As Qian Yufeng's words fell, thirteen people clad in camouflage bodysuits appeared.
They wore masks that concealed their faces. Their only identifying mark was the black swan emblem on their chests.
That was right. This was the Heaven Dou Empire's Shadow Organization.
These thirteen people formed a squad known as the Thirteen Protectors.
No one knew how many squads like this existed within the Shadow Organization. Even if one was wiped out, another would emerge.
Qian Yufeng guessed that the people who had come today were acting on Xue Yao's final order before her death.
"Qian Yufeng cannot leave the Heaven Dou Empire alive. Even if we must offend Spirit Hall, it is worth it. As long as he lives, Spirit Hall will forever hold an unrivaled position on the continent!"
The moment he stepped into the Heaven Dou Empire, he had noticed many people watching him from the shadows.
He had vaguely guessed that Xue Yao intended to lure him into a trap.
It was true that she wanted to see him, and it was equally true that she wanted to kill him!
The two knew each other well, yet they had also competed in secret for their entire lives.
Mu Cheng's father had been killed by her, while the previous Heaven Dou Emperor—her elder brother—had been dealt with by Qian Yufeng, who had left behind no trace of evidence.
But Xue Yao knew that Qian Yufeng never left weaknesses for himself when he acted.
At the end of her life, the moment she saw Qian Yufeng, she understood that the man she had loved all her life but could never be with could continue living.
At nearly two hundred years old, his existence would severely disrupt the balance of the future.
He had to be eliminated!
"Elder Qian, forgive us!" After the First Protector spoke, all thirteen of them scattered and formed a battle formation.
"You truly think highly of me, using the Heavenly Dipper Formation against me." Qian Yufeng sighed softly, then a cold gleam appeared in his eyes.
"If I were an eight-ringed Soul Douluo, perhaps this formation really could keep me here."
"Unfortunately, times have changed. I have already changed my fate!"
A powerful aura erupted from his body, and the Aurora Shield appeared in his hand.
"Reveal your Martial Souls and Soul Rings!" At the First Protector's command, all thirteen revealed their Martial Souls and Soul Rings.
Four assault-types, three agility-types, three defense-types, and three support-types. The instant their Martial Souls and Soul Rings appeared, they formed a peculiar resonance of Soul Power.
The thirteen had identical Soul Ring configurations: two yellow, two purple, and four black.
All thirteen of them were Soul Douluos!
Once the formation was established, it completely sealed off every route Qian Yufeng could use to escape and locked down the surrounding space. It was practically something that should not exist in this era.
"Then let's see whether you can kill me!"
Qian Yufeng reached above the Aurora Shield, then drew out a sword.
He held the sword in his right hand and the shield in his left.
His Soul Ring configuration emerged: two yellow, two purple, three black, and two red.
"As expected of Elder Qian, whom our leader praised so highly. Your Martial Soul has actually changed!" The First Protector had heard of Qian Yufeng's exploits, but as they belonged to different factions, he could only show respect for his opponent.
"Fusion, Evil Exterminator!"
The thirteen shouted at once. Their Martial Souls and Soul Rings immediately fused together, forming the shape of a General Spirit clad in armor and wielding a longsword.
"Seventh Soul Skill—Aurora True Body!"
Qian Yufeng unleashed his Martial Soul Avatar, a larger incarnation of himself holding a sword and shield.
The two were nearly the same size.
"Though she is gone, I know you thirteen are her final trump card against me. Use all your strength. Do not disgrace her!"
Then, the Laser Sword in his hand stabbed toward the fusion avatar before him.
Boom—!
The powerful shockwave spread in every direction, but vanished the moment it struck the barrier.
Elsewhere, Qian Lingxin and Qian Lingsu also sensed that something was wrong.
As they washed themselves, they realized that Qian Yufeng had deliberately sent the two of them away.
"Sister Lingxin, the head of the family..." Qian Lingsu's face was filled with worry as she hastened her movements.
But the process of the Wonder Velvet Sky-Cleansing Marrow Pill needed to last thirty minutes, so they could not leave for the time being.
Qian Lingxin had vaguely guessed what was happening. She said, "The head of the family once mentioned that he had not been to Heaven Dou City for over a hundred years. That place is too dark, too devoid of human warmth."
"By sending us away this time, he probably wants to sever his ties to the past. Let's wait and see."
She trusted Qian Yufeng deeply. Over all these years together, the head of the family had never done anything without confidence!
"All right. I believe the head of the family can handle it too, but he is getting old, after all!" Qian Lingsu said again.
"You are worrying for nothing. The head of the family merely has white hair. His physical vitality is no weaker than that of young men in their twenties—perhaps it is even greater!"
"I believe in him. No one can stop him."
After Qian Lingxin spoke, she glanced in the direction they had come from and continued washing the grime from her body.
Just as she had guessed, Qian Yufeng and the thirteen had already exchanged thirty rounds. At their level, the effects of Soul Skills merely added icing to the cake. What mattered more was the powerful strength unleashed through the deep fusion of their Martial Soul Avatars' innate power and their own bodies.
The two sides had pulled apart. Qian Yufeng was quite satisfied with the formation he had designed back then.
But he was even more satisfied with his own strength. After his Martial Soul Evolution, both his offense and defense had reached the pinnacle.
Unfortunately, he did not know whether his Martial Soul could evolve into the Ultimate Emperor Armor.
Otherwise, against opponents of this level, summoning the Emperor Halberd would end the battle in a single strike.
Wait, the Emperor Halberd?!
Qian Yufeng looked at the shield and sword in his hands and began a bold attempt.
A Martial Soul and a Soul Master were connected in mind and spirit, much like the relationship between a cultivator and a bound magical treasure.
The moment the sword and shield combined, they formed an entirely new weapon.
Even Qian Yufeng's Martial Soul Avatar changed form.
"This is... the Emperor Halberd?!"
Well, now the situation was beginning to turn around.
This sudden change also greatly startled the Thirteen Protectors.
A Martial Soul could actually change forms? It was simply unbelievable!
Qian Yufeng raised the weapon and shouted, "Halberd, cleave!"
He then viciously slashed at the General Spirit. His opponent hurriedly raised its sword to block, only to be sent flying backward and crash heavily into the barrier.
Not only that, but the Thirteen Protectors felt their blood and energy roil from the impact, leaving them somewhat short of breath.
"This guy does not resemble a one-hundred-and-eighty-year-old old man at all. His stamina is even stronger than those Title Douluos!"
The Third Protector among the Thirteen Protectors bared his teeth as he spoke.
His defense was the weakest among the thirteen, making this prolonged battle unfavorable to him.
Qian Yufeng naturally understood that as well. His previous attack had merely added a little pressure.
Their Martial Soul Fusion certainly had more to it than this, but the only weakness among the thirteen was the person with the lowest defense.
Once he could no longer hold on, this formation would lose its effect.
Had the Emperor Halberd not formed, Qian Yufeng would likely have needed another hour to break through their blockade.
Qian Yufeng's Martial Soul Avatar pointed the Emperor Halberd at them. "Come again. You need not hold anything back anymore!"
Before you continue