Canyon Encounter

The Heaven Dou Empire's team had clearly recognized the identity of that Spirit Hall convoy.

The several Soul Saint experts leading the team exchanged a glance, signaling the guards to remain vigilant, but they did not take the initiative to provoke them.

After all, although Spirit Hall was powerful, neither side could conveniently start a conflict in public.

The two convoys met in the middle of the canyon.

The narrow canyon path forced both teams to slow down as they gradually passed one another.

Lan Aotian was still sitting on the carriage shaft, his expression calm.

His gaze swept over the crowd and once again fell on Tang San.

This time, they were closer.

He could clearly sense the Blue Silver Emperor Bloodline within Tang San's body. It had yet to awaken, sleeping deep within his Martial Soul like a treasure sealed away by dust.

Unfortunately, that treasure could never truly belong to him.

The Old Emperor was dead.

The New Emperor had been established.

The uniqueness of the Blue Silver Emperor had already been claimed by him.

Even if Tang San awakened the Blue Silver Emperor Bloodline in the future, he would only be Quasi-Emperor Rank, forever unable to reach the true level of an emperor.

Unless he died.

Tang San was also looking at him at that moment.

That gaze was far too intense, so intense that Tang San could not ignore it at all.

He saw a Young Man who appeared to be barely over twenty, sitting in an ordinary carriage belonging to the Spirit Hall convoy.

The man wore a Deep Blue Jinzhuang. His features were almost excessively handsome, and his blue hair drifted gently in the canyon breeze.

The man's gaze was calm, almost indifferent.

Yet those calm Eyes made Tang San feel an indescribable pressure.

It was as if something ancient and profound beyond his understanding was hidden beneath that calmness.

Even stranger, as the distance between them closed, the throbbing in his chest grew stronger and stronger!

It was as if his blood were burning, as if something within his body were crying out madly!

He subconsciously clenched his fist, his fingernails digging into his palm.

"Xiao San?" Xiao Wu noticed something strange about him and grew even more worried.

Tang San drew a deep breath and forced himself to look away.

"I'm fine."

His voice was somewhat hoarse.

The two convoys passed one another.

Lan Aotian withdrew his gaze, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly.

Tang San.

So this was the Old Emperor's son.

His talent was decent, and his temperament was sufficiently tenacious. No wonder he was the Child of Destiny in the Original Work.

Unfortunately, he had encountered him.

The carriage continued forward, and soon left the Heaven Dou Empire's team behind.

Claude rode over to Lan Aotian's side and lowered his voice. "Your Majesty, that blue-haired youth just now was Tang San. Tang Hao's son, the wielder of Twin Martial Souls, and the Dark Horse of this tournament."

Lan Aotian nodded without saying anything.

Claude probed, "Your Majesty, should we... keep an eye on this person?"

Lan Aotian glanced at him and said indifferently, "He's merely a Soul Ancestor. What is there to keep an eye on?"

Claude hurriedly acknowledged his words and did not dare ask anything else.

Yet he felt somewhat puzzled.

The way His Majesty had looked at Tang San just now seemed... rather unusual.

It was an implication he could neither explain nor understand.

It was as if he were looking at an... old acquaintance?

No, that wasn't right.

It was more like he was looking at someone... destined to be connected to him.

Claude shook his head, casting these wild thoughts from his mind.

His Majesty's thoughts were not something he could presume to fathom.

The exit of Rift Canyon was already before them.

Sunlight poured down from the end of the canyon, dispelling the gloom within.

In the distant plains, the white walls of Spirit City could faintly be seen, gleaming brilliantly beneath the sunlight.

Lan Aotian sat on the carriage shaft, gazing at the towering city, his eyes deep and unreadable.

It was almost time.

As long as they left this canyon, they would enter Spirit Hall's core sphere of influence.

Even if those forces hidden in the shadows were emboldened, they would not dare act under Spirit Hall's very eyes.

However, just as the convoy was about to leave the canyon—

Rumble!

A violent roar came from overhead!

Countless boulders rolled down from the cliff faces on both sides of the canyon, smashing into the ground and sending dust billowing into the sky!

The entire canyon passage was instantly sealed by the boulders, cutting off their path ahead!

"Enemy attack! Stay alert!"

Claude shouted himself hoarse as he instantly released his Martial Soul. Seven Soul Rings lit up!

Yet before his voice had even faded, countless black figures had already charged out from the shadows on both sides of the canyon!

These people all wore uniform black Jinzhuang and had their faces covered with Black Cloth, revealing only pairs of icy Eyes.

They did not release their Martial Souls, but the sharp killing intent radiating from them was enough to make one shudder!

Moreover—

There were an enormous number of them!

At least over two hundred!

Their Soul Power fluctuations ranged from Soul Elder to Soul Saint, and they surrounded the convoy in a fan-shaped formation!

"Damn it! Them again!"

Bishop Jason cursed as he raised his Flame Longsword before him.

Lan Aotian slowly rose to his feet, his gaze passing over the black-clothed men and landing deep within the canyon.

There were faintly several even more concealed presences lurking there.

Soul Douluo.

At least three of them.

And farther away, there were two more auras... absurdly powerful.

Title Douluo.

The corners of Lan Aotian's mouth lifted slightly.

As expected, the other side was getting desperate.

At the final moment before reaching Spirit City, they had finally deployed their true trump cards.

At that moment, the other end of the canyon had likewise fallen into chaos.

The boulders had also cut off the Heaven Dou Empire team's path ahead!

Countless black-clothed men surged out from all directions, pouncing straight at the fifteen Competition Teams!

But their target was extremely clear—Shrek Academy!

"Protect the students!"

The Soul Saint experts leading the team shouted sharply. The soldiers of the Royal Knights quickly formed a battle formation, attempting to intercept the black-clothed men.

However, those black-clothed men were overwhelmingly powerful. The weakest among them were Soul Elders, while Soul Kings and Soul Emperors were everywhere!

Ordinary soldiers were no match for them. In barely a single exchange, they were slaughtered and routed!

"Xiao San! Be careful!"

Xiao Wu's voice came from amid the chaos.

Tang San had already released his Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul. Four Soul Rings revolved around him—two yellow, one purple, and one black! A level-forty-two Soul Ancestor!

Beside him, Dai Mubai, Xiao Wu, Oscar, Ma Hongjun, Ning Rongrong, and Zhu Zhuqing had also all released their Martial Souls. Every one of them was a four-ring Soul Ancestor!

The Shrek Seven Devils were all Soul Ancestors!

"These are definitely people from Spirit Hall!"

"Xiao San exposed his Clear Sky Hammer. Spirit Hall intends to kill him here!"

"Uproot the grass and eliminate the roots!"

"But they're afraid of exposing their identities, so they put on black clothes."

"Damn it, a bunch of filthy rats that can't stand the light!"

Dai Mubai roared angrily as his White Tiger Martial Soul possessed him, his pupils narrowing into vertical slits.

"The target is Tang San!"

"Liu Erlong, Flender, Zhao Wuji, protect the children!"

Master's voice came from behind. He stood beside a carriage, his expression grave.

Liu Erlong had already charged out. She released her Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Martial Soul, lightning flashing in all directions, and sent a Soul Emperor flying with a single punch!

Flender followed close behind. His Four-Eyed Cat Hawk Martial Soul spread its wings as he battled two Soul Saints in midair!

Zhao Wuji was the same.

But there were simply too many black-clothed men!

Moreover, although they did not dare activate their Martial Souls and their strength was greatly reduced, they had the advantage of overwhelming numbers!

They surged forward without end. As soon as one group was killed, another immediately replaced it!