Opportunity!
Seeing that Tang Sui had blocked all her escape routes herself, in an instant, everyone except Tang Sui's eyes turned red. A bloodthirsty killing intent occupied all their thoughts, and infinite killing intent erupted from their eyes.
"Buzz—"
Led by Xie Yue, the earth-attribute soul masters agilely adjusted their stances, stepping heavily on the ground to spring up, their movements creating countless sonic booms that deafened the ears!
Tang Sui, seemingly at the end of her rope, looked up, her dark pupils holding the stillness of dead water and a glint of coldness.
"Seventh Soul Skill, Martial Soul True Body!"
A powerful, low voice boomed like a resounding bell, approaching from afar. It wasn't just one voice, but a convergence of many.
"What?!"
Under the disbelieving gazes of Tuoba Xi and the others launching a group attack, imposing energy bodies, one after another, suddenly entered everyone's pupils. Su Dan Novel Network.
It was their most familiar sight: the true form of their martial souls!
"Boom—!"
Terrifying energy collided with the ice barrier formed by Tang Sui before anyone could reach it.
Immense pressure, like a tsunami, squeezed in with overwhelming force. The ground structures collapsed entirely under the terrifying impact. Those at the forefront were instantly injured in their heart meridians by the explosive power. Even the tough-skinned Tuoba Xi involuntarily spewed a large mouthful of bloody mist. His heavy body began to charge backward, even affecting other soul masters behind him who were injured and unable to dodge.
"Fourth Soul Skill, Soul Locking Chain."
The black chains used to seal and suppress enemies' movements, like the soul-snatching chains of hell's messengers, silently pierced through the solid ice, as if without substance. But as they neared Tang Sui, they materialized, nimbly encircling her waist and pulling her towards the other end of the black chain. Tang Sui, like a balloon being pulled, was sent flying backward, landing behind the owner of this soul skill.
"Are you alright?"
A man clad in a black cloak and wearing practical, fitted attire supported Tang Sui from behind. His palms, pressed against Tang Sui's shoulder and arm, exuded streams of soul power, transferring into her body and alleviating her physical strain.
Tang Sui turned her head and met a face covered by a black scarf, revealing only a pair of eyes. After a muffled cough, she straightened up, "No serious injuries. Your arrival is perfectly timed."
Had it been a little longer, she might have been severely injured.
The man nodded, not ceasing the soul power transfer.
The other masked figures in black cloaks, floating in the air beside him, silently activated their martial souls and moved closer to Tang Sui, forming a protective encirclement around her.
Xie Yue and the others, who had struggled to climb out of the deep pit, clutched their chests, their eyes filled with horror as they looked at the dozens of black-clothed, masked figures who had suddenly appeared.
Yan coughed up a large amount of thick blood but ignored the droplets falling from his lips and chin. His gaze, equally horrified yet unwilling, was fixed on the masked figures as he gasped.
"Where did these people come from?!"
Gasps of surprise echoed consecutively.
Not for any other reason, but because as far as the eye could see, the dozens of black-clothed, masked figures suspended in mid-air were all emitting eight resplendent soul rings!
Even one black-clothed figure close to Tang Sui, though not displaying soul rings and thus his specific strength was unknown, was capable of hovering in the air and remaining composed amidst numerous powerful Soul Douluo. Such a person could not be ordinary!
What's more, the other black-clothed figures were all at the Soul Douluo level!
Aside from their Spirit Hall, could another faction possess such a large number of powerful Soul Douluo soul masters?!
Was it the Star Luo Empire or the Heaven Dou Empire?
Xie Yue's mind raced through various speculations, but he ultimately dismissed both empires.
This was on Star Luo Empire territory. Not to mention the Heaven Dou Empire's severely depleted strength, and thus far, there had been no news of an alliance between the two empires.
However, even though the Star Luo Empire's combat power was strong, the number of Soul Douluo level soul masters they possessed was limited. It was impossible for them to deploy so many Soul Douluo experts for just one Tang Sui...
Tang Sui!
Wait, could it be people from the Clear Sky School?!
Xie Yue's heart suddenly tightened, and he stared with uncertainty at the menacing masked figures.
"Cough cough!"
Heart-wrenching coughs emanated from beneath the enormous, cracked stone.
Tuoba Xi, who had just managed to push away the falling rocks from himself, looked up and saw a scene more terrifying than when their previous few soul master powerhouses had simultaneously unleashed their soul rings.
Tuoba Xi's pupils contracted violently as he met the indifferent glance of a black-robed figure, who was very close to Tang Sui and also wore a black scarf, obscuring his face.
Within those eyes swirled a dense crimson, as if falling into a deep sea filled with blood, enveloped by a profound killing intent and bloody aura. His feet felt as if they were nailed to the ground, unable to move!
Such... such terrifying pressure...
This person's eyes held a deeper sea of corpses and blood than his own!
Tuoba Xi's brow twitched heavily, cold dread erupting from his scalp. Cold sweat involuntarily trickled down his forehead. Under this absolute oppressive aura, he was utterly speechless.
"So many Soul Douluo..."
"Where did these people spring from?"
"Captain of the Guards, this..."
"Our remaining strength cannot match these full-powered Soul Douluo..."
Hesitant voices continuously emanated from the surviving imperial soldiers.
As the atmosphere remained tense, Tang Sui, being supported, issued a cold command:
"Kill them!"
The four words filled with killing intent sent a chill through Xie Yue's heart, making him shiver all over.
The eyes of the black-clothed figures, obeying the command, were fixed on them, gleaming with bloodlust.
At this point, Xie Yue didn't need to give orders. The other soldiers, already terrified by the display, began to scramble to their feet and flee, in utter disarray.
"Chua—!"
The black-armored knights, having been tempered in the Slaughter City and possessing considerable combat experience, immediately unleashed a torrent of scalding blood with every strike.
Xie Yue, narrowly dodging a spear thrust directly at him, finally regained his senses and shouted loudly—
"Retreat!!!"
Bloodlight splattered.
Screams and the sound of weapons piercing flesh rose and fell in succession.
Apart from the five highly defensive Soul Douluo who remained by Tang Sui's side and the commander of the knight order, Luo Hong, the other 55 Soul Douluo were engaged in a blood-soaked frenzy.
The ground quickly devolved into a new purgatory, but Tang Sui showed no intention of stopping.
If not for the system's concern before heading to Gengxin City, and her subsequent decision to make a backup plan, arranging for Fox Mask to also dispatch 60 black-armored knights from Gengxin City, led by the Knight Commander Luo Hong, who possessed a soul power level of 97, she might have truly been defeated.
But precisely because she had made arrangements, she was confident enough to linger in Gengxin City.
Playing a cat-and-mouse game with Xie Yue and the others was also to stall for time, allowing the black-armored knights to arrive.
Mercy towards the enemy is cruelty to oneself.
Before, her strength was insufficient. Now that she had the power to counterattack, she naturally had to find a way to sever the Spirit Hall Empire's influence!
—Author's Notes—
Short, but still satisfying (?)