At the heart of the Star Dou Forest, near the edge of the Lake of Life, the battle between Tang San's group and Spirit Hall's group continued.
They failed to take into account that their commotion may disturb the inhabitants of the lake.
The lake was the domain of ferocious soul beasts with age more than 100,000 years, their strength rivaled Hyper Douluos and even Ultimate Douluos. Under normal circumstances, any disturbance near its waters would provoke a response.
Yet now, as two groups clashed violently at its very doorstep…not a ripple of hostility rose from the depths. The silence was unnatural.
Splash… Splash…
At the very edge of the lake, a lone figure of a blonde woman sat casually, her legs swaying through the clear water as if she were merely passing time.
Her aura was so faint that it seemed no different from that of an ordinary mortal. Were it not for her refined attire—clothing that spoke of nobility and elegance—one might have mistaken her for a lost traveler who had wandered too deep into the forest.
Strangely, amidst the chaos of battle, no one noticed her. It was as if her existence had been quietly erased from their awareness.
She rested her face in her hands, elbows propped lightly against her knees, watching the distant fight with mild curiosity.
Then, softly, she spoke.
"I know you can sense everything here…"
Her voice was gentle, almost playful, yet it carried an invisible weight that seemed to press into the surroundings.
"Why are you still hiding inside… when a fight is happening right at your doorstep?"
Her purple eyes sharpened and became draconic, An unnatural draconic pressure was guided by her towards the lake.
Deep within the Lake of Life, the hidden beings trembled.
Their massive forms remained motionless, their auras suppressed to the extreme. Instinct——screamed at them to remain still and silent.
The ferocious beasts were so scared out of their wits that they were pretending to be dead.
Back on near the lake surface, the battle raged on.
Suddenly— a stray attack broke away from the clash.
It tore through the air, violent and uncontrolled, heading straight toward the Qian Renxue's back.
Not until the very last moment, Qian Renxue tilted her head slightly.
The attack passed by, brushing harmlessly through a strand of golden hair before dissipating into the forest behind her.
For a brief second, silence seemed to deepen.
Then—She frowned.
Her gaze shifted toward the battlefield, annoyance flickering across her otherwise serene expression.
"How annoying…"
Her voice lost its softness.
"This farce has gone on long enough."
-----
Amid the chaotic confrontation, Ghost Leopard Douluo quickly identified the crux of the conflict.
Tang San, the person because of which the Soul Hunting plan was completely disrupted.
Without hesitation, he attacked.
"Sixth Soul Skill: Shadow Rush."
A black phantom of a leopard tore through the battlefield, its speed so extreme that it blurred into a streak of darkness. It headed straight for Tang San with lethal precision.
At that moment, Tang San stood beside Xiao Wu, believing that the most dangerous phase had already passed. His guard had lowered—only for that instant to become fatal.
The attack came too suddenly.
Tang Hao and Tang Xiao, locked in their own battles, sensed the danger and shouted almost simultaneously.
"San!"
"Nephew!"
Hu Liena's voice followed, filled with urgency.
"Tang Yin!"
Their warnings came a fraction too late.
Jiang Mo's gaze sharpened as he observed the scene.
"So he is Tang San… the one with twin martial souls."
He studied the transformed Blue Silver Emperor—no longer ordinary grass, but something closer to living vines, tougher and more refined. It was this change that had misled them earlier.
His eyes shifted briefly toward Hu Liena, who still showed concern despite the revelation of Tang San's identity. A faint frown appeared on his face, but he said nothing.
Nearby, Shi Ming and Qing Dan exchanged glances, equally startled. Tang Hao's outcry had exposed everything.
Tang San's identity was no longer hidden. Yet none of that mattered because death was already upon him as it was a full powered strike from a Titled Douluo.
Just as the shadow leopard was about to strike— A dense, suffocating aura burst outward.
Tang San's Death God Domain unfolded. Killing intent surged like a crimson tide, thick and oppressive.
But within that domain, something deeper stirred. An invisible will descended Asura God's divine intent.
It did not manifest openly. Instead, it moved through Tang San's domain, merging seamlessly with his killing intent. To everyone else, it appeared as though Tang San himself had launched a desperate counterattack.
A scarlet sword formed within the domain and pierced forward.
Swish—
The black leopard shadow was torn apart instantly, unable to withstand the overwhelming force.
The sword did not stop and continued forward, carrying an unstoppable momentum.
Ghost Leopard Douluo's expression changed. However the return attack was too fast for him to dodge and the crimson blade struck him squarely on the chest.
"Arrgh—!"
A scream tore through the battlefield as his body was violently thrown back, blood scattering through the air. The attack carved through him with devastating force, leaving his fate uncertain—hovering between life and death.
Behind him, Hu Liena was also caught in the aftermath.
"Aah—!"
She was also struck by the residual force, her body flung aside as blood stained her robes.
The battlefield fell into a brief, stunned silence as no one had expected such a reversal.
What should have been a killing blow… had turned into a catastrophic counterattack.
The battlefield fell into a tense stillness.