Another Kind of Genius

Cogs turned within Supreme Pontiff Palace. Suddenly, darts and spears shot out from hidden areas along the guarding wall. The Golden Iron Triangle, Shrek Seven Devils and Seven Tyrants defended against them as best they could. Then, at the same time, Tang San and Yu Xiaogang heard it.

"GET DOWN!" they roared.

Everyone ducked and launched their defensive skills as explosives boomed all over Spirit City. Stone, brick, and wood flew everywhere as debris and dust covered the sky. When the chaos finally died down, Ru Shenqi lifted into the air.

"Seventh divine skill, Unholy Resurrection!"

She raised the souls of the dead and commanded them to attack through the settling particles. Yan flames burned through but were no match for those who had already passed on.

"Darkness clouds the sky. Misery clouds the mind. Realm of Sorrowful Souls!"

Her divine domain spread out, causing everyone to feel the chilling aura of death and the despairs of the unrestful. Stormy grey eyes narrowing, she clenched her hands into fists at her side.

"Golden Generation, Seven Flamens, you've greatly underestimated this Quasi-God King. Did you really think I'd let myself be dragged back here in chains without a plan first? I forced you back here to lure the joint army to attack Spirit City. Once this city falls, the Imperial Empires will be victorious."

Horror filled the eyes of Hu Liena, Yan, Xie Yue, and the Seven Flamens of Spirit Empire. They shook their heads, realizing Ru Shenqi was right. They really hadn't expected this much scheming from her.

The Little God smirked. "Head Flamen, you've grown a tiger only for it to bite back at you. Don't you regret hunting my third ring and sending me to Slaughter City back then?"

The Three-Tailed Charm Fox agreed, "I really do regret it. If I hadn't, then perhaps things wouldn't have come to this."

"Unfortunately, things have come to this. And Spirit Empire's rule ends here. Today."

Ru Shenqi's eyes flashed; all eight red spirit rings and all eight silver-streaked, icy blue divine God rings descended around her. The eighth divine God ring lit up brilliantly as she raised her arms high.

"Eighth divine skill, Convergence of Souls!"

A geomantic pattern of icy blue and silver light appeared as she merged her soul with her beloved. Gu Xingyun felt the increase in power and gave a roar as his Golden Heavenly Lion Spirit Avatar launched. He summoned the Lightning Spear and flew forward. Ru Shenqi summoned her flute, sixth divine God ring lighting up.

"Sixth divine skill, Requiem of Souls!"

She played her tune, causing those from Spirit Empire to lose all intent to kill and instead remember those they'd lost. The Golden Generation thought of their teacher, Bibi Dong, while others thought of lost family members and friends.

Flender took to the skies to monitor the situation while Liu Erlong jumped into battle. Meanwhile, outside Supreme Pontiff Palace, the soldiers of Spirit Empire battle out across Spirit City with the Emperors of Heaven Dou and Star Luo Empires. The light and heavy calvaries on both sides rushed towards each other, steel grinding against steel. Xue Beng's eyes narrowed.

"We cannot lose today. Laoshi and the others from Shrek seem to have already saved Xiao Shen. Now, we must to our part to stop Spirit Empire's troops from entering Supreme Pontiff Palace."

Marshal Ge Long and the Star Luo Emperor nodded in agreement. Dai Weisi and Zhu Zhuyun banded together to form their White Tiger of Netherworld. Ning Fengzhi, Chen Xin, Gu Rong, and Dugu Bo all assisted the joint army.

Back inside Supreme Pontiff Palace, one regal voice rang out, "Secondary eighth divine skill, Life and Death Convergence!"

She drew on the souls of her friends, Seniors, and teachers. Converging them with hers, she created a massive apparition of a God. Seeing this, everyone in the courtyard gaped. Veins bulged from her skin, and her face contorted in stress as she forcefully controlled the godly apparition. It launched various spirit skills of the combined spirit masters and even godly skills.

"Sixth spirit skill of the Evil Eyed White Tiger, White Tiger Annihilation Kill!"

Slash marks shot out at the Seven Flamens who could barely defend against them under her restrictive divine domain. They were thrown backwards and coughed up mouthfuls of blood. Seeing this, Xie Yue and Yan seethed.

"Good for you, Ru Shenqi!" they cried. "You really are even more of a headache than Tang San!"

The two Elders struggled to their feet. She raised an eyebrow.

"Fourth spirit skill of the Blue Silver Emperor, Blue Silver Cage!"

Instantly trapping them, she instead focused on Hu Liena. "Mentor, if you surrender now, I can let you, Elder Yan, and Elder Xie Yue live. But I'm afraid everyone else in Spirit Empire will have to perish today."

"I won't surrender unless I'm dead," Hu Liena growled.

The Goddess of Souls sighed sadly, "I thought you might say that."

Summoning the Golden Scepter, water from the air condensed into droplets until they became streams in the sky. Her regal voice rang out, "Divine skill of the Sea God, Moon True Water Dragon!"

Another ultimate shock shook through everyone in Supreme Pontiff Palace. Even Tang San was rooted in place, stunned by the apparition which changed its form into a hundred meter long, giant, golden blue, energy dragon. It roared, and due to Tang San's physical constitution, poisonous water burst from its mouth. Thoroughly soaked, the Seven Flamens spit up black blood. The Golden Generation clenched their hands into fists.

"RU SHENQI, GO TO HELL!"

She laughed. "I am hell."

Yong, I need your Valor Anthem.

Ming Yong nodded and began to play his tune. Halfway through, Yi Xiangli and Yi Fengyu descended to Douluo Continent, accompanied by Poseidon and the former Angel and Asura Gods. Again, everyone choked.

"Yong's Valor Anthem can summon the Gods," Yu Xiaogang breathed in disbelief.

Ru Shenqi's power suddenly surged as she cultivated the power of the world. All of the other Gods bowed their heads respectfully to her. A bright icy blue light exploded from her, nearly blinding all of the mortals. In just a few seconds, she had gathered enough spirit power using her secondary eighth divine skill to temporarily break through to the God-King level. Her eyes narrowed.

Spirit Empire, your time is up!

Her godly apparition disappeared, replaced by the shining of a ninth divine God ring.

"The living tell lies while the dead speak the truth. Ninth divine skill of the Goddess of Souls, True God's Hell Fury!"

Icy blue soul fire lit around her. Everyone sensed the bone-chilling aura of the fire of hell. Her eyes locked on her mentor's.

"This soulfire comes from hell. It is fueled by the hatred of resentful ghosts. And once burned by it, your own soul will dissipate and your body will wither."

Yan roared and released his Flame Lord spirit avatar. Ru Shenqi merely flicked her wrist and sent a whip of soulfire straight for him. He dodged out of the way, only to find it following him with a lockdown tracing.

In the back, Yi Xiangli nodded, pleased. "I never made it to the God-King level. Although Ru Shenqi hasn't yet either, she can draw on others' power to help her reach that invincible state for a short period of time."

Yi Fengyu glanced between his sister and his successor. Finally, he commanded, "Gu Xingyun, go help your beloved."

With no other encouragement needed, the Shrek Six Tyrants shot forward to help their Captain. Tang San, Xiao Wu, Dai Mubai, Zhu Zhuqing, Ning Rongrong, Oscar, and Ma Hongjun launched their Shrek Devils Fusion Ability. With the combination of Gods and Titled Douluos, of course they'd give the Seven Flamens a run for their money. The Golden Saint Dragon Luo San Pao formed and roared. All of the remaining Elders of Spirit Empire came running over, along with the Seven Clans. But at this point, the other Gods finally stepped in.

Poseidon explained to his successor, "Although Gods should not be involved in mortals' affairs, this concerns the peace of the Douluo Planet. Therefore, we will help you, our successors, to drive back the evil and cleanse it from this continent."

Tang San nodded. Ru Shenqi, Ming Yong, and Gu Xingyun all bowed their heads in thanks as well. Seeing this, Hu Liena's eyebrow twitched.

"Spirit Empire! Your Supreme Pontiff has defected! Let's not show them any mercy! Victory for the Empire!"

Cheers went up from the Seven Clans. Tensions rose all over Supreme Pontiff Palace. With a cry rising up from both sides, the Battle of Spirit City had officially begun.