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The political system of the Star Luo Empire is fundamentally flawed.
Imperial power is far too centralized, which makes it impossible for the monarchy to focus on concrete, practical affairs.
Even the most basic need—spirit awakening for the common people—has become a significant issue. This weakness has gradually worsened into a severe systemic failure.
Even under immense external pressure, the Empire has failed to carry out full-scale spirit awakening for its entire population. It cannot absorb new blood into its ranks. This flaw has festered to the point of total rot.
Facing the crisis of national extinction, they still can't manage universal spirit awakening.
One must understand: the gap between having a spirit awakened and not having one is enormous.
To the people of the Douluo Continent, a spirit is essentially an extension of their own body—an even more vital part than hands or feet.
Even if no spirit power is awakened, the mere presence of a spirit can drastically improve a person's overall physical capabilities.
Even something like a hoe, if it is one's spirit, can be summoned directly or attached to a weapon held in hand, significantly enhancing combat effectiveness.
And once spirit power is awakened, the boost is even greater.
Yet even with all this, the Star Luo Empire cannot accomplish full spirit awakening for its citizens.
When Su Yu first transmigrated into this world, the fact that he began with a spirit was already an incredible stroke of luck.
The village he originally lived in was in the southeastern part of the Star Luo Empire, far from the Sun and Moon Empire. The atmosphere wasn't as tense, and life was relatively stable.
Although spirit awakening wasn't yet widespread, they had stable enough channels to hire Spirit Masters to assist with awakening the spirits of the new generation.
For example, in Su Yu's village, they could afford to invite a Spirit Master from Wangyue City once every three years to perform spirit awakenings.
Su Yu's former self happened to be born into one of those lucky cycles.
Now, the Star Luo Empire has mobilized three Titled Douluo, while the remnants of both the Heavenly Soul Empire and the Dou Ling Empire have each sent one Titled Douluo. This lineup is considered quite formidable.
For context: even the Ironblood Sect, which only has a Soul Saint, holds a significant position in Heaven Dou City—a metropolis with a long history.
In a city like that, the city lord is usually a Soul Douluo.
Only in unique cities like Shrek City does the city lord tend to be a Titled Douluo.
Of course, the city lord Su Yu previously encountered in Tianhai City was an exception.
That was part of Xu Tianran's scheme.
Suddenly, five Titled Douluo erupted into action.
At the same time, a dozen Soul Douluo charged in from all directions.
Each of them was surrounded by layered protective barriers—at the very least, spirit tool shields of the same level. Some even had golden shields, clearly indicating invincible barriers.
For this operation, the cost borne by the Star Luo Empire and the remnants of the two fallen empires was nothing short of immense.
After all, spirit shields of the same level imply the presence of five Grade-Nine soul tool shields!
These were likely accumulated over a hundred years, obtained through various channels from the Sun-Moon Hall of the Sun and Moon Empire.
The presence of these soul tool shields allowed the Titled Douluo to charge forward with full force, completely intercepting the attacks from the Spirit Master Corps.
Boom!
A Titled Douluo from the Star Luo Empire suddenly manifested a sharp, shimmering longsword in his hand, sparkling with starlight.
Seven glowing points shone on the blade—
The Seven-Star Sword!
From the Ye Clan of Star Luo City.
Back when Su Yu first participated in the Spirit Battle Tournament, Shrek Academy suffered heavy losses among its competitors and had to gather new students for the team. Among them was Ye Wushuang, who came from the Ye Clan.
It was during that tournament that the War God Douluo launched an attack on the Sun and Moon Royal Battle Team. One of Kong Deming's charged attacks with the Sun and Moon Divine Needle missed and landed in the Star Luo Empire's military camp miles away.
It's said the strongest officer in the camp—a Soul Douluo—was killed on the spot.
That Soul Douluo also belonged to the Ye Clan and was their strongest member.
back then, he had been treated by the Empire's Immortal Doctor Douluo and eventually recovered. After the crisis had passed, he even broke through to the Titled Douluo level. The Empire then covered it all up, claiming he had died in battle.
The Seven-Star Sword radiated seven dazzling beams of starlight. The light linked together, and with a burst of brilliance, a radiant sword slash descended.
The soul tool barrier protecting the podium was instantly struck—split open just slightly by the slash.
Though the gap began rapidly healing, it was already too late. The five Titled Douluo seized the opportunity and rushed into the podium through the breach.
As soon as they entered, the barrier sealed shut again.
Xu Tianran, who had looked panicked only moments earlier, now appeared strangely calm.
"Not good!"
The Seven-Star Sword Titled Douluo's expression changed as he realized something was wrong.
Boom!
A sudden oppressive force descended upon them, freezing all five mid-action.
But that wasn't even the deadliest part.
What truly filled them with despair wasn't the two Rank-Nine Soul Engineers beside Xu Tianran activating their soul tools—
Because the moment they had charged forward, they had already been fully prepared for a potential attack from those two Rank-Nine Soul Engineers.
However, neither of them attacked.
Instead, it was Xu Tianran—seated calmly in his wheelchair—whose expression remained eerily composed, his eyes exuding an endless, bone-chilling coldness.
From beneath his feet, nine soul rings slowly rose: four purple and five black.
Nine rings!
A Titled Douluo!
Xu Tianran is a Titled Douluo?!
How is that possible?
Impossible!
Even Du Bushi, who was disguised as a child and about to make his move, was screaming in disbelief in his mind.
A cripple—yet a Titled Douluo?
Xu Tianran had hidden it that well?!
Su Yu, on the other hand, wasn't surprised. He had known about this all along. However, he only knew because of the memories from the original story—not because he had actually detected any clues himself!
That alone showed just how deeply Xu Tianran had hidden his power.
Suddenly, a dragon's roar laced with a terrifying aura of destruction erupted from Xu Tianran.
Roar!
Under the might of the dragon, the five Titled Douluo—already restrained by the suppressive force—exposed even more weaknesses.
Only then did the two Rank-Nine Soul Engineers activate their soul tools.
Yet even now, they didn't attack.
Their soul tools were designed to work in coordination—complementary constructs built not for offense, but for protection.
To remain at Xu Tianran's side as personal guards, it was natural that their soul tools prioritized defense over attack.
As the two soul tools activated, another layer of sealing force took shape.
Under this triple suppression, the five Titled Douluo began to fall from the air, unable to maintain control of their bodies.
An overwhelming surge of energy erupted from Xu Tianran.
His purple soul power condensed into a terrifying energy shockwave.
"Ninth Soul Skill—Light of Destruction!"
Amidst the crowd, as he watched the Light of Destruction envelop the five companions, Du Bushi's heart was torn with conflict.
Damn it.
Xu Tianran was actually a Titled Douluo all along.
Even with a crippled body, he was no longer someone who could be easily killed.
Should he continue with the mission?
Du Bushi hesitated for only a split second before making his decision.
Kill!
So much had already been sacrificed—there was no turning back now.
At that moment, Du Bushi remembered Su Yu's promise: that he would provide support during the operation.
What kind of support would that be?
And had Su Yu foreseen this unexpected turn of events?
Du Bushi glanced toward Su Yu's location and saw him standing there calmly, without a trace of panic on his face.
Instantly, Du Bushi's heart settled.
If that was the case—then why not go all in?
In an instant, Du Bushi unleashed the sealed power of his blood essence. His surging soul power erupted, sweeping across the entire plaza.
"Du Bushi!"
"You're courting death!"
Xu Tianran turned to face Du Bushi's direction, his gaze blazing as he roared with fury.
Du Bushi's personal appearance to assassinate him was something Xu Tianran hadn't anticipated.
After all, Du Bushi was considered one of the top-tier existences on the Douluo Continent today. It was unthinkable that he would personally carry out such a near-suicidal mission.
Hadn't Shrek been led by the nose by the Sun-Moon Hall for years, without ever daring to mount a direct attack?
It was precisely because, despite their pride in their Spirit Master strength—and the innate arrogance of Soul Masters—they knew in their hearts that the era of soul tools had arrived. Storming into Mingdu, a city filled with advanced soul tools, would be nothing but a death sentence.