Tang Hao!

"Xuqing, are you all right? Do you feel uncomfortable anywhere?"

The moment Ling Xuqing opened his eyes, Xiao Wu drifted over to him.

She anxiously circled Ling Xuqing twice, checking his complexion one moment and reaching out to touch his forehead the next, her eyes filled with concern.

Ah Yin hurried forward as well, worry written all over her beautiful face.

She carefully examined Ling Xuqing's aura and asked softly, "Yes, Xuqing. That Bloodline Power was so violent just now. Were your meridians injured? If anything hurts, you must tell us."

Gu Yuena threw herself directly into Ling Xuqing's arms. Her purple eyes brimmed with tears as she pressed her little face against his chest, listening to his heartbeat before finally letting out a breath of relief.

"Brother, you scared me to death just now..."

Gu Yuena's voice was thick with tears.

Zi Ji stood to one side. Though she tried her best to maintain a respectful posture, a trace of lingering fear flashed in her eyes.

Seeing those breathtakingly beautiful faces filled with worry, Ling Xuqing felt a warm current rise in his heart.

He reached out and rubbed Gu Yuena's silver hair, then gave Xiao Wu and Ah Yin a gentle smile, reassuring them:

"Don't worry, I'm fine. Not only am I fine, but I've actually turned misfortune into a blessing. My strength has improved again."

"Really?" Upon hearing that, Xiao Wu's little face finally relaxed, and she let out a long breath.

"It's good that you're all right." Ah Yin also revealed a relieved smile.

Ling Xuqing rose to his feet and stretched his limbs.

With a series of crisp crackles from his bones, an even more condensed and domineering aura spread from his body.

He had completely refined the medicinal power of the hundred-year Whale Rubber. Not only had it steadily pushed his Soul Power to level twenty-nine, but it had further tempered the strength of his physical body.

"All right, enough about that." Ling Xuqing withdrew his aura and swept his gaze over the women, his expression turning solemn.

He walked to Gu Yuena's side and naturally took her fair little hand. Then he looked at Xiao Wu, Ah Yin, and Zi Ji and said in a deep voice, "Let's go. It's time for us to leave."

"Leave?" Xiao Wu froze for a moment, blinking curiously. "Xuqing, where are we going next?"

Ling Xuqing looked toward the deep night sky beyond the window. A confident curve lifted at the corner of his lips as he spoke four words:

"Sunset Forest!"

"Sunset Forest?!"

The women cried out in unison.

Xiao Wu scratched her head in confusion. "What are we going to Sunset Forest for? Aren't there lots of dangerous spirit beasts there?"

Ah Yin frowned slightly as well. "That's right. Although Sunset Forest cannot compare to the Star Dou Great Forest, it's still fraught with danger. Xuqing, what are we going there for?"

Ling Xuqing looked at them, his eyes gleaming with determination. "Deep within Sunset Forest lies a treasured land. I will have it!"

He paused, then continued explaining:

"Originally, I planned to wait until I was stronger and fully prepared before going. But now that Zi Ji is with us, our safety is absolutely guaranteed."

"So, the opportunity in Sunset Forest will be mine!"

Hearing Ling Xuqing's words, Zi Ji immediately stepped forward and dropped to one knee. "Rest assured, my lord. With this subordinate here, I will ensure the young master's and your safety without fail!"

"Good!" Ling Xuqing nodded in satisfaction.

A short while later, Ling Xuqing silently left Nuoding City Junior Spirit Master Academy, holding Gu Yuena's hand.

Xiao Wu and Ah Yin turned into two streaks of light and entered Ling Xuqing's sea of consciousness.

Zi Ji flashed away and disappeared into the vast night, concealing herself in the darkness.

Ling Xuqing held Gu Yuena's hand as they strolled along the official road leading out of Nuoding City.

Their fingers were intertwined, making them look like an ordinary little brother and sister out for a night walk.

However, just as they left Nuoding City's territory and arrived in a stretch of wilderness—

BOOM—!!!

An incomparably powerful and utterly domineering pressure erupted from the sky without warning!

That pressure was as tangible as Mount Tai bearing down, instantly locking onto Ling Xuqing and Gu Yuena.

The surrounding air seemed to freeze at that moment, and even the wind stopped moving.

Then, a thunderous, powerful voice brimming with endless fury rang across the heavens like divine lightning:

"Kid, stop right there!"

Terrifying Soul Power fluctuations filled that voice, making the surrounding leaves rustle violently.

"You beat up my son and still think you can run?!"

The newcomer was none other than the Clear Sky Douluo—Tang Hao!

It turned out Tang Hao had secretly observed Ling Xuqing before.

He had clearly seen Ling Xuqing press the tip of his spear against Tang San's throat, the spearhead even piercing Tang San's skin.

In Tang Hao's eyes, if Ling Xuqing had thrust forward another inch, he could have killed Tang San on the spot!

How could Tang Hao, who treasured his son more than life itself, endure that?!

But Nuoding City had been crowded with too many watchful eyes at the time. Furthermore, Spirit Hall had issued a continent-wide manhunt for him. Once he exposed his aura, countless Titled Douluo would surely come after him.

Thus, he could only suppress his towering killing intent and refrain from acting on the spot.

Yet he had never expected Ling Xuqing to brazenly leave Nuoding City with Gu Yuena!

In Tang Hao's perception, Ling Xuqing and Gu Yuena were merely two gifted children who had just awakened their martial souls and possessed Innate Full Soul Power.

Though their talent was exceptional, they were ultimately only level-ten Soul Masters, without even a first soul ring.

Moreover, Tang Hao had swept the surroundings with his spiritual power and found no aura belonging to any top-tier expert.

Naturally, he assumed these two children had no powerful backing at all.

Since they had no backing, then he, as a father, could hardly be blamed for seeking justice for his son!

BOOM—

A towering figure as imposing as a mountain slowly descended from the air.

Tang Hao wore rough hemp clothing, his beard and hair bristling as his face remained cold and iron-hard.

He held a pitch-black Clear Sky Hammer in his hand. Like a god of slaughter descending upon the world, he stared fixedly at Ling Xuqing and Gu Yuena below.

Within Ling Xuqing's sea of consciousness—

The instant Tang Hao's aura erupted, Xiao Wu immediately turned to look at Ah Yin.

At that moment, Ah Yin's entire body was trembling violently.

Her gentle, stunningly beautiful face was filled with the most complicated emotions.

There was pain, there was struggle, but even more than that, there was bone-deep coldness and hatred!

"Tang... Hao..."

Ah Yin's lips trembled slightly as she forced those two words out through clenched teeth.

Just as Tang Hao was about to speak and use the pressure of his Titled Douluo rank to crush these two "ignorant fools" completely—

HUM—!

A dazzling purple light flared up before Ling Xuqing and Gu Yuena without warning!

Zi Ji's figure instantly appeared from the darkness, standing in front of the two of them.

BOOM—!!!

A pressure even more ancient, terrifying, and vast than Tang Hao's erupted explosively from Zi Ji's body!

Like a vast purple ocean, that pressure instantly crushed Tang Hao's Clear Sky pressure into nothingness!

"What?!"

Tang Hao's expression changed abruptly, his eyes filled with horror and shock.

He felt as though a heavy hammer had slammed viciously into his chest. His entire body staggered backward several steps uncontrollably, and even the Clear Sky Hammer in his hand nearly flew from his grasp!

"A Titled Douluo?! No... this aura is even more terrifying than a Titled Douluo!"

Tang Hao stared fixedly at Zi Ji before him, a storm raging within his heart.

He never could have imagined that such an unparalleled expert had been hidden beside these two seemingly ordinary children!

Zi Ji floated in midair, icy killing intent gleaming in her purple eyes.

She looked down at Tang Hao from above, her voice as cold as ice from the depths of hell:

"You dared lay hands on the young master and my lord... You seek death!"