Gu Sheng Captures Xiao Wu, Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast!

Qian Renxue murmured to herself in her heart.

She had a premonition.

The appearance of her husband would overturn the entire landscape of the Douluo Continent.

Meanwhile, beside the ruins deep within the Pope's Palace.

Yu Xiaogang, Flender, and Zhao Wuji sat limply on the ground.

They watched the direction in which Xiao Wu and Tang San had vanished.

Then, they looked at the youth in mid-air who appeared like a deity.

Every one of them felt filled with complexity and powerlessness.

Shrek Academy...

Today, it could be said that they had been defeated.

Not only had they lost the match, but even Xiao Wu's identity as a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast had been exposed, nearly leading to their total annihilation.

"Let's go."

Flender shook his head with a touch of self-mockery.

He helped the somewhat despondent Yu Xiaogang to his feet and walked toward the exit of the Pope's Palace with a sense of loneliness.

On the plaza.

The wind blew gently, gradually sweeping away the rubble and dust.

Only the black-clad youth remained, standing calmly in the breeze.

High in the air, the wind howled.

Tang Hao gripped Tang San with one hand and carried Xiao Wu with the other, his figure speeding through the clouds and mist.

His expression was grim, and the intermittent sound of his coughing seemed heavy in the wind.

"Dad, have we left the city yet?"

Tang San was tucked under Tang Hao's arm, looking down at the buildings flashing by below with a nervous expression.

Tang Hao did not speak; he only pressed his lips together tightly, pushing his soul power to the limit.

He could feel the soul power within his body draining away like a receding tide.

"Brother, let me go."

Xiao Wu's voice carried a sob, trembling in the wind.

"It's all my fault. If it weren't for me..."

"Don't say such foolish things!"

Tang San interrupted Xiao Wu with some effort.

"I said, we live or die together. I will never abandon you."

Tang Hao listened to their conversation, a complex look flashing in his eyes.

He took a deep breath, preparing to cross the final outer wall of Martial Soul City.

However.

In the previously empty sky, a faint white glow suddenly ignited.

This glow appeared weak, yet in an instant, it spread out like a giant net.

The light intertwined, forming a translucent barrier that sealed off Tang Hao's path.

"Not good!"

Tang Hao cursed inwardly, wanting to force a retreat.

But his forward momentum was too great, and under the force of inertia, he slammed into the white barrier.

"Boom--"

A dull, thunderous sound exploded in mid-air.

Tang Hao felt an irresistible, massive force rebound against him.

The power was pure, yet carried an unshakable, heavy weight.

A sweet taste rose in his throat, and he nearly spat out a mouthful of blood as his body was sent flying backward for dozens of meters.

"Dad!"

Tang San cried out in alarm, looking at Tang Hao with panic.

In Tang San's memory, his father had always been an invincible existence.

Yet now, he couldn't even break through a barrier set by the opponent.

"Trying to leave?"

A voice, sounding somewhat bored, rang out abruptly in the void.

Tang Hao and Tang San whipped around abruptly.

They saw that Gu Sheng, who had been in front of the Pope's Palace just moments ago, had arrived before them without them even noticing.

He was still dressed in that simple black outfit, his hands tucked idly into his pockets, his feet resting on nothing as he hovered silently in mid-air.

Beside him, the figure of Bibi Dong slowly materialized.

Purple-black soul power swirled around her body, radiating a suffocating sense of oppression.

"Gu Sheng..."

Tang San gritted his teeth, staring fixedly at the black-clad youth before him.

His eyes were filled with resentment and fury.

"What exactly do you want?"

Tang Hao shielded the two children behind him, his expression grim.

Though he was injured, the light of unyielding defiance still flickered in his eyes.

"Nothing much."

Gu Sheng shrugged slightly.

"Her Holiness the Pope quite fancies the soul ring of this hundred-thousand-year rabbit."

"As for you and your son, I couldn't be bothered to care originally. But since you've walked right into our trap, don't be in such a hurry to leave."

Gu Sheng's voice was soft, yet it carried clearly to the ears of everyone present at this ten-thousand-meter altitude.

"Arrogant fool!"

Tang Hao let out a cold snort, and the Clear Sky Hammer in his hand erupted with black light once more.

"Today, even if I have to throw my life away, I will take them with me!"

Seeing this, a look of disdain flashed in Bibi Dong's eyes.

"Tang Hao, today we shall collect a portion of the interest on what you owe Martial Soul Hall."

Before the words had even faded.

Bibi Dong's figure vanished from where she stood.

The next moment, she was already hovering above Tang Hao's head.

The massive phantom of the Death Spider Emperor emerged behind her, and two black armored blades condensed from soul power whistled through the air, striking directly at Tang Hao's face.

Tang Hao dared not be careless, forced to swing the Clear Sky Hammer with one hand to meet the assault.

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

The sound of soul power colliding echoed incessantly through the air.

Bibi Dong's offensive was fierce, every strike aimed at a vital point.

Because Tang Hao had exhausted so much soul power and had to divide his attention to protect Tang San and Xiao Wu, he was pushed into an absolute disadvantage.

"San, take Xiao Wu and head in the other direction!"

Tang Hao shouted urgently to Tang San while barely managing to fend off Bibi Dong's attacks.

"I'm not leaving!"

Tang San shook his head stubbornly.

"Go! You're just getting in the way!"

Tang Hao roared.

He knew that if the two children stayed with him, none of them would make it out today.

Gu Sheng stood to the side, watching their "parting of life and death" with a bored yawn.

"Truly touching father-son devotion."

He lightly raised his right hand and pointed into the air toward Tang Hao.

"Freeze."

It was only a single word.

But the moment that word fell.

Tang Hao felt the surrounding air solidify instantly.

It was not a simple binding.

It was as if the entire space had turned into a massive block of raw iron, crushing him tightly in the center.

His movements became sluggish in an instant, and even the circulation of soul power within his body turned stagnant.

"What... is this technique?"

A monstrous wave surged in Tang Hao's heart.

He had never seen such a bizarre and powerful soul skill.

Even the domain of a Title Douluo could never achieve such an effect of "words becoming law."

Bibi Dong naturally would not let this opportunity slip by.

"Space-Rending Abyss Slash!"

The ninth soul ring on Bibi Dong's body suddenly flared, and two black blades of light intersected in the air to form a massive cross, carrying an aura of destruction as they slashed toward Tang Hao.

This strike was a kill shot.

Tang Hao watched the incoming black blades of light, then glanced at Tang San beside him.

If he dodged.

These two blades would inevitably tear Tang San to shreds.

"Xiao San!"

A flash of resolve crossed Tang Hao's murky eyes.

Without the slightest hesitation, he turned his body, pulling Tang San into his embrace.

At the same time, he raised his left arm, pouring the soul power within his body into it frantically, attempting to block the blades of light with his own flesh and blood.

"Puchi—"

The sound of a sharp blade slicing into bone and flesh sounded exceptionally jarring in the silent, high altitude.

A large spray of scalding blood instantly bloomed in the air.

"Ah—!!"

Tang Hao let out a shrill, miserable scream.

That thick left arm was severed at the shoulder under the grinding of the purple-black light blades, flying high into the air.

At the wound, purple-black venom was frantically corroding his flesh, emitting a "hissing" sound.

"Dad!!"

Tang San watched the severed arm falling through the air, his entire being struck as if by lightning.

He let out a cry of despair, tears streaming uncontrollably from his eyes.

"Tang Hao, so you have a day like this too!"

Bibi Dong landed not far away, watching the pale, trembling Tang Hao with eyes full of gratification.

"The grudge from back then has only just begun."

Tang Hao gripped Tang San tightly with his remaining right hand, gasping for air in large, ragged breaths.

His face was deathly pale, and his forehead was covered in beads of sweat the size of beans.

The pain from his severed arm was constantly torturing his nerves, but he still gritted his teeth, refusing to collapse.

"Xiao San... don't cry..."

Tang Hao's voice trembled violently.

"Brother, let go!"

Xiao Wu was already a tear-stained mess by now.

She looked at Tang Hao's empty left shoulder, watching the blood that continued to drip from it.

The guilt and self-reproach in her heart reached their peak in this instant.

If it weren't for me... Da Ming, Er Ming, where are you...

Xiao Wu called out in despair within her heart.

"Your Holiness the Pope, you are a bit slow."

Gu Sheng's voice suddenly rang out once more.

He walked slowly through the air as if he were strolling through his own courtyard.

In just an instant, he arrived at Xiao Wu's side.

Gu Sheng looked at Tang Hao with a cold expression.

"She must stay."

Having said that.

Gu Sheng extended his right hand, his five fingers forming a claw, and gave a light tug toward Xiao Wu.

An irresistible suction force instantly acted upon Xiao Wu's body.

"No! Xiao Wu!"

Tang San's eyes were on the verge of splitting, his right hand reaching out frantically, trying to grab Xiao Wu's hand.

But the power released by Gu Sheng acted like an invisible blade, forcibly tearing their hands apart.

"Brother—!"

Xiao Wu let out a shrill, piercing scream.

Her body flew involuntarily toward Gu Sheng.

"Bastard! Let her go!"

Tang San struggled frantically in mid-air, even attempting to deploy his hidden weapons.

But his body was held tightly by Tang Hao, rendering him completely unable to move.

Gu Sheng clamped one hand onto Xiao Wu's shoulder, divine power surging through his fingertips into her body, instantly sealing her soul power.

Following that, he tossed Xiao Wu toward Bibi Dong behind him as if discarding a piece of trash.

Bibi Dong reached out and grabbed her, bringing the immobilized Xiao Wu under her control.

"San, go!"

Tang Hao watched this scene, a flicker of struggle in his eyes.

But he quickly made his decision.

He knew.

If they stayed here any longer, not only would he fail to save Xiao Wu, but both he and Tang San would die.

"No! Dad! Save Xiao Wu! I can't live without her!"

Tang San hammered frantically against Tang Hao's chest, blood-red tears streaming from his eye sockets.

"Go!"

Tang Hao struck the back of Tang San's neck with a single blow.

A violent surge of soul power instantly knocked Tang San unconscious.

Afterward.

Tang Hao raised his head, casting a cold glare at Gu Sheng and Bibi Dong.

"Martial Soul Hall, and you, monster..."

"This debt, I, Tang Hao, will remember!"

As his voice fell.

The red hundred-thousand-year soul ring beneath Tang Hao's feet suddenly trembled violently.

That circle of red light was so blinding that it was impossible to look at directly.

"Great Sumeru Hammer, Ring Detonation!"

Tang Hao roared.

It was the Clear Sky Sect's most powerful desperate secret technique.

Detonating a soul ring to release all the power contained within it in an instant.

"BOOM!!"

Accompanied by an explosion more intense than any that had come before.

The red soul ring beneath Tang Hao's feet shattered.

A soul power so violent it defied description instantly shattered the Void Immobilization Technique Gu Sheng had set up.

Utilizing the recoil from this explosion.

Tang Hao transformed into a streak of blood-red light, carrying the unconscious Tang San and fleeing toward the distance at a speed the naked eye could not track.

In the blink of an eye.

That blood-red light had already vanished at the edge of the horizon.

"Damn it, he got away!"

Bibi Dong snorted coldly, somewhat incensed.

She watched the direction where Tang Hao had disappeared, her hand trembling slightly.

She had never expected that even with a severed arm and grievous injuries, Tang Hao could still execute such a decisive maneuver to escape.

"He was fast, I'll give him that."

Gu Sheng, however, appeared indifferent.

He turned around and looked at Xiao Wu, who was slumped in mid-air.

Xiao Wu had quieted down by now.

She stared at the direction where Tang Hao and Tang San had vanished, her large eyes hollow and vacant, as if she had lost all vitality.

"Brother..."

Xiao Wu whispered softly.

In those eyes that had once been so spirited, nothing remained but endless despair and sorrow.

Tears streamed down her cheeks, falling drop by drop into the void, dissipating into mist.

She knew.

She was finished.

Tang San had been taken away by Tang Hao, leaving her alone in the hands of Martial Soul Hall.

Facing the high and mighty Bibi Dong and this black-clad youth Gu Sheng, whose strength was unfathomable.

She had no hope of survival.

"Let's go, back to the Pope's Palace."

Gu Sheng ignored the despairing Xiao Wu and spoke indifferently to Bibi Dong.

Following that, his figure flickered, and he descended toward the Pope's Palace below.

Bibi Dong cast a glance of sympathy at Xiao Wu, but the coldness in her eyes quickly replaced that fleeting emotion.

She gripped Xiao Wu's shoulder, transformed into a streak of purple-black light, and followed him down.

They returned to the plaza of the Pope's Palace.

At this moment.

The soul masters from the various sects and empires had not yet fully dispersed.

When they saw Bibi Dong and Gu Sheng land back on the high platform.

The imposing Clear Sky Douluo, Tang Hao, was nowhere to be seen.

Only Xiao Wu remained, held in Bibi Dong's grasp like a doll.

In an instant.

The entire plaza fell into an eerie silence once again.

"Is that... that little girl?"

"Tang Hao ran away? He took his son, but left this soul beast behind?"

"Tsk tsk, it seems that even the Clear Sky Douluo must make sacrifices when faced with life and death."

Low murmurs quietly spread through the crowd.

Those soul masters who had previously been intimidated by Tang Hao's might watched Xiao Wu in Bibi Dong's grip, their greed once again surging uncontrollably.

A Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast!

Under normal circumstances, they wouldn't even have the qualifications to catch a glimpse of one.

But now.

This Soft Bone Rabbit lay weakly before the Pope's Palace.

If one could obtain her, the soul bone and soul ring would be supreme treasures.