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The atmosphere in the vast space was so tense it felt like it could freeze solid.
Tang San, Xiao Wu, and Zhu Zhuqing stood at the front, while Ning Rongrong remained at the back.
Dai Mubai whispered, "Tang San, don't let me down. If you get the chance, give him a good beating."
Tang San gave a slight nod, although he didn't understand why Dai Mubai harbored such hatred toward Lan Minghua.
But since Lan Minghua had just frightened Xiao Wu, he had to pay the price.
Xiao Wu no longer showed any fear. Instead, her expression was eager and ready for battle.
A mere Soul Saint? Hardly worth fearing.
Zhu Zhuqing and Ning Rongrong stood on high alert, ready to act at a moment's notice.
Lan Minghua looked at them and said with a casual smirk, "Come on, bring it. I'm in a hurry."
At that, Tang San gave a low shout, "Attack!"
"Seven Treasures, shine like glazed glass—First: Strength! Second: Speed!"
Ning Rongrong was the first to act, instantly casting her spirit ability to boost Tang San and the others' strength and speed.
Tang San had no time to be surprised by the sudden enhancement of his body and immediately made his move.
"First Spirit Ability: Entangle!"
In an instant, countless Blue Silver Grass vines surged from the ground like a tidal wave, sweeping toward Lan Minghua.
At the same time, Xiao Wu shot forward like an arrow released from a bow.
In the blink of an eye, she was above Lan Minghua, her right leg raised high, slicing through the air like a hammer crashing down on his head.
Taking advantage of the distraction, Zhu Zhuqing instantly vanished from her spot and reappeared behind Lan Minghua.
"Second Spirit Ability: Nether Hundred Claws!"
Her sharp feline claws shimmered with black light, slashing like lightning toward Lan Minghua's back.
However, Lan Minghua's expression didn't change in the slightest, as if he had expected their combined assault.
He clearly sensed all three attacks, but instead of defending immediately, he calmly lifted his right leg and stomped hard on the ground.
Boom!
A deafening explosion erupted as soil and debris flew, a shockwave spreading outward with Lan Minghua at its center.
Xiao Wu and Zhu Zhuqing, who were closest, were blown away instantly, completely unable to resist.
The wave of Blue Silver Grass vines shattered mid-air, reduced to powder under the blast.
Zhu Zhuqing flipped several times in the air before she steadied herself, preparing to launch another attack.
But Lan Minghua's figure suddenly vanished from her sight.
Then a voice came from behind her.
"Looking for me, pretty girl?"
Zhu Zhuqing's pupils contracted sharply. Her legs felt like they were filled with lead—she couldn't move at all.
Lan Minghua brought his index and middle fingers together and lightly tapped the side of her neck.
A wave of dizziness struck her instantly, and she unwillingly closed her eyes and passed out.
Tang San didn't even glance at her. His full attention was on catching the airborne Xiao Wu.
Lan Minghua had already predicted Tang San's priorities. But that was exactly where their defeat lay.
He took a single step forward—almost like teleporting—and appeared right in front of Ning Rongrong.
Prepared for danger, Ning Rongrong shouted, "Tang San, Xiao Wu, help me!"
Unfortunately, Tang San and Xiao Wu were still lost in their tender moment, completely unaware of Lan Minghua's move.
"Number two, down."
Lan Minghua flicked her forehead with his finger.
With a single strike, she fainted on the spot.
"Zhuqing! Rongrong!"
Xiao Wu cried out in shock—a classic case of showing up to help after the disaster is over. Just moments ago, while she was being lovey-dovey with Tang San, why hadn't she thought of Zhu Zhuqing and Ning Rongrong?
"Useless!"
Tang San cursed under his breath, feeling that Zhu Zhuqing and Ning Rongrong had dragged him down.
If they couldn't even get into Shrek, wouldn't that be a disgrace to Yu Xiaogang?
"Xiao Wu, let's go together. Even without their help, we can still hold out for the time it takes an incense stick to burn."
"Mm, Xiao San, let's do it together!"
Xiao Wu nodded resolutely and rushed forward again, circling around Lan Minghua with a flickering, unpredictable movement.
She suddenly halted in front of him, her eyes shimmering with charm.
"Second Spirit Ability: Charm!"
But her prized ghostly footwork wasn't enough to fool Lan Minghua.
With even greater speed, he countered. His index and middle fingers shot toward Xiao Wu's eyes like lightning.
Her body trembled, and she quickly raised her arms to shield her eyes.
Lan Minghua stopped his fingers short, then delivered a swift kick to her abdomen. With a scream, she was sent flying once again.
"Xiao Wu!!!"
Tang San's eyes blazed with fury. He had hoped Xiao Wu could buy him a bit of time to find a weakness in Lan Minghua's defense.
He never expected her to lose in a single exchange.
Lan Minghua had controlled his strength well—one blow was enough to knock Xiao Wu out.
Cradling her in his arms, Tang San stared at Lan Minghua with eyes full of icy rage.
To dare harm Xiao Wu—you've just asked for death!
The murderous intent in his gaze made it obvious what he was thinking.
Suddenly, Lan Minghua sensed a powerful aura locking onto him.
"So protective, huh? I didn't even use lethal force, and yet the father and son are already so worked up?"
He sneered inwardly, witnessing the pettiness of the Tang family firsthand.
The entire area was silent, as if time itself had stopped.
Zhao Wuji looked grim. He hadn't expected Lan Minghua to beat Tang San and the others so badly without even using a spirit ability.
He admitted he couldn't have done the same, and was thankful his understanding of the ways of the world had kept him from clashing with Lan Minghua yesterday.
Dai Mubai clenched his fists tightly, eager for revenge. But the gap in strength was far too great.
Lan Minghua ignored Tang San's murderous stare and said calmly, "Half an incense stick left. You ready, kid?"
Upon hearing this, Tang San's aura suddenly flared like wildfire, his entire demeanor transforming.
"Mubai, take care of Xiao Wu."
Before he finished speaking, he vanished, using Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track to circle Lan Minghua like the wind.
His strange footwork made it nearly impossible to pinpoint his exact movements.
Sensing something was wrong, Zhao Wuji quickly retrieved the unconscious Zhu Zhuqing and Ning Rongrong to keep them out of harm's way.
Tang San, spotting that Lan Minghua was apparently full of openings, slid his hands across the Moonlit Night of Twenty-Four Bridges.
In an instant, countless hidden weapons flew out like a rainstorm from all directions, heading straight for Lan Minghua.
In the sunlight, the flying weapons glimmered with a cold light. That cold light was tinged with green—obviously poisoned.
Lan Minghua merely smiled. As the weapons rained down, golden light burst forth from his body.
A golden ancient bell appeared out of nowhere, encasing him completely—his Golden Bell Shield.
Ding ding dang dang!
A chaotic clatter erupted like a fierce metallic symphony.
The essence of hidden weapons is surprise. But against the Golden Bell Shield, they were utterly ineffective.
Tang San continued weaving through the battlefield, hurling more hidden weapons in hopes of breaking through.
But Lan Minghua's Golden Bell Shield wasn't like Zhao Wuji's Mighty Vajra Body. It was flawless, without a single weakness.
Since Lan Minghua had taken the Rutilated Quartz earlier, Tang San hadn't obtained the Dragon Beard Needle and thus lacked any real means of breaking a powerful defense.
Other powerful hidden weapons hadn't been created yet either.
Lan Minghua remained calm, but in Tang San's eyes, that came across as disdain.
He felt Lan Minghua was looking down on him. His pride couldn't accept that.
"Damn it! I don't believe you can withstand the full-force strike of a 500-jin Clear Sky Hammer!"
But Lan Minghua had already seen through his little scheme. He was fully prepared for the Clear Sky Hammer.
Tang San suddenly appeared in front of Lan Minghua, his left hand glowing with blue light as the Clear Sky Hammer emerged.
He swung his arm and hurled the hammer forward.
"Break!"
But before the Clear Sky Hammer could land, the Golden Bell Shield disappeared.
A single finger intercepted the hammer, effortlessly blocking Tang San's full-force strike.
Lan Minghua raised his voice in mock surprise. "Oh? Twin spirits, huh?"
(End of Chapter)