Facing that mountain-splitting, sea-swallowing pressure, Ning Fengzhi drew in a deep, shuddering breath.
He felt his heart pounding wildly in his chest. Fine beads of sweat quickly appeared on his forehead and trickled down his cheeks.
As the head of a sect, he knew all too well how perilous the situation was.
The tens of thousands of Black Armor Army soldiers, incapable of feeling pain and devoid of emotion, were like a pack of beasts ready to attack at any moment.
If the other side lost patience, or if he failed to give them a satisfactory answer, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's thousand-year legacy would surely be destroyed today, plunging into a crisis from which there would be no return.
Ning Fengzhi knitted his brows, his mind racing as he searched for a way out of this desperate situation.
In a flash, an idea struck him. He thought of the perfect way to resolve the crisis at hand.
He straightened his chest.
He tidied his splendid robe, which had grown somewhat disheveled from his nervousness.
Looking straight at the black-robed youth on horseback, he tried to make his voice sound steady and strong.
"Prince Wuyang!"
"My Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect has endured countless storms over the past thousand years, and our disciples and former officials are spread across the entire Douluo Continent."
"We are certainly no soft persimmons for anyone to squeeze."
"If you think a single word from you will make our mighty sect bow its head and submit, that is absolutely impossible!"
"If I were to yield like that, what face would I have to meet my ancestors after I died?"
He paused to study Tang Yu's reaction, then shifted his tone.
"However, there is room for discussion in all things."
"If Prince Wuyang insists that our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect submit, it is not entirely out of the question."
"But Your Highness must first demonstrate your strength, step by step, and prove to the world that you are worthy."
As he spoke, Ning Fengzhi turned slightly and gestured solemnly toward the two figures behind him.
"Prince Wuyang, allow me to introduce them."
"These two behind me are the pillars that hold up my Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect."
"Sword Douluo, Chen Xin."
"Bone Douluo, Gu Rong."
At Ning Fengzhi's introduction, Chen Xin and Gu Rong both stepped forward.
The formidable pressure of Titled Douluo radiated from them, matching the imposing might of the army opposite.
Looking at his two longtime companions, Ning Fengzhi seemed a little more composed.
He turned back and raised his voice to Tang Yu.
"These two guardian Douluo are the mightiest experts in our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect."
"Across the entire continent, both of them are renowned figures."
"Today, if Prince Wuyang can defeat these two guardian Douluo with your own strength..."
"Then my Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect will willingly submit to you, Prince Wuyang, and obey your every command without a word of protest!"
Having laid out the terms, Ning Fengzhi felt much more at ease, and his confidence gradually returned.
He had weighed the matter carefully and thought it a brilliant move.
Uncle Sword and Uncle Bone had been famous for years, shaking the Soul Master World for decades. Their cultivation was unfathomably deep, and their personal strength was extraordinary—far beyond that of ordinary people.
By contrast, Tang Yu was only eighteen at most.
Even if he had won a war in the Star Luo Empire and been granted a prince's title, the only truly formidable thing about him was the bizarre army at his command, one that could bring the dead back to life.
If you set the army aside and had him fight alone, how could a teenager be considered a top-tier fighter, even if he had started cultivating in the womb?
As long as Tang Yu was young and hot-blooded,
and unable to resist the provocation, he would agree to this duel between commanders.
Then this crisis, one that could destroy the sect, would be easily resolved.
Once the other side lost, he would naturally have no face to bring up submission again.
The air around them fell silent in an instant.
The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect disciples held their breath, not daring to make a sound.
Everyone fixed their eyes on the black-robed youth before them, waiting to see how he would answer the challenge.
But to everyone's surprise,
Tang Yu barely even raised his eyelids. He looked at Ning Fengzhi expressionlessly and bluntly uttered three words.
"I refuse."
The words caused an uproar, like a boulder crashing into a still lake.
Before Ning Fengzhi could even figure out what was happening,
Boom!
The tens of thousands of Black Armor Army soldiers behind Tang Yu took one heavy step forward in perfect unison.
The thunder of their boots striking the earth shook the mountains, sending flocks of birds fleeing in the distance.
A violent, murderous aura crashed over them like an avalanche, scattering even the clouds above beneath its overwhelming killing intent.
It was as if the cavalry would launch a merciless attack the moment Tang Yu gave the order.
Ning Fengzhi was horrified. The confidence he had just mustered shattered in an instant.
How could this brat completely refuse to play by the rules?!
Wouldn't a normal person accept the challenge for the sake of his pride, or at least bargain a little?
How could he immediately bring the entire army to bear at the slightest disagreement?!
This was simply the behavior of a madman who refused to reason!
Seeing the situation turn disastrous in an instant, with the Black Armor Army ready to charge at any moment, Ning Fengzhi could no longer worry about maintaining a sect leader's dignity. He hurriedly lowered his stance and waved his hands again and again, his tone turning exceedingly polite, even a little panicked.
"Prince Wuyang, please calm down!"
"Let's talk this through. Please, don't act rashly!"
"I've long heard of Prince Wuyang's great fame in the Star Luo Empire, and I've always held you in the highest respect."
"We have absolutely no intention of looking down on you."
"It's just that if you want everyone in the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect to submit wholeheartedly, there has to be a reason—something that will convince us all."
"Otherwise, even if I agree as the sect leader, the people below me won't obey. Isn't that right?"
He tried to calm the other side with words, desperately hoping to steer the situation back toward a one-on-one duel.
But Tang Yu sat astride his tall steed and glanced coldly at Ning Fengzhi.
"Enough nonsense."
"If anyone wants to fight, step forward."
As soon as those curt words fell, Tang Yu stopped holding back.
Boom!
A terrifying, violent killing aura suddenly erupted from him.
The aura was like a tangible crimson storm, carrying overwhelming might as it swept in every direction.
The hard stones scattered across the ground cracked apart beneath that dreadful force, crumbling into powder.
The wind howled, whipping the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect members' clothes into a frenzy.
Bearing the brunt of it, Ning Fengzhi felt as though a heavy hammer had slammed into his chest. Unable to withstand the force, he staggered backward several steps despite himself, his face turning as white as paper.
"How is this possible?!"
Even Sword Douluo and Bone Douluo, standing beside him, changed color in unison, their faces filled with shock.
The two Super Douluo had weathered countless storms and stood at the pinnacle of power, yet now their eyes were filled with astonishment.
The savage aura surging toward them had made even mighty men like them feel the threat of death, unmistakable and overwhelming!