Heaven Descends, Desperate Situation Turns

The baleful energy within the dense forest had yet to dissipate as the seven members of Shrek formed a tight encirclement, trapping Tang San firmly in the center.

Tang San leaned against a giant boulder, his clothes soaked through with cold sweat. His sealed meridians throbbed with rhythmic agony, and every inch of his sinew and bone screamed in torment. He watched Lin Chen approach step by step, observing the cold, resolute gazes of those around him. The last shred of luck in his heart collapsed completely, leaving behind only a fear that seeped into his very marrow.

He had lost—lost in a crushing, total defeat.

The soul beast ambush he had painstakingly plotted had been easily dismantled by the absolute synergy of the Shrek team; the Poison Wolf's self-destruction, triggered as a desperate final gambit, had been neutralized by Lin Chen with a mere flick of his finger. Now, trapped and surrounded with his soul power sealed, his hidden weapons and poisons rendered useless, he lacked even the qualification to struggle.

"Lin Chen, I..." Tang San's lips trembled. The calm and wisdom of the past had vanished, leaving only a wretched, panicked mess. He wanted to beg for mercy, to invoke their past ties, but as the words reached his lips, he realized how pale and powerless they were.

It was he who had betrayed his companions first; it was he who had repeatedly sought to kill them. He could blame no one else for their desire to finish him off.

Lin Chen did not stop his advance. His gaze remained indifferent, devoid of ripples, as a faint aura of soul power gathered around him, clean and devoid of hesitation.

He had already done his utmost for Tang San. As long as this man remained, he would always be a hidden danger to Shrek. Today, it had to end.

Dai Mubai, Ma Hongjun, and the others tightened their focus, their soul power circulating in readiness. They agreed with Lin Chen's decision; given Tang San's actions, he was no longer worthy of any forgiveness.

Xiao Wu frowned slightly and looked away, her heart devoid of pity, filled only with utter disappointment. Zhu Qing crouched slightly, her Hell Spirit Cat martial soul locking onto Tang San, ready to deliver a finishing blow at any moment. Ning Rongrong's Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda glowed with restrained light, while Oscar gripped a Recovery Sausage, preventing any unforeseen accidents.

Seeing that Lin Chen had reached Tang San and raised his hand to deliver the fatal strike!

At this critical, hair-trigger moment!

BOOM--!!

A terrifying pressure, as if it could destroy the heavens and the earth, suddenly slammed down from the sky!

The entire forest shook violently. Ancient, towering trees creaked and groaned as leaves fell in a frenzy, and the ground instantly cracked into countless spiderweb-like fissures. A thick, majestic soul power—belonging to an ultimate assault-type martial soul—swept across the area like a tsunami, causing everyone's breathing to hitch and their soul power to nearly stagnate!

"Such a powerful aura!"

Dai Mubai's expression changed drastically. His White Tiger martial soul erupted instinctively, yet he was still forced back repeatedly by the pressure, a trace of blood spilling from the corner of his mouth.

The Phoenix flames around Ma Hongjun flickered violently, nearly extinguishing altogether. He staggered to steady himself, his face filled with horror.

The rest of the Shrek team also wore expressions of shock, forced to halt their actions and focus entirely on resisting this sudden, terrifying pressure, unable to spare any attention for Tang San.

Lin Chen's eyes narrowed sharply. He looked up at the sky, his divine sense spreading out instantly, and he understood.

It had arrived—the true variable had finally made its entrance.

Clouds in the sky rolled violently as a massive, ink-black phantom of a Clear Sky Hammer shattered the cloud cover. The hammer was wreathed in pitch-black soul power, carrying an aura that seemed to suppress the very heavens and earth. It hovered above the forest, and even as a mere phantom, it forced the soul power of the entire world to submit!

Following this, a tall, middle-aged man in black robes stepped through the void, walking slowly toward them. His face was stern, his eyes as deep as a frozen pool. There was no excess soul power fluctuation around him, yet with every step he took, the earth trembled violently, and the invisible pressure grew even more terrifying.

Clear Sky Douluo, Tang Hao!

He had arrived long ago, hiding in the shadows, only revealing himself now that Tang San was on the brink of death!

"Who dares touch my son?"

Tang Hao spoke, his voice low and hoarse, yet carrying an unquestionable dominance and majesty. Every word rang out like a thunderclap in everyone's ears. Oscar and Ning Rongrong, whose soul power was weaker, instantly turned pale and unsteady.

Tang San, who had been despairingly waiting for death, heard this familiar voice and jerked his head up. Seeing Tang Hao descend from the sky, his eyes turned bloodshot, and he roared, "Father!"

He never imagined his father would appear at this moment. He was saved!

Lin Chen slowly withdrew his hand and looked up at Tang Hao. His expression remained calm, without a trace of fear, as he spoke indifferently: "Clear Sky Douluo, this matter has nothing to do with you. Tang San has repeatedly schemed against us in Shrek, leading poisonous soul beasts to surround and kill us, intending to put us to death. Today, I am cleaning up the sect; it is only right and proper."

"Cleaning up the sect?" Tang Hao landed in front of Tang San, shielding him behind his back. The pitch-black Clear Sky Hammer martial soul was already in his hand, and his soul rings rose slowly—two yellow, two purple, two black, and one red!

Seven soul rings in total, the final one being a hundred-thousand-year red ring, dazzling and eye-catching. The pressure was monstrous; the mere display of these rings forced everyone to feel the absolute suppression of a Soul Saint!

"He is the son of Tang Hao. Even if he is wrong, it is not for outsiders to discipline him."

Tang Hao's tone was bone-chillingly cold, his eyes locked onto Lin Chen with undisguised killing intent.

He had long since observed everything that happened in the forest and knew that Tang San's actions were vicious and wrong from the start. But Tang San was his son, the only remaining bloodline of the Clear Sky Sect. He would never watch his son die at the hands of others.

"Father, it was Lin Chen who suppressed me at every turn, who stole everything from me, and who brought people here to kill me!" Tang San hid behind Tang Hao, instantly emboldened. The previous fear dissipated, and he began to accuse them first, his eyes filled with resentment as he glared at Lin Chen.

"Shut up!" Tang Hao scolded in a deep voice, though he did not truly punish Tang San, only shielding him more tightly. It was clear he was determined to favor him to the end.

Dai Mubai was instantly enraged. He stepped forward, resisting the pressure, and shouted, "Clear Sky Douluo, be reasonable! It was clearly Tang San who struck first; we were only defending ourselves!"

"Reason?" Tang Hao sneered, his soul power surging as the Clear Sky Hammer vibrated slightly. "In the face of absolute strength, strength is reason. Today, I am taking him away. Anyone who dares to block me, dies."

Domineering, unreasonable, yet backed by absolute power.

The Clear Sky Douluo, a Soul Saint, wielded the world's number one assault-type martial soul, the Clear Sky Hammer. Even among fellow Soul Saints, no one was his match, let alone Lin Chen and his group, whose highest level was only a thirty-first-level Soul Elder. Before Tang Hao, they were like ants.

Ma Hongjun, Zhu Qing, and the others wore grave expressions, gripping their martial souls tightly. Even with the disparity in strength, they would never abandon Lin Chen and retreat alone.

Lin Chen raised a hand to stop them, signaling them not to be impulsive. He looked directly at Tang Hao, his tone calm but edged with sharpness: "Clear Sky Douluo, I can understand you protecting your own, but the wrongs Tang San committed today cannot simply be forgotten. You may take him away today, but if he dares to move against Shrek again, even if you stand in the way, I will kill him regardless."

He did not fear Tang Hao's pressure, nor would he compromise or retreat just because of his appearance.

Today, hindered by his strength, he could not deal with Tang San, but he would draw a line in the sand. If Tang San did not repent and offended them again, he would show no mercy, even if the Clear Sky Douluo himself were present.

Tang Hao took a deep look at Lin Chen, secretly surprised.

The youth before him was barely twenty years old, yet in the face of him, the Clear Sky Douluo, he could remain so composed and fearless. This temperament far exceeded that of ordinary people; even he himself, at that age, had been far inferior.

What concerned him more was that Lin Chen's method of neutralizing the Poison Wolf's self-destruction was something no ordinary soul master could possess. This boy's foundation was unfathomable.

After a moment of silence, Tang Hao said coldly: "I will take him away. He will never step foot in Shrek again in this lifetime, nor will he be your enemy. But if you dare to harbor murderous intent toward my son again, do not blame me for being impolite."

With those words, Tang Hao said no more. He grabbed Tang San, and with a flash, transformed into a black shadow, leaping into the sky. The phantom of the Clear Sky Hammer slowly dissipated, and the monstrous pressure gradually faded away with it.

Throughout the entire ordeal, Tang San kept his gaze locked onto Lin Chen, the malice and hatred in his eyes undisguised. Being dragged away by his father did not lead him to reflect on his actions; instead, he laid the blame for today's humiliation entirely upon Lin Chen.

It was only when the figures of Tang Hao and Tang San had completely vanished into the horizon that the tense atmosphere within the dense forest finally began to ease.

Everyone let out a collective sigh of relief, their faces etched with lingering fear.

In that moment just now, the pressure exerted by Tang Hao had truly made them feel the threat of death.

"Brother Chen, are we just going to let them go like that?" Ma Hongjun said, unwilling to accept the outcome. "That guy Tang San definitely won't let this go!"

Lin Chen gazed in the direction where Tang Hao had departed, his eyes deep and unfathomable as he spoke calmly, "Right now, we are no match for Tang Hao. Trying to force them to stay would only result in a pointless loss. But the grudge and the threat from today—I have noted them down."

"From here on, we must become stronger. Strong enough to disregard the Clear Sky Douluo, and strong enough that Tang San will never dare to harbor any malicious intent again. That is the only true foundation for our confidence."

Having experienced this event, a stronger desire to improve burned within the hearts of everyone from Shrek.

Yet, the appearance of Tang Hao and the departure of Tang San were not the end, but rather the planting of a deeper foreshadowing.

The future was destined to hold even more intense confrontations awaiting them.

Lin Chen turned to look at his companions behind him, his tone steady, "This matter is concluded. We return to the academy. From this point forward, we will focus all our efforts on increasing our strength to meet every challenge that lies ahead."

The group responded in unison, their eyes firm as they followed in Lin Chen's footsteps, walking out of the dense forest.

Sunlight pierced through the leaves, casting its glow upon them. Though unknown and powerful enemies lay on the road ahead, as long as they stood side by side, they would fear nothing.