Douluo Continent: My Martial Soul is the Black Dragon, I am the Lord of the Gods

Chapter 272: Dark Night Raid
……

Night fell quietly, like a huge black curtain slowly enveloping the entire royal hunting grounds.

The moonlight, like water, spilled onto the trees surrounding the camp, casting dappled shadows. The occasional call of an owl from afar added to the silence and mystery.

All the teams participating in the qualifying rounds have arrived at the Royal Hunting Grounds and are resting in their respective camps. The Royal Knights patrol the area, so there's no need to worry about safety.

Outside the camp, since we hadn't seen each other for almost a month, it was a kind of long-awaited reunion, so we all gathered here for a meal.

Unlike at the Lake of Life, here Xuanming doesn't need to lift a finger; he can just wait to eat.

The moonlight cast a silvery frost on the open ground at the edge of the camp, and the campfire crackled and popped, sparks rising from time to time, drawing brief but brilliant trails in the air.

Xuanming was sitting on a flat rock with a large plate of freshly cut roasted meat in front of him. It was unusual that Dugu Yan and the others did not come over to feed him.

Just then, a light footstep sound came from afar and stopped not far from him.

Xuanming turned his head and saw Huowu and Shuibing'er standing side by side.

Huo Wu's long, fiery red hair shimmered intensely in the moonlight, and a hint of barely perceptible unease flickered in her eyes.

Shui Bing'er had long, icy blue hair that cascaded down her shoulders like a waterfall. Her face was aloof, but there was a different emotion in her gaze as she looked at Xuan Ming.

Upon seeing the newcomers, Dugu Yan and her group immediately became alert.

During the time Xuanming was away, these two went to the Heavenly Dou Royal Academy to look for him quite often.

A woman's intuition tells her that these two are not innocent!

"What is it?" Xuanming asked.

Huo Wu glanced at the clearly hostile looks in Dugu Yan and the others' eyes, then turned her gaze to Xuan Ming and said softly, "Xuan Ming, can I talk to you alone?"

"Cultivation?" Xuanming asked.

"Or something else?"

“Yes, we have them all,” Huo Wu said.

Xuanming paused for a moment, then picked up the large plate of roasted meat in front of him. "Let's go."

As he spoke, Xuanming walked towards the grove of trees in the distance, and Huowu and Shuibing'er quickly followed.

"Your Highness, keep an eye on them and don't let them come over and join the fun," Xuanming said without turning his head.

Upon hearing this, Dugu Yan and her group, who were planning to secretly follow, stopped and gave up on eavesdropping.

If Xuanming didn't say anything, it meant he tacitly agreed that they could eavesdrop; if he did, they wouldn't be able to listen even if they wanted to.

Entering the forest, the surroundings are blocked by dense foliage, and the moonlight can only filter through the gaps to cast dappled spots of light, creating a tranquil and mysterious atmosphere.

Xuanming placed the large plate of roasted meat on a big rock and then took out several stools from his storage soul tool.

"Sit down and talk. If you haven't had a late-night snack, have some."

Huo Wu and Shui Bing'er exchanged a glance and slowly sat down.

Looking at the steaming hot roasted meat in front of them, the two of them were not too reserved and picked up small forks to take a bite.

“If it’s just a thank you, that’s unnecessary. I don’t like hearing it; it’s too annoying,” Xuanming said first. “And if it’s about the situation or anything like that, forget it. It’s even more annoying. I’m on break now and don’t want to talk about serious matters.”

Huo Wu hesitated for a moment, then asked, "Have you heard that the finals will be held in Wuhun City...?"

Xuanming glanced at her. "Didn't you understand what I just said?"

"I'm worried about you," Huo Wu said urgently. "You have no idea how many people want to harm you! Even though you joined the Spirit Hall, you've offended so many people..."

"Did I offend you too?" Xuanming interrupted.

Shui Bing'er gently shook her head, "Xuanming, don't misunderstand. Our family has always disdained participating in the slave trade, but now some of the seven major families are starting to make moves, and the situation is complicated. We are worried that if this continues, there will be big trouble."

Huo Wu continued, "Moreover, the Spirit Hall suddenly decided to hold the finals in Spirit City, and there are rumors that you are getting close to them... Everyone is speculating whether this is a big conspiracy."

"So?" Xuanming raised an eyebrow.

Shui Bing'er lowered her voice even further, "Why don't you... withdraw from the competition? Lay low for a while?"

Since the location of the finals was announced, all sorts of rumors have been circulating. Her family, having learned of her contact with Xuanming, had already sent a message telling her to keep her distance; this was trouble her family couldn't afford to offend.

“I told you, I don’t want to talk about these things.” Xuanming put down his fork.

"But you're in real danger right now! We're warning you!" Huo Wu said anxiously.

"You helped me before, and I don't want to just watch you go and die."

No one has ever offended nearly 70% of the nobles of the Heaven Dou Empire, plus the seven major families, like Xuan Ming... If he escalates the auction incident during the finals, giving the Spirit Hall an excuse to use it against him, then even if he joins the Spirit Hall, he will not escape endless pursuit! Given the Spirit Hall's style, they would never break ties with so many people for Xuan Ming's sake, and they might even use him as a bargaining chip!
The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School wouldn't allow itself to become a target of public criticism for the sake of Xuanming, and even Poison Douluo couldn't stop so many people from chasing after him.

This is a dead end!
"Thank you for your kindness, but I'm really fine." Xuanming's tone softened. "I understand your concerns, and I have my own solutions. Please, for the sake of the cultivation methods I taught you, stop saying these things, okay?"

"But……"

Shui Bing'er gently tugged at Huo Wu's sleeve and shook her head.

“Since you’ve made up your mind, we won’t say any more,” she said softly. “But please be careful.”

"I know. Is there anything else?"

"It's gone!" Huo Wu was a little annoyed. She picked up her fork and took a big bite of the roasted meat, feeling frustrated.

I tried to give him some advice, but he didn't appreciate it!
“Now that you’ve finished speaking, I, as a friend, would like to say a few words as well,” Xuanming said solemnly. “If the Spirit Hall expands in the future, you’d better… surrender now. I can act as a mediator for you.”

"The Spirit Hall is expanding?" Shui Bing'er was taken aback. "What do you mean?"

"You should know that the kingdoms and duchies on the border of the two great empires have been basically infiltrated by the Spirit Hall, right?"

"Mm." Shui Bing'er nodded.

Since the current Pope ascended the throne, border skirmishes have significantly decreased. The once aggressive Star Luo Empire has also fallen into internal strife, especially the nations under the Heavenly Dou banner, almost all of which have...

Shui Bing'er's expression changed slightly. "You mean, the Spirit Hall is going to start a war?"

"Perhaps. I'm not sure, but given the current situation, if we don't submit to the Spirit Hall, we're likely doomed." Xuan Ming said calmly.

"As a friend, I suggest you consider this. Or you could feign allegiance first, so that you can cooperate from the inside and outside later. At least you can leave a way out for your family and avoid dying without knowing why."

Shui Bing'er's expression froze. "They really..."

“I’m not exaggerating,” Xuanming interrupted. “Think about the Haotian Sect—the number one sect in the world—and what has become of them? How much better off can you possibly be?”

Huo Wu and Shui Bing'er were speechless for a moment, their hearts filled with horror.

Who doesn't know what happened to the Clear Sky Sect? If the Spirit Hall truly has such ambition and strength, their family's fate is indeed in grave danger.

“If you are willing, go to the Papal Palace.” Xuanming stretched out his hand, and as his soul power surged, two pendants condensed—ice as the outer shell and flames within.

"Take this as proof of your access to the back door."

Huo Wu and Shui Bing'er stared at the two unique pendants, their eyes filled with struggle.

“This is just one option,” Xuanming said softly.

After hesitating for a moment, the two finally reached out and took it, carefully putting it away.

They understood that this was not just a token, but potentially the very lifeline for their family's future.

"Won't this thing... melt?" Huo Wu asked with some concern.

Shui Bing'er is an ice-attribute soul master, so carrying ice with her is naturally not a problem, but she is a fire-attribute soul master.

“No, just inject a little soul power into it every now and then. It’s a way of keeping in mind that you shouldn’t forget this,” Xuanming said.

"If it melts, there's nothing I can do."

Shui Bing'er slightly curved the corners of her mouth, "Alright, let's just say it's like... thinking of you all the time?"

Xuanming's expression froze. He was about to explain when he suddenly felt a pang of fear. Almost instinctively, he instantly expanded his senses to the limit and finally caught a faint dark aura rapidly approaching!

Without any hesitation, Xuanming summoned the Blood Spear, and a crimson light flashed!
With a resounding clang, the blood spear precisely parried a dark dagger aimed straight at the heart.

Their eyes met, and a hint of surprise flashed across their eyes simultaneously.

Xuanming stared at the black-clad figure before him, who seemed like a ghost, and was astonished by the man's ability to launch a sneak attack. If it weren't for the Ice and Fire Dragon Crown, which greatly amplified his perception, and the fact that he also possessed dark attributes, his heart would have already been pierced through!

"It's been almost eighty years, and you're the first person to survive my clutches." A chilling sigh came from beneath the black robe.

"Is that so?" Xuanming's eyes narrowed, and a burst of white light suddenly erupted.

The black-robed figure wielding the dark dagger seemed completely unaffected, disappearing back into the surrounding darkness.

"who!"

Once they came to their senses, Huo Wu and Shui Bing'er instantly completed their Martial Soul Possession, and their ice and fire auras exploded outwards.

They cautiously observed their surroundings, their hearts filled with fear.

They were completely unaware of the sneak attack that had just taken place!
If they were the target, they would be dead by now!

(End of this chapter)