Perilous Battle Against a Limit Douluo, Blades Hidden in Dark Alleys

The entire underground passage trembled faintly beneath the pressure released by the Limit Douluo. Fine cracks appeared across the thick metal walls, while the air seemed to have frozen into solid iron, making even breathing unbearably difficult. Tang Wulin shielded Gu Yue behind him, his adult frame standing straight as a spear. The Golden Dragon King's blood and qi surged through his body at high speed, yet he did not rashly erupt. His golden eyes remained fixed on the figure standing ahead with his hands behind his back, as calm as an Ice Seal blade.

He recognized this man.

In his memories from his previous life, this Limit Douluo had been one of the Spirit Pagoda Master's most loyal followers. His title was Soul-Severing, and he excelled at mental erosion and soul attacks. His methods were ruthless and venomous. He had also participated in the siege that had targeted Tang Wulin and his parents, and the blood on his hands was already beyond counting.

Old hatred compounded new enmity, making Tang Wulin's clenched knuckles turn white. Yet he forcibly suppressed the urge to attack at once.

This was an underground passage of the Spirit Pagoda. If the battle caused too much of a disturbance, it would immediately draw more powerful guards. By then, let alone rescuing his parents on the seventh underground level, even the two of them escaping unharmed would become as difficult as reaching the heavens.

"Dragon Emperor Douluo, give up resisting." Soul-Severing Douluo slowly stepped forward. Every footfall made the ground rumble dully, and his soul rings pulsed behind him. That brilliant red soul ring was especially glaring. "You infiltrated the Spirit Pagoda, a crime punishable by death. The Pagoda Master is merciful and is offering you a way out. Submit to the Spirit Pagoda and hand over the Golden Dragon King's origin. I can guarantee that neither of you will suffer the slightest harm."

Gu Yue stepped out from behind Tang Wulin and stood shoulder to shoulder with him. There was not the slightest fear in her silver-gray eyes. The power of six elements flowed silently around her, slightly warping the space around them into an invisible barrier that protected them both. She said nothing more, merely raised her eyes and let her gaze fall upon Soul-Severing Douluo. Her cool voice carried the Silver Dragon King's unique pressure.

"Move."

Just two simple words, yet they carried an aura capable of shaking heaven and earth.

Even when facing a Limit Douluo, she had never yielded in the slightest.

Soul-Severing Douluo immediately sneered. "Silver Dragon King, I acknowledge that you are a descendant of an ancient divine beast and have no wish to make things difficult for you. But if you insist on protecting Tang Wulin, then do not blame me for showing no mercy!"

The instant his words fell, his spiritual power erupted!

An invisible soul shock surged toward Tang Wulin and Gu Yue like a tsunami. Wherever it passed, the air gave off a piercing tearing sound, while the metal panels on the walls shattered instantly. Its power was enough to crush an ordinary Titled Douluo with ease.

This was Soul-Severing Douluo's most terrifying method—indiscriminate soul crushing.

Tang Wulin's gaze sharpened as he instantly activated the power of the Golden Dragon King bloodline. Golden blood and qi shot skyward, forming a heavy barrier in front of him. The Golden Dragon King was an ultimate bloodline that cultivated both soul and body, possessing a natural resistance to spiritual attacks. Even so, he still felt a stabbing pain in his mind, showing just how powerful his opponent was.

Gu Yue's eyes turned slightly cold as she gently raised her right hand, instantly gathering the power of space.

An invisible spatial barrier stretched before them. Soul-Severing Douluo's spiritual shock struck it and was immediately warped, torn apart, and dispersed into nothingness.

"The power of the elements? You truly have some skill." Soul-Severing Douluo's eyes turned fierce, and he no longer held back. "Since you refuse to appreciate my kindness, do not blame me for capturing you and presenting you to the Pagoda Master!"

The red soul ring suddenly lit up, and his strongest soul skill erupted!

Countless pitch-black soul claws reached out from the void, carrying the force to tear apart souls as they madly pounced on the two of them. The entire passage was thoroughly engulfed by this sinister, venomous power. Both the path ahead and their retreat were completely sealed off.

"Keep his attacks occupied. I'll break the passage blockade!" Tang Wulin shouted in a low voice.

He understood clearly that their goal was not to kill this Limit Douluo, but to continue deeper and rescue his parents.

"Alright."

Gu Yue did not hesitate in the slightest. The power of the elements erupted in full.

Wind, fire, lightning, earth, water, and space intertwined, forming a dazzling yet deadly elemental torrent that met Soul-Severing Douluo's soul claws head-on. A thunderous roar instantly filled the underground passage. Blinding light exploded, shockwaves rolled outward, and rubble and fragments of soul power scattered everywhere. The terrifying aftershock of the battle made the entire Spirit Pagoda tremble faintly.

Soul-Severing Douluo's attention was instantly drawn to Gu Yue. He was shocked and enraged, never imagining that the Silver Dragon King's strength had already reached such a level. Even a casual attack from her was enough to contend with him head-on.

At that instant, Tang Wulin moved.

He did not choose a frontal assault. Instead, he circulated the Golden Dragon King's ultimate physical strength, clenching his right hand into a fist. Golden dragon patterns wound across his arm as his blood and qi condensed to the limit. Then he aimed at the section of wall along the passage that had been reinforced with soul tool restrictions and slammed down with all his might!

This punch produced no earth-shattering boom, yet it contained enough power to shatter mountains.

Boom—!

The heavy metal wall instantly caved in, revealing a damaged passage leading into the dark alleys outside.

This was the weak point in the restrictions that Tang Wulin had found using memories from his previous life. It was also their only route of escape from the encirclement, at least for the moment.

"Gu Yue, go!"

Tang Wulin gave a low shout, grabbed Gu Yue's wrist, and turned to rush through the opening.

Soul-Severing Douluo was both shocked and furious when he saw this, shouting sharply, "Trying to run? Stay here!"

He wanted to pursue them, but Gu Yue's erupting elemental power had him firmly entangled, leaving him unable to break free. He could only watch as the two figures vanished through the hole, trembling with rage.

"Send out the order! Lock down the entire city! Tang Wulin and the Silver Dragon King have entered the dark alleys on the western side. Search for them at any cost!"

The cold command instantly spread throughout the Spirit Pagoda and beyond.

Tang Wulin pulled Gu Yue along as they ran at full speed through the damaged passage. At last, they escaped Soul-Severing Douluo's encirclement and entered the crisscrossing dark alleys outside the Spirit Pagoda's main city. The alleys were narrow, dim, and connected in every direction. Dense clusters of low buildings blocked the view, making this the perfect place for them to hide.

The two leaned against a cold wall and adjusted their breathing slightly.

Though the battle just now had been brief, it had been perilous to the extreme. One misstep would have trapped them within the Spirit Pagoda's layers of pursuit, leaving them unable to escape again.

"The Spirit Pagoda's defenses are even tighter than we imagined," Tang Wulin said gravely, his golden eyes filled with solemnity. "Soul-Severing Douluo was only the first checkpoint. Before we reach the seventh underground level, there will definitely be more powerful guards."

Gu Yue nodded faintly, her silver-gray eyes remaining calm. "Our tracks have already been exposed. It is no longer possible to infiltrate silently. The Spirit Pagoda's hidden sentries, guards, and soul tool detection arrays must all be active now. The entire main city has become a cage."

Tang Wulin closed his eyes, and the scene of his parents' tragic deaths in his previous life once more flooded uncontrollably into his mind.

The searing pain of soul tool beams piercing through their chests, the despair and reluctance in his parents' eyes, and his own heartrending yet helpless agony...

The regret and heartache carved into his bones made his heart convulse fiercely.

He took a deep breath. When he opened his eyes again, only unwavering determination remained in them.

"No matter how many nets they have laid, I must force my way through."

"My parents are still waiting for me."

Gu Yue gently raised her hand and took his. The warmth in her palm was steady and resolute.

"I'll go with you.

The dark alleys hide the Spirit Pagoda's lowest-level operatives and spies. We can use the chaos to discover the true entrance to the underground passages, avoid the main defensive line, and continue sneaking deeper."

As the two spoke, faint footsteps came from the end of the alley, accompanied by low voices. Several covert operatives wearing hidden Spirit Pagoda insignias were approaching while holding detection soul tools, searching in their direction step by step.

Their eyes were sharp, and their auras sinister. They had clearly received orders and were doing everything they could to hunt down the pair.

Tang Wulin and Gu Yue exchanged a glance, simultaneously concealing their auras. Their figures flashed as they slipped into the shadows deep within the alley.

Sunlight was blocked by the towering buildings, leaving only mottled patches of light on the ground. The two figures hid in the darkness like ferocious beasts poised to strike.

The Spirit Pagoda's covert operatives had finally surfaced.

And their journey had shifted from a direct breakthrough to an even more perilous game of maneuvering through dark alleys, where every step was fraught with danger.

The true danger had only just begun.