"How dare you! You actually have the nerve to attack me!"
A cold glint flashed in Qian Lingche's eyes. His body reacted at once, and he pushed off the ground with his toes, flying backward.
In an instant, the temperature around them plummeted. Tiny Ice Crystals even began to form in the air.
Behind him, a gigantic phantom gradually took shape—a Six-Winged Angel, its icy-blue wings as translucent as carved ice, every feather radiating a bone-chilling cold.
The angel's face was cold and divine. Its eyes seemed to hold endless frost, making anyone who looked at them afraid to meet its gaze.
At the same time, five Soul Rings—purple, purple, black, black, and red—rose from beneath his feet.
"Angel Domain!"
Blue light burst from Qian Lingche's body, instantly enveloping the space around him.
"Crack—crack—"
A faint cracking sound came from the air. Frost quickly formed over the surfaces of the Hidden Weapons, slowing them until they froze completely and hung motionless in midair.
Then the ice spread, sealing the Hidden Weapons completely. They fell to the ground with a clatter, ringing out in a series of crisp chimes.
"A Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring!!!"
Everyone present drew in a sharp breath. Their gazes locked onto Qian Lingche, their faces written with shock.
A Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring was the stuff of legend in the Soul Master World. Those who possessed one were all powerful experts standing at its very summit.
"Purple, purple, black, black, red... How is that possible? Who is he?"
"Oh my god, I actually saw a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring with my own eyes! It's a legendary treasure!"
The little boy had still had a trace of murderous intent in his eyes, but the moment he saw the dazzling red Soul Ring around Qian Lingche, terror took its place.
"A... a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring..." the little boy murmured, his voice full of unconcealable fear.
His feet unconsciously took a step backward. He wanted to flee this suffocating place.
Unlike the terrified little boy, the little girl standing beside him remained perfectly still, watching Qian Lingche. There was no fear in her eyes; instead, they held a murderous glint.
No one knew that she, too, was a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast. This man had actually hunted one and made it his Soul Ring!
"You... What gives you the right to possess it?" The little girl's voice brimmed with an indescribable hatred.
Qian Lingche almost thought he'd misheard. Seeing the murderous look in the little girl's eyes, he immediately lit up his First Soul Ring. "First Soul Skill—Angel Assault!"
The cold in the air gathered rapidly. A massive Ice Cone appeared out of nowhere and shot straight toward the little girl.
Before she could react, the Ice Cone slammed into her.
Frost covered her body in an instant, turning her into a crystal-clear ice statue, frozen in place with her expression caught in that moment of fury and resentment.
Qian Lingche didn't spare her another glance. He turned his eyes to the little boy, whose face was filled with terror.
There wasn't a flicker of emotion in his gaze as he slowly raised his right hand.
Soul Power gathered in his palm, forming an invisible giant hand that clamped around the little boy's neck and lifted him off the ground.
"Ah... let... let go..." The little boy's feet dangled in the air as he desperately clawed at the invisible hand. His face reddened from lack of air, his eyes full of fear and despair.
Qian Lingche looked at him coldly. "You're so young, yet so vicious. You tried to ambush me over a mere verbal dispute?"
He simply disliked fighting, but that didn't mean he would let people hit him without fighting back—especially when this one had meant to take his life.
The little boy let out broken whimpers. He wanted to speak, but he couldn't get the words out as he choked.
Seeing this, Qian Lingche loosened his grip slightly, giving him a chance to breathe.
"I... I was... wrong..." the little boy managed to force out.
Suddenly, a thunderous roar rang out from the sky. "Who dares hurt my son!"
A gigantic hammer, wrapped in violent Soul Power, came crashing down from above, heading straight for Qian Lingche.
Dark-red light shimmered across the hammer, which carried a dense, murderous aura.
Qian Lingche's eyes narrowed. Without hesitation, he hurled Tang San away. "Third Soul Skill—Angel Protection!"
Illusory wings spread rapidly, wrapping around him and forming an impregnable defensive barrier.
"Boom—!"
The hammer slammed into the barrier with an earth-shaking crash.
Qian Lingche felt an immense force hit him, sending him flying backward beyond his control. His feet gouged two deep furrows into the ground.
His Angel Protection barrier had blocked most of the impact, but the force still made it tremble violently, fine cracks appearing across its surface.
"Ugh!" Qian Lingche grunted, a trace of blood spilling from the corner of his mouth.
He steadied himself and looked ahead. A tall, burly, disheveled figure dropped from the sky and landed firmly on the ground.
Qian Lingche wiped the blood from his lips. "The Clear Sky Hammer. So you're Tang Hao. Judging by this child's age, I never expected you'd have a son with a Soul Beast. You really do live up to your reputation."
"The former Clear Sky Douluo, now a stray dog with nowhere to go. What a sorry sight."
At that, Tang Hao glanced down at his son and said quietly, "Xiao San, step back. Leave this to me."
The little boy opened his mouth as if he wanted to say something, but in the end, he nodded and silently retreated behind Tang Hao.
After seeing Qian Lingche's Soul Skill and Martial Soul, Tang Hao could no longer suppress his anger.
He stared fixedly at Qian Lingche, his voice brimming with murderous intent. "You Spirit Hall dogs! You dare lay a hand on my son? You're asking to die!"
Qian Lingche glanced at the terrified townspeople, many of whom had collapsed to the ground, and suddenly lowered his guard. "Tang Hao, people could easily get hurt inside the city. I'll see you outside."
With that, he flashed away, flying toward the city gates.
Tang Hao snorted. He lowered the Clear Sky Hammer in his hand slightly, his voice low and icy. "Fine. Let's see what makes you so bold!"
Tang Hao didn't hesitate. He pushed off the ground, shooting into the sky like a cannonball as he followed.
Watching Tang Hao follow him, Qian Lingche sneered inwardly.
Part of the reason he'd left the city was to avoid injuring innocent people, but... Sister Xue was just outside the city.
The two moved at tremendous speed and disappeared from sight in the blink of an eye.
The tension that had gripped the city eased a little.
Tang San climbed to his feet. Looking in the direction they had gone, he clenched his fists and murmured, "Father..."
Soon, the crowd erupted in an uproar. Everyone began talking, their faces full of worry.
"Those two are terrifying! One had such a frightening aura, and the other actually possessed a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring!"
"If they fight, the whole city could be destroyed!"
"Run! If the shockwaves from their battle reach us, we won't even have a place to be buried..."