Tang Hao, You Can't Escape!

Spirit Hall had six elders besides Yue Guan, Gui Mei, and the seven Enshrined Douluo.

Including Leng Lingyuan, that made seven Enshrined Douluo and nine elders in all, every one of them a Titled Douluo.

But ever since Leng Lingyuan married Qian Xunji, her authority had surpassed that of the elders. She could no longer be counted among them.

Qian Xunji looked at the six Titled Douluo and said, "I've summoned you all here today because there's an extremely important mission I need your help with."

"Your Holiness the Pope, we'll obey your every command and assist you in completing this mission."

The six readily agreed. They didn't even ask what the mission was before following Qian Xunji out of Spirit Hall and heading straight for the Star Dou Forest.

Douluo Continent, Star Dou Forest.

If Tang Hao and Ah Yin were returning to the Star Dou Forest, they would surely be heading for the Blue Silver Territory, home of the Blue Silver Emperor.

Spirit City was very close to the Star Dou Forest. It took Qian Xunji and the six elders less than an hour to reach it.

After entering the Star Dou Forest, Qian Xunji headed straight for the Blue Silver Emperor's territory.

The result was the same as before: ever since the Blue Silver Emperor had left after taking human form, she had never returned.

Qian Xunji understood. He led the six elders away from the Blue Silver Territory. It seemed Tang Hao and Ah Yin were still on their way back.

Or perhaps the informant had lied. Or maybe Tang Hao and Ah Yin had changed their minds.

Whatever the case, Qian Xunji wasn't willing to give up so easily. He still needed to take a look and make sure.

To travel from the Star Luo Empire to the Star Dou Forest and enter the Blue Silver Territory, the southwest was more or less the only route.

He would head southwest and see if he could run into Tang Hao and Ah Yin.

Qian Xunji immediately ordered, "Six elders, come with me to the southwest. Spread out in a line. If you spot Tang Hao and Ah Yin, send up a signal at once."

"Yes, Your Holiness the Pope." Only now did the six of them learn why they had been brought to the Star Dou Forest.

Southwest.

Ah Yin sat inside the carriage and urged, "Hao Ge, hurry up. I've got a bad feeling."

"All right, Ah Yin." Tang Hao whipped the horses.

Stung by the lash, the horses picked up their pace.

The seven of them had already left the Star Dou Forest. A little farther ahead lay the Star Luo Empire.

Had the informant lied?

Had they simply not arrived yet?

Or had they changed their minds?

Qian Xunji stopped searching along the southwest route. He decided to wait here for two or three days, then make one last trip to the Blue Silver Emperor's territory.

"Your Holiness the Pope, should we keep searching?" Snake Lance Douluo came over to ask.

"No need."

"Quick, hide! We absolutely can't let Tang Hao and Ah Yin notice us." Qian Xunji abruptly changed course and gave the order. His eyesight was far sharper than an ordinary person's, and he had spotted a carriage.

Anyone riding a carriage into the Star Dou Forest at a time like this had to be Tang Hao and Ah Yin.

The six immediately hid on the outskirts of the Star Dou Forest, following Qian Xunji's command.

Qian Xunji hid as well.

The trap was set. Now all that remained was for Tang Hao and Ah Yin to walk right into it.

This time, even if you had godlike powers, Tang Hao, you wouldn't escape my grasp. Ah Yin would be mine.

What a perfect vessel for bearing children!

Xiangxiang.

Tang Hao and Ah Yin drew closer and closer to the Star Dou Forest, unaware of the danger lurking in the shadows.

The closer they got, the less anxious Ah Yin felt. The Star Dou Forest was her home. It would surely protect her and Hao Ge and bring them there safely.

Tang Hao no longer felt as if he was being watched, and the unease in his heart gradually faded.

They were going home.

Tang Hao smiled, delighted that he was going to be a father.

The carriage rolled slowly onward.

Tang Hao and Ah Yin entered Qian Xunji's encirclement.

"Ha ha ha! Tang Hao, Ah Yin, you've been hard to find!"

"But thankfully, Heaven rewards the diligent. I finally found you."

"Today, you and Ah Yin won't escape, even if you sprout wings!"

Qian Xunji knew there was no need to keep hiding. Laughing, he stepped out.

The six elders appeared as well.

Tang Hao's expression changed drastically. He stared at Qian Xunji in disbelief. "Qian Xunji, how did you find out where Ah Yin and I were? It's impossible!"

"You've been searching for us for a full seven years."

"You couldn't find us for seven years. Why did you find us now, of all times?"

Tang Hao felt a wave of despair. With Qian Xunji, there were eight Titled Douluo in all. How could he possibly escape?

"Thank your Clear Sky Sect for that, Tang Hao," Qian Xunji replied with a smile. "If someone from your Clear Sky Sect hadn't tipped me off, I really wouldn't have been able to find you and Ah Yin."

"Impossible!" Tang Hao refused to believe it again. It wasn't that he thought Tang Wei incapable of betraying him. He simply couldn't believe the Clear Sky Sect had managed to find him and Ah Yin.

He knew Tang Wei well. Tang Wei would never tolerate Ah Yin. To cut off Tang Hao's hopes, he was capable of anything.

So, after deciding to be with Ah Yin, Tang Hao had never returned to the Clear Sky Sect, nor had he exchanged letters with anyone there.

He had spent all these years being extremely cautious.

Spirit Hall hadn't found him and Ah Yin.

The Clear Sky Sect was even less likely to.

After all, the Clear Sky Sect's intelligence network couldn't hold a candle to Spirit Hall's.

Though the Clear Sky Sect could fight Spirit Hall, Tang Hao, as the sect's young master, knew all too well how wide the gap was.

So Tang Hao thought Qian Xunji was trying to drive a wedge between them, making him hate the Clear Sky Sect and his father.

"Qian Xunji, what do you want?" Tang Hao asked, even though he already knew. He wanted to see if he could talk Qian Xunji into leaving.

"What do I want?"

"Isn't it obvious?"

"I've heard you have a hundred-thousand-year-old human-form Soul Beast with you. I'd like to borrow her."

"Qian Xunji, you shameless bastard!"

"I won't lend her to you, and Ah Yin won't leave with you either!" Tang Hao refused without hesitation.

"Qian Xunji, give up. Even if I die, I'll never leave Hao Ge."

"If you're willing to let Hao Ge and me go, we'll both be grateful to you."

Ah Yin left the carriage and made her position clear. She also hoped Qian Xunji would spare her and Hao Ge, seeing as she was about to become a mother.

Qian Xunji sneered disdainfully. "How much are your gratitude and Tang Hao's worth?"

"It'd be far more practical for you to bear me a few children."

"Qian Xunji, you shameless bastard!"

"What do you take Ah Yin for?"

"She's my wife!" Seeing Qian Xunji covet Ah Yin, Tang Hao grew even angrier.

"What do I take her for?"

"Obviously a Soul Beast. A pet!"

"A Soul Beast is a Soul Beast. Even after taking human form, she still reeks of one to the bone."

"She doesn't deserve human rights!"

"If Soul Beasts have human rights, then when you killed them to take their rings and bones, Tang Hao, why didn't you ask if they were willing to die?"

Tang Hao had no answer. On that point alone, he couldn't argue back.

"Qian Xunji, aren't you afraid we'll both go down together?" For the first time, Ah Yin hated a human this much. She still had one last trump card, but she really didn't want to use it unless she had no other choice.

"A Soul Douluo and a Soul Saint think they can take me down with them?"

"Tang Hao, if you know what's good for you, hand over the Blue Silver Emperor. I can guarantee that you and your child will live."

"If you refuse, I'll take her by force. If your child gets hurt in the process, don't blame me."

Qian Xunji did not move.

"Keep dreaming!" Tang Hao flatly refused and brought out his Clear Sky Hammer.