Heavenly Dao Substitute!

"I didn't expect you to know me!"

"But it doesn't matter—you're going to die anyway!"

As his words fell, rings of soul rings rose slowly from beneath Zhongli Wu's feet.

A powerful aura continuously intensified.

Unlike ordinary Titled Douluo, Zhongli Wu's soul rings came in only two colors—black and red.

Among them, the Hundred Thousand Year Red Soul Rings numbered an astonishing three.

Seeing the colors of Zhongli Wu's soul rings, both Giant Hammer Douluo and Xuanji Douluo's expressions shifted.

Though soul ring color didn't determine everything, for a soul master, the age of one's soul rings was a solid proof of strength.

What's more, Zhongli Wu was an Evil Soul Master.

As everyone knew, Evil Soul Masters far surpassed soul masters of the same rank in combat power.

Gu Tian, however, had a flicker of surprise in his eyes. If he remembered correctly, Zhongli Wu's soul ring configuration hadn't been like this in the early stages.

It seemed that to eliminate him—this great thorn in their side—the Holy Spirit Cult had burned through quite a bit of their reserves.

Zhongli Wu tapped the air with his right hand, and a black soul ring on his body instantly flared.

Immediately after, a massive staff materialized in his hand.

The moment this staff appeared, a figure silently rose behind Zhongli Wu.

This figure didn't seem large—it appeared to be Zhongli Wu's shadow.

Yet, the instant that figure emerged, everyone present felt a gripping dread, as if their hearts were being squeezed.

Not just Giant Hammer Douluo and Xuanji Douluo—even the other four Black-Robed Persons instinctively stepped back.

Zhongli Wu wasn't done. He tapped the air again with his staff, and a low, rumbling roar echoed.

A massive beast's head materialized before him.

It was a dragon's skull, pitch-black like ink, but emanating an eerie green glow. Green flames danced in its dragon eyes.

The moment it appeared, gusts of chilling wind swept through the air above.

And it didn't stop there—its enormous body gradually took shape.

It was a jet-black bone dragon radiating a terrifying aura.

As it emerged, all sorts of strange phenomena flickered above the palace.

The agonized screams of countless soul beasts echoed through the air.

It felt as if the resentful spirits of innumerable soul beasts were trapped, howling in madness.

"How many soul beasts did he have to kill to achieve this?" Giant Hammer Douluo swallowed hard, muttering to himself.

"This isn't just killing—he tortured them to death. Otherwise, the resentment wouldn't be this intense."

Xuanji Douluo said warily, "All underhanded, crooked methods!"

"That's right. I used those very crooked methods, spending a full ten years, to capture this undying dragon soul within the bone."

"Its power forced me straight from Soul Douluo to Super Douluo, allowing me to succeed as the Holy Spirit Cult's Cult Master."

"On ordinary days, I'm reluctant to use its power—after all, it's already my Life-Bound Beast Spirit, even part of my martial soul."

Zhongli Wu let out a cold laugh, his voice low and icy: "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 cyan.

Massive cyan wind blades, several meters long and over a meter wide, converged from all directions to shred Gu Tian.

With ear-piercing explosions, the air split open in cracks, giving the impression of space shattering.

"Not good!"

Xuanji Douluo reacted quickly, not even having time to use a soul skill, and blocked the attack for Gu Tian first.

"Blocked it. As expected of an old-guard Titled Douluo famed for defense."

Seeing this, Zhongli Wu's expression didn't change. He waved his hand and said, "This light barrier can only hold for about three minutes. Everyone, make sure to completely annihilate this brat within that time."

Hearing this, the Black-Robed Persons showed little reaction, but Giant Hammer Douluo and Xuanji Douluo felt nothing but despair.

They could clearly sense that each of the five opponents was terrifying, and the leader was unfathomably strong.

Even if the Star Luo Empire's strongest, Azure Luan Douluo, were here, he might not be able to protect Gu Tian.

"Cult Master, we won't need five minutes."

One of the Black-Robed Persons said contemptuously, "I can finish this brat right now."

The next moment, his figure scattered into a flock of black crows.

Soon, the crows coalesced around Gu Tian.

Looking at Gu Tian, Dark Clouds narrowed his eyes, a dangerous glint growing within them.

The mysterious sky curtain had already proven it—this kid was far too dangerous. If allowed to grow, the entire Holy Spirit Cult would face utter annihilation.

Dark Clouds slowly raised his palm, his fingertip pointing at Gu Tian.

A flock of black crows lunged toward him.

"As long as I still draw breath, I won't let you harm him!"

Giant Hammer Douluo roared, controlling his enormous hammer to cleave through the air at Dark Clouds.

"Don't forget—there are five of us on this side."

Scorpion Tiger Douluo Zhang Peng clasped his hands before his chest, and a black light sphere instantly appeared between his palms.

At the same time, two yellow, two purple, and five black—nine soul rings swiftly rose from beneath his feet.

The nine soul rings pulsed with halos in turn, and the black light sphere blocked Giant Hammer Douluo's attack.

On the other side, Xuanji Douluo was also intercepted by the Holy Spirit Cult's deputy cult master, Evil Phoenix Douluo Feng Ling.

"Eh?!"

A flicker of surprise crossed Dark Clouds' face.

The kid who had been standing there dumbfounded suddenly lifted his head, his eyes coldly fixed on him.

His black pupils gradually transformed into a noble gold.

His entire aura underwent a cataclysmic shift.

In his gaze, there was no trace of emotion—only a chilling, detached indifference!

Locked in those emotionless golden eyes, Dark Clouds' body froze on the spot, unable to move an inch.

"Something's wrong. Dark Clouds, what are you doing? Strike now!"

Sensing the anomaly, Zhongli Wu's expression shifted as he barked out.

At the same time, the massive bone dragon let out a low, rumbling roar.

Then, its enormous head lifted, and it spat a cyan light sphere toward Gu Tian.

The cyan sphere was no larger than a human head, utterly mismatched with the dragon's colossal frame, but its power was beyond question.

The violent, condensed wind elements within could tear anything to shreds.

"Damn it!"

Hearing Zhongli Wu's shout, Dark Clouds finally snapped back to his senses.

Facing those golden pupils that crushed any will to resist, Dark Clouds gritted his teeth, blood seeping from his lips.

The sharp pain finally allowed his body to move.

A black soul ring rippled up from his feet.

Countless black crows coalesced, materializing out of thin air.

They merged into a single, colossal black crow that hurtled toward Gu Tian.

Thick black mist surged from Dark Clouds' body, spreading toward Gu Tian as well.

After that eerie experience moments ago, Dark Clouds no longer held any trace of contempt—his opening move was his deadliest killing strike.

Facing the two incoming lethal attacks, Gu Tian remained as indifferent as ever.

Like a lofty god gazing down upon the mortal masses.

A golden light pillar shot into the sky.

In that instant, the entire starry sky seemed to dim, as if all light had been abruptly drained away.

The cyan light sphere and the massive black crow wreathed in mist were annihilated the moment they touched the golden pillar!

The phantom of the Emperor Armor materialized behind Gu Tian.