Jumping Clown

"War? That's not necessary." Gu Rong's voice carried a hint of mockery. "We are merely acting under orders to invite the Holy Son to be a guest at the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. The Sect Master said that the Holy Son's talent is peerless, and he wishes to meet him."

Chrysanthemum Douluo sneered: "A guest? Bringing Title Douluo to block the road—you call this an invitation?"

Bone Douluo shrugged, neither confirming nor denying.

Sword Douluo had not said a single word from the beginning.

His gaze remained fixed on Gu Qingshan, his eyes devoid of emotion, sharp enough to make one's skin crawl.

Gu Qingshan stood behind Chrysanthemum Douluo, chewing on a Blue Silver Leaf, his expression so calm it didn't seem like he was facing an ambush by two Title Douluo.

Gu Rong observed this and shook his head.

This kid probably still doesn't understand what a Title Douluo represents.

A twelve-year-old Soul Saint—his talent is indeed monstrous, but talent does not equal strength.

Between level seventy and level ninety lies a chasm, a gulf, the gap between a mortal and a god.

This kid likely thinks that with his little bit of reflection ability, he can gain an advantage in front of a Title Douluo.

Truly a newborn calf that fears no tiger; how naive.

Just then, Sword Douluo spoke.

"Holy Son?"

"I will be blunt: if you join the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect today and sever your ties with Martial Soul Hall and Bibi Dong, that is your only path to survival."

"As for Ju Huaguan, you will certainly die today."

Gu Rong nodded.

As long as Ju Huaguan dies, no one will know about today's events. With the two of them working together, killing a level ninety-five Chrysanthemum Douluo would take no more than the time it takes to brew a cup of tea.

As for this Holy Son.

Once he arrives at the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, he will have no say in the matter.

There are plenty of ways to make him obedient: drugs, control, mental suggestion, long-term brainwashing.

How much resistance can a twelve-year-old boy have?

Moreover, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect would not treat him poorly.

A genius with such outstanding talent, even if used as a "stud," would be of immense benefit to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.

By pairing him with the sect's excellent female disciples to produce gifted offspring and optimizing the bloodline generation after generation, the future of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect would be limitless.

Gu Rong's smile deepened.

Chrysanthemum Douluo's expression changed completely, and he fully released his Martial Soul at this moment.

The Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum bloomed behind him with a roar, its golden petals layered upon one another, radiating a blinding golden light under the sun.

Nine soul rings rose from beneath his feet: two yellow, two purple, and five black.

The aura of a level ninety-six Super Douluo erupted without reservation.

"Insolent! Do you really think This Seat fears you?"

Sword Douluo looked at him, and for the first time, a ripple appeared in his hollow eyes.

"Oh? Ju Huaguan, you actually broke through? But so what?"

In his world, there is no essential difference between level ninety-five and level ninety-six.

"Level ninety-six, you will still die all the same."

This was not arrogance; Sword Douluo Chen Xin had spent his life with the sword and believed in the sword. His sword could sever everything.

A level ninety-five Chrysanthemum Douluo, he could kill in one strike.

A level ninety-six Chrysanthemum Douluo, he could kill in two strikes—it would just take one extra swing.

Gu Rong was also full of confidence; two against one, the advantage is ours!

Gu Qingshan felt his anger rise as he saw Gu Rong sizing him up like a piece of merchandise.

He laughed.

"Heh."

"The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect?"

"Only you two bumpkins would treat it like a treasure."

Gu Rong's expression changed, the smile on his face freezing.

"Ning Fengzhi is nothing but a clown!"

Hearing Gu Qingshan's provocation, Sword Douluo did not seem angered.

"Bold. Then we shall kill Ju Huaguan first, and then take you back."

Seeing that a fight was imminent, Chrysanthemum Douluo glanced at Gu Qingshan and whispered: "Holy Son, when the fighting starts, you go first. I will hold them off."

Gu Qingshan did not answer.

He stepped out from behind Chrysanthemum Douluo, standing in the center of the official road, facing the two Title Douluo directly.

A giant dark golden shield manifested before his left arm; at this moment, the thorn patterns on the shield's surface lit up entirely, with dark red light flowing along the grooves.

Six spirit rings rose from beneath his feet.

Purple, black, black, black, black, black.

One purple and five black—this spirit ring configuration was simply inconceivable.

Gu Rong's smile vanished completely.

Looking at those six spirit rings and the twelve-year-old boy, his pupils constricted.

He had lived for the better part of a lifetime and seen countless geniuses, but he had never seen such a spirit ring configuration.

How on earth did he manage it?

Sword Douluo's gaze finally shifted.

"Good lad!"

With a reach of his hand, a four-foot-three-inch long sword, clear and blue as crystal, appeared in his grasp.

Seven Kill Sword, unsheathed.

Gu Qingshan looked at that sword of light and the livid Gu Rong, the corners of his mouth curling slightly.

"Elder Chrysanthemum."

"This subordinate is here."

"When the fight starts later, don't worry about me; focus on dealing with Sword Douluo."

Chrysanthemum Douluo was stunned for a moment: "Then Bone Douluo..."

"Leave Bone Douluo to me."

Chrysanthemum Douluo looked at Gu Qingshan's back and remained silent for an instant.

"Very well!"

Sword Douluo's sword of light fully formed, seven strands of killing intent circulating along the blade, tearing the surrounding air into shreds.

Gu Rong's Bone Dragon phantom emerged completely, the massive bone dragon coiling behind him, its grayish-white skeleton gleaming with a cold light under the sun.

The four stood facing one another.

The battle was on the verge of breaking out.

A moment later, Chen Xin made the first move.

Without warning or charging, he simply slashed the Seven Kill Sword in his hand toward Chrysanthemum Douluo; the Seven Kill Sword, condensed from light, transformed into a blue bolt of lightning, tearing through the air and heading straight for Chrysanthemum Douluo's throat.

Fast, fast to the extreme.

Gu Qingshan's spiritual power only captured a residual image, yet the sword radiance had already arrived within three feet of Chrysanthemum Douluo.

The speed of this strike surpassed the reaction limits of an ordinary Title Douluo.

But Chrysanthemum Douluo was no ordinary Title Douluo; his body shifted half an inch to the left the instant the sword radiance arrived, the blade light grazing past his neck.

Chrysanthemum Douluo clawed with his five fingers, and five golden rays of light shot from his fingertips like five golden snakes, winding toward Sword Douluo's body from different angles.

This was another application of Golden Stamen Flowing Rosy Clouds; the seemingly soft golden light was actually incomparably sharp. Once entangled, even a Title Douluo's protective spirit power could not hold out for more than three breaths.

Chen Xin's body left a residual image in place, his true self having retreated ten zhang away.

The five golden threads entangled the residual image, shredding it into countless specks of light.

"Not bad."

Chrysanthemum Douluo did not reply; the Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum behind him spun frantically, golden petals flying out like a rainstorm, each one carrying enough power to pierce through metal and stone.

Sword Douluo's right hand traced a circle in the air, and the sword of light followed his gesture to draw a perfect arc. Wherever the arc passed, the golden web was torn asunder, the golden petals were deflected, and all attacks were shredded by invisible sword qi three feet from his body.

"Ju Huaguan, you are much stronger than the rumors suggest."

Chrysanthemum Douluo sneered, the curve of his mouth as sharp as a blade.

"After three days apart, one should look at another with new eyes. Chen Xin, you have grown old."