The branches and leaves slowly dissipated, leaving nothing behind but a tattered set of clothes.
The fluctuations of soul power in the air lingered, the battle between Titled Douluo beyond Lin Xiao's ability to intervene. He glanced down at Juzi, her face growing paler, uncertain how much longer she could hold on.
He didn't know how the original Juzi had survived. Rummaging through his storage soul tool, he found some antidote herbs and fed them to her. Beyond that, her fate was in the hands of the heavens.
When it came to poisoning, Lin Xiao had learned a thing or two in the Holy Ghost Church, but as for detoxification, he had no better solutions.
After doing what he could, he could only carry Juzi and head toward a concealed spot to hide.
The assassin from earlier hadn't returned, and Lin Xiao wasn't sure if anyone else had noticed him. For now, it was better to stay out of sight.
In midair, one of the enshrined protectors was continuously using soul power to tend to Xu Tianran's injuries. However, his martial soul wasn't of the healing type, and Xu Tianran's aura was growing weaker by the moment.
"Enshrined Zhongli, please resolve this quickly! His Highness the Prince can't hold on much longer!"
Zhongli Wu glanced toward Xu Tianran upon hearing this.
Facing an opponent who had burned their entire life force, Zhongli Wu hadn't used his full strength. As long as he dragged out the fight, the enemy would eventually fall. Getting injured himself in the process wouldn't be worth it.
But given the current situation, he had no choice but to get serious.
His gaze sharpened, and without any visible movement, he lightly swung the scepter-like weapon in his hand. A pitch-black rift appeared out of nowhere, as if it led to another world. The next moment, a dragon's roar echoed from within.
Amid the storm, threads of fire silently emerged, transforming into blazing flames in the fierce wind, engulfing all the assassins around.
The lead assassin, already at his limit and clinging to life by sheer will, could no longer hold on after the dragon's roar. It was the final straw. With a bitter smile directed at Xu Tianran, his figure slowly vanished into the flames.
Seeing Zhongli Wu holding off all the assassins, the nearby enshrined protector didn't dare linger. His figure turned into a streak of light, rushing toward Mingdu.
Meanwhile, Lin Xiao had just set Juzi down on the ground and sat beside a tree, letting out a slight sigh of relief.
He hadn't sensed anyone else's presence; it seemed no one else was pursuing him.
Closing his eyes lightly, he felt the surrounding natural energy enter his body, transforming into soul power. Lin Xiao raised his hand slightly, releasing his martial soul.
In the center of the Higanbana in his palm, a remnant soul lingered in confusion within the flower's stamen.
It was the soul of the assassin who had suddenly appeared behind Xu Tianran to launch a sneak attack. Lin Xiao didn't know what method he had used to evade so many Titled Douluo. With such elusive abilities, using them merely to condense a Seed of Soul seemed like a waste.
However, Lin Xiao couldn't find the source of this ability in the remnant soul. It seemed to be an innate ability of the assassin's martial soul.
It would be a pity for such an ability to disappear.
Lin Xiao sighed inwardly, his thoughts churning until his recent experience in the Star Dou Forest flashed before his eyes—the Soul-Calling Tree.
As a plant-type soul beast naturally capable of attracting remnant souls, its combat methods didn't rely solely on itself. It could manipulate the souls it drew in, even reshaping them into new forms.
What about him?
The Higanbana also had the ability to attract remnant souls. While he hadn't mastered any soul skills to control souls, soul masters weren't limited to soul skills alone.
Previously, under the restrictions of the Nightmare Douluo, his mental power had been suppressed. Now that those restrictions were gone, he could clearly sense those remnant souls, and some of his guesses seemed ready to be tested.
"Found you. Hiding here, are you?"
Before Lin Xiao could act on his thoughts, a voice suddenly rang out.
His eyes snapped open, and his body sprang up from the ground. But upon seeing the figure cloaked entirely in black, he relaxed.
"Greetings, Sixth Enshrined."
"No need for formalities," the Sixth Enshrined waved a hand. "The Sect Leader has dealt with the enemies and has already taken Xu Tianran back to Mingdu. I'm here to bring you along."
"Thank you, Sixth Enshrined."
"Hmm." The Sixth Enshrined's gaze swept over Juzi nearby. "Xu Tianran seems to value this child. Bring her along as well."
The Sixth Enshrined addressed Xu Tianran by name, showing no trace of the respect typically owed to a prince of a nation.
Lin Xiao didn't mind and left with Juzi and the Sixth Enshrined.
The silhouette of Mingdu gradually appeared in Lin Xiao's view, and his heart settled slightly. Though he had little attachment to this place, it was still better than running around in the wilderness, constantly wary of other assassins appearing out of nowhere.
However, just as Lin Xiao stepped into the city, a group of soldiers clad in ornate armor surrounded him.
"You are Lin Xiao?"
"Yes," Lin Xiao frowned but nodded.
"Hand over the person in your arms."
Judging by their armor, Lin Xiao guessed they were the imperial guards from the palace. They likely knew what had happened on the road.
Without hesitation, Lin Xiao handed Juzi over.
Unexpectedly, the next moment, several soldiers lunged forward, reaching for his limbs.
Lin Xiao instinctively dodged backward, and the Sixth Enshrined raised a hand to shield him. "What are you doing?"
"Your Excellency, this is His Majesty's will."
The black cloak trembled slightly, and the Sixth Enshrined slowly raised his head, looking at the soldiers before him.
Despite facing the pressure of a Titled Douluo, the soldier didn't back down. The soul tool on his body began to glow, and waves of soul power rippled from the other soldiers as well.
"His Majesty welcomes talent. If Your Excellency is interested, you may enter the palace to meet him. But please do not interfere with our duties."
After a long silence, the Sixth Enshrined glanced back at Lin Xiao and spoke slowly, "Go with them for now. I'll report to the Sect Leader."
Looking at the situation, Lin Xiao had already anticipated this outcome. The Sixth Enshrined wouldn't risk a conflict with the Sun Moon Empire's imperial family over a mere Soul King like him.
As for why the soldiers were apprehending him, Lin Xiao had already figured it out. After Xu Tianran's assassination attempt, how the assassins had tracked his movements was something Emperor Xu Jing wanted to investigate.
Aside from the few people closest to Xu Tianran, only members of the Holy Ghost Church had accompanied him on this journey. Zhongli Wu, a level 98 Super Douluo, was beyond Xu Jing's reach, so naturally, their attention fell on Lin Xiao.
In the end, it all came down to strength.
"Yes," Lin Xiao responded quietly.
He knew a thing or two about Mingdu's defenses. Standing here, with his strength, there was no chance of escape.