The Ninth Elder's injuries gradually healed. The First Elder sensed the increased number of patrols in the city and knew he couldn't wait any longer.
"Laojiu, get ready. We're leaving now."
A group of soldiers clad in golden armor was patrolling the outskirts of Risheng City. They knew they were supposed to be searching for two wanted criminals, but starting with the Lord of Risheng City himself, no one was taking the mission seriously.
These low-ranking soldiers simply followed routine, strolling through the streets every day, which was just like any other job.
"Captain, how long do you think we'll have to blockade Risheng City? Supplies in the city are running low."
"No idea. I heard we're waiting for someone important from above, but we don't know who it is."
"Someone important? Who could that be?"
"Why are you asking so many questions, kid? Get back to patrolling this street. Let's go grab a drink."
Hidden in the shadows, the two elders listened to the soldiers' conversation, and their hearts sank. That "important person" must be at least a top-level Soul Douluo. If they waited for him to arrive, it would be even harder for the two of them to escape.
The First Elder's mind was slightly dazed. In a hundred years before he came to the Sun-Moon Continent, he had never imagined that one day, after becoming a Titled Douluo, he would be hunted down by a group of Soul Douluos.
More than ten days ago, after he and the Ninth Elder escaped from Mingdu, they had planned to head to the Yuejian Mountains to meet Xu Mingxi, but they were ambushed en route.
The First Elder had initially assumed that the ambusher was just a regular Soul Douluo and could be dealt with quickly before they continued on. However, he hadn't expected that this Soul Douluo had soul power at level 89 and, with the aid of an eighth-level soul tool user, was able to restrain him.
In an instant, more pursuers arrived using flying soul tools, and the First and Ninth Elders were surrounded.
In the end, it was the Ninth Elder who, despite his injuries, managed to briefly restrain the lead soul master, allowing the First Elder to use his ninth soul skill to carve out a path to escape.
The two men fled to Risheng City and blended in with the locals. They thought this would intimidate the Sun-Moon Empire forces and give them a chance to recover.
But they hadn't anticipated that just as they planned to recover and find an opportunity to leave, a soul tool shield appeared over Risheng City, trapping them inside.
As the golden-armored soldiers departed, the First Elder focused his attention on the nearby blue soul tool shield. His martial spirit activated, and his ninth soul ring flickered.
The air around him surged, and the stars in the night sky shimmered, as if countless specks of light were gathering above him.
Such a strange scene naturally attracted the attention of the city's guards. A flare from a soul-guided warning device exploded in the sky, and all powerful soul masters in the city began converging on the spot.
Before they could arrive, the First Elder launched his attack. His ninth soul skill, Great Wilderness Starfall, tore a massive hole in the soul shield and completely destroyed a portion of the city wall.
The thunderous explosion echoed throughout the city. The two elders leapt out and fled. The First Elder glanced back as they ran. Though the pursuers were still far, they were rapidly closing in. His already disfigured face grew even grimmer.
"Damn these soul tool users," the First Elder cursed internally. It had always been like this. These flying soul tool-equipped Soul Douluos flew faster than he, a Titled Douluo, could.
Fortunately, night was the domain of the Star Crown Martial Spirit. The First Elder had significantly boosted his speed and endurance, buying them time. He and the Ninth Elder fled toward the Demon Forest, intending to use the beasts there to shake off their pursuers once and for all.
Meanwhile, Xu Mingxi and her companion rushed toward Risheng City with all their might, but they were still a step too late. Seeing the shattered city wall and the chaos within, Xu Mingxi felt a violent storm rise in her heart.
After capturing a guard trying to maintain order at the scene and forcing him to reveal the two elders' whereabouts—then killing him—they quickly set off for the Demon Forest.
At this moment, Xu Mingxi's heart was filled with anxiety and fear. In both her past life and this one, she had never experienced the death of a loved one. Though she had become accustomed to life and death in this life, this was different.
"Grandfather, you must wait for me."
...
On the other side, as time passed, only a few high-level Soul Douluos remained in pursuit, but the Ninth Elder's soul power was almost depleted.
The First Elder's soul power had dropped to less than half. Carrying the Ninth Elder on his back, he raced madly toward the Demon Forest. He no longer felt revulsion toward soul tools, but rather an intense longing.
If only he had a flying soul tool like his pursuers, they wouldn't have caught up.
"First Elder, go on without me. Don't worry about me."
"Old Nine, what nonsense are you saying? My Star Crown Sect will never abandon a single disciple. Just hold on a little longer—the Demon Forest is just ahead."
The First Elder frantically squeezed the remaining soul power from his body. With the Demon Forest in sight, how could they give up now?
Suddenly, he felt an overwhelming sense of danger from behind. He didn't have time to turn around and hastily flung the Ninth Elder aside. He tried to dodge, but it was too late.
A holy purple light filled with destruction streaked by, completely obliterating the First Elder's left arm without leaving a trace.
Using his soul power to temporarily stop the bleeding, the First Elder forced himself to turn around—and saw a powerful figure descend from the sky, flicking his finger and shooting a purple ray toward the Ninth Elder.
"NO!!"
The First Elder used the last of his soul power. His fourth soul ring glowed as he pushed his Star Guardian skill to its maximum level. The purple light collided with the Star Guardian, creating a massive cloud of dust and smoke.
The Ninth Elder was saved for the moment, but the First Elder, gravely injured and straining himself to the limit, vomited blood again. His face turned deathly pale, and his breathing weakened sharply.
The Ninth Elder, having calmed down, slowly approached and helped the First Elder up. The two of them calmly stared at the man floating in the sky, with flowing purple hair and a majestic presence.
Xu Mingxi had gained the opportunity to become a god, and the goal of their journey to the Sun-Moon Continent had been achieved. Compared to death, they feared Xu Mingxi charging out recklessly more. But she could never match the man before them.
The First Elder watched as the three high-level Soul Douluos in pursuit landed beneath the man using their flying soul tools, knelt on one knee, and addressed him as "Your Majesty." He knew this time, they were doomed.
He could sense that the Emperor of the Sun-Moon Empire had soul power around level ninety-two, just like him. But after such a long escape, his power had been drained, and that earlier ambush had left him severely wounded. Now, he had no strength left to fight.
The First Elder suddenly sneered. If he had known this would happen, he would've stayed in Risheng City and not run. He could've used his ultimate move to take down a few Soul Douluo and bury half the city's population with him. That would've been better than being hunted to this point. It would be a joke if anyone ever told this story.