6 vs. 1-He Was Sure to Die!

Tang Hao sat there, watching Ning Fengzhi sip his tea at a leisurely pace, irritation stirring inside him.

But he held it in. Before coming, he had already decided he could not start by pounding the table. That would only push Ning Fengzhi to the other side.

Yu Yuanzhen spoke, his voice dry and rough.

"Sect Master Ning, Spirit Hall has already begun to act. I received two reports on my way here. First, half a month ago, Spirit Hall sent someone to assassinate a Level 70 Soul Saint from the Wind Sword Sect. Second, three days ago, a group of unidentified Soul Masters raided one of my Dragon Family's outposts, killing two Soul Kings."

Yu Yuanzhen continued, "Taken separately, none of these incidents amounts to much. But put them together, and the direction is clear. Spirit Hall is making its move. They're weakening the three sects one by one, killing Douluo-level experts and uprooting rising talents. They're preparing for the final showdown."

Ning Fengzhi set down his teacup.

"I know about these incidents," he said evenly. "But what do they have to do with your visit today?"

Tang Hao finally spoke.

"The connection is simple." He looked Ning Fengzhi in the eye. "Qin Chuan. He's Spirit Hall's greatest wild card right now. His martial soul isn't bound by levels. You saw it yourself at the Soul Master Tournament. A Level 51 defeating a Level 95-nothing like that has ever happened before."

Ning Fengzhi said nothing.

Tang Hao continued, "He's only in his fifties now. What happens when he reaches Level 70, Level 80, or Level 90? What will his rule martial soul become? When that day comes, who on this entire continent will be able to stop him?"

The council hall fell silent for several breaths.

Ning Fengzhi leaned back in his chair, tapped the armrest twice with his fingers, then stopped.

He was thinking.

Did Tang Hao's words make sense?

They did. He had been sitting in the VIP seats that day at the Soul Master Tournament and had seen every last thing Qin Chuan did.

Coin of Fate, Rock-Paper-Scissors, Truth or Dare, Destiny Roulette-every soul skill strayed from the beaten path, completely bypassing the system of clashing soul power.

The most terrifying was Destiny Roulette.

Six chambers, one bullet, taking turns firing. Within that game, the gap between a Level 95 Titled Douluo and a Level 51 Soul King had been compressed to a terrifying degree.

Tang Hao had been shot, his soul power drained dry, leaving him like a lamb awaiting slaughter.

Ning Fengzhi had his reservations.

"Brother Tang, I understand everything you've said." Ning Fengzhi spoke slowly and deliberately. "But killing someone from Spirit Hall is no small matter. Their pope is Bibi Dong, a Level 97 Super Douluo with twin martial souls. She also has Chrysanthemum Douluo, Ghost Douluo, and other Titled Douluos at her side. If we strike at one of her people, she won't stand idly by."

Tang Hao said, "That's exactly why we must act now. Qin Chuan is only in his fifties. His Game Domain has a limited range, and we can use long-range attacks from outside its rules. Against six Titled Douluo-level experts, he's sure to die!"

Ning Fengzhi was silent for a moment.

"Six?"

Tang Hao counted them off on his fingers. "Me, Tang Xiao, Dugu Bo, and Yu Yuanzhen. Plus your Sword Douluo and Bone Douluo."

Ning Fengzhi frowned.

He neither agreed immediately nor refused. He turned to glance at Sword Douluo behind him.

Sword Douluo Chen Xin stood there with his arms folded, his face expressionless. But he spoke.

"I watched that match." Chen Xin's voice was steady. "Qin Chuan is indeed a young genius the entire continent might see only once in a thousand years, or even ten thousand. If someone like him remains in Spirit Hall, the trouble he causes us will only grow."

Ning Fengzhi then looked at Bone Douluo.

Gu Rong nodded. "I was there too. That brat's martial soul is far too uncanny. If we don't act now, we won't be able to later."

Ning Fengzhi withdrew his gaze and stared at the teacup on the table for a long time.

Dugu Bo added from beside him, "The God of Drama Martial Soul has been lost for ages. Its return is certain to whip up a bloody storm across the entire Douluo Continent. Sect Master Ning, even though I'm not part of the Upper Three Sects, I feel threatened by it as well. I shouldn't need to spell out the reason."

Ning Fengzhi raised his head.

He looked at Tang Hao, then at everyone else seated there.

"Have you analyzed his weaknesses?"

Tang Hao nodded. "We have. His Game Domain has a limited range. Judging by that arena match, its radius is no more than fifty zhang. The domain's rules only affect people inside it. As long as we stand outside, long-range attacks can bypass his rules."

Tang Xiao picked up the thread. "He himself is a support-type Soul King, with no defensive soul skills or speed-based soul skills. As long as we don't let him activate his domain, one strike will be enough."

Dugu Bo added, "Six people, divided into three groups. Two hold his attention from the front, two circle behind to cut off his retreat, and two prepare a lethal strike from a distance. No matter how fast he reacts, he can't deal with three directions at once."

After hearing them out, Ning Fengzhi remained silent for a long time.

Only the faint sounds of cooling tea remained in the council hall.

Finally, Ning Fengzhi spoke.

"If we act, when?"

Tang Hao thought of how Tang San had fallen into a slump after returning, unable to get out of bed. He wanted to act as soon as possible and avenge his son.

He said, "The sooner, the better. That brat's strength is growing fast. Every extra day makes him a little stronger."

Ning Fengzhi pushed his teacup aside and stood.

He walked to the window and gazed at the rolling mountain ranges of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect outside. Most of the setting sun had already sunk from view, its lingering glow staining the peaks orange-red.

"I have one condition," Ning Fengzhi said with his back to them.

"What condition?"

"Rongrong must not learn of this." Ning Fengzhi turned around. "She's close to Xiao Wu and the others. If she finds out, there will be trouble."

Tang Hao nodded. "Of course."

Ning Fengzhi glanced at Sword Douluo and Bone Douluo.

The two old men nodded in unison.

Ning Fengzhi returned to the main seat, picked up his now-cold tea, and took a sip.

"Then it's settled. Stay here at the sect for now. We'll discuss the details tomorrow."

Tang Hao rose without another word. He cupped his fist toward Ning Fengzhi, then turned and headed for the door.

At the doorway, he paused.

"Sect Master Ning."

Ning Fengzhi looked up.

Tang Hao did not turn around. His voice was soft, but every word landed with crushing weight.

"I don't care if I lose face. But every day that man remains in Spirit Hall is another day the three sects cannot rest easy."

He pushed the door open and left.

The door closed.

The council hall fell silent again.

Ning Fengzhi sat in his chair, his hands folded over his knees, his eyes half closed.

Sword Douluo Chen Xin walked over to him and said quietly, "Sect Master, Tang Hao cannot be trusted. He came here with seven parts public interest and three parts personal motive. Those three parts are about the face he lost."

Bone Douluo Gu Rong sighed. "That brat Qin Chuan truly is a menace if he stays in Spirit Hall. With him in her hands, Bibi Dong will only have more tricks to use against the three sects in the future."

Ning Fengzhi nodded and said nothing more.

Outside the window, the sky went completely dark.