A hundred-thousand-year spirit beast.
The words alone sent shockwaves through the crowd.
Everyone knew what that meant—a hundred-thousand-year soul ring.
In the world of spirit masters, a ten-thousand-year soul ring was already considered a treasure. But a hundred-thousand-year ring? That was a divine gift. When such a beast was slain, it not only yielded a soul ring but also a soul bone. The two combined could elevate even a Contra to a level beyond most Titled Douluo.
To face a youthful, unguarded hundred-thousand-year spirit beast… who among them wouldn't be tempted? Even the Titled Douluo could not deny it. If they themselves didn't need it, their descendants surely would—and the allure of a hundred-thousand-year soul bone was enough to make anyone's heart stir.
In an instant, the entire field was boiling with suppressed desire.
Yu Xiaogang's twisted smile widened.
"To ensure fairness, I've even invited several reclusive experts to witness this matter."
As his voice fell, dozens of figures appeared, descending like falling stars.
Five Contras. Five Titled Douluo.
And not weak ones either—the five Contras were all at the peak of their realm, one step from becoming Titled Douluo themselves.
Li Chang'an's expression darkened. He knew there were hidden families and hermit experts across the vast Douluo Continent, but he hadn't expected Yu Xiaogang of all people to summon them. Clearly, he had help from some shadowy power beyond the continent itself.
Among the five Titled Douluo, two exuded a crushing aura of stability—the unmistakable presence of those above Rank 95. But the leader, radiating fierce dominance like a tiger descending a mountain, was something else entirely.
Rank 98. A peak Titled Douluo.
No wonder Yu Xiaogang had dared to make trouble in Spirit City. With such a being behind him, even the Pope herself could not guarantee total safety.
Li Chang'an's hand tightened around Xiao Wu's, his eyes sweeping calmly across the gathered powerhouses before settling coldly on Yu Xiaogang.
"Yu Xiaogang," he said, his tone cutting through the tension like a blade, "today, I will kill you."
Yu Xiaogang sneered.
"Heh… we'll see. You might want to make your choice first."
This was no bluff—it was a trap, a public checkmate.
If Spirit Hall chose to protect Xiao Wu, they would be harboring a spirit beast, alienating countless spirit masters and dividing their own ranks.
A righteous trap, a cunning act of moral coercion—a naked stratagem of public shame.
Bibi Dong's gaze flicked to Li Chang'an. She already knew what he would decide.
She also knew that if Spirit Hall defended Xiao Wu, her position as Pope might not survive the fallout. But what of it? For her student, for her beloved, what was the worth of a throne?
"Spirit Hall, today—"
Before she could finish, Li Chang'an stepped forward and spoke first.
"Teacher, there's no need. From this moment forth, I, Li Chang'an, renounce Spirit Hall. I am no longer its Holy Son. My actions today are my own and bear no connection to Spirit Hall."
He turned to his companions.
"Zhuqing, Nana… take the others and fall back."
"Fall back?" Meng Yiran snapped, stepping forward. "We're sisters. We don't abandon one of our own!"
One after another, the others joined her—Hu Liena, Zhu Zhuqing, Mu Xi, Ning Rongrong, Ye Lingling, Xiao Miao, even Liu Erlong.
"Exactly!" Hu Liena declared coldly, gripping Xiao Wu's trembling hand. "If one of us is targeted, we all stand together. Let's see who dares touch her!"
Tears streamed down Xiao Wu's cheeks. Surrounded by her friends, her lover, and her teacher, she finally understood what her mother's dying words had meant—this warmth, this loyalty, was the purest part of humanity.
A deep, commanding voice interrupted the moment.
"Enough talk. Spirit Hall, make your choice—kill the spirit beast now, and I'll leave. Or hand her over, and I'll leave. But if you protect her…"
The speaker, a white-bearded elder, was none other than the Rank 98 Titled Douluo who led the intruders.
Before Bibi Dong could respond, a booming voice split the sky.
"Old fool, you think Spirit Hall has no one to match you?"
A white-robed giant descended from above—Golden Crocodile Douluo, the Second Worship of the Elder Hall.
Rank 98. Equal strength.
The white-bearded elder narrowed his eyes.
"So, Spirit Hall intends to shield a spirit beast?"
Golden Crocodile Douluo roared,
"Nonsense! Spirit Hall protects no beasts. But since you dared trespass into our sacred city without leave, that alone is a crime worthy of death!"
It was a deflection, but a deliberate one—a public declaration that the Elder Hall stood behind Li Chang'an.
The old intruder snorted.
"Hmph. I've been in seclusion for a century. Let's see how strong Spirit Hall truly is today!"
Both men shot into the sky, and moments later, the Sky trembled with their battle.
---
With the pressure eased, Li Chang'an turned his gaze once more to Yu Xiaogang.
He raised his right hand—the Pangu Axe materialized in his grip—and behind him, seven spirit rings slowly rose.
Red. Red. Red. Red. Red. Red. Red.
Seven rings. Seven hundred-thousand-year soul rings.
The crowd gasped.
At some point unseen, he had quietly elevated all his soul rings to the highest possible level. Now, he stood as a Spirit Saint whose every ring glowed blood-crimson.
"You're all scrambling for a single hundred-thousand-year ring," he said with a mocking smile. "I've got seven. Pathetic."
The insult was directed at everyone present—and none dared retort.
Even Bibi Dong herself was stunned.
'Weren't some of his rings lower before? When did…?'
Yu Xiaogang's face turned ashen. His lips trembled.
"Impossible… this is impossible…"
His worldview shattered before his eyes.
Li Chang'an's gaze hardened.
"I told you. You must die."
He lifted the axe. The pressure alone made the air tremble. Even the Titled Douluo watching felt their hearts seize.
"The City of Slaughter… Death God Domain," Bibi Dong murmured, eyes wide.
Then, Yu Xiaogang suddenly pulled something from his sleeve and crushed it.
He dropped to his knees, voice shrill and desperate.
"I beseech the Abyssal Lord—descend upon me!"
Black mist erupted, engulfing him entirely. His aura surged—no longer that of a human spirit master, but something alien, corrosive.
The air turned heavy, suffocating. Even the Titled Douluo flinched.
"This isn't a Douluo aura," someone whispered. "He's… not of this world."
Indeed, those who had fought the Abyssal Legion before recognized it instantly.
Yu Xiaogang was no longer himself—he was a host, a vessel for an invader.
A voice that was not his own echoed, cold and amused.
"Ah… mortals. Greetings."
"So that's it," a Spirit Hall elder spat. "He's a traitor—a pawn of the Abyss!"
Ghost Douluo vanished in a blur, striking first—only to be swatted aside like an insect, crashing to the ground and coughing blood.
"Futile," the possessed Yu Xiaogang said. "Even in this fragile body, I can exert the might of your so-called Absolute Douluo. And with your elder occupied above, Spirit Hall is defenseless. How convenient that I arrived to destroy my greatest obstacle before the Abyss descends fully."
But before he could finish, a flash of black cut across his chest—Li Chang'an's axe, cleaving into him.
"You talk too much," Li Chang'an said flatly.
Yu Xiaogang staggered back, the Abyssal mist around him writhing. For the first time, the foreign voice wavered.
"Impressive… your martial soul… it defies me…"
"You dare claim my martial soul is useless?" Li Chang'an's tone turned sharp. "Try surviving this."
The Pangu Axe pulsed once, and the Abyssal energy began to shatter.
The voice roared:
"A fine weapon indeed. If I could consume it, I would ascend beyond gods themselves! You may have dispersed my will, but the Abyssal Gate is opening. My true form will soon arrive—HAHAHAHA!"
The laughter cut off abruptly as the black mist disintegrated, torn apart by Li Chang'an's strike.
Yu Xiaogang's consciousness returned—just long enough to realize the truth.
The Abyssal Lord was gone.
The power he sought had devoured him instead.
"I told you," Li Chang'an said coldly, "you will die."
The Pangu Axe fell.
A blinding arc split the air itself.
When the light faded, Yu Xiaogang's body lay lifeless on the ground, eyes wide with terror.
Li Chang'an raised his hand once more. A surge of ultimate Flame washed over the corpse, burning it completely to ash. A gentle breeze swept across the square, scattering the remains to nothingness.
Then he spoke one final phrase:
"Yu Xiaogang—soul, shatter."
The words carried power. Reality itself trembled.
And just like that, Yu Xiaogang ceased to exist—utterly erased from the world.