Tang Hao's Assault, Xue Ke's Disappearance

The arrangements at Shrek Academy had been preliminarily completed, and there was no need to remain any longer. On the morning after Ning and Zhu's visit, Xue Ke packed her things and left Shrek Academy.

At that moment, Xue Ke was walking through the outskirts, heading toward Suotuo City.

Suddenly, Xue Ke felt a chill run down her spine. Alarm bells rang in her heart as she sensed that she was being watched by an invisible hungry wolf.

A black-robed figure slowly emerged from the dense woods ahead. He was tall and wore a black hood over his head, concealing his features, though it was obvious that he was a man.

Cold sweat poured from Xue Ke's brow. A person immediately surfaced in her mind, and she felt her entire body trembling uncontrollably.

The black-robed man stopped three meters in front of Xue Ke. His exposed eyes stared fixedly at her, calm and unruffled like an ancient well. He said flatly, "I have been waiting for you for a long time, Princess."

"May I ask what advice you have for me, Senior?" Xue Ke took a deep breath and forced herself to calm down, while her mind raced to devise a response.

"Little girl, you had quite a good time beating my son at the Spirit Fighting Arena a few days ago, didn't you? You even crippled my son's Eight Spider Lances. I never expected someone so young to be so vicious and ruthless. If you were allowed to grow, you would surely become a menace. Today, I will make you pay for what you have done!"

After hearing the black-robed man's words, Xue Ke abandoned the last trace of hope in her heart. She confirmed that the person before her was Clear Sky Douluo, the ruthless man who even dared hammer the Pope.

"Senior, spare me your self-righteous posturing. The conflict between Tang San and me was a matter between juniors. Now you have suddenly appeared to avenge your son. Is that not simply using strength to bully the weak and using your age to suppress the young? If the million-strong army of the Heaven Dou Empire were here, would you still dare act so brazenly?"

As Xue Ke spoke, she secretly circulated the cultivation method of the Sunflower Scripture with all her strength, hoping to buy herself a little more time with her words.

"Little girl, do not think you can frighten me with the Heaven Dou Empire. I do not even fear the Pope; would I fear a mere Heaven Dou Empire? Today, I am going to use strength to bully the weak and my age to suppress the young. What can you do about it?"

"If the young one is beaten, the old one will naturally step forward to demand an explanation. That is simply the natural order of things. I will give you one minute to leave your final words. Otherwise, once I make my move, you will have no chance to speak again."

By now, Xue Ke had cursed Tang Hao's ancestors for eighteen generations in her heart. Though her fury burned, she was powerless to do anything.

Xue Ke suddenly realized how weak she was. The pride and smug satisfaction she had felt these past few days after defeating and toying with Tang San vanished without a trace. Before a true powerhouse, she was still far too weak!

"What, do you have nothing left to say? Then be on your way!"

A black light condensed in Tang Hao's right hand, forming a massive iron hammer that was black from end to end. Tang Hao did not release his soul rings, nor did he deign to use any soul skills. In his eyes, there was no need for any soul skill at all. He could crush Xue Ke into pulp with one hammer blow as easily as squashing an ant.

The next moment, Tang Hao swung the hammer in one hand and smashed it toward Xue Ke.

"Puh—" The Golden Bell Shield shattered with a thunderous crash. Xue Ke spat out blood and was sent flying, finally slamming brutally into the ground.

"Cough, cough, cough!" Xue Ke felt as if her internal organs had all shifted out of place, as though her entire body were about to fall apart.

"Hmm? She did not die?" A flicker of surprise flashed through Tang Hao's eyes. He immediately raised his hammer again and smashed it toward Xue Ke.

"Tang Hao, I will repay today's grudge someday! Just wait for me!"

Black energy surged around Xue Ke's body. A two-meter-wide black hole suddenly appeared behind her, and Xue Ke transformed into a cloud of black mist that was instantly sucked into it.

"Boom—" The enormous hammer slammed into the spot where Xue Ke had been, leaving behind a terrifying crater in the ground. Dust filled the air, but Xue Ke had already vanished.

"What!" Tang Hao withdrew the Clear Sky Hammer and stared fixedly at the empty crater, his eyes brimming with killing intent.

Tang Hao had intended to kill Xue Ke without anyone knowing and avenge Tang San, but he had never expected that he, the dignified Clear Sky Douluo, would fail. The Heaven Dou Empire would likely not let him off easily.

"As long as this girl lives, Tang Father and Son may face great disaster in the future! Since this enmity has already been forged, it will not end until one side is dead! Do not let me find another chance to kill you. Next time, you will not be so lucky!"

Outside the hotel where the Imperial Fighting Team was staying in Suotuo City.

"Why has Xue Ke not come yet? She said she would return to the academy today. Could she have overslept? But it is already noon!" Dugu Yan looked around for Xue Ke's figure, anxiously stamping her feet.

"Sister Yan, do not worry yet. How about I go to Shrek Academy and take a look first?" Yufeng suggested.

"Alright, hurry and go!"

Yufeng used Martial Soul Possession and hurried toward Shrek Academy.

"What! Xue Ke left Shrek Academy early this morning?" After hearing the news Yufeng had brought back from Shrek Academy, Dugu Yan cried out in alarm.

"Could something have happened to Xue Ke? It is almost afternoon already! Even if she went shopping alone, she would not have wandered around this long without sending any word." Dugu Yan was deeply worried, her elegant brows tightly furrowed.

"How about this? We will split up and search through Suotuo City. Yufeng, go to the city gate and ask the guards on duty whether they saw Xue Ke enter the city." Qin Ming said to the members of the Imperial Fighting Team.

However, after searching Suotuo City for an entire day, they still found no trace of Xue Ke. Yufeng also learned from the guards at the city gate that Xue Ke had not entered the city.

Then, at Qin Ming's suggestion, they searched along the road connecting Suotuo City and Shrek Academy. At last, they discovered the enormous crater Tang Hao had left behind in a dense forest. There was also a large patch of long-congealed blood nearby. It was obvious that a battle had taken place here.

"This is Xue Ke's bracelet!" Dugu Yan felt as though she had stepped on something. When she picked it up, she discovered that it was the bracelet she had given Xue Ke.

"Could it be that Xue Ke was attacked and has already been reduced to nothing but dust?" Dugu Yan stared blankly at the bracelet and muttered to herself, grief filling her heart. Everyone present fell silent. That mischievous Princess Xue Ke was likely in grave danger.

"I will report this matter to the academy and the Heaven Dou Imperial Family and conduct a full investigation for the culprit! There is no need for everyone to be so pessimistic. Perhaps the situation is not as terrible as we imagine. Princess Xue Ke may still be alive," Qin Ming comforted them.

Three more days passed, yet there was still no news of Xue Ke.

With heavy hearts, the members of the Imperial Fighting Team had no choice but to leave Suotuo City first. At the same time, they notified the city lord to immediately send someone to Heaven Dou City to report if there was any news of Xue Ke.

Suotuo City, Spirit Hall Branch.

"When will Ma Hongjun enter the city?" a tall, thin middle-aged man asked.

"According to the scouts' reports, Ma Hongjun comes to Suotuo City about once every half month. The place he visits most often is the brothels on East Street."

"Keep a close watch on him. This is an order from above. If we fail to handle this matter properly, neither of us will keep our lives!"