As the crowd dispersed, news of what had happened in Sunset Forest swept across the continent like a storm.
Naturally, Heaven Dou City, being closest to Sunset Forest, was the first to learn the truth.
"Extra! Extra!"
A newsboy waved a newspaper as he ran through the bustling street, shouting until his voice was nearly hoarse.
"Latest news from Heaven Dou City! An unparalleled prodigy has appeared in Sunset Forest!"
"A young swordsman under Xuan Xiao split a mountain peak with one strike! Two Douluo together were no match for him!"
"Really? Isn't that laying it on a bit thick?"
Passersby crowded around, pulling out Copper Soul Coins and scrambling to buy papers, afraid they might miss this earth-shattering piece of gossip.
"Why would I lie? Tang Xiao and Yu Yuanzhen, two Titled Douluo, joined forces and still got sent flying by one swing of that boy's sword!"
"That boy's name is Zhi An. Mr. Xuan Xiao sent him to hold down the fort, and his Soul Ring Configuration is absurd beyond belief!"
"What's his configuration? Hurry up and read it!"
Someone stamped his feet impatiently, eyes wide as bronze bells, afraid he might miss a single word.
"Two purple, three black, and three red! Three whole Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Rings!"
The newsboy shouted at the top of his lungs, spittle flying as he put heavy emphasis on the numbers.
"Hiss—"
The sound of sharp intakes of breath rose all around. More than a few people dropped their vegetable baskets.
"Three Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Rings? I've lived my whole life without seeing even one! What kind of monsters does Xuan Xiao have working for him?"
"And that's not all! I heard the boy can use Ring Fusion. He fused eight Soul Rings into one special silver-white ring, and that sword strike stretched