Tang Hao's Killing Intent

Zhao Linchuan walked along the somewhat noisy streets of Nuoding City. His gaze swept over the shops lining both sides and the passing pedestrians, yet his eyes were unfocused, lacking any real depth.

He was diverting a sliver of his consciousness, sinking it into his body to view the system panel that only he could see.

[God-Level Choice System]

[Items Held: Green Goblin Summoning Card*2 (Priest Special Edition), Custom Slot 10,000-Year Adaptive Spirit Bone*1, Custom Slot 1,000-Year...]

[Gold Soul Coin: 17400]

[System Points: 218000]

These assets were what he had accumulated bit by bit during those few months in Holy Soul Village by triggering insignificant side plots or tasks involving minor characters.

They weren't exactly useless, but combined, they probably weren't as valuable as the "Sword God Experience Card" he had obtained today from completing a task for Yu Xiaogang.

As expected, if I want the truly good stuff, I have to get involved in the key plot points of the original story...

He mused to himself, his footsteps never faltering, while his mind raced to calculate his next target.

The priority should be that 100,000-year Rogue Rabbit... How should I "run into" her to make it look natural?

While calculating, he headed toward the general store to purchase bedding.

Just as he turned a street corner where pedestrians were sparse, the system's notification sound rang in his mind without warning.

[Haotian Douluo Tang Hao, the primary guardian and benefactor of the Son of Luck (False) Tang San in his early stages, has now developed killing intent toward you.]

[Choice Task Triggered:]

[Option One: Slaughter him!]

[Reward: Jiangtian Battle Armor (Includes: "Demon Armor: I! The thickest crab!" voice pack set), System Points*50000]

[Option Two: Kill him!]

[Reward: Tears of Remidios (Description: The tear of mercy from the Almighty Remidios, containing the supreme power of life and reincarnation; can resurrect the dead and restore the souls of the departed), System Points*50000.]

Zhao Linchuan's footsteps faltered imperceptibly, then returned to normal, though his thoughts were spinning rapidly.

Jiangtian Battle Armor?

He was familiar with this—in his past life, he had a friend who suffered from polio and accidental paralysis since childhood, with only a few fingers capable of movement, yet he relied on his heaven-defying "talent" to reach the top national ranking with the hero Armor.

He was jokingly referred to as the "model of perseverance despite physical disability."

And he, Zhao Linchuan, a normal person with sound limbs and flexible fingers, if he chose this thing... he would probably be laughed at until his next life.

He didn't want to be teased later on, "Did you choose the armor because you have crippled hands?"

Moreover, the description "the thickest crab" always felt like it carried an air of not being very bright.

I choose two. He recited in his heart without hesitation.

[Choice confirmed. Task objective: Kill Tang Hao. Reward will be issued upon completion.]

The moment the choice was finalized, a cold chill climbed up his spine without a sound.

It wasn't an illusion; it was the genuine lock-on of killing intent from a Title Douluo. Although the other party was restraining it as much as possible, to Zhao Linchuan, who had keen perception and had been prepared, it was still clearly distinguishable.

He kept his expression calm, and as if remembering something, he naturally deviated from his original route to the general store.

He turned his steps toward the West Gate of Nuoding City, where there were fewer pedestrians, walking at a steady pace as if he had just decided on a whim to go for a stroll outside the city.

The benefits brought by his martial soul were now clearly evident.

Under the subtle nourishment of the "Glimmer" martial soul, his physical constitution far exceeded that of an ordinary six-year-old. After walking briskly for over an hour and crossing half of Nuoding City to reach the outskirts, he wasn't even panting.

The spirit power in his body flowed steadily, and his limbs felt warm and full of strength.

About ten miles outside the city, in a secluded clearing in the woods, Zhao Linchuan stopped.

The surroundings were unnaturally quiet.

The afternoon sun cast mottled spots of light through the sparse branches, but the chirping of insects and birds that should have been there had vanished without a trace. Even the wind seemed to have stalled, and an invisible pressure permeated the air.

"Just because I know your son has a second martial soul," Zhao Linchuan suddenly spoke, his voice sounding exceptionally clear in the silent woods, "you, Haotian Douluo, are going to personally take action to crush a child like me who has just awakened his martial soul?"

No one answered; only his voice echoed slightly among the trees.

Zhao Linchuan narrowed his eyes, his spirit power quietly circulating throughout his body to heighten his vigilance.

He waited for a moment, then suddenly shrugged and turned, making a move to leave. "Since Haotian Douluo disdains to show himself, this junior will head to the academy to eat."

"I heard there's meat in the cafeteria today..."

Before the words had even faded—

A streak of black light, as if tearing through space, fell silently more than ten meters in front of Zhao Linchuan.

The person who arrived wore a black cloak covered in stains and holes, exuding a pungent, choking smell of cheap alcohol. His hair and beard were matted together, obscuring most of his face.

But the eyes peering through the gaps in his messy hair were like cold, sharp sword blades, devoid of any emotion, staring indifferently at Zhao Linchuan as if looking at a corpse that was about to go cold.

He merely stood there, and the faint, heavy pressure naturally radiating from his body caused the lush Blue Silver Grass on the surrounding ground to bow down one after another.

"I am curious." Tang Hao's voice was hoarse and dry, as if he hadn't spoken properly in a long time. "How did you discover me, and how did you recognize my identity? State your reliance, perhaps... I can consider sparing your life."

Zhao Linchuan met his suffocating gaze, a faint, mocking smile playing on his lips instead.

"Oh? Would the Haotian Douluo truly let me go?"

"Of course." Tang Hao waved his hand dismissively. "As long as you stay by my son's side from now on and assist him well."

"Is that so? But what if I told you..." Zhao Linchuan drew out the syllables, his eyes gradually sharpening, "...that I am a man of the Spirit Hall? Haotian—Douluo."

As the final word left his lips, his right hand, hidden within his sleeve, clenched shut.

The Sword God Solderos Experience Card shattered silently in his palm.

"You really are a piece of Spirit Hall trash." Cold light erupted in Tang Hao's eyes; all pretense stripped away in an instant, leaving only naked killing intent.

He raised his right hand, fingers curling into a claw. A terrifying suction force burst from his palm, drawing the surrounding fallen leaves and gravel toward him. "In that case, go to hell."

"It's a pity for someone with innate full spirit power... but you have enough to be proud of."

"The one who's going to die is you!" Before the words had even faded, a silver light that reached from the earth to the heavens erupted from Zhao Linchuan's body!

It was not the light of spirit power, but sword intent—pure, biting, and capable of severing all things!

The ground beneath his feet shattered inch by inch. His body coiled like a fully drawn bow, and his right hand, fingers pressed together into a blade, moved in a simple, upward sweeping motion.

There was no grand momentum, no flashy light or shadow.

Only a single, arrogant whisper: "God Sword Art—Formless Slash!"