Haotian's Killing Intent, Beastly Might Repels

Lin Chen's gaze was cold and sharp. His soul power had already condensed around him, and a faint, chilling light flickered at his fingertips as he walked straight toward the trapped Tang San.

Today, Tang San had repeatedly plotted to annihilate the members of Shrek. Such a disaster could not be left alive; even when faced with the overwhelming pressure of the Clear Sky Douluo, he would not retreat a single step.

Tang San's face was as pale as paper. Watching Lin Chen approach step by step, his entire body trembled. The last shred of his will to survive was swallowed by terror, leaving him to look helplessly at the newly arrived Tang Hao and shriek for help: "Father! Save me!"

Tang Hao stood in the void, his Clear Sky Hammer gripped tightly in his hand. The pitch-black hammer was wreathed in ice that had not melted for ten thousand years. His deep, profound eyes swept over Lin Chen and the Shrek group. Far from showing any intention to protect his own or reason with them, he suddenly erupted with unmasked, monstrous killing intent!

"Knowing my son's secrets and repeatedly ruining his opportunities—keeping you alive will only lead to disaster."

His low voice was like a death sentence. The soul rings around Tang Hao suddenly surged: two yellow, two purple, two black, and one red. The seven rings pulsed frantically, and the pressure of the hundred-thousand-year red ring swept across the heavens and earth, far more tyrannical and violent than before!

He had never intended to expose the secrets of Tang San's Twin Martial Souls and the Mysterious Heaven Treasure Record. Now that Tang San's scheme against his companions had been exposed, Tang Hao had long since decided to kill—rather than take Tang San away and leave behind a hidden threat, it was better to slaughter every member of Shrek, cutting the weeds and digging up the roots to eliminate future trouble once and for all!

BOOM!!

The terrifying soul power pressure suddenly intensified, slamming into the seven members of Shrek like a mountain. Dai Mubai, Ma Hongjun, and the others were instantly forced to their knees, blood spilling from their lips. Their soul power was on the verge of shattering, and even moving a single finger became as difficult as ascending to the heavens.

Flender and Zhao Wuji were far away at the academy and could not possibly arrive in time to assist. At this moment, the Shrek group had fallen into a desperate, fatal trap!

"What a ruthless Clear Sky Douluo! Tang San was the one who committed evil first, yet you would go so far as to exterminate us all!" Dai Mubai roared through gritted teeth. He unleashed his White Tiger Martial Soul to its limit, yet he remained pinned down by the pressure, his bones cracking under the strain.

Ma Hongjun's Phoenix Flame was completely extinguished, Zhu Qing's Hell Spirit Cat aura withered, Ning Rongrong's Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda grew dim, and Oscar could not even summon the soul power to manifest a sausage. Everyone was locked down by this Soul Saint-level tyrannical killing force, and the shadow of death instantly enveloped the entire scene.

Lin Chen stepped forward to shield the others, forcibly channeling all his soul power and spiritual sense to erect an energy barrier against Tang Hao's lethal pressure. However, the gap in their strength was like a chasm; the barrier was instantly covered in cracks, ready to shatter at any moment.

He turned to look at his pale-faced companions behind him, a flash of resolve in his eyes. Even if he had to fight to the death, he would protect them all.

Xiao Wu stood beside Lin Chen. Watching his back as he shielded them, and seeing her companions trapped in such peril, her heart burned with anxiety.

She knew that Lin Chen could not withstand a full-force strike from Tang Hao. If there was no turning point today, everyone would die under the Clear Sky Hammer!

In her desperation, Xiao Wu quietly pressed her fingertips against the Beast Bone Pendant she wore against her skin—this was a communication token personally crafted for her by Daming and Erming when she left the Star Dou Forest. By injecting a sliver of Soft Bone Rabbit soul power, she could send a distress signal to the two great divine beasts.

She did not dare to hesitate, and a wisp of pure Soft Bone Rabbit soul power flowed from her fingertips, instantly pouring into the pendant.

The next second, a sudden change occurred!

In the core region of the distant Star Dou Forest, two terrifying, ancient divine beast auras erupted without warning!

One aura was vast and heavy, carrying a majestic vitality that shook the heavens, as if a prehistoric giant beast that had slept for ten thousand years had awakened; the other aura was tyrannical and ferocious, carrying a violent energy capable of tearing the sky asunder, as if it could crush any powerful enemy.

The two auras did not manifest any physical forms; merely by their pure presence, they crossed a hundred miles of territory in the blink of an eye, sweeping in to collide instantly with Tang Hao's soul power pressure!

HUM--!

The void trembled violently. A gale raged through the forest, and deep ravines tore across the ground. Tang Hao's Soul Saint-level, heaven-toppling pressure was actually forced back several yards by these two sudden divine beast auras!

"This is..." Tang Hao's expression changed drastically. His hand gripping the Clear Sky Hammer tightened, and for the first time, a look of wariness appeared in his eyes.

He could clearly perceive that these two auras belonged to two hundred-thousand-year soul beasts with unfathomable cultivation. Moreover, they were the absolute overlords of the Star Dou Forest's core region, their strength far exceeding that of ordinary hundred-thousand-year soul beasts. Even he would gain no advantage from a rash confrontation, and he might even be entangled, completely exposing his whereabouts!

He had originally intended to make quick work of the Shrek group, but he never expected to provoke the hundred-thousand-year soul beasts of the Star Dou core!

If he stayed any longer, once the two great divine beasts arrived in person, he would not only fail to kill Lin Chen and the others, but even Tang San might fall into danger. This was a losing trade!

Tang Hao glared at Lin Chen, his killing intent churning, but he ultimately dared not linger.

He snatched up Tang San, his soul power surging as he transformed into a black shadow and shot into the sky. Before leaving, he left behind a bone-chilling threat: "I have noted today's events. Next time we meet, I will surely exterminate your entire clan!"

Before the words had faded, Tang Hao's figure had completely vanished into the clouds, and the lethal pressure dissipated along with him.

Only then did everyone finally breathe a sigh of relief. With the pressure gone, they collapsed to the ground, gasping for air, their bodies soaked in cold sweat. In that last moment, they had truly been one step away from death.

"Such terrifying pressure... what kind of existence could force back the Clear Sky Douluo?" Ma Hongjun looked toward the direction of the Star Dou Forest, his voice trembling with lingering fear.

Dai Mubai and the others were also horrified. Those two auras were far more frightening than Tang Hao's; merely their presence was enough to crush a Soul Saint, something no ordinary soul beast could possess.

Lin Chen withdrew his soul power, his gaze deep as he looked toward the Star Dou Forest, his brows slightly raised.

He could sense that those two auras carried a pure, primal beast essence and held no malice toward the Shrek group; rather, they seemed to be protecting them. He glanced at Xiao Wu, who was quietly tucking away her Beast Bone Pendant, and understood a little, though he did not point it out.

"This place is not safe to stay. We must return to the academy immediately." Lin Chen collected his thoughts and spoke in a low voice, helping his companions up.

Xiao Wu calmly smoothed her emotions and took Lin Chen's arm, a flash of lingering fear in her eyes. Fortunately, the token had worked, and the arrival of Daming and Erming's pressure had averted this fatal disaster. She secretly resolved that she must never let her identity bring more trouble to her companions.

The group forced their exhausted bodies to move, activating their Flight Sausages and speeding toward Shrek Academy. They remained silent the entire way; that brush with death had made everyone realize that without sufficient strength, they had no ability to protect themselves in the face of true, powerful enemies.

By the time the sun set, the group finally returned to Shrek Academy and reported their encounter to Flender and Zhao Wuji.

The two teachers were shocked and furious to hear that Tang Hao had intended to silence them, but knowing the might of the Clear Sky Douluo, they could only suppress their rage and provide full support for the group to enter seclusion and improve their strength.

Over the next few days, the Shrek Seven Devils immersed themselves in high-intensity training.

Lin Chen led the group in a detailed review of the life-and-death crisis, patching every flaw in their team coordination and strengthening each person's combat power. Dai Mubai practiced his White Tiger offensive and defensive techniques, his soul power becoming increasingly refined; Ma Hongjun mastered his Phoenix Flame for better endurance; Zhu Qing and Xiao Wu polished their close-quarters combat, their speed and synergy surpassing what they had before; Ning Rongrong and Oscar focused on their support and sustainability, fortifying the team's foundation.

Lin Chen, in his spare time, continuously contemplated the aura of the two divine beasts, his spiritual sense growing increasingly formidable, his inner reserves becoming unfathomable.

On the other side, Tang Hao had fled with Tang San to a hidden valley, still shaken.

Upon learning that he had nearly lost his life, Tang San shifted all the blame onto Lin Chen, his hatred and paranoia growing wildly. He knelt before Tang Hao, screaming and begging his father to teach him the ultimate techniques of the Clear Sky Hammer, swearing that he would train diligently to one day trample Lin Chen and the Shrek group beneath his feet and wash away today's humiliation.

Tang Hao looked at the obsessed Tang San and recalled the two terrifying divine beast auras. His brows furrowed, and he ultimately decided to teach Tang San with all his might; only by making his son stronger could he deal with the crises to come.

Within the valley, the fire of vengeance burned fiercely;

At Shrek Academy, the hard training of the heart was building up for a future breakthrough.

The killing game interrupted by the divine beast pressure had not settled the grudge; instead, it had made the opposition between the two forces even sharper, and the secret bond between Xiao Wu and the Star Dou Forest had quietly planted the deepest of foreshadowings.