The appearance of the Golden Dragon Claw sent Guang Biao tumbling.
The two stood still. Tang Wulin didn't attack again—not because he didn't want to, but because that last strike had nearly drained all his blood and energy, and he'd used up almost all his Soul Power. He simply didn't have enough left to launch another attack like that.
Guang Biao, meanwhile, was wary of the strange claw on Tang Wulin's hand and the invisible pressure it gave off.
Tang Wulin kept his eyes on the Soul Guidance Communicator in his left hand. Finally, when the time ticked over to 8:15, he couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.
"Senior, the five minutes are up."
Only then did Guang Biao remember that he'd said he would let the three of them go if they could hold out against him for five minutes.
"Hahaha!" Guang Biao clapped and laughed. "I have to admit, you're pretty capable. No wonder you managed to beat my younger brother up like this."
"Then will you keep your word, Senior?" Tang Wulin asked, his voice low.
"Of course!"
Hearing Guang Biao's answer, Tang Wulin let out a long breath and withdrew the Golden Dragon Claw.
"Gu Yue, Xie Xie, are you okay?" Tang Wulin went over to them and helped Xie Xie to his feet.
"He's fine. He's just unconscious." Gu Yue had checked Xie Xie's injuries earlier; there was nothing seriously wrong.
"Then let's get back to the academy."
Tang Wulin carried Xie Xie on his back and supported Gu Yue with his other hand.
"Wait!" Guang Biao suddenly appeared in front of Tang Wulin. "Did I say you could leave?"
"What do you mean by that, Senior?" Tang Wulin asked through gritted teeth.
Guang Biao's lips curled. "If I remember right, I said I'd consider letting you go if you held out for five minutes. Well, I've considered it, and I've decided not to let you go!"
"You...!" Gu Yue's eyes flashed with fury as she glared at Guang Biao.
Tang Wulin tugged at Gu Yue's hand, signaling her not to act rashly.
"Then what exactly do you want, Senior?"
Guang Biao rubbed his chin, pretending to think. Then he gave a leering smile. "It's simple. Since you broke my younger brother's hand, I'll cut off your right hand. That'll also give me a chance to study those golden scales on it. And the little girl beside you is coming with me to be my personal maid. As for the one on your back... Hmm, I'll be merciful and let him go!"
"Don't even think about it, Tang Wulin! Let's fight him together!" The Soul Rings beneath Gu Yue's feet had already risen, and she seemed ready to fight to the death.
Tang Wulin raised an arm in front of Gu Yue and shook his head at her.
"Senior, I can compensate your younger brother with one of my hands, but you have to let both of them go. That's my final offer."
Guang Biao gave a cold laugh. "A final offer? Do you think you're in any position to set terms with me?"
"So there's nothing left to discuss, then?" Tang Wulin asked through gritted teeth.
"What do you think?" Guang Biao sneered and reached for Tang Wulin.
At that instant, Tang Wulin flung Xie Xie from his back and onto Gu Yue. His Thousand-Year Soul Ring lit up, and the Golden Dragon Claw reappeared on his right hand.
His Soul Spirit, Golden Scale, appeared beside him too, its body flashing with golden light. Now that Golden Scale had absorbed thirty percent of the Golden Dragon King's essence, it could provide Tang Wulin with a boost to his strength and spiritual power.
"Gu Yue, take Xie Xie and go. I'll hold him off."
"Tang Wulin!"
Gu Yue tried to grab him, but Tang Wulin had already charged at Guang Biao.
"Think you can get away?" Guang Biao snorted. His First Soul Ring lit up, and iron-gray scales immediately covered his body.
"Bang!"
Tang Wulin's fist, powered by what little strength he had left, didn't even touch Guang Biao. A layer of protective aura blocked it.
After all, Guang Biao was still wary of the Golden Dragon Claw's ability to shatter things.
At the same time, Guang Biao's Second Soul Ring lit up. A crushing force of gravity slammed Tang Wulin face-first onto the ground, leaving him unable to move.
Guang Biao's mouth twisted into a sneer as he reached down and grabbed Tang Wulin by the throat.
"Don't worry. I'm not going to kill you yet. I still need to take you back and study that golden claw of yours."
The overwhelming feeling of suffocation made Tang Wulin's legs thrash wildly. The golden scales on his right hand had disappeared, and Golden Scale had returned to his body.
"You... get out of here!" Tang Wulin strained to turn his neck and looked at Gu Yue and Xie Xie with a resolute gaze.
"Don't bother."
Guang Biao tightened his grip. Tang Wulin instantly lost consciousness, and Guang Biao tossed him aside.
In the next instant, Guang Biao appeared in front of Gu Yue and reached out to grab her.
Gu Yue gritted her teeth. Silver light flashed across her body as she attempted to Teleport.
Guang Biao snorted. The gravity suppression appeared at once, forcibly interrupting Gu Yue's Teleport.
"Pfft!"
Blood sprayed from Gu Yue's mouth. The gravity suppression was simply too powerful. Her physical constitution was nowhere near as strong as Tang Wulin's, and the pressure had badly damaged her internal organs.
Just then, a faint, ethereal voice, aged with time, rang out behind Guang Biao.
"A Soul Emperor, bullying three little children here? I'm embarrassed for you!"
"Who?"
Guang Biao spun around. The six Soul Rings beneath his feet lit up at once, but he saw no one.
"Why not come out and talk? What's the point of hiding in the shadows?"
"Of course I'm coming out. I just haven't gotten used to this little fellow's body yet!"
If Tang Wulin had been conscious, he would have recognized the voice at once. It belonged to Yao Lao.
In an instant, Guang Biao felt the temperature around him begin to drop. Soon it had fallen to dozens of degrees below zero, and a faint mist started to rise all around them.
Guang Biao hardly dared move. He hadn't sensed even the slightest fluctuation of Soul Power. That might mean his opponent was far stronger than him.
"Enough of that. It's time to settle things with you."
The mist around them began to fade. A figure emerged from within it.
It was... Tang Wulin!
Guang Biao's expression changed. The child he'd knocked unconscious was now standing, and he seemed different somehow. There wasn't a trace of Soul Power coming from him, yet he exuded a powerful sense of pressure. His eyes no longer held a boy's innocence; instead, they were shrewd and calculating.
"If you leave now, you'll have the East Sea City Mecha Brigade as your friend from this day on. Why not consider it?"
Guang Biao could tell that a powerful being had taken control of Tang Wulin's body. Anyone with that kind of ability was at least a Titled Douluo.
"Friends?" Yao Lao sneered. "I've never had much of a temper. As it happens, this child you bullied is the first friend I've made in this world. Do you think I'd let you off?"
"So you're determined to make an enemy of the entire East Sea City Mecha Brigade? You should understand that the Mecha Brigade has the Federation backing it!" Guang Biao said through gritted teeth. He didn't dare underestimate the old man's strength, so he could only try invoking the Mecha Brigade's backer.
"What Mecha Brigade? What Federation? I've never heard of them! I'll give you a chance too. I won't use my Martial Soul or Soul Skills. Let's trade a few blows," Yao Lao said calmly.
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