Douluo : Capture the goddess starting from peerless tang sect

The surviving inner court disciples sat slumped on the ground, their faces pale from the shock of their near-death experience.

"Damn it!"

"A Light-type soul master?"

The sinister voice of the dark soul master echoed from the depths of the cave, brimming with anger. His Corpse Explosion Technique had failed because his dark energy had been purified. To detonate corpses, a dark soul master needed to infuse them with dark energy and then trigger the explosion. But Qianran had cleansed most of the corpses, rendering them useless.

Meanwhile, outside the cave, an old man with disheveled hair sat atop the cliff, sipping on wine. Hearing the explosions, he paused, then immediately transformed into a streak of light, diving into the cave.

Elder Xuan had been tailing the group from the beginning. Once he assessed that the strongest enemy present was no more than a Soul King with five rings, albeit accompanied by several others, he deemed the threat insignificant. With Wang Yan in charge and the Shrek elite students capable of handling themselves, he felt confident enough to relax and drink outside.

Qianran, however, had long stopped relying on Elder Xuan. That's why he had secretly arranged for the Ice Empress to follow them. Still, this time, he didn't even need her help—he resolved everything on his own.

Thanks to Qianran's intervention, everyone except Dai Yaoheng emerged unscathed.

"Bastard!"

Elder Xuan stormed into the cave, swiftly picking up Dai Yaoheng. The young man's legs had been completely blown off, leaving him barely clinging to life.

"Die, all of you!"

Elder Xuan's aura as a Super Douluo erupted within the cave, obliterating every bandit in an instant.

The rest of the group, untouched and alive, could only watch as Elder Xuan's gaze shifted to Qianran. While he was furious at Dai Yaoheng's condition, he also couldn't help but feel relief that the rest of the team was safe. Still, he couldn't ignore the glaring fact that Qianran had deliberately let Dai Yaoheng fend for himself.

"Why didn't you save him?" Elder Xuan demanded, his tone laced with frustration. Dai Yaoheng was barely alive, and even if he survived, he would be a cripple.

"Why should I save him? The fact that I didn't kill him myself is mercy enough," Qianran replied calmly.

Elder Xuan fell silent.

There was no familial bond between Qianran and Dai Yaoheng. The fact that Qianran had saved so many others was already commendable. Considering the Dai family had made things difficult for him in the past, it was understandable that Qianran chose not to act.

Ultimately, the blame lay with Elder Xuan himself. His overconfidence had led to this outcome. If he hadn't underestimated the situation, none of this would have happened.

Dai Yaoheng's injuries would only worsen the strained relationship between Qianran and the White Tiger Duke's household. With Dai Yaoheng, a direct heir, reduced to a cripple, there was no way the White Tiger Duke would let this slide.

"Sigh."

"This is on me. Wang Yan, take the team and head directly to the competition. Don't inform the White Tiger Duke about Dai Yaoheng just yet—I'll deal with it," Elder Xuan said with a weary glance at Qianran before flying off with the injured disciple.

"Yes, Elder Xuan," Wang Yan replied quickly.

Once Elder Xuan was gone, the team collectively let out a sigh of relief.

Qianran had just saved their lives, and they feared Elder Xuan might reprimand him. In their eyes, Dai Yaoheng deserved what he got. He had consistently targeted Qianran, and his fate was a natural consequence. No one could reasonably expect Qianran to repay hatred with kindness.

"If that powerhouse hadn't been at Qianran's side yesterday, wouldn't the White Tiger Duke have humiliated him instead?" someone muttered.

This was a world where strength ruled supreme.

"Qianran, thank goodness for you. Without you, we'd all be done for," Gongyang Mo said, his voice filled with genuine admiration. Though his cultivation was second only to Ma Xiaotao, he had been utterly convinced of Qianran's strength.

Not only had Qianran displayed overwhelming combat prowess, but his martial soul also countered dark soul masters completely. Without his intervention, they would have been severely injured—or worse.

The group's trust in Qianran deepened. Even though some of them were more advanced in cultivation, they recognized that Qianran's combat abilities and unique talents far outstripped their own.

"Qianran, you've likely made an eternal enemy of the White Tiger Duke's household now," Ma Xiaotao said knowingly. "When the White Tiger Duke hears about Dai Yaoheng, he'll be furious. You've already taken Zhu Lu, Dai Huabin's fiancée, and now Dai Yaoheng is half-dead because of you. Even if it wasn't your fault, your refusal to save him will make them hate you even more."

"So what? Let him try something if he dares. The cost would be more than he can bear," Qianran said with disdain. The Dai family was no threat to him. Once he reached Star Luo City, he'd awaken the Snow Empress and solidify his advantage with Qian Renxue's support. At that point, few forces on the continent would be able to challenge him.

With the Dai family out in the open and Qianran moving in the shadows, he had no reason to fear Dai Hao.

Sea God Pavilion

"At least we only lost one inner court disciple. The damage is still manageable," Mu En said, though a glint of excitement flashed in his eyes.

For now, Elder Xuan would no longer accompany the team to the competition. This provided the perfect opportunity for Mu En to act against Qianran—and perhaps even leverage the White Tiger Duke's grudge against him.

The woman who had protected Qianran was still a concern, but Mu En was determined to eliminate him. If Qianran wasn't stopped, Bei Bei's future would be in ruins.

"I'll go," Xian Lin'er offered immediately. She was eager to accompany the team to Star Luo City, not only for the competition but also to spend more time with Qianran. Within Shrek Academy, there were too many restrictions, and she had deliberately reduced her interactions with him to avoid suspicion.

"No. You're the Dean of the Soul Tool Department, and there's too much for you to handle here. You can't leave," Mu En said, giving her a pointed look.

Though Bei Bei had once suggested a relationship between Xian Lin'er and Qianran, Mu En didn't believe it. She was far too proud to involve herself with a junior like Qianran.

"I'll go," Cai Mei'er interjected, her captivating eyes sparkling with interest. She seized the opportunity to lead the team to Star Luo City.

Her curiosity about Qianran had grown exponentially. Who was this bold young man who dared provoke the White Tiger Duke?

Beyond that, she suspected something unusual between Xian Lin'er and Qianran. Over the past few days, Xian Lin'er had undergone noticeable changes. Though many assumed it was due to Yan Shaozhe, Cai Mei'er could tell her feelings for him had grown cold.

As a woman herself, Cai Mei'er could sense it—Xian Lin'er no longer loved Yan Shaozhe.

(End of Chapter)

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