DD2 [550-551] (Patreon)

Chapter 550: The Holy Slayer Army Takes Its Post, Ju Zi Seeks Revenge

"Excellent. My Ice God Palace's Ice God Guard and the Holy Slayer Army will arrive in the coming days."

"I hope everyone can integrate your forces quickly and make ready for battle."

Su Yu nodded as he spoke.

Everyone voiced their assent and returned to their respective camps to begin preparations.

…

…

Three days later!

 The Ice God Guard arrived.

Two days after that, the Holy Slayer Army finally reached the Mingdou Mountain Range.

In the Holy Slayer Army, Ju Zi wore full armor. Her heroic bearing was striking—there was more than a little of a female war god about her.

"Reporting to the Hall Master, Ju Zi at your command."

Her tone was sonorous, her movements crisp and clean.

Su Yu chuckled. "Not bad. You've got spirit."

Having been tempered in real combat, the Holy Slayer Army looked completely reborn.

Calling them battle-hardened elites would not be an exaggeration.

The Holy Slayer Army numbered fifty thousand; the Ice God Guard had likewise reached fifty thousand.

Now, Su Yu held a force of one hundred thousand in his hands.

Both the Ice God Guard and the Holy Slayer Army were units of exceptional combat strength.

Every member of the Ice God Guard was a soul master, and none were weak. They also trained in combined-assault formations—two thousand Ice God Guards were enough to hunt a Super Douluo.

The Holy Slayer Army's individual combat prowess was undoubtedly lower, but every soldier was equipped with soul tools.

The soul tools produced by the Holy Slayer Palace had armed the Holy Slayer Army to the teeth—their fighting power was nothing to scoff at.

With these two elite forces in hand, Su Yu could even vie for hegemony under heaven.

No nation could field a military capable of resisting them.

"Please review the troops, Hall Master!"

Ju Zi saluted.

Su Yu didn't refuse; he personally inspected the Holy Slayer Army, earning a wave of cheers.

Command of the Holy Slayer Army had always been firmly in Su Yu's grasp; not even Ju Zi could compare.

From junior officers up, almost every level had personnel arranged by Su Yu.

Ideological training sessions were regularly scheduled—never neglected.

Everyone in the Holy Slayer Army understood exactly whom they fought for.

The object of their loyalty was Su Yu.

The inspection made quite a stir, even alarming Xu Jiujiu and the others.

Seeing the fully armed Holy Slayer Army, Xu Jiujiu and the rest drew in a sharp breath.

Their soul-tool loadout was no worse than the Sun Moon Empire's most elite soul engineer legions.

And there were fifty thousand of them—enough to sweep aside the Star Luo Empire's million-man army.

"How terrifying!"

A deep awe flashed in Xu Jiujiu's beautiful eyes.

The Ice God Guard alone was frightening enough, yet Su Yu also had another elite force like this in his hands.

Honestly, if she didn't know Su Yu had no ambition to dominate the continent, she'd be losing sleep.

This level of strength already posed a serious threat to Star Luo's rule.

And they had no way to resist.

Who wouldn't panic in the face of that!

 The appearance of the Holy Slayer Army dispelled what little doubt remained.

Whether top-tier individual strength or military might, the Ice God Palace stood at the pinnacle.

For them to lead the alliance was truly deserved!

In the main camp.

Ju Zi, in martial dress, stood before Su Yu. She smiled with gentle charm, her heroic vigor tinged with a softer, graceful beauty.

"Xu Tianran is dead—you knew?"

Su Yu gestured for Ju Zi to sit, took a light sip of tea, and mentioned it casually.

"Now I do."

Ju Zi's hand paused. Her expression remained calm as she lifted her cup of clear tea, took a sip, and said, "Xu Tianran cooperating with Ye Xishui was no different from asking a tiger for its skin. An end like this was only to be expected."

At that, a sliver of relief rose in Ju Zi's heart.

Fortunately, she had chosen Su Yu back then—made the right decision—otherwise today she would likely have gone to the grave with Xu Tianran.

How could she still be at ease like this now!

"You're quite composed." Su Yu smiled, then sighed. "Come to think of it, it's almost funny."

"Xu Tianran escaped death from my hands several times—hard to say his life wasn't tough—yet in the end he died at the hands of the very Ye Xishui he sought to cooperate with. Rather ironic."

"Perhaps that was his fate. Chasing after unrealistic fantasies, descending into madness—backlash was inevitable, sooner or later."

Ju Zi set down her cup and spoke softly.

"True enough."

Su Yu answered offhand, then fixed his gaze on Ju Zi. "Don't you have something else to tell me?"

Ju Zi nodded. "Young Master, I have a request."

"The power of hatred is driving your steps forward. But if you wallow in hatred, you'll eventually hurt others and yourself. Very well…"

Su Yu pondered a moment. "Since you're so impatient, I'll grant your wish. I permit you to take three thousand from the Holy Slayer Army."

"Do what you intend to do. Don't worry about the fallout—I'll cover you."

"Thank you, Hall Master!"

Finally receiving a clear answer, Ju Zi's eyes reddened with excitement.

At last—she could take her revenge with her own hands.

"Don't be in such a rush. On this trip, take along a disciple of the Body Sect as well. He has matters to settle too."

"Hmm?"

Ju Zi was puzzled. "Who?"

Su Yu smiled. "Someone you've met—the Body Sect's Huo Yuhao. He shares your target."

"The same target?"

Ju Zi was curious. "He also has a grudge against the White Tiger Duke's Mansion?"

"More than a grudge—they're practically mortal enemies."

"He… is one of yours, Hall Master?"

A crafty gleam flashed in Ju Zi's eyes. If he weren't one of Su Yu's, how could Su Yu bring him up?

She hadn't expected even the Body Sect to have been infiltrated—Su Yu's layout was truly deep.

"Such a chatterbox. Don't ask what you shouldn't."

Su Yu feigned annoyance and shot Ju Zi a glare.

"Bleh~"

Ju Zi stuck out her pink tongue, lively and playful.

Finally able to take revenge, Ju Zi's mood was soaring.

Su Yu shook his head. "Go."

"Yes, Hall Master!"

Ju Zi rose quickly and headed out of the tent.

She personally picked three thousand soldiers and equipped them with the finest soul tools. In this battle, she would wipe out every force under the White Tiger Duke's banner.

Shake an egg till the yolk breaks; split even an earthworm lengthwise—leave nothing intact.

After Ju Zi left, Su Yu sipped his tea. "Someone, invite Princess Jiujiu to my tent for a talk…"

…

…

Outside Star Luo City.

It was deep night, the bright moon high in the sky.

The White Tiger Duke's Mansion stood proud upon the land. Moonlight fell on its glazed tiles, casting a unique phosphorescent sheen.

Ju Zi was dressed in black, her face masked. At her side stood Huo Yuhao, also clad in black.

"Big Sister Ju Zi, do we act now?"

Huo Yuhao's eyes brimmed with hatred, a faint blood-tinged gleam within.

At last—the day had come. He could finally avenge himself. The excitement was almost uncontrollable.

"Not yet. We wait."

At this critical moment, Ju Zi was far more composed than one might expect.

She stared at the tightly guarded White Tiger Duke's Mansion, her eyes ice-cold.

Chapter 551: Breaking the Duke's Mansion, The Four Dai Sisters

The moon climbed to the treetops; in a blink, it was the small hours.

The night deepened and grew chill.

Ju Zi narrowed her eyes to slits, staring unblinking at the White Tiger Duke's Mansion.

The pre-dawn hours are when men are drowsiest; striking then yields the best effect.

Ju Zi waved her hand and issued the order, "Divine Engine Battalion, ready—fire!"

"Boom!"

"Boom!"

"Boom!"

…

At Ju Zi's command, over a hundred soul-guided cannons fired in unison.

Shell after shell fell like rain, and then—earth-shaking detonations rolled forth.

In an instant, the whole sky lit up. The ground quaked and the mountains shuddered!

"Where's that shelling coming from? Where?"

Jolted awake from sleep, Dai Hao's face changed dramatically.

He rushed out to look. Inside the White Tiger Duke's Mansion was chaos, dust and smoke billowing!

"Not good—enemy attack!"

He reacted at once and hurried to organize a counterattack, but the enemy's assault was far fiercer than he'd imagined.

There was no time to redeploy. Shells from soul-guided cannons poured in as if they cost nothing—complete saturation fire.

Countless people in the mansion had no chance to resist; their bodies were torn apart on the spot, leaving the ground strewn with mangled flesh.

Over a hundred soul-guided cannons encircled the mansion and unleashed blanket fire, scouring the ground with shells.

For a time, the entire White Tiger Duke's Mansion was stunned senseless.

"Boom!"

"Boom!"

"Boom!"

All batteries, full power—another barrage of hundreds of shells.

"Don't save ammunition," Ju Zi said with clenched teeth, eyes fixed on the mansion. "Hit them hard."

Her face was full of grim satisfaction.

She didn't believe that such saturation strikes wouldn't leave the Duke's Mansion reeling.

Soul tools?

 The Holy Slayer Army is least lacking in soul tools.

"Damn it! Who would dare brazenly shell my White Tiger Duke's Mansion like this? Is it His Majesty?"

As figures he knew were erased beneath the blasts, Dai Hao's eyes went blood-red.

Was it necessary—was it truly necessary to go this far!

Your Majesty, can you not tolerate me this much?

Familiar faces turned to blood mist before his eyes. Seeing such carnage, Dai Hao's eyes nearly split with rage.

He never imagined Xu Jiawei would act so ruthlessly, so mercilessly.

To strike this hard—was he not afraid of shaking the army's morale?

When the hare dies, the hounds are cooked!

Such harsh ingratitude—does he not fear chilling the hearts of his subordinates?

 Blood dripped from Dai Hao's heart. As the bombardment raged on, his anger surged uncontrollably.

"Ah!!!"

A shrill scream tore through the night, snapping Dai Hao out of his grief.

"Not good!"

He sprinted toward the source of the cry, face taut with urgency.

"Cease fire!"

After several full salvos, the entire White Tiger Duke's Mansion had become a ruin.

Ju Zi raised her hand, and the Divine Engine Battalion's guns fell silent.

"Tiger Valor Battalion, Dragon Rampant Battalion—advance! Xuanwu Battalion, raise defenses! Divine Engine Battalion, be ready to provide fire support at any time."

At Ju Zi's order, several thousand Holy Slayer soldiers launched a general assault.

The ruined mansion was encircled on all sides, the ground littered with charred corpses and broken limbs.

But Ju Zi didn't relax in the slightest, knowing full well that high-level soul masters are not so easily killed.

The Holy Slayer soldiers began to tighten the encirclement, combing through the ruins.

Not a single clue would be overlooked.

Gradually, they pressed deeper into the rubble, contracting the circle smaller and smaller.

Suddenly, the Dragon Rampant soldiers searching ahead froze, soul-guided ray rifles leveled at a spot with fierce vigilance.

Around them, other soldiers raised their soul tools; metal barrels swung to aim forward.

"Crash!"

From within the ruins came a clatter, as if something were stirring.

Suddenly—boom.

Stones and bricks flew. A figure burst out with a roar.

It was a towering man, disheveled golden hair, a burly build, born with heterochromatic eyes.

He loosed a tiger's roar that shook the eight directions—like the king of beasts bellowing at the world.

In the wake of that roar, dozens more answered.

One figure after another sprang from the pit, each roaring like a tiger, their auras impressive.

"As expected—not dead. Go!"

Ju Zi's eyes narrowed. Watching those figures charge madly toward them, she curled her lip—and then a sky-filling storm of fire converged.

Facing such overwhelming firepower, even with their profound soul power, those figures could not withstand it.

Flames spat from the barrels; bodies were riddled with holes, turned into honeycombs.

"Protect the young masters!"

Several men threw themselves in front of a few youths without hesitation—only to have their bodies shredded by soul-guided rays.

Ju Zi picked at her nails, disdain in her gaze. So what if you're soul masters?

You can fight? So what?

Out here, you need strength and backing.

With a thousand muzzles on you, even a Titled Douluo gets beaten down like a grandson.

Facts proved that before absolute firepower, even soul masters were as fragile as paper.

The Duke's personal guards and enshrined guardians were nothing if not elite.

Some among them had reached Soul Emperor and even Soul Sage level.

But against a soul tool army in proper formation, they didn't even have the chance to get close before they were all reduced to ash.

"You… go too far!"

Dai Hao threw back his head and roared, hair bristling in fury!

He manifested his Martial Soul True Body—a gigantic White Tiger roaring at the world.

He was ready to stake his life.

Ju Zi stared at the massive white tiger, deep hatred flickering in her eyes.

"Senior, if you would."

She spoke to the black-robed man at her side.

He said nothing—his figure flickered, and he appeared before the giant white tiger.

Compared to the Martial Soul True Body, the black-robed man seemed infinitesimal.

But with a light slap, the massive tiger form shattered.

Another slap scattered Dai Hao's martial soul.

A third slap shattered all his meridians and ruptured his dantian.

In just three blows, a top-tier Soul Douluo close to the Titled Douluo realm was crippled outright.

With Dai Hao no longer drawing fire, the rest were far easier to deal with.

After the guards and consecrated protectors lay dead or dying, five figures sank powerlessly to their knees in pools of blood.

Those five were Dai Hao, his wife, and their three beloved sons.

Oh no—among those remaining, calling them the five Dai sisters would be more apt.

"Many thanks, Senior."

Ju Zi thanked the black-robed man.

He shook his head, took one step, and vanished from sight.

Ju Zi slowly lifted her head to look at the five, encircled on all sides. A trace of scarlet flashed in her eyes; her gaze was nothing but cold, murderous intent.