"So, your Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School truly intends to oppose us?" The white-clothed Titled Douluo's expression behind his veil had turned extremely grim. He knew that today's mission was likely doomed to fail. Deploying two Titled Douluos and still failing to complete the task—this was a massive loss of face.
"The Upper Three Sects share a common bond, Yue Guan. Surely you are aware of this?"
A clear, gentle, yet undeniably authoritative voice rang out immediately afterward, coming from another direction.
Everyone turned once more to look. Near the canyon entrance, on a slightly elevated slope, two figures now stood side by side, though no one had noticed when they arrived.
The person on the left wore a moon-white robe, exuding an elegant and transcendent aura. A gentle smile graced his face as he held in his hand the shimmering, translucent phantom of a seven-story pagoda. This was none other than Ning Fengzhi, the master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School! And the pagoda in his hand was now clearly—eight stories! The Eight Treasure Glazed Pagoda! Its radiance was softer and more profound than before, its supportive power evidently far surpassing its previous state.
The person on the right was clad in silver-white martial attire, draped with a light golden cloak. His handsome face bore his usual gentle smile, his eyes deep and penetrating. This was Xue Qinghe, the crown prince of the Heavenly Dou Empire!
Seeing Ning Fengzhi, and especially the eight-story pagoda that had evolved in his hand, Yue Guan's expression behind the veil instantly turned ashen. The last trace of hope in his heart was utterly extinguished. The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda had evolved? How... how was this possible?! Yet the undeniable fact was right before his eyes! Moreover, with Ning Fengzhi and Chen Xin appearing together, along with the crown prince of the Heavenly Dou Empire... this meant that the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School and the Heavenly Dou imperial family had clearly declared their stance: they would protect Shrek, and protect Tang San! Especially since Chen Xin's offensive power was unmatched in the world, posing a great threat to his Exquisite Velvet Sky-Piercing Chrysanthemum. Coupled with Ning Fengzhi's terrifying support... today's mission would likely end in failure, or even... utter humiliation!
The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda shimmered with light, seven Soul Rings floating up and down. Although it only had seven rings, the moment Yue Guan saw Ning Fengzhi, he had already made up his mind. Today's mission was impossible; they must retreat immediately. Otherwise, if Chen Xin were to strike with full force under Ning Fengzhi's support, he would likely suffer a great loss!
However, just as Yue Guan's thoughts turned to retreat, and the chaotic battlefield below—which had temporarily stilled in shock and awe at the appearance of Chen Xin, Ning Fengzhi, and Xue Qinghe—
Another sudden change occurred!
A purple-black spear light, without any warning, shot out like a venomous snake striking from its hole. With unbelievable speed and a treacherous angle, it erupted from a seemingly ordinary shadow at the rear of the Heavenly Dou Royal Academy's formation! The spear light was condensed, tinged with a strange, ghostly green amidst the purple-black, exuding a cold, malicious, soul-piercing aura. Wherever it passed, the air seemed to corrode, leaving faint black traces!
The target of this spear light was not any person, but the shadow itself!
No, more accurately, it was aimed at a lurking presence within that shadow!
An ambush! A counter-ambush!
"Hmm?!" From within the shadows came an extremely faint yet furious grunt, filled with shock and anger! Clearly, the lurker had never expected that his proud concealment technique would be so precisely detected, and that the opponent would strike with such decisive ruthlessness!
"Fifth Soul Skill, Ghost Shadow Muddy Hand!"
The shadows violently churned as a massive, pitch-black ghostly hand, formed from countless twisted ghostly shadows, suddenly shot out from the darkness. Accompanied by the piercing wails of ghosts and howls of wolves, it clawed toward that purplish-black spear light! Wherever the ghostly hand passed, the ground seemed to transform into a viscous, muddy swamp, emitting a suffocating, frigid aura of death—this was none other than Ghost Douluo Gui Mei's signature control Spirit Ability!
"Shh—!"
The purplish-black spear light and the pitch-black ghostly hand collided in an instant!
However, the expected explosion of energy did not occur. The moment the purplish-black spear light made contact with the ghostly hand, it did not clash head-on but instead eerily "merged" into it! Immediately afterward, an indescribable, bizarre force—a blend of extreme sharpness, domineering will, and destructive aura—traveled along the connection between the ghostly hand and the shadows like an electric current, surging upward in reverse and viciously piercing into the Spiritual Consciousness Sea of the lurker hidden deep within the shadows!
"Argh—!!!"
A shrill, agonized shriek, utterly inhuman, erupted violently from the shadows! The sound was filled with unspeakable terror and excruciating pain! The shadows twisted and scattered wildly, revealing a vague, eerie figure within—one that seemed as if it could melt into the darkness at any moment. It was none other than Ghost Douluo, Gui Mei!
Gui Mei clutched his head with both hands, the black mist around him churning violently as he staggered unsteadily. Clearly, that invisible spiritual assault had dealt him a severe blow! His renowned concealment and ghostly techniques seemed to have met their nemesis in the bizarre power contained within that purplish-black spear light. Not only had they been easily detected, but they had also been counter-invaded, eroding his very spirit!
"Damn it! Who... is it?" Gui Mei's voice was intermittent, filled with shock, uncertainty, and horror. He recognized some of the traits within that power—it was far more than just Soul Power! Especially that overwhelming, all-suppressing willpower assault, which made even him, a Titled Douluo skilled in spiritual attacks and concealment, tremble in his soul and suffer splitting headaches. An uncontrollable, intense fear welled up within him, as if he were facing an invincible demon god!
Without the slightest hesitation, Gui Mei endured the piercing pain in his soul and the fear in his heart. In a flash of shadow, he appeared dozens of meters away as if teleporting, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with Chrysanthemum Douluo Yue Guan, whose expression was equally grim. The black mist around him had thinned considerably, and his aura was somewhat unstable. His gaze toward the Heavenly Dou Royal Academy's procession was filled with wariness and a trace of... disbelief.
"What petty scoundrel dares to lurk in the shadows and ambush my son's procession?"
A calm yet bone-chilling voice, carrying undeniable authority, echoed through the canyon. The source of the voice was atop the seemingly ordinary carriage at the rear of the Heavenly Dou Royal Academy's procession. Unnoticed until now, a tall, spear-straight figure in gray stood there.
Godly Spear Douluo, Li Zhaoyan!
He had arrived at some point, concealed within the procession all along. Only when Gui Mei intended harm toward the Heavenly Dou Academy did he strike decisively, forcing Gui Mei back with a single blow!
Li Zhaoyan held his spear, its entire body a deep purple-black, its tip angled toward the ground. His gaze swept calmly over Yue Guan's grim expression in the air and Gui Mei's unstable aura, finally settling on Gui Mei. His tone was indifferent: "Ghostly Shadows… is nothing more than this."
His appearance was like pouring a ladle of ice water into an already boiling pot of oil! Another Titled Douluo! And one whose attack power was equally formidable, renowned for his sharp and domineering style—the Godly Spear Douluo! He was actually Marco's father, and had been secretly following and protecting him all along!
Only now did most people realize what had happened, gasping in shock one after another!
Ghost Douluo Gui Mei's ambush had actually been detected and repelled with a single strike by Godly Spear Douluo Li Zhaoyan! No wonder that spear light had been so bizarre and powerful—it had come from this decisive Titled Douluo! And Li Zhaoyan's concealment had even escaped the notice of Gui Mei and Yue Guan beforehand; his stealth and perception abilities were likely superior to Gui Mei's!
Chrysanthemum Douluo Yue Guan's face was so dark it seemed about to drip water. He stared fixedly at the suddenly appearing Li Zhaoyan, his desire to retreat having reached its peak. Sword Douluo Chenxin alone was already a headache, and with Ning Fengzhi's support, Bone Douluo's watchful gaze, and now the addition of Godly Spear Douluo Li Zhaoyan—who had repelled Gui Mei with one strike and whose strength was unfathomable! Moreover, judging by his attitude, he clearly intended to protect the Heavenly Dou Royal Academy and his monstrous son, Marco!
Today's situation had completely reversed! Not only could they not capture Shrek's Tang San, but their covert operation targeting the Heavenly Dou Royal Academy had also failed. They had even exposed their whereabouts and lost face! If they didn't leave now, they might truly be trapped here!
The atmosphere in the canyon, with Li Zhaoyan's appearance, reached an even more tense and dangerous peak. Four Titled Douluo-level experts stood in a subtle confrontation, while below were the panicked academy teams and the scattered, dead or injured people in black. Ning Fengzhi held the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda, and Xue Qinghe remained calm.