Chapter 144 – Nine Kill Sword

At this moment, the six elders led by Golden Crocodile Douluo had already arrived on the scene. When Golden Crocodile Douluo sensed the overwhelming pressure coming from Chen Xin, his brow furrowed slightly. The soul power fluctuations emanating from Chen Xin now were enough to make even him feel alarmed—this kind of feeling he had only ever experienced from his big brother Qian Daoliu or Tang Chen.

"Elder Golden Crocodile, I'll say this plainly—step aside. If not, don't blame the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan for being impolite!"

Ning Fengzhi's face was grim to the extreme. In his mind, every second they delayed here meant Xu Yang was in one second more danger. They had already been stalled for several minutes—who knew what might've happened to Xu Yang by now? His eyes burned with madness and killing intent as he locked eyes with Golden Crocodile Douluo. His voice was as cold as death itself.

Hearing this, Chen Xin took a step forward. His figure flickered, and in the next instant, he was standing in front of Ning Fengzhi. The Seven Kill Sword in his hand faintly glowed blue. The ninth spirit ring, which had previously floated beneath his feet, now transformed into a stream of light and embedded itself into the sword along with the previous eight rings.

At this moment, under the amplification of the Nine Treasure Amplification Divine Light, Chen Xin had temporarily touched upon the strength of an Ultimate Douluo. And it was precisely through this enlightenment that his sword technique evolved—from the Seven Kill Sword to the completed form:

Nine Kill Sword.

"I've finally done what my father never could. It's time the world learns what the strongest tool-type spirit on the continent truly is."

With that thought, Chen Xin's eyes were unwavering. Without hesitation, he swung his sword.

As the tip of the blade slashed through the air, space was rent apart. Jagged rainbow-colored rifts opened in the void, and translucent fragments of space burst outward, fired like blades at Golden Crocodile and the others.

This sword strike was not held back in the slightest. Chen Xin also understood: every second lost meant Xu Yang was in more peril. He wanted to end this in one blow.

Now that all his spirit rings were fused into the Nine Kill Sword, there was no more delay when unleashing soul skills. Any ability could now be unleashed instantly, like a true ten-thousand-year soul skill.

The technique he now cast was his ninth spirit skill—a powerful spatial soul skill capable of tearing apart heaven and earth.

"Not good! Dodge it!"

"Fifth Soul Skill: Golden Transformation!"

"Third Soul Skill—!"

Sensing the devastating might of this sword, Golden Crocodile Douluo and the others' expressions changed drastically. They activated their martial souls on the spot, casting agility or defensive skills in an attempt to dodge.

But to their horror, aside from Golden Crocodile who barely moved, the other five found themselves rooted in place. The terrifying pressure released from the blue sword had twisted space itself, rendering them unable to escape its reach.

At the critical moment, the space in front of them distorted and collapsed into a vortex. From it, a golden-haired middle-aged man stepped out. He raised his right hand calmly and stood in front of everyone.

"Angel's Wings."

He whispered softly. Behind him, a ten-meter-tall six-winged angel spirit manifested. Its enormous wings opened wide and then swiftly closed, fully shielding him and the others.

Chen Xin's devastating slash struck the angelic wings head-on, erupting in a blinding explosion of light.

When the radiance faded, the golden-haired man stood unmoved—his face slightly pale, but still firm.

The massive Six-Winged angel behind him, however, had lost most of its wings. Countless golden feathers scattered and dissolved into particles of light, vanishing into the air.

"Qian—Dao—Liu!"

Chen Xin's eyes were filled with killing intent, and he spat out the name word by word.

On the rooftop of a nearby building, disguised as Xue Qinghe, Qian Renxue watched anxiously. Her fists clenched so tightly that her nails pierced the skin of her palm. She dared not reveal any emotion on her face, but she had seen that sword strike clearly—her grandfather wouldn't be able to endure many more like that.

—

Meanwhile, inside the Supreme Pontiff Palace.

The moment Bibi Dong sensed that horrifying burst of energy from Chen Xin, her killing intent surged to its peak. And with it came a hardened resolve.

She understood very clearly: if she failed to kill Xu Yang today, she might never get another chance.

She could not allow a youth with such terrifying potential to grow into an insurmountable threat.

Clutching the Supreme Pontiff's scepter, her soul power surged wildly. In the next instant, she teleported in front of Xu Yang. With terrifying momentum, the scepter tore through the air like a lance, thrusting straight for his skull.

Xu Yang also moved at the same time. He focused his soul power into his right arm—his entire forearm glowing red-hot like newly forged iron, radiating extreme heat that twisted the air. The fabric of his sleeve instantly burned to ash.

Without any hesitation or fear, Xu Yang raised his fist and swung it directly at the incoming scepter.

Fist and scepter collided.

An explosive shockwave rippled out, shaking the entire palace.

Xu Yang felt a mighty force slam into him, but a smile curled at the corner of his lips. This impact was well within his tolerance—and within his calculations. He stopped resisting, allowing Bibi Dong's force to push him backward.

"Such a powerful body... even stronger than a hundred-thousand-year soul beast!"

Bibi Dong's heart trembled. Xu Yang's strength had far exceeded her expectations—especially his physical body, which was almost beyond reason. Her strike just now was enough to incapacitate a Soul Douluo, yet Xu Yang looked like he hadn't even broken a sweat.

A flash of seriousness entered her eyes. If things dragged on, she would lose the upper hand. Xu Yang's potential was too terrifying.

"I can't stall any longer!"

Resolving herself, Bibi Dong activated her Death Spider Emperor martial soul.

Her upper body was covered in layers of purple-black armor. Four small eyes extended beneath her normal ones, and her lower half transformed into that of a spider—eight grotesque, bristle-covered spider legs extended, dripping foul green mucus. She now looked like a giant, poisonous arachnid.

"Third Soul Skill—Spider Web Restraint!"

One yellow, two purple, five black, one red—nine spirit rings rose beneath her feet. Her third soul skill activated alongside the purple ring's glow.

From the belly of her abdomen, over a dozen deep purple webs shot out, rapidly expanding and wrapping toward Xu Yang.

—