After comforting Hu Liena, Yan raised his head and said solemnly to the red-garbed child, "Shi Hao, we really don't want to fight you. We're the Golden Generation of the Spirit Hall. You can't win. Just come with us quietly."
"Go with you? No way!" Shi Hao shouted. "You're all Spirit Hall villains! Either beat me, or I'm going into the Spirit Hall to rescue my mother!"
With a cold look on his face, Shi Hao marched forward toward the magnificent halls of the Spirit Hall. The crowd, sensing the oppressive aura radiating from the small child, instinctively stepped aside, making a path.
"Shi Hao, calm down!" Hu Liena pleaded. "We're doing this for your own good. You can't face the Spirit Hall alone!"
"Yeah, this is the headquarters of Spirit Hall," Yan added. "There are more than a dozen Titled Douluo here. Don't do something foolish!"
"Please, come back with us, Shi Hao… this is getting out of hand," Xie Yue said urgently.
But Shi Hao didn't even look back. He just kept walking.
The tension in the air grew thick. The crowd was now a sea of anxious murmurs.
The trio exchanged glances—there was no more time. They had to act.
Yan leapt into the air, landing in front of Shi Hao and releasing his spirit. In an instant, two yellow, two purple, and one black ring rose beneath his feet—five dazzling rings of spirit power.
"That's a five-ring Soul King!" someone in the crowd gasped.
"So young too! He's one of the Golden Generation!"
"That kid's doomed…"
"Stop right there, Shi Hao," Yan said solemnly. "I don't want to hurt you."
Shi Hao's chubby little face tightened. He merely glanced at Yan without a word and walked on.
"Then forgive me!"
Yan's face hardened as his flames roared to life. He activated his Flame Lord martial soul and launched a searing blast toward the child.
But Shi Hao simply sighed.
"I really didn't want to hit you, big brother…"
With a boom, his tiny fist punched straight through the fire attack like it was smoke. The shockwave of the blow smashed into Yan's gut, sending him hurtling back dozens of meters through the crowd, knocking people aside like bowling pins.
"Holy crap… that's the Golden Generation and he got bodied?"
"Who is this kid?!"
"This is insane…"
Yan staggered to his feet, blood dripping from his mouth. He was dumbfounded—he never imagined Shi Hao's strength was this monstrous.
They had always thought the true power lay in the White Tiger that accompanied Shi Hao. But this…
Gritting his teeth, Yan activated his fifth ring—the pitch-black glow of a ten-thousand-year soul skill flared up.
"Flame Cage!"
Rings of fire erupted from beneath Shi Hao, forming a blazing prison around him.
Yan exhaled. This soul skill could hold even a Soul Emperor. It had to work.
"…What's this?"
Shi Hao tilted his head curiously, sticking out a finger to poke the flame.
"No! Don't touch it—it's dangerous!" Yan shouted.
But it was too late.
Shi Hao walked out of the cage unscathed, eyes bright with innocent confusion. "Feels kinda warm…"
He actually enjoyed it?
"Okay, then… I won't hold back this time. Take this punch!"
With a loud cry, he rocketed forward.
BOOM!
Even with all of Yan's efforts to dodge, the child's fist slammed into him. He flew like a ragdoll into a cluster of buildings—crash after crash—until he vanished from sight.
"…Holy hell, that power!"
"He punched him through buildings!"
"That's a child! What monster strength is that?!"
Hu Liena and Xie Yue stood frozen, completely stunned.
"This kid… this isn't just monstrous. He's terrifying," Xie Yue muttered. "If that punch had landed on Yan's chest or head… he'd be dead."
"We need to be careful," he added, brows furrowing. "Let's use our fusion technique. Only then can we take him down without hurting him."
They nodded.
Twin rings rose as they activated their spirits, merging in a swirling storm of power and light.
A new figure emerged—long-haired, armored, and genderless, emanating a powerful and mysterious aura. Their martial soul fusion was complete.
Shi Hao's eyes lit up with fascination. "You two became one person? That's so cool!"
"Sorry, Shi Hao," said the fused figure. "This is for your own good."
A crimson mist and a gleaming crescent blade surged toward him.
Shi Hao's gaze sharpened.
Another punch flew out—this one with more force than before.
CRACK!
The crescent blade bent with a horrible screech. The fused duo was sent hurtling through the sky like a broken kite, smashing into the far end of the street. They lay on the ground, stars spinning in their vision.
Only after taking that hit did they truly understand.
Shi Hao's power… was beyond comprehension.
What no one noticed, not even Hu Liena or the crowd, was that beneath his clothes—something faint and golden had flickered for just an instant.
_
Please support my patreon, patreon. com/TravelerDouluo
And get early access to my 30 advance chapters.