Saving Zhao Wuji

The next day, Yang Xiu and the others set off for Heaven Dou City. Hong Tian and his son stayed behind, along with Guan Sheng, who would step in to handle any serious trouble but otherwise protect them from the shadows. The priority was raising Tang San's strength, not wasting cultivation time at the forge. Hong Tian and Guan Sheng would provide for their daily needs, so Tang San would not have to go to school. Hong Tian bought a small courtyard in Nuoding City, and the three of them settled there.

On the road to Heaven Dou City, inside a carriage,

"System, why can the Innate Soul Power Pill increase Soul Power?"

"Because improving one's talent awakens hidden potential. The longer someone has cultivated, the greater the increase."

"What would happen if I gave one to Hua Xiong?"

"You can. Depending on his potential, he might gain several levels." At that, Yang Xiu decided to call Hua Xiong over. Hua Xiong was the first person he had summoned, after all. And given his strength, Yang Xiu feared that if Poison Douluo died one day, Hua Xiong would become the yardstick for measuring a Titled Douluo's strength.

"Hua Xiong, come here a moment."

Hua Xiong heard him from the carriage where he was cultivating and came over.

"Sect Master, what is it?"

"Here. This elixir will improve your talent."

"Thank you, Sect Master." Hua Xiong was a little excited.

As more and more of his comrades arrived, he felt himself falling further behind. These days, he cultivated without regard for the time.

Measured by Innate Soul Power, Hua Xiong's talent was around level 8.5, perhaps not even that high. As for why Yang Xiu did not give the pill to Zhang Liao or Zhao Yun? Zhang Liao had Innate Full Soul Power, and Zilong possessed the Dragon Gallbladder Silver Spear, a god-tier Martial Soul. Was his talent really lacking?

"Take it here. I want to see how well it works."

Hua Xiong swallowed the pill at once. Before long, he looked miserable. Veins bulged all over his body, and clouds of black vapor poured from him. But though he seemed to be suffering, he did not appear to be in danger, so Yang Xiu did not interrupt.

"System, what's going on?"

"The Innate Soul Power Pill is changing his talent. He is older and has many hidden injuries, so its medicinal power is healing them as well."

"I see."

Time passed. About half an hour later, Hua Xiong opened his eyes and said excitedly,

"Sect Master, all my hidden injuries are gone, and my Soul Power rose three levels!"

Under the appraisal skill, his Soul Power was level 94 and his talent was level 9.5. His talent had risen a full level.

It seemed the longer someone cultivated, the greater the potential hidden within them. Without those injuries, Hua Xiong might have gained another level.

Now Hua Xiong had the foundation to pursue level 95 and beyond.

"The stronger you are, the stronger the Sect is. Cultivate well. There's already a place for you among the continent's great powers."

"Go on back for now."

"Yes, Sect Master."

Just then, the system issued a mission.

"In two hours, you will pass the site where Zhao Wuji is fighting sixteen Soul Emperors sent to surround and kill him. Because of Dragon One and the others' recent activities, Spirit Hall has cautiously assigned an additional Soul Douluo to the hunt. Save Zhao Wuji and invite him to join the Sect. Reward: one Random Summoning Card, 10,000 Soul Coins, one Innate Soul Power Pill, and +50 to Zhao Wuji's loyalty."

"Hm? System, you can predict the future? Fifty loyalty points, plus a life-saving favor? Looks like that goofball Zhao will become a die-hard Sect loyalist. And this Innate Soul Power Pill must be meant for him."

"He's covered in hidden injuries... No, wait... It's worse than that. He's being hunted right now. But I can't help him yet. What if we speed up and miss him?"

As a Douluo fan, Yang Xiu had always liked Zhao Wuji, even if the man could be a bit of a goofball.

Yang Xiu smiled, then closed his eyes and resumed cultivating.

Exactly two hours later, Zhao Wuji appeared a short distance ahead of the convoy, covered in wounds. Yang Xiu led the others out of their carriages. They did not intervene, merely stood and watched.

Sixteen Soul Emperors surrounded Zhao Wuji. He had only just broken through to level 70 under the pressure of the fight. The Soul Douluo had not arrived yet; otherwise, the four people at Yang Xiu's side would have sensed him.

And they certainly would have told Yang Xiu. "Spirit Hall sure thinks highly of me, sending sixteen Soul Emperors to kill me," Zhao Wuji said with a sneer.

He was stalling to recover his strength while waiting for a chance to escape.

"No one dares underestimate the Immovable Wisdom King. Blame yourself for making an enemy of Spirit Hall."

"Stop wasting words on him."

"Attack together! Kill him!"

In a flash of lightning and flint, the fight erupted again.

He had lasted this long only because of his two gravity skills. But two fists could not fend off four hands. Even if he was a bear, he could not hold on much longer.

"Someone's coming," Zhao Yun suddenly said.

A little over ten seconds later, the Soul Douluo the system had mentioned appeared.

He blocked Zhao Wuji's last escape route.

Seeing his final path to safety cut off, Zhao Wuji glanced at Yang Xiu and the others but did not run toward them.

Was this where I, Zhao Wuji, would die? No. If I'm going down, I'm taking a few of them with me.

"Hahaha... Spirit Hall! If I survive today, I'll repay you a hundredfold!"

As he spoke, he threw everything he had into the fight.

"Gravity Compression!"

"Position Tracking!"

"Great Strength Vajra Palm!"

He unleashed all three Soul Skills at once. Position Tracking locked onto a Soul Emperor who had not reacted in time, and Great Strength Vajra Palm crushed him to death. Zhao Wuji turned to flee, but he had underestimated the Soul Douluo. The man appeared directly in front of him and knocked him back with a single blow, sending blood spilling from his mouth. As for the dead Soul Emperor, the man did not spare him a glance.

"Do you still think you can escape?"

Eight Soul Rings appeared around him. Zhao Wuji froze.

"A Soul Douluo? You needed a Soul Douluo to kill me?"

That was his last furious roar.

"Aaah!"

Yang Xiu said, "We've watched enough, and everyone's here. Save him and bring him to me. Kill the rest. I don't need prisoners."

With that, all three except Zhao Yun charged in.

The three summoned their Martial Souls and launched their strongest attacks without a word. Before their enemies could react, twelve were dead.

The Soul Douluo who had looked so imposing moments ago was stunned. Two Titled Douluo he did not recognize—and one looked even younger than him. Yet that red Soul Ring shone so brightly. Someone besides Clear Sky Douluo had a hundred-thousand-year Soul Ring? He knew how terrifying such a ring was. Escape was impossible, so all he could do was raise Spirit Hall's banner.

"Your Excellencies, we're from Spirit Hall! Aren't you afraid of its retaliation if you kill us?" No one answered him. Two or three seconds later, he was the only one left.

Hua Xiong picked at his ear. "What did you say? I didn't hear you. Say it again."

"I'm from Spirit—"

Zhang Liao had no patience for that. His crescent halberd swept in from the side

and plunged straight into the man's heart.

"Spirit Hall? Spirit Hall, my ass. Everyone's dead. Who's going to know we did it? And what if they do?"

Zhang Liao spoke with contempt. He wiped his weapon on the Soul Douluo, whose eyes had yet to close, without looking at him once.

"You stole my kill."

"You took forever to kill one man. Got a problem with it? Let's spar."

Hua Xiong backed down. He knew his own limits.

Then he glanced at Dragon Ten, who had already put away his weapon. That brat had killed the most of them, and watching him kill was practically an art. Hua Xiong had been about to say something to him, but then he remembered Dragon Ten had seventeen brothers. Better not provoke him.

His eyes darted about until they landed on Zhao Wuji. He walked over, ready to show off.

"Hey, kid. You're not dying yet, are you? We both have bear-type Martial Souls. How are you this weak?"

"Cough... cough. Your Excellency, I..."

Zhao Wuji was bewildered and could barely speak through his coughing.

"You what? Forget it. You can't even get the words out."

"Our Sect Master wants to see you. Come on."

With that, Hua Xiong walked off without waiting to see whether Zhao Wuji followed.

This was the first time Yang Xiu had watched them kill. Soul Emperors were little different from ants before them.

So I'm still this weak?

Yang Xiu clenched his fist. Not for long. I'll grow strong.

"Zhao Wuji thanks you for saving my life." Zhao Wuji bowed to the three of them.

"Are you the Sect Master of these two Titled Douluo, sir? What can I do for you?"

Yang Xiu got straight to the point.

"How about joining the Flame Emperor Sect? The Sect will have your back, and you won't have to keep hiding from Spirit Hall's pursuit."

The direct offer caught Zhao Wuji off guard. It took him a while to answer.

"Wouldn't that bring trouble to you?"

"You have a good heart. Even now, you're thinking of others."

"Trouble? Spirit Hall should count itself lucky we aren't looking for trouble with them. Don't worry."

"I'd be willing to join the Flame Emperor Sect."

Zhao Wuji did not need to think twice after hearing Yang Xiu's answer. With the Sect behind him—and these two Titled Douluo alone—he would not even have to worry about obtaining Soul Rings in the future.

"Ding! Mission complete. System rewards: one Random Summoning Card, 10,000 Soul Coins, one Innate Soul Power Pill, and +50 to Zhao Wuji's loyalty."

"Good. Since you've joined the Sect, we won't treat you poorly. Heal up first. Once you're better, someone will take you to obtain a Soul Ring." Yang Xiu glanced at Hua Xiong, making his meaning clear.

"Thank you, Sect Master."

"Come on, kid." Both men had bear-type Martial Souls and broad, powerful builds, though Hua Xiong stood almost a head taller. Hua Xiong seemed to regard Zhao Wuji differently, almost like a younger brother. Perhaps he wanted to take him under his wing.

Ninety loyalty points. The system really came through. His Innate Soul Power is only level 7.5, though—not even level 8. In the original story, he probably only became a Soul Douluo because Tang Hao guided him. Looks like I'll have to give him the Innate Soul Power Pill after all. Can't let ninety loyalty points go to waste.

Zhao Wuji did not know that this decision would change what he could achieve in his lifetime.

And so they resumed their journey to Heaven Dou City.