Fierce Battle

The creature raised its hand, dark red light coalescing in its palm to form a spear burning with flames. It lifted the spear, aiming it at Zhu Shen.

Zhu Shen gritted his teeth, driving his soul power to its limit.

A phantom of a Golden Dragon roared behind him, all four soul rings igniting. He poured all his soul power into his dragon claws, preparing to take the blow head-on.

Just as the spear was about to be thrown, a figure descended from the sky.

"Ninth Soul Skill, Clear Sky Hammer!"

A massive hammer shadow tore through the night sky, smashing toward the creature with the force of a world-ending cataclysm.

Sensing danger, the creature was forced to abandon Zhu Shen and turn to face the hammer shadow.

The dark red flame spear collided with the golden hammer shadow.

"BOOM!"

The shockwave of the explosion swept in all directions; the altar collapsed instantly, and the surrounding trees were uprooted. Su Nuo was caught in the blast and let out a scream before passing out.

The smoke and dust cleared.

Tang Hao stood before Zhu Shen, holding the Clear Sky Hammer.

He was still wearing his ragged clothes, his face covered in stubble, yet he radiated a heart-stopping aura. Nine soul rings rotated slowly at his feet, the final red hundred-thousand-year soul ring particularly striking.

"Haotian Douluo..." Blood Wolf rushed out from the depths of the forest, his expression changing drastically upon seeing Tang Hao. "How are you here!"

Tang Hao glanced at him without a word, merely raising the Clear Sky Hammer.

Blood Wolf turned and ran.

Although he was a level 73 Soul Saint, he stood no chance against a true Titled Douluo, especially a Haotian Douluo possessing a hundred-thousand-year soul ring.

"Trying to run?" Tang Hao snorted coldly, and the Clear Sky Hammer flew from his hand.

The hammer shadow traced an arc through the air, slamming heavily into Blood Wolf's back.

"Pfft!"

Blood Wolf was sent flying dozens of meters, snapping several large trees before collapsing to the ground and vomiting a mouthful of black blood. His Martial Soul Avatar was shattered instantly, forcing him back into human form, his face pale as paper.

Tang Hao walked up to him, looking down from above. "Evil God Temple?"

Blood Shadow clutched his chest, his eyes filled with fear and resentment. "Haotian Douluo, you... you intend to interfere with the Temple's affairs as well?"

"Anyone who kidnaps children to drain their blood deserves to die." Tang Hao's voice was icy.

Blood Shadow gritted his teeth and suddenly pulled a black scroll from his robes, tearing it apart with force.

A beam of dark red light shot into the sky, exploding to form the pattern of a distorted eye.

"The Temple's summons..." Blood Shadow sneered. "Just you wait, the Temple's wrath is not something you can withstand!"

Tang Hao frowned and raised the Clear Sky Hammer, preparing to deliver the final blow.

At that moment, the Evil God Projection that Tang Hao had repelled let out a sharp screech. Its form began to blur, but instead of dissipating, it transformed into countless streaks of dark red light that surged toward Blood Shadow.

Blood Shadow's body began to swell, and dark red veins surfaced on his skin. His aura began to skyrocket, his soul power level surging from seventy-three all the way to seventy-eight, and still climbing.

"Not good!" Zhu Shen's expression shifted. "He's absorbing the projection's power!"

Tang Hao also sensed that something was wrong and brought the Clear Sky Hammer down with full force.

But it was too late.

Blood Shadow took the blow head-on; although he spat out more blood, his aura stabilized at level eighty. Even without an eighth soul ring, his total soul power and physical strength had reached the level of a Soul Douluo.

"Hahahahaha!" Blood Shadow laughed wildly. "Haotian Douluo, didn't expect this, did you? Even though the Temple's projection was shattered by you, its residual energy is perfect for my use!"

He stood up, his wounds healing at a speed visible to the naked eye. The dark red evil energy was several times denser than before, making the surrounding air feel viscous.

Zhu Shen's heart sank.

A level eighty Soul Douluo, even without a soul ring, was not someone Tang Hao could easily take down in his current state. After all, Tang Hao suffered from internal injuries and had to divide his attention to protect the children on the altar.

"Teacher!" Tang San's voice suddenly came from the distance.

Zhu Shen turned back to see Tang San running toward them, holding several needles in his hand.

"San, why are you here?" Zhu Shen asked anxiously. "Didn't I tell you to stay at the academy?"

"I was worried." Tang San ran to Zhu Shen's side, glanced at Tang Hao, and then looked at Blood Shadow. "Father, Teacher, let's take him on together."

Tang Hao frowned but said nothing. Now was not the time for reprimands.

Blood Shadow looked at Tang San, a flicker of greed in his eyes. "Blue Silver Grass? No... you have the aura of a twin Martial Soul. Very good. Such talent, if offered to the Temple..."

"Offer your head!" Zhu Shen interrupted him. "San, stand back. You can't intervene in a battle of this level yet."

Tang San hesitated but retreated behind Zhu Shen. However, he did not remain idle, instead pulling a small cloth bag from his robes containing ten poison needles.

These were ones Zhu Shen had bought at the black market yesterday; the poison wasn't strong, but it could paralyze anyone below the level of a Soul Master for half an hour.

Tang San stared at Blood Shadow, searching for an opening.

"Haotian Douluo, do you think you can still protect them?" Blood Shadow sneered. "The power of a level eighty Soul Douluo, even without a soul ring, is enough to crush you all!"

With that, he moved.

His speed was several times faster than before, almost turning into a dark red afterimage as he appeared instantly before Tang Hao.

He threw a punch.

Dark red evil energy condensed on his fist, and wherever it passed, the air was corroded, leaving behind black trails.

Tang Hao dared not be careless, holding the Clear Sky Hammer horizontally before him.

"Clang!"

Fist and hammer collided, emitting a deafening sound like metal striking metal.

Tang Hao retreated two steps, his expression shifting slightly.

The power of this punch was already approaching that of a true Spirit Douluo.

Blood Shadow did not let up, throwing out his fists in rapid succession, dark red fist shadows raining down upon Tang Hao like a storm.

Tang Hao swung the Clear Sky Hammer, blocking them one by one. Yet, each blow left his arms numb and his blood surging.

"Dad!" Tang San grew anxious and prepared to rush forward.

"Don't move." Zhu Shen held him back, his eyes grave. "If you go up there, you're just throwing your life away."

"But..."

"No buts." Zhu Shen took a deep breath. "Your father can handle it. We need to find a way to destroy that altar."

He looked toward the ruins of the altar.

Earlier, when Tang Hao and the Evil God Projection clashed, the altar had been mostly destroyed. However, the dark red bead in the groove at the top of the altar remained; although its light had dimmed significantly, it had not shattered.

Moreover, the dark red mist surrounding the bead was slowly beginning to re-condense.

"That bead is the core of the sacrifice," Zhu Shen said. "As long as we destroy it, Blood Shadow's power will weaken."

Tang San nodded. "Teacher, I'll go."

"Go my foot." Zhu Shen rolled his eyes. "You can't even get close. Watch, Teacher will teach you a move."

With that, Zhu Shen unfurled his dragon wings and flew into the air.

He did not charge directly at the bead, but instead took a wide detour, approaching from the side.

Blood Shadow was locked in a fierce battle with Tang Hao, but upon sensing Zhu Shen's intent, he immediately split off a strand of dark red evil energy and whipped it toward Zhu Shen.

"Careful!" Tang Hao warned, simultaneously delivering a heavy strike with the Clear Sky Hammer, forcing Blood Shadow to retract some of his evil energy for defense.

Zhu Shen narrowly dodged the evil energy and continued flying toward the bead.

But Blood Shadow had already noticed him.

"Seeking death!" Blood Shadow snorted coldly. He waved his left hand, and a thicker bolt of evil energy shot out with incredible speed.

Zhu Shen had no time to dodge and was forced to take the hit head-on.

Dragon Scale Possession!

Golden scales covered his entire body as Zhu Shen shielded himself with his arms.

"Bang!"

The evil energy slammed into the dragon scales, emitting a harsh, corrosive hiss. Zhu Shen was sent flying backward, crashing to the ground with a trickle of blood spilling from the corner of his mouth.

"Teacher!" Tang San rushed over to help Zhu Shen up.

"I'm fine." Zhu Shen wiped the blood from his mouth, his eyes growing more determined. "This guy's evil energy is much stronger than before; charging in won't work."

He looked at the poison needles in Tang San's hand, and his eyes suddenly lit up.

"Little San, how far can your needles shoot?"

Tang San was stunned for a moment. "I can guarantee accuracy within fifty meters."

"That's enough." Zhu Shen pulled a small bottle from his robes containing a bright green powder. "I bought this paralytic powder on the black market. It isn't highly toxic, but it can paralyze anyone below the Spirit Venerable level for half an hour. Coat your needles with it."

Tang San immediately understood Zhu Shen's plan.

He took the bottle and quickly coated five poison needles with the powder.

"Teacher, I'm ready."

"Good." Zhu Shen flew back into the air. "I'll draw his attention; you find an opening to shoot the bead. Remember, you don't need to pierce it, just make sure the tip touches the bead. That bead is condensed evil energy; it should be affected if it comes into contact with the paralytic powder."

Tang San nodded and gripped the poison needles tightly.