Chapter 106: Massive Explosion in Mingdu

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After three breaths' worth of time, the cyan-green light completely engulfed Han Feng, releasing the full force of the pseudo ninth-level soul-guided cannon. Its destructive energy burst forth with a blinding brilliance, shattering the sky with ear-splitting thunderous roars.

The deafening explosions drowned out all other sounds, as the fearsome cyan-green light unleashed its rampaging energy, obliterating everything in its path. The formation that the Sun Moon Empire's experts had set to trap Han Feng collapsed like a fragile sapling in a violent storm, disintegrating in an instant.

With Elder Duan at the helm, the Sun Moon Empire's experts were thrown into panic, each resorting to their most powerful abilities to fend off the explosion.

"Give it everything you've got!"

A twisted and frenzied look crossed Elder Duan's anxious face. The situation had spiraled out of control, far beyond his expectations. He could hardly believe that the anonymous master dared to activate a pseudo ninth-level soul-guided cannon, without any regard for his own life. Wasn't he afraid of dying?

A sliver of doubt crept into Elder Duan's mind, for he was in the epicenter of the explosion and couldn't sense the anonymous master's presence anymore. He had a nagging feeling that the master had activated the cannon because he was protected by an eighth-level soul armor and had likely escaped already.

The pseudo ninth-level soul-guided cannon's blast was equivalent to the full power of a ninety-ninth-level Ultimate Douluo. Even though the combined might of the Sun Moon Empire's experts could hold back some of the destructive energy, they couldn't contain it all.

As portions of the destructive energy spread, vast sections of Mingdu's buildings crumbled on the spot, sending shards of stone and violent winds flying everywhere. The whole ground trembled under the force.

The Royal Soul Master Academy's Soul Douluo and higher-level soul engineers took to the skies to intercept the blast's impact. However, the remaining teachers and students were thrown into chaos, especially as the residual destructive energy tore through, causing much of the academy to collapse.

"Huo Yuhao!"

"Wang Dong!"

Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong had just returned from outside when the explosion struck, throwing them dozens of meters away. The impact left them spitting blood and severely injured, barely able to keep their bearings.

Closer to the explosion's epicenter, Ji Juechen gripped his Judgment Sword tightly, pushing his sword intent to its limit. His face reflected unwavering resolve. But when the two forces collided, he was instantly blown away, losing consciousness and falling into a deep coma.

The massive explosion that shook most of Mingdu raged on for nearly three minutes before it started to subside. When the explosions finally ceased, most of Mingdu had turned into a desolate wasteland.

"Transmit the Emperor's orders: Mingdu is now under Level 1 lockdown! The Royal Guard takes control of all security!"

"First and Second Royal Guard units, start treating the injured. Third unit..."

The Royal Guard, which had been mostly ineffective until now, suddenly sprang into action, tasked with rescue and emergency medical care.

At this moment, in the skies above Mingdu, Elder Duan was glaring angrily toward the west.

After the explosion subsided, he sensed the faint remnants of the anonymous master's aura, tracing a direct path toward the west.

"He's fled. It was that eighth-level soul armor that shielded him from the explosion," he muttered.

A Titled Douluo holding a ninth-level spear hovered behind Elder Duan, his face etched with deep contemplation. "What a pity we couldn't convince him to join the Mingde Hall," he said.

Another Titled Douluo wielding a ninth-level longsword sighed helplessly, saying, "It's regrettable that we failed to recruit him."

Soon, the group of experts gathered in the royal palace hall.

"You useless bunch! Can't even handle a trivial task! What good are you to me?" Emperor Xu Tianran sat on his dragon throne, his expression as dark as a storm cloud, his icy gaze sweeping over everyone present.

During the explosion in Mingdu, he was in this very hall, ready to activate the palace's protective barrier. However, the blast didn't reach the palace, so he didn't bother activating it. The devastation across Mingdu, however, didn't concern him in the slightest.

The experts in the hall lowered their heads, too intimidated to respond, standing still as if rooted to the ground.

...

"The difficulty in crafting eighth-level soul tools is more than ten times that of seventh-level ones. I may have been too hasty," said Shui wuyá, sitting cross-legged in the ninth layer of Slaughter Hell, looking at the failed half-finished soul tool in his hands, shaking his head with a rueful smile.

He had aimed to make a breakthrough to eighth-level soul engineer in one go, but only after attempting to craft it did he realize how challenging it truly was.

"Why are you making soul tools, Wuyá?" asked Shui Yuánchén, the Lord of Slaughter Hell, who was standing behind Shui wuyá, his expression tinged with perplexity.

In the history of the Shui family, which spanned ten thousand years, while soul tool development was a key focus, none of the direct bloodline family members studied soul tools. Their lineage was strong, with the best training resources, so their priority was to strengthen themselves. Only the offshoot branches dedicated significant effort to crafting soul tools.

"Uncle, my fourth Ice God Trial requires me to create a ninth-level soul tool," Shui wuyá replied with resignation.

"What?!" exclaimed Shui Yuánchén in shock.

When Shui wuyá shook his head, Shui Yuánchén felt a surge of surprise. In all his knowledge of history, he had never heard of the Ice God Trials requiring the crafting of a ninth-level soul tool.

"It's unfortunate that I never studied soul tool knowledge. In this area, I can't be of much help," Shui Yuánchén said with a sigh, feeling a twinge of regret. As a member of the direct line of the Shui family, like Shui wuyá, he had never thought about learning soul tools. Thus, he couldn't provide any guidance in this matter.

"Don't worry about it, Uncle. I have the family's Great Compendium of Soul Tools, and Han Feng, as an eighth-level soul engineer, can assist me," Shui wuyá replied, trying to reassure him.

"That's good to hear," Shui Yuánchén said, feeling his regret ease somewhat. Yet, at the same time, he was struck by a sense of nostalgia. "Perhaps the Shui family's development of soul tools over thousands of years, leaving behind the Great Compendium, was meant for you," he mused, stroking his beard thoughtfully. It seemed like a piece of a larger puzzle falling into place.

However, Shui wuyá had his own questions. He suddenly wondered about the origins of the Shui family. "Uncle, do you know who our ancestor Shui Bing'er was with when the family was founded? Why isn't there any record in our family history?" he asked, voicing his curiosity. His inherited memories held no clue about this.

Shui Yuánchén's expression grew hesitant at Shui wuyá's question. "A long time ago, about ten thousand years, the family deliberately obscured that part of our history. It has never been mentioned in any of our records. Even the family patriarchs throughout the ages do not know the details," he said.

"However, among the Lords of Slaughter Hell, there's a rumor. It suggests that this person—Shui Bing'er's partner—is someone who cannot be named or even remembered. A figure shrouded in fear and secrecy." Shui Yuánchén's words were tinged with uncertainty, revealing that only the Lords of Slaughter Hell had some knowledge of this mysterious origin, though they couldn't confirm the truth of it.

Upon hearing this, Shui wuyá's mind began to drift toward an outlandish thought—a possibility so bizarre that he found it hard to believe.

(End of Chapter)