Chapter 317: The Times Are Changing

Chapter 317: The Times Are Changing

The Saint Heart Begonia in Ye Lingling's hand emitted a soft glow, turning into specks of starlight that merged into Huo Wu's body.

Huo Wu's aura surged instantly. In just a moment, she had returned to her peak state.

Tang San's expression darkened immediately.

In the spirit master world, the unique abilities of Ye Lingling's spirit were no longer a secret.

As one of Xiao Yu's wives, and having grown up alongside him as childhood sweethearts, she was publicly recognized as the primary wife of the Nine Star Hall. Naturally, she drew considerable attention.

With the rising influence of the Nine Star Hall and Ye Lingling's own increase in strength, the Nine-Heart Begonia Clan, which had once been cautious around the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan, no longer held back. They began openly publicizing the evolution of Ye Lingling's spirit, aggressively pushing for the title of the strongest auxiliary spirit.

A spirit that could heal and restore spirit power—it was essentially a cheat-level existence among support-types.

As long as Ye Lingling was present, Huo Wu could unleash her powerful offensive abilities without holding back. And none of these Title Douluo could endure more than a few strikes.

"Hah!"

Behind Tang San, one of the two Title Douluo from the Clear Sky Clan suddenly launched an attack.

In this veteran Clear Sky Hammer user's view, Ye Lingling's spirit ability was indeed monstrous, but she was ultimately a support-type spirit master. If she were eliminated, everything else would fall into place.

The seventh spirit ring on the Clear Sky Hammer master flared brilliantly. His hammer swelled with power as it shot straight toward Ye Lingling, clearly aiming to kill her in a single blow!

Facing this murderous strike, Ye Lingling didn't dodge at all. She calmly raised her right hand, and the deep blue gemstone ring on her middle finger suddenly released a blinding beam of light.

With a soft crack, the thin beam from Ye Lingling's ring pierced straight through the Clear Sky Hammer—and the man wielding it.

The ring was, in fact, a level-nine soul tool. With Ye Lingling's spirit power beyond rank ninety infused into it, its destructive power rivaled the ninth spirit ability of a typical Title Douluo.

Ye Lingling slowly lowered her right hand and said coolly, "Senior, times have changed. Support-type spirit masters are no longer powerless."

The Clear Sky Hammer master stared at her, full of unwillingness. That attack had struck dead center—right through his heart—and the sheer power had shredded it to pieces.

He trembled, trying to speak, but before the words could leave his lips, his hand fell limp and he collapsed to the ground.

"That's... a soul tool!"

Tang San's expression grew even darker.

He still remembered more than ten years ago when he tried to popularize Tang Sect hidden weapons on the Douluo Continent. But right when he arrived at Shrek Academy, he ran into Ning Rongrong, decked out in soul tools. His so-called hidden weapons were immediately rendered useless. His dream of rebuilding the Tang Sect had died on the spot.

"We're leaving!"

With a cold snort, Tang San turned and walked away.

With Ye Lingling's support and Huo Wu's combat strength, the battle was already painful enough. But now Ye Lingling, a support-type spirit master, also possessed offensive capability. If Tang San still had the Sea God Trident with him, he might've stood a chance.

Unfortunately, the Sea God Trident was far too conspicuous. While sneaking in disguised as a guard, Tang San had left it outside the palace. Now, facing two Title Douluo, he had no chance at all. For now, the only option was to regroup with Tang Xiao and the others, then come back to kill them later.

The remaining three Title Douluo quickly followed and exited the scene.

"Lingling, aren't we going after them?"

Huo Wu raised an eyebrow in the direction they fled.

Ye Lingling shook her head and replied, "Sister Huo Wu, our mission is to protect the child. As for them, our husband will deal with them. And don't forget—he and Sister Xue'er already uncovered their scheme long ago and have been holding back all this time. Why do you think that is?"

Inside the imperial palace corridor—

The battle between Yang Wudi and Sword Douluo Chen Xin—two Title Douluo with tool spirits—had reached a fever pitch. Sword qi and spear shadows flew wildly, their strikes colliding with explosive force, the air full of piercing shockwaves.

"Good! Good! Good! Yang Wudi, I never imagined you'd reach this level. Today's battle—truly exhilarating!"

Sword Douluo laughed loudly, eyes full of joy. It had been so many years since he'd enjoyed such a fierce, satisfying fight.

Sword Douluo had always been someone detached from worldly affairs, wholly devoted to the path of the sword. At this moment, he had long forgotten everything around him—his eyes contained nothing but Yang Wudi and the Soulbreaking Spear in his hands.

Yang Wudi was the same. Once the Soulbreaking Spear was drawn, all mundane concerns were cast aside. His heart held only one thought—battle!

At the same time, Ge Long, who had just been saved by Yang Wudi, had returned to his position and was leading his troops in an assault against the makeshift force led by Ning Fengzhi, Xue Beng, and Xue Xing.

"Marshal Ge Long, come quickly and protect His Majesty!"

Just then, an urgent cry rang out behind Ge Long.

Turning his head, Ge Long saw Xue Qinghe approaching rapidly, protected by Meng Shenji, Bai Baoshan, Zhi Lin, and several dozen Imperial Guards.

Hot on their heels were Tang Xiao and his group, pursuing Xue Qinghe at high speed. The Imperial Guards trying to block them along the way couldn't even stall them for a second—before six Title Douluo, they were swept aside like dust.

"Quick! Protect His Majesty!"

Ge Long bellowed, urging the white tiger beneath him forward to assist Xue Qinghe at once.

Seeing this, Tang Xiao roared. On top of his already incredible speed, he accelerated again, transforming into a black streak of light and appearing behind Xue Qinghe in just a few breaths.

"Die!"

Tang Xiao's eighth spirit ring lit up abruptly. A massive black hammer shadow instantly enveloped Xue Qinghe and the three Spirit Douluo around him. A crushing pressure descended like a falling sky. The three academy deans immediately felt their breath hitch—they couldn't even inhale.

Though disguised as Xue Qinghe, Qian Renxue was in excellent condition. Tang Xiao's pressure was nothing more than a breeze to her, but to avoid suspicion, she pretended to be struggling under its weight.

The enormous Clear Sky Hammer fell from the heavens with killing intent, like the sky itself was collapsing.

"Protect His Majesty!"

Among the three deans, the only defensive-type Spirit Douluo, Bai Baoshan, shouted and activated his eighth spirit ring. His martial spirit, the Celestial Star Furnace, soared into the air and rapidly expanded, shielding the group overhead.

Boom!

A deafening blast echoed in the sky as the Clear Sky Hammer smashed into the Celestial Star Furnace. The resulting impact made the ground quake like an earthquake, the very air vibrating with shockwaves.

But Bai Baoshan was only an eighty-fifth ranked Spirit Douluo. How could he possibly block Tang Xiao, a powerhouse with ninety-seven levels of spirit power?

Crack!

A sharp shattering sound rang out. The Celestial Star Furnace was instantly smashed into countless fragments, vanishing into the air.

Pfft!

The destruction of a martial spirit brought dire consequences. Especially since Tang Xiao's attack wasn't over. Bai Baoshan spat out a mouthful of blood toward the sky—and fell, dead.

(End of Chapter)

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