Chapter 18: The Might of a Million-Year Soul Beast

En Ci's long silver-white hair flowed behind his battle armor mask.

"We won't know until we try."

As the number one powerhouse of the Star Luo Empire, a true veteran Limit Douluo, and a four-word battle armor master, En Ci naturally carried his own pride.

Perhaps he had been undefeated for too long, making him refuse to believe that anyone in this world could vastly surpass him. Even if it was Yun Ming, the continent's number one powerhouse, he wouldn't be able to defeat him in a short time.

Not to mention, he had his old friend Hu Jie providing support. Hu Jie's cultivation was already at the very peak of the Super Douluo level, and with his four-word battle armor, even an ordinary Limit Douluo would struggle to take him down.

With the strength forged by years of singlehood and the camaraderie of their battle-worn "unicorn arms," they could challenge the strongest: Who else dares to stand before us?!

With boundless confidence, En Ci's four-word battle armor shone brilliantly. He raised his right hand and struck the air, causing a series of sonic booms. A terrifying aura spread outward, pressing toward the Demon Empress. The very space seemed to collapse under the force.

Though the move was simple, it didn't mean En Ci was holding back.

At the level of a Limit Douluo, soul skills were no longer important. Every strike, every move was an embodiment of the ultimate truth—returning to simplicity and achieving mastery, effortlessly unleashing absolute power.

"Huh?"

However, his opponent's reaction left En Ci astonished.

The black-robed woman before him remained motionless. She didn't even summon her battle armor, as if she intended to take his attack head-on.

Such an action was beyond shocking. Even Yun Ming, the continent's number one, wouldn't dare to withstand his full-strength attack with just his body!

As the final moment arrived, his palm landed on the Demon Empress—but the bloody explosion he had expected did not occur.

The loose black robe covering the Demon Empress rippled violently as the force of the attack spread across her entire body from the point of impact.

It felt as if he had struck the vast ocean itself, stirring up towering waves, yet failing to harm the sea in the slightest. The concept of "the ocean embracing all" had actually manifested in a single person.

"How is this possible?!"

But just as En Ci was caught in his shock, the Demon Empress had already made her move.

And once she struck, it was with her full strength, carrying the intent to kill.

The purple-gold aura around her body compressed violently, forming into a glowing cocoon in an instant.

At the same time, the purple-gold cocoon began to spin rapidly, like a whirling top, charging forward with the power of an endless ocean.

In the next moment, the space around her transformed into a separate domain, the sky dyed in purple and gold. As above, so below—like a blazing purple-gold meteor, she crashed toward Hu Jie.

This was her ultimate technique—Vortex Annihilation!

Against weaker Limit Douluo with less defense, this strike alone was enough to kill them in an instant.

To ensure success, she had chosen Hu Jie—the one who was infinitely close to becoming a Limit Douluo but had not yet reached it.

With her 990,000-year-old soul beast body, her physique was no less than that of a god. She had endured En Ci's full-power strike to create this opening—her goal was to eliminate Hu Jie first.

Once he was gone, only En Ci would remain. The difference between hunting down one person and chasing two was immense.

A mere ordinary Limit Douluo—if she was willing to pay a certain price, she could slay him in a short time, preventing him from relaying information and bringing reinforcements to interfere with Di Tian.

She also needed to return quickly to continue protecting Di Tian.

She refused to believe that Di Tian had perished silently. If he lives, I will see him. If he has fallen, I will find his body!

However, just like En Ci's attack, her full-force strike did not achieve the expected result.

Hu Jie, the Smiling Face Douluo, lacked the reaction speed to actively defend against Vortex Annihilation, but his battle-honed instincts moved his body before his mind could process the danger.

Sensing imminent death, his Twin Martial Souls, the Golden Belly and Silver Rump, erupted simultaneously. Gold and silver light intertwined, making the air feel heavy. His towering figure seemed as immovable as a mountain, carrying the weight of a thousand tons.

Vast life force and golden radiance swirled together, forming a vortex. The forces of attraction and repulsion cycled between them, standing as a barrier before his Golden Belly.

"Clang—!"

Vortex Annihilation collided fiercely with the swirling gold and silver vortex. It was like an iron hammer striking a massive bell—the impact shattered everything instantly. Even Hu Jie's formidable four-word battle armor cracked and disintegrated.

His once-round belly was caved in as his Golden Belly Martial Soul was irreversibly shattered.

A deep crater formed where he stood, and his body was driven into its depths. His life force flickered weakly, but he was still alive.

"Self Martial Soul Fusion Technique!" The words were squeezed from the Demon Empress's clenched teeth, her expression grim beneath the misty veil.

But soon, she realized that it wasn't a true Martial Soul Fusion Technique—it was just a step away. However, it had momentarily achieved a defensive power that surpassed an average Limit Douluo.

That brief delay was enough to create an opening for Hu Jie and En Ci to split up and flee.

The years of camaraderie between them allowed them to coordinate seamlessly. They knew the same thing—this black-robed woman was too powerful. If they fled together, they would both die.

But if they split up, at least one of them could contact reinforcements and overturn this desperate situation.

Without hesitation, the Demon Empress split off a clone to pursue them separately. No matter the cost, she had to eliminate them before they could spread the news!

Yet, at that very moment, a familiar voice made her halt mid-movement.

"Rest easy for a moment."

"They won't escape."

Enshrouded in a seven-colored radiance, Di Tian stepped forward.

A seven-colored divine light shot out, resembling a rainbow, streaking toward the distant fugitives.

As it spread across the sky, the very color of the world changed.

The seven-colored divine light split into two paths, instantly intercepting Hu Jie and En Ci.

As the divine light swept over them, their bodies froze—they could not move a single step.

The only part of them that remained free was their consciousness, now overwhelmed by pure terror.

Even the Demon Empress had not given them such fear. She was at least within their realm of understanding.

But this new force? They couldn't even comprehend it. It felt as though the world itself had suddenly turned against them, rendering them helpless in an instant.

For Hu Jie, the Smiling Face Douluo, it was somewhat understandable—he was already severely injured and near death after enduring the Demon Empress's full-power strike.

But En Ci was different.

He was still at full strength. He was a Limit Douluo, fully clad in four-word battle armor.

Even if he no longer had the courage to fight, even if he couldn't move—how was it possible that he couldn't even ignite his life force for one final struggle?

This question haunted him—until his slow-reacting mind finally realized the answer.

His once-mighty Bright Holy Dragon bloodline was failing.

Deep within his very being, a primal instinct of inferiority and submission arose.

This was an absolute suppression of the lower by the higher.

Even his very soul had been shackled.

His last emotion was one of despair.

The seven-colored divine light washed over them, erasing them piece by piece.

Not just their bodies—but their very souls as well.

(End of Chapter)