The three great Titled Douluos led a team to the Contamination point but returned in defeat—a piece of news that exploded in Heaven Dou City like a bomb, even alarming Emperor Xue Ye in the palace.
Emperor Xue Ye personally invited Ning Fengzhi to the palace to discuss how to clear this troublesome Contamination point.
Xue Qinghe and Xue Ke also returned to Heaven Dou City, but Lu Jingming did not travel with them, as he still had his own matters to handle.
He planned to use Skywater's power to establish a business chamber, which required direct contact with the academy's upper management.
Although leveraging Xue Qinghe and the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's power would make things smoother, Skywater would be easier for him to control.
Lu Jingming certainly knew how to choose; while he needed support, he could not let Xue Qinghe or the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect take charge.
Thus, Lu Jingming temporarily set aside his friendship with Xue Qinghe, left behind his little angel, and followed the little ice phoenix to Skywater.
After Xue Ke was sent away, Snake Lance Douluo and Porcupinefish Douluo quietly appeared in Xue Qinghe's room.
"Young Master, this operation was simply too risky. Please allow us to stay by your side at all times in the future!"
They had heard about the dangers at the Contamination point and were cold with fear.
They knew that if anything happened to Qian Renxue at the Contamination point, they would be held responsible no matter what.
"No problem. This time was indeed unexpected, but it won't happen again," Xue Qinghe said calmly.
Although this was dangerous, he had trump cards to save his life. Even if Sword Douluo and the others perished, he was confident he could escape.
"Have you notified Spirit Hall? Will Grandfather act?" Xue Qinghe was more concerned about the upcoming situation than past dangers.
He regarded the Heaven Dou Empire as his own. If the Contamination point wasn't cleared, it would eventually spread to Heaven Dou City—something he could not accept.
"This—" Snake Lance and Porcupinefish Douluo exchanged glances, helplessly replying, "Young Master, the Grand Worship cannot leave Spirit City."
"What happened?" Xue Qinghe frowned, puzzled.
…
Far away in Spirit City, in the Pope's Hall, Bibi Dong held her scepter, staring solemnly at the sky darkened by black clouds.
In the sky, Qian Daoliu, transformed into a six-winged angel and wielding a holy sword glowing with divine light, slashed fiercely, his sword light tearing the sky like lightning.
But in the next instant, the dazzling sword light was instantly shattered by a flaming fist, and endless negative energy covered the sky like dark clouds.
Opposing Qian Daoliu was a white-haired, red-eyed woman.
Clad in flames, surrounded by black aura and with cracks on her face, she still exuded an otherworldly, ethereal aura.
Qian Daoliu, holding his holy sword and flapping his white wings at supersonic speed, became a streak of golden light in the sky.
But his opponent was just as fast, and her combat skills far surpassed his.
No matter fist, movement, or sword techniques, Qian Daoliu was outclassed.
Even when using the Angel God's power to push himself into the demigod realm, he still could not defeat the white-haired woman—Dark Fu Hua.
Beyond the sky, the ground was also fraught with danger.
Black aura surged like a tide, less than a hundred kilometers from Spirit City—the reason Qian Daoliu had to intervene.
Spirit Hall had mobilized all its forces: all seven worship elders, many Titled Douluo elders, and the Angel Legion joined the battle just to contain the Contamination point's spread.
Death soldiers and colossal Honkai Beasts poured from the Contamination point, bringing unprecedented trouble.
Especially the Honkai Emperors—fast, armored, and deadly—required Titled Douluos to fight.
The battle dragged on for a long time; the spread was temporarily contained, and many treasures (including rare soul bones) were gained, but most of Spirit Hall's strength was locked in battle.
Crucially, Qian Daoliu could not defeat the core of the Contamination point—Dark Fu Hua, who controlled consciousness and flame.
As long as Fu Hua remained, the Contamination point would gather negative energy, spawning endless death soldiers and Honkai Beasts.
Qian Daoliu tried everything, even using the Angel God's power to become a demigod, yet still lost to Dark Fu Hua.
They reached a stalemate: Fu Hua would not leave, and Spirit Hall could not retreat, or the Contamination point would spread uncontrollably.
So, Spirit Hall sent experts and troops to clear monsters at the periphery, suppressing the spread.
Qian Daoliu was the only one in Spirit Hall who could hold Fu Hua at bay.
At this point, Dark Fu Hua, with Taixuan's Grasp, compressed her flames and struck—a cry of a phoenix resounded.
A flaming phoenix, shrouded in black, shot out like a meteor and struck Qian Daoliu.
A black-red fireball exploded in the sky.
Qian Daoliu was blasted back like a kite with a broken string, his golden glow struggling to resist the flames.
"Grand Worship!" Golden Crocodile Douluo flew up, worried as he saw Qian Daoliu's aura had weakened—obviously, the last blow was not easy to withstand.
"Retreat for now. Leave the Angel Legion to guard. Do not go deeper," Qian Daoliu said, clutching his chest grimly.
Even facing Tang Chen or Bo Saixi, he had never felt such pressure.
Against Dark Fu Hua, his combat experience and instincts were useless; only his soul power and borrowed divine power kept him going.
But he knew this was only temporary.
If the Contamination point grew, Fu Hua would become stronger, and his defeat would be inevitable.
If he died, Spirit Hall would be doomed. He could not risk himself lightly.
It was not cowardice; he knew his life had a greater mission—until that was done, he could not die.
"Looks like the plan must pause. Xue'er must start the god trial early. I wonder if she's ready…"
Qian Daoliu sighed wearily.
"Grand Worship!" Golden Crocodile Douluo's face changed.
As a loyal elder, he knew that Qian Renxue starting the god trial meant Qian Daoliu, as Angel God's high priest, would have to sacrifice himself.
He wished he could take Daoliu's place, but as a level-98, non-angel spirit, he was not qualified.
"This is my fate. I have no complaints. All for Xue'er, for the Angel God's succession."
Qian Daoliu shook his head, signaling not to say more.
"Even Qian Daoliu can't win? Who is this woman—could she be a god from the Divine Realm?"
In the Pope's Hall, Bibi Dong watched Qian Daoliu's defeat with mixed excitement and concern.
She was never one to shy from chaos, and if Spirit Hall fell, she would not mind.
But until her goals were achieved, Spirit Hall had value; she could not let it be destroyed by a Contamination point.
She ordered Chrysanthemum and Ghost Douluo, "Send more people. Don't let the Contamination point spread. Notify me of any change."
"Yes, Your Holiness!" The two exchanged glances and left.
By rights, they should have joined the battle, but without Bibi Dong's word, they dared not act.
Now that she had ordered, they would not stand by.
Though not as powerful as the worship elders, as peak Douluos, they were still among the top.
…
Meanwhile, in the sinister Slaughter City, a terrifying power erupted.
A massive pillar of flame shot skyward, breaking free of the earth's bounds.
The King of Slaughter, in blood-red attire and bat wings, gripped the Asura Demon Sword, face dark and angry, glaring at the white-haired youth with a flaming sword.
A single casual attack from this youth had destroyed the Slaughter City in an instant, countless lives snuffed out, leaving only ruin and despair.
"Bastard!" The King of Slaughter roared in anger and frustration.
Slaughter City was vital to him—it was his path to inheriting the Asura God's position.
Now, because of the Contamination point, all was lost.
He released a murderous sword light at the youth in an attempt to salvage the situation.
But the white-haired youth, his face cracked, remained expressionless, as if nothing in the world could move him.
Cold radiated from him, and as he raised his blazing sword, fire surged out, turning the Slaughter City into a sea of flames.
Within, countless evil souls were devoured by negative energy, becoming puppets—death soldiers and Honkai Beasts—making the army even stronger.
The flaming sword shone, its fire overwhelming.
The blood-red Asura Sword's brilliance seemed small by comparison, as if it could be swallowed by the flames at any moment.
The two swords clashed—like stars colliding, unleashing vast energy.
Air was sucked out of hundreds of meters around, forming a vacuum.
The King of Slaughter was shocked.
He wielded the Asura God's true artifact; few weapons could match it. Yet this red greatsword blocked it.
Was it a true artifact too?
Suddenly, despite the heat, a chill spread. He looked down to find his feet encased in ice.
Astonished, he wondered how someone could use ice and fire—opposing elements—each so strong.
Black Kevin remained expressionless, eyes void of emotion.
He pressed down with his flaming sword, sending the King of Slaughter flying, the sword aura splitting the city in two.
A gigantic white beast burst from the earth, bringing a blizzard and freezing dozens of kilometers.
Covered in black armor and crystalline ice, shaped like a boar, shrouded in mist—this was Emperor-class Honkai Beast Parvati.
Black Kevin leapt onto Parvati's head, raised his sword, and pointed at the King of Slaughter.
The King roared in anger, Asura God's power erupting, making blood sword light that could split the sky.
Mountains shattered, earth cracked, and a vast area became a battlefield.
Luckily, Slaughter City was remote, so few innocents were affected.
Still, the battle alarmed Spirit Hall and watching soul masters.
…
Out at sea, a realm full of peril and unknowns, a massive sapphire-blue whale over 200 meters long roared, waves surging.
The ocean boiled as blue ripples spread, but a second blue ripple appeared, contending for control.
A vortex formed, binding the whale.
Its opponent was a monster hundreds of meters long with nine water-serpent heads, exuding black aura and malice.
"That's the Deep Sea Demon Whale King! Who could be fighting it and suppressing it?"
Nearby, the Demon Soul Great White Shark Queen Xiao Bai watched in awe.
The Demon Whale King was the ocean's overlord, even Bo Saixi could only repel it with the Sea God's power.
Its body was almost divine, having survived nine tribulations; just one step from godhood.
Unlike Bo Saixi, who needed the Sea God's help, the Demon Whale King could rival Poseidon, though it lost and was blinded in one eye.
Though known as one of three ocean overlords, the Demon Whale King dwarfed the other two.
If not for its rarity, it would be the sole ruler of the sea.
Yet now, this overlord was being overwhelmed, a blue beam piercing its body.
Realizing defeat, the Demon Whale King fled into the depths.
Xiao Bai, terrified, led her clan in retreat to Sea God Island.
If someone could defeat the Demon Whale King, she had to warn the island.
If Lu Jingming were there, he would recognize the Overlord of the Vortex Osial as the victor.
After defeating the Demon Whale King, Osial did not pursue but continued absorbing negative energy.
As the sea flows, so does Osial—a moving Contamination point, always seeking denser negative energy.
Currently, it was moving in the same direction as the fleeing White Shark clan.
On Sea God Island, Sea God Douluo Bo Saixi, with her golden staff, red dress, and silver hair, stood dignified.
Sensing danger approaching, her intuition warned her of a grave threat.
The island, vast and dotted with seven cities, housed thousands of Sea God followers and formidable warriors.
Sea God Island's power was not to be underestimated, with Bo Saixi, seven Sacred Pillar Douluos, and 3,500 trained Sea God warriors—all sea soul masters, far stronger at sea than land-based ones.
Spirit Hall had once tried to take the island and lost, even losing two Titled Douluos.
Even the Demon Whale King dared not attack the island lightly.
But Bo Saixi felt no comfort, sensing the threat from afar.
She noticed the Demon Soul White Shark clan approaching.
Though fierce, the white sharks were the Sea God's mounts and allies.
"High Priest, bad news—the Demon Whale King was defeated!"
Xiao Bai, in human form, hurried to report.