Xu Zihuang stepped coldly over Yin Ziyue's corpse, sweeping his gaze across the crowd without saying a word.
This was, in the truest sense, his first time killing someone—yet everything felt strangely calm. It wasn't because he was born emotionless or indifferent to life, but because he had been mentally prepared for this from the very beginning.
His ambition ran deep. He didn't just want the Xu Tianran father and son to pay in blood—he also harbored designs on the very throne of the Sun and Moon Empire.
If only his father had been more ruthless back then, the Xu Tianran father and son wouldn't have even existed to become a problem.
After three years of imprisonment, he had come to understand—deeply—that strength and power were everything.
Be it human or soul beast, he would make all beings submit, and become the sole ruler of the continent. This was the desire that had grown boundless within his heart.
The path forward would be strewn with thorns, and there was no avoiding the blood that would stain his hands.
Killing Yin Ziyue was merely the first step in establishing his authority. The remnants of the Royal Dragon Soul Engineer Regiment would serve as the foundation of his rise, and he had to hold them firmly in his grasp.
Having awakened the memories of his past life and understanding the plot of this world, he had already begun constructing a grand framework in his mind. Shrek Academy was the most critical stepping stone.
His first martial soul, the Golden Eye, had never been revealed. In the future, he could use it as his primary martial soul, enter Shrek Academy under a new name, and who would ever guess his true identity? Moreover, his second martial soul, while similar to the Sun and Moon Empire's royal martial soul—the Violet Radiant Heavenly Dragon—was subtly different.
With his talent, gaining the attention of Shrek Academy's higher-ups wouldn't be difficult. That would provide him with an invisible umbrella of protection. At the same time, he could cultivate his own network there and seek out Xu He—He Caitou—his cousin who had suffered a similar fate.
He was certain that with He Caitou's hatred for the Xu Tianran family, he would stand firmly on his side. And He Caitou's background was even more unique—he could be a valuable asset.
Of course, all of this hinged on their shared goal of avenging the Xu Tianran family. But if the day ever came when he seized the throne, by then he would have grown strong enough that He Caitou would no longer pose a threat to him.
"Zihuang."
Yao Yang's gentle voice snapped Xu Zihuang out of his thoughts.
Xu Zihuang turned to look. At some point, a pair of slender, dark red folding wings had appeared behind Yao Yang. They were semi-transparent, with ten propulsion vents aligned along the back.
"A Class-7 flight-type soul tool?" Xu Zihuang wasn't surprised. Given his former status, he had seen more than a few Class-9 soul tools in his time. Realizing that Yao Yang was following their plan and about to take him into the air, Xu Zihuang quickly adjusted his body.
"Get ready!"
Yao Yang scooped Xu Zihuang under his arm. With a low shout, the ten vents on his wings burst forth with brilliant white flames. Xu Zihuang immediately felt a powerful force surge from his waist, and only thanks to his Golden Eye's exceptional vision could he barely track the scenery flashing past them at breakneck speed.
The shrill wind howled around him, overstimulating his senses. In just a few seconds, his body was nearly overwhelmed. But soon, a soft aura of soul power enveloped him, dispelling the discomfort. To his shock, they were now five hundred meters above the island.
At that moment, Yao Yang noticed the spiritual fluctuations surrounding Xu Zihuang after he released his Golden Eye martial soul. Seeing his transformed golden eyes—especially the intricate golden patterns around the pupils—Yao Yang's expression briefly flickered with rare astonishment. He stared deeply at Xu Zihuang but forcibly suppressed his urge to ask questions.
Now was clearly not the time.
The Class-7 flight-type soul tool on Yao Yang's back trailed a dazzling tail flame. It was nearly impossible to remain inconspicuous against the night sky.
Below, the remnants of the Royal Dragon Soul Engineer Regiment, locked in battle with the Western Sea Soul Engineer Regiment at the island's center, saw the brilliant arc of light streaking across the sky. Fueled with renewed vigor, they fought back against their encirclement.
"All units, take to the skies!"
Flight-type soul tools of varying designs activated across the Royal Dragon Soul Engineer Regiment. Tail flames of different colors lit up the island like daylight.
Witnessing this, Qiu Ying—the vice-commander of the Western Sea Soul Engineer Regiment—wore a face as dark as storm clouds.
So they really came prepared!
Every single Royal Dragon soldier was equipped with a Class-6 or higher flight-type soul tool. Although their own regiment had some flight gear, the difference in both quantity and quality was staggering.
"Use long-range soul skills and soul tools! Don't let a single one get away! Bring out every last flight-type soul tool we've got!" Qiu Ying roared, his voice bolstered by soul power.
Their losses in this battle had already been massive. If these enemies escaped, with the First Prince's ruthless nature, everyone—aside from his trusted subordinate Hai Xiao—would be killed.
But before he could act, a deafening explosion erupted behind him.
A massive orange-red mushroom cloud rose without warning, radiating intense heat that caused searing pain even through his martial soul's protection.
Screams filled the air. Chunks of rock rained down. Several Western Sea Regiment soldiers too close to the blast were instantly vaporized, leaving only scorched shadows on the ground.
"A Class-7 high-explosive fixed soul-guided cannon?!" Despair flooded Qiu Ying's eyes as more mushroom clouds—over twenty in total—began to rise one after another.
"It's over… It's all over…"
More than twenty Class-7 fixed soul-guided cannons could level a small city. The island didn't stand a chance. He dropped his arms, defeated. After this, the Western Sea Soul Engineer Regiment would cease to exist.
The blistering heat wave tore through the air, leaving deep cracks in the five-story fortress as if it might collapse at any moment.
On the flat rooftop, Elder Yu retracted the barrel of his fixed soul-guided cannon, struggling to maintain his balance. Activating his flight-type soul tool, he shouted urgently at those nearby:
"If you don't want to die, get airborne now! Move! Move! Move!"
"Yes, Elder Yu!"
Though they also ascended using flight-type soul tools, compared to the group that had launched the surprise attack, they were a step too late. Most of them were only around Rank 50 in strength and had just Class-5 flight tools. Fear gleamed in many of their eyes, but there was no panic.
They had known from the start that launching fixed soul-guided cannons at this range meant they risked being caught in the blast. The destructive power and coverage of a Class-7 cannon was immense—twenty of them together was catastrophic.
In the blink of an eye, intense heat engulfed the fortress. Seven or eight Royal Dragon soldiers were instantly consumed.
Elder Yu clenched his fists, casting one last glance backward before looking away. He poured every ounce of soul power into the flight-type soul tool on his back.
He had known this outcome was likely—but witnessing it firsthand still pierced his heart with pain.
(End of Chapter)
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