Chapter 49: Sacrifice

Qianxunji spoke a great principle, and hearing it, Xiao Cao froze on the spot.

She also knew her own beauty, her figure was also well-proportioned, especially now she naturally carried a milky fragrance,

The milky fragrance blended with her own natural fragrance, making it extremely alluring.

So, she also knew that Tang Hao had long been salivating over her, but just as Qianxunji said, he dared not act on it.

"Thud… thud…"

At this moment, a knocking sound came from the tightly closed door, and Xiao Cao, lost in thought, came to her senses.

She knew it was Tang Hao returning; as long as Tang Hao came back, she could get rid of this big lecher, Cao bandit.

Moreover, she knew Tang Hao was now an 88th-rank Douluo, his strength great, and the Cao bandit before him was no match for Tang Hao.

Thinking this, Xiao Cao, holding Tang San, came to the door and quickly opened it.

Outside the door, Tang Hao stood there carrying a wild boar, and the moment he saw Xiao Cao, his eyes lit up.

Since that day when Qianxunji seriously injured him and took away A Yin, Tang Hao had collapsed in the forest and never recovered.

Fortunately, Xiao Cao, passing by, discovered and saved him; it can be said that without Xiao Cao, whether Tang Hao is alive or dead now is unknown.

Moreover, under Xiao Cao's comfort, he regained confidence, trained hard, and decided to protect Xiao Cao and Tang San for life.

The moment Xiao Cao saw Tang Hao, her worried face instantly brightened, and she said with a smile:

"Tang Hao, you've finally returned; your friend Cao bandit just took liberties with me—don't associate with such friends in the future."

Upon hearing this, Tang Hao instantly flew into a rage, gently patted Xiao Cao's shoulder, and said:

"What, daring to take liberties with my Xiao Cao—I, Tang Hao, will surely make him pay the price."

"But, who is Cao bandit?"

Upon hearing this, Xiao Cao flung the wooden door wide open, and Qianxunji inside was exposed before Tang Hao.

Xiao Cao pointed at Qianxunji sitting on the stool inside and said, aggrieved:

"He is Cao bandit—quickly help me beat him up."

Tang Hao gazed inside; upon seeing Qianxunji seated, his face instantly turned angry, and he said through gritted teeth:

"Qian... xun... ji!"

"Qianxunji?" Xiao Cao heard this, dazed, and said:

"Isn't he Cao bandit? How did he become Qianxunji?"

At this moment, Tang Hao thought of Qianxunji's terrifying strength, looked at Xiao Cao and Tang San before him, quickly pulled Xiao Cao behind him, stared at Qianxunji like facing a great enemy, and asked:

"Qianxunji, what are you doing here?"

Qianxunji looked at Tang Hao's nervous appearance, smiled faintly, and said:

"Nothing much—I just haven't seen you in a while, came to catch up."

Upon hearing this, Tang Hao became even more wary, protecting Xiao Cao as he slowly retreated to the courtyard outside the wooden house, and said coldly:

"Qianxunji, grudges have heads and debts have owners; if you want to deal with me, Tang Hao, you can take this life—but if you harm Xiao Cao, Tang Hao will, even at the cost of his life today, make you lose a layer of skin."

"Ha… ha… ha…" Qianxunji laughed a few times, looked at Tang Hao disdainfully, and said:

"To make me lose a layer of skin—what big talk! Today I'll see how you, Tang Hao, make me lose a layer of skin!"

As his words fell, Qianxunji stomped his right foot hard on the ground.

The next moment, a terrifying demonic aura surged outward in all directions.

"Boom!"

Only hearing a loud boom, the entire wooden house instantly shattered, countless splinters flying outward.

Amid the flying wood, Qianxunji sat on the stool, black demonic aura rolling around him like an apocalyptic demon king.

Xiao Cao stared in shock at this scene; she never expected Qianxunji's strength to be so great, holding Tang San she said with a trembling voice:

"Tang Hao, can you defeat Qianxunji?"

"Strike…" Tang Hao opened his mouth repeatedly but spoke no words, merely looking with fear at the demonic Qianxunji before him.

Qianxunji glanced at Tang Hao, then said lightly:

"Make your move; if I act, you probably won't even get a chance to strike."

Upon hearing this, Tang Hao hesitated not at all and walked toward Qianxunji.

For he knew, as Qianxunji said, if he didn't act, he likely wouldn't get a chance to strike.

In the surrounding forest, Tangyuehua watched this scene with a worried expression.

"Ha!"

Tang Hao shouted loudly, then with a sudden accelerated dash he reached Qianxunji's front; his Heavenly Sky Hammer appeared, instantly expanding to one meter long, and he smashed it down hard onto Qianxunji's shoulder.

"Sigh, again this move!"

Qianxunji sighed, his eyes showing some disappointment, sat motionless in place, and at the same time used soul power to protect the stool beneath him.

Otherwise, later Tang Hao's hammer might fail to affect him but shatter the stool beneath him, which would also be embarrassing.

"Thud!"

Tang Hao hammered hard onto Qianxunji's shoulder.

"Crack!"

Only hearing a crack, Tang Hao's Heavenly Sky Hammer shattered outright, while Qianxunji remained utterly unmoving, seated in place.

Even his facial expression showed no change.

"Good… so hard!"

Xiao Cao saw this scene, looked at Qianxunji with a shocked expression.

She knew just how powerful Tang Hao's strike just now was.

Even if a titled Douluo sat there without any defense and let Tang Hao hammer him, his bones would surely break and he would die beyond death.

Yet Qianxunji before him had not a single wound.

Terrifying, it's truly too terrifying.

Qianxunji looked at Tang Hao disappointedly and said lightly:

"Tang Hao, your attack is truly weak and powerless; as a man, you are really inadequate. What will you use to conquer Xiao Cao in the future? Or just leave it to me."

As his words fell, Qianxunji kicked out, directly striking Tang Hao's chest.

"「Crack! 」"

Accompanied by the sound of breaking bones, Tang Hao's body smashed like a cannonball straight into a large tree several dozen meters away.

"「Boom……boom……boom……」"

The large tree behind him had several trunks snapped, and Tang Hao's body finally stopped.

Qianxunji glanced at Tang Hao lying on the ground, knowing he wasn't dead.

Because he still needed to use Tang Hao to threaten Tangyuehua, he did not exert his full strength.

Otherwise, that kick just now would have already kicked Tang Hao to death.

"「Tang Hao! 」"

Xiao Cao's worried voice sounded as she held Tang San and ran toward Tang Hao.

Arriving in the woods, she saw Tang Hao clutching his chest, lying listlessly on the ground.

Xiao Cao looked at the severely injured Tang Hao, her heart full of pain; she glanced at Qianxunji sitting far away, gritted her teeth, and made a decision.

Xiao Cao placed the Tang San she was holding onto Tang Hao's body and said:

"「Tang Hao, from now on I entrust Tang San to your care! 」"

Tang Hao thought of something, his face full of worry as he said:

"「Xiao Cao, what are you going to do? Don't…! 」"

"「Hehe! 」 Xiao Cao laughed, and a surging green light burst from her body."

She prepared to sacrifice herself, letting Tang Hao reach Title Douluo to fight Qianxunji.

Her eighth soul skill could allow a Soul Master below Title Douluo to rise directly one rank, and then with her sacrifice, Tang Hao would receive the boost of a hundred‑thousand‑year soul ring, enough to instantly break through to rank ninety and become a Title Douluo.

But afterward she would lose the cultivation of a hundred‑thousand‑year spirit beast and revert to her true form as a mutated Dogtail Grass.

(End of chapter)