Zi Tian Strikes, Background Ranking No. 7: Xiao Wu

Feeling the power of space lock onto him and the Soul Power surging in the bone dragon's mouth, Zi Tian narrowed his eyes.

Ning Rongrong had said she wanted to fight him, but she had clearly held back during their match, afraid she might hurt him.

Besides, Zi Tian could tell that Ning Rongrong meant no harm. She was just a little mischievous.

So Zi Tian had not been angry. He had even infused her with life energy to help her condense her Soul Power.

But Bone Douluo showed no mercy when he attacked. He went straight for the kill.

Since his birth in this life, Zi Tian had never met anyone so bold.

"Zhu Zhuqing, close your eyes."

His calm voice carried not a trace of emotion.

Zi Tian raised his left hand and slammed it downward toward the Bone Dragon True Body.

No dust rose, but the spatial gates and bone dragon phantoms along the way paused beneath his palm, then dissolved into Soul Power.

At the palace entrance, Bone Douluo had not even finished charging his killing blow when he felt a terrifying surge of energy appear above his head.

He had no time to use a defensive Soul Skill. The Bone Dragon True Body's head was crushed outright.

"All right. Open your eyes."

At Zi Tian's words, Zhu Zhuqing obediently opened her eyes.

Bone Douluo's Bone Dragon True Body had been broken. Leaning against the palace doors, he coughed up a mouthful of blood and sagged weakly.

"You—what did you do? Grandpa Bone!"

Ning Rongrong rose groggily from Zi Tian's arms. The sight of the injured Bone Douluo snapped her wide awake, and she immediately ran over.

"Grandpa Bone, are you all right? What happened?"

Under Ning Rongrong's angry gaze, Zi Tian remained seated on his throne without a word.

"Rongrong, I'm all right. How about you?"

With Ning Rongrong's help, Bone Douluo sat up and first checked her condition.

Her life energy was abundant and steady, her Soul Power more condensed, and her body healthier too.

"Rongrong, what was he doing to you just now?"

"Grandpa Bone, you mean Zi Tian? He was infusing me with life energy and helping me refine my Soul Power. Zi Tian, why did you hurt Grandpa Bone?"

After hearing Ning Rongrong's answer and checking her condition again, Bone Douluo gave a rueful smile and stopped her.

"Rongrong, don't blame him. It was my fault."

With that, Bone Douluo struggled to his feet and bowed to Zi Tian.

"Palace Master Zi, I'm sorry. My whole body was restrained just now, and I couldn't move.

"When I could move again, I heard Rongrong cry out and saw her lying in your arms. I panicked, so..."

"It's fine."

Zi Tian waved a hand, and a Pill flew to Bone Douluo.

Bone Douluo caught the Pill and hesitated. Then he recalled how Zi Tian had crushed his attack with a mere downward press of his hand and obediently swallowed it.

A powerful surge of life energy poured from the Pill, repairing Bone Douluo's body and further condensing his Soul Power.

"What is this?"

Bone Douluo felt his Soul Power stir, and astonishment crossed his face.

That single Pill had not only restored his body; it had also loosened the bottleneck that had troubled him for years.

At last, as his Soul Power condensed further, a mighty surge of Soul Power erupted.

After being stuck at Rank 95 for more than a decade, Bone Douluo finally broke through his bottleneck and entered the ranks of the Super Douluo!

"Palace Master Zi, if you ever have need of Little Bone, please just say the word!"

Ning Rongrong was happy to see Bone Douluo finally break through his bottleneck.

But what exactly had happened?

Seeing Ning Rongrong's puzzled expression, Bone Douluo looked a little embarrassed.

"Ahem. Well, I was worried about you, so I rashly attacked Palace Master Zi with all my strength. He defeated me with a casual move."

"Huh?"

Ning Rongrong had been sleeping comfortably in Zi Tian's arms and had no idea what had happened outside.

But Bone Douluo's words nearly made her jaw drop.

Zi Tian, an ordinary person with no trace of Soul Power, had defeated a long-famous Rank 95 Titled Douluo?

And from the sound of it, Zi Tian had won easily?

"Don't be surprised. In my view, Palace Master Zi is a hidden master. Of course you can't sense his Soul Power—the gap between your strengths is too great."

"But he looks about my age."

"A hidden master would naturally have mastered Agelessness. Palace Master Zi might even be older than me."

"Stop making wild guesses. I'm about the same age as Ning Rongrong."

Zi Tian cut off their hushed conversation.

If he let them keep talking, who knew what kind of thousand-year-old monster they would make him out to be?

"Huh?"

Now it was Bone Douluo's turn to stare in disbelief.

"Palace Master Zi, you—you're not joking?"

"Why would I lie to you? Before long, you'll know whether I'm telling the truth."

Bone Douluo still looked doubtful, so Zi Tian pointed toward the sky.

"Keep watching. The Sky Screen is about to announce the next ranking."

After revealing Ning Rongrong's reward, large characters began scrolling across the Sky Screen again.

While Zi Tian and Bone Douluo had been fighting, seventh place on the Background Ranking had already been announced.

[Background Ranking, seventh place: Xiao Wu, a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast in human form]

[Xiao Wu, a Soft Bone Rabbit and Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast who took human form to cultivate anew, currently lives in Nuoding City of the Heaven Dou Empire.

Her backers are the overlords of the Star Dou Great Forest: the Sky Azure Bull Python and the Titan Giant Ape.]

The instant seventh place on the Background Ranking was announced, the entire Douluo Realm fell silent. Then countless voices erupted at once.

"What? A Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast took human form and even slipped into the Heaven Dou Empire? Kill her, and we can get a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring!"

An image of a girl in pink appeared on the Sky Screen. She looked utterly bewildered.

In Nuoding City, Tang San had caught up with Yu Xiaogang and was listening to his teacher continue explaining the Ten Great Martial Soul Theories.

But for some reason, Tang San could not focus. He had the feeling that something momentous was about to happen.

As new white characters began scrolling past, seventh place on the Background Ranking entered Tang San's view.

"Xiao Wu?"

At the sight of that familiar face on the Sky Screen, Tang San's eyes flew wide.

Without stopping to think, he broke into a run toward Junior Soul Master Academy in Nuoding City.

"Xiao Wu, that friend of Tang San's? I never imagined she was a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast in human form!"

At the thought of all the resources one could gain by killing a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast, Yu Xiaogang's breathing quickened.

"Little San, wait for me! Don't forget your teacher when a prize like this comes along!"

"Xiao Wu, how could... Wait for me. Wait!"

Tang San finally rushed back to the dormitory entrance, only to find the area packed with people.

"Where's that Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast? Where did she run off to?"

Hearing that they had not found Xiao Wu, Tang San could not help letting out a long breath of relief.

In the time he had known her, he had come to regard Xiao Wu as a companion. He could not stand by and watch her be killed!

After a moment's hesitation, Tang San turned decisively and ran toward the outskirts of Nuoding City.