After leaving Heaven Dou City, Li Zhaoyan swiftly traveled westward, heading straight for Tuck City where the Breaking Clan was temporarily residing. Dressed in simple gray martial attire, his figure moved like lightning as he sped along the forest paths. The formidable aura of an eighty-third rank Soul Douluo, though restrained, still kept low-level Soul Beasts along the way from daring to approach.
However, just as he was about to leave the borders of the Heaven Dou Empire and enter the territory under the Star Luo Empire's jurisdiction, three powerful auras suddenly rose from the dense forest ahead, blocking his path. Three Soul Masters clad in Spirit Hall enforcer uniforms appeared. The leader, with a stern expression, declared loudly, "Li Zhaoyan, the Spirit Hall is carrying out official business here. Please halt!"
Li Zhaoyan stopped and calmly scanned the three. "Three Soul Douluos blocking the way—the Spirit Hall truly thinks highly of me." He understood clearly that this was undoubtedly the Spirit Hall's attempt to intercept him after learning of his connection to the Breaking Clan.
"Brother Li, you exaggerate," the lead Soul Douluo said gravely. "By the Pope's decree, anyone associated with the Breaking Clan is forbidden from providing assistance. If you turn back now, the Spirit Hall will act as if this never happened."
Li Zhaoyan smiled faintly. Light flickered in his hand as a spear about twelve feet long, dark gold in color with maple leaf patterns coiling around its shaft, materialized—his Martial Soul, the Hundred Wood Divine Spear. Two yellow, two purple, and four black Spirit Rings rose from his feet, encircling him. "Where I wish to go does not require the Spirit Hall's approval."
Seeing this, the three Soul Douluos simultaneously released their Martial Souls, all of them experts at the Soul Douluo level with optimal Spirit Ring configurations. "Since Brother Li insists on this course, do not blame us for being merciless!"
The battle was imminent. The lead Soul Douluo initiated the attack first, his seventh Spirit Ring glowing as he directly activated his Spirit Avatar, transforming into a giant mammoth that charged at Li Zhaoyan with earth-shaking steps.
Unhurried, Li Zhaoyan activated his first Spirit Ring. "First Spirit Ability: Spear Cry!" The Hundred Wood Divine Spear emitted a clear, resonant sound, and as the shaft vibrated, Li Zhaoyan's speed and attack power received their first boost. He sidestepped easily to avoid the mammoth's charge, his spear naturally pointing toward the joint of the elephant's leg.
The second Soul Douluo had already taken to the air, his Martial Soul a rare Thunder Eagle. With each flap of its wings, lightning crackled, and countless lightning arrows rained down on Li Zhaoyan. "Second Spirit Ability: Spear Force!" Li Zhaoyan's second Spirit Ring lit up. As he brandished his spear, an invisible force field formed, weakening the power of the lightning arrows while his own aura surged once more.
The third Soul Douluo lay hidden underground, waiting for an opportunity. The moment Li Zhaoyan was blocking the lightning arrows, the ground suddenly split open, and countless rocky spikes shot forth. "Third Spirit Ability: Spear Might!" Li Zhaoyan's third Spirit Ring flashed, and the spear erupted with astonishing pressure, shattering all the rocky spikes. With the three enhancement Spirit Abilities stacked, Li Zhaoyan's condition had now escalated to a terrifying level.
"Fourth Spirit Ability: Maple Dragon Strike!" No longer holding back, Li Zhaoyan activated his fourth Spirit Ring. The Hundred Wood Divine Spear transformed into a giant dragon composed of maple leaves, roaring as it charged toward the Thunder Eagle Soul Douluo in the air. The Thunder Eagle Soul Douluo, horrified, defended with all his might but still had his wings torn apart by the maple dragon, screaming as he plummeted to the ground.
The subterranean Soul Douluo seized the opportunity to launch a surprise attack, bursting from the ground behind Li Zhaoyan with sharp claws aimed straight at his heart. "Fifth Spirit Ability: Maple Leaf Protection!" Without even turning around, Li Zhaoyan's fifth Spirit Ring flashed, instantly enveloping him in swirling maple leaves that formed an absolute defense. The claws struck the maple leaf shield but could not penetrate an inch.
The Mammoth Soul Douluo charged again, its massive trunk whipping down like a steel whip. "Sixth Spirit Ability: Maple Forest Volcano!" Li Zhaoyan's sixth Spirit Ring lit up, transforming the ground around him into a maple forest, followed by scorching magma erupting from beneath, trapping the Mammoth Soul Douluo within. The Mammoth Soul Douluo howled in agony, its body already scorched in multiple places.
In just moments, all three Soul Douluos were injured. The lead Soul Douluo, both shocked and enraged, roared, "Seventh Spirit Ability: Spirit Avatar!" The mammoth's form expanded once more, charging madly toward Li Zhaoyan despite its injuries.
Li Zhaoyan's gaze sharpened. "Seventh Spirit Ability: Spirit Avatar!" The Hundred Wood Divine Spear merged with him, becoming one entity—a colossal spear reaching for the heavens, its tip adorned with flowing maple leaf patterns radiating terrifying power. With a simple, direct thrust, it pierced through the mammoth avatar's defenses, striking squarely between its brows. The Mammoth Soul Douluo screamed, its Spirit Avatar forcibly dispelled, and it crashed heavily to the ground, incapacitated.
Seeing this, the other two Soul Douluos knew they were outmatched. They supported their companion and fled in panic. Li Zhaoyan did not pursue them, retracting his Martial Soul and continuing on his way. In this battle, he had defeated three opponents of the same level without even using his eighth Spirit Ability.
Three days later, Li Zhaoyan arrived at Tuck City. The scene before him weighed heavily on his heart. The temporary residence of the Breaking Clan was in ruins, with white funeral banners hanging at the entrance and faint sounds of weeping coming from within. He hurried into the courtyard, where clansmen sat or lay about, most of them wounded, the atmosphere bleak and oppressive.
Yang Wudi rushed over upon hearing the news. The leader of the Breaking Clan, known for his resilience, now looked haggard with bloodshot eyes. "Brother Zhaoyan, you... why are you here?" Yang Wudi's voice was hoarse, carrying surprise and a hint of barely perceptible relief.
"I heard of your clan's misfortune and came to help," Li Zhaoyan said gravely, his eyes scanning the wounded in the courtyard. "How bad is the situation?"
Yang Wudi smiled bitterly. "The Spirit Hall attacked us three days ago. Though we fought desperately and repelled them... over half our clansmen are dead or injured, three elders have fallen, and the herb storage was destroyed. Now... we're almost out of medicine to treat the wounded." His fists clenched, knuckles white with strain. "If not for our Breaking Clan's foundation in alchemy, the casualties would have been worse. But staying here any longer, I fear..."
Li Zhaoyan patted Yang Wudi's shoulder. "Pack your things and come with me to Heaven Dou City. Though the Li family is not a major clan, we have the means to ensure the Breaking Clan's safety."
Struggle flickered in Yang Wudi's eyes, but as he looked at the wounded filling the courtyard, he finally nodded firmly. "Very well! The Breaking Clan... will follow Brother Zhaoyan to Heaven Dou City!"
Just as the Breaking Clan hurriedly packed to evacuate, a terrifying pressure suddenly enveloped the entire courtyard. The sky had darkened unnoticed, and a shadowy figure appeared ghost-like on the courtyard wall. The newcomer wore the attire of a Spirit Hall elder, his face sinister, with nine Spirit Rings slowly rotating around him—two yellow, two purple, and five black.
"Titled Douluo!" Yang Wudi's face changed drastically as he instinctively shielded his clansmen.
The newcomer let out a sinister chuckle, his voice raspy like sandpaper grinding: "I am Ghost Leopard Douluo, sent by the Pope to personally 'escort' the Breaking Clan on their final journey. Li Zhaoyan, since you repeatedly oppose the Spirit Hall, you shall remain here today as well!"
Li Zhaoyan pulled Yang Wudi behind him, facing Ghost Leopard Douluo directly: "If you wish to keep me here, that depends on whether you possess the capability."
Ghost Leopard Douluo snorted coldly, his figure suddenly blurring before reappearing instantly at Li Zhaoyan's left side, sharp claws aimed directly at his throat. His speed far surpassed that of the three Soul Douluos from earlier!
Li Zhaoyan parried with his Hundred Wood Divine Spear, the clash of spear and claws producing a piercing metallic screech. The two separated after the initial contact, each retreating several steps. Li Zhaoyan's arm felt slightly numb, and he thought grimly: Titled Douluos are indeed extraordinary.
"Quite interesting." Ghost Leopard Douluo's eyes flashed with bloodlust as his fifth Spirit Ring lit up. "Fifth Spirit Ability: Ghostly Shadows!" Dozens of Ghost Leopard clones instantly appeared, lunging at Li Zhaoyan from all directions, making it impossible to distinguish real from fake.
Li Zhaoyan remained calm, his first, second, and third Spirit Rings flashing consecutively: "Spear Cry! Spear Force! Spear Might!" The three enhancements stacked once again, significantly boosting his perception. He closed his eyes to focus, then suddenly snapped them open, thrusting his Hundred Wood Divine Spear toward an empty space to his left front: "Break!"
With a "thud," the spear tip pierced flesh, and all clones instantly vanished. Ghost Leopard Douluo's true form was revealed, his shoulder already wounded. Shocked and enraged, he hadn't expected Li Zhaoyan to see through his Spirit Ability.
"Seventh Spirit Ability: Spirit Avatar!" Completely infuriated, Ghost Leopard Douluo transformed into a massive Nether Ghost Panther, his speed and power skyrocketing as he pounced again.
Li Zhaoyan also activated his Spirit Avatar, merging man and spear as he engaged in fierce combat. Their movements were so fast that aside from Yang Wudi, almost no one present could clearly see the details of the battle. Only maple leaves and dark shadows could be seen intertwining and colliding, with Soul Power shocks continuously cracking the courtyard walls.
After nearly a hundred exchanges, Li Zhaoyan gradually felt the pressure. The quality and quantity of a Titled Douluo's Soul Power indeed far surpassed that of a Soul Douluo. In a prolonged battle, he would inevitably be at a disadvantage. He had to end this quickly!
He deliberately left an opening, and Ghost Leopard Douluo took the bait, his claws shooting toward the undefended spot. "Now!" Li Zhaoyan's eyes blazed with light as his eighth Spirit Ring finally lit up—that profound black Spirit Ring radiated brilliant light!
"Eighth Spirit Ability: Pierce Through!"
The Hundred Wood Divine Spear instantly concentrated all its power at a single point. The space around the spear tip seemed to distort as an extremely condensed spear ray tore through the air, shooting toward Ghost Leopard Douluo's chest with unstoppable force. This single thrust contained all of Li Zhaoyan's comprehension of the spear path—simple, direct, yet infinitely powerful!
Ghost Leopard Douluo's face changed dramatically as he sensed the lethal threat. He defended with all his might, unable to fully activate his ninth Spirit Ability in time. "BOOM!!" The spear ray pierced through all defenses, striking squarely in his chest. Ghost Leopard Douluo screamed as a terrifying bloody hole exploded open, sending him flying backward through several walls.
Struggling to his feet, he cast a terrified glance at Li Zhaoyan before transforming into a black shadow and fleeing in panic, not daring to continue the fight.
The courtyard fell into complete silence, everyone stunned by that earth-shattering spear strike. Moments later, the Breaking Clan erupted into cheers of survivors who had narrowly escaped death. Yang Wudi gazed at Li Zhaoyan who stood with his spear retracted, his eyes filled with disbelief and gratitude: "Brother Zhaoyan, you... you actually managed to severely injure a Titled Douluo!"
Li Zhaoyan breathed slightly heavily, his face somewhat pale. The consumption of his eighth Spirit Ability was immense, but his gaze remained firm: "Pack up quickly, we must leave immediately!"
The news spread like wildfire throughout the entire Soul Master World. The feat of "Fighter" Li Zhaoyan single-handedly defeating three Spirit Hall Soul Douluos and severely wounding the newly promoted Titled Douluo Ghost Leopard at the Breaking Clan's stronghold, saving the clan from imminent danger, caused an enormous uproar.
The Soul Master World buzzed with discussions, countless people astonished by Li Zhaoyan's formidable power. "I heard that although Ghost Leopard Douluo was newly promoted, he was a genuine Titled Douluo! For Li Zhaoyan to severely injure him while still at the Soul Douluo level, this..." "The title 'Fighter' is truly well-deserved!" "He could already fight above his level back then, and now it seems his strength has surpassed even his past self!"
Many young Soul Masters regarded Li Zhaoyan as their idol, admiring not only his powerful strength but also his sense of responsibility in stepping forward during the Breaking Clan's crisis. In taverns and teahouses, storytellers began recounting tales of "Divine Spear Li Zhaoyan," portraying him as a heroic figure who valued loyalty and feared no authority.