Making a Run for It

The pressure from seven Title Douluo bore down like Mount Tai. Xuanji Douluo's golden barrier sealed off the path ahead, Heavenfiend Douluo's gray mist coiled around his limbs, and Starshatter Douluo's starlight was already within reach. Soul power surged rapidly through Huo Yuhao's body. Though his Rank 50 soul power was far inferior to that of a Title Douluo, the support of his various Soul Bones and Contract Martial Soul barely kept him from being crushed by their pressure.

With a thought, a pair of Ice Crystal Wings suddenly unfurled behind him—an External Soul Bone formed from the fusion of the Ice Empress, Snow Empress, and Ice Bear King. Icy patterns flowed across the wings, radiating biting cold. "Icebound Rush!" Huo Yuhao shouted. His wings beat fiercely, unleashing an extreme burst of speed that actually matched the full-speed charge of an ordinary Title Douluo. He became a blur and narrowly evaded Nebula Douluo's star blades.

"Trying to run?" Mighty Force Douluo roared as he threw a heavy punch. The force of his fist carried tremendous power as it blasted toward Huo Yuhao's back. Without hesitation, Huo Yuhao activated Tianmeng Ice Worm's External Soul Bone skin. A layer of luminous white light spread across his body. When the heavy punch struck it, all of its force was instantly dispersed without even raising a ripple. The skin's ability to defend against any attack allowed him to withstand the blow head-on, though his soul power churned within him.

Azure Luan Douluo's gaze sharpened. His Rank 97 soul power transformed into a phantom Green Luan, whose claws descended straight at Huo Yuhao, tearing fine cracks through space itself. Huo Yuhao did not dare meet it head-on. His Martial Soul, Void, activated abruptly, and distorted Space-Time ripples spread around him. Although this Martial Soul could not be fitted with soul rings, it allowed him to traverse space-time across short distances at an enormous cost. Gritting his teeth, he poured in more than half his soul power. Just before the claws reached him, he vanished, reappearing in midair a hundred meters away the next instant.

Yet the encirclement of the seven Title Douluo did not loosen. Wang Xian'er's healing soul power transformed into binding bands of light, while Starshatter Douluo's starlight locked onto his aura once more. The Ice Crystal Wings on Huo Yuhao's back exerted their power again as he wrapped himself within them. In an instant, the wings condensed into an indestructible ice crystal shield, barely blocking Heavenfiend Douluo's controlling mist and Xuanji Douluo's shield strike. The wings' ability to withstand a full-force attack from a Title Douluo above Rank 95 bought him a moment to catch his breath.

Within his body, the Golden Dragon King Torso Bone slowly replenished his depleted soul power. The Silver Dragon King Head Bone kept his mind clear, while Tianmeng Ice Worm's skin continually healed the damage to his meridians caused by forcefully crossing space-time. He wanted to awaken Ditian and the other savage beasts, but when his spiritual power entered his body, he sensed only their dormant auras, with no response at all. These peak combatants could not be used at this moment.

Huo Yuhao knew that Void's range was limited. If he kept burning through his power, his soul power would inevitably run dry. His expression turned cold as he activated Void once more and pushed the speed of his Ice Crystal Wings to the limit. Space-Time ripples spread around him again. Relying on the wings' defense and speed, he broke through at full speed toward the outskirts of Star Luo City, leaving only the roars of the seven Title Douluo and their relentlessly pursuing pressure behind him.

"What's happening to Yuhao?" The one speaking was Ye Guyi. Since entering Huo Yuhao's Spirit Sea from the Far Northern Land, she had been cultivating until now, when she finally awakened.

"It's nothing. Focus on cultivating and complete Angel God's second divine trial as soon as possible. Besides, you can't help me. Seven Title Douluo are chasing me."

Ye Guyi's shock was beyond words. Seven Title Douluo was a number she had never dared imagine in her life. "Why are seven Title Douluo chasing you?"

"I'll tell you when we're safe."

Before he could finish speaking, the attacks of the seven Title Douluo crashed toward Huo Yuhao with thunderous force. Xuanji Douluo's golden shield strike shattered the air, Starshatter Douluo's starlight became blades that tore through the void, and Azure Luan Douluo's Green Luan claws came straight at him with Rank 97 soul power. The others either controlled the battlefield or launched fierce attacks, their offensive weaving into an impenetrable net that completely sealed off Huo Yuhao's escape routes.

Just as Huo Yuhao activated Void and Space-Time ripples emerged, Heavenfiend Douluo's gray mist had already wrapped around his Ice Crystal Wings. Nebula Douluo's star blade grazed his shoulder, leaving a thin bloody mark. Thoughts racing, he sent his spiritual power into the Undead Demi-Plane and shouted, "Golden Tortoiseshell, come out!"

A massive dark-golden figure abruptly appeared. It was an Undead Puppet crafted from a hundred-thousand-year Golden Tortoiseshell. Ancient patterns covered its shell, and dense defensive soul power surrounded its body. "Tortoiseshell Guard!" Before Huo Yuhao's words had even faded, the Golden Tortoiseshell raised its huge shell in front of him. Xuanji Douluo's shield strike and Mighty Force Douluo's heavy fist smashed brutally into it. With a deafening clang, sparks flew everywhere, yet the shell did not move in the slightest. Every attack was blocked.

"Not good!" Just as Starshatter Douluo was about to move again, Huo Yuhao had already controlled the puppet to unleash its second soul skill. "Spirit-Locking Bind!" The Golden Tortoiseshell let out a deep roar, and several dark-golden chains shot out from its shell. Like spirit serpents, they wrapped around the limbs of all seven Title Douluo. The power of soul power confinement erupted instantly, forcibly freezing them in place. The control would last only three short seconds, but that was enough to decide life and death.

Huo Yuhao did not hesitate in the slightest. Two Level-Nine Fixed-Installation Soul Cannons appeared in his palms once more, their muzzles gathering dazzlingly brilliant balls of energy. "Boom!" Two thick beams of energy roared forth with world-destroying force, smashing viciously toward the seven controlled Title Douluo.

The explosion shook Star Luo City itself. Flames soared into the sky, and the massive shockwave hurled away the surrounding buildings. Taking advantage of the chaos, Huo Yuhao recalled the Golden Tortoiseshell. The puppet turned into black mist and retreated into the Undead Demi-Plane. He immediately activated Void and spread his Ice Crystal Wings, his body becoming a vague afterimage as he shot toward the city outskirts at high speed, seemingly teleporting through the enveloping Space-Time ripples.

The three seconds of control passed in an instant. By the time the seven Title Douluo broke free of the chains, they could only raise soul power shields to block the aftershock. Watching Huo Yuhao's retreating figure, their soul power surged, yet they could not afford to pursue him. The power of the Level-Nine Fixed-Installation Soul Cannons was too terrifying. Cracks had already appeared in their shields, and they had to stabilize their defenses with all their strength, or they themselves would suffer grievous injuries. Amid the smoke and dust, Huo Yuhao's figure grew ever more distant until it finally vanished beyond Star Luo City's horizon.

As the lingering shockwaves dissipated, smoke and dust filled the air. Cracks covered the soul power shields of all seven Title Douluo. A notch had been blasted into Xuanji Douluo's Xuanji Shield, Mighty Force Douluo's knuckles were reddened, and even Nebula Douluo's wings bore bloody marks. Every one of them had suffered varying degrees of shock injuries.

Wang Xian'er was the first to withdraw her soul power. Raising her delicate hand, she transformed her luminous white healing soul power into countless motes of light that enveloped the other six as well as herself. The light seeped into their skin, and the piercing pain of fractured bones and the tremors in their meridians rapidly faded. In mere moments, all their injuries had fully recovered, and even their soul power had been replenished somewhat.

Once the light faded, Starshatter Douluo Gan Xing clenched his fists and cursed furiously, "That bastard! He actually has such methods! He used Level-Nine Fixed-Installation Soul Cannons without a second thought, and he has that bizarre Undead Puppet and Space-Time ability. It's downright wicked!"

Azure Luan Douluo Ye Yu wore a grave expression. The hem of his green robe was still stained with scorched earth as he said in a deep voice, "That puppet was made from a hundred-thousand-year Golden Tortoiseshell. It is extremely powerful in both defense and battlefield control. Then there are those Ice Crystal Wings and the support of several Soul Bones. Such a foundation is not something an ordinary Soul Master could possess."

Xuanji Douluo stroked the notch in her shield, her brows tightly furrowed. "He is only Rank 50, yet he could withstand our combined attack. I have never seen the methods of those Soul Bones and Martial Souls before, not to mention that bizarre Martial Soul capable of crossing space-time over short distances."

Heavenfiend Douluo Huang Jinxu swept his gaze over the scorched ruins of the White Tiger Duke's Mansion and said coldly, "His target was clear. He came for the Dai Clan. Earlier, he even forced Dai Huabin to answer questions about a grave. He must share an irreconcilable hatred with the Dai Clan."

Nebula Douluo Man Yi lightly fluttered her wings, starlight flowing through her eyes. "Dai Hao has guarded the border for many years and made countless enemies, but who could possess such strength? He is only Rank 50, yet he can wield so many top-tier powers. There must be more support behind him."

Mighty Force Douluo Cheng Gang snorted heavily. "Whoever he is, he dared destroy the duke's mansion in Star Luo City and injure us. This grudge must be repaid! We will dig three feet into the ground to find him and tear him to pieces!"

Wang Xian'er withdrew her healing soul power, her eyes filled with solemnity. "This person cannot be allowed to remain alive. But his defenses and escape methods are too troublesome. He also has those wings that can block a full-force strike above Rank 95, and that skin capable of defending against any attack. If we encounter him again, he may be even harder to deal with. First, investigate his identity. Who exactly is he, and how did he forge such a deadly enmity with the Dai Clan?"

The seven stood amid the scorched ruins of the White Tiger Duke's Mansion. The pressure around them remained chilling, yet their faces were all grim. Star Luo City had not faced such a provocation in a century. That fleeing cyan afterimage had become the most troublesome thorn in their hearts, and the foremost matter Star Luo City would investigate next.