soul land: Huo Yuhao Inheriting Centipede Immortal

Xu Guoan was at a disadvantage right from the start, but he did not panic. He remained calm and composed.

"Villain! Don't underestimate me!"

"Seventh Soul Skill—True Form of the Sun!"

A blazing sun rose above the Prince's residence, signaling to the outside world that something was wrong. The fiery sun also became a rallying symbol. Under the command of Xu Guoan's deputy, the Prince's guards rushed to the battlefield to support him as quickly as possible.

The power emitted by the True Form of the Sun melted the countless sunflower petals launched by Eunuch Gao and gave Xu Guoan an opportunity to counterattack.

Immediately afterward, Xu Guoan, in his Martial Soul True Form, activated a soul tool he had developed himself—an eighth-level soul device known as the Solar Armor-Piercing Cannon.

Fighting with soul tools rather than relying solely on soul skills—that is the way of a Soul Engineer.

The Solar Armor-Piercing Cannon was a powerful, single-target soul cannon known for its armor-breaking strength. It could even be used to assault fortified defenses. When paired with his Solar Martial Soul, it gained additional burning effects. Though only an eighth-level device, its destructive power was comparable to that of a ninth-level soul tool. Even ordinary Title Douluo would struggle to resist it.

One could say this soul tool was a specialized weapon for the Solar Martial Soul.

The True Form of the Sun even sprouted something resembling a cannon—almost like a... "ding-ding"—which transformed into a turret and unleashed a scorching red blast of soul power toward Eunuch Gao.

As a soul body, Eunuch Gao was immune to physical attacks, but soul power attacks—especially ones imbued with the searing energy of the sun—were something he had to defend against. In fact, the Solar Martial Soul's power directly countered him to some extent.

However, Eunuch Gao wasn't unarmed.

The Blood Slaughter Orb floated up and unleashed a wave of blood light that clashed with Xu Guoan's attack, causing both to dissipate.

Countering is always relative. In truth, all counters are simply the strong suppressing the weak.

If Xu Guoan's Solar Martial Soul had reached an ultimate attribute level, Eunuch Gao wouldn't have dared show up. But with his current level, he stood no chance in the face of the Blood Slaughter Domain—he was merely a lamb awaiting slaughter.

"So what if you activated your Martial Soul's true form? My Blood Slaughter Domain specializes in restraining true forms!" sneered Eunuch Gao in his heart.

Xu Guoan was wholly engaged in the fight and didn't realize that the blood fiend energy was corroding his True Form of the Sun.

Then Eunuch Gao attacked again.

"Blood Fiend Weapon Manifestation!"

Using the power of the Blood Slaughter Orb, he condensed various weapons out of blood fiend energy—swords, spears, halberds, axes, and more—all rained down on Xu Guoan.

These weapons didn't harm with their physical form, but through the blood fiend energy they carried. This was Eunuch Gao's personal version of the "Treasures of the King."

Xu Guoan hastily defended himself.

"Your Highness, we're here!"

Just as the battle was reaching its climax, Xu Guoan's deputy finally arrived with the guards. A thousand-strong elite soul engineer corps came to support him, invigorating Xu Guoan.

The true strength of soul engineers lay in group warfare. This elite unit consisted of soul masters who were also trained soul engineers, able to operate soul tools in coordinated combat.

With them by his side, Xu Guoan even had confidence in fighting a Super Douluo.

Meanwhile, troops from the city were also arriving. Reinforcements were on their way.

If he could just hold out a bit longer, Xu Guoan was confident he could slay Eunuch Gao right there.

"Take down the traitor with me! Charge!"

"Fight alongside His Highness! Kill!"

"Kill! Kill! Kill!"

Eunuch Gao sneered, showing no intention of retreating. "The one thing I fear the least—is group combat!"

He had dared to attack the Prince's mansion alone because the Blood Slaughter Domain gave him the ability to face many and keep fighting indefinitely.

The more people died, the stronger the domain grew. The stronger the domain grew, the more powerful he became as a soul tool spirit.

The battle raged for a full hour. Xu Guoan felt his soul power nearing exhaustion, and he had long since deactivated his True Form. The corrosion of the blood fiend energy had damaged even his physical body, and it had invaded his soul.

By now, the city's military forces had also arrived, turning the Prince's mansion into a full-blown battlefield. Nearby buildings were completely destroyed.

Casualties among the troops were countless.

And yet, Eunuch Gao was still going strong—fighting harder with each passing moment, showing no signs of fatigue.

The blood spilled by soldiers only served to nourish him. He could even feel the Blood Slaughter Orb slowly strengthening as it absorbed more blood.

But no one had the presence of mind to investigate this strange occurrence. In fact, everyone caught in the Blood Slaughter Domain was beginning to lose their sanity.

That's because the blood fiend energy also invaded the minds of enemies. Once it reached the brain, it would destroy their reason.

Nearly all the soldiers on the battlefield had been mentally corrupted. Now, they existed only to fight and kill, stopping only when every last drop of blood was spilled.

Worse still, the domain was continuing to expand, drawing in more people—including those within the palace and even civilians outside.

Without exception, they were all swept into the madness, falling into a frenzy of bloodshed and violence.

The only one barely retaining his sanity was Xu Guoan. He suddenly regained clarity and realized something was deeply wrong.

"This man is an evil soul master! This domain is unnatural! He's controlling all the soldiers! We can't keep fighting like this…"

But the next second, an even denser wave of blood fiend energy surged into him, shattering his final threads of rationality.

His eyes, which had just cleared up, were now once again filled with a blood-red glow.

"AHHHHH!!!"

It was hard to tell whether it was a cry of pain—or a war cry.

Xu Guoan rejoined the battlefield, abandoning both soul skills and soul tools. He now fought using only his raw strength, charging at Eunuch Gao.

Eunuch Gao chuckled disdainfully.

"When you still had your mind, I had to be cautious. But now that you're corrupted by the blood fiend energy, how could you possibly threaten me?"

He casually raised his hand and slapped Xu Guoan, sending him flying. Yet Xu Guoan seemed immune to pain and, with a roar, charged at him again.

In Eunuch Gao's hands, Xu Guoan was now like a mere pet.

Just as Eunuch Gao was about to finish Xu Guoan off, he paused and looked in a certain direction.

He sensed someone's arrival—an ally.

Black robes fluttered.

A shadowy figure appeared within the Blood Slaughter Domain, completely unaffected by it. Only one person could enjoy such immunity—the true master of the Blood Slaughter Orb: Huo Yuhao.

However, it wasn't Huo Yuhao's true body that arrived, but a puppet he was controlling—a returning Death God Envoy that had just absorbed soul rings.

"Eunuch Gao, I didn't expect you to act so quickly. I was planning to give you a hand," came a raspy voice from beneath the black robes. Huo Yuhao seemed impressed by Eunuch Gao's swift efficiency.

"You've come, Brother Hao. I just didn't want you to be troubled by such trivial matters," Eunuch Gao smiled warmly, stepping forward enthusiastically.

"You're considerate. I appreciate the effort."

"It's my duty to share Brother Hao's burdens," Eunuch Gao replied. Then he asked, "The Prince of Yongning and the Southern Province are under control. Please give the final order."

"Well then…" Huo Yuhao glanced at the frenzied Xu Guoan, baring his zombie fangs with a grin.

"…Let's eat first~"

An urgent message traveled 800 li in haste.

A piece of intelligence was delivered to the imperial capital, landing on the desk of the Sun-Moon Emperor. Even in his unconscious state, the Emperor was "shocked awake."

"The Southern Province's White Lotus Sect has rebelled. Prince Yongning has fallen in battle. His entire household has been massacred. Numerous towns in the Southern Province have been seized by the White Lotus Sect—the situation is completely out of control..."

When the Sun-Moon Emperor read aloud the report with his hoarse voice, all the court officials trembled and lowered their heads.

Everyone could sense the grim and murderous atmosphere.

Some officials responsible for Southern Province affairs knelt immediately and confessed their guilt.

Regardless of whether they were directly involved, they were undoubtedly responsible—at the very least for failing in oversight.

As a usurper emperor, the Sun-Moon Emperor was deeply calculating. Though seething with rage inside, he showed little outward emotion. Yet he was by no means a benevolent ruler. In his heart, he had already sentenced the White Lotus Sect to death.

However, what occupied his mind more was a different question:

Why did the White Lotus Sect dare to rebel?

 Who gave them the courage?

With such a massive incident, the Crown Prince and several other princes also attended the court session.

Most of the attendees looked horrified and furious.

Only the Crown Prince and the Third Prince remained relatively composed.

Xu Tiannan (the Crown Prince) had already seen the intel beforehand. He was the one who had the Emperor awakened to handle state affairs.

With a rebellion on hand, regardless of whether it could be suppressed, Xu Tiannan didn't want the blame. A rebellion during his regency would be seen as a bad omen and would certainly complicate his path to succession.

So, Xu Tiannan decided to return power to his father.

As for the Third Prince, he was actually allied with the rebelling White Lotus Sect. He knew better than anyone what was going on. There was no reason for him to be surprised.

Moreover, Huo Yuhao (the Third Prince) had no real interest in the throne, and his "detached" demeanor made him appear upright and unshaken.

But Huo Yuhao keenly sensed that the Sun-Moon Emperor, sitting above, was observing both the princes and the officials.

Clearly, the Emperor suspected that the rebellion was connected to certain individuals at court. He likely thought they were making moves while his health was failing.

Having seized the throne through a coup himself, the Emperor was naturally vigilant against anyone trying to replicate his path and overthrow him.

The most likely suspects, of course, were the princes. His gaze lingered longest on Xu Tiannan and Huo Yuhao.

After all, their reactions had differed from everyone else's.

Either their minds were extremely well hidden—or they were involved.

Compared to the Crown Prince, the weaker Third Prince seemed more likely to employ such a strategy.

Other ministers were also under suspicion, but less so—after all, even if the Emperor died, a new emperor would quickly be chosen from the royal family. The throne would never go to an outsider.

Finally, the Emperor spoke. He set the report down and said in a deep voice:

"We'll discuss other matters later. My lords, what are your thoughts on how to handle the White Lotus Sect's rebellion?"

In other words: deal with the rebels first—then settle scores later.

Faced with the Emperor's question, both civil and military officials had only one answer:

The White Lotus Sect must die!

 How dare such lowly scum rebel?

 Why not try ascending to the heavens while they're at it?

Once the Sun-Moon Empire's vast machinery began to move, its terrifying power was laid bare for all to see.

The Empire didn't even mobilize its top-tier defense force, the Hand of the Nation. It merely dispatched subordinate divisions of the Five Great Corps to suppress the rebellion in the Southern Province.

The Fourth Prince volunteered to go to war.

The Fifth Prince, unwilling to be outdone, also joined the campaign.

The other princes did not participate.

Interestingly, the Sixth Prince privately rallied a group of noble youths to help the Fourth Prince, effectively boosting his support. The Fourth and Sixth Princes were allies.

The Emperor approved the request of both princes.

But the princes had their own calculations. They believed this rebellion would be an easy way to earn merit—after all, the heavy lifting would be done by the Empire's main forces.

The Fourth Prince already had close military ties. This campaign would help him deepen those connections.

Having fought together, it would be easier for him to build a loyal faction within the army.

The Fifth Prince's sudden involvement annoyed the Fourth Prince—he saw it as a blatant attempt to compete for influence in the military.

Indeed, the Fifth Prince had his own plans. He had recruited many rogue soul masters and needed a platform for them to showcase their talents.

Outwardly, the two princes smiled and pledged brotherhood, agreeing to work together to quash the rebellion.

In truth, both wished the other would die on the battlefield.

Throughout this, neither Xu Tiannan nor Huo Yuhao expressed many opinions—at most, they provided some logistical support.

Xu Tiannan clearly had some hidden agenda, but no one knew what he was planning.

Huo Yuhao simply had no interest in getting involved.

He was, however, considering whether to implicate the Holy Spirit Sect.

After all, the Death God Envoy who founded the White Lotus Sect had once belonged to the Holy Spirit Sect, and the White Lotus Sect had originally been one of its branches.

Throwing dirt on the Holy Spirit Sect could cause them real trouble.

Currently, the Sun-Moon Empire's leadership was aware of the Holy Spirit Sect's existence but underestimated its power. They believed the Death God Envoy and the White Lotus Sect had merely gone rogue.

If the Holy Spirit Sect were truly powerful, why would those members betray it?

Thus, few in the imperial court paid attention to the Holy Spirit Sect. They were more concerned with how to divide the spoils of the Southern Province after the dust settled.

In the end, Huo Yuhao remained silent.

If the Third Prince brought up the Holy Spirit Sect, it would certainly attract the Empire's attention—but not their full strength. Once the Sect caught wind, they might retaliate directly against the prince.

Now was not the right time to confront the Holy Spirit Sect.

After the court session, Huo Yuhao didn't leave the palace. Instead, he paid his respects to the Emperor—after all, he had a role to maintain.

Some officials even speculated that with the Emperor awake again, the Third Prince might finally see a reversal of fortune—that he had made the right bet.

And indeed, that seemed to be the case. After learning how Huo Yuhao had cared for him during his illness, the Emperor greatly reduced his suspicion and even began to favor him slightly.

After a display of "fatherly love and filial piety," Huo Yuhao left the palace, allowing the Emperor to rest.

"There's still over a year until the next Soul Master Tournament. Let's hope the Sun-Moon Empire enjoys itself in the meantime."

The news of the White Lotus Sect's rebellion spread across the entire Empire almost instantly, as if someone had pushed it from behind the scenes.

People thought the common folk in the Southern Province were about to suffer greatly.

But in reality, the opposite was true—the people were living better lives.

Those truly suffering were the nobles who refused to cooperate or submit.

Even Zhang Lexuan, who was currently in the Southern Province, hadn't yet realized the full scale of the rebellion. The towns in the province remained peaceful and stable.

Against this backdrop, Zhang Lexuan and Huo Yuhao continued their investigations in secret—taking even greater care to remain hidden.

Partly to avoid another encounter with the evil soul masters, and partly to prevent discovery by the White Lotus Sect, as they sought to uncover its secrets.

"Yuhao, let's join the White Lotus Cult!"

To make it easier to stay hidden during their investigation, Huo Yuhao and Zhang Lexuan had bought a small courtyard house.

But unexpectedly, Zhang Lexuan came to Huo Yuhao one day and said something that left him completely stunned.

Huo Yuhao was baffled.

Wait—what? Did Zhang Lexuan secretly start cultivating the White Lotus Cult's techniques?

Apparently not.

Zhang Lexuan remained cautious as always—there was no way she would rashly cultivate unfamiliar methods. If she wanted to join the White Lotus Cult, she clearly had a plan.

"Based on our investigation, the White Lotus Cult isn't very strict with vetting new believers. So there's a high chance we can infiltrate them and blend in. Only by getting inside the cult can we investigate deeper secrets and track down the Death Envoy," Zhang Lexuan explained.

"I see… As expected of our senior sister." Huo Yuhao was impressed.

What incredible strategic wisdom!

No risk, no reward, right?

Naturally, Huo Yuhao chose to follow Zhang Lexuan's lead.

"For Brother Beibei, I'll infiltrate the White Lotus Cult too!"

"Thank you, Yuhao."

"No need. It's the least I can do."

Zhang Lexuan's affection for him increased a little more.

Today, Huo Yuhao's character remained steady and true.

With a clear plan, the two of them successfully joined the White Lotus Cult. One had to admit, the cult was shockingly lax in its recruitment. All it took was attending a sermon, listening to some prayers, collecting a doctrine manual, and registering your name to be considered a full member.

Moreover, based on one's talent, strength, and background, members would quickly be assigned fitting positions—and sometimes even get rewards up front.

A Soul Sage and a Soul Douluo joining the cult caught the attention of the regional leader, who summoned them personally.

They met right inside the church.

Zhang Lexuan was initially quite tense.

But the leader turned out to be surprisingly friendly. He was a Soul Douluo and formerly the lord of a city. Despite his status, he acted more like a warm family member toward them, with no suspicion in his tone—just a kind and gentle demeanor.

Through this meeting, they quickly learned about the current structure of the White Lotus Cult.

The cult's organizational framework was devised by "High Eunuch Gong."

Due to its growing size, Huo Yuhao's original hierarchy no longer sufficed.

At the top of the White Lotus Cult was the Bright King ..

But since the Bright King had not yet descended into the world, his role was symbolic—a focal point for the faith.

Currently, the real power resided with two Bright King Envoys: the Soul Envoy and the Body Envoy. These two claimed to have received blessings from the Bright King and had attained enhancements of the soul and body, respectively. Both were Titled Douluo-level powerhouses.

All miracles attributed to the Bright King were made manifest through these two envoys.

Beneath them, the cult was divided into three main components:

General Followers:

 These ordinary believers were called White Lotus Cultists. They were granted techniques and doctrine, and followed the cult's teachings to devote themselves wholly to the Bright King's coming. They believed that upon death, they would ascend to heaven with the Bright King and enjoy eternal bliss.

 The cult divided its territory into various regions. Each region was overseen by a "White Lotus Parent," who managed the believers like a family. All cultists were considered their "children."

 The regional leader Huo Yuhao and Zhang Lexuan met was one such "Parent." To become a Parent, one needed not only strength but also reputation and moral standing.

 Also, the cult practiced celibacy, promoting the idea of forsaking one's "small family" in favor of the greater collective. Having offspring was discouraged, since uninitiated descendants would be left to suffer in the mortal world while the devout ascended.

White Lotus Army:

 Soul masters with combat ability joined this army as Heavenly Soldiers of the White Lotus, fighting for the Bright King and receiving generous benefits. In the afterlife, they would be granted divine titles and continue serving the Bright King.

 Bright King's Attendants (明王侍):

 These mysterious devotees were said to be the ones closest to the Bright King himself. Their exact responsibilities were unknown, but their position was the most revered.

Together, these three groups—cultists, army, and attendants—formed the core of the White Lotus Cult.

The leader didn't hide anything from them.

All the information Huo Yuhao and Zhang Lexuan had struggled to uncover over a week came straight from the leader's mouth. He viewed them as his new "children," part of the cult's big family.

This intel shocked Zhang Lexuan.

She realized the White Lotus Cult wasn't just a religious group—it had a standing army!

Was this… treason?

The Sun Moon Empire couldn't even be defeated by the Star Luo Empire, so how could the White Lotus Cult dare to rebel?

Zhang Lexuan was baffled but deeply shaken.

What she didn't know was that the White Lotus Cult wasn't planning a rebellion—they had already started one.

The local leader was considerate enough to ask them about their preferred positions. Naturally, they expressed interest in joining the White Lotus Army.

In Zhang Lexuan's view, the cultists were just basic followers—the army was the real core. As for the mysterious Bright King's Attendants, it was best to stay away from them for now.

More importantly, the army was personally commanded by the two Bright King Envoys—making it the best way to get close to them.

One of them could very well be the Death Envoy.

Let's not forget, Zhang Lexuan's true mission wasn't to bring down the White Lotus Cult—it was to find the Death Envoy and uncover Beibei's whereabouts.

The rest? That was the Sun Moon Empire's problem.

Once their intent was confirmed, their application was quickly approved and sent up the chain of command.

And they didn't have to wait long.

The next morning, both Huo Yuhao and Zhang Lexuan received confirmation—they had been accepted into the White Lotus Army.

Not just that—they were appointed as unit commanders.

Zhang Lexuan would command a 1,000-person force, while Huo Yuhao would lead 500 troops. None of the soldiers were weaker than Soul Elders, and there were even Soul Kings and Soul Emperors among them.

Then…

They were promptly sent to the front lines to confront the Sun Moon Empire.

Standing on the battlefield, staring at the approaching enemy army, Zhang Lexuan fell silent.

She came to find the Death Envoy.

 How did this turn into a war with the Sun Moon Empire?

Was it still possible to quit?

Clearly… it was too late.

The battle had already begun.

The Sun Moon Empire's vanguard had reached the southern provinces and launched an official campaign to suppress the White Lotus Cult. The cult responded by deploying the White Lotus Army.

But the result was shocking.

The White Lotus Army won!

Every one of their soldiers was at least a Soul Elder and had cultivated the cult's techniques. They were fearless in battle and equipped with soul tools. After destroying the Prince's Mansion, the cult had acquired a vast stockpile of military supplies.

With such a force, they were elite troops by any imperial standard.

The Sun Moon Empire's vanguard?

Had no chance.

 August 2, 2024 | Author: A Pitch-Black Drag

The first battle between the White Lotus Sect and the Sun Moon Empire ended in a crushing victory for the White Lotus Army, taking everyone by surprise and leaving jaws dropped to the ground.

Doubt began to rise in everyone's hearts:

How could a mere rebellious religious sect field an entire army composed of Soul Emperors? And led by a commander at the Soul Douluo level?

After the confusion came fear.

Something was very wrong!

 This time, the White Lotus Sect truly had the strength to shake the foundations of the Sun Moon Empire!

When the battle report reached Mingdu, every member of the Sun Moon Empire's high command turned pale. Even Xu Tiannan wore a solemn expression.

An army of Soul Emperors wasn't scary on its own, nor was a Soul Douluo-level commander. What was terrifying was the fact that the White Lotus Sect possessed an entire army of ten thousand Soul Emperors!

This time, the Sun Moon Emperor was truly enraged. He slammed the battle report onto the desk and no longer concealed his murderous intent.

"Good! Good! They actually managed to develop a ten-thousand-man army of Soul Emperors within the empire's borders. How did they do it? How were they able to do this? Even the Hand of National Defense can't compare! Truly impressive!!! Cough, cough, cough—"

Overcome with anger, the emperor coughed up blood on the spot. Fortunately, he didn't lose consciousness from sheer fury.

Seated upon the imperial throne, the Sun Moon Emperor's sharp gaze swept across the officials below like a blade. The civil and military officials all lowered their heads and trembled.

The emperor was now certain that someone within the court had been supporting the White Lotus Sect. Otherwise, how could the sect have cultivated such an army? Did they think training and sustaining such forces was easy?

Even the Sun Moon Empire didn't possess a ten-thousand-man Soul Emperor army!

Such a force was more than capable of shaking the empire's rule—possibly even toppling it altogether.

After all, no one knew if this army was the White Lotus Sect's entire strength or merely the tip of the iceberg.

Fortunately, the White Lotus Army was under-equipped with soul tools. Had they been fully outfitted, the empire wouldn't just be thinking about quelling a rebellion—it would be planning defense and retreat strategies.

No wonder the emperor was both shocked and furious.

Even Xu Tiannan was shaken. If the White Lotus Sect really succeeded in its uprising, then what would become of his years of planning and patience? Would Mingdu be renamed Gotham, and he become the Joker?

A ten-thousand-strong Soul Emperor army was unprecedented in the entire Douluo Continent.

If any of the original Douluo Three Nations had fielded such a force, the Sun Moon Empire would never have dared to probe their borders.

There were only tens of thousands of Soul Emperors across the continent—perhaps over a hundred thousand including the artificially enhanced ones on the Sun Moon continent. But not all were suited or willing to join military ranks.

The Sun Moon Empire's most elite force, the Hand of National Defense, included five Beast King Legions. These elite legions had a minimum requirement of four-ring Soul Ancestors and included many advanced soul masters—but each legion had only 300 soldiers.

Only the five legion commanders, all Titled Douluo with Level 9 Soul Tool Master status, were beyond comparison—even for the White Lotus Army.

Below them were the Six Divisional Armies, each 500 strong, with a minimum requirement of two soul rings. These were stationed across the empire and were the primary targets of recruitment efforts by the Fourth and Fifth Princes.

The Hand of National Defense was untouchable, being absolutely loyal to the emperor—any attempts to win them over would be tantamount to treason.

To suppress the White Lotus Sect, only one of the Six Divisional Armies had been deployed—the Southern Army, which was the closest to the front lines. The Fourth and Fifth Princes were vying for its support.

Further down the hierarchy were the ordinary and local armies, composed mainly of common soldiers. Though greater in number, their combat power was much lower. The vanguard army, led by An Litong and destroyed in the rebellion, was one such force. The Duke of Yong'an, Xu Guo'an, commanded a local army that, while appearing larger, could barely hold its own against one of the Six Divisional Armies.

The empire never placed much value on ordinary or local troops. The former typically garrisoned and cleaned up after battles, while the latter guarded regional areas—limited in real combat strength.

Now, however, the White Lotus Army surpassed even the combined total of the Hand of National Defense and the Six Divisional Armies—and every soldier was a Soul Emperor. Regardless of battle prowess, their sheer presence posed a concrete threat to the Sun Moon Empire.

Especially since they had already proven themselves in battle by annihilating the vanguard army. The White Lotus Army was no rabble.

After the vanguard's destruction, the Southern Army could only set up camp in the distance, awaiting further imperial orders.

The emperor soon issued a command—this time deploying one of the Beast King Legions to aid in the rebellion suppression.

Clearly, the Sun Moon Emperor was now going all in.

A Beast King Legion and a Six Divisional Army combined would be enough to take on the Star Luo Empire.

None of the officials objected—they all knew the urgency. Besides, anyone daring to oppose the emperor now would likely be executed on the spot.

Yet before the Beast King Legion could mobilize, a new piece of dreadful news arrived from the frontlines:

"The legions led by the Fourth and Fifth Princes were struck by the White Lotus Army. Amid the chaos, both princes are missing—status unknown!"

 "The Southern Army resisted the White Lotus Army's assault successfully and remains intact."

Upon receiving this report, the emperor did not react with the same fury as before. After all, two sons were nothing compared to an entire empire.

That the Southern Army remained unscathed was good news. It proved that the White Lotus Army's strength wasn't invincible.

However, the emperor now clearly saw the White Lotus Sect's arrogance and danger. If they dared kill princes today, what was to stop them from assassinating the emperor tomorrow?

So he ordered another Beast King Legion to be deployed.

Only through a thunderous crackdown and the total annihilation of the White Lotus Sect could the empire assert its might and deter future dissent.

If you can't squash the first cockroach, you're doomed to a house full of them.

Then, as if considering something deeper, the emperor issued another decree: the Third Prince was to accompany the army—and be allowed to participate in military decisions.

This command immediately caused a strange ripple across the court.

The Third Prince had finally gained the emperor's favor—it was a signal that he might be in line for the throne.

To be allowed to fight alongside the Beast King Legion and win their loyalty was practically an announcement of crown prince candidacy.

But could the Third Prince use this opportunity to suppress Xu Tiannan and claim the title of Crown Prince?

Xu Tiannan voiced no objection. He said nothing at all—and no one knew what actions he took afterward.

To Xu Tiannan, the emperor's order was irrelevant. If the Fourth and Fifth Princes were both killed due to the White Lotus Army's attack, why would the Third be spared?

Meanwhile, as the Sun Moon Empire boiled with rage and prepared to send two Beast King Legions to crush the rebellion, Huo Yuhao was the first to receive the news—and responded by continuing the music and dancing.

The first battle had been a beautiful victory, boosting the White Lotus Army's morale. Seizing the momentum, they launched a bold offensive on the imperial army's rear.

Though the Southern Army remained largely unaffected, the ordinary troops were devastated—and two imperial princes were eliminated in one swift strike.

The Fourth and Fifth Princes had not been attached to the Southern Army. Instead, they were each assigned command of regular army units by the emperor.

They were thrilled to receive military authority—but didn't get to enjoy it for long.

Before they knew it, they and their forces were shattered by the White Lotus Army.

Two days ago.

On a vast plain near the Southern Province—

The White Lotus Sect had just annihilated a 500-man vanguard unit from the Sun-Moon Empire.

Even though the White Lotus Army didn't have many soul tools, their overwhelming numbers and superior strength made the battle one-sided. The vanguard unit couldn't put up a fight at all.

Five hundred against ten thousand—what did they think this was, Zhang Liao leading the charge?

As expected, the entire vanguard force was wiped out, and all of their equipment was divided up by the White Lotus Army.

The vanguard troops weren't weak either—every soldier was at least a one-ring Soul Master and was equipped with soul tools. Naturally, there was a lot of valuable loot.

After the vanguard unit was eliminated, the White Lotus Army was whipped into a frenzy—and chaos followed.

Some soldiers began clearing the battlefield, others retired to rest and regroup, and a few broke into spontaneous celebration. Only a handful wanted to press the advantage and chase down the enemy.

And here's where the cracks in the White Lotus Army started to show—the lack of proper leadership.

All soldiers only followed orders from their own commander, and the commanders took orders only from the two Great Envoys of the sect. If a commander defected, so would their entire unit.

Still, the White Lotus Sect had managed to cultivate so many Soul Elders thanks to their cultivation methods and teachings. Except for undercover agents like Huo Yuhao and Zhang Lexuan, all commanders practiced these techniques, which kept their loyalty in check.

However, due to the "might makes right" hierarchy, there was no guarantee of military strategy or competence among commanders.

Neither Eunuch Gao nor Huo Yuhao knew much about warfare—and they didn't care. They never intended for the White Lotus Army to replace the Sun-Moon Empire. They let the army grow unchecked.

As long as they kept winning, nothing else mattered.

So after the battle, the various commanders, each acting on their own judgment, ended up fragmenting the army's cohesion.

This, naturally, gave the enemy a chance.

The Fourth and Fifth Princes, hungry for military merit, persuaded the commander of the Southern Army to strike from three directions in a deadly pincer move while the White Lotus Army was still disorganized.

The Southern Army advanced head-on in a solid formation.

The Fourth and Fifth Princes led their respective forces in a flanking maneuver, aiming for a direct assault on the heart of the enemy. It was risky, but success meant maximum glory.

The plan was solid.

Then—

Just as the Southern Army made a move, the Death God Envoy suddenly appeared, rallying a massive number of White Lotus troops for a direct confrontation.

Though the commanders had different agendas, they were all willing to follow the Death God Envoy.

The Southern Army hesitated. Instead of attacking, they switched to a defensive stance to resist the White Lotus charge.

Meanwhile, the attacks led by the Fourth and Fifth Princes progressed smoothly—or so it seemed—quickly breaching the seemingly "undefended" rear of the White Lotus Army… until they encountered a Soul Master wielding the Northern Blood Rose.

The two princes rushed forward.

Their entire corps was shattered.

They themselves were captured—and instantly refined.

On the main battlefield, the Death God Envoy didn't gain a major advantage either. The Southern Army commander was a Title Douluo, and their forces were equipped with powerful soul tools, including stationary soul cannon shells. Since the Death God Envoy didn't want to expose his true power, he quickly withdrew.

And that's when the military report was sent to Mingdu.

In short, it was another major White Lotus victory—plus the deaths of two imperial princes. The sect's prestige now echoed across the entire Sun-Moon Empire.

They had evolved from "arrogant rebels" to "dangerous rebels."

Even Huo Yuhao hadn't expected the Fourth and Fifth Princes to walk straight into his hands.

Even dragons and tigers shouldn't have messed with him!

As for the princes' deaths—there was nothing more to say. Once they entered the battlefield, their fate was sealed.

Two waves of dragon qi approached—how could Huo Yuhao not accept such a gift? The death of two Sun-Moon princes meant nothing to him.

Originally, his plan was to have the Death God Envoy lead the army against the Southern Corps, drawing away Zhang Lexuan. Meanwhile, Huo Yuhao's real body would sneak in and decapitate the Fourth and Fifth Princes.

In the end, the two princes delivered themselves. Huo Yuhao had no choice but to "sign for the delivery." They didn't even have a single Title Douluo with them.

So, for saving the rear guard and slaying the two despicable ambushing princes—both Contra-level—Huo Yuhao was promoted directly to Grand Commander, becoming a hero in the White Lotus Army.

In the army, Contra-level Soul Masters were Grand Commanders; Soul Saints were Commanders.

Zhang Lexuan was naturally already a Grand Commander.

Huo Yuhao had originally been a Commander—now, he was elevated to Grand Commander.

In fact, once both of them had been sent to the front lines, Zhang Lexuan had warned Huo Yuhao in advance.

"Don't rush to the front during battles."

So the two stayed in the rear, "stably (slacking) advancing (fishing)," and didn't even participate in the looting of the 500-man vanguard force.

With only 500 soldiers to loot, Huo Yuhao and Zhang Lexuan never got their turn.

Later, when the Death God Envoy arrived and launched the attack on the Southern Army, all Grand Commanders—including Zhang Lexuan—were led away.

Zhang Lexuan was successfully drawn away, but unfortunately didn't uncover the Death God Envoy's secret. The Envoy vanished soon after the battle.

When Zhang Lexuan returned, she heard the "good news" that Huo Yuhao had killed two princes and been promoted.

"Yuhao, what happened?!" Zhang Lexuan was shocked. We agreed on laying low—how did you end up earning merit?

 And killing two princes!

"Senior Sister, I didn't want this either. They insisted I was a Commander and came after me. I had no choice but to fight back!" Huo Yuhao replied with a wronged expression.

Zhang Lexuan could only sigh—those two princes had brought it on themselves.

She knew Huo Yuhao's power well. His extreme element and absurd soul ring setup meant he could go toe-to-toe with a Contra. He was just slightly weaker than her.

As for those Sun-Moon Contras pumped full of drugs—no way they could beat him.

"Yuhao, don't do that again. If things get bad, just run—leave the White Lotus Army if you have to. The soul tools of the Sun-Moon Empire are dangerous. Your safety comes first." Zhang Lexuan's main concern was still his safety.

"Mm-hmm, Senior Sister. I understand."

Both of them were using false identities. They hadn't even revealed their martial souls, so as long as they stayed cautious, there was little risk of being exposed.

Zhang Lexuan used an attached soul bone, Silver Vein, as a fake martial soul. Its standard mode didn't have strong effects, and she could endure it. Her combat strength mainly came from soul tools, so no one questioned her.

Same for Huo Yuhao—he used the Northern Blood Rose as an external soul bone. His combat relied on soul tools too.

Their soul tools were obtained from recent raids on Spirit Hall branches and from White Lotus reward distributions.

Though the tools weren't well-matched to them, they had no choice.

But they didn't have to worry about exposure. Most White Lotus commanders were in the same situation—using cobbled-together soul tools.

"Next, I'll continue investigating the Death God Envoy. Yuhao, we must be extra cautious!" Zhang Lexuan gave a final warning.

"I understand, Senior Sister. I'll be careful!" Huo Yuhao promised seriously.