Seeing the Soul Beast emerge from the crack, Chrysanthemum Douluo Yue Guan froze for a moment, then laughed in exasperation.
He raised a delicate orchid finger and pointed at the Golden Light Eagle, his voice dripping with undisguised contempt and disbelief. "I thought it was something extraordinary. After all that fuss, it's just a Ten-Thousand-Year Golden Light Eagle?"
Ghost Douluo shook his head as well, wearing an expression caught between laughter and tears. He couldn't even summon the interest to attack.
"You think you can come here and save someone? Do you have any idea how many Titled Douluo are standing here? You're just a Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Beast. What makes you think you can save anyone?"
Chrysanthemum Ghost Douluo were brimming with confidence.
Even if the Golden Light Eagle was only a vanguard, even if there were Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beasts behind it—
they would just be another new dish!
Xiao Wu shook her head frantically, tears welling in her eyes as she screamed at the sky, "Golden Light Eagle! Run! Don't come over!"
She recognized the Golden Light Eagle.
Deep in the Star Dou Forest, the Golden Light Eagle clan and the Soft Bone Charm Rabbit lineage might not have been old friends, but they were both Soul Beasts and knew of each other.
Even if they weren't friends, and might even have fought each other, she still didn't want the Golden Light Eagle to throw its life away for nothing.
What was more, the Golden Light Eagle might have come to save her.
Things had already come to this.
The seven Titled Douluo of Spirit Hall had gathered, and even Tang Hao might not escape unscathed.
Never mind the Golden Light Eagle. Even if Da Ming and Er Ming came, they would only be giving up two more Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Rings and Soul Bones.
She didn't want to drag anyone else into this.
But the Golden Light Eagle seemed not to have heard her.
The instant it landed, its three-zhang-wide dark-golden wings snapped shut. It stood protectively in front of Xiao Wu, raised its head, and surveyed the densely packed Titled Douluo and Hall Guard Knights surrounding them.
Then it cast a remarkably strange look over the people of Spirit Hall.
There was a hint of condescending pity and smugness in its gaze, along with utter disdain.
Kill me!
Come on, kill me!
The one I'm protecting now is that person's daughter. If you kill me, I'll be set!
Tang San's gaze passed over Xiao Wu's shoulder and locked onto the Golden Light Eagle standing in front of her. His brows knitted into a deep frown.
He couldn't understand.
Didn't Soul Beasts attack one another, too?
Survival of the fittest—that was the law of the Star Dou Forest.
The Golden Light Eagle had only ten thousand years of cultivation. By rights, Xiao Wu should have looked like a walking feast to it.
Yet it was protecting her.
Why?
Tang San's thoughts raced, one guess after another flashing through his mind before he dismissed them.
He didn't know what unexpected turn of events had occurred, but he knew one thing.
He had to stop that Golden Light Eagle.
The Golden Light Eagle clan's speed ranked among the best of all Soul Beasts. With its three-zhang wingspan fully extended, even ordinary Titled Douluo might not be able to catch it.
If the Golden Light Eagle really managed to take Xiao Wu into the air and break through Spirit Hall's encirclement, all his plans, schemes, and painstaking preparations would be ruined in an instant.
He wouldn't allow it.
He wouldn't allow any unexpected variable to exist!
Tang San spun around and yanked Xiao Wu behind him, putting himself between her and the Golden Light Eagle again. In an instant, his expression shifted to one of wariness and anger.
"Xiao Wu! Stay away from it!"
His voice was firm and decisive, leaving no room for doubt.
"That Golden Light Eagle must be here to kill you! Think about it. Why would a Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Beast come out of nowhere to save a Hundred-Thousand-Year Transformed Soul Beast? It's just taking advantage of how weak you are right now, hoping to Devour your Soul Ring and Soul Bone!"
Tang San's pull made Xiao Wu stumble. She looked up at him in confusion, then at the Golden Light Eagle protecting her. For a moment, she didn't know whom to believe.
And amid that brief confusion, the four Titled Douluo saw their chance.
They didn't care what sort of relationship Tang San and the Golden Light Eagle had. All they saw was that the Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast had lost its protection.
The four exchanged no words. Their Titled Douluo-level Soul Power erupted at once, turning into four streaks of different colors as they swooped in to attack from four directions.
At the same time, a cold glint flashed in Bibi Dong's eyes, and she attacked alongside Chrysanthemum Douluo Yue Guan and Ghost Douluo Gui Mei.
The auras of the three Titled Douluo intertwined into an airtight net, blocking Tang Hao's path.
Bibi Dong's golden Martial Soul blazed with light. Her red Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Ring let out a piercing hum, and in an instant, it blocked Tang Hao's aura.
Tang Hao roared. The Clear Sky Hammer swelled in the wind, its red markings erupting into countless flashes of light like bolts of lightning, but the combined force of the three Titled Douluo drove it back.
His old wounds in his left arm and right leg burst open, blood spurting from them. He was held in place by sheer force, forced to watch as the four Titled Douluo rushed toward Xiao Wu.
Seeing this, Tang San sneered inwardly, though his face was full of anxiety. He pretended to shield Xiao Wu as he retreated, but his steps shifted subtly.
Just enough to expose Xiao Wu to the four Titled Douluo's range of attack.
Then he leaped up, charging straight at the Golden Light Eagle.
"Beast! Don't you dare hurt Xiao Wu!"
Tang San shouted as his hands flashed, his Mysterious Jade Hand driving the remaining fragments of his Eight Spider Lances straight at the Golden Light Eagle.
The Golden Light Eagle was so angry its beak nearly twisted out of shape.
This human brat was shameless as hell!
The Golden Light Eagle saw it all clearly. He claimed he was protecting Xiao Wu, but his feet were sending her straight into the path of the Titled Douluo's blades.
And now he was attacking it? Blaming the victim? The thief crying "Stop, thief!"
Lord Eagle had lived for more than ten thousand years and had never seen a human this shameless.
The Golden Light Eagle let out an angry shriek and flung its wings wide, every dark-golden feather standing on end. It met Tang San's attack without the slightest fear.
Man and eagle tangled in combat in an instant. Every one of Tang San's moves looked vicious, but he was only putting on a show; the moment he launched each attack, he spat out a mouthful of blood with impeccable timing, looking so grievously wounded he seemed about to drop dead.
Meanwhile, the four Titled Douluo's attacks were almost upon them.
Four Titled Douluo-level Soul Skills struck simultaneously from four directions. Their violent Soul Power surged like a bursting dam, swallowing Xiao Wu's slender figure whole.
But at that very instant—
"Caw—!"
The Golden Light Eagle let out a piercing cry that split the clouds.
Its whole body suddenly swelled, and a nearly transparent barrier appeared over its dark-golden wings, enveloping Xiao Wu completely.
Absolute Defense!
The Golden Light Eagle clan's innate Soul Skill. For several breaths, it multiplied the user's defensive power, making it strong enough to withstand attacks far beyond its cultivation level head-on.
The four Titled Douluo's Soul Skills struck the barrier all at once.
The barrier shuddered violently. Web-like cracks spread out from the impact point in every direction, and the shockwaves of the exploding Soul Power tore up a broad swath of the hall's bluestone floor.
The Golden Light Eagle's body jerked. Dark-golden feathers peeled away in clumps, and blood seeped from their roots, staining it red until it looked like a bloody eagle.
But it didn't move an inch.
Its golden eyes held not the slightest trace of fear, only a burning, untamed pride!
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