Chapter 37 - Payback

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Dawn,

Dugu Bo's Mansion,

The sun would rise in just more or less two hours later and yet two people had already awoken this time of the day. In fact, it wouldn't be called like as it was safer to say the two still haven't gone to sleep seeing them still doing something on the bed.

These two people were none other than Lev and Zhu Zhuqing who were still having sex until now. As they were spirit masters, their stamina was far higher than any normal people, and thus getting tired while having sex wasn't that taxing but looking closely, they might probably be over with it soon.

"L-Lev, …aahh…I-I'm done...aahh…. aahh… I c-can'tt…. aaahhhh!!!" Suddenly, Zhu Zhuqing, who looked half-dead while remembering what happened for the last several hours, moaned for the last time using the remaining strength that she had before finally fainting.

"Hnnggggg." Lev, on the other hand, groans as his body shook for about ten seconds before pulling out his cock inside of Zhu Zhuqing. He has already lost count of how many times he has cummed inside of her as they just keep on doing it.

Lev looked at Zhu Zhuqing before a faint smile appeared on his face. He had just had sex with one of the main characters of this world. Anyone would probably feel the same way as him as it was very satisfying. Calming herself down, he then just helped her lie comfortably so she could properly sleep.

Following that, Lev summoned out a bathrobe and put it on as he walked closer to the window to see the quiet and peaceful view outside. He breathed in and then thought, 'This is only the beginning.'

Standing there for a while, Lev had already decided to sleep as it would be sunrise soon. He then just left the room wanting to get out for a breather and prepare himself for what was about to come. As this was his war, he didn't know how many lives would perish but it was necessary. People go live and die, that's how life works.

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Heading outside the mansion, Lev sat directly on the floor of the main door however, he wasn't alone in doing that as Dugu Yan was with him. Seeing her appearance, she might have a problem sleeping due to people making noise non-stop.

"Are you really going to wage war against the Empire?" Dugu Yan suddenly asked. She had come to know about this from his grandfather and so she wasn't that surprised anymore. She was just worried as the Empire really wasn't that easy to deal with as it had already been built for a long time. The empire survived every war and even stabilized its position as one of the great powers of the continent.

"It has to be done." Lev replied as he looked at the sky still filled with stars. He wasn't a person who would just let go of things bygone. Also, it was inevitable since one of his missions was for him to unify the mainland. This is not the kind of thing that would just be solved with talking.

"K-Keep safe." Dugu Yan softly said while clenching his hands. This wasn't something that they could participate in as they would only become a hindrance to Lev and so, the only that she could provide was her prayers that he would come back safe.

Hearing Dugu Yan, Lev looked at her and gave her a warm smile. Seeing her feeling ashamed saying that made her look cute, he subconsciously moved closer and kissed her lips. He doesn't know if it was because he was still horny or not as he only moved and followed his instincts.

Dugu Yan, who had been kissed, widened her eyes before closing them as she gave in and reciprocated. It might not be obvious to everyone, but she has actually hidden this feeling for years already. Getting a kiss like this makes her heart soften and brimmed with joy.

Both exchanged a passionate kiss before breaking as the sun finally rises up which illuminates the place. Lev and Dugu Yan looked at each other for the last time before Lev said something seriously, "Go back and wait for my return."

Without asking why, Dugu Yan nodded with a smile as she stood up and got inside the mansion. She knew very well that there must be a reason why he had told her to. Following that, she then just heads back to Sia's room and stays for the rest of the day until Lev comes back.

"Why don't all just come out already?" Lev said as he stood up. He has long since noticed their presence. Given their number, it looks like Emperor Xue Ye has already heard of his arrival in the empire.

Following Lev's words, a man wearing a cloak suddenly came out and appeared not that far from Lev. Seeing him presenting himself alone, the person was undeniably the leader of the group.

"Lev, the Emperor Xue Ye was delighted by your arrival. The Emperor ordered us to g---" The cloaked person said and put out some word before being interrupted.

"Cut the crap. If you are only ordered to guide me to the palace, how come there are over a hundred people surrounding this place? Do you think I'm blind?" Lev cut off the person as he looked all over the place. Sensing their spirit levels, Emperor Xue Ye was really cautious and cruel as all of them were spirit saints with the exception of the leader being a Titled Douluo.

Hearing Lev, the cloaked person suddenly became silent before his hand gave out a signal for which a hundred spirit masters appeared all dashing towards Lev's with the intention to kill. Yes, they were to guide Lev back but if something happened, they were also ordered to do an execution on the spot.

"That's more like it." Lev said looking at the people trying to take him by their numbers. Knowing their strength, he was glad and happier to kill them all as they fetched more experience points for him to level up. With that, Lev and a group of hundred spirit masters started a fight early in the morning.

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---Thirty minutes later---

After only an hour, Lev could be found standing while holding the head of a person. Looking around the surroundings, it was completely destroyed and beyond repair except for the mansion which was left unscathed as it was being protected by a barrier that Lev had put up.

"Are you the person sent by Dugu Bo?" Lev asked as he looked at a person kneeling in front of him before crashing the head of the last living person among the hundred spirit masters that greeted him.

"Y-Yes, Young Lord." It was a man in his forties wearing normal clothes but despite his appearance, his strength wasn't anything to scoff off as he was a spirit saint himself, however, this time around, there was never a time in his life that he would fearfully kneeling to a young and even not daring to make contact as he has witnessed something that he deemed pretty unbelievable.

"Good." Lev replied. He then just looked at dead bodies lying on the ground before summoning out the five goblins and ordering them via telepathy as he walked and left the place together with the man who Dugu Bo had ordered.

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Heaven Dou Palace,

Meanwhile, inside the palace, Emperor Xue Ye could be found together with a group of people waiting for any news. He has come to know about Lev's arrival last night from which he immediately dispatches some of his people to greet him and invite him today. He still remembered what happened back then and so he wouldn't let him escape his hands once again. As both forces in the war were still at a stalemate, Lev might have had information that might changed the outcome of this war and so his arrival was really an opportunity.

After waiting for a while, a person suddenly appeared inside the hall from which he immediately reported everything. Hearing this, Emperor Xue Ye frowns before turning seriously. He moved his and then ordered, "There is no need to hesitate anymore, have the troop ready. It doesn't matter what method they use but bring back Lev to the palace alive."

With that, the person who came in immediately disappeared once again leaving Emperor Xue Ye frowning together with the people beside him. Though they only lost a hundred spirit master, one has to know that they were all experts and a force to behold, and yet Lev disposed of them easily.

'Dugu Bo. Ning Fengzhi. To think that those two would keep silent and betray me. These two bastards.' Emperor Xue Ye thought with his veins popping out of his head from anger. He was actually suspicious of them before but due to the war escalating, he has set them aside for now as their help was something the empire needed. However, now that Lev has returned, both of them immediately turn against him.

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Heaven Dou City,

The peaceful and supposed-to-be good morning suddenly made the people living in the city to be filled with curiosity. Seeing an army of spirit masters heading out, the people living inside started to panic. There was only one reason for them to be dispatched and that is Spirit Hall had come to attack. Everyone felt scared and each ran toward their homes praying they would survive this day.

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On the field,

Dugu Bo's mansion was a little bit farther from Heaven Dou City as there was still a plain field to cross between the two places. Dugu Bo chose this place as it was close to Sunset Forest so he could come and go to his medicinal garden every time he wanted. This time, however, the field was not quiet and soothing to look at as an army of Heaven Dou Empire's spirit masters was currently stationed in the area.

...Boom!!!!...

A loud crashing sound echoed throughout the field which created a huge mess in the surroundings. Following the disappearance of the mist, three huge toads with differing appearances could be found in the area from which a man was standing on the head of one of them.

"It's really you!! I don't know why, but the Emperor wanted you to come to the Palace. You're too young but it looks like you've made something unbefitting to the Empire." The army leader, who was the person from back then, looked at Lev with a frown. Seeing the person they had been ordered to apprehend, he couldn't help but think just what it was so important to him that the Emperor even sent an army just to get him.

"You don't know why you're really here, don't you?" Lev asked as he jumped down from Gamabunta's head. He was quite surprised to see an army of spirit masters on the way. Though he felt a little sad seeing them fighting for just a petty reason, he was also not kind enough to let them off.

"Looks like you're not coming with us peacefully. What a shame then. I'm sorry but we can only use force to bring you back." The army leader replied before releasing his spirit rings and then followed by almost 50,000 spirit soldiers.

"Lev, is that your name? Well, I request you for the second time and come with us peacefully." The army leader asked once again. Though he was having other thoughts about this, he was still completely confident as they had a total of fifty thousand spirit masters whereas Lev was alone together with three strange large toad spirit beasts.

"Not gonna happen." Lev replied as he shook his head helplessly. He has already decided and there is no longer a need for negotiation. He then calmed himself before looking at the army of spirit masters seriously as he started moving his hand and writing something.

***Koku***

Following that, a dragon with one eye out roared loudly in the field.

The army leader looked at the dragon in awe. Though he had also heard from the information given to them that Lev was strong, he didn't believe such absurd things. He felt like a single person could fight an army of spirit masters. He thought that this mission had already been set to be completed with ease as they were only after a single person.

Right after summoning, Lev then ordered Koku to make it start concentrating fireballs on its mouth from which the longer it got, the bigger the fireball became. Koku needed time and so he looked at the army of spirit masters to stop them from interrupting. Though he could end them in one move, he wasn't going to do that as he really had the chance to see Koku at full power and so he wanted to test it now.

Seeing such a peculiar scene, the army leader frowns as he feels something is amiss with the fireball. He, for some reason, still did not take any action and just observed some more not knowing that they were waiting for their demise.

"Approximately 50,000 spirit masters, huh. I wonder how many levels I could get from you all." Lev said with a smile as he looked at the stupid army leader who still hadn't made a move. He then shifted his gaze towards the army on his back before sighing thinking how unfortunate for them to have such an incompetent leader.

"Koku: Fire Beam." Lev then ordered cruelly and smiled with great excitement.

This time, the army leader finally realizes what is wrong and he then shouts immediately, "Everyone, disperse!!!"

The spirit soldiers heard him, but it was already late as Koku already unleashed a fire beam creating a line made of fire that ceases everything it touch. The sudden attack causes the ground to shake a little seeing how great its impact is. It only lasted for a second and yet the casualties were very deadly.

Escaping from death, the army leader looked at the destruction from Lev's attack. He finally realized why the Emperor sent an army this time, as he immediately felt his world was crumbling after seeing the field with his army and their tragic situation. He could see that almost half of the army had vanished while the others were alive but badly injured.

[You have leveled up.]

"Finally." Lev said as he smiled widely after hearing the notification that he just leveled up and could now become a Titled Douluo at any time. He was about to summon out a dragon for him to ascend before stopping and seeing the army leader shouting wanting to put up his last struggle.

The army leader felt aggrieved, but he still shouted furiously, "Everyone attackkkk!!!!"

The shout of the army leader woke the soldiers from shock, and they then immediately moved and used range spirit abilities towards Lev. The remaining spirit soldiers could be said to be the best as they have evaded and reacted to Lev's attack and so they thought how a monster they were dealing with right now but since such an attack was so great, they all felt Lev might be exhausted and use this opportunity to complete the mission.

Meanwhile, the army leader also does the same as he uses his strongest attack together with them. Though they have been told to apprehend Lev, seeing his monstrous ability, they feel like they need forceful means to do it. The Emperor only ordered them to bring him back alive, the condition and anything else does not matter and so his losing one or two limbs does not matter.

After seeing so many spirit abilities that were like a falling meteor, Lev didn't underestimate them at all as he would also get threatened by taking them head-on. He then just started moving his hand once again to finish this once and for all.

***Madoka***

This time, another dragon came out for which Lev then immediately created a lot of fireballs for Madoka to connect and instantly make a barrier. Not long after that, the thousands of spirit abilities bombarded him which created a mist and blocked everyone's visions.

Being a Titled Douluo, the army leader focused his attention on Lev's location and hoped that their attacks had reached him. He really could not help but hope as Lev was really a monster like from what he just witnessed.

After a while, the army leader could now see clearly the location of Lev but when he saw something like a dome covering him, he immediately felt horror after seeing that their combined attacks were completely useless. He was confident that a Titled Douluo would turn to ashes with that and yet Lev was completely alive unscathed.

"Gamabunta, Gamahiro, Gamaken. Do you think you can take them? If not, then I will take care of them all." Lev then said as he recalled Madoko. The remaining spirit soldiers were already as good as dead. Aside from their injuries, their will to fight has already been lost. Killing them like this doesn't go with his taste so he wanted to immediately head to the palace.

Without answering, Gambunta, Gamahiro, and Gamaken, despite their big sizes, suddenly vanished from their place leaving behind a smoke. The army leader and remaining spirit soldiers looked at what just happened before they each looked to the sky seeing the three toads above falling towards them.

….Boom….

Gambunta, Gamahiro, and Gamaken using a teleport spirit ability came down and caused the ground to shake and at the same time, killed some spirit soldiers in the way, but they were only getting started seeing them taking out their weapons and starting a rampage. They hadn't fought humans before as they were all fighting spirit beasts and so they were curious which side was stronger.

The army leader looked at the three strange spirit beasts. He knew for sure that they were toads but seeing them unsheathing their weapons, he then shouted, "Watch out!!!"

The spirit soldiers put their guards up but the things that happened during the past minutes kept distracting them and added to their injuries from the last attack, they could only defend themselves helplessly while coping with the three toads with their abnormal fighting style.

When the army leader saw this scene, he could only kneel on the ground as he looked at his army of 50,000 who were completely on the ground either dead or alive while wailing from the pain. There was still some fighting off the strange toads, but he knew that it would only be a matter of time before they experienced the same faith. He didn't even notice that Lev had already left the place while he was witnessing their situation.

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Heaven Dou Palace,

Meanwhile, inside the hall of the palace, Emperor Xue Ye was sitting completely excited and nervous at the same time while waiting for any news. He had felt tremors in the distance earlier as he thought that the fight had already started.

Suddenly, a cloaked man then reported in horror, "Y-Your M-Majesty, the army was completely wiped out."

Emperor Xue Ye's and the people together with him shook upon hearing such news. They hadn't expected such a thing to happen as it was really unbelievable since it was only a while back that the fight had started.

"W-What did you just say?" Emperor Xue immediately threatened and was afraid for the first time and wanted to confirm what he just heard when suddenly another cloaked man appeared in the hall.

"Y-You Majesty, Lev was now already at the city gate." The other cloaked man hurriedly reported.

Hearing this, Emperor Xue Ye frowned in deep anger. This time, he was now completely sure that Lev had already gone beyond control. He felt like Ning Fengzhi's silence and Dugu Bo's betrayal had something to do with it. He thought that it might not be because of something else but most probably they could not. He then clenched his fist and immediately ordered, "Call all the Titled Douluos in the Palace immediately."

"Yes." The two cloaked men then replied before disappearing. They have already known the severity of this mission. Both of them witnessed something very unbelievable throughout the years they have lived. It was just a single man and yet, he was attacking the whole empire himself.

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Heaven Dou City,

Lev can now be seen leisurely walking while the people living and hiding in the city are looking at him with great horror. Looking at his back, several dead bodies could be found lying on the ground, any normal person would feel fear seeing it. Lev continues walking while killing until he finally arrives at the entrance of the palace for which several guards can be seen blocking his way in.

Meanwhile, Lev looked at the grandiose palace first before shifting his gaze toward the guards, he had already killed thousands so it didn't matter if he also killed them. On the other hand, the guards were petrified just by seeing his gaze, they had already heard what was happening to Lev, the perpetrator of this thing, making their bodies freeze in fear.

Seeing their expression, Lev was about to finish them off as his right hand was already rising however, seeing the blood covering his hand, woke him up and stopped himself. He then waved off the blood as continued to walk and head inside leaving the guards frozen up in their position.

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Inside the palace,

Lev had already been in the palace back then, and without any hindrance blocking his way in, he entered the hall smoothly. He looks around first before eying Emperor Xue Ye who was sitting on his throne surrounded by ten cloaked men with Titled Douluo level.

"Emperor Xue Ye, do you still remember what happened five years ago?" Lev suddenly asked while smiling inside. He kind of felt amused looking at the expression he had as he felt a sudden satisfaction seeing this arrogant Emperor finally being put in place.

"Lev, if you're still offended by that, then let me apologize for it. Seeing you here, how about ending this misunderstanding and talking about cooperation? This is my empire, no matter how strong you are, you are still alone. How about it?" Emperor Xue Ye suddenly put on a conversation. Though he felt a little nervous about Lev, who was now currently standing in front of him, this place was still his territory. With his power, he could immediately put everything to an end, but he still wanted to persuade him for the last time.

"You really ar—There's no need for talking anymore. I wi—" Lev frowned and felt great anger inside after hearing Emperor Xue Ye, but before he could finish his words, a group of Titled Douluo's hiding in the hall put up a surprise attack however, their presence has long been discovered by him and had already anticipated it.

…...Boom…...

'In the end, you're still the same as back then.' Seeing Lev taking it head-on and being thrown outside creating a hole in the palace, Emperor Xue Ye immediately stood up as he smiled faintly. Apprehending Lev who did not only have important information but also did have not the strength to back him up, his value has risen a lot. If they could not use any normal means to control him, then another method needs to be done.

"Go and get him." Emperor Xue Ye then ordered as he started walking outside. He wanted to see Lev's expression after seeing how much effort he had put into this just to end up getting lost and helpless.