The sinister look in Tang San's eyes vanished in a flash, and the last trace of hesitation in his heart was crushed completely.
"Xiao Wu!" he suddenly roared, grabbing her wrist. "Come with me! We'll meet up with my father!"
He pulled Xiao Wu along, pretending to run desperately in Tang Hao's direction.
But in the instant everyone's attention was drawn to the Ten Thousand Beast Torrent in the sky, his steps shifted subtly to one side.
Just enough to expose Xiao Wu to the sight of the four Titled Douluo.
He was taking a gamble.
If those four Titled Douluo dared to attack, Xiao Wu, where she was now, would inevitably bear the brunt.
As long as she was driven to the brink, there would still be a sliver of hope that she would sacrifice herself.
Even if they didn't dare attack, that was fine too.
He could simply take Xiao Wu away with Tang Hao.
There was always more time ahead. As long as Xiao Wu trusted him, he'd have plenty of time and opportunity.
This Soul Ring would be his sooner or later!
Bibi Dong's gaze locked onto Xiao Wu.
She saw that Xiao Wu wasn't running toward the Soul Beast horde at all. Instead, Tang San was dragging her toward Tang Hao.
A surge of barely restrained delight flared in Bibi Dong's eyes.
She had already prepared for the worst. If Xiao Wu escaped into the Ten Thousand Beast Torrent, dragging her back out would be harder than reaching the heavens.
But she had never expected this little rabbit to abandon the Soul Beast reinforcements so close at hand and run in the opposite direction.
Tang Hao was strong, but he was still only one man.
One man always had weaknesses. One man eventually ran out of strength.
As long as they captured Xiao Wu, the Soul Beasts would hold back, afraid of harming her, and wouldn't dare act rashly.
And as long as they survived the first wave of the beast tide, once the Spirit Hall responded, once those old monsters in the Worship Hall emerged from seclusion...
Not a single one of these Soul Beasts would make it back alive!
"Stop her!"
Bibi Dong's figure became a golden streak of light, and the enormous golden Martial Soul behind her blazed with dazzling radiance.
Her Sixth Soul Ring suddenly lit up. A golden spear of light, condensed to the utmost, took shape in her palm. The air split with a sharp sonic boom wherever its tip pointed.
That thrust was powerful enough to pierce a mountain peak.
But someone moved faster than her spear.
Tang Hao's figure shot across the battlefield like a streak of blood-red lightning. The Clear Sky Hammer swelled against the wind, and the red patterns across its head lit up all at once, like a web set ablaze.
There was no flashy technique, no unnecessary movement—just one simple swing.
The hammer came down.
The golden spear of light shattered inch by inch against the Clear Sky Hammer. The shockwaves of Soul Power blasted away every slab of bluestone within dozens of yards.
Bibi Dong grunted. The terrifying force hurled her backward, her feet carving two deep furrows into the ground.
But Tang Hao was hardly unscathed.
The old wounds in his left arm and right leg burst open at the same time, and the blood he spat out soaked a large swath of his clothes.
His crippled limbs trembled violently, but he didn't dare waste even a moment wiping the blood from his mouth.
As a victim, he knew better than anyone the true depths of the Spirit Hall's power.
The truly terrifying figures in the Spirit Hall were the old monsters in the Worship Hall, who rarely showed themselves.
If he was held here too long and those old bastards arrived, forget taking Xiao Wu away—he'd have to leave his own life behind.
He had to end this quickly. He absolutely couldn't get bogged down.
Tang Hao bit through his tongue, using the sharp pain to force his injuries under control, and raised the Clear Sky Hammer again.
Not far away, a burning light flared in Grandmaster Yu Xiaogang's eyes.
He watched Tang Hao's battered yet unyielding figure. He watched him knock Bibi Dong back with a single, domineering blow. He watched him stand his ground, blood soaking his clothes, and refuse to yield even an inch.
Wasn't this exactly what he had pursued all his life?
A Soul Master's true strength didn't lie in the flashiness of his Soul Skills or the number of his Soul Rings. It lay in a backbone that refused to bend, even when broken.
This was what a true man looked like.
Grandmaster's gaze fell on Tang San of its own accord.
Nearly all the effort of his life had been poured into this disciple.
He had found Soul Rings for him, paved the way for him, and exhausted himself thinking of his future.
All he wanted was for Tang San, one day, to spread his theories and finish the road he himself could never complete.
"Xiao San, one day, you must become someone like him."
Grandmaster murmured the words to himself, then turned toward Flender and Liu Erlong beside him.
"Erlong, Flender, let's join the fight."
The Golden Iron Triangle unleashed their power once more. Their Martial Souls intertwined in the air, forming a dazzling net of light that firmly blocked Chrysanthemum Douluo Yue Guan and Ghost Douluo Gui Mei.
At that moment, Tang San gritted his teeth, rage in his chest nearly burning his reason to ash.
Why?
Why was everyone helping her?
Tang Hao was risking his life for her. The Golden Iron Triangle was risking their lives for her. The Soul Beasts in the sky were risking their lives for her.
Even that old poisoner, Dugu Bo, was on her side.
Why?
Wasn't it enough for me to help her alone, to move her on my own?
What were all of you doing butting in?
Tang San's fingernails dug into his palms, and blood seeped between his fingers.
But the expression on his face was the exact opposite of what he felt inside: steadfast and resolute.
He roared, his hands flashing as he guarded Xiao Wu's side, putting on the appearance of someone ready to die protecting her.
He couldn't crack.
He couldn't let the act slip!
Even though he wanted nothing more than to shove Xiao Wu into the path of a Titled Douluo's blade, he had to act more devoted than anyone.
On the battlefield, Bibi Dong fought Tang Hao while abruptly turning her head. Her gaze stabbed toward Dugu Bo at the edge of the fight like a knife.
"Dugu Bo!"
Bibi Dong's voice was sharp and cold, brimming with authority. Her tone allowed no refusal.
"I command you as Pope: release the Jade Phosphorous Serpent Emperor's poison at once and kill these Soul Beasts!"
Dugu Bo might not have been among the strongest Titled Douluo in a one-on-one fight, but the Jade Phosphorous Serpent Emperor's poison was a weapon of mass destruction.
Against a horde of this immense scale, an ordinary Soul Skill from a Titled Douluo might kill only a few dozen or a hundred Soul Beasts. But once Dugu Bo's poison spread, it would reap them by the thousands.
Dugu Bo didn't move.
He stood at the edge of the battlefield, his Jade Phosphorous Serpent Emperor Martial Soul slowly coiling behind him. A complicated light flickered in its ghostly green eyes.
The Spirit Hall badly needed his help right now. This was probably the last chance to save Xiao Wu and Tang San.
He looked at the Soul Beasts filling the sky, then at Xiao Wu, protected in their midst. In the end, he shook his head.
"Your Holiness."
His voice wasn't loud, but every Titled Douluo present could hear him clearly.
"You can't kill Xiao Wu right now. If she dies, these Soul Beasts will go completely berserk. When that happens, even I won't be able to do anything."
Bibi Dong's gaze turned icy in an instant.
"You... are threatening me?"
Dugu Bo said nothing.
He could see it clearly: if Xiao Wu died at the hands of the Spirit Hall today, the tens of thousands of Soul Beasts in the sky would never let it go.
When that happened, even if he unleashed every last drop of the Jade Phosphorous Serpent Emperor's poison, it might not stop a beast tide gone mad.
When she saw Dugu Bo refusing to obey, Bibi Dong suddenly laughed coldly.
The two Titled Douluo attendants behind her moved at the same time.
Without a moment's hesitation, they both unleashed attacks of Titled Douluo-level power at Dugu Bo.
To the Spirit Hall's attendants, the Pope's command was the law of the land.
Disobey, and die!
Tang Hao's pupils suddenly contracted.
He judged the situation almost instinctively. Dugu Bo's loyalties might be uncertain, but at least for now he wouldn't harm Xiao Wu.
And if those two Titled Douluo managed to pin Dugu Bo down, Xiao Wu would be next to die.
"Dugu Bo! Catch her!"
Tang Hao shoved with all his might, sending Xiao Wu toward Dugu Bo.
Dugu Bo caught Xiao Wu in one arm. His Jade Phosphorous Serpent Emperor Martial Soul whipped up a dark green whirlwind, and he charged without hesitation toward the beast tide.
There were tens of thousands of Soul Beasts there. They might not be able to stop a Titled Douluo, but at least they could buy a little time.
Bibi Dong snorted coldly. She and two other Titled Douluo attacked at once, their three strikes forming an iron chain across a river, firmly blocking Tang Hao's path.
Tang Hao roared and brought down his hammer, but the combined force of three Titled Douluo's Soul Power rebounded against him. The wound on his arm tore open again, and blood gushed out.
Meanwhile, the two Titled Douluo attendants had already caught up with Dugu Bo.
They were too fast.
Speed was never Dugu Bo's strength, and now he had Xiao Wu with him as well.
The Jade Phosphorous Serpent Emperor's poison poured down in a sweeping wave. The dark green venom fell like a torrential rain, only to bounce off the Soul Power barrier the two Titled Douluo had joined forces to create. It didn't even touch their clothes.
Instead, the venom splashed into the ground and the Soul Beast horde, driving the Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Beasts back in droves. None dared go near Dugu Bo.
He had meant to use the Soul Beast army as cover, but his own venom had cut off his escape route instead.
Dugu Bo grew more and more battered, his body covered in wounds, but his hand never loosened around Xiao Wu.
The two Titled Douluo attendants closed in from either side, like cats playing with a mouse.
Mocking smiles tugged at their lips. Their eyes slid past Dugu Bo and settled on Xiao Wu, greedy amusement in their gaze.
"Come on."
One of the attendants licked his lips, his voice full of mockery and arrogance.
"Show us that Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast! Let's see it!"
They had never dreamed Dugu Bo would be so stupid!
With the poison spread across the ground, the surrounding beast tide could barely get close.
Even if a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast really did appear, so what?
If one showed itself, they could use this barrier to join forces and subjugate that Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast too!
Dugu Bo was down on one knee, one hand still shielding Xiao Wu fiercely. His Jade Phosphorous Serpent Emperor Martial Soul coiled slowly behind him, its dark green radiance dimmer than before.
The two Titled Douluo attendants approached at an unhurried pace, their faces twisted in amusement.
Dugu Bo was already at the end of his strength. The venom kept the Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Beasts at bay, and Bibi Dong had Tang Hao pinned down. No one else could save this rabbit.
Xiao Wu saw it all.
She looked at Dugu Bo's robes soaked through with blood, at his left leg, which could barely lift, and at the two Titled Douluo drawing near like cats stalking a mouse. The last glimmer of hope in her heart finally went out.
Enough.
This really was enough.
Tang Hao was fighting for his life. The Golden Iron Triangle was fighting for their lives. Dugu Bo was fighting for his life. The Golden Light Eagle was drenched in blood, still fighting desperately in the sky. Tens of thousands of Soul Beasts had descended from above, only to be kept out by the venom. Everyone was risking their lives for her.
But what could she do for them?
She couldn't do anything!
"Senior Dugu Bo."
Xiao Wu's voice suddenly grew calm.
Dugu Bo froze and lowered his head to look at her.
"Go on without me." Xiao Wu looked at him, the faintest curve appearing at the corner of her lips. "Once I'm dead, they probably won't make things difficult for you anymore."
Dugu Bo fell silent.
He had lived for so many years and seen death countless times. He knew the girl was right.
There was no point in staying. His venom had become an obstacle keeping the Soul Beasts away, and the scraps of Soul Power he had left were no match for two Titled Douluo.
He couldn't protect Xiao Wu here. If anything, he would only make her die sooner.
"Girl..."
Dugu Bo began hoarsely, wanting to say something, but in the end, he could only sigh.
He released her.
A dark green whirlwind swept up his battered body, and he retreated at full speed toward the edge of the battlefield.
With him gone, the Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Beasts were no longer held back by the venom. They could finally close in again—but would there be time?
With that bothersome Titled Douluo out of the way, the two attendants didn't even bother to chase after Dugu Bo.
Dugu Bo had never been their target.
"Oh my," one attendant said, pretending to clutch his chest as he mockingly imitated Xiao Wu's tone. "All that talk about parting forever—it almost made me cry. Don't you have a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast? Bring it out! We're right here waiting!"
The other attendant burst into laughter.
Their gazes roamed over Xiao Wu without restraint, as if she were prey already laid out on a chopping block.
But at that very moment—
"ROAR!!!"
A roar exploded from within the rift.
It was the bellow of Titan blood, the fury of a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast, a violent fighting spirit suppressed for far, far too long that could no longer be held back.
The roar surged out of the spatial rift, rolling forth like a giant drum suddenly struck between heaven and earth.
Xiao Wu's body jolted violently.
She whipped around and looked up at the pitch-black rift in the sky.
She knew that voice all too well.
"Er Ming..."
Tears welled in Xiao Wu's eyes in an instant. Her voice trembled so badly she could barely get the words out. "Er Ming! Whatever you do, don't come out! They're setting you up, they're setting you up!"
The two Titled Douluo worshippers exchanged a glance, both of them bursting with barely restrained delight.
It had actually come?
And from the sound of it, only one?
Their eyes met, full of disbelief and glee.
A mere Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast dared to face two Titled Douluo from Spirit Hall alone?
How dare it!
"Just one?" One of the worshippers licked his lips, his voice thick with undisguised greed. "Then we've struck it rich today."
The great ones from the Worship Hall were already on their way.
Once those reclusive old monsters emerged from seclusion, these Soul Beasts filling the sky would be nothing but grasshoppers in autumn.
And now this Titan Giant Ape had delivered itself right to their doorstep. It was practically a second gift dropped from the heavens.
Even if Spirit City fell, they could rebuild it.
But a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring and a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bone...
No, now there were two Hundred Thousand Year Soul Rings and two Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bones!
For Spirit Hall, this was a once-in-a-century opportunity, a deal that could only make them richer!
The two worshippers stepped forward in unison. Soul Power at the Titled Douluo level surged outward like a tide, locking onto the enormous figure hurtling toward them from within the rift.
"Come, then. Let me see just how formidable the ruler of the Star Dou Forest really is!"
Before you continue