[Behind them, the Sky Azure Bull Python threw back its head and let out a deafening roar!]
["Sister Xiao Wu! Why waste your breath on him?!"]
["Er Ming! Protect Sister Xiao Wu!"]
[The Titan Giant Ape pounded its fists against its chest, each blow booming like thunder. The very earth trembled!]
["Roar—!"]
Xiao Wu's eyes welled up.
Da Ming... Er Ming...
[Tang Xiao, the Clear Sky Sect's master, stepped forward, his gaze sharp as lightning.]
["Elders!" he said in a low voice. "Attack!"]
[At his command, seventeen figures shot into the air at once!]
[Clear Sky Formation—activate!]
[The Soul Power of five Titled Douluo intertwined, forming a massive barrier that shrouded the entire core area!]
[Tang Xiao stood at the formation's center, his aura climbing steadily!]
[Ninety-six... ninety-seven... ninety-eight!]
[His strength rivaled that of a Level 98 Peak Douluo!]
Xiao Wu's pupils shrank.
They meant to wipe them all out!
[Tang Xiao and Tang Hao exchanged a glance, then charged at Da Ming and Er Ming together!]
Xiao Wu sat in the cafeteria, gasping for breath.
No one knew what she'd just seen.
Xiao Wu lowered her head and looked at the carrot crushed in her hand.
Da Ming... Er Ming...
Tang Hao... Tang Xiao... the Clear Sky Sect...
And Tang San.
She lifted her head and glanced at the harmless-looking face across from her.
What a great act.
Xiao Wu tossed the mangled carrot onto the table, got up, and headed outside.
"Sister Xiao Wu? Where are you going?" Wang Sheng called.
"To get some air."
Xiao Wu didn't look back.
At the doorway, she glanced back at Tang San, who was still eating.
That faint smile still lingered on his face.
Xiao Wu looked away and strode out of the cafeteria.
The sunlight outside was blinding.
She narrowed her eyes and silently cursed:
Tang San, you damn well aren't human.
[The battle erupted!]
[Da Ming and Er Ming fought with all their might, but their opponents were too strong.]
[Especially Tang Xiao—with the Clear Sky Formation bolstering him, his aura had nearly reached that of a Level 98 Peak Douluo!]
[Who could stand against him short of a Peerless Douluo?]
[Boom—!]
[The Sky Azure Bull Python's massive body was sent flying by a hammer. It smashed through more than a dozen giant trees before crashing to the ground, coughing up blood!]
[The Titan Giant Ape roared and charged, only for Tang Hao to smash it in the chest with his hammer and send it flying too!]
["Da Ming! Er Ming!" you screamed, heartbroken.]
[Er Ming struggled to his feet and stood in front of you. "Sister Xiao Wu... run!"]
[With the last of his strength, Da Ming shielded you with his body. "Sister Xiao Wu... we'll protect you, even if it costs us our lives!"]
[Tears spilled from your eyes.]
Xiao Wu sat on the stone steps outside the cafeteria, her fists clenched so tight her knuckles turned white.
Da Ming... Er Ming...
[But then a figure blocked your path.]
[Tang San.]
[He stood with his hands behind his back, a gentle smile on his face.]
["Run? Where would you go?" He reached out. "My beloved."]
[You snapped your head up, fury blazing in your eyes. "Tang San, you—"]
[You attacked!]
[You unleashed the Soft Bone Rabbit Martial Soul, your legs sweeping toward Tang San like whips!]
[But—]
[Tang San raised his left hand, and Blue Silver Grass wrapped around your ankle! With his right hand, he swung the Clear Sky Hammer down at you!]
[Twin Martial Souls!]
[One for control, one for direct assault!]
[You were no match for him!]
Xiao Wu's eyes widened.
Twin Martial Souls?!
Tang San... had been hiding them all this time?!
He was only showing off Blue Silver Grass, pretending to be a harmless good-for-nothing!
What a snake!
[Tang San shook his head, his face full of regret. "Xiao Wu, you could've sacrificed yourself willingly. Why make yourself suffer like this?"]
["Disorder Splitting Wind Hammer!"]
[Hammer blow after hammer blow came crashing down like a storm!]
[You fought with all your strength, but each blow left your blood and Qi churning! His Soul Power was far beyond yours!]
[At last, your kick missed, leaving an opening—]
[Tang San's hammer smashed into your shoulder!]
[You spat blood as you flew backward and crashed heavily to the ground!]
["Sister Xiao Wu—!"]
[Da Ming and Er Ming roared and tried to rush over, but Tang Xiao and Tang Hao pinned them beneath their feet, leaving them unable to move!]
[You lay prone on the ground, tears blurring your vision.]
[It's over...]
[It's all over...]
[At this critical moment—]
"What happens next?!"
She stamped her foot in frustration.
"Then what? What happens next?!"
[A familiar yet unfamiliar voice rang out!]
["Tang San, you dare lay a hand on her?!"]
[Tang San's pupils contracted.]
[That voice—]
[He had no time to think. He raised the Clear Sky Hammer and swung it down, determined to strike first! Once Xiao Wu was dead, he'd have her Soul Ring. No one could change that!]
[In the blink of an eye—]
[A beam of golden light descended from the sky!]
["Boom—!"]
[The newcomer struck the Clear Sky Hammer with one palm. Tang San and his hammer went flying, smashing through three trees before finally coming to a stop!]
[The newcomer landed steadily in front of you, a golden dragon's shadow slowly fading behind him.]
[Lin Jiang.]
[Your eyes widened.]
[Lin Jiang!]
[It was Lin Jiang!]
[He was alive!]
["Lin... Lin Jiang..." you murmured, your eyes instantly filling with tears.]
[Lin Jiang turned and smiled at you. "Sorry to keep you waiting."]
[That smile was exactly the same as it had been five years ago.]
Xiao Wu clutched her chest, feeling her heart skip a beat.
[Tang San crawled out of the pile of trees, battered and disheveled, fury filling his eyes.]
["You again!" he snarled. "You're dead!"]
[He flung both hands up—]
[More than ten Hidden Weapons shot through the air!]
[Every one was coated in deadly poison, cutting off every possible escape route for Lin Jiang!]
Xiao Wu's heart leaped into her throat.
[Lin Jiang didn't even turn around.]
[He simply raised his hand and gave a casual wave—]
[A phantom Golden Dragon Claw appeared, instantly shattering the Hidden Weapons. Fragments scattered across the ground.]
[Tang San froze.]
["How is this possible?!" His eyes widened. "He's about my age! How can his Soul Power be this strong?!"]
["Impossible! Even a genius like me is only just about to get my Sixth Soul Ring! He can't be any higher than Level 50-something!"]
[Before the words had even left his mouth—]
[Lin Jiang's aura erupted!]
[Titled Douluo!]
[Golden pressure swept over the entire battlefield like a tidal wave! The Sky Azure Bull Python and the Titan Giant Ape both bowed their heads. It was submission etched into their blood!]
[Tang San was dumbfounded.]
[Tang Hao was dumbfounded.]
[Tang Xiao was dumbfounded too.]
["A... a Titled Douluo?!" Tang San's voice cracked. "A Titled Douluo under the age of twenty?!"]
Xiao Wu in the real world was dumbfounded too.
...A Titled Douluo?
Lin Jiang...
How had he cultivated to this level?
[But Tang San was ruthless by nature, and he recovered in an instant.]
["Granduncle! Father!" he shouted. "Take this brat down!"]
[Tang Xiao and Tang Hao exchanged a glance, then charged at Lin Jiang together!]
[The auras of two Peak Douluo pressed down like mountains!]
[You struggled to stand, only to realize you couldn't move at all—it was the crushing force of Soul Power!]
[Just as Lin Jiang was about to be caught between them—]
[You closed your eyes, having made up your mind.]
Before you continue