Earlier, the old woman who had been beside the old man appeared at his side just a second later.
And.
The Soul Rings swirling around her were arranged in the exact same configuration!
A Titled Douluo!
Two Titled Douluos!
And.
When Xu Wensu looked up and recognized their faces, his pupils shrank. His voice even went out of tune. "Dai Renfeng, Zhu Buchun?"
"It's you two!?"
"You're still alive!?"
The moment those names were spoken, the older ministers present all changed color!
Dai Renfeng, Zhu Buchun!
They were the emperor and empress from three generations before the current Star Luo Emperor.
They were also the only two people in the Star Luo Imperial Family to have become Titled Douluos in the past four hundred years!
When Dai Renfeng had ascended the throne, he had once purged every brother who posed a threat to his rule through ruthless, bloody means. He had spared not a single one, and had been utterly cold-blooded.
Everyone had thought the two of them had long since returned to the earth, but who could have imagined they were still alive!?
And...
In that brief exchange just now, Xu Wensu had sensed that Dai Renfeng's Soul Power Level had probably already reached rank ninety-six!
As for Zhu Buchun, judging by the fluctuations of her Soul Power, she was probably no lower than rank ninety-five!
What was even worse!
Xu Wensu still remembered that the two of them had a Martial Soul Fusion Skill...
"Little Xu, if you're still alive, how could we possibly be dead?"
Dai Renfeng leaned on his cane and smiled faintly. "I didn't expect that after all these years, the Xu Family would grow weaker with each generation!"
As he spoke, his gaze flicked toward Chen Xin. "But what surprises me even more is that the young fellow who went out to temper himself with a sword back then could grow into a Titled Douluo."
"Still, a seventy-two-year-old Titled Douluo isn't exactly a heaven-gifted talent."
"Even with the Seven Kill Sword Martial Soul, your rank-ninety-two Soul Power won't be enough to stop me, old man."
When Dai Renfeng and Zhu Buchun appeared, every muscle in Chen Xin's body had tensed!
A formidable enemy!
An enemy unlike any he had ever faced!
He could clearly sense that Dai Renfeng's Soul Power fluctuations were on par with Chen Jianjun's before he emerged from seclusion!
The peak of rank ninety-six!
"Ahem..."
Dai Li, who had been rescued, froze for a moment, then was overcome with joy. "Ancestor!"
He scrambled over to Dai Renfeng, his voice trembling. "Great Ancestor! Quick! Take him down!"
"We absolutely can't let him get away!"
Dai Renfeng glanced at him, his brows knitting together. "Shut up!"
"You good-for-nothing, incapable of accomplishing anything but ruining everything!"
"My Dai Family is the Star Luo Imperial Family. If we want something, we simply take it."
"Why dress it up in such a grand-sounding excuse?"
Dai Li's expression grew awkward. He silently lowered his head. "Yes, Ancestor. I mishandled this matter. I should have informed you sooner."
"Your Dai Family sure talks big. Are you saying I should hand over the formula with both hands?"
Seeing this, Chen Fan snorted.
"Why is a child butting in when the adults are talking?"
Dai Renfeng's gaze turned cold. One of the black Soul Rings behind him suddenly blazed. He raised his hand, and a streak of scorching light roared out!
The light seemed to move slowly, but in the blink of an eye, it was already in front of Chen Fan.
"Block!"
But.
Just before the scorching light struck Chen Fan, a greatsword intercepted it. Chen Xin had stepped in front of Chen Fan.
Only.
The arm gripping the Seven Kill Sword trembled slightly. He had nearly lost his hold on the weapon.
"To manage that at rank ninety-two is commendable."
Dai Renfeng's gaze was calm. "But that's as far as you'll go."
Chen Xin said nothing.
At that moment, nine Soul Rings swirled around him—two yellow, two purple, and five black. He held the Seven Kill Sword in his hand, its sword intent razor-sharp. Standing to Chen Fan's left, he and Xu Wensu guarded him from either side.
"Peak rank ninety-six, and another at rank ninety-five..."
Without turning his head, Chen Xin sent his voice directly to Chen Fan. "Xiaofan, Old Xu and I will hold them off. Find a chance to escape."
Chen Fan gave a slight shake of his head and merely took a step back.
He had dared to say those words without fearing Dai Renfeng's wrath for a reason...
"Now do you understand the gap in strength?"
Dai Renfeng flicked a speck from his sleeve, as if he had done nothing more than a trivial task, then turned to Chen Fan. "Still want to try?"
It wasn't just him.
Nearly everyone present turned their gaze toward Chen Fan.
"Dai Renfeng's strength... I'm afraid only the sect master could keep him in check, right?"
Tang Wei regarded Dai Renfeng with some apprehension.
He had heard about Dai Renfeng back in the day.
It was said that he had killed every peer who threatened his claim to the throne, without sparing a single one. He had been utterly cold-blooded.
There were even rumors that, in order to improve his compatibility with Zhu Buchun's Martial Soul Fusion Skill, he had given up absorbing a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring and instead chosen a set of Soul Rings matching hers: two yellow, two purple, and five black.
Could Chen Xin and Xu Wensu handle him if they joined forces?
Tang Wei didn't know. He had no idea how much of Chen Jianjun's true teaching Chen Xin had inherited.
But even if he had inherited every bit of it... that might still not be enough, right?
After all, Dai Renfeng was at the peak of rank ninety-six, while Chen Xin was only rank ninety-two. Xu Wensu had a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring, but Dai Renfeng and Zhu Buchun had a Martial Soul Fusion Skill.
So...
After weighing things over, Tang Wei ultimately chose not to intervene.
It would be fine if the Star Luo Imperial Family and the Seven Kill Sect fought. They could watch the show and see how the Spirit Hall reacted while they were at it.
Beside him, Tang Xiao's lips curled into a gleeful smile. He muttered under his breath, "That's what you get for showing off. Now you're screwed, idiot. Serves you right!"
Dai Yue had also recovered by now. As she watched Chen Xin and Xu Wensu brace themselves under Dai Renfeng's pressure, she felt a faint, secret delight.
That's what you get for looking down on me!
Serves you right!
But...
When she looked at Chen Fan's utterly unruffled face, even smiling as if everything were under control... for some reason, unease crept into her heart again.
Even if Chen Jianjun, the sect master of the Seven Kill Sect, came, it wouldn't help, would it?
She remembered that Chen Jianjun was only at the peak of rank ninety-six, too!
"I really don't know what you're still pretending for!"
Dai Yue snorted. She hated seeing Chen Fan wear that look, as if everything were in the palm of his hand.
However!
What happened next was something no one could have expected!
In response to Dai Renfeng's words, Chen Fan smiled and raised his head. The moment he spoke, everyone present was struck dumb!
"You've lived for three hundred years and you're only at the peak of rank ninety-six. What the hell are you acting tough for?"
Dai Renfeng: "?"
Dai Renfeng's expression darkened in an instant. "You're asking to die!"
His words had barely left his mouth.
Zhu Buchun, who was always at his side like a shadow, struck in an instant!
The two had been husband and wife for five full centuries. Their understanding of each other needed no words!
The rank-ninety-five peak Agility Attack-type Titled Douluo attacked with all her might. She moved so fast that Xu Wensu and Chen Xin couldn't even react!
But just then!
A flurry of snow suddenly rose from the floor of the entire Taihe Hall!
A streak of cold light burst into bloom!
Zhu Buchun's figure abruptly froze in place!
"Who dares touch him?"