While Elder Cheng was treating Ju Zi, Wang Xiao returned with Leng Jun's lifeless body in one hand.
There was no dramatic escape, no turning of the tables.
A genius who hadn't yet fully grown could be easily eradicated with a flick of the hand. There was no room for surprises.
Xu Zihuang waved a hand absentmindedly, lacking any interest. "Uncle Wang, deal with the body and clean the place afterward. Don't leave a mess."
"Yes, Young Lord."
The others cast solemn glances at the lone grave in the distance. A pang of sorrow gripped their hearts. This mother and daughter had been mere collateral damage in a war they had no part in. As fellow citizens of the Sun Moon Empire, the soldiers couldn't help but feel a sense of shared sadness.
Unfortunately, their current position left no room to intervene in this conflict between the Sun Moon Empire and the Star Luo Empire.
"Rather than sending reinforcements to the front lines, they dispatched the Evileye Tyrant Soul Engineer Legion to assassinate the Young Lord. Such a ruler is truly undeserving of his throne!" Elder Yu scoffed coldly.
Xu Zihuang let out a distasteful smile, remaining silent.
To his elder cousin, the throne was evidently more important than anything else. Eliminating him as a threat was logical. Yet, Xu Zihuang couldn't help but wonder if his cousin's fear was excessive. After all, the talents he'd displayed so far were limited to his innate, full soul power and the pure bloodline of the Purple Brilliant Heaven Destroying Dragon martial soul.
Even with the remnants of the Imperial Dragon Soul Engineer Legion, they posed no significant threat.
Or perhaps it had something to do with the vision he saw during the fusion of his external soul bone, the Brilliant Dragon Claw, and the purple dragon corpse.
Instinctively, he glanced at his left hand.
Before long, a flash of yellow lightning split the air, and two figures knelt before Xu Zihuang.
"Young Lord, a soul master squad is approaching. It appears to be the Fire Phoenix Soul Engineer Legion."
Xu Zihuang and his men looked into the distance, faintly discerning the radiant tail flames of flying soul devices streaking toward them in a straight line.
It seemed their earlier commotion had attracted attention.
Xu Zihuang's golden pupils flickered with understanding. After observing the familiar Fire Phoenix insignia on the approaching soldiers' armor, he turned to others and gave his orders.
"Head into the Mingdou Forest through the mountains."
"Yes, Young Lord."
They understood Xu Zihuang's intention. Using flying soul devices now would make them far too conspicuous. Thankfully, the Mingdou Forest wasn't far from them.
Ju Zi's injuries were superficial. She had fainted from mental exhaustion and overwhelming grief. Elder Cheng had already treated her wounds.
Upon hearing Xu Zihuang's command, Elder Cheng hesitated and asked, "Young Lord, what about this young girl?"
"Leave her here. Let the Fire Phoenix Soul Engineer Legion take care of her."
Xu Zihuang had long made arrangements regarding Ju Zi. Compared to his ruthless cousin, he was no saint.
What he sought to exploit was Ju Zi's hatred for the Star Luo Empire. Only when the Sun Moon Empire waged war against the three major empires of the Douluo Continent could he seize the throne more effectively. Taking Ju Zi with him now served no purpose.
He needed an empress of the Sun Moon Empire who could lead its soul engineer army, not a mere figurehead. Leaving her here aligned with his current goals.
Nearly the moment Xu Zihuang and his group left, soldiers of the Fire Phoenix Soul Engineer Legion dressed in magnificent fiery red armor descended upon the cliffside.
Compared to the Imperial Dragon Soul Engineer Legion, the Fire Phoenix Soul Engineer Legion consisted entirely of female soul masters.
Every member of this legion, from the commander to the soldiers, was a female soul master.
The leader, a strikingly beautiful woman in her late twenties, tied her fiery red hair into a neat ponytail. Even her armor couldn't fully conceal her impressive figure.
Sweeping her gaze around the area, she noticed a deep pit not far away and frowned.
"Big Sister, there's a girl here who's still alive!"
A crisp voice caught her attention. She hurried over to check, finding Ju Zi.
Under the influence of soul power, Ju Zi groggily opened her eyes, her dazed expression soft and vulnerable.
But as she regained full awareness, sorrow and hatred filled her gaze as she stared at the lone grave on the cliff's edge.
How she wished it was all a dream. But reality was cruel. Everything was gone—her loving parents and the peaceful town where she'd grown up. They all cease to exist…
The woman's heart ached as she observed Ju Zi's forlorn expression. If not for this war, the cheerful girl Ju Zi once was might still exist.
"Little girl, what happened here? Was this the work of Star Luo Empire soldiers?"
As she spoke, her expression suddenly froze, and a hint of self-mockery flashed in her eyes.
The woman's voice trailed off as she glanced at the ruins of the nearby town. The answer was obvious.
Upon hearing the woman's question, Ju Zi's clear eyes flickered as a vivid image of a noble pair of golden eyes surfaced in her mind.
It was the last thing she'd seen before falling unconscious.
Glancing at her unblemished legs, she confirmed that her earlier injuries were real but now completely healed. This made her even more certain that what had happened earlier was not an illusion.
If these soldiers weren't her saviors, then who were?
Ju Zi was sharp enough to sense there was more to this situation. Shaking her head, she replied vaguely, "I don't know why I fainted. When I woke up, you were the first people I saw."
The woman believed her, seeing no signs of deceit. Concerned for Ju Zi's fragile state, she asked no further questions. Some of her soldiers continued to patrol while others inquired about Ju Zi's opinion and arranged for her to be led away from the area.
Ju Zi remained calm throughout, her expression betraying none of her inner turmoil. Only her determination grew sharper.
Revenge became the sole thought occupying her mind.
…
The war between the Sun Moon Empire and the Star Luo Empire raged on.
Half a month later, Xu Zihuang's group, who had set out from the southern coast of the Star Luo Empire, finally arrived at their destination, Moon Hub Island.
Located at the northernmost point of the Southern Moon Islands, Moon Hub Island was the largest and most prosperous of the archipelago. It boasted several large ports.
Arriving on a merchant ship from the Star Luo Empire, Xu Zihuang disembarked at the island's northern harbor.
The harbor buzzed with activity. Ships of various sizes docked—trading vessels, fishing boats, and private boats loaded with goods.
The marketplace teemed with life, vendors shouting to hawk fresh seafood and exotic fruits. The lively atmosphere rivaled that of major Sun Moon Empire cities.
Xu Zihuang strolled along the harbor, observing the surroundings with interest. Following him were Meng Lang and four Imperial Dragon Soul Engineer Legion guards, all soul emperors or stronger. The rest of the group, dismissed by Wang Xiao, scattered to restock supplies or seek some rare metals.
On Moon Hub Island, safety wasn't a concern. After agreeing to a meeting point with Wang Xiao for later that evening, Xu Zihuang decided to enjoy this rare moment of leisure.
The Moon Hub Island plotline will unfold in the next chapter. For now, a brief interlude.