Douluo: Steal Tang San's luck and become stronger!

Long Xiaoyao let out a low roar, completely ignoring the terrifying penetrating wound on his chest that was still bleeding, and suddenly formed a strange hand seal with his hands.

The remaining dark soul power around him suddenly burst into flames as if in a final burst of light, its color changing from pitch black to an ominous dark red, mixing with his blood.

The next moment, he exploded with a "bang", transforming into dozens of dark red blood shadows that were difficult to distinguish from the real ones and whose auras were weak. They shot off in all directions, especially in the direction where the Death God Tower had fled!

Each blood-red shadow carried his faint aura, yet moved with incredible speed, clearly indicating a life-saving escape technique with a high cost.

After using this technique, Long Xiaoyao's true aura instantly plummeted to freezing point, blending into the numerous blood shadows and becoming difficult to distinguish at first glance. However, he also paid a corresponding price—

This further aggravates his already severely injured body, and his cultivation level will likely drop significantly as a result. Without a long period of recuperation and rare and precious materials, it will be extremely difficult for him to recover.

Tang Lan, in his Chaos Ancient Dragon form, coldly stared at the dozens of dark red blood shadows that scattered and fled, as well as the Death God Tower's light that was about to disappear on the horizon.

His massive dragon head swayed slightly, as if weighing his options.

Pursuit?

With his demigod-like abilities, if he truly wanted to capture Ye Xishui or Long Xiaoyao, even with their uncanny escape techniques and tenth-tier soul tools, it wouldn't be entirely impossible. However, it would inevitably require considerable effort and might even force them into desperate measures.

They've resorted to some kind of desperate, mutually assured destruction strategy. Although Dongyang City below is already in ruins, many of their own personnel haven't completely evacuated, and the space isn't entirely stable yet. If a more intense, high-level battle breaks out, the affected area will be difficult to control.

More importantly, through the exchange and perception just now, Tang Lan has gained a clear understanding of Ye Xishui and Long Xiaoyao's strength, methods, and that strange "god-making" plan.

The Holy Spirit Cult has grand ambitions, and its harm extends far beyond a single city or region. While killing these two individuals today may severely damage the Holy Spirit Cult, it may not eradicate its evil legacy.

On the contrary, keeping them alive might allow us to follow the clues and uncover more hidden traces of the evil god's lineage, or even the deeper secrets of the Holy Spirit Cult.

"Don't pursue a desperate enemy; there's plenty of time in the future."

Tang Lan had already made up her mind. The most urgent task at hand was to completely stabilize the situation in Dongyang City, treat the wounded, clear the rubble, and guard against a possible resurgence of the Holy Spirit Cult or other conspiracies. Ye Xishui and Long Xiaoyao.

These are just two relatively large and venomous "snakes" on the front stage. The real "Achilles' heel" and the possible "mastermind" behind the scenes still need to be explored more deeply.

Upon realizing this, the Chaos Ancient Dragon that Tang Lan had transformed into let out a long roar, its sound waves rolling and carrying the majesty of pacifying chaos, spreading in all directions.

He did not pursue any of the blood shadows. The light flowed on the huge dragon body and began to slowly shrink. The towering ancient dragon phantom and the Xuanwu domain also gradually dissipated.

High in the sky, the terrifying energy turbulence began to subside with his will, and the spatial rift, which had not yet fully healed, slowly repaired itself under the self-healing power of the world's laws. Sunlight once again struggled to penetrate the much thinner blood-red clouds, shining down on this ravaged land.

Below, the still-terrified Douling Empire army and Tang Sect disciples saw the terrifying ancient dragon figure begin to recede, while the suffocating blood tower and the powerful enemy had already fled.

Finally, a tremendous cheer erupted, a deafening roar filled with boundless worship and gratitude for the Great Elder who had saved them like a god descending to earth.

Tang Lan transformed back into human form, wielding the Dragon Soul Overlord Spear, dressed in pristine white, hovering in the air. Apart from a slightly pale complexion, his aura remained as profound and imposing as ever.

He gazed intently at the endless deep sea to the south, then swept his eyes across the horizon where Ye Xishui and Long Xiaoyao had fled, before finally looking down at the devastated Dongyang City and the people who looked up at him with hope in their eyes.

"Clean up the battlefield, treat the wounded, assess battle losses, and rebuild the defense line."

Tang Lan's calm yet clear voice reached the ears of every Tang Sect disciple and high-ranking general of the Empire.

"Although the leader of the Holy Spirit Cult has retreated, the evil threat has not been eliminated, and we cannot let our guard down. Zhuge Feng, you will be in charge of the follow-up matters."

"Yes, Elder!"

On a distant high ground, Zhuge Feng suppressed his excitement, respectfully accepted the order, and immediately began to issue a series of commands in an orderly manner.

Tang Lan nodded slightly, and with a flash, disappeared from the spot. The next moment, she appeared in the sky above the core area of ​​Dongyang City. She began to use her demigod power to personally smooth out the most dangerous spatial ripples and dispel the remaining bloody aura of the Death God Tower, laying the foundation for the reconstruction to come.

Ye Xishui, who had fled far away, let out a cold snort of extreme resentment after confirming that Tang Lan had not pursued her.

As she gazed at the surging, boundless essence of blood and soul collected from the battlefield of Dongyang City that day within the core soul-refining furnace of the tower, the madness and greed in her eyes subsided slightly, but her resentment and killing intent intensified.

"Tang Lan... I will remember this humiliation! When I obtain the position of God of Calamity, I will make you, your Tang Clan, and all those who dare to obstruct the Holy Church pay a price a thousandfold!"

She muttered through gritted teeth, controlling the Death Tower as it sped towards a secret base of the Holy Spirit Cult. Although the plan had encountered setbacks, the core "resources" were now in hand; the next steps—the "sacrifice" and the "trial"—had to be put on the agenda as soon as possible.

On the other side, Long Xiaoyao, who barely escaped by using the Blood Shadow Escape technique and revealed his pale true form after merging with a blood shadow, staggered and landed on a desolate mountain ridge.

He glanced back at the direction of Dongyang City, which was no longer visible, and then touched the jade bottle containing the Forgetfulness Pill in his arms. His eyes were filled with exhaustion, struggle, and deep confusion.

He poured out a grayish pill from the jade bottle, stared at it for a moment, and finally, as if he had exhausted all his strength, put it into his mouth and swallowed it with difficulty, along with the lingering taste of blood in his throat.

As the pill entered his stomach, a cool and numb sensation gradually rose from his dantian, spreading to his limbs and bones, and deep into his soul.

The scenes of the recent, brutal battles, Tang Lan's soul-piercing words, Ye Xishui's cold and ruthless telepathic transmission, and the horrific sight of the soldiers who exploded and died in Dongyang City...

Everything began to blur and distort, as if viewed through frosted glass. The colors faded, the sounds receded, and even the pain and guilt that almost tore him apart gradually sank into a hazy grayness.

He leaned against a cold rock, slowly sliding down to sit on the ground, his eyes vacant as he stared at the dim sky, like a sculpture that had lost its soul. The effects of the Forgetfulness Pill were like an invisible tide, slowly but steadily submerging the sharp, painful fragments of his consciousness.

This elixir is considered one of the top-tier evil elixirs created by a peerless alchemy genius within the Holy Spirit Cult, who used countless rare and precious materials to refine it.

It cannot truly erase memories, but it can forcibly distort, blur, and suppress them, sinking specific experiences from a short period of time into the deepest part of consciousness, like covering a bloody wound with a thick layer of anesthesia and isolation. Just before the drug's effects fully took hold and Long Xiaoyao's consciousness was about to fall into a self-protective daze, he forced himself to maintain the last bit of clarity and used the little remaining soul power in his body.

Although the voice was no longer as powerful as before, it still carried clearly throughout the western part of Dongyang City, which was now in ruins and where the blood and evil spirits had not yet dissipated, reaching the ears of every Holy Spirit Cult disciple who was still putting up a last stand or was in a panic.

"All Holy Spirit Cult disciples, cease resistance and immediately evacuate Dongyang City! Head west and retreat at full speed! Those who disobey will bear the consequences!"

The order came abruptly, yet carried an unquestionable authority. The evil soul masters below, who were fighting scattered Tang Sect disciples or Imperial Soul Masters, were initially taken aback.

He immediately sensed the two suffocating auras of Limit Douluo in the sky, one fleeing and the other dissipating, while the demigod pressure belonging to that terrifying existence from the Tang Sect still enveloped the heavens and earth, and he instantly lost all will to fight.

"It is the order of Lord Dragon Emperor Douluo!"

"Quickly! The sect leader and the Dragon Emperor have already retreated!"

"Stop fighting, escaping is the priority!"

Panic-stricken cries rang out among the surviving evil spirit masters.

They were already terrified by the Death Tower's absorption and Tang Lan's power. Now, receiving clear instructions, they were immediately relieved and shook off their opponents, using various swift or unpredictable movement techniques and escape skills, like an ant swarm breaching a dam.

They fled in disarray toward the west gate. Some quick-thinking soldiers, seeing this, also joined the fleeing crowd without hesitation, eager to leave the city that had become a hellish wasteland as soon as possible.

After giving the order, Long Xiaoyao had almost exhausted his last bit of energy.

He glanced at Dongyang City one last time, his gaze complex and unfathomable. Then, his body suddenly shrank and twisted in the dark red blood light and the remaining black mist, transforming once again into a black dragon shadow that was much smaller than before, with dull scales and an unstable aura.

The dragon shadow let out a low, painful groan, daring not to linger for a moment, and struggled to catch up with the faint trail of blood and evil energy left in the air by the Death God Tower as it fled.

Although its speed was far from its peak, it was still much faster than that of an ordinary Title Douluo, and it disappeared into the western horizon in the blink of an eye.

Below in Dongyang City, the clamor of battle quickly subsided as the Holy Spirit Cult and its remnants fled. In the shadows of a relatively intact and well-hidden half-collapsed pavilion, Du Yang and a dozen trusted subordinates held their breath, taking in the earth-shattering battle that had just taken place high above and the subsequent events.

Du Yang, a Soul Douluo powerhouse who had been lurking in Dongyang City for many years, whose ostensible identity was a manager of a certain chamber of commerce but whose real identity was the head of elite intelligence in the Douling Empire's military, no longer had his usual shrewdness and low profile on his face. Instead, his face showed extreme shock and deep complexity.

Tang Lan, the sect leader of the Tang Sect, fought alone against two Limit Douluo who had been famous for over a hundred years. One of them even used a legendary tenth-order soul tool to elevate his strength to a level close to that of a demigod... Such a battle completely transcended the scope of mortal warfare.

The black hole that tore the sky apart, the golden dragon flames that burned everything, the blood-red pillar of light that devoured life... every scene was deeply imprinted in his mind, and even now, recalling them still makes his scalp tingle and his heart pound wildly.

"That kind of power... I'm afraid even if those super Douluo ancestors above level 95 in the Imperial Hall were to come in person, in such a battle, if they were to be accidentally grazed by the aftershocks, they would either die or be maimed."

Beside Du Yang, a Soul Saint deputy with a sharp face and a calm demeanor lowered his voice and sighed with lingering fear, expressing the sentiments of everyone present.

Du Yang nodded silently. After a long while, when the signs of the Holy Spirit Cult and the remaining garrison in the city were becoming more and more obvious, and the shouts of battle subsided further, he took a deep breath, and his eyes became sharp and firm again.

He turned to face his equally shocked but disciplined subordinates and gave a deep command.

"The time has come! Issue my order: all members of the 'Dark Scale' squad, immediately proceed with the planned third action! Primary objective."

To receive the main vanguard of the Empire and the Tang Clan experts who had entered the city through the East Gate.

Provide them with detailed intelligence on remaining defensive positions, suspected strongholds, and the escape routes of the fleeing enemy within the city! Secondly, monitor the movements of remaining resistance fighters within the city and guide our troops to quickly seize key nodes!

He paused, his tone becoming more serious, his gaze sweeping over everyone.

"Listen carefully! Our mission is to eliminate the remaining enemy forces, restore order, and support our allies! As for the ordinary soldiers and Soul Masters who have given up resistance in the city, we will mainly take them prisoner and hand them over to the follow-up troops for disposal."

As for the unarmed civilians within the city who did not participate in the resistance, no harassment, looting, or harm is permitted! Anyone who disobeys this order, regardless of reason or status, will be severely punished according to military law, and will be executed immediately! Understand?!

"Yes! Your lord!"

The group of Soul Masters from "Shadow," the most elite Soul Master group in the Douling Empire, responded in unison, their faces solemn.

They were well aware of Du Yang's strict military discipline and understood the importance of winning over the people and maintaining order in this situation. The Holy Spirit Cult could commit wanton slaughter, but they represented the orthodoxy of the Douling Empire, and were there to reclaim lost territory and appease their people; they must not engage in banditry and tyranny.

The order was quickly relayed through special channels. Soon, the "Dark Scale" intelligence agents, who had been hiding throughout Dongyang City and disguised as various people, sprang into action like ghosts awakening in the night.

Their familiarity with every street and alley, and every building in the city, played a vital role at this moment.

Someone quietly appeared, guiding the Imperial Vanguard and Tang Clan disciples who were cautiously advancing and clearing the streets, helping them avoid possible traps or hidden enemy strongholds; someone quickly drew a concise map of the city's situation.

They marked the possible routes for the routed troops to gather or escape; some also took the initiative to maintain order in local areas, appease the frightened civilians, collect scattered weapons, and guard small groups of surrendered enemy troops.

With these "eyes" and "guides," the advance of the Douling Empire's army and Tang Sect disciples into the city was greatly accelerated, and their efficiency multiplied. Many skirmishes that might have otherwise erupted into small-scale urban warfare were averted.

The areas that caused additional casualties were brought under peaceful control, and many remnants of the army who had hidden themselves and were preparing to resist stubbornly or cause sabotage were discovered, surrounded, persuaded to surrender, or eliminated in advance.

Without the Holy Spirit Cult as their core and strongest fighting force, the morale of the remaining defenders of Dongyang City had long since collapsed. Apart from a small number who followed the Holy Spirit Cult and desperately escaped through the west gate, the majority of the remaining troops...

Faced with the overwhelming power and methodical advance of the imperial army, and the propaganda of a policy of "no killing for surrender and lenient treatment of prisoners," many chose to lay down their weapons and emerge from their hiding places. (End of Chapter)