Xu Yang hadn't expected Xiao Wu to be so decisive—she had actually chosen to sacrifice herself.
He took a step forward. The Sun Martial Soul appeared behind his head, and four soul rings—yellow, purple, and two black—rose at his feet. An overwhelmingly pure and tyrannical soul power radiated from him in all directions.
Golden-red light burst from the Sun Martial Soul, sweeping outward. The Sun Domain wrapped tightly around his body, shielding him from the incoming wave of blood-red light. This protected him from the effect of the sacrifice array that suspended both body and consciousness.
"Xiao Wu, was it? You'd better stop this sacrifice and come with me quietly. Otherwise, I'll take Tang San's life."
Xu Yang's icy voice rang out. Xiao Wu's eyes filled with disbelief. In her understanding, sacrifice rituals couldn't be interrupted because the ritual stopped everything within its range—only the sacrificer could act.
But this man in front of her had completely shattered that understanding.
After probing his aura, she immediately understood the reason.
It was his domain.
This domain could burn and purify soul power. The reason sacrificial rituals couldn't be broken was that the power released from a hundred-thousand-year soul beast's life source was too overwhelming—so overwhelming that it distorted time and space. That was what allowed the array to freeze everything in the area.
But Xu Yang's domain could purify that energy. The immense soul power generated by her sacrifice couldn't even get close to him. His surroundings were a sacred zone—any blood-red energy that approached was instantly burned away by the Sun Domain.
It had no effect on him at all.
Step! Step!...
Xu Yang walked forward step by step. Even though the sacrifice power came from a hundred-thousand-year soul beast—even though the air was thick like molten lead—it couldn't stop him.
In just a few breaths, he reached Tang San's side. The Sun Holy Blade in his right hand pressed against Tang San's throat. He raised his head to look at Xiao Wu, whose body had been stripped bare by the burning blood flames in the sky, and said coldly, "Are you still not stopping? Or do you really want him dead?"
"I understand now…"
Sensing Xu Yang's killing intent, Xiao Wu knew he wasn't bluffing. If she continued, he would absolutely kill her Ge. Gritting her teeth, she stopped the sacrificial process. The blood-red light that had enveloped the entire Shrek Academy instantly reversed and was drawn back into the center of her brow.
Pfft!
A mouthful of blood spurted from Xiao Wu's lips. Her body, naked and fragile, fell beside Tang San, her aura extremely weak. Even as a hundred-thousand-year soul beast, forcibly interrupting the sacrifice still resulted in heavy backlash.
Without making a sound, Xu Yang tucked the Twenty Four Moonlight Bridges into his storage-type soul tool—no one noticed. Then, from his own soul tool, he tossed Xiao Wu a set of clothes and said coldly, "Put that on. You're coming with us."
Xiao Wu nodded silently, pulled the clothes over herself, covering the essential parts, then turned to look at Tang San with a sorrowful smile. "Brother… I'm going."
As she spoke, she stood and walked toward Xu Yang.
"No! Xiao Wu!"
Tang San's wail was heart-wrenching. Just as he tried to stand up, he felt his soul power completely burn away. His body went limp, and he collapsed to the ground, unable to lift a finger.
"You little brat! Courting death!"
"Ring Detonation! Great Sumeru Hammer!"
A furious roar exploded from the distant horizon. Although the voice came from several kilometers away, it still rattled the ears of everyone present—it was Tang Hao.
An unimaginable surge of soul power erupted along with the voice. A giant Clear Sky Hammer, over a hundred meters long, came crashing toward Xu Yang.
The pressure it carried warped the air and crushed the sky. Xu Yang's heart seized. He could only feel an unstoppable force pressing down from above. His bones cracked loudly, blood poured from his orifices, and he couldn't move at all. He could only stare helplessly as the hammer fell.
I'm going to die! I really might die this time…
This was the only thought left in Xu Yang's mind. Even during his years in Slaughter City, he had never felt such a powerful sense of imminent death.
The ten Soul Douluo and Soul Sages had no hesitation—they all activated their defensive soul skills and rushed to protect Xu Yang.
"Tang Hao, you despicable bastard!"
Seeing this, Chen Xin cursed furiously. He hadn't expected Tang Hao to target Xu Yang directly. Even if he struck Tang Hao down now, the hammer would still crush Xu Yang.
"Seventh Soul Skill: Spirit Avatar Seven Kill Sword!"
"Third Soul Skill: Flying Sword Wings!"
Without hesitation, Chen Xin activated both skills at once. His body transformed into a streak of sword light and shot toward Xu Yang—far faster than the Clear Sky Hammer.
When the hammer was still a hundred meters away, Chen Xin had already arrived in front of Xu Yang, standing before him, Ning Rongrong, and Dugu Yan.
"Fifth Soul Skill: All Around Massive Quake!"
"Second Soul Skill: Spirit Sword Guard!"
A massive hundred-meter-long Seven Kill Sword plunged into the ground in front of them. Endless sword energy erupted from it, forming a barrier of sword force that resisted the oncoming Clear Sky Hammer.
The shockwave cracked the earth beneath their feet. Chen Xin groaned and blood dripped from his lips. The Seven Kill Sword was an ultimate offense-type martial soul—defense wasn't its strength. Taking on Tang Hao's Great Sumeru Hammer after detonating three soul rings, even Chen Xin suffered internal injuries.
Boom! Boom! Boom!...
Suddenly, shockwaves echoed from afar. Xu Yang, barely able to move again, saw a black shadow flash past, and in the blink of an eye, Tang San and Xiao Wu had vanished.
"Nine Treasure True Body!"
"Nine Treasures: Third is Soul, Fifth is Attack, Sixth is Boost!"
"Seven Kill thunderous Eruption, One Sword strikes the sky!"
"Eighth Soul Skill: Move Mountains and Fill Seas!"
Xu Yang couldn't react—but that didn't mean others didn't.
Seeing Tang Hao directly attack Xu Yang, Ning Fengzhi was enraged. He no longer cared about Chen Xin's preference for solo duels and immediately gave the three most suitable boosts for Chen Xin.
With the Nine Treasure Avatar active, the support skills triggered instantly.
Chen Xin didn't hesitate either. He let out a long, sharp howl. The eighth soul ring under his feet lit up as he gripped his Giant Seven Kill Sword and slashed toward the sky.
A massive blue sword light soared upward, as if splitting heaven and earth apart, roaring toward Tang Hao.
Crack!
The sound of soul rings shattering echoed.
Far off in the distance, two of Tang Hao's soul rings—the fourth and fifth—burst apart, dissolving into streams of black energy that were absorbed into the Clear Sky Hammer.
"Xiao San, hold on tight!"
Tang Hao shouted. Tang San quickly released strands of Blue Silver Grass, wrapping both himself and Xiao Wu onto his father's back.
His bindings were precise—not hindering Tang Hao's movement in the slightest.
PS: Read Advance Chapters at https://www.patreon.com/c/ReadJin