Cen Yu put away the three Soul Bones, then waved to Hu Liena and the others, motioning for them to come stand beside him.
As they looked at him in confusion, the young man said softly, "Let's keep ourselves safe and enjoy the show in a moment."
"What?"
Just then, several squads of palace knights rushed out and surrounded the arena.
Liu Erlong froze. "His Holiness the Pope, what do you mean by this?"
Bibi Dong said with a faint, knowing smile, "Now that the rewards have been handed out, it's time to discuss other matters."
She pointed her scepter at Xiao Wu. "Guards, seize that girl!"
"Yes, Your Holiness the Pope."
Yue Guan and Gui Mei sneered and charged toward Xiao Wu.
At that moment, a long sword crashed down and landed in front of the Shrek group, forcing Gui Mei and Yue Guan back with its sheer force.
Bibi Dong gave a cold snort and looked at Ning Fengzhi. "Sect Master Ning, what is the meaning of this?"
"That girl is a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast in human form. If you continue to interfere, then the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect will become an enemy of Spirit Hall."
"What?!"
As soon as the words fell, the entire arena fell silent. Everyone stared at Xiao Wu in disbelief.
How could this be?!
Seeing that her identity had been exposed, Xiao Wu crumpled to the ground, utterly helpless.
As luck would have it, the Lovesick Heartbreak Red fell out just then. In an instant, the unmistakable aura of a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast became apparent.
Sword Douluo and Dugu Bo had thought Bibi Dong was making things up, but after sensing that aura, their expressions turned grave.
She really was a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast?!
Seeing the two Titled Douluo's expressions, Liu Erlong covered her mouth and stumbled back helplessly. "How is this possible? My Xiao Wu... she's actually... a Soul Beast?!"
Before anyone could react, a streak of purple light flashed past.
Cen Yu had Xiao Wu by the neck and was standing beside Bibi Dong. "And this is why you people are so dramatic."
"Now you don't have to worry about whether your friend is a Soul Beast or not. She belongs to me~"
Dugu Bo immediately tried to make a move and snatch Xiao Wu back.
Unfortunately...
"Heh..."
Bibi Dong took a step forward. Nine Soul Rings appeared beneath her feet: yellow, yellow, purple, purple, black, black, black, black, and red.
"Now that this matter is settled, stand down."
The terrifying pressure of a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring bore down on Dugu Bo, instantly leaving him unable to move.
"Damn it! So this is... the true power of a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring..."
He'd miscalculated. He had thought that, with his strength, even if he couldn't win, he could at least take Little Monster and Xiao Wu away.
Damn it... The Lovesick Heartbreak Red had concealed her Soul Beast aura. If not for that, he never would have let her come to Spirit City!
"Ah! Xiao Wu! Let her go!"
"Little San! Wait!"
Tang San roared. Ignoring his friends' attempts to stop him, he clutched the Clear Sky Hammer and charged at Cen Yu.
"Give me back my Xiao Wu!!!"
"Oh?" Cen Yu chuckled. He raised a hand and conjured a long spear that radiated an evil aura, then hurled it at Tang San with all his strength.
"Why not worry about yourself first? In your condition, you can't do a thing."
Just as the spear was about to strike Tang San—
"BOOM!!!"
A tremendous shockwave and cloud of smoke erupted in the middle of the arena, blasting Cen Yu back several steps.
When the smoke cleared, everyone saw that it had been a crimson hammer.
At the same time, a deep voice rang out from the sky. "You think you can hurt my son? Get out of my way!"
At that, everyone looked up.
A figure wearing a black cloak hovered silently in the air.
Bibi Dong sneered. "I was wondering who it was. So it's Clear Sky Douluo."
Hearing this, Flender cried out excitedly, "Your Excellency Haotian!"
Realizing who the man was, Tang San fell to his knees and shouted through his tears, "Dad... Father!"
Watching them put on this grand performance, Cen Yu couldn't help the twitch at the corner of his mouth.
Did they really think that one mere Tang Hao could change anything?
Still, he did have a gift for the famous Clear Sky Douluo.
With that thought, a strange purplish-red energy silently flew out and sank into the Clear Sky Hammer.
At that very moment, a bolt of lightning drew the Clear Sky Hammer back into Tang Hao's hand.
With every step he took through the air, a Soul Ring appeared beneath his feet.
At his ninth step, a blood-red Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring appeared, and terrifying pressure instantly enveloped the Pope Palace.
Bibi Dong snorted coldly. Her own aura surged, meeting Tang Hao's in an invisible clash.
Seeing this, Cen Yu feigned outrage and shouted, "How dare you! You think you can run wild in Spirit Hall?"
Before Tang Hao could do anything, a frost-covered arrow and a blue luan feather shot toward him.
"What?!" Caught off guard, Tang Hao could only hurriedly raise the Clear Sky Hammer to block them.
"Bang!"
The impact sent Tang Hao staggering backward a long way, and his domineering presence vanished in an instant.
Just then, Cen Yu's voice drifted over again. "What's that saying? Get cocky and you'll get smacked down~"
Seeing Azure Luan Douluo and Guangling Douluo appear out of nowhere, Bibi Dong was briefly stunned. Then she understood and gave her disciple a satisfied glance.
So this kid had anticipated what might happen and prepared a backup plan in advance. Not bad.
She jabbed her scepter forward. "Join the two worshippers and capture Tang Hao!"
In an instant, Gui Mei and Yue Guan rushed into the sky. Two more Titled Douluo flew out of the Pope Palace as well.
Tang Hao was shocked and immediately tried to detonate his Soul Rings to unleash the Great Sumeru Hammer.
But this wasn't the original story. Gui Mei and Yue Guan, who had been repeatedly manipulated by Cen Yu and Bibi Dong, immediately attacked and interrupted his buildup.
This time, with Bibi Dong protecting the Pope Palace, the battle above could rage as fiercely as it liked without affecting it in the slightest.
Cen Yu stood right beside Bibi Dong, and Tang Hao had no chance to seize Xiao Wu and escape.
As the battle grew increasingly fierce, Guangling Douluo soared high into the air, and the Eighth Soul Ring beneath his feet lit up.
"Eighth Soul Skill—Endless Boundary!"
In an instant, a massive arrow radiating terrifying cold shot through the air.
Under the effect of this Soul Skill, even frost began to spread over Tang Hao's body.
"Ah! Die!"
With a scream, Tang Hao swung the Clear Sky Hammer and smashed it toward the nearest target, Gui Mei.
But at the same time, a right arm trailed a string of blood beads frozen solid as it fell from the sky.
By the time it hit the ground, the flesh had vanished, leaving only a gleaming Soul Bone.
Cen Yu handed Xiao Wu to Bibi Dong, walked over to pick it up, and glanced at Tang Hao in the sky. He couldn't help laughing.
"Hahahahaha..."
Who would've thought? What a windfall—the mighty Clear Sky Douluo had come over in person to drop loot.
Before you continue