The shadowy figure didn't answer Zhao Tie's questions, but simply stared at him coldly, raising the large knife in its hand again, the blade pointing directly at Zhao Tie's throat.
Zhao Tie was filled with despair; he knew he had no chance of winning.
But he was unwilling to die like this; he still had so much left to do.
Besides, he is still young, with a bright future ahead of him. He has not yet become Titled Douluo and enjoyed the taste of that power and status!
"No... I can't die!" Zhao Tie gritted his teeth, a hint of madness flashing in his eyes.
He suddenly activated the Soul Power within his body, Seventh Soul Ring lit up again, with the phantom of the Wind Falcon appearing behind him.
" Martial Soul Avatar!"
Zhao Tie roared and desperately transformed his body into a giant Wind Falcon once more, flapping his wings violently and creating a raging hurricane to try and save his life.
However, the shadowy figure remained unmoved. His figure stood as steady as a mountain in the gale, and he suddenly swung his broadsword. The blade flashed like lightning, cutting through the air and striking directly at the Wind Falcon's wing.
"Pfft--"
A flash of light, Wind Falcon's wing was severed at the root.
Zhao Tie let out a shrill scream as his body fell from the sky once again.
"Boom!"
Zhao Tie's body crashed heavily to the ground, raising a cloud of dust.
His Martial Soul Avatar was forced to dissipate, and he once again transformed into human form.
His body was covered in wounds, his clothes were stained with blood, and he was on the verge of death.
"Clatter."
"Clatter."
The sound of footsteps grew closer and closer.
It is it, that existence that I cannot perceive.
It didn't utter a single word the whole time; was it a human or a ghost?
At this moment, Zhao Tie finally felt fear.
He was scared, truly scared. He had the potential to become Titled Douluo, and he didn't want to die in such a small place.
Zhao Tie's body trembled, and blood kept gushing from his wounds, staining the ground beneath him red.
His vision was already blurred, but the footsteps he heard were becoming clearer and clearer, each step feeling like it was stepping on his heart, filling him with immense fear.
We absolutely cannot die in this tiny place!
Zhao Tie steeled his resolve and once again channeled his Soul Power, attempting a final struggle.
He roared, gathering powerful Soul Power in his hands and striking fiercely towards the dark figure.
However, the shadowy figure was even faster. He appeared in front of Zhao Tie in an instant, wielding his broadsword like a storm, leaving a deep wound on Zhao Tie's body with every breath.
Blood splattered everywhere, and dozens of cuts were instantly slashed across Zhao Tie's body, the pain almost causing him to faint.
But then he was brought back to consciousness.
It was like the cruelest torture, tearing him to pieces.
Zhao Tie no longer had the strength to use his Soul Skill. The broadsword had pierced through his abdomen, the blade slicing downwards and even cutting out his intestines.
Zhao Tie let out a scream, his body went limp on the ground, his face full of pain and resentment.
He didn't have much strength left.
Zhao Tie's eyes gradually dimmed.
"No... don't kill me..." Zhao Tie's voice was hoarse and trembling, filled with endless despair and pleading.
He struggled to lift his head, looking at the approaching dark figure, his eyes filled with tears.
"Please... spare me... I'm still young, I have a bright future ahead of me... I don't want to die..." Zhao Tie's voice was choked with sobs, like a helpless child begging for mercy.
The shadowy figure paused slightly, seemingly surprised by Zhao Tie's plea for mercy.
"I... I can do anything for you! I can give you money, power, everything you want!" Zhao Tie's voice grew increasingly urgent, as if he had grasped at the last straw. "Just let me go, I'll do anything!"
The shadowy figure remained silent, only slowly raising the large sword in its hand, its blade gleaming coldly in the light.
Zhao Tie's heart sank completely; his pleas for mercy had not moved the other party.
The shadow of death loomed over him, filling him with utter despair.
"No... no... I don't want to die..." Zhao Tie's voice grew weaker and weaker, tears streaming down his cheeks.
His body slumped to the ground, powerless, but he still tossed his Storage Soul Tool over.
The dark figure then crouched down, examining Zhao Tie with great interest.
It wasn't until the other person got so close, even crouching in front of him, that Zhao Tie finally realized who the dark figure was.
A person who left a very deep impression on him.
That day, right at the entrance to the Soul Fighting Arena, he admired that person's perfectly proportioned physique; after all, such a body would surely attract wealthy women.
He was just an ordinary person who showed no signs of Soul Power fluctuations and whom he considered a monkey.
Black t-shirt, white workout pants...
Monkey... monkey...?
If he's a monkey, then what am I?
"It's... it's you!"
Zhao Tie stared in disbelief. At that moment, all his beliefs and worldview collapsed.
An ordinary person with no Soul Power beat a Soul Saint into this state.
During the process, he held back three times and did not kill him at all.
If the other party wanted to, he would have died more than a dozen times over!
Is this reasonable?
Toji simply watched him quietly, then reached out and took his Storage Soul Tool.
He glanced at it briefly, then waved his hand with satisfaction, signaling him to get lost.
An indescribable surge of joy welled up in Zhao Tie's heart.
He thought he was going to die, but to his surprise, the other party let him go.
His body seemed to suddenly gain strength, and despite the excruciating pain from his wounds, he struggled to get up from the ground.
"Thank you... thank you..."
Zhao Tie's voice trembled, and tears streamed down his cheeks.
He dared not hesitate for a moment, and did not even have the courage to look back. He scrambled and crawled towards the Soul Fighting Arena.
His steps were unsteady, and his body swayed as if he might collapse at any moment.
But he dared not stop, fearing that the other party might change their mind and chase after him again.
He had only one thought in his mind:
escape!
Get as far away as possible!
The gates of the Soul Fighting Arena were right in front of him, and Zhao Tie used his last bit of strength to rush out.
The rising sun outside stung his eyes, yet he felt an immense warmth within them.
He had never felt the sunlight as beautiful as he did now, as if he had been reborn.
"I... I'm still alive..." Zhao Tie murmured to himself, tears streaming down his face.
His body finally gave way, and he fell heavily to the ground, but he smiled, a smile that was incredibly radiant.
I narrowly escaped death.
Zhao Tie struggled to his feet again and staggered away into the distance.
Along the way, many people saw that the arrogant Zhao Tie had become so disheveled, and for a moment, no one dared to help him up.
"Isn't he one of Shrek's? How did he end up like this today? Who beat him up like this?"
Hearing the chatter of everyone around him, Zhao Tie's face turned bright red.
His legs buckled, and he fell down again.
I'm... out of energy...
That was truly a moment of lucidity before death, allowing him to escape from that demon, whose nature was unclear—whether human or ghost.
"Lord Zhao, Lord Zhao!"
Several of Liang Wu's men rushed over and helped Zhao Tie up.
"Sir, what happened?"
"Get lost!" Zhao Tie was furious when he saw them. "You bunch of bastards! I've been attacked, and not a single one of you came to help. Did you all grow up eating shit?"
Everyone was taken aback, then stammered:
"Lord Zhao, have you forgotten? Boss Liang and Boss Zhang were both severely injured by you. As for us, our cultivation is too low, and we have no way of knowing what a great figure like you went through just now."
Hearing what he said, Zhao Tie was completely stunned.
yes...
Those two Soul Emperor were both severely injured by me and are bedridden, unable to move. How can they help me?
You really can't blame them...
"As for the attack you mentioned... we had no idea about it, and we didn't see anyone coming." The men were all extremely aggrieved.
"What did you say?!" Zhao Tie roared, "I was fighting that guy not far from the entrance to the Soul Fighting Arena, and you guys didn't even notice?!"
"What?" The subordinates exchanged bewildered glances, then feigned innocence. "We only saw you fighting against thin air, wrestling with the air, and then suddenly kneeling down and begging for mercy."
"The enemy you're talking about, we can't see them at all."
Zhao Tie suddenly stopped breathing, and his heart began to pound violently.
Could it be...?
Is it really a ghost?