Twenty miles outside of Tiandou City, in a desolate mountain range.
Gu Rong used his spatial teleportation ability to flash in front of the black-robed figure.
"I'll ask you this—if you haven't done anything wrong, why did you run the moment you saw me? Tell me, are the disappearances of contestants over these days related to you?"
The black-robed figure stopped and removed the hood covering their head. "Bone Douluo, this has nothing to do with me—it was the work of a Spirit System Soul Sage."
"Shi Nian!" Gu Rong immediately had a guess.
In fact, the organizing committee had long suspected Shi Nian, but without evidence, they couldn't take action against him.
Since he had been hiding in the shadows all along, it made sense that someone might uncover his actions.
But why hadn't this person reported it to the organizing committee?
After carefully observing the figure's face, Gu Rong suddenly understood.
Narrowing his eyes, he sneered, "Tang Hao, so it's you. Have you finally crawled out of the sewers after all these years to stretch your legs?"
In the past, relations between the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect and the Hao Tian Sect were strained, so Gu Rong naturally didn't hold back his hostility.
Tang Hao frowned. "You and I are both Title Douluos—there's no need for such harsh words. Where I go doesn't require reporting to your Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect."
With nothing further to discuss, Gu Rong summoned his nine soul rings—yellow, yellow, purple, purple, black, black, black, black, black—beneath his feet.
"Tang Hao, it's been over a decade. I'd like to see what the legendary Hao Tian Douluo is capable of."
"I'll oblige," Tang Hao replied coldly, summoning his Hao Tian Hammer martial soul.
The moment he revealed himself, the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect would inevitably trace things back and deduce Tang San's identity.
This battle—he absolutely could not lose.
Only by winning could he intimidate the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect and ensure Tang San's safety.
Though not far from Tiandou City, the clash between two Title Douluos would certainly be felt within the city.
As they fought, the two gradually moved the battlefield farther away.
Meanwhile, the Qingluan Douluo, following behind them, stood on higher ground and clearly saw the collision of the Hao Tian Hammer and the Bone Dragon martial souls.
"The Hao Tian Hammer… so it really is Tang Hao."
The Qingluan Douluo furrowed his brow, hesitated briefly, then quickly returned to the Crown Prince's residence to report the situation.
Tang Hao wouldn't appear in Tiandou City without reason—he must be secretly protecting Tang San.
---
At this time, Ning Tianchen, who was lying in wait inside the city, was completely unaware of what was happening outside.
Dugu Bo glanced toward the outskirts of the city but quickly averted his gaze.
Ning Tianchen looked at him curiously.
Dugu Bo explained, "I sensed powerful figures clashing outside the city, but the aura vanished almost instantly. Perhaps I was mistaken."
"Outside the city? Forget it—it's none of our concern."
As he spoke, Ning Tianchen tugged at his sleeve and pointed to Tang San nearby.
"The Shrek Academy is one of the strongest teams, and tomorrow, their opponent is Canghui Academy. If we follow Tang San, there's a high chance Shi Nian will make a move against him."
Dugu Bo chuckled softly. "Shi Nian is hiding right there. Tang San is already gradually falling into the illusion he's woven."
"I remember you don't have a good relationship with Tang San. Are you saving him now to make him owe you a favor?"
Ning Tianchen shook his head. "No rush to act—we'll deal with it once we're outside the city."
Silently, the two followed behind Shi Nian until they left the city.
Without the help of the Full Moon Wearing Autumn Dew, Tang San's mental strength wasn't enough to break through Shi Nian's illusion.
Even if he managed to escape the illusion, he still wouldn't be a match for Shi Nian. Without visiting the Ice-Fire Yin Yang Well, he didn't possess the Ice and Fire Alchemy Body.
---
Inside the illusion
After a long while, Tang San finally realized something was off about his surroundings.
"I was walking in one direction—how could I end up back at the starting point?"
From the moment he left the arena, he had felt uneasy.
Normally, pedestrians on the streets would display various expressions. Today, however, their faces were completely blank.
Realizing the danger, a purple glow flashed in his eyes.
Under the enhancement of the Purple Extreme Demon Eye, his vision penetrated the surrounding buildings, revealing the true world outside.
"What a powerful illusion—my Purple Extreme Demon Eye can't break through it."
Suddenly, a sharp pain pierced his brain.
His memories became surreal and hallucinatory, as if trying to consume him.
In reality
Shi Nian stood behind him, his face twisted with cruelty. "Pity my soul power hasn't reached level ninety—I can't see what you're experiencing in the illusion."
"You're a genius of the Shrek Academy. Without you, tomorrow's match will surely be won by our Canghui Academy."
Shi Nian, like a hunter eyeing his prey, couldn't resist delivering a victory speech.
Ning Tianchen patted his shoulder lightly and drawled, "What's with all the yelling? What's got you so worked up?"
Already guilty of foul play, Shi Nian was startled when caught red-handed.
He spun around abruptly and saw Ning Tianchen's figure.
At first, he was worried. After scanning the area with his spiritual power and seeing no strong figures accompanying Ning Tianchen, he broke into an arrogant grin. "Hahaha! So, Ning Tianchen, you've decided to deliver yourself to me?"
"Aren't you afraid of being discovered?" Ning Tianchen asked calmly, raising an eyebrow.
Shi Nian sneered, "What I've done would mean death if anyone found out. So, if you die too, no one will know it was me."
"Without you, the Seven Treasures team's strength will be greatly diminished. At that point, the champion of this tournament will belong to our Canghui Academy."
Ning Tianchen feigned regret. "What a pity—you still don't understand the situation before you die."
Hu Liena of the Spirit Hall team was also a Spirit System Soul Master. The Canghui Academy's seven-in-one martial soul fusion technique might not even work on her.
Moreover, even without the Spirit Hall team, any of the Four Elements Academy teams could easily overpower the Canghui Academy.
"You brat, still spouting nonsense on your deathbed. Very well—join Tang San on his journey to the underworld."
Shi Nian unleashed his spiritual power, launching an attack at Ning Tianchen.
However, Ning Tianchen seemed to be surrounded by an invisible barrier that blocked Shi Nian's spiritual attack.
Eyes wide with disbelief, Shi Nian stared at him.
"What? With me here, you dare lay a hand on the kid?" Dugu Bo appeared behind Ning Tianchen, seemingly out of nowhere.
Shi Nian collapsed to the ground, his face ashen. "Poison Douluo!"
He finally understood why Ning Tianchen had dared to show up while he was acting. He hadn't expected a Title Douluo to be hiding behind him.
Now, he truly had no way out.
Dugu Bo didn't give him a chance to speak. His Jade Phosphorus Serpent Emperor martial soul opened its massive jaws and effortlessly tore off Shi Nian's head.
Ning Tianchen crouched down and searched Shi Nian's corpse for traces of spirit bones.
Dugu Bo's lips twitched as he manipulated the Emerald Phosphorus Snake Emperor to spit out Shi Nian's head.
With a stomp, he crushed it, revealing the spirit bone inside. Reaching out, he plucked it and tossed it to Ning Tianchen.
"A head spirit bone! Kid, according to our agreement, it's yours."
Dugu Bo already possessed the Medusa skull; this gemstone-type head spirit bone was useless to him.
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