Yang Tian? What Does That Have to Do with Me, Swordsman?

Yang Tian pressed forward step by step and said, "What, don't you dare?

"I'm level thirty-nine, and you're level forty-three. What are you afraid of?" With his Sharingan, Yang Tian could easily see through his opponent's cultivation even while the opponent was in Martial Soul Possession.

Yan was only level forty-four now, while Hu Liena was merely level forty-two, and Xie Yue was level forty-five.

The three of them were immediately stunned by Yang Tian's words. They were shocked that Yang Tian's Soul Power Level was only thirty-nine, yet he had so easily blocked the Weird Mantis's ambush. They were also shocked that Yang Tian knew Yan's Soul Power Level. How had he known? Had he been following them all along? Impossible. They had not discussed one another's Soul Power Levels on the way here.

Yan's expression turned ugly. Yang Tian's presence was too overwhelming—so overwhelming that even he, one of the Golden Generation, felt somewhat intimidated.

"Brother..." Xie Yue wanted to plead for mercy. The scene was rather absurd. Three Soul Ancestors were present, yet they had to plead with a Soul Elder. But Yang Tian ignored Xie Yue and continued speaking to Yan. "You have more soul power remaining than either of them. What, a dignified Soul Ancestor doesn't even have the courage to make a move against a Soul Elder like me?"

Yan still refused to act. Yang Tian gave a disdainful smile. "Looks like you're even more useless than I imagined."

With that, he stopped paying Yan any attention. He turned around and raised a finger, pointing toward a certain direction.

A blur flashed past where Yang Tian had attacked. It was the Weird Mantis.

"You can detect the Weird Mantis?" Hu Liena stared at Yang Tian in shock. She realized that this Yang Tian was even stronger than she had imagined. At the very least, even she, a Soul Ancestor who excelled in spiritual power, could not track the Weird Mantis's whereabouts. Yet Yang Tian could find it.

Not only could he find it, but Yang Tian jabbed out two more times, forcing the Weird Mantis to reveal itself.

"Slash!" Yang Tian drew the Dragon Pattern Black Gold Sword from his pack and swung it without any flourish. His True Dragon Bloodline resonated with the dragon patterns. The blade trembled faintly, releasing a wisp of sword qi. The sword qi was no thicker than a strand of hair, yet it cut through iron like mud. In an instant, it cleaved the Weird Mantis in two.

As the Weird Mantis was slain, the scene fell silent. A Weird Mantis that was five or six thousand years old had been killed just like that?

Hu Liena gazed blankly at Yang Tian, dressed in white and holding the Dragon Pattern Black Gold Sword. Her heart began pounding wildly against her will.

Yet amid that silence, a discordant roar suddenly exploded. "Who the hell do you think you are? How dare you humiliate me? Die!"

Yan's aura suddenly surged. The four soul rings around him flashed in succession as he launched an attack directly at Yang Tian.

"Yan, you're despicable!" Hu Liena's face filled with alarm and fury. Xie Yue, meanwhile, rushed straight toward Yang Tian. Yang Tian must have used some special method to kill the Weird Mantis. Otherwise, even though the Weird Mantis's defenses were weak, it was not something a Soul Elder could easily kill.

Thus, Xie Yue believed Yang Tian had to be in a weakened state. Yan's sudden attack had clearly been premeditated, and he had unleashed his attack power in full.

In his panic, Xie Yue, who was closest to Yang Tian, could only stretch out his hand and see whether he could pull Yang Tian away.

However, Yang Tian seemed not to notice Yan's attack at all. He turned around calmly. By the time he faced Yan, Yan's attack was already less than two meters away.

At that distance, even a Soul King caught off guard would be either dead or badly injured.

"No!" Hu Liena's voice turned hoarse, and an inexplicable pain pierced her heart. This youth's bearing, manner of speech, dominance, and strength had already left an indelible impression on her heart.

Faced with the attack right before him, Yang Tian showed no panic whatsoever. The Heavenly Flames within him were already stirring. How dared a mere Flame Lord offend the master of Heavenly Flames?

Yan was equally horrified. The power of his prepared strike had inexplicably drained by half even as it erupted. Still, even with only half its power left, he remained fully confident that he could kill Yang Tian.

Didn't he hear Hu Liena's scream? If he killed Yang Tian, Hu Liena would still choose him. If he killed Yang Tian, he, Yan, would still be the only man in Spirit Hall worthy of Hu Liena.

In the shadows, the hidden figure stirred, seemingly hesitating over whether to save someone.

But before he could make a decision, Yang Tian had already responded.

The intricate runes on the Dragon Pattern Black Gold Sword shimmered with a faint golden light. Though the glow was somewhat dim, the instant those runes lit up, the entire space seemed to freeze.

"So you like sneak attacks." Yang Tian spoke unhurriedly as he lightly lifted the Dragon Pattern Black Gold Sword in his hand. His movement was slow, but the sword light had already slashed out before Yan's attack could land.

The sword light pierced through Yan's shoulder. Yan's charged fist was like a building without a foundation, collapsing with a crash.

One sword strike cleanly sliced off Yan's right arm.

"Ah~" Yan clutched the stump of his severed arm in agony, his face twisted like he wore a mask of pain.

"You used that arm to ambush me, so you'll pay for your failure with that arm.

"I think I've already given senior enough face." Yang Tian spoke as his gaze fell toward a certain spot.

Clap! Clap! Clap! Clap!

A figure completely shrouded in black suddenly appeared before everyone, lightly applauding. It was impossible to tell whether he was sincerely praising Yang Tian or laughing in rage.

"Ghost Elder!" Hu Liena and Xie Yue cried out together. Then they understood everything. So their training had not been without protection after all.

"Looks like you all have quite the background." Yang Tian remained composed, showing no tension whatsoever at Ghost Douluo's appearance.

Ghost Douluo walked over to Hu Liena and said, "Your performance in this training is unacceptable!"

"Yes~"

Hu Liena and Xie Yue did not argue. Without Yang Tian, Ghost Douluo would have rescued them, and their results would still have been unacceptable.

But how had Yang Tian discovered Ghost Douluo? That was a Titled Douluo!

Ghost Douluo glanced at Yan, whose right arm had been severed and who was still howling in agony, then shook his head in disappointment. "I watched the entire process. Little friend, what fine calculations, talent, and strength!"

Ghost Douluo's evaluation of Yang Tian could not have been higher, but Yang Tian said dismissively, "I stuck my nose into something that wasn't my business. It would've been fine if nothing had come of it, but instead I got myself into trouble.

"As long as senior doesn't blame this junior, I'll be more than satisfied."

Ghost Douluo gave a sinister smile. "What should I call you, little friend? Which great faction do you come from?"

"Just an independent cultivator. No name, no surname. I roam the world with a sword, so call me Swordsman." Naturally, Yang Tian would not reveal his real name. These were people from Spirit Hall; he might need this identity to infiltrate Spirit Hall in the future.

As for Yang Tian, Yang Tian belonged to Shrek. What did that have to do with me, Swordsman?

Hu Liena looked curiously at Yang Tian, a faint blush rising to her pretty face. Whether Ghost Douluo had been present or not, Yang Tian was the one who had saved her.

"Swordsman, thank you for saving us. My name is Hu Liena."