"Th-this... this is... the presence of a Soul Beast!"
Below, Tang Hao was instantly stunned, then suddenly cried out:
"No! This is the presence of a god! This is divine power!"
Tang Hao sensed that things were going terribly wrong. Realizing he absolutely could not let his opponent attack, he abruptly roared:
"Don't even think about attacking!"
"Nine rings, detonate together! Great Sumeru Hammer!!"
With that roar, he immediately unleashed two Soul Skills, Soul Power surging within him.
Rumble-!
Accompanied by nine deafening explosions from the detonating rings, the Clear Sky Hammer instantly grew enormous,
then smashed viciously toward Ye Han, carrying the force to shatter heaven and earth.
This was the strongest blow of his life, rivaling an all-out strike from a rank ninety-nine Titled Douluo.
Roar-!
Yet, at the very instant this strike was about to touch Ye Han.
The Dragon God appeared as a phantom behind Ye Han and let out a majestic, lingering dragon roar.
Along with the roar, he spat out a dazzling golden dragon breath that blasted toward Tang Hao.
Boom-!
Before this dragon breath, Tang Hao's ring-detonation Great Sumeru Hammer was like nothing more than paper, collapsing in an instant.
Immediately afterward, the dragon breath slammed into Tang Hao's body, blasting him to the ground.
"Pfft! He actually possesses the legendary power of a god!"
Tang Hao crashed heavily onto the ground and violently spat out several mouthfuls of blood, his eyes filled with shock and horror.
Fortunately, Ye Han's body was currently too weak and could, at most, withstand the Dragon God unleashing a demigod-level attack.
Moreover, the earlier detonation of all nine rings and the Great Sumeru Hammer had canceled out most of its power. Otherwise, Tang Hao would undoubtedly have died!
"Pfft-!"
Ye Han had intended to press his advantage, but his body suddenly faltered.
He was far too weak to withstand the Dragon God's assistance for long.
He instantly suffered a powerful backlash. Soul Power rampaged wildly, and excruciating pain swept through his entire body.
Realizing Ye Han would surely die if this continued, the Dragon God swiftly retreated into the Sea of Consciousness.
As the Dragon God withdrew, Ye Han lost his support and plummeted downward.
"Hmph! Is that all you've got?!"
Seeing this from below, Tang Hao immediately wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and raised the Clear Sky Hammer.
Although gravely injured, he was more than capable of killing someone who had lost the ability to resist!
Sneering, Tang Hao swung the Clear Sky Hammer viciously at the falling Ye Han.
"Don't you dare touch him!"
At this moment of life and death, Ling Yuan, whom Tang Hao had supposedly struck "dead,"
suddenly appeared, driving Tang Hao back with a single blow before catching Ye Han.
"Impossible!"
Tang Hao steadied himself, his expression changing dramatically, filled with disbelief.
"Sister Ling Yuan! Y-you're alive!"
Enduring the agonizing pain throughout his body, Ye Han looked at Ling Yuan, who had suddenly "returned from the dead," and cried out excitedly.
"As if I'd die that easily!"
Holding Ye Han securely in her arms, Ling Yuan frowned and said:
"That was only my Soul Skill, Feign Death. My body turned into flames."
"I intended to use it to launch a surprise attack and hold him back, buying you time to escape."
"Who knew you would suddenly unleash such terrifying divine power that I couldn't restore my body under its pressure?"
"Enough talk. Your Soul Power is running wild inside you. It needs to be stabilized immediately!"
"As for Tang Hao, we can't kill him now! A desperate counterattack from him at death's door would be no small matter!"
As she spoke, Ling Yuan leaped onto the back of the enormous Lie Yan Ling Yuan above.
"When we get back, you'd better give me a proper explanation of what this divine power of yours is all about!"
Ling Yuan said this as she guided the Lie Yan Ling Yuan away, simultaneously channeling Soul Power to stabilize the turmoil inside Ye Han.
"All right, all right. Haha."
Ye Han smiled at Ling Yuan, then glared down at Tang Hao and roared with hatred:
"New grudges and old hatreds, I'll repay them ten thousandfold one day! Hear the dragon roar!!!"
After saying this, he finally could no longer hold on and lost consciousness.
Fortunately, Ling Yuan had intervened in time to stabilize his condition, so his life was not in danger.
"You dream of taking revenge on me? I'll kill you today!"
Seeing this, Tang Hao shouted angrily and forced himself to endure his injuries, intending to give chase.
But, gravely wounded and already a spent arrow, he suddenly vomited another gush of blood.
"Tang Hao, just wait for the wrath of our Spirit Hall!" Ling Yuan growled, guiding the Lie Yan Ling Yuan away at tremendous speed.
"Phew~ We're safe now."
Then she gently gathered Ye Han into her arms, recalling everything that had happened.
While shocked by how terrifying Ye Han was, she also secretly began to rejoice.
She never could have imagined that this little fellow, Ye Han, actually harbored divine power within him.
If she became Ye Han's woman in the future, wouldn't she stand beneath one person and above countless others?!
"Gulp~!"
Xiao Wu, who was nearby, had witnessed everything that had just happened.
Because the Lie Yan Ling Yuan had been flying too high earlier, she had not dared to jump down and escape.
But even more than that, the terrifying presence Ye Han had unleashed had left her frozen in horror.
She never could have imagined that this boy, who looked only a year younger than her, could be so terrifying.
The presence he had unleashed earlier had not seemed human at all. It had been like the presence of a god among beasts.
This convinced her that this little boy was a god among beasts who had taken human form, and feelings of worship and submission involuntarily rose within her.
But she soon came to her senses. Even if he truly was a god among beasts in human form, so what? He was a traitor and had to die!
"What are you staring at?!"
Sensing Xiao Wu's ill intent, Ling Yuan immediately frowned and snapped:
"You'd better behave yourself. Don't get any crooked ideas!"
"Otherwise, I'll kill you right now and take your Soul Ring and Soul Bone!"
Frightened, Xiao Wu shuddered violently and hastily lowered her gaze.
She put on a pitiful, aggrieved expression, trying to make Ling Yuan lower her guard.
"What a cunning Soul Beast in human form!"
How could Ling Yuan fail to see through her thoughts? She immediately rose and grabbed her rabbit ears.
"Ah! Boohoo... please let me go..."
Her ears aching from the grip, Xiao Wu wept and begged for mercy.
But Ling Yuan ignored her completely and tightened her grip.
"Aaah! Boohoohoo!"
Xiao Wu twisted and struggled in pain, finally toppling toward Ling Yuan.
As she fell, she instantly slumped onto Ye Han, her pretty face pressing against his.
At that moment, her rosy lips were actually only a hair's breadth from Ye Han's!
"Get away!"
Alarmed, Ling Yuan immediately kicked Xiao Wu to the ground.
"Ah!"
Xiao Wu collapsed onto the Lie Yan Ling Yuan.
She merely cried out in pain, then stared at Ye Han with bewildered, dazed eyes.
An unusual feeling rose in her heart. Just now, when she had drawn close to Ye Han,
she had inexplicably felt a warm current flow through her entire body, leaving her comfortable all over.
This boy must be a god of Soul Beasts in human form. His body actually gives off a presence that draws in Soul Beasts!
"If you dare go near him again, I'll kill you immediately!"
Seeing Xiao Wu's almost lovestruck gaze, Ling Yuan's heart filled with anger.
If she had not wanted to save this Soul Beast as a Soul Ring for Ye Han, she would have killed her long ago!
"Ah! No, no! Xiao Wu won't dare do it again!"
Xiao Wu hurriedly begged for mercy. No longer daring to feign grievance, she hid far away.
Yet she still stole glances at Ye Han from time to time, hoping to experience that presence again.
Perhaps this little boy is merely working undercover in Spirit Hall? Then I'll definitely be fine!
"Hmph!"
Ling Yuan could not be bothered with this Rogue Rabbit anymore and guided the Lie Yan Ling Yuan to speed up its return.
Time flew by, and it was already late at night.
Despite flying back at full speed, Ling Yuan had only made it halfway.
The Soul Power within her was nearly depleted, forcing her to stop and find somewhere to rest.
Before long, she found a small town, went to an inn, booked its last room, and moved in.
"My dear husband, lie down and get some proper rest~"
Ling Yuan placed Ye Han on the bed and murmured softly.
Then she channeled her Soul Power to form a chain, tethering Xiao Wu securely beside the door.
"Stinking rabbit, behave yourself!"
Ling Yuan snapped, then left the room to buy Ye Han some nourishing food and other things.
She was certain that the damned Soul Beast in human form could not break free of a chain formed with her power as a Titled Douluo.
Yet she had not anticipated that Xiao Wu, a Soft Bone Charm Rabbit skilled in Soft Skills, would easily slip free and walk toward Ye Han on the bed.
(End of chapter)