Douluo Dalu II: The Peerless Tang Sect

Chapter 356 Xu Tianran, you're so filial!

At this moment, all the participating teams had arrived. Below the main stage on the north side of the arena, a group of soldiers with special uniforms, who were clearly extraordinary, were advancing at high speed. These soldiers numbered about five hundred and were all around thirty years old. Each of them was composed and had a calm demeanor. Judging from the soul power fluctuations emanating from their bodies, these people were at least Soul King level.

Their discipline was exceptional; they moved forward without making a sound, their steady, orderly footsteps creating a beautiful and pleasing sight for all who watched them.

This was the elite of the elite, Zhu Ziyang's first impression of these soldiers.

The group of soldiers stopped below the platform, and then quickly dispersed like the ribs of an umbrella, surrounding the platform from all sides. Only fifty people remained standing on the steps in front of the platform. It was these fifty people who made Zhu Ziyang realize the origin of the soldiers.

After a series of metallic clanging sounds, the fifty soldiers instantly transformed into a series of soul-guided artillery emplacements. The eerie muzzles of the cannons all pointed outwards, and these emplacements exuded a chilling aura. Many spectators who were close to the podium but whose cultivation was insufficient had already turned pale. These soul-guided artillery emplacements were at least level six fixed-mount soul-guided cannons, and the ten heavy cannons in the very center, which looked even thicker and more terrifying, were level seven fixed-mount soul-guided cannons.

Besides the fifty soldiers who remained in place, the other soldiers who had scattered and were guarding a corner of the platform also released their own soul tools, forming a series of rather strange formations. These formations puzzled Zhu Ziyang, but he could clearly realize that they were not simple. A formation composed of a group of Soul Kings could at least rival a Soul Saint. Was this the Sun Moon Empire's research on soul tools? Truly extraordinary.

"The Sun Moon Royal Soul Master Corps, one of the core armies of the Sun Moon Empire, is indeed worthy of its reputation after seeing it today!" Zhu Ziyang murmured, revealing the origin of these soldiers.

The Sun Moon Empire's army is mainly composed of ten Soul Master Corps, among which the five most powerful Soul Master Corps are known as the Guardians of the Nation: the Fire and Wind Soul Master Corps, the Terror Claw Soul Master Corps, the Evil Monarch Soul Master Corps, the Imperial Dragon Soul Master Corps, and the Royal Soul Master Corps. The Royal Soul Master Corps is undoubtedly the most powerful of them all.

The Sun Moon Empire's Soul Master Corps typically has around 500 members. The selection criteria for ordinary Soul Master Corps members are three-ring Soul Masters or Level 3 Soul Masters. The five major Soul Master Corps members, which hold the title of Guardians of the Nation, have even higher requirements. They accept Soul Masters or Level 4 Soul Masters and above. The Royal Soul Master Corps is even more stringent, requiring members to be Soul Kings or Level 5 Soul Masters.

Because the selection criteria for soldiers are strict enough, it is no wonder that the Royal Soul Master Corps is so powerful. At the same time, their treatment is naturally the best, and they bear the heaviest workload. They are responsible for the protection of Mingdu and the Sun and Moon Imperial Palace. In a sense, if Zhu Ziyang and his group want to assassinate Xu Tianran, then the Royal Soul Master Corps is an obstacle.

The commander of the Royal Soul Master Corps is a level nine Soul Master, directly under the Emperor's command. Their appearance signifies the imminent arrival of the Emperor of the Sun Moon Empire.

Sure enough, Zhu Ziyang saw a magnificent royal procession escorting a dragon palanquin toward the platform from afar. The procession was made entirely of gold, and the luxurious dragon palanquin was pulled by thirty-two magnificent horned-scaled horses, which led the procession. Behind them followed guards and a large number of officials of the Sun Moon Empire dressed in splendid attire.

The imperial carriage stopped in front of the platform. Two maids standing on it lifted the curtain embroidered with gold and silver lotus patterns, and then a wheelchair was pushed out, in which sat a handsome young man.

Upon seeing the young man, Zhu Ziyang immediately recognized him as Xu Tianran, the Crown Prince of the Sun Moon Empire. A strange smile appeared on his face as he said to Ma Xiaotao beside him, "Sister Xiaotao, the old emperor of the Sun Moon Empire shouldn't be dead yet, right?"

"Yes! According to intelligence, the Sun Moon Empire has not officially announced the death of the late emperor or the succession of the new emperor, so the old emperor should still be alive," Ma Xiaotao replied.

"That's interesting," Zhu Ziyang chuckled. "To be the crown prince riding in a dragon carriage, haha, that's incredibly filial!"

Pushing Xu Tianran's wheelchair was a stunningly beautiful woman in palace attire. Zhu Ziyang felt she looked somewhat familiar, and after a moment's thought, he realized who she was: the Crown Princess of the Sun Moon Empire, Ju Zi, whom he had met once before, and the future Empress and War Goddess.

Zhu Ziyang stroked his chin. If this person were to be subdued, he would be a good helper for Zhang Lexuan. After all, their ultimate goal was to unify the continent, and unifying the continent required the cooperation of the army. Naturally, the person who commanded the army was also essential. Ju Zi was able to obtain the title of Empress War God in the future, so her ability to command troops must be quite high.

It's unclear how deeply she's bound to Xu Tianran.

Accompanying Orange was another person, who was also an old acquaintance: Jing Hongchen, the head of the Mingde Hall of the Sun Moon Royal Soul Master Academy, a very important figure in the Sun Moon Empire, and a level nine Soul Master!

"Greetings, Regent! Greetings, Regent's Consort!" As Xu Tianran and Ju Zi appeared, all the officials present, except for the Royal Soul Master Corps who were on guard, knelt down, bowed to Crown Prince Xu Tianran, and shouted.

Hearing these shouts, Zhu Ziyang's mind raced. The Regent? So the old emperor isn't dead yet. Tsk tsk, what is Xu Tianran waiting for? Or is he actually a filial son?

Ju Zi pushed Xu Tianran into a soul tool elevator, and Jing Hongchen and the other four elders who accompanied him followed.

As the elevator ascended, the people of Mingdu in the spectator area were able to catch a glimpse of their young regent. Cheers immediately erupted. Although it was unclear how genuine these cheers were, at least on the surface, it seemed that the Crown Prince was very popular and beloved by the people of Mingdu.

Xu Tianran's arrival also means that the All-Continent Youth Advanced Soul Master Elite Competition is about to begin.

Ju Zi pushed Xu Tianran to the center of the platform. She didn't sit down, but stood beside him. Since the Regent's wife wasn't sitting, the ministers, who had finally managed to get onto the platform and were panting, naturally didn't dare to sit either, and all stood on the platform.

Xu Tianran nodded to Ju Zi, who slowly stepped forward to the prepared soul-guided megaphone, ready to speak. However, the noisy environment was clearly unsuitable for the noble Regent's Consort to speak. So, a deep voice suddenly rang out, and an oppressive aura, like Mount Tai pressing down, instantly enveloped the entire venue.

"quiet!"

The moment the voice appeared, everyone present felt a sudden darkness engulf them, as if a dark cloud was pressing down on them. Even their breathing became rapid, and the surrounding air seemed to thicken, making it impossible to move. No one spoke, because under such terrifying pressure, even breathing was difficult, let alone speaking.

The vast outskirts of Mingdu suddenly became deathly silent; all sound vanished.

"Hehe, so it's Uncle-Master Long!" Zhu Ziyang chuckled, and the extreme pressure surrounding him suddenly dissipated. The pre-selection team members immediately gasped for breath like drowning people who had been rescued, their eyes filled with apprehension and lingering fear. Among the regular team members, only Ning Tian, ​​whose cultivation was slightly weaker, had such a reaction. The others were fine, at least Jiang Nannan, Qian Lingyi, and Fifth Huan'er did not react at all.

After Long Xiaoyao silenced her, Ju Zi cleared her throat and finally spoke. Her voice, amplified through the soul tool, reached everyone's ears clearly.

"Fellow citizens of the Sun Moon Empire and guests from afar, on behalf of His Highness the Regent, I welcome you all. At the same time, on behalf of His Highness the Regent, I hereby declare the Continental Elite Youth Soul Master Tournament to begin."

The brief opening remarks instantly reignited the previously subdued crowd, who knelt down and chanted in unison, "Long live the Regent! Long live the Regent! Long live the Regent!"

Xu Tianran maintained a calm smile throughout, completely unconcerned about the cheers of the crowd. Instead, he gestured for the ministers behind him to take their seats. Only then were the ministers, who dared not utter a sound, allowed to sit down. On Xu Tianran's other side, a middle-aged man dressed in a black robe with gold trim suddenly appeared and occupied the seat that should have been Jing Hongchen's. Jing Hongchen seemed to dare not speak out in anger and could only sit on the other side of the orange with an unpleasant expression.

The moment the middle-aged man appeared, Zhu Ziyang noticed him, and a slight smile appeared on his face. "The Holy Spirit Cult?"

(End of this chapter)