On the Sword Mountain Ancient Road, a party spurred their horses onward, racing along the trail.
As a fine breed from the Lima Plain, Azure Sun Horses possessed outstanding speed and stamina, making them widely favored among Soul Masters.
Tang Yin and his companions were riding Azure Sun Horses on their journey.
By the time they reached the Sword Mountain Ancient Road, dusk was already falling.
The blood-red sunset stained half the sky, its lingering rays spilling over the earth in a dazzling blaze of crimson.
"Tang Yin, there's a Spring Pavilion ahead. Why don't we rest there for a little while?"
Ning Rongrong panted softly, her pretty face flushed.
Sweat had already soaked her temples, and several strands of hair clung to her cheeks, lending her a delicate, fragile look.
Tang Yin spoke reassuringly.
"Rongrong, bear with it a little longer."
"There's a waystation not far ahead. We can stay there tonight. That's better than eating in the wind and sleeping under the open sky, wouldn't you say?"
They had already left Suotuo City and been traveling for nearly three hours.
For Ning Rongrong to have made it this far before asking to stop was already no easy feat.
After all, not only had she been raised in luxury, but she was also a support-type Soul Master.
But-
Tang Yin swept his gaze over both sides of the ancient road, his brow furrowing slightly.
Terrain like this made ambushes by mountain bandits all too easy. The area was sparsely populated, yet it was a major thoroughfare.
He had nothing to fear from ordinary trouble, but running into a band of Evil Soul Masters would be another matter.
After all, their party still had two burdens to look after.
Although Spirit Hall had been continually hunting down Evil Soul Masters, it could never eradicate them entirely.
Wherever people gathered, interests tangled and love and hatred bred grudges.
As the saying went, a deadly weapon in hand kindled the urge to kill. Soul Masters were no exception, and killings committed in the heat of passion were everywhere.
As a result, there would always be some Soul Masters who fell into the ranks of Evil Soul Masters.
This was a chronic disease embedded within the system, one that could never truly be cured.
"My brother said narrow passes like this usually aren't safe. Hang in there a little longer."
Xiao Wu passed her a waterskin and offered some reassurance.
Ning Rongrong had conducted herself well throughout the journey, earning quite a bit of Xiao Wu's admiration.
"Thank you."
Too tired to say more, Ning Rongrong tilted her head back and gulped from the spout. Clear water spilled from the corners of her lips, winding down her snow-white collarbones in a lovely sight.
"Let me ease your fatigue."
A golden-patterned blue silver emperor appeared in Tang San Niang's hand. Azure light flowed from it, scattering flecks of starlight over Ning Rongrong.
"Mmm~ That feels so good."
Ning Rongrong hummed in comfort, the tension easing from her little face.
Suddenly, Tang San Niang's gaze turned cold.
"Brother, someone's ahead!"
Although she did not possess a Blue Silver Domain like Ah Yin's, ever since obtaining the Soul Skill Life Link, Tang San Niang had become acutely sensitive to the life auras around her.
"Whoa!"
Tang Yin and his companions reined in their horses, looking toward the road just ahead.
Thud, thud, thud!
Soles scraped against sand and gravel, producing muffled footsteps.
A burly figure slowly emerged from the dense woods on one side. Though he did not look particularly tall, he radiated an overwhelming sense of pressure.
Tang Yin's gaze sharpened.
His tone grew serious.
"Zhu Zhuqing, take Rongrong away first. Return to Suotuo City and wait for word from us."
Zhu Zhuqing's face paled. "Tang Yin, let's find a way to escape together," she said, her voice trembling.
The man's aura was as vast as the sea.
Merely standing there, he seemed like a towering mountain, utterly immovable.
She understood at once: this was a powerful, high-ranking Soul Master.
"Escape?"
Before Tang Yin could answer, Zhao Wuji's deep voice reached them.
He stepped forward, his body abruptly growing to two and a half meters tall. His muscles bulged, and a thick coat of brown fur covered him.
His slightly clouded eyes turned brownish yellow, radiating the savage ferocity of a beast.
Soul Rings lit up one after another.
Yellow, yellow, purple, purple, black, black, black!
Terrifying Soul Power fluctuations spread outward, and a heart-stopping pressure descended.
His voice suddenly became a bestial roar, brimming with brutal killing intent.
"Not one of you will be leaving now."
Whoosh!
The next instant, an invisible force enveloped them all, and the surrounding air seemed to thicken at once.
Everyone felt as though their bodies had sunk into a swamp.
Third Soul Skill-Gravity Enhancement!
Zhao Wuji stomped heavily on the ground, leaving a deep crater.
The next instant, he shot forward like a cannonball, lunging straight at Tang Yin.
"Zhu Zhuqing, keep Ning Rongrong safe."
"Xiao Wu, stand by. Little sister, let's go!"
Tang Yin's gaze met Zhao Wuji's.
Under these circumstances, neither side needed to exchange another word.
Their killing intent churned and rose like scalding, boiling water!
In an instant.
Soul Rings blossomed into dazzling light.
Tang Yin flipped off his horse and landed.
A sudden weight settled into his hand. His silver-white spear whirled, its gleam flashing like lightning.
Hummm!
Tang San Niang's expression grew solemn as Soul Power surged around her.
Purple light shone.
With three support Soul Skills reinforcing him, Tang Yin's aura climbed steadily.
Blue Silver Emperor leaves wound upward, transforming the spear in his hand into a Blue Silver Overlord Spear, azure at its base and traced with golden patterns. A deadly edge flickered at its tip, radiating chilling killing intent.
Just then, an unexpected voice suddenly rang out.
"Seven Treasures Turn, Glazed Light Appears! First: Strength! Second: Speed!"
Two streaks of multicolored light fell upon Tang Yin, raising his aura yet another notch.
The girls looked toward the speaker in surprise.
Ning Rongrong's face was pale and her body trembled, yet she stubbornly lifted her delicate chin, her eyes filled with pride.
"Tang Yin, the continent's finest support Tool Martial Soul, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda, will empower you!"
"Excellent!"
Tang Yin's eyes blazed like fire as he spoke in a deep voice.
"Seven-Star Fate-Pointing-Ying Huai, activate!"
A dark green radiance burst from Tang Yin's chest, and he abruptly grew to three meters tall.
"Seven-Star Fate-Pointing-Clear Radiance, activate!"
Luminous white light erupted from his right ribs and wreathed his entire body. His skin instantly took on the texture of white jade, as though he had been cast from glazed crystal.
Guided by spiritual power, the Clear Radiance spirit aperture ignited, governing the power of purification, increasing defense by 300% and immunity to energy corrosion by 500%.
"Seven-Star Fate-Pointing-Misfortune Relief, activate!"
Emerald light shone from his left ribs. Tang Yin grew taller once more, becoming a small giant over seven meters tall. Azure starflames circled him, making him resemble a demon god descending upon the world!
Guided by most of the Soul Power from his twenty-eight-thousand-year fourth Soul Ring, the Misfortune Relief spirit aperture ignited, governing the power to break armies and dispel calamity, increasing attack by 500% and adding an armor-piercing effect to his charges.
"Kill!!!"
Tang Yin roared and stamped down, cracking and shattering the ground beneath him.
Boom!
His entire body hurtled forward like a sword loosed from a bowstring.
Azure starflames swirled like ribbons, and the spear tip flicked like a dragon's tongue, transforming into a roaring blue dragon that pierced the void with a shrill shriek.
"Impressive, Blue Silver Twin Stars! If you truly had the chance to grow, your future achievements would be beyond imagining."
"Unfortunately, the gap between us isn't something a mere burst of power from a secret art can bridge."
"To snuff out a genius like you-I, Zhao Wuji, could die without regret! Hahaha!"
Zhao Wuji swelled once again, transforming into a Great Strength Vajra Bear Avatar over five meters tall.
His broad palms struck out in succession, every blow accompanied by a thunderous boom. Phantom golden palms overlapped, descending to engulf Tang Yin.
"Die!!!"
The giant dragon collided with the Great Strength Vajra Bear.
Azure Soul Power and pale golden Soul Power clashed violently, deadlocking and surging!
The bursting shock waves of Soul Power destroyed every tree around them, sending dust billowing into the air.
A vicious grin spread across Zhao Wuji's face.
"Is that all you've got? You're still too weak!"
"First Soul Skill-Immovable Bright King Body!"
Immovable Bright King Body could reflect every attack within three meters of his body.
In an instant, the golden light intensified severalfold. The Great Strength Vajra Bear Avatar unleashed terrifying strength, wrapped in its surging power as it slammed into the blue dragon's phantom with crushing force.
Rumble!
Amid the violent thunder, a terrifying explosion of Soul Power erupted.
An azure figure was hurled backward, falling dozens of meters away.
Yet the next instant.
Tang Yin sprang up again without the slightest hesitation, soaring high into the air.
Zhao Wuji's eyes widened like bronze bells, disbelief filling them.
The clothing on Tang Yin's upper body had been torn to shreds, yet his exposed skin remained smooth as jade, the contours of his marble-like muscles clearly visible.
Most importantly, there was not a single visible injury on him.
"How is that possible?"
Indeed, how was that possible? This had been a powerful Soul Saint's all-out frontal strike!
Even if he was gravely wounded.
His opponent was merely a Soul Ancestor!
How could he have emerged from that assault completely unscathed?
Tang Yin ran his tongue over his gums and spat out a mouthful of blood-streaked saliva.
Then he could no longer hold back his booming laughter.
"Hahaha! You're pretty fucking good at putting on a scary front!"
Tang Yin's eyes burned brightly as he looked down upon the Great Strength Vajra Bear below like a blazing sun.
"Zhao Wuji, you're even weaker than I imagined."
"If this is all you can do."
"Then today is the day a Soul Ancestor defies the ranks and slaughters a Soul Saint!"
Blazing flames rose within his fierce gaze.
Beneath Tang Yin's feet, an azure radiance began to flow.
Below him, Tang San Niang's long azure hair streamed freely in the wind, and a ring of light likewise lit up beneath her feet.
One above, one below, the siblings spoke in unison.
Blue Silver Twin Birth: their minds became one, their Soul Power fused.
A Martial Soul Fusion Skill with 100% compatibility was unleashed in an instant!
"Martial Soul Fusion Skill, First Form-Unfixed Wind Waves!"
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