"Ning Fengzhi, are you interfering as well?" Seeing Ning Fengzhi bring out both of his sect's Title Douluo, Tang Chen grew wary.
He knew his own condition—the parasitic Nine-Headed Bat Emperor hadn't been fully subdued.
In short, he couldn't fight prolonged battles.
The mighty Slaughter King, Limit Douluo Tang Chen, worrying about endurance? Who would believe it?
But Ning Fengzhi, Sword Douluo, and Bone Douluo's Three-in-One Martial Soul Fusion Skill was no joke.
During the Clear Sky Sect's re-emergence ceremony, when tensions flared between him and Qian Daoliu, even he had been forced to acknowledge the threat posed by the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's fusion skill.
That said, it was just a fusion skill.
If he prevented them from activating it, even Sword Douluo—boosted by the Eight Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda to near-99th-rank power—would be no match for him, the undisputed strongest on the continent.
But with his injuries, and unlike his reckless grandson Tang Hao, he preferred to avoid unnecessary conflict.
"Lord Tang Chen, do you even understand the full story behind this incident?" Ning Fengzhi said calmly. "Charging in to accuse an emperor like this hardly befits the reputation of the 'World's First Sect,' does it?"
"Hmph! What 'full story'?" Tang Chen suppressed his irritation.
His dear great-grandson's current whereabouts were unknown, but at least he was alive.
"Lord Tang Chen, your great-grandson stormed into the Moon Pavilion and slaughtered everyone in sight—not just the nobles but also nearly killing my younger sister, a disciple of Lady Yuehua."
"Shouldn't you be the one giving Heaven Dou Empire an explanation?"
"An explanation?"
Tang Chen's face darkened. "Since when does the Clear Sky Sect answer to anyone?"
"Whether it's you, a mere emperor, or even Qian Daoliu himself, this king fears no one!"
"Mark my words—the one who hunted Tang San will die."
"Even if it's a Title Douluo." His murderous gaze locked onto Zi Ji.
"How arrogant! So this is how the Clear Sky Sect operates?" Sword Douluo stepped forward. "Tang Chen, I address you as 'senior' out of respect for your age, but—"
"The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect stands with Heaven Dou. If you think you can kill Emperor Xue Qinghe's Title Douluo guard in front of us, you're spitting on our sect's honor!"
"Chen Xin, this doesn't concern you."
Tang Chen's expression turned venomous. "Kill that woman below, and I'll leave immediately."
"If you keep quiet, no one will know of today's events. Your sect's dignity remains intact."
"The pinnacle of self-deception! Is this the magnanimity of the former Clear Sky Douluo?"
Bone Douluo also stepped up.
Tang Chen's eyes gleamed coldly as he stared at Ning Fengzhi, who stood silently with his radiant Eight Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda.
"Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect—do you truly wish to fight me?"
Ning Fengzhi cupped his hands respectfully. "Lord Tang Chen, why don't we compromise?"
"You may take Tang San—he's currently at Shrek Academy. We'll let this matter rest if the Clear Sky Sect issues a formal apology."
Ning Rongrong had just informed him that Tang San's aura was detected at Shrek.
"Hahahaha—HAHAHAHA!"
"Ning Fengzhi, Ning Fengzhi… do you take me for a fool? When I, Tang Chen, decide to kill someone, not even Qian Daoliu can stop me!"
Under the influence of the Asura God Sword's killing intent, Tang Chen transformed into a streak of crimson light.
Bypassing Sword Douluo and Bone Douluo, he lunged straight for Zi Ji's throat, aiming for a one-hit kill.
"Don't get cocky!" Bone Douluo roared. "Ninth Soul Skill—Bone Transformation Divine Dragon!"
A colossal skeletal dragon materialized, obstructing Tang Chen's path. The Asura God Sword in his hand erupted with a bloody radiance.
"A mere 98th-rank dares to block me?"
"Asura God Sword—Cleave!"
A terrifying sword beam, wreathed in crimson flames, split Bone Douluo's dragon clean in two.
Bone Douluo coughed up blood, sent flying. Wiping his lips, he muttered, "The gap between us… is this vast?"
"I warned you not to interfere!" Tang Chen shot a disdainful glance at the heavily injured Bone Douluo before resuming his assault.
"Tang Chen, I'll be your opponent."
A figure in white blocked his path, all eight soul rings lighting up simultaneously—followed by the ninth, black ring erupting with dazzling brilliance.
"This is—?!"
Tang Chen's pupils constricted, but before he could react—
"Soul Ring Fusion! Ninth Soul Skill—Sword Douluo Chen Xin: Divine Demon Sunder!"
Yin and Yang energies converged like a swirling taiji, unleashing a devastating sword aura that tore through the sky.
A colossal phantom emerged, its sword intent so overwhelming it seemed capable of splitting heaven and earth.
"Damn it!"
Tang Chen's face paled.
Suddenly, his mind wavered—a fleeting lapse for a Limit Douluo, but enough to disrupt his counterattack.
He hastily raised the Asura God Sword in defense, forming a shield of killing intent.
He hadn't expected Sword Douluo's technique to include mental attacks.
The converging yin-yang sword energy struck like thunder, twin dragons of destruction crashing against the bloody barrier.
The collision shook the very air, as if the world itself trembled.
Space itself seemed to fracture under the clash of energies, debris and shockwaves scattering violently.
Thankfully, the battle raged midair, and Sword Douluo's control minimized collateral damage.
"Damn it all!"
"Not only does the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect have fusion skills—they've mastered Soul Ring Fusion too?!"
Soul Ring Fusion was second only to Soul Ring Detonation in potency.
And Sword Douluo's fusion speed was absurdly fast.
Gritting his teeth, Tang Chen endured the onslaught until he found an opening.
With a mouthful of blood, he mustered his full power.
"Clear Sky Nine Supremacies—Sky-Shattering Strike!"
"BOOM—!"
The Haotian Hammer appeared in Tang Chen's grip, eight black and one red soul rings blazing to life.
Channeling the Clear Sky Sect's secret technique, he unleashed a titanic force that redirected the cataclysmic energy skyward.
The shockwave pierced the clouds, detonating high above with an earth-shaking roar.
"KABOOM—!"
The darkened heavens lit up as if dawn had arrived prematurely.
Panting slightly, Tang Chen wiped his lips.
"No wonder they rank second—this is no Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect!"
A sharp pain in his chest reminded him to suppress the Nine-Headed Bat Emperor's resurgence.
"Curse it… at my peak, this puny fusion wouldn't have troubled me."
Seeing Ning Fengzhi and the two Douluo regroup, Tang Chen's eye twitched.
Oh, wonderful.
Rich enough to spam recovery pills, were they?
Just used Soul Ring Fusion, and now preparing for a fusion skill?
Meanwhile, hidden from view, Ning Rongrong withdrew her Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda.
"Whew—"
Wiping her forehead, she murmured, "As expected, affecting a Limit Douluo's mind without the Nine Treasure Glazed Pagoda's full power is nearly impossible."
Still, the outcome was acceptable—Sword Douluo had wounded Tang Chen single-handedly.
Even without the Three-in-One Fusion Skill, Sword Douluo's prowess alone was enough to make any Limit Douluo think twice.
That was sufficient.
The battle between Tang Chen and the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect had drawn the attention of nearby factions.
Shrek Academy, in particular, was already rushing to the scene.
After all, Tang San had insisted his "incredibly powerful ancestor" was involved.
How could they not come to cheer him on?