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"Heh, capture me?"
Qian Renxue's cold gaze fell upon Dai Chengfeng, the Fourth Prince of the Star Luo Empire, who was surrounded by countless golden lights, sweeping his spear and fighting fiercely amidst a sea of blood.
A faint, amused smirk curled her lips, and her eyes were filled with disdain.
"Pity."
"This is nothing more than a delusion you'll never achieve."
Even as the thousand-strong vanguard of the Star Luo Empire, led by Dai Chengfeng and Zhu Fan, advanced step by bloody step, drawing closer to her, Qian Renxue's face remained utterly devoid of fear.
Calmly seated atop her white steed, she stood her ground without budging.
Qian Renxue was supremely confident, for at her side stood Ci Tun Douluo, a titled Douluo sworn to protect her…
How could someone like Dai Chengfeng dare to dream of capturing her?
It was absurd, like the punchline of some grand joke.
Even the small measure of admiration she had felt toward him earlier had now completely dissipated.
She shook her head slightly, her eyes full of contempt. "Just as the rumors say—utterly foolish!"
In contrast to Qian Renxue, Ci Tun Douluo's gaze was fixed on Zhu Fan, who had been steadfastly guarding Dai Chengfeng. He watched as eight soul rings—yellow, yellow, purple, purple, black, black, black, black—shimmered beneath Zhu Fan's feet…
Every powerful opponent attempting to approach Dai Chengfeng was intercepted by him.
"A Soul Douluo?"
Ci Tun Douluo frowned slightly, leaning close to Qian Renxue to whisper, "Young Master."
"There's a Soul Ancestor causing trouble. Should I step in and take care of him?"
"Otherwise, these soldiers won't stand a chance against a Soul Douluo."
Upon hearing this, Qian Renxue gently shook her head. "Elder Ci Tun!"
"Your identity must remain absolutely concealed unless it's a matter of life and death. If your cover is blown, all the meticulous planning we've done over the years in the Tian Dou Empire will be ruined. That's a loss we cannot afford!"
"Yes, Young Master."
Ci Tun Douluo nodded, though his heart still brimmed with dissatisfaction. Clenching his fists tightly, he muttered, "But should we really let that Soul Douluo run rampant in our army?"
A cold smile crept onto Qian Renxue's face. "After all, the ones dying are soldiers of the Tian Dou Empire. Let them weaken each other alongside the Star Luo Empire's troops—it's nothing but beneficial to us in the Spirit Hall."
"Since that's the case, why bother intervening?"
Hearing this, Ci Tun Douluo nodded in sudden realization. "I see. Young Master is wise."
---
At this moment, amidst the battlefield
While Qian Renxue remained pristine and untouched, Dai Chengfeng was drenched in crimson blood from head to toe.
As his warhorse advanced, thick streams of blood flowed down his robes, continuously dripping to the ground…
For every inch of land, an inch of blood—it was exactly like this.
"Uncle, how far are we from Xue Qinghe's main formation?"
Dai Chengfeng's breathing was labored and irregular, his chest heaving violently.
The once brilliantly radiant pure golden Innate Geng Metal Qi surrounding him had now dimmed, no longer as dazzling as before, resembling a lamp on the verge of burning out.
Fortunately, thanks to the two months he had spent tempering his body with Innate Geng Metal Qi, he possessed a physique far stronger than ordinary people, allowing him to barely keep fighting.
Otherwise, he would have long since collapsed from exhaustion.
Hearing Dai Chengfeng's weary, hoarse inquiry, Zhu Fan swung his claws with chilling precision, flashing as he cut down another Tian Dou soldier attempting to approach Dai Chengfeng.
Scalding blood splattered onto his face like water droplets, but he paid it no mind. Instead, he shouted loudly to Dai Chengfeng, "Your Highness, we're about two hundred meters away!"
"Two hundred meters?"
Dai Chengfeng nodded faintly, his cracked lips struggling to part. Turning to the blood-soaked soldiers of the Star Luo Empire behind him, he bellowed:
"A lone rider charges toward Dragon City, not caring for life or death. If we truly die…"
"Then, let us die with meaning!"
"All units, follow me forward another hundred meters—Kill!"
---
Dai Chengfeng's spear moved like a dragon, each swing carrying the desperate ferocity of someone willing to die alongside their enemies. The spear's gleaming tip was like the scythe of death, ceaselessly reaping lives.
They pressed forward again.
Hearing his command, the soldiers behind him roared in unison, "Kill!!!"
Their voices, weakened by prolonged combat, still carried an unwavering resolve to fight to the death.
Though most of them were injured, their armor soaked through with blood mixed with the flesh and brain matter of their foes, red and white smeared together, their eyes showed no hesitation. They steadfastly chose to follow Dai Chengfeng onward.
The battle raged on.
The battlefield was a cacophony of shouts and screams.
Due to the waning strength of his Innate Geng Metal Qi, Dai Chengfeng had sustained several wounds at some point, blood flowing freely.
Yet his spear never faltered.
His warhorse continued to advance.
Until—Zhu Fan shouted, "Your Highness, we are now only one hundred meters away from the Crown Prince of the Tian Dou Empire, Xue Qinghe!"
"Finally here?!"
Dai Chengfeng exhaled deeply, licking his cracked lips.
He stopped advancing, continuing to fend off encroaching enemies with fierce determination while instructing Zhu Fan, "Uncle, give the order. All soldiers halt their advance. Rear units move to the front—we will break through!"
"During the breakout, shout loudly: 'The Crown Prince of the Tian Dou Empire, Xue Qinghe, has been captured alive by our forces. If the dogs of the Tian Dou Empire wish for their prince to survive, they must immediately lay down their weapons and surrender!'"
"Yes!"
Zhu Fan's eyes hardened as he nodded firmly, quickly relaying the command.
Instantly, the elite vanguard of the Star Luo Empire began shifting formations with practiced precision. The previously advancing wedge formation rapidly transformed, the rear units swiftly moving to the front.
In perfect unison, they shouted, "The Crown Prince of the Tian Dou Empire, Xue Qinghe, has been captured alive by our forces. If the dogs of the Tian Dou Empire wish for their prince to survive, they must immediately lay down their weapons and surrender!"
"The Crown Prince of the Tian Dou Empire, Xue Qinghe, has been captured alive by our forces…"
"…"
Their cries thundered across the smoke-filled battlefield, echoing into every corner.
Meanwhile, Dai Chengfeng held his spear in one hand, fending off enemies closing in from all sides, while using his other hand to retrieve a pre-prepared signal flare from his chest.
"From here on, everything depends on you, Zhu Yan!"
With that, he forcefully pulled the trigger on the flare.
Then, Dai Chengfeng raised his head, gazing at Qian Renxue atop her white steed just one hundred meters away…
Their gazes met, and Dai Chengfeng could clearly see the disdain and coldness in her eyes, as if mocking his audacity.
"Hahaha…"
Seeing this, Dai Chengfeng burst into laughter, his voice ringing loud and clear over the chaotic battlefield. "Crown Prince of the Tian Dou Empire, Xue Qinghe, this is a gift from this prince to mark our meeting. Catch it well!"
With that—
Dai Chengfeng drew his longbow from his back, pulling it taut like a full moon. He attached the flare to an arrow…
Whoosh—!
An arrow shot forth!
Xue Qinghe sat elegantly atop her white horse, her posture proud.
Looking at Dai Chengfeng, her expression remained calm, a faint smile curling her lips. "Meeting… gift?"
"Good!"
"I'm curious—what kind of gift has a defeated general prepared to beg for mercy?"
As she spoke—
She extended her right hand, her slender palm lifting gracefully to catch the arrow Dai Chengfeng had fired.
But the instant Qian Renxue grasped the arrow, a brilliant flame erupted from the flare attached to it…
Boom—!
A deafening explosion rang out, its dazzling light illuminating the entire battlefield like daylight.
It was time to turn the tide of the battle. Qian Renxue—you've lost!!!
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