Intended to Capture the Leader, but Three Flies Got in the Way!

"Supreme Elder Taotie of the Holy Spirit Sect?"

Upon hearing this title, Jing Hongchen's heart felt as if it had been gripped tightly by an invisible giant hand! How could anyone know about the Holy Spirit Sect?

The Holy Spirit Sect!

To the vast majority of people on the Douluo Continent, this name was an unfamiliar term. But to Jing Hongchen, a high-ranking official of the Sun Moon Empire and the Hall Master of Mingde Hall, he knew all too well what these three words represented!

It was a terrifying organization composed of the most evil and insane Evil Soul Masters! It was also one of the Sun Moon Empire's most important "partners" in the shadows! It was even the state-protecting religion of the Sun Moon Empire!

This matter was the highest secret within the empire! Aside from a mere handful of people, no one knew of it! The empire's goal was to use them to disrupt the landscape of the continent, but they had never intended to truly bring this group of lunatics out into the open.

However, the person before him—who should have been Xuan Zi, an elder of Shrek Academy—had not only transformed into this appearance reeking of evil, but had also directly spoken of the existence of the "Holy Spirit Sect," and even claimed to be its "Supreme Elder"?

Could it be... that the Holy Spirit Sect had successfully recruited him?

Countless thoughts flashed through Jing Hongchen's mind, leaving him momentarily dazed.

Just then, an extremely faint yet exceptionally clear mental fluctuation quietly entered his mind.

"Senior."

It was the voice of Huo Hao! His tone was as calm as ever.

"Based on my observations and conjectures, this Xuan Zi before us is very likely, just like us, one who was separated after jumping into that Divine River. He is not the Xuan Zi of Shrek Academy."

So that was it!

He looked abruptly toward the calm little river, a flash of realization and wariness crossing his eyes.

Could this river actually split even an existence like Xuan Zi into three?

If what Huo Hao said was true, then the "Holy Spirit Sect" represented by this Xuan Zi who called himself "Taotie of the Holy Spirit Sect" might very well not be the same one he knew! An uncontrolled Evil Soul Master—this was a huge problem!

Jing Hongchen's expression turned incomparably grave in an instant. Just as he was about to speak, the evil-qi-filled Xuan Zi opposite him had already lost all patience!

"Hehehe... what are you waiting for? Since you are unwilling to submit, then become my nourishment!"

With a sinister laugh, the evil-qi-filled Xuan Zi moved!

His withered figure seemed to tear through space, appearing instantly before Jing Hongchen!

There were no flashy Soul Skills, just a withered claw wrapped in dense black qi, reaching straight for Jing Hongchen's heart!

He saw it very clearly: among those present, only Jing Hongchen could pose a slight threat to him. Capture the leader first to capture the rest!

This claw was unimaginably fast! In the blink of an eye, it had arrived right in front of Jing Hongchen.

So fast!

Jing Hongchen's pupils constricted, but as a level 94 Titled Douluo standing at the pinnacle of the continent, his combat instincts were already etched into his marrow!

"Clang!"

At the critical moment, an invisible dark red light barrier instantly enveloped his entire body—a level 9 triggered defensive Soul Tool, Hongchen's Protection!

"Boom—!"

Evil Qi Xuan Zi's claws slammed fiercely into the light barrier, erupting with a deafening roar! A violent shockwave exploded outward from the center of the two, sending the surrounding guards stumbling and reeling!

Jing Hongchen felt an irresistible force surge from the light barrier. His entire body slid backward uncontrollably for over ten meters, his feet plowing two deep trenches into the ground!

He was horrified!

This power... it was so strong! It was far more formidable than even Xuan Zi from Shrek Academy!

"All of you, fall back! This is not a place for you to intervene!"

Jing Hongchen shouted sternly to the people behind him.

Xiao Hongchen and Meng Hongchen turned deathly pale. They knew very well that in a battle of this level, staying behind would only make them a burden to their grandfather.

Xiao Hongchen made a prompt decision, pulling his sister, who still wanted to say something, and leading all the guards to retreat rapidly into the distance.

However, the three Huo Yuhao brothers did not move.

"Senior, we might be able to help a little!"

Huo Yuhao's clear voice rang out, and immediately after, his eyes lit up with a brilliant purple-gold radiance!

Spiritual Detection Sharing!

In an instant, an incredibly clear, three-dimensional, all-encompassing map of the battlefield was projected directly into Jing Hongchen's mind!

This is...

Jing Hongchen was greatly shocked!

Although the range was not large, in the current situation, even the slightest bit of help was immensely important!

"Heh heh, interesting little bugs!"

Evil Qi Xuan Zi sneered, and the fifth soul ring behind him shone brilliantly!

"Fifth Soul Skill, Taotie's Devour!"

A massive phantom of a Taotie, composed of pure black energy, emerged behind him. It opened its blood-red maw, and a terrifying suction force instantly enveloped the entire scene! It was as if it intended to devour everything in heaven and earth!

Jing Hongchen felt his soul power flowing outward uncontrollably, and his expression changed instantly!

At this critical moment—

"Freeze!"

Huo Hao let out a cold shout. Deep within his eyes, two gray shackles seemed to flash and vanish!

The terrifying suction force that had enveloped the entire field actually stalled for a fraction of a second! The movements of Evil Qi Xuan Zi also stiffened for an instant!

Although it was extremely brief, for a powerhouse like Jing Hongchen, it was enough!

"Now!"

Jing Hongchen seized this fleeting opportunity. The terrifying aura belonging to a level 94 Power Attack System Titled Douluo erupted from his body! The seventh soul ring on his body suddenly shone with dazzling light!

"Seventh Soul Skill, Toad True Body!"

With a low roar, Jing Hongchen's body expanded rapidly under the shroud of his soul power. In the blink of an eye, a toad over fifteen meters long, dark gold in color and covered in massive warts, appeared on the battlefield!

He swung his palm fiercely, and an eighth-level melee soul tool, the Sword of Judgment, appeared in his hand.

However, Evil Qi Xuan Zi's reaction was even faster!

He broke free from the restraint almost the moment he was imprisoned. Facing the incoming Sword of Judgment, a trace of disdain flashed in his eyes.

Just as he prepared to take the blow head-on, an invisible mental impact slammed hard into his Sea of Consciousness once again!

It was Huo Yu! His eyes lit up with an eerie glow. With the precise positioning provided by Huo Yuhao's Mental Sharing, his mental attack hit the target accurately!

Evil Qi Xuan Zi's figure swayed once more, and the look of brutality in his eyes grew even more intense!

Three annoying flies!

Although their attacks could not cause him any substantial damage, this series of constant interference made him feel irritable!

It was precisely this moment of irritability and hesitation that allowed Jing Hongchen's attack to land on Xuan Zi!

"BOOM—!"

The Sword of Judgment, with the force of splitting heaven and earth, struck solidly against the Taotie phantom that Evil Qi Xuan Zi had hastily condensed!

This time, it was not as effortless as before.

"CRACK—!"

On the Taotie phantom, a clear crack appeared exactly where the Sword of Judgment had struck!

Evil Qi Xuan Zi himself let out a muffled groan. For the first time, his figure was forced back half a step by a direct hit, and much of the black energy swirling around his arm was scattered!

The soul skills displayed by these three youths were truly divine, serving as perfect support. It gave Jing Hongchen the feeling that he had struck gold.

"Very well... you... have successfully angered me!"

The scarlet gaze of Evil Qi Xuan Zi bypassed Jing Hongchen and locked firmly onto the three Huo brothers.

"Three little flies... you are truly annoying!"

In his eyes, if not for the repeated interference of these three little brats, he would never have been injured!

He would make them pay the most miserable price!

"Die!"

He let out a furious roar, and his figure vanished from the spot in an instant!

His target was no longer Jing Hongchen, but the three brothers!

In almost a heartbeat, his gaunt figure crossed a distance of a hundred meters and appeared before the three Huo brothers!

That terrifying sharp claw, carrying an aura of absolute destruction, struck down ruthlessly toward the tops of their heads!