Chen Xin and Tang Hao

"Xiao Wu, are you really a hundred-thousand-year soul beast in human form?" Ning Rongrong hesitated for a moment before asking. Looking at Xiao Wu standing by the door, there was some reluctance on her face.

However, matters involving a hundred-thousand-year soul beast were not something she could stop on a whim.

Xiao Wu remained silent and did not answer, but her silence already explained many things.

Flender and the others had also arrived. Tang San rushed over and shielded Xiao Wu behind him.

"Xiao Wu is my sister. I won't allow anyone to hurt her."

"Third Brother, give it up! If Xiao Wu really is a hundred-thousand-year soul beast in human form, you can't protect her."

"Ning Rongrong, you..."

Ning Rongrong sighed and cut Tang San off, explaining, "A ten-thousand-year soul bone is known as a treasure worth a river of blood, enough to make two kingdoms wage war.

"And a hundred-thousand-year soul beast in human form is enough to plunge the living beings of two empires into misery."

"Young man named Tang San, Rongrong is right. You can't protect her." Ning Fengzhi took over from Ning Rongrong and said, "Even if it weren't our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect that had come, look at the teachers around you. Now that they know about a hundred-thousand-year soul beast, who wouldn't want it?"

Tang San swept his gaze over everyone's faces and indeed saw the change in the teachers' expressions.

This was not the original story. In the original story, they had built up years of feelings before Xiao Wu's identity was exposed during the Soul Master Tournament.

And the moment her identity was exposed, Tang Hao had taken Tang San and Xiao Wu away.

Now, they had been enrolled for less than two months. When a hundred-thousand-year soul beast in human form and personal feelings were placed on opposite ends of the scale, everyone knew which to choose.

"Our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect will take this hundred-thousand-year soul beast. As for the teachers and students present, I, Ning Fengzhi, am willing to offer each of you two hundred thousand gold soul coins to keep your mouths shut and not reveal this matter. What do you say?"

Whether student or teacher, two hundred thousand gold soul coins was no small sum.

"Tw... two hundred thousand gold soul coins!" Ma Hongjun sucked in a sharp breath. There were nearly twenty teachers and students here!

"Impossible!" Tang San's face turned purple with rage. Seeing the people present wavering, anger surged across his face.

Xiao Wu belonged to him, Tang San. These teachers and classmates were willing to turn against him for such a trivial amount of gold soul coins—they truly "already had a path to death."

"Then we'll take the hundred-thousand-year soul beast with us." As Sword Douluo's Seven Killing Sword radiated immense pressure and slowly bore down on Tang San, Tang San could no longer withstand it and spat out a mouthful of blood.

"Third Brother!"

Xiao Wu was horrified.

"Come with us, hundred-thousand-year Soft-Boned Rabbit. Otherwise, I can't guarantee what will happen to your little lover," Sword Douluo said coldly. "As long as you sacrifice yourself for Rongrong when the time comes, we will not harm anyone else."

"Is this the only sort of disgraceful tactic your Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect knows?"

"Ning Rongrong, from this day onward, all ties between us are severed."

"Tang San..." Ning Rongrong opened her mouth, wanting to say something.

"Hmph! Who do you think you are, shouting at Rongrong?" Sword Douluo swung the Seven Killing Sword.

"Stop!"

Yu Xiaogang staggered forward with a roar, stepping out to block Sword Douluo's descending blade.

Seeing this, Sword Douluo frowned slightly and said indifferently, "Yu Yuanzhen's son, do you really think our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect fears your Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan?"

"Or has your Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan also set its sights on this hundred-thousand-year soul beast and come to claim a share?"

"If that is the case, call Yu Yuanzhen here. You, Yu Xiaogang, are not qualified."

"Get lost!" With a wave of Sword Douluo's hand, Yu Xiaogang was flung away by soul power.

"Tang San is Clear Sky Douluo's son. You cannot make a move against him."

Yu Xiaogang's voice rang out once more.

Sword Douluo, who had just been about to heavily injure Tang San and make him leave, halted his sword.

Ning Fengzhi fell into deep thought at those words. "Tang Hao? It seems he is the one they were talking about!"

At that moment, waves of oppressive pressure descended from the sky, like winds sweeping away the clouds.

"A mere Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect dares to lay hands on my son!"

"Clear Sky Nine Absolutes—Sky-Piercing Strike!"

A massive Clear Sky Hammer descended from the heavens, smashing toward Ning Fengzhi.

"Hmph!"

Sword Douluo snorted coldly, circulating his soul power as his clothes fluttered lightly in the surge of energy.

"Seventh Soul Skill—Seven Killing True Body!"

The two attacks collided, and terrifying shockwaves spread outward from the pair.

Tang Hao seized Tang San and Xiao Wu, preparing to retreat with them.

But Sword Douluo, whose speed had been enhanced by Ning Fengzhi, sent him crashing to the ground with a single slash.

Yet Tang Hao simultaneously activated Ring Detonation, detonating five soul rings in succession and forcing Sword Douluo back.

With both feet planted on the ground, blood seeped from Tang Hao's lips. Sword Douluo had gained no advantage either, blood slowly trickling from the corner of his mouth.

"Good, good! Chen Xin, Sword Douluo—you're strong. I, Tang Hao, will remember you."

"So what if you remember? Even if you and Yu Yuanzhen arrived together today, our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect is determined to claim this hundred-thousand-year-old transformed soul beast."

With Ning Fengzhi's support, Sword Douluo had already reached the terrifying strength of Rank 97.

Rank 97 against Rank 95—the advantage was mine. I refused to believe Tang Hao still had many soul rings left to detonate.

Even so, Sword Douluo used his soul power to lift Ning Fengzhi and Ning Rongrong behind him, preventing the two support Soul Masters from being ambushed.

"Tang Hao, don't say our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect isn't giving you any face."

"Leave behind the hundred-thousand-year-old transformed soul beast, and I'll let you father and son leave. Otherwise..."

"Hahahahaha! Hahahahaha!" Tang Hao burst into laughter. "Ridiculous. Chen Xin, Sword Douluo—even with Ning Fengzhi's support, what does reaching Rank 97 amount to?"

"At Rank 92, I was able to grievously wound Rank 95 Qian Xunji and kill a Titled Douluo at the same time."

"Now that my soul power is at Rank 95, let's see whether your Seven Killing Sword is stronger, or whether our Clear Sky Sect's foremost tool martial soul, the Clear Sky Hammer, is more terrifying."

"Tang San, protect Xiao Wu." Tang Hao stepped forward.

"A... a hundred-thousand-year soul ring."

Seeing Tang Hao's blood-red soul ring, Xiao Wu was completely dumbfounded.

Seemingly noticing Xiao Wu's concern, Tang San spoke to reassure her. "Dad's hundred-thousand-year soul ring must have come from a very evil soul beast. It has to be that way—Dad is such a kind person."

Tang Hao's cheek stiffened, and he nearly choked on his breath.

That was your own mother's soul ring. It was one thing that you didn't know, but why did you have to call her evil?

Pretending not to hear, Tang Hao continued facing off against Sword Douluo.

"Chen Xin, if you fight me, can you still protect Ning Fengzhi and that little girl?" Tang Hao paused slightly. "How about we each take a step back?"

"Oh?" Sword Douluo had just been about to speak when Ning Fengzhi directly said, "I wonder, Your Excellency Clear Sky, how do you propose we each take a step back?"

After their brief clash just now, Sword Douluo, even with his support, had failed to gain the upper hand. This left Ning Fengzhi rather indecisive.

"Don't touch Xiao Wu, this transformed soul beast. When the opportunity arises in the future, I'll accompany your Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect to the Star Dou Great Forest or the Land of the Extreme North and help you hunt a hundred-thousand-year soul beast. How about that?"

Tang Hao knew his own condition best. Although he could rise to the occasion, he could not keep it up for long.

Rank 95 against Rank 97 gave him no advantage. Both sides had people to protect, so if they fought, neither would have a clear edge and accidents could happen to either side.

"Your Excellency Tang Hao, don't you think what you're proposing is a bit like getting something for nothing?"

Tang Hao nodded. "But if we keep killing each other, Spirit Hall will be the only one to benefit."

"The Upper Three Sects share a common bond. Hasn't that always been Sect Master Ning's principle?"

"This..." Ning Fengzhi fell silent.

If Sword Douluo had held the advantage just now, he would not have hesitated. But after a single exchange, the two sides had proven evenly matched.

Even while protecting others, they had failed to gain the upper hand. Ning Fengzhi had no choice but to weigh the gains and losses.

But this was a hundred-thousand-year soul beast!

That powerful existence Wendy had mentioned earlier was likely Tang Hao.

If Gu Rong came, he might not be able to defeat Tang Hao—and they might even be placed in danger as well.

Sigh! As expected of the former heir of the continent's number one sect.

Even after what had happened back then, he still possessed the strength of Rank 95.

"Should we give up on the soul beast?" To be honest, Ning Fengzhi was somewhat unwilling.