Everyone Gathered, a Great Battle Loomed

This far exceeded the limit of what Wang Sheng could handle. For the first time, a trace of fear appeared on his face.

"Insolence! How dare you lay a hand on my student!"

The newcomer was far beyond Xue Yue's expectations, but fortunately, she had prepared early on while dealing with the others.

Thus, in an instant, six Soul Rings appeared around her. Almost at the same time, her second Soul Ring lit up.

"Goddess Protection!"

Just as the opponent's attack was about to strike Wang Sheng—

A massive phantom of a goddess appeared behind Wang Sheng. It spread its arms in an embrace, shielding him within them.

"Bang..."

The newcomer's attack struck the goddess's arms viciously, yet it did not harm Wang Sheng in the slightest. This showed just how powerful Goddess Protection's defense was.

"Tut, tut, tut. That really is some powerful defense! But it still falls short against me!"

The newcomer did not care in the least that his strike had missed. Soul Power erupted from his body, and a martial soul longsword appeared in his hand. Then, two yellow, two purple, and four black Soul Rings—a total of eight—rose around him.

"Hiss..."

Everyone present, including Xue Yue, who had rushed out of the inn, could not help drawing a sharp breath.

They muttered, "An eight-ringed Spirit Douluo?"

The newcomer stared at Wang Sheng and sneered. "What a case of searching everywhere only to find it without effort! That old bastard Wang Lixiong isn't here today. No one can save you."

At the mention of Wang Lixiong, he could not help touching his severed arm. Even now, it still throbbed faintly with pain.

Xue Yue flashed forward and stood in front of Wang Sheng. "Wang Sheng is my student. If you want to touch him, you'll have to get past me first!"

"Teacher Xue Yue!"

Seeing Xue Yue fearlessly standing before him despite facing an eight-ringed Spirit Douluo, Wang Sheng felt warmth rise in his heart.

This was the first time since coming to this world that he had been moved.

At that moment, Wang Sheng made a vow in his heart: no matter how strong he became in the future, how high his status rose, or how noble his identity became, Xue Yue would always be his teacher.

The newcomer glanced at Xue Yue and said coldly, "Get lost, or die!"

It's over!

Though Xue Yue stood before Wang Sheng, she understood that she could confidently hold off an ordinary seven-ringed Soul Saint with her strength. But an eight-ringed Spirit Douluo was already beyond her capabilities.

She could have left on her own, but as a teacher, she would never abandon her students.

Even if it meant dying in battle! This was her principle and her conviction!

So although she did not say a word at that moment, her face was filled with determination.

"Teacher Xue Yue, leave. Otherwise, you'll be dragged into this. You have to think about it—you're not just my teacher. You're also Mei Hu's, Wu Xiaodong's, Wu Xiao'ai's..."

Wang Sheng desperately tried to persuade Xue Yue to step aside, but before he could finish, Mei Hu, Wu Xiaodong, and Wu Xiao'ai walked over from nearby and stood beside him.

Their expressions were as determined as Xue Yue's.

"You..."

Even Wang Sheng, who had lived two lives, could not stop tears from glimmering in his eyes.

"Hehe, how touching! But I won't go easy on you because of that... so go die!"

As he spoke, the newcomer's Fifth Soul Ring lit up. Clearly, he was preparing to attack.

"Hehe, perfect. That's exactly what I wanted to say to you. How dare you touch members of Canghui Academy."

An old man slowly emerged from a house opposite the inn.

Xue Yue recognized him at once. Her face filled with surprise and delight as she exclaimed, "Vice Dean?"

According to their plan, the Vice Dean had not been part of the arrangement.

Wang Sheng, Mei Hu, Wu Xiaodong, and Wu Xiao'ai immediately beamed with joy. They knew that the academy's three deans were all Spirit Douluo-level powerhouses.

The situation suddenly became favorable for them.

"Canghui Academy? The Vice Dean?" The attacker's expression changed.

But he quickly sneered again. "Hehe, I didn't expect an old fellow like you to be here. But perhaps even heaven isn't on your side today! There are also people from several families here!"

As he spoke, he glanced toward a corner.

Three people immediately stepped out from the corner. They were the ones who had previously directed killing intent at Wang Sheng. Just as they had been about to act, someone else had beaten them to it.

Upon closer inspection, they realized it was an elder from their family, so they immediately did not dare make a move. They feared disrupting one of the elder's plans; the consequences would be disastrous.

Now that they had been called out, they naturally stepped forward at once.

Although they would likely have no share in the great merit of killing Wang Sheng, they were more than willing to build a connection with a family elder.

As soon as the three appeared, they released their martial souls and Soul Rings.

The green-clad man on the left had a Green Snake martial soul, with two yellow and three purple Soul Rings. He was a five-ringed Spirit King.

The sinister man on the left had a Three-Eyed Demon Wolf martial soul, likewise with two yellow and three purple Soul Rings. He too was a five-ringed Spirit King.

The dark-faced man in the center had two yellow, three purple, and one black Soul Ring. He was a six-ringed Spirit Emperor.

The three approached the attacker and bowed. "Greetings, Third Elder!"

The Third Elder kept his eyes fixed tightly on the Vice Dean. Clearly, the Vice Dean was his greatest enemy at that moment.

Although the Third Elder gave no response, the three knew what they had to do. The dark-faced man went after Xue Yue, while the other two Spirit Kings set their sights on Wang Sheng, Mei Hu, Wu Xiaodong, and Wu Xiao'ai.

The situation changed once again.

Yet the Vice Dean and Teacher Xue Yue both wore faint smiles instead.

"Vice Dean, Teacher Xue Yue! There was no one from the Li Family this time, but I never expected to run into these people. What a surprise."

At that moment, two more people stepped out.

Wang Sheng had seen one of them before. It was Vice City Lord Huang of Wind City.

He was a Spirit King, while the person accompanying him was actually a Spirit Emperor!

Wang Sheng's heart, which had tightened once more, finally settled again.

Xue Yue had clearly already obtained her sixth Soul Ring and become a Spirit Emperor, yet she had still brought them out to hunt soul beasts.

She had obviously done so deliberately, to lure out the Li Family.

At that moment, Wang Sheng understood.

Although Wang Sheng had already suspected this before they departed, after all, the sixth Soul Ring had to be a Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Ring. Bringing the four of them along to hunt a Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Ring was not a wise move no matter how one looked at it.

After all, they were still far too weak. He simply had not known who they were targeting.

"Hehe, who told you that no one from the Li Family had come?"

At that moment, City Lord Li, whom they had assumed had not come, also stepped out from the side amid everyone's astonishment.

There were two people beside him!

Even more shocking was that one was a Spirit Emperor, while the other was a Spirit Douluo.

"Since when did Spirit Douluos become so cheap? One after another keeps showing up?"