However, although Tao Zhenghao is somewhat extreme and stubborn in certain areas, he is not a fool.

Moreover, with his strength, how could he easily fall into a hallucination unless he encounters an entanglement of the Heart Demon or strays in his Cultivation Technique and falls into a state of demonic possession.

Otherwise, having hallucinations is indeed something unattainable for him, belonging merely to a conceptual vocabulary.

In Tao Zhenghao’s heart, there is an instinctive resistance to Sun Miaohan being close to another man, let alone discussing a lifelong matter like having children.

Therefore, he would rather choose to believe he was hallucinating, or choose a kind of comfort that he could accept!

However, the appearance of the Demon-Suppressing Bell before him completely shattered his last glimmer of hope.

As he touched the patterns on the giant bell, Tao Zhenghao only felt his heart was bleeding. Those extremely profound and incomprehensible lines transmitted the treasured artifact’s vibrations clearly along his arm, reminding him.

Dream, wake up!

He had known for a long time about the news of Sun Miaohan possessing the prehistoric treasure, the Demon-Suppressing Bell. And it wasn’t just him; in Heartbreak Valley, Profound Spirit Valley, and in his own Wind Blade Valley, almost no one was unaware of it.

It was previously thought to be mere rumors, but unexpectedly, Sun Miaohan indeed possessed such a treasure and even entrusted it to another man.

Such a treasure, even Tao Zhenghao wouldn’t dare to hand it casually to someone he didn’t trust, so it seemed everything was indeed true now!

Thinking of this, a crisp sound rang clearly in Tao Zhenghao’s ears, as though an eggshell was breaking...

After a long moment, Tao Zhenghao, who stood there dazed, suddenly turned crimson, then swiftly turned pale, spewing a mouthful of black blood, and then fell straight down, unconscious or worse.

This unexpected situation stupefied everyone below the stage, though none dared to entertain thoughts of retreat. Even those powerhouses considering withdrawing didn’t dare to act upon it.

Even a master like Thunder King Salon was not spared; these experts, knowing their strength was inferior to Thunder King Salon, were even less inclined to court death.

Seeing Tao Zhenghao suddenly spit blood and collapse, the crowd became somewhat numb after the initial brief shock.

Evidently, the continuous blows had given them a resistance, no longer making them as helpless as before.

And Tao Zhenghao on the ground had not considered a single thing—the love he claimed, Sun Miaohan never accepted from beginning to end, even rejecting him outright, which he considered insincere.

So, who could really be blamed?!

...

"Do you remember what I said?"

Xiao Tian looked at the figure in the deep black robe before him and coldly inquired.

Across from him, the Hidden Needle, apprehensively scanning his surroundings, heard Xiao Tian’s icy voice and let out a cold snort from his nose: "So what if I remember? So what if I don’t? Do you think you can manage it?!"

The Hidden Needle certainly knew what Xiao Tian meant. The latter had previously declared he would unmask him and reveal his true face to the public, a matter that had left an unforgettable resentment in his heart.

"Then let’s try it," Xiao Tian said blandly, then suddenly conjured a dagger in his hand, charging forth with no hesitation, aiming directly at the Hidden Needle’s heart.

Facing Xiao Tian’s fierce attack, the Hidden Needle appeared very calm, ready to use his Shadow Ability to disrupt Xiao Tian’s vision and draw the opponent into his domain.

Yet, the next moment, the Hidden Needle’s eyes widened in shock, the disbelief in them as though piercing the thin mask like cicada wings.

For, upon using his Divine Sense to invoke his innate ability, he found the shadow, once controllable with a single thought, now completely unresponsive, unsuccessful after several attempts.

After momentary confusion, the Hidden Needle relied on his remarkable mental fortitude, forcing himself calm, erasing distractions and thoughts unrelated to solving the immediate crisis, seriously contemplating the present predicament.

Soon, the Hidden Needle pinpointed the origin, realizing that the nearly isolated space perimeter around him was the culprit.

However, identifying the problem was one thing, but breaking it was another. Though the Hidden Needle noticed that the surrounding boundaries were isolating his abilities, it required extensive preparation to crack it.

Fixing his gaze on the imminent cold gleam, the Hidden Needle lightly tapped his foot, retreating in the opposite direction. While retreating, he channelled his Cultivation Technique into his palm and, with a turn, struck towards the boundary trapping him.

"Clang..."

A profound yet lingering sound resonated, momentarily dazing the Hidden Needle, his vision filled with golden stars, never imagining the artifact held such an effect.

As the Hidden Needle’s palm connected with the interior wall of the giant bell, Xiao Tian immediately sensed the precarious vibrations, as if the bell could lose effectiveness at any moment.

Wasting no time, Xiao Tian quickly covered his ears, then channeled a portion of his True Qi to maintain the giant bell’s normal operation, stabilizing the wavering uncertainty.

As the Hidden Needle, still apprehensive, awoke from the dizziness, a question arose within: Why hadn’t the opponent seized the opportunity to kill him while he was distracted?

This puzzled the Hidden Needle greatly.

Logically speaking, the enmity between him and Xiao Tian was irreparable, and observing Xiao Tian, he was certainly no saint sparing others when vulnerable.

With the occurrence of this illogical phenomenon, the only possibility seemed to be not that Xiao Tian chose not to act, but rather that he was unable to!

Contemplating this, the Hidden Needle closely observed Xiao Tian’s every move and indeed noticed some anomalies.

Though Xiao Tian made no significant actions from beginning to end, his breath remained steady, his complexion appeared unchanged, and his gaze seemed completely normal.

But, an assassin’s observational skills, in some respects, surpass those of mere killers.

Because assassins only have one path to success, their opportunity is singular—as assassins must either kill the target and escape or fail if they miss.

Due to this fleeting opportunity, observation is crucial for an assassin’s survival and operational capability!

As a standout in this field, the Hidden Needle was evidently of the highest standard regarding observation.

From Xiao Tian’s slightly trembling fingers holding the dagger and almost imperceptible tension between his eyebrows, the Hidden Needle discerned the answers he sought.

While such information might be useless to most experts, for the Hidden Needle’s uncommon profession and professional excellence, it warranted special attention.

After analyzing, the Hidden Needle immediately activated his Body Technique, flashing quickly several times to arrive at Xiao Tian’s opposing side.