Colorful Soul Skills ravaged the sky.
Even someone as powerful as Chen Zidian had no choice but to unfurl his domain.
He swiftly completed his defense, holding back the onslaught of immense energy. But in the time it took, the situation changed dramatically.
Four Titled Douluo from the Spirit Hall made a grand entrance, their Martial Souls blazing as they surrounded him.
Qian Jun and Jiang Mo, both at level ninety-six, and Pufferfish and Snake Lance, both at level ninety-three—their appearance was a profound shock to everyone watching.
In a way, they'd actually helped. With such an outrageous lineup, it was impossible not to draw attention.
"Arrogant? I'd say I'm doing just fine."
Though trapped, Chen Zidian showed not the slightest sign of nervousness.
Facing six powerful opponents alone, he still wore a calm smile.
In fact, he wasn't in a hurry now. The longer the standoff lasted, the more likely the situation was to blow up—which suited Lin Feng's plan even better.
"Hmph. You're certainly powerful, but you should never have impersonated the Spirit Hall and stirred up conflict. You must answer for it today."
The speaker was Qian Jun. His eyes were cold and his face stern. He seemed to have made a striking entrance, but inside, he was on guard. The stronger the opponent, the more keenly he could feel the gap between them.
He couldn't see through the man before him at all. That meant his strength was formidable—far beyond his own and Jiang Mo's. He might even be on the Second Worship's level.
"Answer for what? I never mentioned the Spirit Hall."
Seeing there was no point in keeping up the act, Chen Zidian simply admitted it.
At his words, Ning Fengzhi and the other two nearby visibly darkened.
After just a few words between the two sides, the meaning was clear: all their earlier assumptions had been completely wrong.
The powerful figure who had seized the Sunset Forest and attacked Dugu Bo and Gu Rong had nothing to do with the Spirit Hall. They'd been barking up the wrong tree from the start!
"Who are these people, exactly?!"
Ning Fengzhi grumbled inwardly, deeply frustrated.
He looked not only at Chen Zidian, but also sized up Qian Jun and the other three, his mind full of questions.
It was one thing not to recognize the former; he belonged to a "mysterious faction," after all. But the latter claimed to be from the Spirit Hall. Why had he never heard of them?
"Sect Master Ning, we belong to the Worship Hall. We heard someone was impersonating us and deliberately disrupting order across the Douluo Continent, so we were sent to inspect the situation."
Noticing their gazes, Qian Jun and Jiang Mo immediately understood.
To avoid any misunderstanding, they explained at once.
At least for now, the Spirit Hall and the Heaven Dou Empire hadn't fallen out.
Their priority should be dealing with their common enemy: the mysterious powerhouse before them.
Ning Fengzhi understood that perfectly, so he said nothing more, though his feelings remained complicated.
He was shocked that the Spirit Hall had hidden such terrifying strength, but also displeased that these four Douluo had been lying in wait all along and deliberately waited until the last moment to appear.
"I can't help but admire your nerve."
"Surrounded by six Titled Douluo, and you still stand firm."
"Surely you have something to say? Even basic courtesy calls for an introduction, doesn't it?"
Ning Fengzhi understood that no matter how powerful the Spirit Hall was, it was still an open rival—and not today's main concern.
He immediately turned his attention back to Chen Zidian. The man's calm demeanor made him deeply suspicious.
"My name is Chen Zidian, Ninth-Rank Holy Knight."
Out of respect between powerful individuals, Chen Zidian introduced himself.
He had given them his name and a vague indication of his rank, but that was all.
How could he casually reveal more about the Holy Demon Federation or the secrets of His Majesty Lin Feng?
Unbeknownst to him, those few words had already caused an uproar. They were brief, but packed with information, and both factions were stunned.
"Chen Zidian? I can't recall anyone by that name among the Titled Douluo who rose to prominence in the last hundred years, or among the famous young prodigies."
Ning Fengzhi furrowed his brows, his thoughts racing.
Yu Yuanzhen and Chen Xin beside him were just as incredulous.
They could rack their brains all day and still not figure out who this man was. That only made Chen Zidian seem more mysterious.
But the four from the Spirit Hall—and Qian Renxue, still hidden in the camp below—were startled by the second half of his introduction.
"Ninth-Rank? Holy Knight? What kind of title is that?"
Everyone knew the Douluo Continent used numbers to denote levels.
Every ten levels marked a new realm, distinguished by the word "Soul."
And all were collectively called Soul Masters. Even the unusual practitioners on Sea God Island called themselves Sea Soul Masters at most.
The Spirit Hall had been around for over a thousand years and possessed countless secret records, yet they had never heard of a "Holy Knight." For a moment, they were at a loss.
Still, it didn't sound like something he'd simply made up.
They especially noticed that Chen Zidian hadn't summoned his Martial Soul.
There was no visible Soul Power around him, nor any Soul Rings. It was clearly abnormal.
Quick-witted as she was, Qian Renxue began to form a bold suspicion, but it seemed too fantastical to be true. Could it really be possible?!
"Sir, we don't want to make an enemy of you, but you must answer for what happened today."
"How about this? Come with me to the Spirit Hall and meet His Holiness the Pope. What do you say?"
Realizing they wouldn't get any more information out of him, Qian Jun and Jiang Mo set their misgivings aside and let their Soul Power surge, making their threat clear.
Whoever this man was, and whatever those strange terms meant, taking him back with them was the right move.
As formidable as he was, the odds were still six to one. Surely he didn't think he could win, no matter how arrogant he was.
"Don't waste time with such nonsense."
Chen Zidian refused without hesitation, unleashing his own dazzling spiritual power.
His holy attribute erupted, his domain spreading across the sky and easily dispelling their oppressive force.
Qian Jun and Jiang Mo exchanged a glance. Bracing their Coiling Dragon Staffs, their Tool Martial Souls, they shot straight at him.
Since they couldn't talk it out, they'd use force. Across from them, the two Douluo Pufferfish and Snake Lance followed close behind, unleashing their signature moves.
In an instant, clashes and explosions rang across the sky.
The countless Soul Masters and soldiers below stared up, trembling with fear.
Many people went their whole lives without seeing a battle between Titled Douluo, let alone one involving so many.
Though they knew it was dangerous, most still didn't flee. If they survived today, they would surely spread the story far and wide!
"Uncle Jian, Senior Yu, let's join in too."
Ning Fengzhi glanced at the situation and communicated with them in secret.
With experts from the Spirit Hall helping them, this was the perfect chance to kick their enemy while he was down. They couldn't let it slip by!
At his words, Chen Xin and Yu Yuanzhen nodded in turn. One gripped the Seven Kill Sword, while the other crackled with lightning, and together they joined the fray.
"So I have no choice but to reveal myself after all..."
Chen Zidian surveyed the situation and sighed.
Fighting six people alone was a little too much.
He took the full force of both Coiling Dragon Staffs and was sent hurtling back through the air. He realized he couldn't keep this up.
So he released a surge of spiritual energy. Part of it locked onto the enemies around him, while the rest swept toward the Sunset Forest.
It was a signal that he needed support. The perfectly coordinated Fall of the Demon God shot out from the shadows at once.
Five more powerful auras!
Shadows flashed into existence around Chen Zidian.
Before Ning Fengzhi and the others—or Qian Jun and Jiang Mo—could react, each of them locked onto an opponent.
Explosions ten times more violent than before shook the air. Spiritual and Soul Power blazed as the fighters clashed above the camp.
Chen Zidian relaxed and faced the strongest among them, Sword Douluo Chen Xin. Seeing his eyes widen, Chen Zidian smiled with confidence.
"When it comes to numbers, I have plenty of teammates too."
Before you continue