Dai Mubai only felt a sharp pain shoot through his wrist.
Then an overwhelming force slammed into him, forcing him to release his grip and stagger backward.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
Dai Mubai retreated three steps in a row, each one leaving a deep crack in the hard floor before he barely managed to steady himself.
At this moment.
The middle-aged merchant who had nearly lost his life had already collapsed to the floor, gasping heavily, his entire body drenched in cold sweat.
Several nearby diners reacted quickly and hurried forward to help the merchant up, dragging and pulling him behind the crowd.
A figure now stood in the center of the hall.
Li Bai held a wine gourd in one hand and a longsword in the other, his robes fluttering as though an immortal had descended upon the mortal world.
He did not look at the merchant he had saved. His slightly drunken gaze merely settled on Dai Mubai.
"Who are you?"
Dai Mubai shook his slightly numb wrist, murderous light flashing in his mismatched evil eyes.
He stared fixedly at the White-robed Swordsman who had suddenly appeared before him.
That strike had not injured his bones or tendons, but the sharpness within it had made him extremely uncomfortable.
It felt as though he had been targeted by a venomous snake.
However.
When he saw clearly that the sword in Li Bai's hand was not some precious martial soul, and that not even a single Soul Ring was displayed around him, much of his vigilance immediately faded.
On Douluo Continent, Soul Power Level decided everything.
What ability could someone who did not even dare fully release his martial soul possibly possess?
"You've got some skill."
Dai Mubai straightened up, crossed his arms, and slightly raised his chin, returning to his arrogant appearance.
He sized Li Bai up and down as though he were looking at a somewhat stronger ant.
"What?"
"Other than those performers, does this shabby restaurant in Chang'an City also keep thugs like you?"
"Dressed like that, are you trying to play the hero and save the beauty?"
Dai Mubai's words were filled with provocation.
He despised people who put on such an act.
In his eyes, this man merely wanted to show off in front of Yang Guifei.
Li Bai tilted his head back and took a swig of wine.
The fiery liquor rolled down his throat, and he contentedly exhaled a breath of alcohol.
Then.
He finally looked casually at Dai Mubai, his voice cold and clear.
"This is Taibai Restaurant."
"Not some brothel for spoiled playboys like you to chase women."
"Get out."
Li Bai's words were brief and forceful, without the slightest courtesy.
He had never held any fondness for spoiled young masters who bullied others with their power.
If not for the adult's instructions to avoid causing trouble in the city whenever possible, that sword strike just now would have severed more than merely a strand of Soul Power. It would have severed Dai Mubai's hand.
Hearing this, Dai Mubai was not angered. Instead, he seemed to have heard something even more amusing.
He extended a finger and dug at his ear.
"You want me to get out?"
"Do you know who I am?"
"In the Heaven Dou Empire, no one has ever dared speak to me like that."
Li Bai frowned slightly, clearly growing impatient.
The longsword in his hand rose slightly, its tip pointing directly at Dai Mubai.
"I don't care who you are."
"Now. Immediately. This instant."
"Apologize to Boss Yang."
"Otherwise, you won't be walking out of this door today."
Although Li Bai's voice was calm, the resolve within it was beyond question.
Yang Guifei was not only the restaurant's proprietor, but also the adult's friend.
How could he allow an outsider to humiliate her like this?
"Apologize?"
Dai Mubai seemed to have heard the most absurd joke in the world and could not help bursting into laughter.
"Hahahaha!"
"You want me to apologize to a performer?"
"Is something wrong with your brain?"
His laughter came to an abrupt stop.
The expression on Dai Mubai's face instantly turned incomparably savage.
"Fine!"
"Since you want to die, This Young Master will grant your wish!"
"I'll show you what true power is!"
Boom!
Before his words had even faded.
A wave of Soul Power even more violent than before erupted from Dai Mubai's body.
His body swelled again, muscles bulging as his clothes stretched tight enough to tear.
At the same time.
Brilliant rings of light slowly rose from beneath his feet.
A full nine Soul Rings!
Their dazzling radiance instantly illuminated the entire dim hall.
A Titled Douluo!
That was Dai Mubai's current strength.
After returning from training on Sea God Island, coupled with all kinds of fortuitous encounters, he had long since crossed the threshold that ordinary people found impossible to reach.
Nine rings emerged at once, his pressure overwhelming the world.
How could the ordinary diners nearby have ever witnessed such a spectacle?
Their faces turned pale with fright as they hurriedly backed away, terrified of being caught in that horrifying pressure.
"Heavens! Nine rings!"
"Is this the legendary Titled Douluo?"
"It's over, it's over! They've really kicked an iron plate this time!"
Cries of alarm rose from the crowd.
To ordinary people, a Titled Douluo was a godlike existence, invincible and unbeatable.
Dai Mubai greatly enjoyed this feeling of being feared.
Looking at everyone's terrified expressions, the vanity in his heart was immensely satisfied.
However.
Amid all this panic and confusion.
Several Old Regulars who frequently came to the restaurant to drink did not show much fear on their faces.
One elderly man in coarse cloth garments even continued leisurely cracking sunflower seeds as he said with a smiling expression:
"A Titled Douluo?"
"Oh my, what impressive prestige."
"These days, how can any random cat or dog become a Titled Douluo?"
Another burly man chimed in:
"Exactly."
"Don't you know what kind of place this is?"
"Causing trouble at Taibai Restaurant? Aren't you afraid the wind will make your tongue slip?"
"Forget a Titled Douluo. Even if a god came, he'd have to behave himself!"
These Old Neighbors had watched Chang'an City develop step by step.
They had witnessed far too many unbelievable things.
To say nothing of anything else.
Just a few days ago, wasn't the person who had come to cause trouble also a Titled Douluo?
And what happened?
Miss Gongsun Li had sent him flying with a single swing of her umbrella, and no one even knew which tree he was hanging from now.
Therefore.
They did not feel particularly despairing over the strength Dai Mubai had displayed.
Instead, they all wore expressions as though waiting to enjoy a show.
Hearing these remarks, Dai Mubai's face instantly darkened.
These lowly peasants!
How dare they look down on him like this?
"Fine! Very fine!"
"Since you want to die, I'll kill this ignorant brat first, then crush every one of you to death!"
Dai Mubai roared and was just about to make his move.
At that moment.
Li Bai moved.
He neither retreated nor dodged.
He merely gave the longsword in his hand a light shake.
Buzz!
The sword rang once more.
An aura rose from his body. It was not as violent as Dai Mubai's, but it was purer and sharper.
Immediately afterward.
Before everyone's stunned eyes.
Soul Rings rose one after another from beneath Li Bai's feet.
Purple!
The first Soul Ring was purple!
A Thousand-Year Soul Ring!
Seeing this, Dai Mubai's eyelid twitched violently.
How was that possible?
His first Soul Ring was already a Thousand-Year Soul Ring? This completely defied the common knowledge of the Soul Master World!