The Nan'ning City Lord's words made the surrounding patients, who had received Tom's kindness, all glare at him with anger.
Seeing this, the Nan'ning City Lord let out a disdainful snort through his nose.
A bunch of lowly commoners and ordinary soul masters. Can they really overturn the heavens?
The surrounding soldiers let out a deep shout, and countless shining, cold blades were pointed directly at Shen An and Ye Lingling.
This murderous intent, unique to a military formation, made everyone present, even the soul masters, feel a chill in their hearts.
Ye Lingling, who had consumed a large amount of soul power from treating the patients, her small face was deathly pale. Under this aura, she actually showed signs of being unable to hold on.
Just one city, and its soldiers' elite level can be like this. It's enough to show the strength of Star Luo's military.
The surrounding ordinary commoners and soul masters' gazes flickered, not daring to make a sound. A few people even directly ran away.
Seeing this, the Nan'ning City Lord once again sneered, not letting his men stop those people from running away.
"Are you disappointed? Even if you do so much for them, they don't even have the thought of facing this with you, only caring about their own heads as they flee."
"So, you see, being a doctor traveling the continent is very dangerous. It's better to come under this City Lord's command and be a money tree in peace."
Shen An lightly took a step forward. This tragic, murderous qi, in his one light and cloudy step, was completely wiped out.
Ye Lingling also felt the gloom disperse and saw the sun again. Looking at Shen An standing in front of her, it was as if she were looking at a majestic immortal mountain. An incomparable sense of security arose spontaneously.
This was something that even the Soul Douluo Zhao Zhong found difficult to give. It was as if as long as she was by Shen An's side, everything was an easy matter.
"I saved them. What does it have to do with them?" A relaxed smile hung on Shen An's face.
Shen An had done this not for wealth, not for fame, nor to bestow favors on others. It was just him acting as his heart willed. Naturally, he wouldn't put on a show of being backstabbed.
But suddenly, sounds came from different directions, accompanied by the clamor of footsteps.
"The Nan'ning City Lord is trying to forcibly detain Doctor Cat God! Everyone, come and stop him quickly!"
"Doctor Cat God is benevolent and kind-hearted, having saved countless of us! We cannot let such a good person be wronged!"
Sounds like this rang out, and the clamor of footsteps came from all directions, even making the gravel on the ground tremble slightly.
"They don't seem to be as you said, all selfish people," Shen An looked over teasingly.
However, Shen An was just being sarcastic. He had no real intention of relying on these commoner soul masters.
Perhaps some of them were not lacking in courage, but their cultivation was a critical weakness. Shen An would naturally not let them rush up to their deaths for nothing.
"I am unharmed. I have received all of your kind intentions. Please return as soon as possible. I have my own way of resolving this," a clear voice echoed all around.
More than just resolving it, Shen An planned to kill the Nan'ning City Lord on the spot.
"Such shameless boasting! Men, invite this Doctor Cat God and the Nine Heart Begonia soul master to the City Lord's mansion!"
The surrounding soldiers immediately formed a circle and surrounded them.
The greed in the Nan'ning City Lord's mung-bean-like eyes was plain to see.
He knew very well that the Soul Douluo protecting the Nine Heart Begonia was heavily injured and on the verge of death.
Right now, the situation of these two people and one cat was no different from fish on a chopping block, for him to slaughter as he pleased.
As for the commoners and soul masters on the periphery, it was still that same sentence: the strong are revered.
Although they were angry, they could not have any effect on the Nan'ning City Lord.
Facing this posture, Ye Lingling couldn't help but look at Shen An nervously. But the moment she saw him, all her unease dispersed.
This one is a ruthless person who can take on a Soul Douluo head-on.
As expected, specks of azure brilliance spread out. One by one, particles of azure light floated in the air, beautiful and magnificent.
More than a year had passed, and Shen An's control over his soul skills had already reached the point where he could use them without even revealing his soul rings.
Within the domain, everyone's face changed greatly. Their strength was all being suppressed.
The Nan'ning City Lord looked at Shen An in disbelief. "A domain! How can you have a domain! Are you a Titled Douluo??!"
His eyes held panic, fear, and even more so, confusion. How did the soft persimmon he had originally thought had suddenly become an ancient tyrannosaurus?
'A cat? A domain? No, still missing a mouse. Didn't that person say he was staying in Star Luo City all the time, drinking and making merry with Crown Prince Dai Weishi all day?'
"No, you are not a Titled Douluo! You are Shen An! You are just hiding your tracks!" the Nan'ning City Lord blurted out.
He had suspected from the beginning whether this Doctor Cat God was the renowned Shen An on the continent, so he had specially sent people to Star Luo City to inquire.
The result obtained was that Shen An usually did not like to go out, and only enjoyed drinking with Crown Prince Dai Weishi.
That was why he had been so relieved and bold as to come and forcibly detain Shen An. But he had never expected that he was really facing the ruthless man himself.
At this time, the Nan'ning City Lord no longer had his previous arrogant flame. He only wanted to run, to run as far away as possible.
As for whether Shen An would spare his life out of consideration for his status as a City Lord and on account of the Star Luo Empire...
What a joke. The other party didn't even put Spirit Hall in his eyes. Would he care about him?
Shen An glanced at the Nan'ning City Lord with some slight approval. Then, the particles of azure light in the air suddenly crashed towards him.
Rumble!
A huge sound came. The Nan'ning City Lord, who was already fat with big ears, unhesitatingly showed his Martial Soul True Body. It was surprisingly a giant black-maned, tusked pig.
The thick black light from its mouth did its best to offset the azure light sword qi.
Behind him, there were actually eight soul rings moving in unison.
Ye Lingling's face also changed. She had come to Star Luo to train and had naturally done her background checks.
This Nan'ning City Lord had always shown himself to the world as a low-level Soul Sage, but she never expected that he had quietly stepped into the Soul Douluo realm.
'It is said that he only advanced to a Soul Sage when he was fifty-five. Now, in just ten years, he is already a Soul Douluo. This cultivation speed is not reasonable.'
Ye Lingling said to herself in her heart. This kind of cultivation speed was comparable to that of a top-tier genius. But this Nan'ning City Lord was clearly not one, otherwise he wouldn't have wasted half his life to only just advance to a Soul Sage.
"What are you still standing there for?! Hurry up and surround him for me!"
The quality of the soldiers of the Star Luo Empire naturally need not be said more. Among the various kingdoms, empires, and other factions, they were ranked second, looking towards first.
The first was naturally Spirit Hall. After all, soldiers with a common, pure faith were different.
The soldiers of the empires and kingdoms were mostly trained to have strict military discipline and extremely high quality, but they still couldn't compare to Spirit Hall, which had both high quality and a firm faith.
At the order of the Nan'ning City Lord, the soldiers looked at each other. It was fine for them to deal with the likes of Soul Ancestors and Soul Kings, but to deal with a person whom even a Soul Douluo did not dare to face head-on—wasn't that sending them to their deaths?
"Think about your families!" the Nan'ning City Lord threatened again, at the same time his fat, huge body continuously retreated.
The well-equipped soldiers, hearing this, their eyes filled with anger and sorrow, yet they raised their weapons and, bearing the pressure of the domain, surrounded Shen An step by step.
They were clearly the attacking party, yet they had a look of facing death as if it were a homecoming.
Ye Lingling had a kind thought and couldn't help but pinch the corner of Shen An's clothes. "Shen An, how about we let them go? They are also pitiful people."
Shen An ignored the continuously advancing soldiers and looked at the continuously retreating Nan'ning City Lord. Within the Sword Domain, Shen An was the master of the Sword Domain, and his attacks followed his will.
In the one year's time, although his soul power level had not improved significantly, his use and control of his every wisp of power were much more exquisite than before.
If one were to say that the Shen An of a year ago had ten points of power and could exert ten points of might, then now he could exert fifteen points, or even twenty points of power.
Without moving his body, with just a thought, one after another, sword qi condensed into the shape of a sword and slashed at the huge body of the Nan'ning City Lord with various killing methods.
For a time, accompanied by the clear cry of a sword, was the miserable cry of a pig.
The Sword Domain could reach three hundred meters. This three-hundred-meter distance was as long as a century for the Nan'ning City Lord.
He never would have dreamed that the word "fragile" could actually be used on him, this Soul Douluo.
Yes, at this moment he felt incomparably fragile and insignificant.
The sword qi generated out of thin air broke through his powerful soul skills, cut through his proud Martial Soul True Body, and the peerlessly sharp sword qi ravaged his body.
Everyone was stunned. Ye Lingling was also the same. When she had learned a year ago that Shen An had fought two great Soul Douluo, she had felt it was somewhat fantastical at the time.
How could a soul master of the same generation who had just participated in the Soul Master Tournament go and challenge the older generation of soul masters?
Later, the news from the Star Luo side became more and more precise. Only then did they half-believe it. Perhaps it was by a trick that he had won against a heavily injured Soul Douluo, but that was also enough to be proud of.
But today, truly seeing Shen An's usual suppressive power, Ye Lingling was completely stunned.
No, he really can fight a Soul Douluo. And it's a one-sided abuse.
A strange feeling was born from the bottom of her heart. No auxiliary-type soul master dislikes a powerful soul master. It was just that it was suppressed again by Ye Lingling.
'He's a scumbag, he's a scumbag. Our Nine Heart Begonia soul masters have to find someone who is whole-heartedly devoted to themselves,' Ye Lingling said to herself in her heart.
The retreating Nan'ning City Lord let out a mournful howl. The originally scattered black soul power instantly turned into a blood color.
It actually gave him another surge of powerful strength. He actually bore the pressure of countless sword qis and, with a with all one's might blow, broke open the Sword Domain, leaving behind a figure fleeing in panic.
The originally small-hill-like body was now somewhat thin. On the ground was a thick smell of blood and chunks of flesh.
Shen An's gaze shifted as he scanned the surrounding soldiers who were at a standstill. "Get lost!"
With a shout, a rolling sword qi became a river, sweeping towards these soldiers.
These well-trained and well-equipped soldiers all had looks of sorrow on their faces. A sword qi that even a Soul Douluo expert found difficult to resist—how could these small fries possibly withstand it?
'My life is over,' the soldiers lamented in their hearts, without a single thought of resistance.
Ye Lingling had originally just been pinching the corner of Shen An's clothes. Seeing this scene, her small face turned white again. A muffled sound came from her throat, and her beautiful eyes closed tightly.
Her two small hands even more so unconsciously pinched Shen An's waist. She was afraid, unable to bear seeing such a tragic scene. These were dozens of living lives.
But after a moment, Ye Lingling found that she hadn't heard any miserable cries.
'Could it be that Shen An's sharp and peerless sword qi had instantly cut these ordinary people into bone ash?'
For a time, Ye Lingling's heart was filled with pity. The other party had made a move on them first. It was normal for Shen An to strike back. No one could say anything about this.
"Ye Lingling, if you're going to close your eyes, close your eyes. Why are you keep pinching my waist?" Shen An said with a dark face.
Hearing Shen An's words, Ye Lingling's beautiful eyes slowly opened. But she saw that the group of soldiers were now all sitting three hundred meters away.
They also looked at themselves with confusion, surprisingly unharmed. After a long while, they finally understood that Shen An had shown them mercy.
"We were forced to make a move on sir. Today, we are indebted to sir for showing mercy. We will surely remember this kindness in our hearts."
A leading soldier was the first to bow. Immediately after, with a clattering sound, all the soldiers kowtowed.
Shen An casually waved a hand, signaling for these people to go about their business.
He was not a bloodthirsty person to begin with. These soldiers were clearly the blades under the Nan'ning City Lord's command. There was no need for Shen An to wipe them out. He just had to disperse them.
On the other hand, the means by which the Nan'ning City Lord had burst out were somewhat strange. It was a mixture of countless mottled blood qi, absolutely not a normal means. Otherwise, he would have had to leave his life here no matter what.
However, Shen An did not pay too much attention. Although the Nan'ning City Lord had escaped, the Nine Leaf sword qi that had already invaded his body was not so easily dispelled.
If not handled properly, at best his realm would fall. At worst, he would die.
"Go, go, go. Let go quickly," Shen An, seeing that Ye Lingling was still pinching his waist, reached out and moved her away.
Ye Lingling, as if waking from a dream, her beautiful eyes shifted, and she couldn't help but say with annoyance, "Hmph, so many people want me to pinch them, and I won't."
Then she even fiercely grabbed a handful. Feeling the unyielding hardness, she withdrew her small hand as if she had been electrocuted.
At this time, Ye Lingling felt her heart beating abnormally fast. She, who had always maintained a distance from everyone, was having such contact with a member of the opposite sex for the first time in her life.
The black veil could cover her face but not her ears. She raised her hand and let her waterfall-like blue long hair fall loose to cover her burning red ears.
After hearing this, Shen An chuckled. "Puxin woman, such a turn-off."
As for Ye Lingling's forceful grab, with Shen An's current physical fitness, he naturally wouldn't feel anything.
As for any wonderful touch, it was even more out of the question. He just treated it as a little girl's mischief.
Shen An turned around and led Tom back, incidentally thanking the commoners and soul masters who had come to their aid from all around. He had received their kind intentions.
Ye Lingling hurriedly followed. "I want to learn medicine from Tom. Can you let him teach me?"
"Ask Tom. If Tom is willing, it's fine."
"Oh."
"Tom, are you willing to teach me? If you're not willing, just say no. Otherwise, I'll take it as you agreeing by default."
Tom: "???"
Is she bullying it because it can't talk? But it can. Forget it, too lazy to open my mouth.
———
Outside Nan'ning City, the Nan'ning City Lord, disregarding his injuries, frantically activated a secret method, overdrafting his life force to speed along all the way.
It wasn't until he reached a dark and gloomy place that he finally stopped, but the wary look on his face still hadn't faded.
"Come out," the Nan'ning City Lord said, his back against a stone wall, his voice fierce on the outside but timid on the inside.
"Haha, truly a rare sight. The ever-majestic Nan'ning City Lord has actually fallen to such a state."
A sinister voice sounded, and a human figure appeared from illusory to real.
A pair of dark green pupils greedily stared at the Nan'ning City Lord, as if seeing some peerless delicacy.
If Ye Lingling were here, she would surely cry out in alarm. This was the evil soul master who had ambushed her group that day.
"No more nonsense. Although I am heavily injured now, I can use a secret method at any time to burn my own flesh and blood, so that you won't get anything."
"And I have set up a backup plan. If I don't appear for a long time, your existence will be exposed."
The green-eyed man suddenly laughed. "Look at what you're saying. We've been old friends for so many years. How could I make a move on you?"
"Hmph, I came to find you to discuss a business deal. After it's done, it will be of great benefit to both of us."