(From this episode onward, the plot is standalone.)
Qin Chuan's body tensed abruptly as a killing intent swept over from afar.
No, that wasn't right.
It wasn't killing intent, but an extremely oppressive surge of Soul Power—thick and violent, carrying a suffocating weight.
Qin Chuan's Samsara Eye instantly went into full operation, and his mental power reached toward it.
Ten kilometers away, two figures were moving swiftly. One led, the other followed, heading southeast from the northwest, apparently rushing toward a particular spot deep in the forest.
The Soul Power fluctuations of the figure in front were terrifying. The moment Qin Chuan's mental power touched the edge of that presence, his head buzzed and a sharp pain stabbed through it.
Rank ninety-five. Tang Hao!
Qin Chuan's pupils contracted.
The Soul Power fluctuations of the figure behind him were much weaker, around rank sixty. Young, with hurried steps, he followed close behind Tang Hao.
Qin Chuan concentrated his mental power further, piercing the distance and the barrier of the treetops. That face gradually came into focus.
Tang San.
Six years had passed, and Tang San had changed quite a bit. He had grown much taller, most of the childishness had faded from his face, and his features had become more defined. But what lay in his eyes hadn't changed: that same sharpness, carefully hidden beneath the surface.
Rank sixty.
Well, Tang San, not bad. You're already rank sixty. You must be out hunting for a Soul Ring.
Qin Chuan felt a little tension leave him. Tang San was only rank sixty, so he wasn't much of a threat. But with Tang Hao beside him, things were troublesome.
He didn't withdraw the Heavenly Dao Power, continuing to track the two figures.
At a distance of ten kilometers, the Samsara Eye's perception was precise enough to pick up their conversation. Amplified and deciphered by the Heavenly Dao Power, every word came through clearly to Qin Chuan.
Tang Hao's voice rang out.
It was low and hoarse, carrying an unquestionable authority.
"Xiao Wu is under my control. She has lost herself and can sacrifice herself at any moment. Come with me."
Qin Chuan's breath caught for a beat.
"Yes, Father!" Tang San's voice followed at once, excitement impossible to hide in his tone.
Qin Chuan's mind buzzed.
What? Xiao Wu? Sacrifice herself?
His fingers clenched without thinking, his nails digging into his palm. Anger surged up from his chest, burning until the back of his head tingled.
Xiao Wu was his.
Six years ago at Shrek Academy, he had already stolen her away from this fate.
He hadn't expected Tang Hao to have taken control of Xiao Wu now.
A Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast's sacrifice.
Qin Chuan knew exactly what that meant. Xiao Wu's true form was a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soft Bone Rabbit. If her sacrifice succeeded, Tang San would gain a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring and a Soul Bone, and his strength would soar.
No.
Absolutely not!
Qin Chuan took a deep breath, forcing down his churning fury as his mind raced.
With Tang Hao there, he couldn't act recklessly. But if he did nothing, Xiao Wu was finished.
He glanced at Hu Liena, who was absorbing her Soul Ring, then at Yue Guan, Xie Yue, and Yan, who were keeping watch around them.
"Elder Yue Guan, I'm going to look around nearby. I'll be right back."
Yue Guan looked back at him, giving it no further thought. "All right. Don't go too far."
Qin Chuan nodded, pushed off the ground with his toes, and darted northeast.
As soon as he was out of everyone's sight, his speed shot to its limit. He drove the Heavenly Dao Power, his body cutting through the forest like an arrow as the trees blurred past on either side.
Wind rushed into his mouth, scraping his throat dry. Qin Chuan paid it no mind, keeping his mental power locked on Tang Hao and Tang San.
They were slowing down.
They were about to stop.
Qin Chuan slowed as well, closing in without a sound.
At his current speed, he could cover the thirty-li distance in less than five minutes.
He landed on a thick branch of an ancient tree, pressed his body against the trunk, and lowered his breathing to a minimum.
In a clearing about two hundred meters ahead, Tang Hao and Tang San came to a stop.
Tang Hao looked around and grunted. Right after, a slender figure leaped down from a hidden tree.
Xiao Wu.
Qin Chuan's heart clenched.
Six years without seeing her.
Xiao Wu had grown much taller, her figure slender. Her trademark scorpion braid hung down her back, its tip almost reaching her waist. Her features had grown more delicate, and the contours of a young woman were already showing.
But something was wrong with her eyes.
Empty and dazed, without a trace of light. Those once lively, spirited eyes now looked like two dead glass beads, fixed on nothing.
"Xiao Wu, begin the sacrifice," Tang Hao ordered.
"Yes, Master."
Xiao Wu's voice was mechanical and hollow. The lively, outspoken girl who had always stood up for others was now nothing but a body under someone else's control.
Qin Chuan clenched his teeth until they grated.
Tang San stepped in front of Xiao Wu. The look on his face made Qin Chuan sick.
"Ke ke ke! This is wonderful, Father. With this Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring, my strength will advance by leaps and bounds!"
Tang San rubbed his hands together, greed shining in his eyes.
Tang Hao nodded, a hint of satisfaction at the corner of his mouth. "My Clear Sky Sect is the strongest in Douluo Continent. All right, begin the sacrifice. I'll stand guard nearby."
With that, Tang Hao's figure flickered as he headed into the woods to the west.
He didn't go far. He stopped about a hundred meters away.
Watching all this from the shadows, Qin Chuan felt the blood rush to his head.
Damn father and son!
One controlled someone else's mind; the other was ready to take a life for his own advancement. After all these years as classmates, Xiao Wu had become nothing more than fuel for Tang San's breakthrough.
Qin Chuan forced himself to calm down, rapidly working through his options.
Tang Hao might have moved a hundred meters away, but to a rank-ninety-five Titled Douluo, that distance meant nothing. At the first sign of trouble, he could be back in a second.
Stealing Xiao Wu away right under Tang Hao's nose without being noticed was almost impossible.
There was only one way: act fast, grab her, and run.
It came down to speed and those few seconds of advantage.
Qin Chuan's gaze swept twice between Tang Hao and Tang San. He chose a direction away from Tang Hao and silently shifted into position.
Tang San had already moved in front of Xiao Wu. He raised both hands and began channeling his Soul Power.
A ring of pale-blue light rose from beneath Tang San's feet. It was the preparation for the sacrifice.
There wasn't much time left.
Crouched on the branch, Qin Chuan gathered all his Soul Power. The Six Paths Purple Rings in his Samsara Eye spun rapidly.
He didn't have much time left!
The glow of Tang San's Soul Power grew brighter and brighter. Xiao Wu's body began to shine faintly, and a layer of pale-golden life force seeped out of her.
The sacrifice had begun.
Now!
"Bansho Ten'in!" Qin Chuan thrust out his left hand, and a terrifying force of attraction exploded into being.
The force didn't act on Tang San. It locked precisely onto Xiao Wu.
Xiao Wu's glowing body shuddered. The next instant, she was seized by an invisible giant hand and whisked out of place before Tang San, flying straight toward Qin Chuan.
Tang San's hands were still raised, channeling Soul Power. The person in front of him had suddenly vanished.
He froze for half a second!
Xiao Wu landed in Qin Chuan's arms, weightless—lighter than he had imagined. Her body was a little cold, her skin cool to the touch, without a hint of vitality.
Qin Chuan had no time to check her condition. He wrapped his left arm around Xiao Wu's waist and aimed his right hand at Tang San.
Tang San finally reacted. He whipped around and saw the black-clad figure on a branch fifty meters away.
"You—"
"Sixth Soul Skill, Soul Judgment!" Qin Chuan didn't give him a chance to finish.