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Boom!
A massive Hao Tian Hammer crashed into the arena. The Title Douluos seated above the Pope's Palace immediately stood up, and even Bibi Dong was enraged.
Since she had been watching the match in a relaxed state of mind, Bibi Dong hadn't released her spiritual power or sensed the incoming Hao Tian Hammer in advance.
At Bibi Dong's level, unless an attack was directed at her, she wouldn't perceive it beforehand. In her relaxed state, even as an Ultimate Douluo, she couldn't detect attacks targeting others.
The thick smoke from the hammer's impact rose, revealing a towering figure standing in the sky above the Pope's Palace, cradling the gravely injured Tang San in his arms.
This man was none other than the lurking Tang Xiao. He had come to protect his nephew but had initially refrained from intervening, as this was the main headquarters of the Spirit Hall, and his actions would only deepen the conflict between the Hao Tian Sect and the Spirit Hall.
Although there had been an agreement between Tang Chen and Qian Daoliu, Tang Xiao preferred not to act unless absolutely necessary.
However, with Tang San on the verge of being crippled, Tang Xiao had no choice but to step in. After all, a genius with twin spirit weapons couldn't be allowed to fall—he was the hope of the Hao Tian Sect and a crucial force in defeating the Spirit Hall.
On the battlefield before the Pope's Palace, the smoke cleared. The members of Shrek Academy assumed defensive stances but were unharmed, shielded by a massive barrier.
At that moment, Li Luochen was covered in blood-red battle armor, his spirit weapon—the Atlas Divine Dragon Staff—pressed against the ground.
The enormous barrier emanated from Li Luochen himself.
Li Luochen had originally intended to cripple Tang San, but the timely arrival of the Hao Tian Hammer forced him to abandon his plan. The hammer's indiscriminate, large-scale attack endangered the students of Shrek Academy, so Li Luochen had no choice but to save them instead.
"Tang Xiao! How dare you act so brazenly in the Pope's Palace!"
Bibi Dong was now furious. This cowardly Hao Tian Sect dared to appear in the Pope's Palace? And they dared to attack during the soul master tournament?
Ning Fengzhi and Sword Douluo also glared at Tang Xiao. If Li Luochen hadn't protected Ning Rongrong from Tang Xiao's earlier strike, Ning Rongrong, with her cultivation level, would surely have perished.
Yu Luomian was also in a foul mood. His grandson had been left at least crippled under that attack. Tang Xiao clearly intended to cut off their roots.
Tang Xiao's single strike infuriated three major factions. The Hao Tian Sect was now in grave danger.
"The Pope's Palace? Ha! What a fine Pope's Palace! Bullying my sect, killing my brothers, and now plotting against my nephew. Spirit Hall! Is this your way of doing things?"
Tang Xiao was now enraged, directly confronting Bibi Dong.
"Hmph! No wonder the Hao Tian Sect is so domineering. How do you explain Tang San cheating and attempting to harm the students of our academy?"
Flender stood in the sky, glaring at Tang Xiao. This wasn't the first time the Hao Tian Sect had bullied Shrek Academy. Now that he was a Title Douluo with a full set of ten-thousand-year spirit rings and spirit bones, how could he remain silent? That would be an insult to his students!
"Hmph! What happens to others is none of my concern! I only care about matters concerning the Hao Tian Sect!" Tang Xiao sneered, his soul rings appearing as he gripped the Hao Tian Hammer in his hands. Two yellow, two purple, five black, with the ninth soul ring glowing red—a solid ninety-thousand-year spirit ring.
"Truly domineering! It seems we can only settle this with strength!"
Flender was also enraged. His Hurricane Owl spirit weapon activated, and his soul rings appeared—two yellow, two purple, four black, one red.
That crimson hundred-thousand-year spirit ring was dazzling.
"A hundred-thousand-year spirit ring!" Tang Xiao was somewhat surprised. He had assumed Flender was just an ordinary Title Douluo, never expecting him to possess a hundred-thousand-year spirit ring.
This made things tricky. Even with his level ninety-six strength, defeating Flender would be difficult.
Not long after, a long sword streaked across the sky, and a figure appeared beside Flender.
It was Sword Douluo Chen Xin!
"Chen Xin, Elder, why are you intervening? Aren't the top three sects supposed to stand united?" Tang Xiao was puzzled. Why would the guardian Douluo of the Seven Treasures Glazed Pagoda Sect step in?
"Hmph! Tang Xiao, your earlier strike nearly killed our sect's little princess. Do you still have the audacity to talk about unity among the top three sects? Today, you won't leave!"
Chen Xin's sword intent reached its peak, his Seven Kill Sword surrounded by powerful sword qi. Two yellow, two purple, five black soul rings appeared, radiating the overwhelming power of a peak-level ninety-six Douluo.
"Well said! What nonsense about unity among the top three sects! When trouble arises, where's the unity? Your Hao Tian Sect truly has no shame!"
Suddenly, a bolt of lightning appeared, transforming into a muscular figure—it was Yu Luomian. Yu Luomian now wanted to intervene as well. With Yu Tian Heng crippled, Yu Tianxin was the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon family's sole hope for the future.
If anyone dared to harm him, Yu Luomian would risk his life to make them pay!
With the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon spirit weapon activated, two yellow, two purple, four black, one red soul rings appeared, radiating the power of a level ninety-five Douluo.
Tang Xiao now faced three Title Douluos. Among them, Sword Douluo Chen Xin was a veteran Super Douluo who had been at level ninety-six for years. Flender and Yu Luomian were newly promoted Title Douluos, but both possessed ten-thousand-year spirit rings—this was troublesome.
Tang Xiao now regretted acting without careful thought. He had seen disciples of the top three sects below but still acted rashly.
However, to save Tang San, he had no choice but to intervene. He could have saved Tang San and possibly even killed Li Luochen, but his failure pushed the other two sects of the top three into opposition.
"Damn it! If Grandfather were still alive, how dare you act so arrogantly!"
Tang Xiao now found himself in a dilemma. If he fought them, he would undoubtedly lose. Moreover, the Spirit Hall hadn't even acted yet—the Pope and the Chrysanthemum and Ghost Douluos were merely spectating.
Damn it!
Shiiing! A sword beam suddenly slashed out. Tang Xiao instinctively blocked it with his Hao Tian Hammer.
Then came a storm and lightning attack directed at him. Four Title Douluos battled in the sky above the Pope's Palace.
Bibi Dong remained seated, watching indifferently. She had no intention of intervening. A mere level ninety-six Super Douluo? They couldn't withstand even one of her attacks.
She wanted to see her son-in-law in action. After all, this brat was truly enraged this time, and this was also an opportunity to suppress the Hao Tian Sect! Killing two birds with one stone!
She had been pondering how to justify attacking the Hao Tian Sect, and here they were, delivering the perfect excuse. The Hao Tian Sect must be destroyed! Their existence threatened the Spirit Hall's unification of the continent!
On the battlefield, Li Luochen dismissed his Blood Armor of the God of Retribution and looked at the members of Shrek Academy.
"Is anyone injured?"
"No! ×7"
Li Luochen sighed in relief. "Good, as long as no one's hurt. Alright, now watch how Director Li will avenge you! Daring to harm my students? You've already signed your death warrant!"
Li Luochen's killing intent surged as he looked to the sky. His dragon wings spread, and he soared upward.
The members of Shrek Academy watched with anticipation. Not long after, Ning Fengzhi, along with Shrek Academy's teachers Qin Ming, Mo Yu, and Liu Erlong, descended to protect their students.
In the sky!
"Sword Douluo, Principal, and Elder Yu—step back. Leave this scoundrel to me!"
Li Luochen shouted, ordering the three Title Douluos to retreat. Flender and Yu Luomian knew Li Luochen's strength, but Sword Douluo wasn't fully aware.
"Little Friend Li, Tang Xiao is no ordinary Super Douluo. Are you sure you can handle him?"
"Naturally!" Li Luochen replied calmly.
Meanwhile, Tang Xiao was somewhat disheveled, his clothes torn and his breathing slightly unstable. Facing three powerful Title Douluos simultaneously was taxing!
Tang San had already been placed in a storage-type soul tool designed for living beings and wouldn't awaken anytime soon. Tang Xiao could now focus entirely on the battle.
"Youngling! You dare face me? Do you think my Hao Tian Hammer eats grass?"
Tang Xiao laughed as he saw his original target challenging him to a duel.
"Your younger brother said the same thing once—but he died! Hung at the gates of Wuhun City. Oh, right, Tang Hao was killed by my hand!"
Li Luochen coldly stated, his words heard by everyone in Wuhun City with cultivation above Soul Sage.
"What! Impossible! My younger brother was invincible! How could he die at the hands of a brat like you? Are you mocking me?"
Tang Xiao was furious. He refused to believe that his younger brother, stronger than himself, could be killed by some young upstart!
"Heh, I knew you wouldn't believe me. Take a look at this inheritance spirit bone of the Hao Tian Sect. You should recognize it—I personally extracted it from his body!"
A spirit bone appeared in Li Luochen's hand, radiating immense power. Tang Xiao instantly understood, and his rage boiled over.
The Title Douluos present were also shocked. So it was Elder Li who had slain Tang Hao, the former Continental Youngest Title Douluo? Such a legendary figure had become nothing more than a stepping stone?
Chen Xin sighed, "This young man is truly terrifying."
Yu Luomian felt relieved for choosing correctly. Yu Tianxin would surely thrive under his guidance.
"I'll take your life! True Form of the Hao Tian Hammer!" Tang Xiao, consumed by rage, unleashed his full power.
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