DD2 [560-561] (Patreon)

Chapter 560: Su Yu's Plan—Seeking the Ninth Ring

Su Yu's stern questioning echoed in their ears, and Xu Jiujiu and the others lowered their heads in embarrassment.

Xu Jiujiu said with shame, "Young Master Su Yu, it was my fault. I let my mind be bewitched for a moment."

"I was wrong too. I was scared by those dozen deities," Weina said, her tone low and her face full of guilt.

"Sigh, I've lived a hundred years in vain, and I'm still not as bold as you, Young Master Su," Du Busi said with a bitter smile and a shake of his head. "You're right. No matter how strong the enemy is, we have no retreat."

"We have only one choice: defeat them."

"The stronger the enemy, the calmer we must be."

The three spoke in turn. Su Yu's expression eased slightly. "Don't blame me for being harsh."

"Whatever the situation, we must not lose our own composure first."

The three nodded. Xu Jiujiu asked, "Young Master Su Yu, what are your plans next?"

Weina and Du Busi also fixed their eyes on Su Yu.

Su Yu pondered. "First, we must support the Dou Ling Empire."

"We're currently at a disadvantage. Every bit of strength is precious and must be maintained."

"Second, we must mobilize the strength of the entire continent, unite as one, and resist the external enemy."

"I hope the three great empires and the Body Sect can work with our Ice God Palace to call on soul masters across the continent to join together and resist the Holy Prison Plane."

"If possible, I want to bring the soul beasts in as well."

"Soul beasts?"

The three were a bit surprised.

Su Yu nodded. "Soul beasts aren't weak. They're a help we can't ignore."

"Under a toppled nest, no egg remains intact. I believe there are wise ones among the soul beasts too."

"Reasonable, but the rift between soul beasts and human soul masters won't be easy to bridge," Xu Jiujiu said with concern.

Soul beasts and soul masters joining hands?

If Su Yu hadn't said it, she would have thought it pure fantasy.

"I'll negotiate this myself. I believe that facing a species-level crisis, these soul beasts can, to a certain extent, temporarily set aside old grudges," Su Yu said.

Xu Jiujiu and the others looked at each other, still lacking confidence.

But since Su Yu said so, they could only try to believe it.

After all, if even Su Yu couldn't do it, they certainly couldn't.

"Next—and most importantly—we must be vigilant and not allow the Holy Prison Plane to descend any further!"

Pointing toward the distant Mingdu City, Su Yu said, "Our top priority right now is to prevent the claws of the Holy Prison Plane from taking even half a step beyond Mingdu."

"Otherwise, the situation we face will only grow worse."

Wiping out the Holy Prison Plane in one stroke was unrealistic.

With their current strength, it was almost impossible.

Delaying the descent of the Holy Prison as much as possible was the best option.

Xu Jiujiu and the others nodded hard. "Young Master Su Yu, we'll keep a close watch on Mingdu City."

"Not only that, we need to increase our investment in soul tools," Su Yu said, eyes narrowing.

"Soul tools?" Xu Jiujiu and the others were a bit surprised.

"Yes," Su Yu said solemnly. "Truly powerful soul tools can slay gods."

"In sheer number of powerhouses, we can't compare to the Holy Prison Plane. But in terms of technological means, we far surpass them."

"Now is the time to play to our strengths and avoid our weaknesses."

"Our Holy Slayer Palace will devote itself to researching more powerful, advanced soul tools. So I need the full support of the three empires."

"No problem. Whatever Holy Slayer Palace needs, my Star Luo Empire will spare no effort," Xu Jiujiu agreed without hesitation.

"Our Heavenly Soul Empire as well!" Weina added decisively. This was no time to hold back.

Facing a powerful enemy, their interests were already bound together—shared glory, shared loss.

"Good!" Su Yu said lightly, a sharp light flashing in his eyes.

…

Everything proceeded in an orderly fashion as Su Yu had arranged.

With the help of Su Yu and the others, the Dou Ling Empire finally stabilized.

Led by the Ice God Palace, the former three Douluo empires and the Sun-Moon Empire called on more soul masters to defend their homes and country.

For a time, the response was overwhelming.

Soul masters across the entire Douluo Continent mobilized and waged a protracted war against the Holy Prison Plane.

The two sides fought countless battles around Mingdu City and within a hundred miles of its surroundings, with wins and losses on both sides.

Without a full descent, the Holy Prison Plane failed to gain much of an upper hand against the united powers of Douluo Continent.

The war entered a stalemate.

In the main camp, hands clasped behind his back, Su Yu stared at the battle map before him, deep in thought.

Fresh from battle, forces from all sides gathered in the command tent.

Compared to a few months ago, the tent was much more crowded.

Besides the three great empires, the Sun-Moon Empire, the Body Sect, and Shrek—

The Clear Sky Sect and other sect leaders who had Titled Douluo were also present.

In this small tent gathered the elite of the human world on Douluo Continent.

"Everyone, our struggle with the Holy Prison Plane is in a lull."

"On the surface, we're not at a disadvantage, but in the long run, the situation is not optimistic."

"After many great battles, our strength keeps being worn down. But more and more powerhouses of the Holy Prison Plane are descending."

War brings death.

If too many powerhouses die, it injures Douluo Continent's foundation and weakens its world power.

Moreover, the scattered baleful resentful qi also attracts the descent of the Holy Prison Plane.

In some sense, their current situation could even be called dire.

"Alliance Leader, what do you mean?" Xu Jiujiu asked softly.

Everyone looked to Su Yu.

"I can't let this stalemate continue," Su Yu said gravely. "I intend to seek my ninth soul ring and break through to the Titled Douluo realm."

"The battles here will have to be temporarily entrusted to you all."

After many battles, Su Yu felt acutely that his strength was insufficient.

Although Hai Bodong could handle the deities currently descended, more senior envoys kept appearing.

Facing those high-level envoys at the peak quasi-god level, Su Yu could no longer crush them as easily as before.

Generally, three or four peak quasi-god envoys working together could hold Su Yu at bay.

This filled him with a strong sense of crisis.

If he didn't increase his strength quickly, as more Holy Prison powerhouses descended, their side might collapse like a landslide.

"But if you leave now, the battlefield here might fall apart!" Weina couldn't help saying.

Chapter 561: Na'er, I Need You

"Yes, Alliance Leader—if you leave, who will stop the Dark Envoy and the others?"

Everyone echoed.

There was no helping it—Su Yu was simply too important to the allied army.

Currently, four senior envoys of the Holy Prison Plane had descended.

All four were peak quasi-god level.

If Su Yu hadn't held the four at bay alone, how could the Douluo coalition have lasted until now?

If Su Yu left now, losing his combat power would cause the front to collapse immediately.

Others might be able to go, but Su Yu was truly indispensable.

Seeing everyone talking over one another, Su Yu raised his hand and pressed down gently.

"Please, be at ease. I've already made arrangements."

"I've sent word to notify my Ice God Palace's Second Priest and Grand Guardian, Mu Wu."

"After I leave, they will take my place."

"With the Second Priest's strength, stopping the Dark Envoy and the others won't be a problem."

"What?" Everyone was shocked. The Ice God Palace had hidden powerhouses?

They all knew Mu Wu, but they had never even heard of a Second Priest.

Was this unseen Second Priest really that strong?

"Alliance Leader, is that true?" Du Busi couldn't help asking.

Add in a Second Priest, and wouldn't the Ice God Palace have five Ultimate Douluo?

That terrifying?

How were they supposed to compete as the Body Sect?

No wonder they'd been suppressed for thousands of years!

Good grief—if not for the Holy Prison Plane's descent, who would have imagined the Ice God Palace had such fearsome power?

The others clicked their tongues in secret.

They'd thought the Ice God Palace's foundations were already deep enough, and now they were told they were still underestimating them?

They'd actually hidden away a Second Priest—a super powerhouse who could fight many at once.

It had to be said, many powerhouses were dumbfounded. The Palace had hidden itself too well.

"At a time like this, I'm in no mood to joke. It's naturally true," Su Yu said with a shrug and a light smile.

"In that case, we're relieved. Alliance Leader, go without worry. Once you grow stronger, we'll be even less concerned," said a powerhouse from a hidden sect with a smile.

"Indeed, indeed. Your further breakthrough is our good fortune!"

…

With compliments all around, the tent was harmonious.

After the meeting dispersed—

Only members of the Ice God Palace, Shrek Academy, the Clear Sky Sect, and other allied forces remained.

"Dean Yan, I have a Dragon Pill that may help you break through to Ultimate Douluo. But if you break through with this pill, you'll likely have no room for further progress," Su Yu said to Yan Shaozhe.

With the enemy pressing, Su Yu wouldn't be stingy with a Dragon Pill.

Yan Shaozhe's strength was still too weak.

Though a peak Douluo, he could only handle eerie creatures, not even scratch the envoys—far inferior to Zhang Lexuan.

Better to make use of him—after breaking through to Ultimate Douluo, he could join with Zhang Lexuan to barely hold off a low-level envoy.

Yan Shaozhe smiled with relief. "To break through to Ultimate Douluo is fortune enough. How would I dare ask for more?"

He had forced his way to peak Douluo; with limited talent, he could never reach Ultimate in this life.

Su Yu giving him a chance made him overjoyed.

"In that case, this Dragon Pill is yours," Su Yu said, taking out a pill and handing it to Yan Shaozhe.

Yan Shaozhe accepted it solemnly, face full of joy.

This was a ticket to Ultimate Douluo!

After thanking Su Yu, he hurried off to refine the pill, excited for the chance to break through.

"Picked up a bargain, that one," Tai Tan muttered, curling his lip.

If not for the urgent situation, how could such a chance have fallen to Yan Shaozhe?

In the end, they were short on manpower.

"Senior Tai Tan, want to pop two of them? Might push you straight to the quasi-god realm!" Su Yu said with a grin.

Tai Tan had also broken through to Ultimate Douluo and now had demi-god-level cultivation.

With his deep foundation, he could block a mid-level envoy without falling behind.

"No need. I won't be using them," Tai Tan said, waving his hand.

With the Holy Prison Plane's invasion, the world will had already relaxed its suppression.

He would recover his higher realm sooner or later; why rely on Dragon Pills?

Su Yu chuckled, unconcerned.

Tai Tan and Niu Tian were special—their original realms had been higher and merely suppressed.

Now, as the world will gradually loosened its suppressive force, Tai Tan had recovered to peak demi-god, with combat power on par with a quasi-god.

Niu Tian had even recovered to peak quasi-god.

Niu Tian alone could hold off several envoys, taking a lot of pressure off Su Yu.

Otherwise, with so many Ultimate Douluo on the other side, how could Douluo Continent have held?

Thinking of the situation, Su Yu grew solemn. "Senior Niu Tian, I must entrust things here to you after I leave."

"I suspect the Holy Prison Plane hasn't shown its full hand and is plotting something. I feel very uneasy."

"This time, I intend to raise my strength to the utmost in one go. For a short while, I won't be able to look after things here."

"Go without worry. We're here," Niu Tian nodded. "I'll protect Dong'er and the others."

"Then I'll trouble you, Senior," Su Yu said with a nod. He looked to Wang Dong'er and the others. "While I'm gone, none of you are to be reckless—especially no charging ahead."

"Especially you, Mingli and Dong'er. Stay in the rear. Do you hear me?"

Su Yu worried most about those two.

One only knew how to rush, the other was lawless.

Called out by name, Wang Dong'er pouted, and Di Mingli snorted and turned her head away.

Being named in public made them feel they'd lost face.

Su Yu ignored their protests. Those two needed knocking into line.

"Ju Zi, after I leave, you're in overall command. I'm putting the Ice God Guard and the Holy Slayer Army under you."

He trusted Ju Zi's capability.

"Yes, Hall Master!" Ju Zi said solemnly, feeling the weight of responsibility—Su Yu's trust in her.

"Do well," Su Yu said, patting her shoulder, hands folding behind his back.

With everything arranged, he could leave at ease.

…

Half a day later, Mu Wu and Mo Wuliang arrived at the camp.

Seizing the moment, Su Yu left the command tent.

Stepping into the air, he reached into his robe. A silver scale shone with radiant light.

He caressed it lightly; it felt cold, carrying a rhythm like life itself.

Su Yu extended his spirit. A wisp of intent traveled with the scale, drifting far away.

At the Lake of Life, in the space beneath the lake, a pair of violet eyes snapped open.

A murmured whisper flowed into her heart.

"Na'er, I need you…"

In an instant, the violet eyes flared brilliantly, divine light blazing…