"Then you really are something, Senior."
Yan Lingji replied with mocking sarcasm, her tone carrying a few perfunctory words of praise. But her expression clearly said, Oh, so it's you. And then what?
Zhao Linchuan reacted far more enthusiastically. Shock and alarm showed on his face, and his voice rose a few pitches.
"So it's Gu Rong, Bone Douluo! No wonder! No wonder!"
He cupped his hands repeatedly. "The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect is wealthy beyond measure. There's not a thing wrong with saying that!"
Gu Rong was quite pleased with Zhao Linchuan's reaction. He gave a slight nod, his air of self-importance growing even stronger.
"Since you know who I am," he said slowly, with the tone of someone bestowing a favor, "I'll form a good connection with you and give you a chance to join the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect."
"But we already have a sect," Zhao Linchuan said with a troubled look, his tone carrying a trace of helplessness. "Besides, the person in charge treats me very well and gave me more money than I could ever spend."
"Money?"
"Hahaha—!"
As if he'd heard the funniest joke in the world, Gu Rong threw his head back and roared with laughter. His laughter echoed through the woods, shaking leaves from the treetops.
"Money? Heh."
When he'd finished laughing, he lowered his head and fixed his eyes on Zhao Linchuan, a condescending sneer on his lips.
"The one thing the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect has no shortage of is money."
"Join the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, and I guarantee you'll enjoy wealth and splendor without end."
"That won't do." Zhao Linchuan shook his head, his tone leaving no room for negotiation. "If I left my original sect for a little money..."
"How would I be any different from those petty people who forget loyalty for profit?"
At his words, the smile on Gu Rong's face stiffened. His brows drew together slightly.
He was Gu Rong, a dignified Titled Douluo, personally inviting a brat who still had milk on his lips—and the boy dared refuse?
"What would it take for you to leave your current sect?"
His voice had grown impatient. The end of the question rose slightly, carrying the pressure of You'd better give me an answer I like.
"Nothing would make me leave my current sect," Zhao Linchuan said with unwavering resolve.
The last trace of patience vanished from Gu Rong's face.
"If that's the case..." His voice suddenly turned cold. "Then I'll just have to ask you to die."
The instant his words fell, an invisible wave of Soul Power erupted from Gu Rong, crashing outward in all directions like a flood bursting through a dam!
It was the soul pressure of a Titled Douluo, heavy as a mountain and vast as the sea. With an overbearing force that crushed everything in its path, it bore down on Zhao Linchuan and Yan Lingji!
Where the soul pressure passed, the coals beneath the stove went out at once, the red sparks crushed into ash.
The surrounding plants bent as one, their branches and leaves pressed against the ground as if an invisible giant hand had forced their heads down. Even the air turned thick and sluggish.
Yet strangely, Zhao Linchuan and Yan Lingji, standing right at the center of the soul pressure, were utterly unaffected.
Not even the hems of their clothes stirred. Their breathing remained steady, and they even had time to exchange a knowing glance.
Gu Rong's brows knitted. Something was wrong. This wasn't right.
Just as he prepared to increase the soul pressure he was releasing and probe the depths of these two youngsters—
A golden sword flash suddenly blazed to life!
At some point, Zhao Linchuan had taken the Supreme Ease Golden Edge into his hand. He pushed off the ground with his toes and lunged forward like a fierce tiger, thrusting his sword at Gu Rong!
The sword flash was fierce, its sword energy sweeping in every direction. Golden brilliance cut a straight line through the air, aimed directly at Gu Rong's face!
Gu Rong's pupils contracted sharply. He instinctively raised his left arm to block.
"Argh—!"
A scream burst from his mouth. He staggered backward at speed, nearly tripping over a tree root.
He stumbled back several steps before barely managing to steady himself, then lowered his head to look at his left arm.
His arm had been nearly pierced through. Bright red blood ran down his wrist and dripped onto the fallen leaves, staining a small patch dark red.
"How is this possible?!"
"He's just a Soul Emperor! How could he release his Martial Soul and attack me under my soul pressure?!"
"Nothing is impossible." Zhao Linchuan's voice held no emotion.
Before the words had even faded, he turned his wrist, sweeping the Supreme Ease Golden Edge through a perfect arc.
A golden sword wave several meters across swept out in a horizontal slash. Like a crescent moon, it hurtled toward Gu Rong with a piercing whistle!
Where the sword flash passed, the air split apart and a deep furrow was plowed into the ground. Broken stones and dust were swept up by the gale, swirling through the air.
Gu Rong's pupils contracted sharply, but he didn't panic. He crossed his arms before his chest and barked, "Third Soul Skill—Bone Shield!"
His third Soul Ring flashed, and a white bone shield about two meters in diameter appeared before him in an instant.
The shield was white as snow, its surface covered in fine bone patterns. A cold sheen flowed through every groove, and it seemed woven from countless bones—indestructible.
"Clang—!"
A deafening clash of metal rang through the valley, making the surrounding trees shudder and sending leaves fluttering through the air.
The golden sword wave slammed into the Bone Shield. Sparks flew, and a deep sword mark appeared across its face. Then the attack dissolved into flecks of golden light that vanished into the air.
Gu Rong glanced down at the sword mark, which had nearly split the entire shield. His pupils contracted slightly.
He raised his head and stared at Zhao Linchuan, his voice full of shock.
"How is this possible? He's only a Soul Emperor! How could a casual strike damage my Soul Skill, Bone Shield?"
His Bone Dragon Martial Soul was among the finest defensive Martial Souls. Even opponents of the same rank would struggle to leave a mark on it, let alone a young man at the Soul Emperor level.
"I told you, nothing is impossible."
Zhao Linchuan replied coldly, his long sword angled toward the ground. Golden swordlight flowed across the blade, casting half his face in shifting light and shadow.
He raised his head and met Gu Rong's gaze, a cold smile tugging at his lips.
"And who said I was a Soul Emperor?"
The instant the words left his mouth, the air around him twisted.
Purple, purple, black, black, black, black, red—seven Soul Rings rose from beneath his feet. That blood-red light was like the gleam of a gemstone set in place, shining alongside the other six Soul Rings as they revolved slowly around him.
Gu Rong's gaze fell on the blood-red Soul Ring. Involuntarily, he blurted out, "A Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring?!"
But before he could think further, Zhao Linchuan lightly touched the pale-yellow gem set into the sword guard with the fingers of his left hand. His voice rang low.
"Domain—Golden Purge!"
In an instant, a pale-yellow domain spread outward from beneath his feet like a rising tide.
The radiance was gentle and bright, like the warm sun of spring. Wherever it passed, plants, earth, rocks—everything—was covered in a thin golden sheen.
But beneath that gentleness lay a sharpness like a blade!
Before you continue