Bo Saixi suppressed a laugh and stepped forward. "Let's attack together."
The three Limit Douluo struck at once. Three world-shattering attacks slammed into the barrier!
"Rumble!!!"
The barrier shuddered violently, ripples surging across it like boiling water! The phantom chicken hopped about even more frantically, its clucks ringing out one after another and echoing through the skies!
And yet, the barrier still held.
The three Limit Douluo exchanged glances, their faces burning with embarrassment.
The God Officials frowned. Their leader gave a cold snort and stepped forward. "A mortal formation dares to show off?"
He raised a hand, and an utterly pure burst of divine power shot forth!
"Boom!!!"
The barrier trembled violently, and a fine crack appeared!
A second strike!
"Boom!!!"
The crack widened!
A third strike!
"Crack!!!"
The golden barrier shattered like broken glass! Countless golden fragments drifted through the air, and the phantom chicken still dancing let out a mournful cry before vanishing into thin air.
Ye Family Fortress now stood fully exposed before everyone.
Inside the fortress, Ye Lingling stood in the middle of the courtyard, her water-blue hair fluttering in the wind. Her breathtaking face was calm as still water.
Behind her stood Father Ye, Xiao Cui, and a crowd of clansmen whose faces had gone deathly pale.
She looked at the dozen or so figures outside the fortress, each radiating terrifying pressure. The ten in particular were all far stronger than she was—much, much stronger.
It seemed there was no escaping this calamity today.
At least, at least she had sent her husband away beforehand.
It was just a shame... she would never have the chance to continue their bond.
Tang Chen stepped forward first, his voice booming like a bell. "Young lady of the Ye family, your talent is truly extraordinary. This old man admires you! But you should know that you don't get to act on your own whims today. Tell us what you know about the Sky Screen, and hand over the defensive formation and the Nine Turns Sacred Heart Art. This old man will guarantee your family's safety!"
Ye Lingling raised her head, not the slightest trace of fear in her eyes.
"I obtained the Nine Turns Sacred Heart Art through a fortunate encounter. The defensive formation was a reward from the Sky Screen. I will hand over neither."
Tang Chen sighed. "Then don't blame this old man for bullying someone younger!"
He flashed forward, and the Clear Sky Hammer came crashing down!
Ye Lingling did not retreat. Instead, she surged forward, and her Nine Heart Begonia Martial Soul burst into bloom! All nine Soul Rings shone together as she clashed with Tang Chen!
After cultivating the Nine Turns Sacred Heart Art, her Martial Soul had gained offensive power.
"Boom! Boom! Boom!"
The two exchanged dozens of blows, yet neither gained the upper hand!
The longer Tang Chen fought, the more shocked he became. This girl was barely in her twenties, yet she could match him blow for blow!
But Tang Chen was, after all, a veteran powerhouse renowned for many years, with far more experience.
After a hundred exchanges, Ye Lingling gradually fell behind.
One of the God Officials could no longer stand watching. He gave a cold snort. "What a waste of time."
He raised a hand, and a beam of divine light shot forth!
Ye Lingling did her best to block it, but the divine light sent her stumbling back several steps, a trace of blood trickling from the corner of her mouth.
A Level 99 Limit Douluo was nothing before a God Official.
Ye Lingling steadied herself and wiped the blood from her lips. "I can give you the formation and the Nine Turns Sacred Heart Art. But you must promise not to harm anyone from the Ye family."
The leading God Official replied coolly, "Mortal, you may have exceptional talent, but you have no right to bargain."
He raised a hand, about to seize her and take her away!
Ye Lingling closed her eyes, a boundless sorrow rising in her heart.
Husband...
At this very moment—
"Vmmm!!!"
A mysterious fluctuation suddenly surged through the heavens and earth!
The empty air before everyone rippled in layers! A pitch-black rift silently tore open!
A tall, slender figure slowly emerged from within.
He wore an ordinary white robe. His features were handsome, and a faint smile played on his lips.
Ye Lingling's pupils instantly widened to their limit!
"H-Husband?"
Her voice trembled, tears spilling from her eyes. "Why were you so foolish? Why did you come back?"
Cao Xiyu looked at her, his gaze so tender it seemed capable of melting ten thousand years of ice.
"My wife was in danger. How could I not come?"
Ye Lingling wept. "You're just an ordinary person! What good will coming here do? Go! Go now!"
Cao Xiyu gently shook his head, stepped forward, and drew his trembling wife into his arms.
"Don't be afraid, my wife,"
he said softly. "With me here, no one can hurt you."
Tang Chen frowned and said coldly, "An ordinary person? What kind of useless nobody are you? Get out of the way!"
He raised a hand and was about to slap Cao Xiyu flying.
Cao Xiyu didn't even turn around. He simply waved a hand.
"Bam!!!"
Tang Chen's towering figure was sent flying by a single slap. His head exploded in midair, and unidentifiable fluids sprayed from his body.
Tang Chen, Level 99 Limit Douluo and former sect master of the Clear Sky Sect, was dead!
The entire scene fell deathly silent!
A casual wave of his hand! A Level 99 Limit Douluo had just died?!
The God Officials' expressions instantly grew grave!
"Who are you?" their leader demanded sharply.
Cao Xiyu turned around and looked at the ten God Officials, the same faint smile still on his lips.
"Aren't you looking for me?"
His voice was soft, yet it exploded like thunder in everyone's ears!
The God Officials' pupils contracted instantly!
He was that Brother Cao! The Brother Cao who had nurtured countless geniuses!
"Seize him!"
The ten God Officials attacked at once! Ten world-shattering beams of divine light shot straight at Cao Xiyu!
Cao Xiyu merely raised a hand and spread his fingers.
Then he gently closed them.
"Boom!!!"
The ten beams of divine light shattered in his palm and vanished into thin air!
All ten God Officials spat out blood, their eyes filled with disbelief!
"H-How is this possible?"
Cao Xiyu gave them no time to react. He raised a hand and waved it gently.
Ten streaks of white light burst from his fingertips and pierced straight into the bodies of the ten God Officials!
"Pfft! Pfft! Pfft!..."
The ten God Officials fell together like wheat before a scythe, their life force gone!
One strike!
Ten God Officials killed in an instant!
Once again, the entire scene fell deathly silent!
The scouts from the various powers watching from afar were all so terrified that their legs went weak; they could barely stay on their feet.
What kind of power was this?
This... this was power beyond the gods!
Cao Xiyu lowered his hand and turned to look at the only two people still standing: Qian Daoliu and Bo Saixi.
Qian Daoliu's face was deathly pale, but he forced himself not to retreat.
Bo Saixi, meanwhile, wore a complicated expression.
Cao Xiyu looked at them and said coolly, "You didn't attack my wife, and besides..."
He glanced at Bo Saixi. "You're one of us."
Then he looked at Qian Daoliu. "You're Xue'er's grandfather."
"Go. Don't come back."
Qian Daoliu and Bo Saixi exchanged a glance, then bowed together.
They turned and vanished over the horizon as two streaks of light.
Outside Ye Family Fortress, everything lay in ruins.
The corpses of the ten God Officials and Tang Chen were strewn across the ground.
In the distance, the countless scouts who had come to watch were still trembling in fear.
Cao Xiyu simply turned around and drew his still-dazed wife into his arms once more.
"My wife," he said softly, "I told you, with me here, you're safe."
Ye Lingling raised her head and looked at the familiar yet strange face, tears blurring her vision.
"You... you really are..."
Cao Xiyu smiled faintly. "The genuine article."