Azure Dragon--Falling Devil

"Ghost Douluo, you have followed me all this way. Aren't you tired?"

"Why not show yourself and have a chat?"

The night wind wailed, shadows of trees swayed, but no one answered. There was only deathly silence.

"Ah..." Zhao Linchuan sighed in feigned regret and made as if to turn away. "Since Your Excellency is unwilling to grant me an audience, I can only take my leave first."

"If I leave now, then when you wish to pursue me again... I fear it will be too late."

Before his words had faded, the dense shadows seemed to come alive, rippling like water.

A figure completely enveloped in a pitch-black cloak slowly "flowed" out, his aura as chilling as the cold depths of the Nine Netherworlds. It was Ghost Douluo, Ghost Charm!

He folded his arms across his chest. The shadows beneath his hood concealed his face, leaving only two icy gazes that fixed on Zhao Linchuan as though tangible. He said nothing.

"Ghost Douluo came all this way after me. Do you need something from me?" Zhao Linchuan knowingly asked, his tone relaxed.

"Yes." Ghost Charm's voice was dry and cold, like sandpaper scraping. "One move. Take it, or evade it."

"You live." The words were concise, yet carried an unquestionable finality.

He had come under Pope Qian Xunji's secret orders to eliminate any extraordinary man from outside who might draw Saintess Bibi Dong's special attention.

Killing him outright would certainly be simple, but the Saintess was highly likely to ascend to the Pope's Seat in the future. Making an enemy of her over this would bring endless trouble.

This "one-move agreement" was the "way out" he had offered after weighing his options, as well as a test.

"So, today's trouble was unavoidable after all." Zhao Linchuan shook his head. There was no fear in his eyes; instead, they flashed with eager anticipation.

"Then let me witness the methods of a Titled Douluo!"

The instant he spoke, Azure Blue Lightning surged from Zhao Linchuan's palm. The Azure Light Demon-Slaying Sword hummed as it formed in an instant!

At the same time, an irresistible Azure Blue Domain erupted around him.

Like an invisible tide, it swept through the surroundings in an instant. Grass and trees bowed beneath it, and even the air seemed to turn viscous and oppressive as it pressed straight toward Ghost Charm.

"Hm?" The instant the domain reached him, Ghost Charm's gaze beneath his hood sharpened slightly.

This domain... was pure and vast, and it actually suppressed his Netherworld Ghost Qi!

This boy truly was extraordinary!

If they did not have to become enemies... In the blink of an eye, Ghost Charm had made his decision.

The corner of Ghost Charm's mouth curved into an almost imperceptible smile, and his voice abruptly turned sinister. "Ninth Soul Skill--Hellish Specter!"

In an instant, the shadows around him churned violently as Dark Energy, dense enough to seem tangible, gathered.

Accompanied by a shrill, bloodcurdling howl, a massive Evil Spirit formed from pure darkness and resentment struggled its way out from the shadows beneath the earth!

Its form was illusory, yet it radiated an evil aura that made souls tremble. Wherever it passed, vegetation instantly withered, and the earth was stained a deathly gray-white!

Ghost Charm had used only seventy percent of his Soul Power.

In his view, given the strength Zhao Linchuan had displayed earlier, combined with this peculiar domain, Zhao Linchuan should be able to withstand this weakened Ninth Soul Skill if he went all out and unleashed his Martial Soul Avatar. He would be seriously injured, but his life should not be in danger.

This was the "opportunity" he had given him.

"Hey, Ghost Douluo sure thinks highly of me. He used his trump-card Ninth Soul Skill right from the start!" Zhao Linchuan laughed aloud. He naturally saw that the other man was holding back, but he likewise had no intention of revealing all his cards.

Facing the terrifying Evil Spirit rushing toward him, a sharp light burst from his eyes, and the longsword in his hand hummed and trembled.

"Azure Dragon--"

With a clear cry, invisible steps seemed to form beneath his feet in the empty air!

His entire body transformed into a spinning tornado of Azure Lightning!

Countless violent azure electric snakes danced and gathered wildly around him!

The Azure Light Demon-Slaying Sword became the dragon's head, Zhao Linchuan's figure merged into it, and a massive Azure Divine Dragon emerged—lifelike, majestic, sacred, and composed entirely of raging lightning.

"--Falling Devil!!!"

As his words fell, the Azure Divine Dragon roared toward the heavens. Carrying lightning with the force of ten thousand tons and supreme majesty capable of suppressing all demons, it crashed fiercely into the Hellish Specter!

Rumble--!!!

A deafening explosion erupted across the wilderness!

Azure lightning and pitch-black resentment collided and annihilated each other madly.

Blinding light turned the surroundings bright as day. Violent shockwaves spread outward in rings, carving deep trenches into the ground, snapping trees, and sending grass clippings flying everywhere.

The stalemate lasted only an instant.

The next moment, before Ghost Charm's disbelieving eyes, the azure thunder dragon tore apart the Evil Spirit's body with devastating force!

Countless shrieking vengeful souls wailed as they turned into wisps of smoke beneath the pure lightning.

The pitch-black specter was like ice and snow cast into the blazing sun. It exploded apart within the dazzling azure lightning and was completely annihilated!

As the light faded, Zhao Linchuan landed gracefully, his robes fluttering. He was completely unscathed.

With a flick of his wrist, he spun the sword in a beautiful flourish. The Azure Light Demon-Slaying Sword gave a clear Sword Cry before slowly dispersing into his palm.

Ghost Charm remained where he stood, the shadows beneath his hood concealing his shocked expression.

He could clearly sense that his Ninth Soul Skill, containing seventy percent of his Soul Power, had actually been shattered head-on by the other's Self-Created Soul Skill, which was not even a Spirit Skill!

Even if the other had used all his strength, Ghost Charm was still a Titled Douluo. Yet this result... meant that he had lost by half a move?

Silence spread through the wilderness, broken only by the night wind's mournful howl over the scorched earth.

After a long while, Ghost Charm's dry, cold voice sounded again, carrying an almost imperceptible tremor. "That was... a Self-Created Soul Skill?"

Zhao Linchuan's breathing remained steady as he nodded calmly. "More or less."

Another moment of silence passed. Ghost Charm's gaze rested on Zhao Linchuan for a long time, as if trying to see through him completely. In the end, he slowly uttered several words. "You... are truly remarkable."

"Hehe, I was merely lucky." Zhao Linchuan's tone was modest, neither arrogant nor impatient.

"If Ghost Douluo has no further guidance," Zhao Linchuan said, changing the subject as he raised a hand to point at a shadow behind them, "then I must go deal with some personal matters."

"After all, someone has been 'watching the battle' from the sidelines for quite a while. He should give us an explanation, shouldn't he?"

At those words, Ghost Charm slowly turned his head. His icy gaze became like tangible sharp blades as it pierced toward the direction Zhao Linchuan indicated.

He had discovered that sneaky Soul Douluo long ago. He simply had not bothered with him before.

Locked onto by the gaze of a Titled Douluo, the person in the shadows could no longer remain hidden.

A middle-aged man in dark fitted clothes, with a sharp and capable face, slowly stepped out, his expression carrying both awkwardness and reverence.

He first bowed deeply to Ghost Charm, humbling himself to the utmost. "I am Wei Chang, the humble guardian of the Litang Great Soul Arena."

"I merely happened to pass through this place and disturbed Your Excellency's enjoyment. I hope Ghost Douluo will be magnanimous."

As he spoke, his gaze remained lowered. He did not dare look at Zhao Linchuan beside him even once.

In his eyes, everyone below a Soul Douluo was an ant. Zhao Linchuan simply was not worth his attention. (This is not a bug; Douluo Continent really is like this. I do not know whether they are sick in the head.)