Sign-In in Douluo Dalu.

Chapter 428.

Dai Mubai blocked the rear, Zhu Zhuqing flanked from the right, and Ma Hongjun's fiery assault sealed off the front. Tang San himself secured the left, completing the encirclement.

The Eight Spider Lances on Tang San's back glowed faintly as they propelled him high into the air, aiming directly at the white-clad figure of the Six-Ring Soul Emperor. Tang San's Blue Silver Grass surged, quickly condensing into a dazzling blue spear. The weapon radiated an intimidating aura, its power palpable as it streaked toward the target.

"Fifth Soul Ring Ability—Blue Silver Overlord Spear!"

This was Tang San's fifth soul ring ability, a devastating single-target attack meant to pierce through even the strongest defenses.

The Six-Ring Soul Emperor watched the attack approach, but to everyone's shock, he neither dodged nor countered with any visible ability. –Instead, he shifted his body slightly and extended his –hand to meet the spear head-on.

The spear struck his palm, and though his arm was instantly lacerated with countless blood-streaked marks, the attack failed to penetrate his skin. He remained unharmed.

"Hmph!"

The muffled grunt from the Six-Ring Soul Emperor echoed in the tense silence. Despite the violent force of Tang San's attack, his sheer physical resilience allowed him to endure it without faltering.

Tang San's eyes narrowed, disbelief flickering across his face. It was unthinkable that anyone could withstand the Blue Silver Overlord Spear using just raw physical strength alone.

But before Tang San could react further, Zhu Zhuqing had already capitalized on the moment. Her purple-golden claws gleamed with lethal sharpness as they pressed against the Six-Ring Soul Emperor's neck, their tips quivering on the edge of a killing strike.

Simultaneously, Dai Mubai's fist surged forward, poised to land a decisive blow to the Six Ringed Soul Emperor's chest.

Yet neither attack landed as expected.

The Six-Ring Soul Emperor stood motionless, allowing the two attacks to reach him unimpeded. Zhu Zhuqing's claws brushed his shoulder, unable to retract in time, while Dai Mubai's fist struck squarely against his chest.

The three attackers hesitated, confused by the Six Ringed Soul Emperor's actions. Why would he willingly endure such direct hits?

The answer came in an instant.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

A sudden, explosive force rippled outward from the Six-Ring Soul Emperor's body, a wave of counter-shock energy that broke the encirclement. The sheer power sent Zhu Zhuqing, Dai Mubai, and Tang San stumbling backward in alarm.

Before they could regain their footing, a second, more forceful shockwave erupted from the Six Ringed Soul Emperor's body. This time, it struck all three of them with overwhelming power, flinging them violently into the air.

As they tumbled back, realization dawned.

The Six-Ring Soul Emperor had deliberately allowed their attacks to land. By absorbing their blows, he'd used the force against them, channeling it into a counterattack that shattered their formation and sent them flying.

Despite his counterattack, the Six-Ring Soul Emperor hadn't escaped unscathed. His tattered robes bore testament to the battle, a deep gash running across his shoulder and a faint bruise marring his abdomen—evidence of Zhu Zhuqing's claws and Dai Mubai's fist.

"You were careless," he remarked, his voice calm but carrying a faint edge.

The Six-Ring Soul Emperor coughed lightly, brushing a speck of blood from the corner of his mouth. "Your attacks are powerful, but they're not enough to take me down. If you'd used your full strength from the start, I wouldn't have stood a chance."

The three Shrek companions picked themselves up from the ground, their faces marked with a mixture of frustration and disbelief. A realization struck them: they'd held back.

Believing the Six-Ring Soul Emperor to be Wang Feng, they had unconsciously tempered their blows, leaving just enough restraint in their strikes. And he had seen right through them. Exploiting that hesitation, he had turned the tide in an instant, breaking their formation and delivering decisive counterattacks.

"Enough," the Six-Ring Soul Emperor said, waving his hand dismissively. "I've proven my point. I can't defeat you. And as for being Wang Feng—well, I think you've confirmed I'm not him."

The words hung in the air as the group exchanged uneasy glances.

"With Wang Feng's talent," he continued, shaking his head, "if he's still alive after five years, his strength would be terrifying. He wouldn't be forced into this position by you. He would have crushed you without hesitation."

Turning away, the Six-Ring Soul Emperor seemed to signal the end of their confrontation. But before he could take another step, Tang San's voice broke the silence.

"No, you are Wang Feng," Tang San said, his tone resolute. "It's not just your strength—it's your method. That counter just now, it's exactly the kind of strategy brother Feng would use. You analyzed our intentions from the start, waiting for us to attack and exposing just enough vulnerability to bait us in. Then, at the critical moment, you turned our own momentum against us in a way no ordinary soul master could anticipate."

The others nodded in agreement, Ma Hongjun breaking into a grin. "Exactly! Captain, there's no point hiding anymore. Just release your martial soul and soul rings already. Once we see them, we'll know for sure!"

He chuckled as he added, "After all, how could someone else have your kind of martial soul? The mysterious Green Lotus, transforming into multiple forms. And don't think we've forgotten about that beast martial soul you revealed at the Papal Palace. Twin martial souls—unmatched and unmistakable."

Ning Rongrong stepped forward, determination lighting her eyes. "Wang Feng, stop trying to deny it. Just show us your martial soul. This time, I'm not letting you slip away!"

The group's collective gaze bore down on the Six-Ring Soul Emperor. But he stood silent, the air around him heavy with hesitation.

Finally, he sighed, spreading his arms wide. "I don't have a martial soul," he said softly. "I don't have soul rings, and I don't even have soul power anymore. I'm sorry, but you've mistaken me for someone else. I can't be the Wang Feng you're searching for."

His words sent a chill through the group, leaving them momentarily stunned.

In the shadows, the three teachers—Flender, Grandmaster, and Zhao Wuji—watched the scene unfold, their expressions mirroring the disbelief of their students.

"Is he truly Xiao Feng?" Flender muttered, his brow furrowed deeply. "His techniques in the battle just now were extraordinary, but... his strength wasn't overwhelming. If it was Xiao Feng, his power should have grown exponentially over the past five years. He wouldn't need to resort to breaking their formation at the cost of injury just to hold his ground."

The doubts lingered in the air, but no one could deny the nagging possibility, the Six-Ring Soul Emperor might truly not be the Wang Feng they remembered.

"There is another possibility…" the Grandmaster said in a deep, contemplative voice. "He is Xiaofeng… but he might have lost his martial soul and much of his abilities."

Hearing this, Flender and Zhao Wuji were stunned, their minds struggling to grasp the idea.

In their memories, Wang Feng had always been a force of nature, effortlessly taking on the Shrek Seven Devils as if it were child's play. His strength back then was extraordinary, even capable of holding his own against two Titled Douluo. While the Shrek group had grown stronger over the years, many of them now Soul Emperors, they couldn't compare to the power of a Titled Douluo.

With even a fraction of his former abilities, Wang Feng should have easily overwhelmed them. Yet the battle they had just witnessed painted a very different picture.

"Impossible!" Zhu Zhuqing's voice trembled. "Almost everyone has a martial spirit—how could you not? Over five years ago, when you held me in your arms and punched that ten-thousand-year soul beast, your soul power was so strong it shook the entire battlefield. Don't lie to me, Wang Feng! Did something happen to you in these five years?"

Her voice cracked with emotion as she continued, "Was it during the battle at the Supreme Pontiff Palace? Did you lose your martial soul because of that? Tell me it isn't true!"

Zhu Zhuqing's words struck a chord, bringing clarity to the group.

The Six-Ring Soul Emperor remained silent.

"Wang Feng, it doesn't matter if you've lost your martial soul. You're still Wang Feng…" Ning Rongrong took a step forward, her voice choked with sobs. "Do you know how I've lived these past five years? I don't care about you having martial soul or your abilities. –None of that matters to me! I won't let you push me away this time. I don't care about anything else—I just want to stay with you!"

Tang San's heart grew heavy with emotion as he listened.

If what they suspected was true, everything began to make sense. The man standing before them was undoubtedly Wang Feng.

Tang San's mind raced, piecing together the events of five years ago. Brother Feng must have been surrounded by Bibi Dong and her forces after that battle. He must have barely escaped with his life, but at a terrible cost—his martial soul and cultivation of soul power being crippled!

That's why he doesn't want to admit who he is now.

He clenched his fists, guilt weighing heavily on his chest. Back then, without brother Feng, my father, Xiao Wu, and I would have all perished. He must have sacrificed so much for us… and now he's lost everything.

But before Tang San could speak, the Six-Ring Soul Emperor raised his hand sharply, his voice cutting through the air like a blade.

"Stop!" he commanded, his tone firm and unyielding. "Don't come any closer!"

The group froze, stunned by the force of his voice.

"If you won't believe me," the Six-Ring Soul Emperor said, his voice laced with a strange mix of resignation and defiance, "then I'll make you understand!"

In one swift motion, he reached up and removed the black mask covering his face.

What was revealed left everyone utterly speechless.

Beneath the mask was a face of unparalleled beauty, as flawless as an immortal. But it was not the face they had been expecting.

It wasn't Wang Feng.

This stranger's face was entirely unfamiliar, an ethereal visage that seemed almost otherworldly.

The Six-Ring Soul Emperor spoke, his voice calm but resolute.

"I told you—I am not Wang Feng. Do you believe me now?"

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