Douluo Continent: Tonight, a Fairy Tale Descends

It wasn't the pain itself, but the sudden warmth that came over her created a stark contrast with the excruciating pain she had endured alone for who knows how long.

Under the golden light, the necrotic tissue began to lose its black color, and the edges of the rolled-up flesh regained a healthy pale pink hue. New granulation tissue slowly emerged from both sides of the crack, like the first tender grass breaking through the soil after the spring snow melts.

Rapunzel frowned slightly.

She has treated many external injuries, including knife wounds, arrow wounds, and burns from soul skills; she has seen all kinds.

But the wound on Zhu Zhuqing's back was different. The cut was too clean. It wasn't the jagged tearing wound from a sword or knife cut. Instead, it was slashed open by some extremely sharp soul skill, both quickly and deeply.

The person who made the move was clearly an experienced agility-based expert. Their goal was not to kill the victim with a single blow, but to slowly bleed the injured person to death, or to force their teammates to divert their energy to rescue them.

This tactic is indeed quite ruthless when used on the battlefield.

Zhu Zhuqing lay on the stretcher, feeling the burning pain in her back subsiding at an incredible speed.

She had initially thought she would have to endure it for ten days to two weeks, and had even mentally prepared herself for the wound to become infected and inflamed. After all, in a place like the Northern Territory where resources were scarce, healing-type Soul Masters were a rare resource, and as a newcomer who had only recently arrived, she wouldn't be able to get very good treatment.

But the blonde girl simply placed her hand on her back, and the wound that had kept her awake all night began to heal.

Zhu Zhuqing turned her head to the side and glanced at Le Pei's focused profile out of the corner of her eye.

Her long, golden hair cascaded down her shoulders, the ends almost touching the ground. Her amber eyes reflected a soft golden halo, and she was as serene as a jade statue meticulously sculpted by a craftsman.

Of course she knew who Rapunzel was.

The members of the Heavenly Dou Royal Academy team in the Soul Master Competition possess a martial soul that is long golden hair, capable of both offense and defense as well as healing.

They were rivals back then, and had fought each other in the ring. Although it was only for a few rounds, those amber eyes left an impression on Zhu Zhuqing.

It's not because she's particularly strong, but because after a match, she would proactively help up her downed opponents.

I never expected to meet you here again. And I certainly never expected it to be in this way.

Zhu Zhuqing swallowed the "thank you" that was on the tip of her tongue. It wasn't that she didn't want to say it, but it had been so long since she had spoken those two words to anyone that her tongue felt like it was tied in knots.

She remained silent for a moment, and finally just nodded slightly, the gesture so small it was almost imperceptible.

Rapunzel nodded in response.

They recognized each other, but neither spoke. It wasn't that they didn't want to, but rather that it wasn't necessary. In a place like this, silence was more comfortable than conversation.

Actually, Zhu Zhuqing joining Eva's ranks wasn't complicated. It's just that war raged across the continent, from Xingluo to Tiandou, from Wuhun City to the Northern Border; no place could remain unscathed.

She needs cultivation resources, a place to settle down and make a living, and a place to find her place in this chaotic world.

She could never return to the Star Luo Empire. Dai Mubai was imprisoned by Davis, and in Zhu Zhuyun's eyes, she, as Dai Mubai's fiancée, was something that needed to be eliminated.

The Spirit Hall would never trust her. She was the second daughter of the Zhu family, the Netherworld Cat family, and the Zhu family and the Star Luo royal family had been linked by marriage for generations. It would be good enough if the Spirit Hall didn't treat her as an enemy.

As for the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School and the Blue Lightning Tyrant School, these three upper sects have intricate relationships with the Star Luo Royal Family. If she, a runaway daughter of the Zhu family, were to join them, she would only be treated as a hot potato.

In the end, she chose the North.

Because women hold power here.

It's not because women are easier to talk to, but because Eva doesn't care about your background, your family, who you were engaged to, or who you fell out with.

As long as you are willing to fight, defend the city, and work under her command, she will give you resources, military merits, and a chance to start over.

This was more important to Zhu Zhuqing than anything else.

The wound has almost healed.

The huge gash that ran diagonally from the right shoulder blade to the left waist is now just a thin, pale pink scar. The new skin is still very tender, and it turns white when you press it with your finger, but at least it won't bleed anymore.

Rapunzel withdrew her hand, and the golden halo in her palm gradually dimmed. Her breathing became slightly more rapid than before, and a thin layer of sweat appeared on her forehead.

Treating a wound of this severity consumes a significant amount of soul power. She took out a small jade bottle from her storage soul tool at her waist, poured out two Soul Nourishing Pills, swallowed one herself, and handed the other to Zhu Zhuqing.

"Don't do strenuous exercise for three days. Although the wound has healed, the underlying muscles and meridians still need time to recover." Her voice was soft and gentle.

"This Soul Nourishing Pill will replenish your depleted energy and blood. You should be able to go to the battlefield in three days."

Zhu Zhuqing took the pill, but did not swallow it immediately; instead, she held it in her palm.

Her gaze swept across Rapunzel's face, then landed on the still-damp sweat on her forehead. Her lips moved as if she wanted to say something, but in the end she just lowered her eyes and gave a soft "hmm".

Rapunt stood up, her long golden hair slipping down her shoulders, gleaming softly in the dim candlelight.

She turned and walked toward the next wounded soldier, her steps slow and steady.

Behind her came the sound of Zhu Zhuqing sitting up on the stretcher, followed by two extremely soft words, so soft that Le Pei almost thought it was her imagination.

But she didn't turn around.

……

Three days later.

Before dawn, the sentries on the Iron Gate Pass city wall spotted the dark line slowly creeping in from the horizon.

At first, it was just a very faint shadow on the horizon, like someone lightly sweeping a line across the gray rice paper with a brush dipped in ink.

Then the shadow began to writhe, expand, and spread, like ink dripping into clear water, rolling and spreading in all directions.

The iron plates of their armor clanged against each other as they marched, producing a dense, muffled sound. The footsteps of tens of thousands of people pounded on the frozen, hard wasteland, causing the soil accumulated in the gaps of the city wall's crenellations to fall down in a rustling sound.

General Qin stood at the highest point of the city tower, one hand on the hilt of his sword at his waist, the other hand supporting himself on the edge of the battlements.

He squinted, looking at the steel forest rising from below the horizon.

Banners fluttered like a forest, each embroidered with the six-winged angel emblem of the Martial Soul Empire, rustling in the biting north wind.

The three legions were arranged in a triangular formation, with heavily armored infantry at the forefront, their shields forming a moving iron wall.

The two flanks were light cavalry, with lightly armed archers on horseback, carrying bows and arrows.

Between the square formations of the central army, the outlines of siege engines and ladders were faintly visible. Dozens of strong men carried huge battering rams on their shoulders, the ram heads covered with dark iron that gleamed coldly in the morning light.

Three legions, a total of 100,000 troops.

This number is just a small red arrow on a map, but when it is actually spread out in front of you, you can truly feel what it means to be overwhelming.

On the city wall of Iron Gate Pass, everyone subconsciously slowed their breathing.

Several new recruits, who had been in the army for less than a month, had white knuckles as they gripped their rifles. It wasn't fear, but the instinctive stress response of the body after being oppressed by such a massive weapon.

General Qin did not speak, but slowly drew the sword from his waist.

The blade scraped against the scabbard, producing a long, clear ringing sound that was particularly jarring against the silent city wall.

He raised his sword high above his head, the tip pointing directly at the onrushing black wave, and roared out two words with all the strength in his chest: "Form ranks!"

The city wall came to life instantly.

The shield bearers rushed to the front of the crenellations and slammed their half-person-high iron shields heavily onto the stone slabs. The crossbowmen placed their quivers in the most convenient positions at hand, and the spearmen propped their spear shafts at an angle in the grooves of the crenellations, with the spear tips pointing outwards, forming a dense array like a row of steel thorns.

The sky suddenly darkened by three degrees.

It wasn't that clouds were obscuring the sun; rather, three figures appeared silently above the main force of the Martial Soul Empire's army. The moment they appeared, the breaths of 100,000 people on the battlefield caught in their throats.

On the far left is a man dressed in a moon-white robe. The fabric is so luxurious that it doesn't seem like he's there to fight. The golden chrysanthemum patterns embroidered on the collar and cuffs shimmer with a cold, eerie light in the morning glow.

His face was delicate and handsome, with a slight, ambiguous smile on his lips. His hands had long, slender fingers with meticulously manicured nails, which were gently crossed in front of him in the morning breeze.

Chrysanthemum Douluo Yue Guan, a level 95 Title Douluo, is one of the most prominent figures in the Spirit Hall Elder Council.

On the far right is a lean, middle-aged man with high cheekbones, dressed in a dark blue outfit with tight cuffs and long, slender fingers like eagle claws.

He crossed his arms, a defiant smile playing on his lips, his sharp eyes sweeping over the dense ranks of guards on the Iron Gate Pass walls, like a raptor assessing the fatness of its prey on the ground.

Ghost Leopard Douluo, a level 95 Title Douluo, whose martial soul is Hurricane Ghost Leopard, is a top-tier agility-based powerhouse known for his speed and thrusting attacks.

The figure in the middle was completely shrouded in a black cloak, the shadow of the hood obscuring his face, revealing only a chin with sharp, cold lines.

Chapter 518 Battlefield

He didn't speak or move; he just hung there silently, yet the chilling aura emanating from him caused the air within a hundred feet to drop several degrees.

Ghost Douluo, also a level 95 Title Douluo, possesses the "Two Elements Stillness Domain," a martial soul fusion skill he has used in cooperation with Chrysanthemum Douluo for many years, which is virtually unbeatable in battles at the Title Douluo level.

The three titled Douluo floated in a triangular formation above the 100,000-strong army, their robes fluttering in the wind.

Their gaze passed over the towering walls of the Iron Gate Pass, over the heavily armed guards on the walls, and over the rows of camps and granaries behind the walls, landing deeper into the northern defense line.

They knew that there were also Title Douluos there.

The Spirit Hall's intelligence system is not to be underestimated. Currently, the Northern Territory has two Title Douluos, Eva, former queens of the Heaven Dou Empire. Their spirits are said to be some extremely special mirror-like weapon spirit, the specific abilities of which are unknown. However, to have held the position of Queen of Heaven Dou for so many years, they are no ordinary individuals.

Ge Duo, the number one alchemist on the continent, is also a titled Douluo. Her martial soul is related to plants and poison. She once occupied the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well in the depths of Sunset Forest for many years. Even the Heaven Dou Royal Family and the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School had to treat her with respect.

Two titled Douluo—that's all the top-tier combat power in the Northern Territory.

The Spirit Empire brought three people with them on this northward journey.

Chrysanthemum Douluo Yue Guan, level 95. Ghost Douluo Gui Mei, level 95. Ghost Leopard Douluo, level 95.

Three against two, a superior level, and a numerical advantage. Faced with an absolute disparity in strength, any schemes or tricks are futile.

Chrysanthemum Douluo withdrew his gaze, his slender fingers gently tracing the chrysanthemum pattern embroidered with gold thread on his sleeve, a faint, unchanging, effeminate smile playing on his lips.

"Two titled Douluo, one skilled in political maneuvering, the other in alchemy. Eva has been in the Heaven Dou Imperial Palace for so many years, she probably hasn't fought anyone in a long time, right? As for Ge Duo, I've heard she's more skilled in alchemy than in combat."

Ghost Leopard Douluo crossed his arms, his sharp gaze sweeping over the densely packed guards on the Iron Gate Pass city wall, a haughty smile curving his lips.

"Two titled Douluo who are not good at fighting, leading a bunch of defeated soldiers. Elder Ju, after this battle, the Northern Territory can be wiped off the map."

Ghost Douluo remained silent. The hood of his black cloak completely concealed his face, revealing only his sharply defined chin.

But those who know him know that silence itself is an attitude.

He believed this battle was a sure thing.

"coming."

Someone on the city wall shouted first, and then all the soldiers raised their heads.

Two streaks of light shot into the sky from the direction of the Northern Army Camp. They were not as flamboyant as the three Title Douluos from the Spirit Hall, but they were as steady as two stakes driven into the earth.

A streak of light pierced the gray sky, abruptly halting above the iron gate. As the light faded, two figures were revealed.

Eva is on the left, and Godot is on the right.

Eva was dressed in a silver-white outfit, with a collar adorned with ferret fur unique to the Arctic ice plains. Her long hair was tied up high with a dark green hairpin, revealing her slender, fair neck.

With her hands behind her back, her emerald eyes calmly swept over the three titled Douluo opposite her, a smile playing on her lips that remained unchanged for millennia.