"Didn't we agree on the way here? One attack each, and whoever gets the kill gets the credit! Don't think I didn't notice you already fired an arrow! And now you want another go? That's against the rules!"
As he spoke, he even slapped his chest exaggeratedly, producing muffled thumps:
"Are you trying to hog all the battle merit? Then wouldn't I have come all this way for nothing?"
Hearing this, Light Feather Douluo lowered his bow and turned his head to roll his eyes:
"That arrow was just a probe. How could it count as a proper attack? Do you think a Soul Douluo could slip away from me?"
"This time is the real thing. And I guarantee he absolutely won't dodge this arrow~"
"No! Absolutely not! Guang Ling, you're blatantly cheating!"
Demon Subduing Douluo was rather displeased and wanted to keep arguing, but Tang Hao interrupted him from farther away.
"Enough! What exactly does your Spirit Hall want? Must you hunt us down to the last?"
Veins bulged on Tang Hao's forehead. He simply couldn't bear being toyed with like a plaything, with them even betting on who could kill him first. What did they take him for?
His fierce pride almost drove him to attack. Never in his life had he suffered such humiliation.
Yet his words sank like a stone into the sea, eliciting no response. No one wanted to answer. Jiang Mo even wanted to keep bickering with Guang Ling, but Qian Jun, who had remained silent all this time, interrupted him.
"Seventh Brother, don't be rude. Guang Ling, please forgive him."
Qian Jun Douluo frowned and looked at Jiang Mo, completely unaware that his brother had started playing this sort of game with Guang Ling on the way. His younger brother was good in every other respect, but he had no filter and loved to boast. As his elder brother, he had to rein him in:
"Since the Great Enshrined entrusted us with protecting the young master, we must not take it lightly. Otherwise, neither of us can escape the blame."
"All right!"
Jiang Mo wasn't annoyed either and slowly stepped aside.
"In that case!"
Finding himself ignored throughout, Tang Hao instead calmed down. He took Ah Yin's hand and tried to leave in the opposite direction along the small path.
But just then, the sound of a moving carriage suddenly came from the distant path.
The creaking of wheels rolling over the ground sounded especially clear in the silent night, coming to a halt some distance away.
Then a man in golden armor walked toward them.
Qian Xunji's long golden hair shone brilliantly in the moonlight, like flowing gold. The presence of his Six-Winged Angel Martial Soul flickered in and out, instantly making the air throughout the valley grow heavy.
Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo followed respectfully behind him, one on either side.
Qian Renxue and Chen Qianqiu remained in the carriage, leaning at the window to watch what was happening outside.
Qian Renxue rose onto her tiptoes and asked quietly:
"Xiao Hei, is the one with blue hair the Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast? She's so pretty! Why does she look so young? Has she really lived for a hundred thousand years? And that other weird uncle is really ugly. Do you think Daddy can beat him?"
"Shh, Xiao Xue. Let's watch what's happening outside first."
Chen Qianqiu swished his tail, quietly observing the situation. He first spotted Tang Hao, whose appearance differed little from his recollection. He should have been young at this point, and his whole bearing was that of a devil incarnate. Truly a tough guy who had screwed grass squared.
Meanwhile, the instant Qian Xunji appeared, Tang Hao identified the newcomer!
That distinctive Six-Winged Angel presence and head of golden hair made it hard not to recognize him.
"Qian Xunji! How did you come out from here?"
"Tsk, tsk. Tang Hao, at this point, don't even think about running."
At the sight of him, Tang Hao's heart abruptly sank. Since the other party could emerge from the small path, he must have come fully prepared:
"Why do you keep hunting us down?!!!"
Qian Xunji stopped, straightened his robes, and calmly shook his head:
"Not you both."
He paused, then raised a hand to point at Ah Yin:
"Her."
"If you step aside, we'll give you a way to live."
Qian Xunji's tone was indifferent:
"Of course, if you insist on standing against us, then there's nothing to be done."
"You..."
Tang Hao trembled all over, beside himself with fury.
He hadn't expected Spirit Hall to dispatch so many powerful figures at once to target Ah Yin, many of whom he had never even heard of. The strength of Spirit Hall's foundations exceeded his imagination.
After a long while, Tang Hao raised his head:
"Does Spirit Hall intend to make an enemy of the Clear Sky Sect?!"
The moment those words rang out,
Chen Qianqiu, hiding in the distance, noticed Qian Xunji abruptly clench his hands, even wrinkling the cuffs of his papal robes slightly.
For the first time, a distinct emotional shift appeared on his calm face.
In the past, however displeased Qian Xunji might have been, he would still have maintained a semblance of peace.
After all, although his father Qian Daoliu had relinquished power, as long as his father had not made his intentions clear, he would not casually declare war, however hostile he felt toward the Upper Three Sects.
Sometimes, Qian Xunji genuinely wondered whether someone held something over his father.
But now.
First, his daughter had been threatened by two yellow-haired brats. Now, unexpectedly, even a Soul Douluo he encountered was threatening him. One after another-did they really take him, Qian Xunji, for a turtle?
He neither wanted nor needed to waste any more words.
"Chrysanthemum, Ghost, kill him!"
The instant his words fell,
"Yes! Your Holiness!"
Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo answered together, their figures instantly surging into motion!
A cold glint flashed through Yue Guan's eyes. With his thumb and middle finger pinched together, he swept his hand sharply, and his ninth Soul Ring abruptly lit up!
"Ninth Soul Skill-Chrysanthemums wither, wounds cover the ground! Falling flowers break the heart!"
Brilliant golden light instantly exploded behind him, and a gigantic Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum Martial Soul Avatar appeared, its petals spinning wildly, each like the sharpest of blades!
Countless golden petals swept toward Tang Hao, blotting out the sky. Not only were there astonishing numbers of them, but each also contained deadly poison and cutting power. Even the air burst into piercing shrieks!
At the same time, Gui Mei did not attack directly. Instead, he transformed into a mass of dense black mist, eerily circling around the flank and sealing off every possible escape route!
"Seventh Soul Skill-Ghost Avatar!"
The black mist rapidly spread, forming shadowy barriers throughout the valley. Countless deathly pale ghost hands reached out of those shadows, clawing at empty air and giving off a spine-chilling presence.
Their coordination was seamless to the extreme, one attacking and one defending, advancing and retreating in perfect order!
Seeing that escape was completely impossible, Tang Hao stopped retreating and calmly observed the others.
They all wore expressions of spectators enjoying a show, with no intention of intervening. This was the best situation for him; at least he had a sliver of a chance.
"How long do you think he can last?"
Guang Ling asked idly.
Although Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo weren't particularly outstanding in strength within Spirit Hall, and were somewhat weaker than the three enshrined elders, there could be no mishap when two Titled Douluos joined forces against a single Soul Douluo.
The only question was how long this man could hold out.
This was a hunt with no suspense.
"Hard to say. I think there might be a twist."
Demon Subduing Douluo stood to one side, rolling his neck with a series of cracks.
He kept having a vague feeling that this fellow named Tang Hao would give him a few surprises.
In the field-
"Hold firm!"
Tang Hao roared, and all eight of his Soul Rings abruptly lit up!
"Clear Sky Body Protection!"
Soul Power poured wildly out of his body, surging like an erupting volcano!
That Soul Power condensed into layers of thick shields over the surface of his body!