Douluo: I am the True Master

Moreover, Jing Hongchen found it hard to believe that Xuan Zi could survive such a devastating attack unscathed. Even if he had survived, he must have suffered severe injuries. 

Though this battle hadn't resulted in a complete victory, Jing Hongchen felt they hadn't come out at a loss either. 

Before leaving, Jing Hongchen cast a deep glance at Xiao Ding. That slippery guy might be troublesome, but he likely wouldn't interfere with the war on their side. 

Seeing Jing Hongchen truly depart, Xiao Ding let out a sigh of relief. Fighting against someone of unparalleled strength was incredibly stressful. Having already died once, Xiao Ding had no intention of engaging in unnecessary battles. 

"Let's see if this Taotie Douluo is dead," Xiao Ding muttered to himself as he flew toward Xuan Zi. 

Just like Kong Deming, the first thing Xiao Ding noticed about Xuan Zi was how completely charred he was. 

Forget about clothes—under such high-temperature explosions, only garments made from Level 9 soul-guided materials could possibly remain intact. 

Additionally, all the hair on Xuan Zi's body had been burned away. 

But these weren't the worst of his injuries. Xuan Zi's eyes were closed, and his body had reverted from its martial soul-empowered state to its normal condition. Besides being covered in soot, his body was also encrusted with chunks of dirt, scorched by flames. 

However, Xiao Ding could sense life still emanating from Xuan Zi. His limbs were intact, and there was no sign of him losing a soul bone, which would have caused him to plummet from his status as a Limit Douluo back to a Soul Emperor at Level 89. 

That said— 

Xiao Ding glanced at Xuan Zi's lower body. A man's happiness was irreparably lost. That area, being particularly fragile, had not only been completely stripped of hair but had also turned into charred remains, beginning to flake off bit by bit. Just looking at it made Xiao Ding feel a pang of sympathy in his own lower regions. 

Still, Xiao Ding recalled that Xuan Zi didn't seem interested in women, preferring instead to indulge in food and drink. Presumably, even if he woke up, he wouldn't complain too much—or so Xiao Ding thought. 

Upon further reflection, Xiao Ding realized this wasn't really his problem. After all, it was Xuan Zi's choice to take on two opponents head-on. 

At this moment, people from the Star Luo Empire flew over, likely having noticed the absence of combat and come to investigate. 

Though Xiao Ding didn't particularly care for Xuan Zi, as fellow Limit Douluos, he couldn't allow the other man to be humiliated. He casually tossed a piece of clothing over Xuan Zi's lower body before turning to face the newcomers. 

The person who arrived was none other than Xu Tianxing, the highest-ranked fighter of the Star Luo Empire. 

"Lord Tian Ding, what happened here!?" 

Seeing the horrific scene, Xu Tianxing instinctively exclaimed in shock. 

Although Xu Tianxing had been idling during the battle, he had fulfilled his duty by coming to assist without allowing the unparalleled fighters to interfere in the regular battlefield. Thus, with no guilt, he recounted the events of the battle. 

Upon hearing that the Sun Moon Empire had gone so far as to simultaneously detonate ten Level 9 soul-guided cannon shells at close range to create such a cataclysmic phenomenon, Xu Tianxing couldn't help but suck in a breath of cold air. 

"The Sun Moon Empire is utterly ruthless. Lord Tian Ding, you must be careful in the upcoming battles," Xu Tianxing warned anxiously. 

Xiao Ding nodded indifferently. Wasn't that obvious? Knowing the enemy might resort to mutually assured destruction, how could anyone not prioritize survival? 

After all, Xiao Ding had already died once. 

As for why both of them ignored Xuan Zi lying unconscious on the ground, they each had their reasons. 

Though beast-type martial souls no longer provided as significant a physical enhancement advantage to soul masters after reaching the Soul Sage level, they still endowed users with immense vitality. During his brief inspection earlier, Xiao Ding had noticed that Xuan Zi's condition was gradually improving. 

Mm-hmm, except for the parts that were completely destroyed. 

Xuan Zi, with his tough skin and thick flesh, now felt pain all over his body. The burning sensation was particularly excruciating. 

Though the combined detonation of ten Level 9 soul-guided cannon shells rivaled the power of Kong Deming's strongest Silver Moon Divine Light Wave, unlike the continuous ray attack of the latter, the destructive force of the cannon shells diminished significantly after the initial blast if one managed to withstand it. 

Learning from Mu En's experience, Xuan Zi hadn't chosen to resist head-on. Instead, he immediately converted his soul power into a thick layer of earth-element armor to shield himself, allowing the shockwave from the cannon shells to crash into him. 

Yet, as Xuan Zi had anticipated, the power of the ten Level 9 cannon shells was overwhelmingly terrifying. In an instant, the defensive barrier he had formed was incinerated, and his body was severely scorched. 

Xuan Zi, of course, didn't simply wait to die. At the last moment, he activated his True Body, maximizing his defenses while channeling the Taotie bloodline to attempt absorbing the attack. 

The result? Xuan Zi was gravely injured, falling directly out of his True Body state. Moreover, his stomach now burned intensely. 

Staring up at the clear blue sky, Xuan Zi, still dazed from the explosion, muttered, "I'm… still alive?" 

At this moment, Xiao Ding and Xu Tianxing approached him. 

Xiao Ding seemed to recall something amusing and smiled kindly. "Yes, you survived, Taotie Douluo. Also, congratulations—the surgery was successful. You're now a lovely girl." 

??? 

Xuan Zi's entire body ached, so he didn't catch the joke. However, as he regained some clarity, he quickly realized something was missing. Hastily lifting his shirt, he checked on his "comrade." 

Reality was cruel. Though Xuan Zi wasn't interested in women, he was still a man! 

"I… I… this…" 

Xuan Zi's mouth opened and closed several times, but in the end, he didn't know what to say. Looking at Xu Tianxing, who also appeared somewhat bewildered, it seemed that only Xiao Ding knew this secret. 

Catching Xuan Zi's gaze, Xiao Ding chuckled. "Lord Taotie, you should hurry back to recover. If a powerful healing-type soul master treats your injuries, there might still be a chance to restore what's lost." 

Xiao Ding's words snapped Xuan Zi out of his daze. Grateful, he nodded at Xiao Ding before remembering to ask about the details of the earlier battle. 

Xu Tianxing seemed to understand something, his expression turning strange, but he dared not speak up. After all, this was a scandal involving a Limit Douluo. He valued his life too much to spread rumors. 

Besides, Xuan Zi had suffered this fate while fighting for his empire. It wouldn't be right to gossip about it. 

When Xuan Zi learned that his opponent had also been severely injured but had lost his Level 10 soul-guided device, he felt a slight sense of relief. 

Though his own sorry state was painful to behold, knowing the other side had fared worse eased his mind. 

However, upon examining the chaotic state of his internal organs and the damage to his body, Xuan Zi's mood instantly soured again. 

Though Xuan Zi was rash, he wasn't stupid. In his current state, continuing to fight recklessly would surely cost him his life. With no other choice, he bid farewell to Xu Tianxing and returned to Shrek Academy to recover.

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