Douluo: When the piano sounds, the hidden weapon returns to the factory

Chapter 46 Attack
The journey was surprisingly peaceful, and ten days passed in the blink of an eye. The grand convoy had already covered more than half the distance and was getting closer and closer to Wuhun City.

The escort team, composed of five hundred elite royal knights, clad in gleaming silver armor and fluttering banners, was as grand and imposing as a royal procession. Wherever they went, cities along the route were on high alert, and local officials personally welcomed them, treating this Soul Master team, representing the future of the Heaven Dou Empire, with the highest honors.

By day, royal knights stood in formation, their silver helmets gleaming like snow in the sunlight; by night, campfires lit up the camp, and the clanging of the patrolling knights' armor could be heard clearly. With such tight security, even the most daring bandits dared not approach, and they encountered no trouble whatsoever along the way.

Throughout their journey, Feng Yao played the zither daily without ceasing, the melodious music drawing frequent glances from various academy teams, who cast inquisitive looks at the Royal Fighting Team. However, on this day, as the music flowed, Feng Yao's fingertips suddenly hovered over the strings.

"They've arrived." His gaze narrowed slightly as he thought to himself.

The group was currently traveling along a narrow path between two low hills, a shortcut to Wuhun City that would save them dozens of miles. Although the path was narrow, it was flat and open, and should have been a safe passage.

Suddenly, a chilling aura spread down from the mountain ridges on both sides. The captain of the Royal Knights shouted sharply, "All hands on alert!" The well-trained knights instantly formed ranks, their lances forming a forest. In contrast, the young Soul Masters from various academies looked relaxed—the gathering present was the most elite Soul Master force of the Heaven Dou Empire, with more than ten instructors at levels sixty and seventy. Such a lineup would be no threat even to an army of ten thousand.

However, an unexpected turn of events occurred. From the cliff face, countless rocks suddenly rained down like a storm, each one aimed precisely at the troops. The Royal Knights remained calm under pressure, immediately tightening their formation, their five hundred lances forming an ironclad defensive line. Though not Soul Masters, the knights displayed astonishing military skill; with swift lance movements, they deflected each falling rock, carving a safe passage through the rain of stones.

Feng Yao, cradling the Fuxi Qin (a type of zither), scanned the cliff face through the car window with lightning-fast eyes. Dozens of dark figures could be vaguely seen lurking in the shadows.

Just as the falling rocks suddenly appeared, Feng Yao and the members of the Royal Fighting Team flashed out of the carriage. The Fuxi Qin in his hands emitted a faint blue light, and the strings moved automatically without wind.

"Your Majesty."

As the members of the Royal Battle Clan bowed in unison, a dark green figure appeared like a ghost at the front of the group. Dugu Bo stood with his hands behind his back, a sinister smile appearing on his aged face. In an instant, the pressure of a Title Douluo-level figure swept out like a tidal wave, and the huge phantom of the Azure Phosphorous Serpent Emperor solidified behind him, its emerald scales gleaming with a deadly eerie light in the sunlight.

"court death."

Dugu Bo snorted coldly, and the Azure Phosphorous Serpent King's massive tail swept across. In an instant, a series of muffled thuds of bones shattering echoed from the cliff face. Dozens of men in black were flung away like kites with broken strings, crashing against the rock walls and spraying blood everywhere. Those men in black who had narrowly escaped the serpent's tail didn't even have time to feel relieved before a cloud of poisonous mist descended, instantly turning them into a pile of withered bones.

In an instant, the entire valley was illuminated by dazzling soul power. Teachers and students from various academies released their martial souls, and the yellow, purple, and black soul rings shone brightly, outlining brilliant bands of light in the mountains.

Although there was absolutely no coordination between the academies, each academy spontaneously formed a battle formation. Faced with the sudden attack, these young soul masters not only did not back down, but were instead roused to their fighting spirit and charged towards the enemy in unison.

However, what happened next shocked everyone. When more than two hundred teachers and students clashed with more than 1,500 black-clad bandits, these seemingly disorganized enemies displayed astonishing tactical skills. They attacked individual Soul Masters in groups of three or four with perfect teamwork, their clean and efficient attacks catching the students, who were used to fighting alone, completely off guard.

Just as the battle reached a stalemate, the Zhuge Crossbows wielded by the Shrek Seven Devils suddenly unleashed their power. Their movements were perfectly synchronized; the click of the crossbow's mechanism rang out crisply, and after a dense volley of arrows, the black-clad men surrounding them instantly fell. Immediately afterward, Tang San's wrist flicked, and countless hidden weapons rained down like a storm, each one accurately striking vital points, tearing bloody gashes through the ranks of the black-clad men.

"Amazing!"

Seeing this, the students from the surrounding academies were filled with fighting spirit, their morale soaring. Even the members of the Royal Fighting Team clenched their fists involuntarily, eager to try their luck.

"Stop right there!" Dugu Bo shouted coldly, his emerald green snake eyes flashing with a chilling light. "These small fry must have a mastermind behind them. You lot better stay put and don't become suckers." He exuded a cold, sinister aura as his gaze warily swept across the battlefield. As a Title Douluo, he knew all too well how deep the waters ran behind this attack.

Dugu Yan, unconvinced, wanted to argue, but Feng Yao gently stopped her. "Sister Yan," he whispered, subtly pointing to several figures faintly visible high on the cliff, "the real masters are still lurking in the shadows. If we act rashly, we'll only draw their attention. With the seniors here, nothing will happen."

No sooner had Feng Yao finished speaking than the situation on the battlefield changed drastically.

Before Tang San, who had just displayed his prowess, three dark figures appeared like ghosts. The spirit rings rising beneath their feet shimmered with a chilling light—yellow, yellow, purple, purple, black, black, black; yellow, yellow, purple, purple, black, black, black; and in the very center, a figure exuding terrifying pressure had eight spirit rings—two yellow, two purple, and four black—swirling beneath its feet!

"Seven, seven, eight," Feng Yao's pupils contracted slightly, his voice almost inaudible, "Two Soul Saints and one Soul Douluo, what a grand gesture."

Upon seeing this, everyone from the Royal Battle Clan gasped in unison. Their previous eagerness vanished instantly, and they all instinctively moved closer to Dugu Bo. Poison Douluo snorted coldly, and the phantom of the Azure Phosphorous Serpent Emperor appeared intermittently behind him, protecting everyone.

A rare solemnity appeared on Dugu Bo's aged face. From the martial soul characteristics displayed by the men in black, he had already recognized their origins. However, given the unclear situation, this usually cautious Poison Douluo chose to remain still.

When he saw that the attacks of the men in black were all focused on Shrek Academy, a knowing glint flashed in Dugu Bo's eyes. He narrowed his snake-like eyes slightly and silently protected the Royal Fighters behind him.

"Grandpa, shouldn't we help them?" Dugu Yan asked in a low voice, her purple eyes flashing with reluctance.

Dugu Bo glared at his granddaughter, annoyed. "Yanyan, you're truly a good granddaughter to your grandfather. I want to live a few more years." He gazed meaningfully at the sky. "Don't worry, someone will take care of it."

Upon hearing this, the members of Huang Dou exchanged glances, having already guessed the background of these men in black from Dugu Bo's attitude. Feng Yao noticed that the teachers leading the teams from the surrounding academies also remained silent with subtle expressions, none daring to reveal the truth behind this ambush.

Sure enough, just as the men in black were unable to break through, a sharp, piercing eagle's cry suddenly tore through the sky. The golden eagle Lordiara flapped its wings and cried out, the sound waves tearing through the clouds like sharp blades.

Immediately afterwards, ripples spread through the void, and a figure dressed in snow-white robes, with a veil covering his face, slowly emerged. The person stood in mid-air, his robes fluttering, and his body was surrounded by pale golden soul power fluctuations.

Seeing this, Dugu Bo's lips twitched as he muttered a curse under his breath: "This Chrysanthemum Pass, even when launching a sneak attack, he has to dress so flamboyantly, as if afraid that others won't recognize him as a dead eunuch." He waved his hand dismissively, as if trying to dispel the cloying floral scent in the air.

As the white-clad figure appeared, the rich fragrance of chrysanthemums instantly filled the entire battlefield. Caught off guard, the Shrek Seven Devils found themselves unable to move amidst the intoxicating aroma. Flander, Liu Erlong, and their teachers desperately channeled their soul power to resist, only to see the white-clad figure lightly raise her jade-like hand, and countless golden chrysanthemum petals, like sharp blades, swirled around the Shrek Seven Devils, forming a deadly cage.

However, just as the golden chrysanthemum petals were about to strangle Tang San, a vast and chilling killing intent suddenly erupted!
Boom— A violent killing intent swept across the entire area as if it were a tangible force, instantly tearing the sharp golden chrysanthemum petals to shreds. A long sword pierced through the air, embedding itself deeply into the ground in front of Yue Guan with a clang. As the sword vibrated, it stirred up ripples of soul power, dispelling the fragrance of chrysanthemums within a ten-foot radius.

"Watch closely," Dugu Bo's eyes flashed with a sharp light, the phantom of the Azure Phosphorous Serpent Emperor appearing and disappearing behind him, "this is the true battle of Title Douluos."

Everyone in the Royal Battle held their breath, and saw a burly figure riding a sword approaching from the dust and smoke in the distance.

Dugu Bo narrowed his snake-like eyes, a playful smile playing on his lips: "Watch closely. This level of battle will greatly benefit your future cultivation."

The battle between Chen Xin and Yue Guan was about to break out, and the entire battlefield was instantly divided into two completely different areas.

Chen Xin stood with his hands behind his back, the Seven Kill Sword hovering in front of him. As the sword hummed, its sharp sword energy materialized, forming a silver-white sword domain around him. Each sword energy was as condensed as frost, cutting fine cracks into the air wherever it passed.

Yue Guan snorted coldly, and the Qirong Tongtian Chrysanthemum bloomed in his palm. Golden petals danced in the air, reflecting a mesmerizing halo in the sunlight. The rich fragrance solidified, transforming into a pale golden mist that enveloped the surroundings. Those seemingly delicate petals actually contained terrifying cutting power; as they gently drifted by, they plowed deep furrows into the ground.

"Chen Xin, are you getting involved in this mess too?" Yue Guan's soft voice carried a hint of sarcasm.

Chen Xin's gaze was sharp as a sword as he said calmly, "You still spout so much nonsense. Tang San is a friend of our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School."

Before the words were even finished, the Seven Kill Sword suddenly erupted, a dazzling sword light cascading like a silver river, aimed straight for Yue Guan's throat. Yue Guan remained calm and composed, his Qirong Tongtian Chrysanthemum rapidly spinning in his hand, countless petals coalescing to forcefully block this earth-shattering sword strike.

"boom--"

"Fifth Soul Skill, Gathering of Cold Essence!"

The sword energy clashed with the floral blade, unleashing a deafening roar. A violent surge of soul power swept outwards, sending all the surrounding black-clad figures flying. Chen Xin remained motionless, yet the Seven Kill Sword had already split into hundreds of sword shadows, pouring down upon Yue Guan like a torrential rain.

Sixth Soul Skill: Ten Thousand Swords Return to One!

The overwhelming flying swords, like a cascading silver river, shook the hearts of all the Soul Masters present.

Countless sword shadows intertwined, forming a vast, inescapable net. Each sword light was condensed and tangible, reflecting a chilling gleam in the sunlight. The myriad sword shadows that split from the Seven Kill Sword fell like stars, transforming the entire sky into a sea of ​​swords. The sharp sword energy tore through the air, emitting piercing whistles, and even the distant mountain rocks were shaken by the aftershocks, causing them to shed fragments of rock.

Dugu Yan's purple eyes gleamed with surprise, and even the usually silent Ye Lingling showed a rare expression of shock.

Feng Yao's Fuxi Qin trembled gently in his arms, its strings resonating with a clear, melodious sound. He gazed at Chen Xin's godlike yet demonic figure, a flash of understanding crossing his eyes—this was the true pinnacle of a Soul Master.

"Did you see that clearly?" Dugu Bo's hoarse voice rang in the ears of the Royal Fighters. "This is the power at the pinnacle of the Soul Master world. Your journey is still long."

The battlefield was silent; everyone was still immersed in this breathtaking duel. Those young Soul Masters who had once considered themselves geniuses now deeply understood the meaning of "there are always people more powerful than you, and the sky is always higher than the heavens." This battle was destined to become an indelible memory on their path of cultivation.

A hint of seriousness flashed in Yue Guan's eyes. In an instant, countless golden chrysanthemum petals transformed into streams of light, colliding fiercely with the countless sword shadows. The clanging of metal against metal resounded through the sky, and the blinding light forced the onlookers to squint.

Feng Yao, cradling the Fuxi Qin, keenly sensed every change on the battlefield. The battle between the two Title Douluos seemed evenly matched, but he noticed that Chen Xin's sword aura was gradually compressing Yue Guan's space.

Just as everyone was still immersed in the afterglow of Chen Xin's earth-shattering sword aura, a ghostly black shadow suddenly appeared!
The figure moved with incredible speed, weaving through the crowd like a phantom, leaving only a blurry afterimage in its wake. In the blink of an eye, the black shadow appeared beside Yue Guan, and the two of them began to resonate strangely—yellow, yellow, purple, purple, black, black, black, black, black, nine soul rings intertwined, outlining a mysterious trajectory in the void.

"A bipolar static domain!"

"Even he's here!" Dugu Bo's snake pupils constricted, and an unprecedented solemnity appeared on his aged face. The phantom of the Azure Phosphorous Serpent Emperor slithered uneasily behind him, revealing the tremor in the Poison Douluo's heart.

"It's over." Feng Yao sighed softly in his heart, his fingertips unconsciously caressing the strings of the Fuxi Qin.

Unbeknownst to anyone, Ning Fengzhi had quietly arrived near the Royal Fighting Team. The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda spun in his palm, countless amplifying beams shooting forth amidst flowing seven-colored light. "The Seven Treasures spin, revealing glazed tiles: First, Power! Second, Speed! Third, Soul!"

Under the dazzling light, Chen Xin's sword aura suddenly changed. The Seven Kill Sword transformed into a silver lightning bolt, piercing straight at the junction of the two Title Douluos at an incredible angle. This sword was so fast that it exceeded the limits of the naked eye, and the air was torn apart with a sharp explosion wherever the sword passed.

"break--"

Chen Xin pointed his fingers like a sword and slashed through the air. A sword light that stretched across the heavens and earth suddenly erupted, its dazzling silver radiance illuminating the entire battlefield as if it were daytime. Where the sword's edge passed, fine black cracks appeared in space, as if even heaven and earth had been cleaved apart by this single strike. The balance of the two polar stillness zones was instantly shattered, and Yue Guan and Gui Mei both let out a muffled groan, a trickle of blood spilling from the corner of their mouths.

Yue Guan and Gui Mei steadied themselves, wiped the blood from their mouths, and swept their cold gazes across the entire area: "We admit defeat today, Old Ghost, let's go!"

After saying this, the two of them flashed away into the distance. Seeing this, the men in black also retreated one after another, disappearing without a trace in the blink of an eye.

Chen Xin sheathed his sword and stood there, gazing intently into the distance: "They ran quite fast."

(End of this chapter)