"You 100,000-year Spirit Beast, behave and come with me. You'll be a gift for His Holiness the Pope."
The Nameless Spirit Emperor charged toward the fallen Xiao Wu. If he hadn't reached his Spirit Power cultivation bottleneck, he would have killed this 100,000-year Spirit Beast in human form on the spot, absorbing her Spirit Rings and Spirit Bones. Even if leaving the Spirit Hall afterward meant facing danger, he would have accepted it. Absorbing this beast could have given him a chance to reach Titled Douluo in his lifetime.
Just as he prepared to unleash his third Spirit Skill to knock Xiao Wu unconscious, a spear shot at him from the side at incredible speed. The Nameless Spirit Emperor leapt back, narrowly avoiding it. Heart racing, he shouted:
"Who… who dares to ambush me? Show yourself!"
Before he could finish, Ignaz flew in from a distance.
"Ignaz?"
Xiao Wu stared in surprise at the familiar figure, while the Nameless Spirit Emperor also heard the name loud and clear.
"You're the one who won first place in the Spirit Master competition, Ignaz?"
The Nameless Spirit Emperor didn't seem overly shocked, but a strange gleam of excitement appeared in his eyes.
"Perfect timing. If I take you out, those three Spirit Bones will be mine."
"Third Spirit Skill, Eagle Cry!"
The Nameless Spirit Emperor spread his wings, releasing multiple sound waves toward Ignaz.
Ignaz had no time to engage in prolonged combat. He swung his Blood Thunder Spear and activated:
"Emperor-Slaying Domain, open!"
Within a 500-meter radius, everything—plants and terrain alike—groaned under an oppressive crimson aura. The Nameless Spirit Emperor's Eagle Cry was completely neutralized by the domain.
"How… how is this possible? You have a domain?"
The Nameless Spirit Emperor's eyes widened in terror. He couldn't believe a young Spirit Master, fresh from winning the competition, could wield a domain skill. The pressure was unlike anything he had ever felt. Under it, his attributes were nearly halved, and his once-proud speed felt like running barefoot.
"There's a lot you don't know. I don't have time for your nonsense."
"Sea Wave Trick·Empty Sound Over-Sea Kill."
Before the Nameless Spirit Emperor could unleash his sixth skill in a final struggle, the air around him was rapidly drained. His speed slowed to a crawl.
"This… cannot… be…"
He let out a final, despairing scream. The Blood Thunder Spear pierced his forehead, shattering his skull. His body turned to fresh blood and energy, nourishing Ignaz's own flesh and Spirit Power.
Below, Xiao Wu, affected by Ignaz's third self-created Spirit Skill, had no way to escape. Her attempts to use the Zhuge Divine Crossbow, silent throwing darts, or Flying Divine Claws were all too slow. Her heart sank into despair.
Brother, I can't make it back to you. Daming, Erming, I was wrong—I should have listened and stayed by the lake, peacefully training.
Mom, I haven't avenged your death yet…
"Ji—…Wu—…Ming… please—"
Hearing Xiao Wu's slow, desperate plea, Ignaz raised his right hand, tightening his grip on the Blood Thunder Spear. He smiled faintly.
"Man and beast are at odds. Since you chose to take human form, death is your ultimate fate."
Ignaz did not seek an excuse or personal grudge. Killing Xiao Wu was simply a matter of interest. Even if no conflict had ever existed between them, a beast that must die, a person that must die—Ignaz would not spare anyone.
He charged power into his right hand, launching the Blood Thunder Spear. It pierced Xiao Wu's chest. Her eyes, filled with terror, dimmed, and her body collapsed under the massive tree. Gradually, her human form faded, leaving behind a pink rabbit. Around it, a six-meter-diameter red Spirit Ring slowly took shape.
Ignaz landed in front of the 100,000-year Soft-Bone Rabbit, a wicked thought flashing through his mind:
"I wonder how this 100,000-year Soft-Bone Rabbit would taste… after all, it has a bit of time-space power."
But he quickly shook his head. Cooking the rabbit's front legs would be like eating Xiao Wu's hands—absolutely impossible. That thought was unbearable.
Squatting, Ignaz drew a specially made dagger and quickly cut into the rabbit, searching for the Spirit Bone. Using his strong mental power and the Spirit Energy emitted by the bone, he accurately located it. Unexpectedly, the 100,000-year Spirit Bone dropped was not the right arm bone but the left.
"Good. I usually use my right hand and Spirit Weapon with my right. A left-arm bone will take some adjustment."
Ignaz placed the 100,000-year Spirit Bone into his Spirit Conductor. He sighed faintly as he gazed at the dazzling red Spirit Ring.
"What a pity… the Void and Explosive Eighth Throw skills within this 100,000-year Spirit Ring are essentially broken-tier. My Spirit attribute doesn't suit the Soft-Bone Rabbit, and I'm still at level 59—unable to absorb them. Lingling and the others haven't reached their Spirit Power limit either."
"This is the perfect window to hunt Xiao Wu. Miss it, and the chance may never come again. She might even sacrifice herself to Tang San once more."
"In a way, killing this rogue rabbit resolves her tragic fate early. Maybe it's… saving her."
At that moment, Ignaz's mental senses detected people approaching from all four directions. Without hesitation, he leapt atop the massive tree, using the dense leaves to hide from the Spirit Hall pursuers, moving steadily toward the forest's edge.
Not long after, several Spirit Hall pursuers arrived, including one or two at Spirit Sage level. Seeing the scene, they were struck dumb, the silence unnerving. Finally, one spoke:
"Is this the 100,000-year human-form Spirit Beast we're supposed to capture?"
Upon hearing this, the others straightened, serious expressions on their faces.
"According to His Holiness the Pope's orders, the human-form Spirit Beast rescued by Tang Hao… its true body is a rabbit."
"Now, seeing the dead rabbit and the lingering 100,000-year Spirit Ring, it must be that same beast."
"Which reckless Spirit Master would abandon a 100,000-year Spirit Ring instead of absorbing it?"
They stared at the dazzling red ring, unable to shake their sense of regret and heartbreak.