Chapter 244 Eternal Eye

During the day, under the brilliant sunlight, Chen Xuan stood at the cave entrance halfway up the mountain, gazing out at the vast mountain range.

After a year, he was finally seeing the light of day again. This period of secluded cultivation had lasted much longer than he had expected, consuming an excessive amount of time.

From now on, he had no intention of going into seclusion again—there were always unexpected issues arising.

Chen Xuan took out a mirror and examined his current appearance. The fusion of the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan had succeeded, causing slight alterations in the pattern. Without careful observation, it would be difficult to notice.

Having evolved into the Eternal Eye, his ocular power had increased several times over, and his ocular techniques had been significantly enhanced. Both their range and duration had improved drastically.

Beyond that, the most critical upgrade was that his Sharingan had been baptized by natural energy, making it no longer an ordinary Sharingan.

Previously, his ocular techniques were only effective against Soul Masters below the Titled Douluo level and were useless against the Tri-God level. But now, with the enhancement of natural energy, he could finally contend with deities.

During his year in seclusion, Chen Xuan had thoroughly examined himself. He had grown stronger, obtained the abilities and physique he had long desired, and now possessed the foundation for godhood.

His right eye shimmered with a deep purple glow, its rippling waves forming concentric circles. Within them hung nine black tomoe—this was the legendary Sage's Eye he had pursued for so long: the Rinnegan.

Unfortunately, after all his efforts, he had only managed to awaken a single Rinnegan. His left eye remained in its Eternal Mangekyō form.

Chen Xuan was not discouraged. A single Nine-Tomoe Rinnegan was by no means weaker than a standard pair of Rinnegan. It possessed all the expected abilities along with newly acquired ocular techniques—nothing was missing.

Moreover, the Tomoe Rinnegan had an additional advantage. It allowed him to use Mangekyō techniques without reverting to his Eternal Mangekyō form, making it far more convenient than a regular Rinnegan.

As for the Sage's Body, Chen Xuan no longer pursued it—or rather, he no longer needed it. After his transformation, while his physique was not the traditional Sage's Body, it had surpassed it. At the very least, it was not inferior to anyone else's physique on the continent.

Most importantly, his vitality was no longer a concern. The Nine-Tomoe Rinnegan had bestowed upon him a unique ocular technique—an advanced regeneration ability. When activated, it provided immense vitality, capable of regenerating even destroyed internal organs. Its healing ability far exceeded that of the Sage's Body.

"Another year has passed… Xiao Wu and Zhuqing should be back soon." Chen Xuan gazed at the endless blue sky, momentarily lost in thought. He missed them dearly.

Now, he had the strength and confidence to protect those closest to him. Even if deities descended, he would not necessarily be powerless against them.

During his year of seclusion, he had already broken through to level 80 soul power. He was inching closer to becoming a Titled Douluo. After absorbing a spirit ring, his soul power would undoubtedly surpass level 83, making him one of the top five youngest Soul Douluo in history.

Whoosh!

Chen Xuan took a step forward, and with a loud explosion, a burst of smoke and dust rose from the mountainside. He shot out like a cannonball, soaring into the sky.

His speed had become terrifying. He tore through the air like a flying arrow, leaving the trees below rapidly receding into the distance. In mere moments, he had already traveled several kilometers.

Landing steadily atop a towering tree, a violent gust of wind surged behind him, forming a vortex of air currents—a result of breaking the sound barrier.

After the evolution of his physical body, he had reached the realm of five times the speed of sound, doubling his previous speed. In the later stages of cultivation, increasing speed was ten times harder than increasing strength.

Swoosh!

Chen Xuan hurled a kunai straight into the sky, watching as it vanished beyond the horizon.

Half an hour later, he arrived at the Heaven Dou Imperial Palace. His first priority was to check on his daughter, Yiyi, and Jiangzhu. However, when he extended his perception to cover the entire Eastern Palace, he found no trace of Xiao Qiu'er and the others.

Chen Xuan remained calm. Since Xue Qinghe was still in the palace, he headed directly to the crown prince's residence.

"Where are Xiao Qiu'er and Yiyi?" he asked upon finding Xue Qinghe.

Qian Renxue waved her hand dismissively. "Relax, they're fine. Recently, there's been major upheaval in the palace, making it unsafe. I secretly sent them away."

She then explained the situation. During Chen Xuan's year of absence, the continent had been in turmoil. Numerous factions had been wiped out in bloodbaths. Those that survived had either joined Spirit Hall or allied with the two great empires.

Chen Xuan nodded. As long as his loved ones were safe, he had no reservations. Now, he could act freely and make his moves.

"That woman is too arrogant, and it frustrates me," Qian Renxue said, a hint of coldness in her expression. "I no longer plan to implement the plan she assigned me."

Chen Xuan understood the strained relationship between mother and daughter. "So, you're planning to establish your own faction and become a third force? But time is running out—you may not have enough time to prepare."

Qian Renxue nodded. She had long been making arrangements to carve out her own domain, and by now, her preparations were nearly complete.

Recently, she had seized control of a small, insignificant nation—one lacking both Soul Masters and military power, making it the perfect cover. Neither the two great empires nor Spirit Hall had paid any attention to it.

"As for military strength," Qian Renxue continued, "over the years, I've secured control over 500,000 imperial troops and secretly recruited even more. As of now, I command 700,000 soldiers."

Her eyes gleamed with confidence.

Chen Xuan clicked his tongue in admiration. He truly respected this woman—she had managed to seize control of half of Heaven Dou Empire's military without being exposed.

However, her large-scale troop movements had not gone unnoticed. The empire's security had weakened significantly, drawing suspicion from Emperor Xue Ye and the royal court. They were gradually losing trust in her.

Xue Ye, who was nearing the end of his life, had begun to see the truth more clearly. He had grown suspicious of Xue Qinghe's true identity and was quietly transferring power to Xue Beng, preparing to pass the throne to the younger prince.

For Qian Renxue, the throne itself was meaningless. Even if she seized Heaven Dou Empire, it would only serve as a wedding gift for that woman. Instead, why not drain the empire's military strength for her own cause and declare herself empress?

That way, she could avoid the dangers posed by the royal court. It was a win-win scenario.

"Oh, and by the way, I've finally confirmed the truth about that incident from years ago." Qian Renxue's expression darkened. "The order to assassinate your daughter came directly from Xue Ye himself."

Chen Xuan's face immediately turned cold. He had long suspected that old bastard, and now it was confirmed. The man was utterly ruthless and deserved to die.

"What's the current security situation in the royal palace? How many guards? What are their levels?" His expression turned murderous—no matter the obstacles, he would take that old man's head.

Qian Renxue sighed and shook her head. "It won't be easy. Security is tighter than ever. Sword Douluo, Bone Douluo, Ning Fengzhi, Poison Douluo, and multiple Soul Douluo are stationed within the palace. Even if we attack together, our chances of success are slim."

"What do you mean?" Chen Xuan was surprised. As the crown prince, Xue Qinghe should have easy access to Xue Ye, right?

"I've been exposed," Qian Renxue said calmly, showing little emotion.

Chen Xuan's expression shifted, but he remained silent.

Qian Renxue explained that about a year ago, Dugu Bo had returned with life-extending herbs and saved Xue Ye, who would have died six months earlier otherwise.

Later, in her eagerness, she had increased the dosage of poison, which led Dugu Bo to discover the truth and expose her.

Although Poison Douluo hadn't named her outright, it was obvious to any keen observer. Only the crown prince, who delivered the emperor's food and medicine daily, could have poisoned him.

"Xue Ye is now heavily guarded, with a Titled Douluo on duty at all times. Assassinating him is nearly impossible," Qian Renxue said.

"A year ago, I might have feared Heaven Dou's power. But now…" Chen Xuan's killing intent surged. "That ruthless old bastard must die!"

Qian Renxue sighed, seeing his determination. "Very well. I'll do my best to assist you."

Chapter 245: Exclusive Domination of the Heaven Dou Empire

Next, Chen Xuan and Qian Renxue discussed their plans in detail, quietly setting into motion an operation to assassinate Emperor Xue Ye.

That very day, a spy within the palace reported an urgent situation—the borders had been attacked by the Spirit Empire, resulting in devastating losses. Over ten thousand had perished in the flames of war, and immediate reinforcements were needed.

Upon hearing this, Emperor Xue Ye's expression turned grim. It was a critical moment, and there were no available troops within the empire to dispatch—only the soldiers stationed in the imperial palace could be mobilized.

Not only the emperor but also his ministers and Xue Beng found the situation highly suspicious. It was far too coincidental, raising concerns of a possible conspiracy.

However, the attacked border region was of utmost importance, just like the city of Jialing Pass. Losing it would put the entire Heaven Dou Empire at risk.

By the afternoon, a force of 100,000 troops was dispatched from the imperial palace, leaving Heaven Dou City to reinforce the border.

With this, the Heaven Dou Imperial Palace was left dangerously empty, with fewer than 50,000 soldiers remaining. The only relief was that among them were many skilled soul masters, capable of resisting strong enemies.

Additionally, three Titled Douluo, several Soul Douluo, as well as Ning Fengzhi and the remaining disciples of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, were stationed in the palace. As long as a Supreme Douluo did not appear, they could still protect the key figures within the palace.

Night fell.

Inside the Eastern Palace, within the Crown Prince's residence.

"That old fox Xue Ye is too cunning. While the palace troops have been relocated, the three Titled Douluo remain. The strength of these soul masters cannot be underestimated," Qian Renxue remarked.

If they were to launch a direct attack and anything seemed amiss, those individuals could escape with Xue Ye and the other palace members. At worst, they could temporarily abandon the palace and reclaim it later—this would be of little consequence.

Unless the three Titled Douluo were drawn away, it would be difficult to succeed.

"No need to worry. As long as the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda is not assisting them, I should be able to handle three Titled Douluo at full power," Chen Xuan said confidently.

This was not arrogance—his body had undergone numerous evolutions. Even against a Supreme Douluo, he had confidence in victory, let alone a few Titled Douluo.

"Good. As long as you're certain. Regardless of the outcome of this battle, I must return to the Spirit Hall afterward to undergo my inheritance," Qian Renxue stated.

Chen Xuan nodded, realizing she was going to undergo the Angel God Trials. She was likely only a few tests away from completion.

That night, Qian Renxue wrote a letter and sent it to the current territory of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, inviting Ning Fengzhi to the Crown Prince's residence to discuss an important matter.

Sword Douluo and Bone Douluo found this suspicious and refused to let Ning Fengzhi go alone, fearing it was a trap.

However, Ning Fengzhi had watched Crown Prince Xue Qinghe grow up and had taken him as a student since childhood. He trusted Xue Qinghe's character, believing he would not do anything reckless.

That night, Ning Fengzhi entered the Crown Prince's Eastern Palace alone—and never returned, even by midnight.

Sword Douluo and Bone Douluo grew increasingly anxious, but due to the strict rules of the imperial palace—especially regarding the Crown Prince's residence—they hesitated and ultimately decided to wait until morning before taking action.

However, as dawn arrived, Heaven Dou City was doomed to be thrown into chaos. A bloody disaster was about to unfold.

The Heaven Dou Imperial Palace was suddenly struck by an unprecedented crisis, plunging everyone into fear and turmoil.

Outside the imperial palace, a monstrous, grotesque giant suddenly emerged from the ground. It was clad in golden armor, towering over 500 meters tall, completely blocking out the sky and sun.

Its size was utterly terrifying, its shadow covering half the imperial palace. Its sheer presence was enough to send shivers down the spine.

The giant exuded an overwhelming aura, its entire body radiating golden energy, possessing a godlike presence as if it could tear mountains apart.

Boom!

The 500-meter-tall giant moved. With a single step, the earth trembled violently, causing half of the imperial palace to shake.

"Ahhh—!"

Countless palace maids screamed in terror, scattering in all directions as chaos erupted throughout the imperial palace.

Simultaneously, multiple explosions rocked the palace, flames bursting into the sky as buildings collapsed en masse.

Wave after wave of soul master troops launched a fierce assault on the imperial palace from all directions, breaking through the defensive lines.

"Quick! Stop the invaders! Protect His Majesty!"

All available soldiers and soul masters sprang into action, over 50,000 of them splitting into squads to intercept the attackers.

In the end, only about 10,000 remained, trembling as they faced the golden giant.

Despite their numbers, they knew they were nothing in front of this colossus. It was as if mere ants were trying to resist a human—an utterly laughable effort.

Fear gripped their hearts as their hands trembled around their weapons. The giant towering over them blocked out the sky. Could they truly stand against such a force?

Many felt despair creeping in, losing their will to fight. Against an invincible opponent, death seemed inevitable—if not from battle, then from being crushed underfoot.

"Chen Xuan!"

Bone Douluo gritted his teeth, standing at a window and staring at the golden giant in the distance. It was all too familiar.

Sword Douluo's expression was grim, his heart filled with anxiety. Ning Fengzhi had not returned all night, and now the imperial palace was under coordinated attack. This was clearly a premeditated conspiracy.

The Crown Prince was making his move!

If this wasn't orchestrated by Xue Qinghe, who else could have smuggled so many soul masters into the palace right under Emperor Xue Ye's nose?

"You two, please protect His Majesty. I will go and face Chen Xuan!"

Dugu Bo stepped forward, intending to stay behind and hold the line.

"You mustn't!" Bone Douluo reached out to stop him, fully aware of the golden giant's power. He didn't want Poison Douluo to throw his life away in vain.

Just then, a powerful voice rang out, spreading through every corner of the palace via soul power.

 "Chen Xin, Gu Rong, Senior Dugu Bo—if you don't want all these people to die for nothing, then come out and fight!"

Standing on the golden giant's forehead, Chen Xuan gazed down at the entire Heaven Dou Imperial Palace.

His soul power surged boundlessly. He had no fear of exhaustion, immediately activating his complete Susanoo. At this moment, he possessed more than enough power to level the entire imperial palace.

Inside the palace, the three Titled Douluo's expressions darkened. They knew there was no way to resolve this peacefully.

After a brief discussion, they decided to have the fastest among them—Bone Douluo—escort Emperor Xue Ye out the back, while another team took Xue Beng out from another route, splitting them up.

"Protect His Majesty and Prince Xue Beng. I will buy you all enough time," Dugu Bo declared, addressing the Soul Douluo guards. These warriors were the empire's last line of defense—it was time for them to serve their purpose.

Without a word, Gu Rong set off with a heavy heart, escorting Emperor Xue Ye to safety.

More than ten Soul Douluo divided into two teams, each escorting one of the royals out of the palace.

Once their safety was ensured, Sword Douluo and Bone Douluo were finally able to breathe a little easier. Now, it was their turn to hold the line.

"Chen Xuan, you little brat—come and face me!"

Dugu Bo was the first to charge out.

With a mighty roar, he summoned his ace weapon—an enormous jade-green Bilin Snake, larger than a house, its tongue flicking menacingly.

Standing atop the serpent's head, Dugu Bo unleashed his full soul power, charging toward the golden giant.

Whoosh!

Sword Douluo moved like a flash of cold light, soaring through the air on his Seven Kill Sword, slicing through the clouds and reaching the golden giant in an instant.

"So, Emperor Xue Ye has already been sent away, huh?"

Chen Xuan expanded his sensory field, covering dozens of kilometers. The entire palace was within his detection range.

Bone Douluo was currently escorting Emperor Xue Ye, already outside the palace, heading toward a nearby stronghold containing 200,000 troops.

Yet Chen Xuan showed no concern—everything was proceeding according to plan.

Little did they know, the Susanoo within the imperial palace was merely his shadow clone. His real body had long since hidden outside Heaven Dou City, lying in wait.

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