Douluo Continent: The Eternal Order of the Azure Sky

Chapter 184 Annihilation of the Sect! Great Refinement of the Profound Netherworld

Chapter 184 Annihilation of the Sect! Great Refinement of the Profound Netherworld

Zhang Lexuan's exclamation, though soft, was exceptionally clear in the quiet forest. Those who were adjusting their breathing turned to look, even Xian Lin'er's expression tightened, and she quickly stepped forward.

She's already made a mistake on this trip, and now neither Zhang Lexuan nor Kong Tianxu can afford to have any more problems.

Zhang Lexuan is one of the prospective elders of the Sea God Pavilion and the next-generation successor of the Sea God Pavilion Master. She is on the same level as the elders. Kong Tianxu is the hostage exchanged with Huo Yuhao. He has an extraordinary status and is related to the future hope of Shrek Academy. If something happens to them, Xian Lin'er can hardly imagine what kind of storm will be stirred up in the academy after they return.

Now, the once secluded corner could no longer withstand close scrutiny, and combined with Zhang Lexuan's mention of the Martial Soul Fusion Technique, their expressions all turned strange.

It seems their future senior sister is really going to be snatched away by an international student?

Zhang Lexuan lowered her head in embarrassment and annoyance, and after a series of gentle waves, Kong Tianxu saw a stunningly beautiful face that could be both happy and angry.

"Everyone's watching, stop fooling around."

Zhang Lexuan found that no matter what she did, Kong Tianxu's head kept getting closer and closer to her body. His hot breath brought a slightly embarrassing dampness, making her cheeks even redder. She could only gently hold his face with her hand and whisper urgently.

Little did she know that the subtle control that the Martial Soul has over the body could be used in such a wondrous way.

"Hey, senior, I just caught my breath a little, and you're making me dizzy again," Kong Tianxu said weakly.

Hmm, looking at these mesmerizing waves of snow before me, I do feel a little dizzy.

"Are you alright? Did your spiritual sea suffer some kind of injury?" Zhang Lexuan immediately became anxious and pressed her forehead against Kong Tianxu's, as a pure spiritual energy washed over her.

This completely subconscious act of intimacy made the already strange-looking crowd exchange even more bewildered glances.

Didn't Teacher Li just check it? What kind of hidden injury could there be?

Jin Yehuan gritted his teeth, snorted coldly, and turned his neck away first, appearing indifferent. However, his ashen face betrayed his unsettled inner turmoil.

With him taking the lead, the others stopped looking in that direction so openly, though they still kept glancing at it out of the corner of their eyes from time to time.

The girl's flawless face was so close that Kong Tianxu could even feel the faint dampness around her tightly closed eyelashes. Through their intertwined spiritual energy, her genuine worry and lingering fear were clearly conveyed to him.

Seeing that Zhang Lexuan was really anxious, Kong Tianxu stopped teasing her and closed his eyes, sending her a calm spiritual message: "Alright, let me lie down for a while longer and I'll be fine. You were the one who offered me your lap pillow, why are you being so stingy?"

""

"Where...where would you find a pillow like that?" Zhang Lexuan bit her lip, her face turning even redder. "Besides, I only had time to change my clothes, and I haven't showered for days. Won't...won't I smell?"

"No, smell it yourself," Kong Tianxu said definitively.

Girls always like to be clean. After hearing his words, Zhang Lexuan hesitated for a moment before gently sniffing herself and finding that it was just as Kong Tianxu had said.

She was so busy taking care of Kong Tianxu that she didn't notice that her meridians and bone marrow had been cleansed from the inside out. Not only was there no trace of sweat, but she also felt light and full of energy.

Could it be?

Recalling the miraculous rain that saved her from dire straits, Zhang Lexuan's already not-so-stern gaze softened even more, and the strength in her hands loosened.

"No matter what, I really want to sincerely say thank you."

"Then let me lie down for a while longer." Kong Tianxu snuggled closer to her, feeling perfectly justified.

This time, Zhang Lexuan didn't stop him, only tensing her body slightly. Kong Tianxu also wisely refrained from going any further, knowing that this was roughly the other person's limit.

After all, there's plenty of time in the future, so there's no need to rush.

As his body and mind returned to that gentle warmth, Kong Tianxu recalled the fleeting glimpse he had just caught. Xian Lin'er's once well-maintained skin now bore a few wrinkles, and her long, black hair was streaked with a jarring gray. Apart from her and Li Zhuangyun, everyone else seemed to be in good condition.

It seems that Xianlin'er paid a price for breaking through the encirclement.

Seemingly sensing his thoughts, Zhang Lexuan sighed and said, "In order to break through the three 100,000-year-old soul beasts' trinity fusion technique, Dean Xian did not hesitate to use some secret techniques that depleted his own life force, hoping to cooperate with Senior Brother to keep both 100,000-year-old wolf kings alive. However, during this process, Teacher Li was ambushed by the ghost wolf pack because the location where he was assisting was too close to the battlefield. Although he was fortunate enough to have your soul tool and was not in mortal danger, he was left with some disabilities and ultimately did not achieve complete success."

Zhang Lexuan spoke softly, adjusting Kong Tianxu's clothes. Her gentle demeanor was completely different from her previous awe-inspiring appearance under the moonlight.

"Are you feeling better now? Is anything bothering you? We need to leave at dawn."

Kong Tianxu nodded, seemingly understanding the unspoken meaning in Zhang Lexuan's words.

"That one from the Xuanming Sect—"

77

"His name is Xu Bo, the younger brother of Xuanming Douluo, the current sect leader of the Xuanming Sect." Mentioning this person, a complex emotion flashed in Zhang Lexuan's eyes. After a moment's hesitation, she continued, "After Dean Xian arrived, we had already taken him into custody. My senior brother and I both wanted to kill him, but the Xuanming Sect has deep ties with the Heavenly Soul Empire and is usually very respectful to the academy. Although Xu Bo has committed evil deeds, he hasn't caused any actual deaths or injuries. Besides, the Xuanming Sect has already lost a core elder, so—"

She paused, seemingly considering her words, "The temporary decision is to take him back to the academy for further consideration."

After Zhang Lexuan finished speaking, she carefully observed Kong Tianxu's expression.

Kong Tianxu's face remained expressionless, only uttering a faint "Oh," revealing neither joy nor anger. He stood up and stretched; in just a few hours, he had fully recovered, the formidable power of the Life Gold unmistakably manifesting.

"Take me to see him."

Zhang Lexuan hesitated for a moment, but finally nodded and said, "Okay."

The place is actually not far away.

The fat man was in a very sorry state. Not only did Xian Lin'er personally seal his soul power, but he was also pressed under a large rock and forced to eat dirt. The three-meter-tall Jin Yehuan sat on top of him, monitoring his movements at all times.

He looked dejected, his previous arrogance long gone. Jin Yehuan lifted the stone, finally giving him a chance to catch his breath. Upon seeing Kong Tianxu, his listless eyes lit up with excitement, and he knelt down with a thud: "Father, I was wrong."

"Pfft—" Kong Tianxu kicked Xu Bo in the chest, without using much force, but it made him spit out a mouthful of black blood.

Xian Lin'er's eyes flickered slightly, but closed again the next second. If it weren't for Old Master Mu's dying wish, given her temper, the other party would have died a hundred times over.

Xu Bo coughed for a long time before catching his breath. He half-knelt up and kowtowed again, giving a resounding thud: "Grandpa! Your grandson was wrong! I was blinded by greed and didn't know you were a top student from Shrek Academy. Please, be magnanimous! If you want to hit me, scold me, ask for money or gifts, the sect has some savings. Just treat me like a fart and spare my life! I won't dare to do it again, I won't dare to do it again!"

He wept bitterly, kowtowing repeatedly until his forehead was a bloody mess.

Zhang Lexuan looked away in disgust. Kong Tianxu didn't reply, but just watched him quietly.

"I'm only curious about one thing: you clearly swore an oath with your martial soul before, how dare you prepare a soul skill right after you said it? That would shatter your martial soul."

When Kong Tianxu finally spoke, Xu Bo felt as if he had been granted a pardon. When he raised his head, there was more sweat on his forehead than blood.

"My Xuanming Turtle Martial Soul is primarily water-based. When I was young, I learned a trick where the Martial Soul transforms into a bursting water bubble, so—"

He forced a fawning smile, his words utterly humble. But as he looked into Kong Tianxu's cold, purple eyes, the smile froze on his face, unable to be maintained any longer.

Not only him, but Jin Yehuan was also watching Kong Tianxu's movements nervously, his face showing a little unnaturalness. Xian Lin'er said directly, "The academy will make him and the Xuanming Sect give you compensation that satisfies you."

Fortunately, Kong Tianxu didn't let the cold stalemate last too long. He seemed amused by Xu Bo's appearance, gently patted the other's thick shoulder, and turned to leave.

Jin Yehuan and Xian Lin'er exchanged a glance and secretly breathed a sigh of relief, but for no reason felt a chill. Kong Tianxu was far too calm.

"Tianxu, I believe he will receive a fair judgment after returning to the academy," Zhang Lexuan comforted him, seeing that Kong Tianxu remained silent and was equally indignant.

"Yes, I believe it will too." Kong Tianxu's tone was slightly cool in the night.

"After all, not everything can be corrected and redeemed."

As soon as it was light, everyone began their return journey.

In stark contrast to Kong Tianxu's awkwardness upon arrival, although a strange atmosphere remained, it was clearly unrelated to malice. By the time he returned, he had become the most sought-after member of the team.

This is not only because he saved Zhang Lexuan, but also because of his formidable strength!

His captures of anacondas, feathered serpents, black-armored jade-horned rhinoceroses, and even 100,000-year-old soul beasts have earned him the respect of everyone.

Li Zhuangyun, in particular, who was always cold and distant in front of the Shrek Academy students, was unusually warm towards Kong Tianxu.

Aside from Zhang Lexuan, he spent the most time sticking to Kong Tianxu's side, and the two would often discuss something, which even made Xian Lin'er a little puzzled.

In stark contrast to their previous misfortune of encountering three 100,000-year-old soul beasts, their return journey was remarkably smooth, with almost no trouble encountered. They finally emerged from the Star Dou Great Forest in less than two days.

"Ah! I'm finally back!" Hua Yao exclaimed.

Emerging from the dark forest and catching sight of Shrek City's majestic silhouette, everyone felt a sense of déjà vu. Yes, they were finally back. And everyone who needed a spirit ring had finally gotten their wish.

"Then it's settled." Seeing Gu Fan take the lead and rush into the academy gate, Li Zhuangyun finished speaking with shining eyes, waved to Kong Tianxu, and also went in.

Only Zhang Lexuan stood at the back with Kong Tianxu, watching the departing figures of the others, lost in thought.

Zhang Lexuan approached with a smile and said, "What's wrong, Tianxu? Do you feel that everyone is very attached to the academy? I believe you will feel the same way soon. This place is home to us. Returning home after coming from a dangerous place is always something to be happy about, isn't it?"

"Perhaps." Kong Tianxu nodded slightly, confirming that the mark he left was subtle enough, and followed Zhang Lexuan back to Seagod Island.

"Thump"

Without exchanging many words with Zhang Lexuan, Kong Tianxu went straight back to his room, closed the door, and shut himself out from the outside world.

A moment later, the temperature in the room subtly dropped a few degrees, and a figure of unparalleled coldness quietly appeared—it was the Snow Empress. Her icy eyes were filled with concern: "Brother, your body—"

"It's alright, I'm almost fully recovered." Kong Tianxu said gently. He walked to the window and looked at the exquisite scenery outside, but his eyes were devoid of warmth.

"Xue'er, go out and tell Shadow," he said calmly, "that fly from the Xuanming Sect has been buzzing around in front of me more than once, it's really annoying."

He slightly raised his fingertips, and a wisp of silver-gray light, infused with his spiritual imprint and aura of destruction, swirled in his palm like a living thing.

"If Shrek doesn't kill that fat pig, they'll find the ancestral land of the Xuanming Sect based on the mark I left on Xu Bo."

""

He turned around and looked at Xue Di, whose eyes had suddenly lit up. A deep abyss seemed to be spreading in the depths of his purple eyes: "Tell Ye Xishui that she can do whatever she likes. I only care about the result."

"Leave no one alive."

"yes!"

Snow Emperor responded excitedly, then transformed into a wisp of ice crystal light, passed through the wall, and disappeared without a trace.

The room fell silent again. Kong Tianxu slowly exhaled a breath of stale air, sat down cross-legged, and began to digest the gains of this trip. The sunlight outside the window was just right, and life seemed as peaceful as ever.

Seven days later.

After Xu Sanshi knelt for three days for his uncles and the Xuanming Sect Master personally came to plead guilty and made multiple guarantees, Shrek Academy and the Xuanming Sect reached an agreement: Xu Bo would be given a slight punishment, allowed to return to the sect, and strictly controlled.

The fair judgment Zhang Lexuan spoke of ultimately did not come. Mainstream soul masters were still quite lenient towards the actions of non-evil soul masters.

After a tearful confession and a series of promises, Xu Bo swaggered out of Shrek City.

After sensing the departure of several powerful auras through the Xuanming Ripple, Xu Bo's face was still streaked with tears, and he continued to repent. He even took the initiative to help a bullied civilian along the way, and gave each of the arrogant rich kids a Xuanming Divine Palm that slowly weakened their heart meridians. This made the last elder of the Sea God Pavilion who was supervising him stop in his tracks.

However, the shouts in his mind never stopped, and the fire of resentment in his heart burned ever brighter.

Finally, the familiar gilded plaque of the sect was right in front of them.

At that moment, his eyes were red and tears streamed down his face.

He really suffered a lot at Shrek Academy, and hadn't tasted meat for many days.

But now, having returned to the sect, he is like a bird soaring into the sky or a fish swimming in the sea; he is no longer bound by any constraints!

And this blood debt! He had already discussed it with his elder brother. That little wench from Shrek Academy was not easy to deal with, but the people from the Sun Moon Empire?

Hmph! There's more than one hidden sect that has designs on Kong Tianxu.

Not to mention, the Cloud Recesses, though the once number one sect in the world, the Haotian Sect, has declined, its 20,000-year foundation might hold some surprises.

Although immersed in his own fantasy of revenge, Xu Bo, who was like a frightened bird this time, keenly noticed the gradually cooling sunlight.

He looked up sharply.

One man and three women, four figures with completely different styles, slowly landed around him. They all had one thing in common—how could this be?! In his Xuanming Zhen's perception of the ripples, there was absolutely no feedback!

"This is it? What a den of iniquity! Elder Ye, what are your plans?"

Kong Deming gazed in the direction of the Xuanming Sect. He had originally held reservations about such a cruel approach, but after witnessing the commoner boy being destroyed by several noble families who had lost their sons, the father of the Soul Master was now more enthusiastic than Ye Xishui.

"Let Xiao Yin charge in for a while first," Ye Xishui gestured to Cain, whose murderous aura was almost tangible, then conjured a golden flame between her fingers. "Then follow the recipe for the Xuan Shui Pill."

"Great Refinement of the Profound Netherworld".

The Great Refining of the Profound Netherworld? What are they planning to do? That's his home, his family!

"No! I beg you, please don't go! It's all my fault, Your Majesty the Dragon Emperor—"

Xu Bo trembled as he watched the four people walk towards the Xuanming Sect, his shouts disappearing into the purple dragon shadow.

Behind Kong Deming, the central one of the three crimson spirit rings flashed briefly before fading away. He remarked with a touch of melancholy, "Sometimes, spirit skills can be quite useful."

Unbeknownst to anyone, the area was quietly filled with the colors of blood and fire.

Several months passed quietly beneath a calm surface. Kong Tianxu's cultivation steadily improved, and his relationship with Zhang Lexuan seemed to have gained an indescribable tacit understanding and subtlety because of their shared life-and-death experience and the fusion of their martial souls.

Originally, the two didn't have many opportunities to be alone, but when Xu Bo was released, Zhang Lexuan made a special trip to see him, and the two talked for a long time.

Seemingly to appease him, or perhaps at the behest of the Sea God Pavilion to ensure that Kong Tianxu wouldn't make any underhanded moves, in any case, from that day on, Zhang Lexuan frequently came to see him. Sometimes they would discuss cultivation, and sometimes they would simply sit quietly and drink tea. The two of them tacitly stopped mentioning those bloody and ambiguous moments deep in the Star Dou Forest.

Kong Tianxu seemed to behave himself and did not do anything out of line. Gradually, it seemed that apart from him and Zhang Lexuan, no one else remembered this incident.

Until one day, Kong Tianxu received a letter and a pill.

The letter was burned to nothingness by a wisp of flame rising from his fingertips. Watching the Xuanming Great Pill slowly melt into the Xuanyu Shield, a smile finally appeared on his lips.

The following day, a shocking piece of news shook the entire Soul Master world with explosive speed:

The Xuanming Sect, an ancient soul master family with a history of nearly ten thousand years, which had dominated the capital of the Heavenly Soul Empire and was known for its top-tier defensive martial soul, the Xuanming Turtle, was wiped out overnight, leaving no one alive.