Soul Tools Against Hidden Weapons

Tang San's hand gripping Twenty-Four Moonlit Bridges trembled slightly, yet he met Shen Lian's gaze without fear and shouted at him:

"Hurting my companions means making an enemy of me! You have chosen the path to death. And my hidden weapons do not fear you."

His Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul quietly spread beneath his feet, determination gleaming in his eyes.

The battlefield grew even more tense because of this sudden clash of hidden weapons.

Shen Lian's Dragon-Slaying Blade pointed diagonally at the ground, the crimson patterns along its edge flickering with the rise and fall of his Soul Power.

He stared at Tang San's hand hidden behind Twenty-Four Moonlit Bridges, a cold curve lifting at the corner of his lips:

"Since you were the first to use an external weapon, don't blame me for this."

Before his words had faded, a faint sound of space tearing suddenly rang through the air.

The Storage Ring on Shen Lian's left hand flashed, and a bronze cannon barrel carved with star-track patterns slid out. Its muzzle seemed to retain the scorching heat of the forge.

Tang San's pupils abruptly contracted.

He looked at the Soul Guidance Cannon in Shen Lian's hand, roughly the length of a forearm. The purple crystal embedded in its body was absorbing Soul Power from the night wind, yet he stubbornly believed it was merely something meant to intimidate him:

"Could Shen Lian know hidden weapons too?"

The thought had barely surfaced before he suppressed it. The pride of the Tang Sect's supreme arts made him certain that no one on Douluo Continent could surpass him in the art of hidden weapons.

"If you have the guts, come at me!"

Tang San deliberately shook Twenty-Four Moonlit Bridges until it jingled, the tips of the Dragon Whisker Needles glinting coldly beneath the moonlight.

"Then I hope you won't regret it."

No emotion could be heard in Shen Lian's voice.

Shen Lian held the cannon in one hand while pressing his other hand against the purple crystal, pouring Soul Power into it.

The barrel of the Level Four Soul Guidance Cannon, "Star Annihilation," suddenly began to hum. The star-track patterns over its surface lit up with blood-red radiance, and the air within three meters twisted under the compression of energy.

Ning Rongrong stood behind Tang San, and her Seven Treasures Glazed Pagoda suddenly began to tremble uncontrollably.

"Let's see whether your hidden weapons are stronger, or mine."

Shen Lian turned his wrist, and the Star Annihilation Cannon's muzzle locked precisely onto Tang San's brow.

The instant Soul Power flowed into it, the muzzle erupted with light more blinding than a Spirit Ring, firing a beam of energy as thick as a bowl amid a sonic boom!

At first, Tang San had intended to block it with hidden weapons. Only when the blast wave flung up the loose hair before his forehead did he realize it was no ordinary attack. Scorched marks spread through the air in spirals, and even Zhao Wuji in the distance forgot the pain of his wounds as he stared wide-eyed at that light of destruction.

"Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track!"

Tang San twisted aside in a desperate dodge almost by instinct, the footwork of the Mysterious Heaven Treasure Record turning him into seven afterimages.

The energy beam grazed his shoulder blade and exploded behind him, blasting out a crater five meters wide.

The charred soil along the crater walls still smoked, while the shattered rocks around its edge had been melted into a glassy substance by the intense heat.

The Shrek group stared blankly at the horrifying destruction. Oscar did not even notice the Sausage in his hand falling to the ground. That power was stronger than even a Soul Emperor's strike!

"Wh... what is that thing?"

Tang San clutched his bleeding shoulder, staring at the Soul Guidance Cannon in Shen Lian's hand in disbelief.

For the first time since crossing into this world, he felt his understanding crumble. This thing was neither a Martial Soul nor a hidden weapon, yet it possessed killing power beyond that of Soul Skills.

Ning Rongrong's eyes, however, shone astonishingly brightly. Staring at the runes flowing across the Star Annihilation Cannon, she rapidly calculated in her little head:

"Although the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect is wealthy and has powerful support abilities, its combat strength is practically nonexistent. But an artifact like this that can store energy... If we could fully study it, or obtain it, the direct disciples of the sect would gain vastly greater means of self-protection!"

Ning Rongrong even forgot the danger before her. She unconsciously touched the Storage Pouch at her waist, which contained the Gold Soul Coins she had planned to use to buy hidden weapons from Tang San.

Shen Lian slowly rotated the Star Annihilation Cannon, its muzzle sweeping over the Shrek group one by one.

When the cold metal barrel pointed at Ning Rongrong, she actually forgot to be afraid and instead stood on tiptoe, trying to see the inscriptions on its body clearly.

The terrified faces of the Shrek group reflected in Shen Lian's pupils, and a sinister curve rose at the corner of his lips.

Then Shen Lian flicked the purple crystal on the Star Annihilation Cannon three times in succession. The star-track patterns on the barrel immediately writhed like living creatures, releasing a high-frequency hum.

"Since you insist on remaining stubborn, then stay here forever."

As his cold words fell, three Soul Power Bullets the size of goose eggs condensed at the muzzle, each accompanied by a piercing shriek that seemed to tear space apart.

"Scatter!"

Tang San's furious roar tore through the night sky.

His Blue Silver Grass grew wildly, trying to weave itself into a protective net, only to break apart inch by inch beneath the pressure of the Soul Guidance Cannon.

Ning Rongrong's face went deathly pale. Trembling, she raised the Seven Treasures Glazed Pagoda to use Defense Boost, but cracks already spread densely over the pagoda's body under the terrifying energy field.

Oscar had no time to make Sausages. He grabbed Ning Rongrong and ran, the dead leaves kicked up beneath their feet instantly reduced to ash by the heat.

The phantom of Zhao Wuji's Vajra Bear Martial Soul shook violently, but his heavily wounded body still stood before everyone like an iron tower.

With a furious roar, all seven of his Spirit Rings lit up. He activated his seventh Soul Skill with all his strength: Martial Soul Avatar, while also condensing a dark-gold shield before himself with Soul Power.

However, the instant the first Soul Power Bullet struck, the runes over the Soul Power Shield cracked apart like fragile glass. The massive impact hurled him away, plowing a deep trench over ten meters long across the ground.

"Pfft!"

Zhao Wuji spat out a mouthful of blood, while blood gushed from his severed arm like a fountain.

But he had no time to catch his breath. The second and third Soul Power Bullets were already following close behind.

Zhao Wuji forced himself back to his feet and used his remaining left arm to brace the Soul Power Shield with all his strength. The crisp sounds of bones and tendons breaking constantly came from within his body.

When the final wave of energy dispersed, his left arm had been completely twisted out of shape, while his right arm had entirely separated from his body. He dropped to his knees, with more than half the flesh over his chest shattered away, exposing a mangled, bloody torso.

Tang San was sent crashing through three trees by the blast wave, and the agonizing pain in his back nearly made him pass out.

He struggled to raise his head and saw that Ning Rongrong and Oscar were equally battered. The Seven Treasures Glazed Pagoda had gone completely dim, blood seeped from the corner of Oscar's mouth, and he still tightly gripped half a Sausage in his hand.

Ma Hongjun and Dai Mubai in the distance were not so fortunate. Already too badly injured to flee, they were thrown into the air by the shockwave and slammed heavily against the rocks.

Dai Mubai's clothes had been blown to tatters. Every breath from his injured organs came with a spray of blood;

Ma Hongjun's Phoenix Flame had become weak and dim, while his scorched skin was covered in cracked wounds, his life force draining away at a visible rate.

"This is impossible..."

Tang San's voice trembled uncontrollably.

He watched Shen Lian slowly approach, smoke still rising from the muzzle of the Star Annihilation Cannon.