Mighty Lion Douluo crouched down and looked Xiao Wu over from close range.
A pink dress, a long scorpion braid, big eyes.
She was quite pretty.
But in his eyes, she wasn't a young girl. She was a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Ring and a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bone.
"A Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast in human form." Mighty Lion Douluo's tone was mocking.
"You've certainly got some nerve."
Xiao Wu's lips trembled, tears welling in her eyes.
She wanted to say something, but her throat felt as if someone had a hand around it. No sound came out.
She had seen Titled Douluo before.
She had seen them from afar in the Star Dou Forest.
But then, they had been dozens of yards away, and her mother, Daming, and Erming had been by her side.
Now, a Titled Douluo was crouching right in front of her, close enough to reach out and touch.
The pressure felt like the sky was collapsing.
Xiao Wu gave up resisting.
There was no escape.
Forget escaping—she couldn't even move.
Mighty Lion Douluo was quite pleased with her reaction.
Fear, despair, surrender.
That was how prey was supposed to look.
He reached out, grabbed Xiao Wu by the collar, and lifted her up like a rabbit.
Xiao Wu's body dangled in midair, and at last, her tears fell, one by one, striking the ground.
"Stop!"
Tang San's voice came from behind him.
Mighty Lion Douluo stopped and glanced back.
The boy in blue had climbed to his feet. Dirt and grass clung to him, but his gaze was unwavering.
"Let Xiao Wu go!"
His voice wasn't loud, but he enunciated every word clearly.
Mighty Lion Douluo raised an eyebrow.
What a brazen little brat!
Hearing Tang San's voice, Xiao Wu suddenly came to her senses.
She struggled to turn her head and saw Tang San standing there, trembling from head to toe.
His eyes were filled with fury.
A twelve-year-old boy stood before a Titled Douluo without the slightest fear.
Xiao Wu's tears flowed even faster.
"Xiao San... run..."
Her voice was so faint it was almost inaudible.
"Forget about me... Just run..."
Tang San didn't leave.
He took a step forward.
Mighty Lion Douluo looked at him, a trace of amusement entering his eyes.
"Brat, do you know what she is?"
Tang San gritted his teeth.
"No matter what she is, she's my little sister."
"Your little sister?" Mighty Lion Douluo laughed.
"Brat, do you know this girl is a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast in human form? She's thousands, tens of thousands of times older than you, and you call her your little sister?"
Tang San's pupils contracted.
A Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast.
He knew about Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beasts taking human form. He had read about it in books.
His teacher had told him about it, too.
But he had never imagined that Xiao Wu could be a Soul Beast.
The girl who followed behind him, calling him "Xiao San"; the girl who loved eating carrots; the girl who was always trying to act like the big sister...
Was a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast?
Tang San froze for a moment.
But only for a moment.
"No matter what she is." Tang San's voice was steadier than before.
"She's Xiao Wu, my little sister. Please let her go."
Mighty Lion Douluo stared at him for several seconds.
Then he laughed, loud and long.
"Interesting."
He turned and glanced at the others.
The girl in the green dress stood where she was. Though she hadn't clearly heard their conversation, even she was moved by the sight.
It was so touching.
The cat-tailed girl tilted her head as she watched, her expression still unchanged. She hadn't heard Mighty Lion Douluo's words, either.
Mighty Lion Douluo turned his gaze back to Tang San.
"Brat, do you know who you're talking to?"
Tang San took a deep breath.
"I do. You're a senior, a Titled Douluo."
"And you still dare to stop me?"
"I do."
Mighty Lion Douluo was getting a little angry with this insolent boy who didn't know his place.
He had lived for over two hundred years. He had met people who weren't afraid to die, but never anyone this unafraid.
A twelve-year-old brat who wasn't even a Soul Elder, acting so brazen in front of a Titled Douluo?
"Fine." Mighty Lion Douluo nodded, then casually tossed Xiao Wu to the side.
"You little brat aren't afraid to die? Then this old man will grant your wish."
Xiao Wu hit the ground. She didn't run. Instead, she shouted at Tang San.
"Don't! Xiao San, run!"
Tang San didn't look at her, and he didn't run.
His hands were behind his back, his fingers already hooked around the triggers of several Hidden Weapons.
Sand-Shooting Shadow.
Dragon Whisker Needle.
Silent Sleeve Arrow.
Boot-Hidden Flying Knife.
He didn't know whether he could hurt a Titled Douluo.
But how would he know without trying?
Mighty Lion Douluo cracked his knuckles and walked slowly toward Tang San.
Tang San's breathing grew heavier, and sweat covered his forehead.
Just as Mighty Lion Douluo came within two yards of Tang San—
"Your Holiness!"
Zhao Wuji's voice came from the side, edged with urgency.
Mighty Lion Douluo stopped and turned his head to look at him.
"Hmm?"
Zhao Wuji opened his mouth, his expression complicated.
He had wanted to say something.
But when Mighty Lion Douluo's gaze swept over him, the words caught in his throat.
"You want to stop me, too?" Mighty Lion Douluo asked evenly.
Zhao Wuji closed his mouth.
Shao Xin lowered his head.
Li Yusong took a step back.
No one dared to speak.
Mighty Lion Douluo snorted and turned his gaze back to Tang San.
"Brat, any last words?"
Tang San's heart lurched.
He didn't know what to say.
Mighty Lion Douluo took a step forward and raised his fist, ready to kill Tang San—
A gigantic Clear Sky Hammer came crashing down from above, slamming into the ground in front of Mighty Lion Douluo.
Mighty Lion Douluo's expression changed. He sprang backward several steps.
"Who's there?"
Just then—
The sky suddenly went dark.
Dark clouds blotted out the sun.
Blood-red lightning churned through the clouds.
"Ha ha ha ha ha ha!"
Laughter rang down from the sky, shaking the very ground.
The laughter was wild and arrogant, brimming with an overbearing presence and murderous intent that could hardly be contained.
Hearing that voice, Tang San jolted as if struck by lightning and whipped his head up.
That voice...
He knew it all too well.
The laugh after a few drinks, the hum while working the forge, the snores when he passed out on the doorstep.
But never had it been so loud, never so powerful.
"Dad!"
Tang San cried out, disbelief ringing in his voice.
The lightning in the sky grew denser.
A figure descended from above.
He came down one step at a time.
Each step landed on empty air, sending ripples spreading beneath his feet as if he were walking down an invisible staircase.
Soul Rings unfolded one after another.
Yellow, yellow, purple, purple, black, black, black, black, red.
Nine Soul Rings.
The last one was red.
A Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring.
The figure hung in midair.
He wore a tattered black robe, his hair was a wild mess, and his face was covered in a scraggly beard.
But his eyes brimmed with an imposing aura.
Tang Hao raised a hand slightly, and the Clear Sky Hammer returned to his grasp.
Blood-red lightning crackled over the hammer's head, illuminating half his face.
"The Worship Hall." Tang Hao's voice was low, like gravel grinding in his throat.
"What a fine Worship Hall."
Before you continue