Before he could finish speaking, Chrysanthemum Douluo Yue Guan and Ghost Douluo Gui Mei moved at the same time!
Two terrifying auras, like slumbering Ferocious Beasts from ancient times suddenly waking, erupted with a thunderous roar! This was the might of Titled Douluos, powerful enough to make heaven and earth change color!
A strange flower appeared in Chrysanthemum Douluo Yue Guan's hand. Its petals were golden, and it gave off an eerie fragrance. He let out a cold laugh, his voice shrill and icy. ""
"Little girl, you have good talent, but sadly, you don't know what's good for you. Since you refuse a toast only to drink a forfeit, don't blame this old man for bullying someone younger and weaker!"
Ghost Douluo Gui Mei's figure vanished from the spot like a ghost. In the next instant, he appeared behind Shui Bing'er. A skeletal hand, cloaked in black robes and radiating a chilling aura, reached for her shoulder!
"Spirit Hall is at work. All you useless bystanders, get out of the way!"
Chrysanthemum and Ghost Douluo knew that Bibi Dong had backed Yan in this attempt to steal the bride. They couldn't afford to fail.
The two Titled Douluos attacked at once. Their terrifying pressure left the teachers and students across Skywater Academy struggling to breathe, as though an invisible mountain had settled on their shoulders!
Leng Ningshuang's face turned deathly pale. She wanted to step in and help, but the terrifying pressure held her fast. She could barely move a finger!
Shui Bing'er's expression also turned grave. Though exceptionally gifted, and strong enough as a Six-Ring Soul Emperor to stand head and shoulders above her peers, she still felt immense pressure facing the combined attack of two veteran Titled Douluos!
But she didn't back down.
She gritted her teeth as the Ice Phoenix phantom gathered behind her once more, and all six Soul Rings blazed with light!
She prepared to fight with everything she had. Even knowing she couldn't win, she refused to let them have their way! She would rather die than suffer such humiliation!
At that very critical moment!
"Hmph!"
A cold snort boomed across the plaza like a clap of thunder!
A moment later, a blade-sharp sword intent, fierce enough to cleave the heavens, descended from above! Its edge made even Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo's hearts flutter with alarm. They had no choice but to abandon their attacks for the moment and retreat!
A figure appeared before Shui Bing'er as if by teleportation.
"Bullying the weak is no way for a strong person to act!"
It was an old man with snow-white hair and beard, a stern face, and a straight posture like a sword. He held an ancient longsword in his arms. Simply standing there, he was like an unrivaled divine sword drawn from its sheath, radiating a keen edge that made all things bow before him!
It was Sword Douluo, Chen Xin!
Then two more figures appeared beside Sword Douluo, one to his left and one to his right.
The man on the left was tall and slender, with a refined air. He was Ning Fengzhi, the sect master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. The man on the right was gaunt as a skeleton: Bone Douluo Gu Rong.
Behind them, a young man in a moon-white brocade robe, with sharp brows and bright eyes, was walking toward them.
It was Ning Xiaochun!
He went to Shui Bing'er's side and first looked her over with concern, making sure she wasn't hurt. Only then did he turn toward Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo, a cold smile curling his lips.
"Spirit Hall really is domineering! Do you truly think the Heaven Dou Empire is your own private garden? You openly abduct a woman in broad daylight, and then attack a defenseless girl? Tsk, tsk, tsk... What a grand display of power!"
Chrysanthemum Douluo Yue Guan and Ghost Douluo Gui Mei's expressions turned utterly grim.
They hadn't expected people from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect to arrive at this very moment!
Sword Douluo Chen Xin stepped forward, his gaze like a sword as he stared directly at the two Douluos. His voice was icy, carrying a trace of murderous intent. "You want to lay a hand on the young madam of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect? Have you asked the sword in my hand?"
Before he had finished speaking, an even fiercer, more overwhelming sword intent erupted with a roar! Its power was so great that it suppressed Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo's combined auras all by itself!
Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo's expressions changed completely!
The tense standoff in the Skywater Academy plaza grew even more complicated with Ning Xiaochun's arrival.
Ning Xiaochun hurried to Shui Bing'er's side and carefully looked her over from head to toe. Only after confirming that she wasn't hurt did he let out a sigh of relief. His concern was plain in his voice.
"Bing'er, are you all right? Did they hurt you?"
Seeing the undisguised worry and anxiety in his eyes, the chill and stubbornness that had built up in Shui Bing'er as she faced powerful foes alone seemed to melt away in an instant, replaced by a warm current.
She gently shook her head, her voice carrying a softness that was almost impossible to detect. "I'm fine."
She paused. For once, a hint of grievance appeared in her ice-blue eyes, like a child who'd been bullied outside and had finally found the parent she could depend on.
"If you hadn't come soon... someone would've stolen me away."
Her faintly coquettish tone was a startling contrast to the ice goddess who had just swept the plaza and frozen Yan into defeat!
The onlookers, who had only just been left speechless by Shui Bing'er's strength, now gaped in astonishment, their jaws nearly hitting the ground.
Was this really the same ice goddess who had defeated Yan with a single move and stayed unruffled even before two Titled Douluos? How had she turned into a girl flirting with her sweetheart in the blink of an eye?!
The contrast was just too much!
Yan had just crawled up from the ground, ice still clinging to half his body. Seeing this, he was so jealous he nearly went mad!
He glared at Ning Xiaochun, his gaze seeming ready to tear apart the brat who had stolen the woman he loved!
"Ning! Xiaochun!" Yan forced out the three words through gritted teeth, his voice full of venom.
"What are you, to deserve a woman like Bing'er? Let me tell you, this isn't over! I came on the orders of His Holiness the Pope to marry Shui Bing'er. If the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect knows what's good for it, you'll call off the engagement and hand her over! Spirit Hall will give you ample compensation! Otherwise..."
He sneered, making no effort to hide his threat. "You know what happens to those who offend Spirit Hall!"
Ning Xiaochun slowly turned to look at Yan. His face showed no anger. Instead, he wore an amused, half-smiling expression, as if watching a clown put on a show.
"Finished?" Ning Xiaochun asked mildly.
Yan was enraged by his dismissive attitude and shouted, "Ning Xiaochun! Don't be so ungrateful! I'm telling you, His Holiness the Pope already knows about this and is backing me with all his might! No matter how powerful the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect is, can it really match Spirit Hall? If you know what's good for you, hand Shui Bing'er over, and I can still put in a good word for you before His Holiness the Pope! Otherwise..."
"Otherwise what?" Ning Xiaochun cut him off. His voice remained calm, but carried an unquestionable force. "Spirit Hall will flatten the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect? Heh... I'm so scared."
He said he was "so scared," but his face showed no fear. Instead, he wore a mocking smile.
He turned to Sword Douluo Chen Xin and spoke as casually as if he were asking a servant to do some trivial chore. "Grandpa Sword, he's making a racket. Sorry for the trouble, but could you quiet him down?"
Before you continue