xuanzhen had chosen to fight six himself— Xu Tianzhao would turn defeat into victory!

He refused to become the greatest laughingstock in Douluo Continent’s history; his mind held only one thought: win back his honor!

On one side stood Zhao Xuanzhen, utterly invincible; on the other, Xu Tianzhao, stripped of all reason. Long Chen and the four exchanged sorrowful glances— gods battling, mortals suffering; no matter what, their fate was grim, so they chose the slightly more dignified ending.

They were students of the Moon Imperial Soul Engineer Academy; they would surely enter the Mingde Hall for further study. Zhao Xuanzhen would leave after this fight— perhaps they’d never see him again— but Xu Tianzhao was a bloodline descendant of the Moon Imperial Clan, whose family guarded the Mingde Hall from behind the scenes, and had countless ways to torment them.

Choosing the lesser of two evils, the five made their decision in an instant: obey Xu Tianzhao’s orders and fight with all their might for the Moon Imperial Soul Engineer Academy!

“Roar—”

Golden light surged like a tide; sacred dragon roars echoed through the heavens; four soul rings blazed as Long Chen’s inner Light Sacred Dragon bloodline boiled— his bones cracked loudly, his skin surfaced with golden dragon scales.

The ground shattered; a golden path of pure light energy extended from under Long Chen’s feet, and a spear wreathed in the phantom of the Light Sacred Dragon materialized— its tip pointed, light flames cascading like waterfalls, ready to purge all darkness!

Combined Soul Technique: Sacred Light Dragon Spear!

Long Chen was undoubtedly the top single-combat force under fifteen in the Moon Imperial Soul Engineer Academy, yet two Soul Fusion Techniques were the ultimate trump cards of their generation.

Jian Mochen and Kuang Zhantian stood facing each other; one hurled the Heavenly Tiger Great Shield, the other swung the Heavenly Tiger War Axe— the moment shield and axe collided, a silver-white, winged Heavenly Tiger descended, its body massive as a mountain, wings unfurling to summon violent hurricanes.

Soul Fusion Technique: Heavenly Tiger Summoning!

A freezing tide sealed heaven and earth; Xue Liushuang and Weng Daimin, two girls, pressed palms together, their soul power merging and coalescing— their forms dissolved into countless ice crystals, then reformed into a blue-robed woman over ten feet tall.

Her long hair fell to her waist; her icy eyes glowed with the frigid light of the Far North; a spinning ice wheel hovered behind her head, hurling countless ice shards like torrential rain. She swung her ice-crystal longsword— the ground froze into thick ice sheets, and spiraling ice blade auras whirled through the air!

Soul Fusion Technique: Ice Snow Goddess!

“I must win! I must win!!”

Purple flames surged like a hellish flood; Xu Tianzhao’s entire body erupted in deep violet fire—a family secret technique to awaken the destruction bloodline of his Purple Blaze Heaven Dragon.

His sixth soul ring blazed fiercely; Xu Tianzhao raised both arms high— the space behind him twisted faintly, and a hundred-meter-long purple dragon phantom suddenly appeared, its scales like blades, eyes crimson, claws slashing with the hum of collapsing space.

The dragon roared to the heavens, its sonic wave brimming with apocalyptic destruction— the earth cracked, rocks floated, and the Zero Soul Arena resembled the arrival of doomsday. The next second, Xu Tianzhao ascended and merged with the dragon, diving downward in a suicidal frenzy— leaving behind a purple fissure that would not heal for ages!

Sixth Soul Technique: Apocalyptic Blaze Dragon Assault!

The sky, the earth, everything within sight erupted with soul techniques; the black-and-white lotus, swirling with yin and yang qi, finally bloomed— the Spirit Water Porpoise charged into Zhao Xuanzhen’s fifth soul ring, soul spirit entering the technique: Chaotic Lotus!

The Chaotic Lotus’s first impression was not overwhelming power, but its soul-deep beauty— in the eyes of the 150,000 spectators in the stands, the Zero Soul Arena bloomed a breathtaking lotus, swallowing the six Moon Academy students rushing toward it.

The world turned into a silent black-and-white film; the Chaotic Lotus spread searing yin-yang flames, waves upon waves of heat, seemingly without limit.

The Light Sacred Dragon Spear snapped; the Heavenly Tiger howled and struggled; the Ice Snow Goddess’s frost evaporated in a second; the descending purple dragon barely advanced a few meters before countless lotus flames— each trailing thin black-and-white tails— rose from all directions, dismantling the destruction aura, until the dragon let out a final, agonized dragon cry.

Soul Engineer shields maximized their energy to resist the Chaotic Lotus’s residual power; 150,000 pairs of eyes stared without blinking at the battlefield, and even more gazes streamed in through major broadcast channels. Countless citizens of the Moon Federation awaited the climax of this battle— the decisive showdown determining the fates of two academies and two super-talents.

“Ssshh—”

The black-and-white flames dissipated; the dust, like a black silk, torn by invisible hands— a golden figure stepped forward, his flowing robes untouched by a single speck of dirt. The collapsed Soul Arena cracked beneath his feet, suspended sand grains refracting the sun’s golden cascade, gilding his silhouette like molten gold.

He waved his hand, dispersing the sky of ash; golden light leaked from Zhao Xuanzhen’s fingers, freezing the ruin in place. He walked against the flow of light toward the purple figure kneeling at the arena’s center.

Xu Tianzhao’s legs twisted into grotesque shapes, kneeling, tears glistening in his eyes.

Suddenly seeing Zhao Xuanzhen approaching, Xu Tianzhao raised his shattered dragon claw, trying to grasp that radiant golden arm— but he had lost all strength; his hand dropped limp halfway.

“Lower your head.”

Zhao Xuanzhen’s voice was light as a whisper, yet it struck Xu Tianzhao’s ear like thunder.

Both academies had spared no effort to hype this battle: the victor became the Douluo Continent’s sole rising star, basking in adoration; the loser would never again have the right to raise his head.

Xu Tianzhao understood this perfectly— hence his prior terror of defeat— yet the outcome had marched relentlessly toward its worst form.

“I… have nothing left…”

Zhao Xuanzhen’s simple four words were the final straw— shattering Xu Tianzhao’s fragile mental defenses.

The Moon Imperial Soul Engineer Academy’s top genius broke into uncontrollable sobs; his past glory burned to ashes; all that remained for him was a lifetime of shame.

The 150,000 spectators wore sorrowful expressions—most were supporters of the Moon Imperial Soul Engineer Academy; Xu Tianzhao’s defeat was their defeat; the Moon Empire’s imperial Purple Blaze Heaven Dragon had still failed to bring them glory.

Zhao Xuanzhen stood tall and slender; at his feet knelt weeping Xu Tianzhao; all around, the Moon spectators were heartbroken; media flashes never ceased— the world’s masterpiece was frozen in time.

“Our monitor’s might is unmatched, truly peerless under heaven!”

Amid the sorrow, the Shrek Academy first-year class’s cheers were painfully loud— but if you win, you flaunt it; otherwise, what’s the point of winning?

Yang Nianxia grinned ear to ear, leading her classmates in inventing all sorts of chants to celebrate Zhao Xuanzhen’s victory, drawing many reporters to turn their cameras and snap photos— this first-year fervor would become one of the enduring memories of this battle.

Among the first-year team, Tang Wulin and the other five, previously defeated, felt mixed emotions— before Zhao Xuanzhen’s halo, every prodigy dimmed into mere decoration.

They had always chased Zhao Xuanzhen as their goal, yet after a year of study, they hadn’t narrowed the gap— they could barely even glimpse his silhouette.

Gu Yue zhuozhuo stared at his refined profile, beginning to understand why Na’er constantly screamed that Zhao Xuanzhen was absurdly handsome— the boy’s unrestrained, radiant demeanor outshone every masterpiece painting.

Even the usually cold Gu Yue was moved— as a core member of the Power-Worship faction, Ye Xinglan’s heart pounded like a drum; beside her, Xu Li, watching in agony, squeezed his fat thighs with all his might.

“Ding ling ling—”

The bell rang out; Mo Hongchen handed the unconscious Long Chen and others to healing soul masters, ordered them to take away Xu Tianzhao’s shattered spirit, then solemnly answered his soul communicator.

“Give the item to Zhao Xuanzhen.”

Yun Ming spoke, then hung up without hesitation, utterly unconcerned the Moon Imperial Soul Engineer Academy would renege.

Years ago, Yun Ming had stormed Mingdu to seize Sacred Spirit Douluo Yali, nearly swallowing the city in spatial rifts. How terrifying was a Celestial Douluo holding moral high ground? The Hongchen Clan and imperial bloodlines dared not gamble.

Mo Hongchen sighed deeply, suddenly recalling his Hongchen Clan’s ancestor ten thousand years ago— who had also challenged the Moon Imperial Soul Engineer Academy alone, forging a legend.

History is a cycle, endlessly repeating.

“Follow me.”

Mo Hongchen whispered into Zhao Xuanzhen’s mind; Zhao Xuanzhen nodded slightly, and the two left the Zero Soul Arena, arriving at the hidden treasure vault deep beneath the Moon Imperial Soul Engineer Academy.

Zhao Xuanzhen admired the dazzling treasures; seeing this, Mo Hongchen couldn’t help speaking:

“Zhao Xuanzhen, could we possibly cooperate?

If you leave Shrek Academy and join the Moon Empire, name your terms— I swear, as current head of the Moon Imperial Soul Engineer Academy and clan chief of the Hongchen Clan, the Moon Empire will fulfill any desire you have.”

“A traitor serving three masters? Not interested,” Zhao Xuanzhen said coolly.

The Transmission Spirit Tower, Shrek Academy, Moon Imperial Soul Engineer Academy— wasn’t that the Douluo version of Lü Bu?

Lü Bu’s fate at the White Gate was vividly remembered; Zhao Xuanzhen would never become a traitor serving three masters!

Shrek Academy had the Golden Ancient Tree, the perfect timing, terrain, and harmony to cultivate two Eighth-Grade Gods— what did this puny Moon Imperial Soul Engineer Academy think, dreaming of stealing his body?

Mo Hongchen fell silent, picked up a blue-white jade box forged from Far North Ice Jade from the vault’s deepest recess, and handed it to Zhao Xuanzhen.

The Moon Empire had mobilized its entire nation to kill the Silver Dragon; over ten thousand years passed, every bone, blood, and scale of the Silver Dragon was fully utilized— only this dragon core remained.

In that era, the Moon Empire had no Limit Douluo, and even a Limit Douluo couldn’t absorb the Silver Dragon’s core— the core was more symbolic, merely a matter of face.

The moment he touched it, icy cold pierced his bones; Zhao Xuanzhen opened the jade box— a fierce dragon roar exploded; his ink-black pupils reflected a sky-obscuring silver dragon shadow— not a living creature, but the manifested pressure of the core’s malevolence!

His spiritual sea surged into a storm; the Silver Dragon’s malevolence formed endless ice mountains crashing down, replaying fragmented memories of the Silver Dragon being skinned and tendon-stripped— so violent it even stirred the Tengshe slumbering in Zhao Xuanzhen’s spiritual sea, revealing how powerful this Silver Dragon had been in life!

The dragon core, fist-sized, shimmered with silver light; at its core curled a semi-transparent dragon phantom. Seeing the real thing, Zhao Xuanzhen closed the jade box, tucked it into his storage soul device, and turned to leave— despite Mo Hongchen’s pained gaze.

“Thank you, Hongchen Dean, for the gift. Farewell.”

…

Transmission Spirit Tower Headquarters.

In a dark secret chamber, Qian Gu Dongfeng, head of the Transmission Spirit Tower, turned off his soul communicator TV, his face dark as if dripping water.

Zhao Xuanzhen was a core disciple of the Transmission Spirit Tower; his disciple’s monumental glory should have prompted Qian Gu Dongfeng to issue a public statement.

He would have loudly praised Zhao Xuanzhen while subtly implying he was a supreme genius cultivated by the Transmission Spirit Tower, with no connection whatsoever to Shrek Academy.

But now Qian Gu Dongfeng had no mood— because Zhao Xuanzhen bore the surname Zhao, not Qian.

The Transmission Spirit Tower’s council system had long been hollow; in truth, it was a primitive family inheritance system.

The Qian family was the main lineage; families like the Phoenix were mere branches. Qian Gu Dongfeng had assumed Zhao Xuanzhen would inherit Leng Yaoju’s position as Deputy Head, becoming Qian Gu Zhangting’s national guardian general.

But now, with Qian Gu Zhangting’s half-baked Unyielding Staff Technique, how could he possibly control this monster roaring across the world?

The main lineage weakening, branches growing strong— this was a clear sign of turmoil.

The Qian family had risen as newcomers, so they obsessed over controlling the Transmission Spirit Tower. Only the second-ranked Phoenix Family controlled thirty percent of the Tower’s power— and even that was limited to the Moon Federation. The remaining seventy percent, plus the other two continents, were all under Qian family control.

The Phoenix Family’s bloodline had dwindled; twenty years ago, Qian Gu Dongfeng had already prepared— he’d arranged his grand-grandson Qian Gu Zhangting to seize the Phoenix Family’s wealth the moment Heavenly Phoenix Douluo Leng Yaoju died.

But fate refused to cooperate— Leng Yaoju had adopted Zhao Xuanzhen, and Zhao Xuanzhen was slowly gathering a promising core of followers.

Silver Dragon Na’er, Elemental Gu Yue and her hidden ancestral family, dual-soul martial spirit Yuan En Yehui, Ye Xinglan, heir of the Star Holy Sword Family who often entered the Tower with them, the divine artisan Jiutian, Li Qiankun, the Black Swan Family, and more…

If Zhao Xuanzhen had no ambition for the Tower Head position, Qian Gu Dongfeng would gladly cut off his own head and offer it as a ball for Zhao to kick!

Or, even if Zhao Xuanzhen himself had no desire for the Tower Head position, would his followers— seeing Qian Gu Zhangting’s weakness—not consider their own family’s interests and spontaneously crown Zhao Xuanzhen with something?

“A genius who won’t serve me… already deserves death…”

Qian Gu Dongfeng’s eyes turned ruthless; he dialed a number:

“Ghost Emperor, have your Holy Spirit Cult do me a favor…”

(End of Chapter)