Clearly, he'd had a hard-fought victory in that clash!
"Good! A Hundred Thousand Year Soul Skill really is something else! Brother Wuhui, you won this round!"
Yang Wuhui's powerful attack had impressed Chen Xin. He smiled as he spoke.
"You're too kind! Should we keep going?"
"Let's continue. I still have one Self-Created Soul Skill—Man-Sword Unity! It's also the strongest move I've mastered. I hope you'll let me see the other Soul Skill from your Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring!"
Their clash had given him the chance he needed to break through.
However, to gauge Yang Wuhui's strength, he had to temporarily suppress the Soul Power that was on the verge of breaking through.
"Sure!"
Unaware of Chen Xin's intentions, Yang Wuhui immediately activated the other Soul Skill from his Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring.
"Ninth Soul Skill, Divine Dragon Heaven-Slaughter Slash!"
A dragon's roar rang out from the Chixiao Blade, and a streak of red light came hurtling down toward Chen Xin.
Chen Xin's pupils contracted. He no longer dared to be careless.
He immediately unleashed Man-Sword Unity, merging himself with the Seven Kill Sword.
"Self-Created Soul Skill, Man-Sword Unity!"
With Chen Xin's roar, the sword transformed into a shooting star and hurtled toward the red light!
"Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!"
Their attacks collided furiously in the air, ringing out with a series of metallic clangs.
The shock waves from their clash snapped the surrounding vegetation, and deep fissures split the ground.
If they kept fighting, they might destroy the entire mountain.
After they stopped, Chen Xin gave Yang Wuhui a meaningful look, then cupped his hands. "Brother Wuhui, I've sensed the opportunity to break through. I won't keep you any longer. Farewell!"
"Very well. Go ahead!"
Sword Douluo then turned into a streak of light and left.
Only then did the onlookers come back to their senses.
"Dad, was that His Excellency Chixiao? He actually fought on equal terms with Sword Grandpa! Aside from Grandpa Bone, I've never seen anyone who could match Sword Grandpa! Most importantly, he even has a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring!"
"That's right. He's His Excellency Chixiao. After watching that fight, I hope you understand, Rongrong, that your Sword Grandpa and the others aren't invincible. You need to change your attitude from now on, or sooner or later you'll pay dearly for it!"
At that, Ning Rongrong muttered, "I know! I'll fix it!"
"Ah..."
Hearing his daughter's response, Ning Fengzhi sighed helplessly.
No one knew a daughter better than her father. From her expression, he could tell she hadn't taken his words to heart.
Just then, he glanced at Yang Ziyuan, who was chatting happily with Xue Qinghe. "I hope he can help Rongrong change."
After collecting their reward, Yang Ziyuan and the others left the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.
However, to the surprise of Yang Ziyuan and the others, Sword Douluo, who should have been off breaking through, suddenly returned.
"Uncle Jian, how strong is he?"
After sending Ning Rongrong away, Ning Fengzhi asked gravely.
"Very strong! Without your support, I'd be evenly matched with him at best!"
Ning Fengzhi was astonished.
"How is that possible? Isn't his level lower than yours?"
"I find it hard to believe myself, but it's true! Perhaps it's because of his Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring. Fengzhi, do you remember Tang Hao?"
"Him? Why bring him up?"
"Back then, Spirit Hall's Pope, Qian Xunji, was a Super Douluo of level 95, just like me. But what happened? After Tang Hao absorbed a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring, he used Ring Detonation to grievously wound him! And Tang Hao did that without even absorbing a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bone!"
"Are you saying Yang Wuhui has already absorbed a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bone?"
"That's right! Not only is his level higher than Tang Hao's was back then, but he also has two additional Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bone Skills! That's why I'm not confident I could defeat him!"
"Uncle Jian, do you think you could beat him after reaching level 96?"
"I don't know!"
He had no idea what Yang Wuhui's two Soul Bone Skills did, so he couldn't make a rash judgment.
Chen Xin's answer filled Ning Fengzhi with wariness toward Yang Wuhui.
Meanwhile, as soon as Yang Ziyuan and the others returned home, a servant came running to report that another visitor had arrived.
"Master, someone named Prince Xue Xing is here to see you!"
Hearing that it was Prince Xue Xing, Yang Wuhui was puzzled.
"Didn't someone from the imperial family just leave? Why is another one here? Could he be trying to take back the position of City Lord of Vast Sea City?"
"Grandpa, we've only just parted ways with Xue Qinghe. There's no way he could have sent word back so quickly. I think Prince Xue Xing came to see you on his own."
"Oh! Then invite him in."
"Yes, Master!"
Prince Xue Xing was quickly shown inside.
"Prince Xue Xing, what brings you here?"
"Your Excellency, I've come to make a friend."
"Make a friend?"
Yang Wuhui was even more puzzled.
"Prince Xue Xing, what sort of friendship are you hoping to make with me?"
Yang Ziyuan was curious, too.
"Your Excellency, please take a look!"
As he spoke, Prince Xue Xing took a skull Soul Bone out of his Soul Tool.
"A Soul Bone? What does this mean?"
"Your Excellency, this Soul Bone came from a Scarlet Flame Fox that was over thirty thousand years old. Its rank isn't particularly high, but it's a rare mental-type skull Soul Bone. Compared to other Soul Bones, it's quite a treasure!"
"Not bad!"
Seeing Yang Wuhui take an interest, Prince Xue Xing continued, "If you absorb it, Your Excellency, your strength will surely improve. It's a gift from me to you!"
"This gift is far too valuable. I can't accept it!"
Yang Wuhui didn't want to take it.
The Soul Bone was fine, but he had no idea what Prince Xue Xing was up to, so he refused.
"Your Excellency, what does that matter? I told you I came to make a friend. This Soul Bone is a token of that friendship!"
Yang Ziyuan roughly understood what Prince Xue Xing was getting at.
"Grandpa, he just wants to make a friend. Go ahead and accept it!"
As he spoke, Yang Ziyuan gave him a meaningful glance.
Though Yang Wuhui didn't understand why Yang Ziyuan wanted him to accept it, he trusted him and put the Soul Bone away.
A smile tugged at Prince Xue Xing's lips when Yang Wuhui accepted it.
"It's getting late, and I won't keep you from your rest. I'll take my leave!"
"Very well. Take care!"
Seeing that Prince Xue Xing really had left without looking back, Yang Wuhui was even more confused.
"Ziyuan, what was Prince Xue Xing's real intention? Was he truly just here to make a friend? That gift was awfully valuable! Or are all members of the imperial family so generous?"
Thinking back to how Xue Qinghe had offered him the position of City Lord without hesitation, Yang Wuhui began to think the imperial family was full of fools with money to burn.
"Grandpa, you're overthinking it! Prince Xue Xing gave you the Soul Bone to borrow your influence!"
"Borrow my influence?"
"That's right! From what I understand, Prince Xue Xing supports Prince Xue Beng. But their power isn't enough to threaten Xue Qinghe's position. If they want to seize power, their only option is to win over every force they can reach. And as a Titled Douluo with a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring, you're a prime target for them!"
"Still, he's pretty clever. He knew Xue Qinghe had already approached us, so he offered you a valuable gift to win you over. That way, whether he succeeds or not, he comes out ahead!"
"How so?"
"If he succeeds, he can use your influence to win over the court officials. If he fails, he loses nothing and can still drive a wedge between us and Xue Qinghe! After all, everyone in Heaven Dou City knows that Prince Xue Xing and the Crown Prince don't get along. You met with Xue Qinghe first, then Prince Xue Xing right after. It's easy for people to read too much into that!"
Before you continue