The Myriad Demon King, who once appeared in the Heaven Dou Empire, did not show himself directly, but the other ferocious beasts all revealed themselves before the Clear Sky Sect members.
Seeing so many hundred-thousand-year soul beasts that had undergone tribulation, the Clear Sky Sect group felt their scalps tingle.
Not only were there these ferocious beasts that had crossed their tribulations, but even some hundred-thousand-year soul beasts that hadn't yet undergone tribulation were gathering here.
"Now, both the path ahead and behind are sealed!" the Third Elder said with a bitter smile.
"Then I'll make the heavens and earth turn upside down!"
The Clear Sky Hammer slammed heavily into the ground, causing a slight tremor.
Gripping the handle of the Clear Sky Hammer, Tang Hao's face showed a defiant expression.
However, paired with his soul ring configuration of two yellow, two purple, four black, and one purple, it made people want to chuckle.
"Turn the heavens and earth upside down? Are you even worthy?" The Red King transformed into human form, his blood-red hair giving off the vibe of a delinquent youth.
As soon as he spoke, the Red King charged at Tang Hao.
Terrifying soul power surged through his body, his skills locking on instantly.
"Blazing Prison Slash!"
The Red King let out a furious roar, his hands wrapped in dark red Hellfire as he fiercely clawed forward.
"Hmph!"
Tang Hao let out a cold snort.
The Clear Sky Hammer on the ground vibrated, and illusory runes appeared around its surface.
"Clear Sky Nine Absolutes—Nine Absolutes United!"
The illusory runes merged into one.
"Bang!"
The Red King was sent flying, crashing into the forest.
He smashed through seven or eight massive trees that would take several people to encircle.
"A mere level 95 Title Douluo has such strength?" The Red King staggered to his feet, a trace of shock on his face.
Not long ago, Di Tian had warned him that the Clear Sky Sect's hammer techniques were extremely overbearing and not to confront them head-on.
Luckily, he hadn't clashed directly with Tang Hao or Tang Chen earlier, or he might not have made it to this ambush.
"Soul beasts, let us leave the Star Dou Forest!"
Tang Hao's sword-like brows were sharp as he let out a cold snort. "If we go down fighting, you won't fare well either!"
"Go down fighting? Are you worthy?"
Suddenly, a voice rang out from an unknown source.
"Swoosh—"
Tang Hao felt a sharp pain in his chest and spat out two mouthfuls of blood.
"Ugh—"
"Who? Who's there?" Tang Hao struggled to glance behind him.
A spiked vine had pierced directly into his body. From the dull pain, it seemed this poisonous vine also carried mental toxins.
His Title Douluo vitality and perception allowed him to shift slightly at the critical moment.
The vine didn't immediately pierce his heart, which would have been fatal.
But Tang Hao was in terrible condition. Due to the severe injury, his Clear Sky Hammer forcibly dissipated.
Tang Chen and the others reacted belatedly, and Tang Chen used his soul power to cut the vine.
Seeing the blood flowing endlessly from his grandson's chest, Tang Chen's face darkened terrifyingly.
As expected, there were enemies lurking in the shadows.
The plant branches that appeared intermittently were the work of some soul beast, with a terrifying range of control.
From the previous ambush site to here, they had traveled for days, yet it could still reach them—utterly horrifying.
This soul beast's soul power level was likely not low.
Previously, they could detect it, but this time, Tang Chen hadn't noticed a single trace.
It wasn't until the moment before Tang Hao was injured that he vaguely sensed something, but it was already too late.
Tang Hao was critically injured, leaving only three people capable of fighting.
Tang Chen, reputed as invincible on the continent, along with the Clear Sky Sect's Second Elder and Third Elder.
Looking at Tang Hao, who was propped up by one hand on the ground, vomiting blood profusely, the Second Elder stepped forward, using the Clear Sky secret technique to transmit his voice: "Ancestor, take Tang Hao and leave. Leave this to me to handle."
The Second Elder's small mustache fluttered in the wind, his expression resolute.
Tang Chen gave the Second Elder a deep look, then nodded.
He grabbed the coughing Tang Hao, feigned an attack toward Di Tian and the others, and then seized the chance to escape.
"Quick, catch him!"
Just as Di Tian was about to pursue, the Clear Sky Sect's Second Elder blocked his path.
"Clear Sky Nine Absolutes—Nine Absolutes United!"
With level 94 soul power, using the Clear Sky Hammer's secret technique, he briefly slowed Di Tian's advance before being sent flying.
The Second Elder had anticipated this and deliberately flew toward the direction with the most soul beasts.
A strange smile curled at the corner of his mouth.
"Heh, heh heh heh."
"Evil soul beasts, all of you can go to hell!"
His soul power glowed brightly, and the Second Elder's body began to swell.
"This old guy is going to self-destruct!"
Di Tian, already dark-skinned, now had an even darker expression.
The Clear Sky Sect's Second Elder was a level 94 Title Douluo. His self-destruction could take down even a level 96 or 97 Title Douluo. As for their side…
Di Tian gritted his teeth, temporarily halting his pursuit of Tang Chen.
Instead, he swept his sword, annihilating the swelling Second Elder, who was preparing to self-destruct, in a single strike.
"Damn it, chase!"
Di Tian gnashed his teeth, speeding toward Tang Chen's direction with full force, the other soul beasts following closely behind.
However, they hadn't gone far before a blue water curtain blocked their path.
The water wall appeared suddenly, halting everyone's steps as they cautiously scanned their surroundings.
Di Tian sensed something and looked up sharply.
A woman with blue-white hair stood suspended in the air, holding a slender scepter that radiated blue soul power fluctuations.
The thick water wall was of the same origin as the woman's soul power.
"Level 99 Limit Douluo."
Di Tian's expression darkened slightly.
"Red King, take care of that Tang Lie," Di Tian said to the red-haired man beside him.
"Yes." The Red King nodded.
He manipulated the source of his Hellfire, directing it toward the attack that had previously struck Tang Lie, which had already spread to his heart.
A single trigger would be enough to kill him, and in such a short time, the opponent had no means to heal.
Meanwhile, Tang Chen and the others, who had escaped by severing an arm, sensed that the soul beast horde chasing them for a day and night hadn't caught up, and they breathed a sigh of relief.
After taking many twists and turns, they finally met up with the Fourth Elder and Tang Lie.
But before they could speak, Tang Lie vomited three liters of blood.
His eyes rolled back, and he collapsed dead.
Seeing another elder die before him, Tang Chen's expression was filled with extreme rage: "Damn you, Star Dou Forest!"
It was obvious without thinking—this was a delayed skill left by the Red King.
They had been so focused on capturing soul beasts that they hadn't noticed, thinking it was just a normal attack, not something so insidious.
Tang Chen felt immense pain in his heart.
Coming to the Star Dou Forest had resulted in Tang Hao gaining a purple ninth soul ring, but at the cost of sacrificing two Title Douluo elders—an utterly devastating loss.
The Second Elder at level 94 and the Seventh Elder, Tang Lie, at level 92.
In less than half a year, the Clear Sky Sect had lost three Title Douluo.
Yes, three.
Two now, and one previously killed in the Killing City by an unknown assailant.
Damn it, it was all Spirit Hall's fault.
"It seems I arrived a step too late."
A familiar voice came from the sky.
Tang Chen was stunned and couldn't help but look up. There, suspended in the air, was a woman with blue-white hair, slowly descending to his side.
"You… you are…"
"It's been a while, Tang Chen," the woman said before he could finish.
She had intended to rescue Tang Chen and then return to heal Tang Lie, but the Star Dou Forest had acted so quickly that she couldn't make it in time.
"I'm sorry I arrived late. Otherwise, your losses wouldn't have been so great."
"Ancestor, this is Senior Bo Saixi…"
"No need for you to say, I know her," Tang Chen sighed. "Why are you here? I was planning to visit Sea God Island sometime."
"The Sea God received a message from the Asura God, saying you might be in trouble, so he sent me here."
Bo Saixi studied Tang Chen for a while, then sighed, "I didn't expect you'd be bound by limitations like me."
"Is this why you haven't come to Sea God Island to find me in all these years?"
"Bo Saixi, you know I…"
"The Clear Sky Sect is plagued with troubles. I really can't get away."
"I'll take it as that," Bo Saixi said, unbothered. "I received orders from the Sea God to assist you and, while I'm at it, retrieve the Heart of the Sea God, which has been taken somewhere unknown."
(End of Chapter)