"Kill!"
Dai Weisi stomped hard against the ground. Like a cannonball fired from its barrel, he surged toward Lin Qiu on the dais, wrapped in a murderous aura.
He had put all his strength into that strike.
The air itself tore open with a piercing shriek.
Bibi Dong furrowed her brows slightly. She had just raised her scepter an inch, but slowly lowered it again.
She had seen the calm in Lin Qiu's eyes.
It wasn't an act. It came from a confidence rooted deep in his bones.
Just as Dai Weisi's tiger palm was about to touch Lin Qiu's face,
Lin Qiu finally moved.
But he didn't swing his palm the way he had when dealing with Yu Tianheng.
This time, he simply uttered one word.
"Begone."
As the word fell, an aura erupted behind Lin Qiu—more terrifying, darker, and more soul-shaking than before.
The Star Luo Empire's Soul Douluo elder trembled for a long while, his fingers quivering in midair. In the end, he still didn't dare take another step forward.
The smell of blood still hung in the air, and the Nine-Nether Ao's terrifying aura continued to haunt everyone's hearts.
Dai Weisi was dead.
Not even a scrap of bone remained.
The elder knew full well that even if he charged forward and fought to the death, he would only be serving the terrifying Ferocious Beast another appetizer.
Lin Qiu didn't even glance at the elder. He merely flicked some nonexistent dust from his lapel, then swept his gaze across the crowd.
His eyes made him look like a child who had just stepped on a nest of ants—neither proud of himself nor the least bit remorseful.
"Anyone else think the Star Luo Empire amounts to anything? Step forward."
Lin Qiu's tone was flat.
The plaza fell utterly silent.
Even the sect representatives who had been eager to curry favor with the Star Luo Empire now wished they could bury their heads between their legs, afraid the god of slaughter might notice them.
Just then, a refined, gentle voice, tinged with urgency, broke the silence.
"His Highness the Holy Son is indeed formidable."
It was Ning Fengzhi, Sect Master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.
Holding his scepter, he rose from the VIP seats, his expression grave.
Behind him, Sword Douluo Chen Xin, known as "Sword Dao Chen Xin," and Bone Douluo Gu Rong, hailed as "the world's greatest defender," stood up at the same time.
Though they hadn't fully released their auras, the two terrifying presences of Titled Douluos still pressed down on everyone's hearts like massive mountains.
Ning Fengzhi looked at Lin Qiu on the dais, deep apprehension flashing in his eyes.
The Nine-Nether Ao from earlier had shaken him to the core.
But he had no time to dwell on that now.
"His Highness the Holy Son, Dai Weisi's matter is a feud between you and the Star Luo Empire. Ning has no intention of interfering."
Ning Fengzhi took a deep breath, trying to keep his tone calm. "But my daughter, Rongrong, went missing in Heaven Dou City a few days ago. According to reports from my sect's spies, her last known whereabouts were at Spirit Hall."
As he spoke, Ning Fengzhi's gaze sharpened. He looked directly at Bibi Dong on the Papal throne, then at Lin Qiu standing before her.
"I ask Your Holiness the Pope and His Highness the Holy Son to return my daughter."
"As long as Rongrong is safe and sound, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect will withdraw at once and won't interfere in today's affairs."
His words caused an uproar.
So the little princess of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, Ning Rongrong, had gone missing? And Spirit Hall had taken her?
No wonder.
No wonder the usually neutral Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect had brought both of its guardian Douluos to Spirit Hall today.
They were ready to fight to the death!
Lin Qiu heard him out, the corner of his mouth curling into an amused smile.
Ning Rongrong?
The little girl the system had identified as possessing the Immortal Spirit Physique?
She was probably in the back right now, happily gnawing on that Source Stone.
"Sect Master Ning, where does that claim come from?"
Lin Qiu drawled, "Spirit Hall is a sacred place for Soul Masters. Why would we stoop to kidnapping? Your daughter has legs of her own. She came to Spirit Hall as a guest—how can you call that being captured?"
"A guest?"
Bone Douluo Gu Rong had a fiery temper. He immediately roared, "Bullshit! Rongrong is a playful girl, but she'd never come all the way to this godforsaken place without saying a word. You must have used some despicable trick!"
"Old Bone!"
Ning Fengzhi stopped Gu Rong, then turned to Lin Qiu, his voice growing stern. "Your Highness the Holy Son, let's speak plainly. The protective Soul Tool on Rongrong is linked to our sect. It's inside Pope Palace."
"Today, Ning must take Rongrong home."
"If so much as a hair on Rongrong's head is harmed..."
Clang!
A clear, ringing sword note suddenly rang out.
The Seven Kill Sword Martial Soul appeared behind Sword Douluo Chen Xin, who had remained silent until now.
The enormous sword, silver-white from hilt to tip and radiating boundless killing intent, pointed straight at the dais.
As a Titled Douluo famed for having the greatest attack power in the world, Chen Xin's single movement seemed to slice apart the air before Pope Palace.
Countless low-ranking Soul Masters felt their skin sting, as though thousands upon thousands of blades were cutting into them.
"Then don't blame the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect for showing no mercy!"
Ning Fengzhi struck the ground hard with his scepter. His seven Soul Rings blazed.
The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda appeared!
"Seven Treasures Have Names, First: Strength!"
"Second: Speed!"
As Ning Fengzhi chanted, several streams of light shot into Chen Xin and Gu Rong.
Amplified by the world's greatest support-type Soul Master, the auras of Sword Douluo and Bone Douluo surged, nearly reaching the peak of rank 97 Titled Douluo!
Two Titled Douluos working together, with Ning Fengzhi's support.
That force was enough to sweep through any sect on the continent!
Except Spirit Hall.
Faced with such terrifying pressure, Lin Qiu's expression didn't change in the slightest.
He didn't even adjust his lazy posture.
He merely turned his head to look at the noble, icy woman behind him.
"Mom."
Lin Qiu called out.
The word came easily and naturally.
Like a child who had been wronged, turning to his mother to complain.
"These two old men are picking on me."
Lin Qiu pointed at Chen Xin and Gu Rong below. "They're even threatening to tear down our home."
A trace of helpless affection flickered in Bibi Dong's usually indifferent eyes.
That child.
He had looked so imposing when he killed Dai Weisi with a single strike, yet now he was acting like a little boy who hadn't grown up.
Still.
Since her son had spoken, she would naturally stand up for him.
Besides, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect had dared to draw their swords before Pope Palace. This was an open challenge to Spirit Hall's authority!
"Ning Fengzhi, Chen Xin, Gu Rong."
Bibi Dong slowly rose to her feet.
She wore a resplendent golden papal robe and the Nine-Curved Purple Gold Crown. The scepter in her hand tapped lightly against the ground.
Thud!
A deep, thunderous boom exploded beside everyone's ears, like the beating of a heart.
The space, which had been filled with Sword Douluo's razor-sharp sword energy, was instantly forced back by a far mightier, deeper Soul Power.
Before you continue