"I didn't expect you to know who I am!"
"But that doesn't matter. You're going to die anyway!"
As soon as he finished speaking, Soul Rings rose slowly one after another from beneath Zhongli Wu's feet.
His powerful aura continued to rise.
Unlike a normal Titled Douluo, Zhongli Wu had only two Soul Ring colors: black and red.
Even more astonishing, three of his rings were Hundred Thousand Year Red Soul Rings.
Seeing the colors of Zhongli Wu's Soul Rings, Giant Hammer Douluo and Xuanji Douluo both changed expressions.
Although Soul Ring color didn't represent everything, a Soul Ring's age was undeniable proof of a Soul Master's strength.
What was more, Zhongli Wu was an Evil Soul Master.
Everyone knew that Evil Soul Masters were far stronger in battle than Soul Masters of the same rank.
Gu Tian, however, had a strange look in his eyes. If he remembered correctly, Zhongli Wu's Soul Ring configuration shouldn't have been like this at this point in the story.
It seemed the Holy Spirit Cult had spent quite a bit of its accumulated strength to eliminate him, this great threat.
Zhongli Wu tapped the air with his right hand, and a black Soul Ring on his body instantly lit up.
Immediately afterward, a huge staff appeared in his hand.
The moment the staff appeared, a figure quietly rose behind Zhongli Wu.
The figure wasn't very large and seemed to be Zhongli Wu's shadow.
Yet the instant it appeared, everyone present felt a terrifying tightness in their chests, as if their hearts were being gripped.
Not only Giant Hammer Douluo and Xuanji Douluo—even the other four black-robed figures instinctively took a step back.
Zhongli Wu wasn't done. He tapped his staff against the air, and a deep roar rang out.
A massive beast's head appeared out of thin air in front of him.
It was unmistakably a dragon's skull, pitch-black from head to toe, yet glowing with a pale green light. Green flames danced in its eyes.
The moment it appeared, eerie winds began to howl through the air.
And that wasn't all. Its enormous body gradually materialized.
It was a pitch-black Bone Dragon radiating a terrifying aura.
As soon as it appeared, all kinds of strange visions flickered above the palace.
The shrill cries of countless Soul Beasts echoed through the air.
It seemed that the vengeful spirits of countless Soul Beasts were imprisoned there, left to scream in madness.
"How many Soul Beasts did it take to kill to make that thing?" Giant Hammer Douluo swallowed and muttered.
"They didn't just kill them. They tortured them to death. Otherwise, there wouldn't be this much resentment."
Xuanji Douluo watched warily. "Nothing but crooked, sinister methods!"
"That's right. I used those crooked methods and spent a full ten years capturing this dragon bone, whose dragon soul refused to die."
"Its power took me straight from Soul Douluo to Super Douluo, and earned me the position of Cult Master of the Holy Spirit Cult."
"Normally, I can't bear to use its power. After all, it's already my Life-Bound Beast Spirit, even a part of my martial soul."
Zhongli Wu let out a cold laugh, his voice low and chilling. "Today, I'll use the Bone Dragon King to end your lives. You should be proud!"
"Wind-Shattering Blade!"
At Zhongli Wu's command, the Bone Dragon King suddenly turned blue.
Massive blue blades of wind, several meters long and over a meter wide, hurtled in from every direction, converging on Gu Tian.
Amid a piercing series of blasts, the air split open in cracks, giving the impression that space itself was breaking apart.
"Not good!"
Xuanji Douluo reacted at once. He didn't even have time to use a soul skill before immediately taking the attack for Gu Tian.
"You blocked it. No wonder you're a veteran Titled Douluo renowned for your defense."
Zhongli Wu's expression didn't change. He waved a hand and said, "This barrier can probably hold for only three minutes. Everyone, kill that brat within that time!"
The black-robed figures showed no reaction, but Giant Hammer Douluo and Xuanji Douluo felt only despair.
They could clearly sense how terrifying each of the five opponents was. Their leader was so powerful, it was hard to believe.
Forget them—even if Azure Luan Douluo, the strongest person in the Star Luo Empire, were here, he might not be able to protect Gu Tian.
"Cult Master, we won't need five minutes."
One of the black-robed figures spoke with contempt. "I can take care of this kid right now."
In the next moment, his figure scattered into a flock of black crows.
The crows quickly gathered around Gu Tian.
Looking at Gu Tian, Dark Clouds narrowed his eyes, his gaze growing dangerous.
That mysterious Sky Curtain had already proven how dangerous this kid was. If he were allowed to grow, the whole Holy Spirit Cult would face annihilation in the future.
Dark Clouds slowly raised a hand and pointed at Gu Tian.
A flock of black crows swooped toward him.
"I won't let you hurt him while I'm still alive!"
Giant Hammer Douluo roared and swung his enormous hammer through the air at Dark Clouds.
"Don't forget, there are five of us."
Scorpion Tiger Douluo Zhang Peng brought his hands together in front of his chest, and a black sphere of light appeared between his palms.
At the same time, nine Soul Rings rose swiftly from beneath his feet: two yellow, two purple, and five black.
The nine rings took turns emitting a halo of light. The black sphere blocked Giant Hammer Douluo's attack.
On the other side, Xuanji Douluo was held back by Feng Ling, the Holy Spirit Cult's deputy Cult Master and Evil Phoenix Douluo.
"Huh?!"
A look of surprise flashed across Dark Clouds' face.
The boy, who had been standing there in a daze just moments ago, had suddenly raised his head and was staring at him coldly.
His black pupils gradually turned a regal gold.
His entire presence changed completely.
His eyes held no emotion at all, only utter indifference!
Under the unwavering gaze of those emotionless golden eyes, Dark Clouds froze in place, not daring to move a muscle.
"Something's wrong! Dark Clouds, what are you doing? Hurry up and attack!"
Sensing that something was amiss, Zhongli Wu's expression changed, and he shouted.
At the same time, the huge Bone Dragon let out a deep roar.
Its enormous head lifted, and it spat a blue sphere of light toward Gu Tian.
The sphere wasn't large—only about the size of a human head—and seemed absurdly small compared to the Bone Dragon's massive body. But its power was beyond question.
The violent, concentrated wind element could tear anything to shreds.
"Damn it!"
At Zhongli Wu's furious shout, Dark Clouds finally came back to his senses.
Facing those golden eyes that made him feel utterly incapable of resisting, Dark Clouds clenched his teeth until blood trickled from his mouth.
The intense pain finally allowed him to move again.
A black Soul Ring rose from beneath his feet.
Countless black crows gathered and appeared out of thin air.
They fused into an enormous black crow and charged toward Gu Tian.
Thick black mist rose from Dark Clouds' body and spread toward Gu Tian at the same time.
After what had just happened, Dark Clouds no longer underestimated Gu Tian. He struck with his strongest killing move right away.
Faced with the two attacks bearing down on him, Gu Tian remained utterly indifferent.
He seemed like a god high above, looking down upon all living beings.
A Golden Light Pillar shot into the sky.
At that moment, the entire starry sky seemed to dim, as if all its light had suddenly been drained away.
The blue sphere of light and the enormous black crow wreathed in black mist vanished the instant they touched the Golden Light Pillar!
The phantom of the Emperor Armor appeared behind Gu Tian.
Before you continue