At this sight, Ning Rongrong froze.
To her surprise, even with two Super Douluo unleashing their full pressure, Tang Yu remained seated on his horse.
Not the slightest trace of retreat showed on his young face.
He didn't even furrow his brow. His body didn't so much as twitch, as if the two peerless powerhouses before him were nothing but air.
A sudden, overwhelming sense of dread sprouted in Ning Rongrong's heart like weeds, growing wildly for no reason she could explain.
When ordinary people encountered a scene like this, even if they weren't scared into fleeing, they would at least show some apprehension.
But Tang Yu was far too unusual.
At that moment, Gu Rong took a heavy step forward. His enormous foot crushed the stone paving, sending shards flying into the air.
The deafening impact echoed through the valley, thick with warning.
"Prince Wuyang!"
"I'll admit, you're a rare genius, able to attain a royal title and high office at such a young age."
"But if you know what's good for you and turn back now, taking your people down the mountain, I'll still think well of you. We can call it the start of a friendship."
"But if you insist on making an enemy of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, then when we come to blows, blades have no eyes. I won't hold back!"
Holding the Seven Kill Sword, Chen Xin spoke as well.
"Prince Wuyang, we all have a place on this continent. There's no need to take things too far."
"We should show each other respect and each give a little ground. That way, we can avoid hard feelings—and keep you from ruining such a bright future."
The two men played off each other, trying to force their opponent to yield with words and avert a life-or-death battle.
Yet Tang Yu merely looked down at them.
His gaze was icy as it swept over everyone present.
"You want me to back down?"
"Then show me everything you've got. Let me see just how capable the great sects of this world really are."
Tang Yu didn't bother with another word of empty pleasantries. He made his resolve to fight to the death plain.
Hearing this, Ning Fengzhi's expression turned instantly grave.
He still wouldn't back down?
Even in such a desperate predicament, he intended to meet force with force and wouldn't yield a single step.
Was he really going to challenge two Super Douluo renowned throughout the world, all by himself?
The two Douluo stood at the very front, taking in Tang Yu's every reaction.
Chen Xin studied him closely and caught something terrifying in those deep eyes.
It was an overwhelming thirst for battle.
No fear, no hesitation—only a savage fighting spirit, eager to tear every enemy to shreds.
Chen Xin's heart sank. It felt as if he had stepped into empty air, and cold sweat broke out across his back.
The black-robed youth was proud beyond measure, with an arrogance in his very bones that looked down on the world.
It was as though he saw them as two insignificant ants, and held every rule and powerhouse in existence in utter contempt.
Being treated with such disdain stirred a nameless anger in Chen Xin.
Gu Rong had an even hotter temper. How could he stand such provocation?
"You ungrateful wretch! You refuse the toast only to drink a forfeit!"
"Since you're so eager to die, I'll grant your wish today and teach you how vast the heavens and earth are!"
Gu Rong roared and stopped holding back. He launched the first attack.
His shout shook the mountain forest, and the ninth Soul Ring around him erupted in a dazzling black glow.
"Bone Dragon Void-Nether Array!"
He slammed both hands into the ground, and surging Soul Power gushed forth like an underground spring.
Thick, pitch-black bone pillars burst from the earth around Tang Yu, sending clouds of dust billowing into the air.
The pillars crisscrossed, instantly forming a vast and intricate spatial bone array.
Within the formation, space began to warp violently. Light bent at bizarre angles, making anyone who looked feel dizzy.
A frenzied force of spatial cutting surged back and forth through the array, slicing through Soul Power.
In the blink of an eye, it pinned Tang Yu and his horse in place, leaving them unable to move.
Seeing that his old partner had taken control of the situation, Chen Xin no longer hesitated.
Nine radiant Soul Rings appeared in perfect order beneath his feet, undulating up and down.
The Seven Kill Sword let out a clear, long cry and pointed toward the heavens.
Chen Xin swept his arm and unleashed a powerful Soul Skill.
"Might Shakes the Four Directions!"
Dazzling golden sword energy erupted around Chen Xin like a volcano, blasting outward in every direction.
Countless fierce sword auras converged into a torrent in the air, rushing to kill Tang Yu, trapped within the bone array.
One attacked while the other defended. Their teamwork was flawless.
One was responsible for trapping the enemy and cutting off escape routes.
The other unleashed the most lethal, thunderous blow.
Watching from behind, Ning Fengzhi couldn't help but marvel. The gloom on his face vanished.
Uncle Sword and Uncle Bone had long since reached perfection in their coordination.
With an assault as mighty as mountains tumbling into the sea—
Even the legendary Level 98 Peak Douluo, if present, would have had a worthy fight on his hands. They might even have forced their opponent into disarray.
Yet Tang Yu, at the very heart of the killing array and about to be swallowed by the sword energy, remained as calm as still water. His expression didn't change at all.
He didn't panic, nor did he rush to break free.
He only watched coldly as the attack swept toward him.
Then his thin lips parted, and he spoke in a frosty voice.
"Nether Void-Rending Claw."
At Tang Yu's quiet utterance, the scene around them suddenly changed.
The once-solid void tore open as if it were nothing more than fragile cloth.
A huge black rift stretched across the air.
An icy, bone-chilling Nether aura surged from deep within it, and the temperature plunged to freezing in an instant.
Then a pitch-black claw reached out of the void.
Ancient, obscure patterns covered it, and it radiated a terrifying aura of destruction.
It met the thickest golden sword aura head-on and seized Chen Xin's sword.
A teeth-grating crack rang out.
The Seven Kill Sword aura, powerful enough to split mountains and shatter stone, burst into countless specks of light under the black claw's crushing grip.
It swept through everything like a falling tree!
In an instant, Chen Xin's attack was completely neutralized.
Ning Fengzhi stared in disbelief and cried out on the spot.
"What!"
He grabbed the railing beside him with both hands, his knuckles turning white.
How could Chen Xin's sword have been neutralized so casually?
Ning Rongrong covered her mouth. Her mind buzzed, and she couldn't believe what she was seeing.
In her eyes, Sword Grandpa had always been practically invincible.
Even her father, the sect leader, had praised Sword Grandpa's offensive power time and again.
How could things have turned out like this?
What kind of wicked technique was that black claw?
Standing before the array's core, Gu Rong was just as shocked.
He knew how powerful Chen Xin's sword had been. Seeing it meet this end, he hurriedly turned to ask,
"Chen Xin, are you all right?"
Chen Xin's arm tingled where he gripped the Seven Kill Sword. Though a flash of unconcealable shock crossed his face, he had fought in countless battles and stayed perfectly calm.
Gritting his teeth, he circulated all the Soul Power in his body without reservation.
He continued gathering an even more terrifying second attack.
This time, he brought out his trump card.