Ning Fengzhi shook his head. "Uncle Jian, Bone Douluo, I'm fine."
As he spoke, he let out a quiet sigh.
Spirit Hall had come prepared. There was probably no escaping this calamity today, no matter what they did.
But to Sword Douluo and Bone Douluo, it looked as if Ning Fengzhi had sacrificed a great deal and was forcing himself to stay strong so they wouldn't worry.
Sword Douluo immediately said coldly, "Even if I die today, I won't let you get your way!"
As he spoke, he raised his sword and thrust it at Cen Yu. "If I take you down, everything will be over, right?"
At that, Cen Yu looked at Sword Douluo charging toward him as if he were an idiot.
So this was what a sword cultivator was like? Even Qian Daoliu wasn't this brainless.
Before Guang Ling and the others could intervene, the boy swept a hand toward the sky.
"Since you want to fight back, I'll play along~"
Boom—!
In an instant, the strange mist in the sky surged violently. Then a beam of red light shot down, blocking Sword Douluo's strike.
"What?!"
Before anyone could react, all the Fierce Ghosts began to gather, gradually forming a gigantic vortex.
Feeling the aura within it, Guang Ling and the others exchanged glances, their faces full of astonishment.
Yue Guan nudged Gui Mei beside him. "Old Ghost, what is that thing?"
He mused, "In a way, you count as a ghost too. Does that mean you're the same kind as that thing up there?"
Gui Mei's mouth twitched. "My circumstances are special. I'm nothing like that thing up there."
If he wasn't mistaken, the thing in the sky seemed to be...
The next second, a figure surrounded by a terrifying aura descended from the sky and landed right in front of Cen Yu.
The newcomer wore a bright red bridal gown and a blood-red veil over her head. She looked extravagantly dressed.
That was, if you overlooked her deathly pale skin and the chill radiating from her.
In an instant, an intensely sinister ghostly aura spread through the air, making the figure seem all the more horrifying.
Everyone shuddered at the sight.
Even Azure Luan, who was at level ninety-seven, felt an inexplicable fear rise from the depths of his heart.
Cen Yu chuckled and introduced her to everyone. "Her name is the Ghost Bride~ A powerful being formed from countless Fierce Ghosts~"
Of course, the Douluo World had no such thing as a Ghost Bride. But that didn't stop him from conjuring one up himself~
He was curious whether this hotheaded sword cultivator could defeat a Ghost Bride at the Titled Douluo level.
"Little Red~ Take him down~"
The Ghost Bride's icy voice echoed through the air. "As you command~"
As she spoke, the ghostly aura surging around her rose several levels. She flashed forward, becoming a blur as she attacked Sword Douluo.
"What?!"
She moved so fast that Sword Douluo couldn't react in time. The Ghost Bride was already right in front of him.
"Look out!"
Bone Douluo quickly channeled his Soul Power. Layer upon layer of bone spikes burst from the ground, forming a barrier in front of Sword Douluo.
"Die~" The Ghost Bride brought her palm down—
Boom—!!!
In an instant, terrifying ghostly energy erupted from her and spread outward in a ring.
"What?!" Bone Douluo cried in shock as he looked at the Ghost Bride in the distance.
His incredibly sturdy bone spikes hadn't even held out for a moment before shattering into countless fragments.
But what was even more frightening was that the Ghost Bride's attack didn't stop. After smashing through the bone spikes, her palm slammed squarely into the Seven Kill Sword Sword Douluo had raised in front of himself.
Bang—!!!
When the smoke cleared and everyone saw the outcome, they were shocked once more.
Guang Ling stared at Cen Yu in disbelief. "Your Ghost Bride is this strong?"
If he went to Slaughter City, wouldn't he be able to create a Fierce Ghost almost as powerful as the Great Enshrined?
Cen Yu helplessly spread his hands. "Too bad Xiao Bai keeps such a tight rein on her. Otherwise, the Ghost Bride would be much stronger than she is now~"
At that, their mouths twitched again, and they turned their attention back to the battlefield.
The Ghost Bride stood unharmed, while a trace of blood trickled from the corner of Sword Douluo's mouth.
Clearly, Sword Douluo hadn't withstood her attack and had suffered a minor injury.
Cen Yu seemed satisfied. "Well? Still looking to get yourself killed?"
Sword Douluo no longer looked as he had before. His gaze shifted between the Ghost Bride and Cen Yu, growing increasingly grave.
He hadn't reacted in time just now, but to injure a level-ninety-six Super Douluo meant that this so-called Ghost Bride was not to be underestimated...
Sword Douluo was about to use another Soul Skill and attack again when Ning Fengzhi stopped him.
"Uncle Jian, can't you see? Spirit Hall came prepared."
"Even if you can deal with the Ghost Bride, the remaining four Titled Douluos won't be easy to handle..."
He sighed quietly. "As long as the green hills remain, we can preserve everyone's lives. Only then will the sect have a future."
Cen Yu clapped. "Sect Master Ning really is as good at reading the situation as the rumors say."
"Don't worry. I'm quite forgiving toward talented people~ Even though Sword Douluo overstepped just now, my offer still stands~"
As he spoke, four familiar wisps of energy floated before Sword Douluo, Bone Douluo, Ning Rongrong, and Oscar.
"Choose. If even one of you refuses, I won't leave any future trouble behind."
"..."
In the end, for the safety of the entire Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, Sword Douluo and Bone Douluo had no choice but to press the wisps of energy into their foreheads, despite their unwillingness.
Now only the two youngsters remained among the five.
Ning Fengzhi walked over, patted Ning Rongrong's head, and sighed helplessly. "Rongrong... Daddy's sorry."
"But... for the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect..."
"Daddy... I understand..." Ning Rongrong shook her head, tears in her eyes as she looked at the wisp of energy in her hand.
Third Brother... everyone... I'm sorry. I can't stand shoulder to shoulder with you anymore...
The next second, she pressed the energy into her forehead, ready to face death.
Cen Yu chuckled with satisfaction and turned to Oscar. "Now you're the only one left~"
But he was the only one left. If he refused to submit, perhaps...
Just as the thought came to him, Xiao Bai's voice rang out in his mind:
("Stop thinking about it. Even if he took the path of opposing Spirit Hall in the original story, things have changed with our arrival.")
("I didn't stop you over Xiao Wu before because that's one of this world's rules.")
("Soul Masters hunt Soul Beasts to grow stronger, and Soul Beasts hunt humans to fill their bellies. It goes both ways.")
("At least for now, Oscar hasn't set out on the path of resistance, so I won't allow you to slaughter him. You promised me.")
Cen Yu smiled helplessly. "All right~ I'll listen to you~"
"Besides, I don't want to kill someone with talent and value if I can help it. With a soul mark on them, they can't betray me anyway."
After all, Xiao Bai had only said he couldn't kill him. She hadn't said he couldn't use threats and inducements~
Before you continue