At dawn the next day, the Heaven Dou Empire launched their planned full-scale assault without warning.
War drums shook the heavens, their thunderous beats audible for miles as hundreds of thousands of Heaven Dou soldiers surged toward the Spirit Hall's defenses like an unstoppable tide.
Simultaneously, the Star Luo Empire forces, hearing the signal, immediately answered with their own battle horns and war cries, charging toward the Spirit Hall from the opposite flank.
The battlefield was now divided—the Spirit Hall occupied the western front, Heaven Dou the northeast, and Star Luo the southeast.
Within minutes of the two empires' coordinated attack, the Spirit Hall forces stationed between them collapsed into disarray, retreating toward their main camp. The allied imperial armies pursued relentlessly, pressing their advantage.
Just then, a devastating barrage of long-range soul power attacks erupted from the Spirit Hall's main camp—miraculously avoiding their own retreating soldiers while decimating the advancing imperial troops.
The vanguard of the imperial forces, having pushed too far ahead, now found themselves trapped—cut off by the sudden bombardment while the "retreating" Spirit Hall soldiers wheeled around to attack.
Caught between hammer and anvil, these isolated imperial troops were swiftly annihilated. Behind them, rank after rank of soldiers fell like wheat before the scythe under the relentless soul power assault.
"Hold!" The Heaven Dou commander roared, recognizing the trap.
After quickly calculating the distance, he barked orders to the archer corps: "Loose!"
From the massive army, twenty thousand archers stepped forward in unison. Their arrows darkened the sky, the deadly rain rivaling the Spirit Hall's earlier bombardment in intensity.
Though the Spirit Hall's soul master corps was vast, most were low-level practitioners between ranks 30-40. Their attack range fell short of the archers' reach, and without cover from their own elites, this volley alone would have devastated their ranks.
"Again!" The Heaven Dou commander ordered.
Five more waves of arrows followed, their steel tips finding gaps in the weakening soul power defenses. The Spirit Hall's offensive faltered visibly.
"Heavy cavalry—with me!" Seizing the moment, the commander personally led tens of thousands of armored knights through the kill zone. Their specially forged plate armor could withstand weaker soul skills, making them the empire's most prized troops.
The Spirit Hall forces retreated again, this time deploying hundreds of mid-level soul masters—all rank 50 or above—to cover their withdrawal. Then, with several sharp cries, over a dozen figures shot into the air, streaking toward the charging cavalry.
"Damn it—already?" Sword Douluo Chen Xin had been monitoring the battlefield closely. Seeing the enemy elites commit so quickly, he exchanged glances with Fang Chang and others before soaring to intercept. The battle between peak experts had begun.
Following their strategy, Sword Douluo and Howling Sky Douluo Tang Xiao teamed up against the Spirit Hall's Grand Elder, Qian Daoliu. With support from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan's two elders, they barely held their ground.
Meanwhile, the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan's patriarch, Yu Yuanzhen, clashed with the Spirit Hall's Second Elder, Golden Crocodile Douluo. Both instantly activated their Martial Soul True Body—a spectacular duel between prehistoric titans.
The Golden Crocodile held a slight edge, his terrifying 100,000-year soul ring pulsing with power. But Yu Yuanzhen, having fully dragonized with the True Dragon Nine Crowns' enhancement, fought ferociously without yielding.
The most peculiar confrontation was between Fang Chang and Spirit Hall's Pope, Bibi Dong. Instead of explosive combat, they simply stood radiating soul power, probing each other's strength.
"I've long wanted to meet the legendary Spider God Envoy," Bibi Dong said coolly, her regal bearing making even Qian Renxue seem girlish in comparison. "To see what power lets you repeatedly thwart my plans."
Fang Chang remained still, whispering words only she could hear: "Your Holiness, if I'm not mistaken, you're at a critical juncture in inheriting the Rakshasa God's position, aren't you?"
Bibi Dong's pupils contracted. How could he know this?
"That's why you can't fight at full strength," Fang Chang continued smoothly. "I too have secrets—why don't we put on a show instead?"
Though Bibi Dong didn't respond, she stopped advancing, her oppressive aura diminishing slightly.
Smiling, Fang Chang activated his Spider God Domain—a swirling black energy barrier sealing them from outside observation.
Inside, Bibi Dong surveyed the domain disdainfully. "How did you learn this?"
"My methods are my own," Fang Chang evaded. "I know more—like how you poisoned Qian Xunji to death. And...everything between you two."
Murderous intent erupted from Bibi Dong, the sudden chill making Fang Chang shudder. These were her deepest shames and vulnerabilities.
"Don't be hasty, Your Holiness," Fang Chang said quickly. "Our goals align. I've no intention of exposing you."
Bibi Dong scoffed. "What common purpose? You play Spider God's Envoy while I remain Pope. Our paths don't cross."
Fang Chang knew she'd taken the bait.
"You seek three things: First, inheriting Rakshasa's throne. Second, reshaping the continent's power structure. Third..." He leaned closer. "Destroying the Spirit Hall and its angelic lineage. Am I wrong?"
Bibi Dong's grip loosened slightly. Even she hadn't articulated these ambitions so clearly.
"Then you?" she asked warily.
"Me?" Fang Chang's voice turned venomous. "Like you, I despise the current order. Hence the Spider God Church. And..." He smiled. "I've taken quite an interest in the Divine Realm myself."
Understanding dawned in Bibi Dong's eyes. So the cult was indeed his creation.
"We'll discuss details later," Fang Chang said as Bibi Dong suddenly lashed out with a soul power strike that narrowly missed him, blasting through the domain's walls.
To outside observers, the domain trembled violently—clearly housing a ferocious battle. Meanwhile, Fang Chang stomped, sending spiderweb cracks racing across the ground beyond their illusion.
Elsewhere on the battlefield, other clashes reached their climax...and the first Title Douluo had already fallen.