At this moment, Xiao Wu no longer resembled the gentle girl who once stood behind Tang San. All that remained was the instinct to survive,she would even sell her soul if it meant staying alive.
The two Soul Kings looked at the pitiful Xiao Wu with amusement and hesitation. The order from above had only specified Tang San's head. As for the others, there were no clear instructions.
One of the Soul Kings licked his lips as he looked at Xiao Wu's delicate figure, a mocking smile appearing on his face.
"Well then, come here. Let uncle protect you, alright?" said the Soul King, his face twisting into an evil grin.
Hearing this, Xiao Wu's face showed a look of "delight," but in her pink eyes, determination was hidden.
"Uncle, will you really let me go?" she asked hopefully, looking at the Soul King who had spoken.
He swallowed. "Of course! Come here quickly, little darling. Don't let that brat hurt you by mistake!"
Step by step, Xiao Wu walked toward him. At that moment, Tang San's Clear Sky Hammer was already swinging at its peak.
Forty-five strikes. Forty-six strikes...
The Violent Bear Soul Emperor, still fighting Tang San, felt an increasing sense of disbelief. Tang San was starting to suppress him.
As Xiao Wu drew near to one of the Soul Kings, Tang San's hammer reached its fifty-fifth strike.
The Soul King reached out proudly, about to grab Xiao Wu.
Xiao Wu didn't dodge at all, letting his hand pinch her face. Originally, he meant to crush her skull instantly, but when he saw that she truly didn't resist, dark thoughts crossed his mind.
As he tilted her face up, ready to enjoy the sight, a chill ran down his spine.
The timid girl was gone. On Xiao Wu's face was a sly, mocking smile,the look of a hunter whose trap had just snapped shut.
"You," He didn't even finish the word before he felt something hard press against his chest. A faint mechanical click followed, and sixteen long steel needles burst through his body, exiting from his back.
In the next moment, Xiao Wu released her martial spirit. Her yellow second soul ring shone brightly as her pink eyes locked onto the second Soul King.
"Second Soul Skill: Charm!"
The man's mind went blank for a moment, and in that brief window, Xiao Wu's purple third soul ring lit up. With her teleportation ability, she crossed over ten meters in an instant.
By the time the Soul King regained his senses, his companion was already on the ground. Furious, he released his martial spirit,a humanoid leopard with two yellow and three purple rings appearing around him.
His fifth purple soul ring glowed, his speed multiplying several times as he lunged at Xiao Wu.
But she teleported again, appearing right before him. He immediately activated his third and fourth rings; his claws extended from ten centimeters to over a meter, gleaming coldly as they slashed downward.
Xiao Wu didn't dodge. Her fourth purple soul ring lit up,Invincible Golden Body.
For four seconds she was completely invulnerable. She wrapped her scorpion braid around the Leopard Soul King's neck, stepped in close, dug her fingers into his shoulders, and pressed her long, graceful legs against his waist.
"First Soul Skill: Waist Bow!"
With all her strength and fury combined into one strike, she unleashed her most powerful single-target close combat attack.
The Leopard Soul King was thrown into the air and crashed heavily into the ground.
The Violent Bear Soul Emperor, still battling Tang San, roared in rage. It had all happened too fast for him to react.
Before he could move, Tang San's Clear Sky Hammer came down with the weight of a mountain, slamming him into the earth. His ankles sank deep into the ground.
Tang San struck again and again, completely suppressing the Bear Soul Emperor. Then, with a flick of his hand, he pulled out a black box from his waist.
He pulled the trigger. A mechanical click sounded, and a dozen steel needles shot out with terrifying speed. The Bear Soul Emperor barely managed to block those aimed at his head and chest, but the needles pierced his waist and thighs.
Already drained of soul power and injured, the ambush left him heavily wounded.
At the same time, Tang San's body glowed with blue light. Thick vines burst from the ground, turning the area into a Blue Silver Domain that entangled the Bear Soul Emperor.
His injuries prevented him from exerting his full strength. Because of his martial spirit oath, he couldn't immediately use his soul skills,and he didn't expect Tang San to possess a soul bone.
The oath had only forbidden soul skills, not soul bone abilities. Tang San had played him with words.
Just as the Bear Soul Emperor roared, ready to break his oath and kill Tang San, the Clear Sky Hammer smashed down.
The fifty-eighth strike of the Disorder Splitting Wind Hammer Technique landed with unstoppable force. The controlled Bear Soul Emperor could only take the blow head-on.
His skull was crushed instantly, blood and brain matter splattering across the ground.
Tang San panted heavily but didn't stop. He swung again, sending the hammer flying backward.
Xiao Wu hadn't completely finished off the Leopard Soul King. Her opponent had used three purple soul skills in succession, enduring her Waist Bow and counterattacking.
Just as he was about to grab her, the Clear Sky Hammer struck from behind, caving in his chest.
Xiao Wu immediately raised her Godly Zhuge Crossbow and pulled the trigger. Dozens of steel bolts pierced his shattered chest, ending his life.
Tang San rushed to her side. Both took out a Super Recovery Sausage from their soul tools,Oscar's first soul skill,and ate it.
Tang San retracted his torso bone skill and used his Jade Hands to recover the fired bolts from the crossbow. In less than two minutes, the three enemies were dead. Tang San and Xiao Wu resumed their desperate flight toward Heaven Dou City.
The danger was temporarily gone, but they couldn't relax. There might be more Spirit Hall assassins nearby. Until they reached Heaven Dou City, they couldn't afford to rest.
Xiao Wu followed close behind Tang San, watching his determined back. Her heart settled on a silent decision.
Tang San suddenly spoke. "We're about to pass the edge of Star Dou Forest. Let's get your fifth soul ring first. That way we can confuse their pursuit and strengthen ourselves. Our chances of escape will double."
Xiao Wu nodded. "I'll listen to you, brother."
…
No one knew how much time had passed. A faint aura of two yellow, two purple, and one black soul ring floated around Ye Lingling. At only eighteen, she had reached the fifty-second level,Soul King rank.
After absorbing a twenty-thousand-year fifth soul ring, she felt a tremendous increase in power. Though only level fifty-two, her healing abilities could already rival those of a level sixty Soul Emperor.
This was the result of the immortal-grade elixir and the challenge of absorbing a higher-level ring,it was the beginning of her rise beyond Ye Haitang.
Ye Lingling opened her eyes and met Oscar's gaze. Joy filled her eyes.
"Thank you," she said sincerely.
Oscar looked at her calmly. "No need. Today I help you, tomorrow you help me. That's how it should be."
Ye Lingling pursed her lips helplessly. Oscar was polite but distant,cool, serious, and frustratingly hard to get close to.
Perhaps it was this aloofness that drew her to him even more.
She had already made up her mind to pursue him, yet he remained indifferent.
Stepping closer, she smiled. "I've never tried flying on a sword before. Will you take me?"
Oscar glanced at her, not exposing her intentions. He tossed out the Seven Kill Sword, which floated beneath his feet, and extended his right hand.
"Come on."
He didn't refuse, but there was no affection in his tone,just calm duty.
Ye Lingling rolled her eyes, took his hand, and stepped onto the sword. A moment later, they soared into the sky.
Her first flight left her exhilarated. It was completely different from using body movement skills,it felt like freedom itself.
Suddenly, she stumbled and nearly fell. Oscar caught her by the waist, his warm hand making her body stiffen.
"I swear, that wasn't on purpose," she said quickly.
Oscar replied flatly, "Heh."
"Fine, don't believe me!" she huffed, then grinned. "Fly higher!"
The two of them flew above the Sunset Forest like a shooting star. Looking at the scenery below, Ye Lingling couldn't help thinking of Dugu Yan, Oscar's girlfriend.
Had Dugu Yan already grown bored of sights like this?
Curious, she asked, "Where's Sister Dugu Yan? I only saw her briefly during the tournament."
Oscar replied, "She went to Yuexuan."
Ye Lingling was surprised. Having studied at Heaven Dou Royal Academy for three years, she knew what Yuexuan was,a place for noble etiquette and refinement.
Would someone as talented as Dugu Yan really waste time learning manners?
Ye Lingling asked, "Wouldn't that just slow her cultivation?"
Oscar said calmly, "She went there to temper her heart. It's still cultivation, just a different kind."
"Oh." Ye Lingling nodded. "Did you tell her about us?"
"Yes," Oscar replied. "The day after your family proposed the alliance."
Ye Lingling turned to him. "And what did she say?"
Oscar asked, "Do you really want to know?"
"Of course. I'm technically the outsider here,I want to know how the real girlfriend feels."
Oscar said, "What if I told you she doesn't like you?"
Ye Lingling smiled, unfazed. "Then I'll just do my best to make her accept me."
Oscar raised a brow. "And what if she accepts you, but I don't?"
She tightened her grip on his hand. "At least you're willing to bring me up here. That means you don't hate me, right?"
Oscar admitted, "I'm easily swayed by beauty. It's hard to dislike a pretty girl."
Ye Lingling laughed. "Good. Time will tell. If, in the end, I still can't fit in, I'll leave quietly. I won't cause trouble."
"I'll chase my own happiness," she added softly. "But I won't destroy anyone else's."
Oscar nodded, smiling faintly at the petite girl beside him.
"She doesn't hate you," he said at last, "but she doesn't really like you either. My attitude depends on hers, because from the start, she's been the only one I truly acknowledged."
Ye Lingling smiled. "I understand."
The flying sword cut across the sky, leaving behind the faint echo of their words. Two young people, exchanging scattered sentences, neither certain of what would come next.
Love is simple. You either do, or you don't. One favors, the other persists.
They came from different worlds, yet fate had drawn them together. Whether they could truly stay together would depend on time,time enough to accept each other completely.
Ye Lingling didn't get the answer she wanted, but she already knew what her future would be.
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