Douluo Continent: The Eternal Order of the Azure Sky.

At this moment, he was the true sun, and even the real sun paled in comparison.

A golden, glazed road, resembling a golden carpet, slowly unfolded as he walked towards Xu Tianzhen.

Kong Tianxu stopped in front of the tearful girl, placed the wreath made entirely of golden glass on her head, and smiled warmly:

"Long time no see, my princess."

Chapter 254 Instant Light Slashes Through the Darkness, the Sword Domain Remains Silent and Unable to See the Heart of Heaven

As the dazzling glass wreath bloomed perfectly in her hair, Xu Tianzhen's pale face, which had been drained of her soul power, visibly regained its rosy hue.

However, at this moment, she was completely oblivious to the warm energy that was filling her body again.

The voice that had haunted my dreams countless times now rang vividly in my ears.

Xu Tianzhen stared blankly at the familiar yet unfamiliar face before her. The pair of purple eyes that had once been so unforgettable to her had changed, turning into a more luxurious purple-gold color.

Yet the warmth within, after years of separation, has become all the more mellow and intoxicating.

She blinked, then blinked hard, as if she couldn't believe what she was seeing.

It wasn't until the figure raised an eyebrow at her and widened their smile that Xu Tianzhen finally confirmed it—

It's not a hallucination!

Tears, without warning, burst forth, instantly blurring all vision.

“It’s worth it,” Xu Tianzhen choked up, each word seeming to come straight from the depths of her burning heart, “Of course it’s worth it.”

She took a step forward and bumped into that long-lost warm embrace, wrapping her arms tightly around Kong Tianxu's neck and burying her face deep in his neck, as if to confirm that this was not just another fleeting illusion.

"It's always worth it."

Feeling the trembling of the body in his arms and the burning passion that almost warmed his soul, Kong Tianxu's heart was filled with tenderness.

He pulled his arms closer, holding the girl's slender yet resilient body firmly in his embrace, his cheek gently pressed against her sun-scented temples.

“I’m sorry, Tianzhen, I’m late,” he whispered in her ear.

Xu Tianzhen just shook her head desperately, choking back sobs and unable to speak. She hugged him tighter, as if afraid that if she let go, the person in front of her would disappear again.

A hush fell over both the stage and the audience. Everyone was stunned by the sudden turn of events. Countless gazes, filled with complex emotions, were fixed on the two figures embracing tightly. Shock, realization, excitement, and sighs... a multitude of feelings intertwined silently.

Not far away, the imposing golden toad cannon that Xiao Hongchen had transformed into had long since vanished. He knelt on one knee, his clothes tattered, his exposed skin charred in many places, and his once meticulously styled hair stuck messily to the corner of his bleeding mouth, clearly indicating that he had suffered serious internal injuries.

However, this was not due to a clash of martial spirits; it was purely because he had overloaded himself by continuously activating his Golden Toad Cannon, causing it to explode...

At this moment, Xiao Hongchen also struggled to raise his head and stared blankly in that direction. The emotions in his eyes were turbulent, even more so than those in Xu Tianzhen.

In the end, all emotions turned into a bitter smile of relief at the corner of his mouth. That smile contained helplessness, relief, and an indescribable sense of loss, which finally turned into a barely audible sigh.

"As expected, you will come back... I knew it."

At this moment, all the competition for captaincy, the victory and defeat, the honor and disgrace, and the slight resentment in one's heart seemed insignificant.

That person's return itself has already redefined the center of gravity of this world.

The audience, initially stunned, slowly recovered. Looking at the two figures bathed in a soft glow in the center of the arena, they exchanged bewildered glances. Then, someone tentatively called out the name that had been dormant for a year but had never been forgotten:

"Kong...Kong Tianxu?"

A stone stirred up a thousand waves.

Gradually, the exclamations of surprise and the whispers of disbelief eventually turned into cheers of certainty, spreading rapidly from point to point!

Led by someone, thunderous applause, accompanied by excited cheers and whistles, suddenly erupted, merging into a boiling wave of sound that surged towards the dome above the training ground.

Many people, including Ye Nongfeng who was also in the stands, couldn't help but shed tears.

Their imperial legend, the boy who once led the Sun and Moon team to the top of the continent, has really returned alive!

As if infected by the scorching, volcanic atmosphere, Xiao Hongchen lay sprawled out on the scalding hot competition floor without any regard for his image.

Looking at the ceiling, the smile on his face lost all its heaviness and became incredibly pure and relaxed.

During his time studying at Shrek Academy's inner court, he diligently studied the powerful martial soul inheritances originally from the Three Kingdoms of Douluo Continent. After realizing how deep the waters were in the world of soul masters, his arrogance of being second only to the heavens greatly diminished.

With the All-Continent Youth Advanced Soul Master Elite Tournament approaching, not to mention the Shrek Seven Devils whose strength is bound to leap forward significantly, the sheer number of hidden sects is giving Xiao Hongchen a major headache.

God knows how much pressure he endured during this time without Kong Tianxu.

But now things are different. This guy has finally returned, and he's incredibly powerful.

Presumably, he can now comfortably... win without lifting a finger in this competition.

Okay, winning by doing nothing is shameful, but it's really satisfying.

Even a victory without effort is still a victory! Two titles over one, a shockwave from the absence of a title!

Just as Xiao Hongchen was letting her thoughts wander amidst the pain and joy, Kong Tianxu gently patted Xu Tianzhen's back. After she calmed down a bit, he released her from his embrace, but Xu Tianzhen still proudly clung to him, leaning half of her body against him.

Kong Tianxu raised his head, his purple-gold eyes calmly surveying the boiling, furnace-like trial ground. His clear voice, though not loud, deftly drowned out all the clamor:

"I am back."

On the viewing platform, cheers and shouts erupted even more enthusiastically than before, almost lifting the roof off.

Kong Tianxu nodded slightly in response to this sincere sentiment. His gaze then fell on Xiao Hongchen, who was chuckling foolishly.

"However, I will not represent the Sun Moon Royal Soul Master Academy in this Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Tournament."

The moment these words were spoken, the entire arena fell silent. Even the few enthusiastic fans who were desperately pushing their way onto the stage stopped in their tracks. Everyone was stunned.

Xiao Hongchen, on the verge of death, sat up in shock, her eyes wide open, staring straight at Kong Tianxu.

Kong Tianxu's gaze remained calm as he continued, "Therefore, you will still be the captain, Xiao Hongchen."

Xiao Hongchen's mouth slowly opened wide enough to fit an egg.

He was completely unaware of anything amiss in Kong Tianxu's decision to bypass his grandfather and the Mingde Hall Master Jing Hongchen and directly appoint the captain; he was utterly bewildered.

This doesn't make sense, does it?

You've come back, radiantly back, and now you're telling me you're abandoning me? What was the point of me risking my life and blowing up the gun just now?

Even Xu Tianzhen, who was clinging tightly to Kong Tianxu, looked up in surprise upon hearing this, her bright eyes filled with confusion.

Her small hand even unconsciously touched Kong Tianxu's chest, the very spot where he had just been caught in the sun's gaze. As she gently touched it, she murmured worriedly:

"Tianxu, are you alright? Is there some unknown special effect to Sun Gaze? This is also my first time using it under the full amplification of the Six Suns Soaring Domain, so could it be..."

"Silly girl, I'm fine." Kong Tianxu was amused by her nervous yet adorable appearance and couldn't help but lower his head to gently kiss her smooth forehead. "I'll explain to you slowly later."

After his martial soul was officially upgraded to a sacred dragon, he already possessed the dual characteristics of a golden dragon and a silver dragon. Although Xu Tianzhen's Sun Gaze was extremely powerful, it could not cause him any harm.

As for Laughing at the World's Money Cannon... well... it's just a speed bump.

"Mmm." Feeling the warmth on his forehead, Xu Tianzhen's cheeks flushed slightly. She responded softly, burying her face back in his shoulder, feeling completely at ease.

Kong Tianxu tightened his grip on her slender waist, and with a light touch of his toes, his body was about to float into the air.

Just then.

"Wait a minute."

A cold, persistent voice, as if honed by countless swords, suddenly rang out, breaking the silence.

The crowd seemed to be sliced ​​open by an invisible blade, and a lone, imposing figure emerged.

He seemed shrouded in a faint gray, no longer resembling a vibrant person, but rather a silent stone sculpture. His very presence had vanished.

As he walked, the meteorite iron sword in his arms slowly unsheathed, and the seven soul rings flashed one by one.

"Slay the Dragon".

Without any further words, a gray light, like a bolt of lightning, swept out. The moment it appeared, there was not a single fluctuation of soul power, not even the slightest ripple.

It was as if it were just a faint gray light and shadow, without any real meaning.

However, where the light and shadow passed, a thin black line appeared behind it, clearly indicating that space had been cut open.

Ji Juechen.

"Stirring up trouble."

Kong Tianxu's lips twitched, but his movements did not stop at all, as if he had not felt the sword light that made Xiao Hongchen extremely frightened.

With a casual flick of his free left hand, a faint, eerie light flashed.

All eyes could see was that he seemed to have thrown out a long, thin object, like a fire poker, with two completely different colors, black and white on each side.

But in Ji Juechen's eyes, it was a sword, yet it was also a sword as black as ink.

A sword of darkness!

Kong Tianxu tossed out a sword as casually as if it were a fire poker, and the dark attribute soul power contained within it was able to perfectly merge with the sword intent!

The power of darkness surged forth like a dormant raging tide! Ji Juechen's expression remained as calm as a statue, but the meteorite iron sword in his hand had turned an even brighter gray.

He still remembered what Kong Tianxu had said before he left, asking him if he dared to draw his sword towards the sky.

Today, Ji Juechen will use his illuminating sword heart and the domain of silence he has come to understand to shatter this dark night!

"Thorn-"

Like the sound of silk tearing, the black blade was ripped apart.

Ji Juechen's expression, which had been as rigid as an ancient rock, softened slightly as if illuminated.

Because behind the powerful darkness lies light.

The ultimate light.

Bright light shone forth, and the purest light illuminated the meteorite iron sword in Ji Juechen's hand, which was just fully drawn, turning it into a bright white!

Then, his newly acquired meteorite iron sword shattered and scattered into countless fragments.

The black and white sword of judgment fell straight down from mid-air and sank deeply into the specially made competition ground made of mixed metals without making a sound.

Having merely borne the Heavenly Heart Sword Intent once, this Sword of Judgment seems to have become even sharper.

Ji Juechen remained silent, showing no emotional fluctuation even after the extraterrestrial meteorite iron sword, which had taken a long time to reform into its sword shape, shattered.

Only his eyes shone with an astonishing brightness, like an inextinguishable flame burning within them.

He pierced through the darkness, but ultimately could not withstand the even more powerful ultimate light. However, he knew that he had not lost in this aspect.