"She… she actually defeated the Soul King from the Clear Sky Sect without even releasing her Martial Soul."
The influential figures from various sects watching from the VIP rooms were utterly shocked by Qian Renxue's display.
Was the younger generation of the Spirit Hall this strong?
Aside from the few who knew or had deduced Qian Renxue's true strength, the majority of the audience was shaken to their core.
At this moment, on the spectator seats near the competition arena reserved for participating teams, Tang Chen and Tang Xiao, among others, although they had anticipated this outcome, were still very surprised that Qian Renxue's strength had reached such a level.
Her casual movements hadn't used much power at all.
One must know that the Clear Sky Hammer of the Clear Sky Sect is a top-tier Tool Martial Soul. Even against other Soul Kings, it ranks among the very best in the Soul King stage.
Even facing some relatively weaker level 58 or even 59 Soul Kings, it could still win. If secret techniques were added, there was even hope of winning against a Soul Emperor who had just broken through.
"She indeed lost!" Tang Xiao couldn't help but sigh as he watched Tang Long walking towards them, injured.
He had known from the start that Tang Long couldn't possibly win against Qian Renxue, but perhaps he could have caused some trouble for her.
Now, forget trouble—she could have instantly defeated him with ease.
"Grandfather, can you tell what Qian Renxue's strength is?"
In response to Tang Xiao's inquiry, Tang Chen was silent for a long moment: "It must be that Qian Daoliu did something to conceal it. If she doesn't release her Soul Rings, even I cannot accurately judge."
"However, to defeat a Soul King without releasing Soul Rings likely requires a level gap of around 20."
"Her utterly casual manner suggests either her strength is far greater, or her physical body strength far surpasses that of a Soul Sage."
"Is that so..." Tang Xiao's eyelids flickered slightly, "Then can Little San win?"
"If Qian Renxue is only at this level, Tang San still has a chance to win. What I worry about is..."
Tang Chen did not continue, shifting his gaze from Tang Xiao's face back to the competition field.
"You can step down now. Leave this to me." After throwing Tang Long off the stage, Qian Renxue said to the auxiliary system Soul Ancestor behind her.
"Saintess, you must be careful." The Spirit Hall team's auxiliary system Soul Ancestor, close to Soul King level, leaped down from the platform.
This left everyone present somewhat dumbfounded.
If you were going to let him leave, why save him in the first place?!
Was it simply because you disliked the Clear Sky Sect's Clear Sky Hammer?
"My teammate can leave by himself, but you cannot be the one to make him." After her teammate walked off the stage, Qian Renxue took a deep breath.
"Tang San, now it's just the two of us left on the platform. The little rabbit next to you—will you tell her to leave, or shall I send her off myself?"
"Qian Renxue, do you still think I'm the same person from before, who wasn't even worthy of a proper glance from you?"
"In these two and a half years, I have been completely reborn." Tang San said coldly.
"As for Xiao Wu, if you have the skill, come try. See if I, Tang San, can block you."
"Big brother is right." Xiao Wu glared fiercely at Qian Renxue.
Xiao Wu wasn't surprised that Qian Renxue knew her identity.
After all, the incident back then had caused such a huge stir.
Although she had been knocked unconscious, she learned about the course of events afterwards from Tang San.
"Truly stubborn and unyielding, then I'll send you off first before properly dealing with Tang San!"
An afterimage flashed, almost like a teleport.
A ball of light condensed in her palm and was pushed out.
Xiao Wu didn't even have time to react before her abdomen was struck hard.
She flew out of the arena along with the light ball.
"Xiao Wu!"
Tang San was ultimately a step too slow. By the time he reacted, Xiao Wu had already fallen outside the competition area, unconscious.
As the pure and chaste Tang San, he initially wanted to check on Xiao Wu's condition.
But then he remembered this was a match.
Besides, Tang Xiao and Tang Chen were outside. If something was wrong with Xiao Wu, they probably wouldn't fail to notice.
Tang San's eyes turned red with rage, and a killing aura suddenly erupted from him.
"Despicable Qian Renxue, you deserve to die!"
"Slaughter Domain."
A bloody, eerie aura spread around them.
The amplifying and weakening effects began to act on Qian Renxue.
"Is this what you obtained from Slaughter City?"
"Compared to hers, it's nothing special."
Feeling the suppression on her body, a blazing white light surged out. Qian Renxue's emitted soul power arranged itself in a specific pattern, quickly pushing the Slaughter Domain back.
Qian Renxue used her Angel Domain.
"My... my domain is being suppressed."
Tang San's expression changed. Without even releasing her Martial Soul, merely by deploying her domain, she had suppressed his fully unleashed Slaughter Domain.
"Damn it, don't think I have no way to deal with you!"
Power gathered in his calves. Great Sumeru Hammer.
The Clear Sky Hammer appeared in his left hand and rapidly grew enormous. A golden light shimmered around the hammer's body as he swung it viciously towards Qian Renxue.
The terrifying force transmitted by the swing far surpassed Tang Long's and was also more sinister.
Even the spectators in the stands could feel the terror of this power. Even a newly-breakthrough Soul Emperor might not be a match.
This Tang San is not simple!
"You think you can win the championship with this level of strength? Are you looking down on the Glazed Academy, or are you looking down on our Spirit Hall Academy?"
Qian Renxue retreated a few steps, deftly avoiding the hammer blow, and manipulated her Angel Domain to press down on Tang San's position.
The Angel Domain purified layer by layer. The Slaughter Domain, filled with killing intent and malicious thoughts, couldn't withstand it, quickly developing cracks all over before shattering completely.
As the Slaughter Domain shattered, a trickle of blood flowed from the corner of Tang San's mouth.
He seemed completely unaware, wielding the Clear Sky Hammer, which still had no Soul Rings, continuing his assault on Qian Renxue.
"How much power can you even exert with a Clear Sky Hammer that doesn't even have Soul Rings?"
Qian Renxue's expression was flat, but suddenly she sensed something and crossed her arms in front of her.
At that very moment, the Clear Sky Hammer Tang San had raised disappeared. In Tang San's hand appeared a weapon wreathed in bloody flames, brimming with a killing aura.
With the appearance of this sword, Tang San's Slaughter Domain reappeared, actually gradually suppressing Qian Renxue's Angel Domain.
"Qian Renxue, soul tools are also part of one's strength. Blame your Spirit Hall for not having any!"
"Divine Sword of the Asura God—Slash!"
He slashed downwards from above. A blood-red sword light erupted from the blade.
The Divine Sword of the Asura God, stained with countless amounts of blood and souls, merely by its presence, instilled unease and fear in everyone around.
The sword light, which nearly covered half the competition arena, shot towards Qian Renxue at extreme speed, seemingly intent on completely defeating her.
The overwhelming sword light grew larger and larger in Qian Renxue's golden pupils.
Qian Renxue let out a cold humph.
"I underestimated you. As expected of the ninth person in thousands of years to emerge from that place..."
Before her words even finished, Qian Renxue's beautiful figure was utterly swallowed by the blood-red sword light without a trace.
While the audience was still shocked beyond measure, the evil aura of slaughter and blood that permeated the air began to rapidly diminish.
Starting from a point, then spreading, a blazing white radiance erupted from the spot where Qian Renxue had been swallowed.
"Angel's Protection!"
The moment the clear voice fell, the slaughter and malicious intent were dispelled and purified by profound soul power.
In moments, they vanished without a trace.
The sound of footsteps, "da, da, da," echoed from the platform.
The entire competition ground and the surrounding spectator stands became so quiet one could hear a pin drop.
Beneath Qian Renxue's feet.
Soul Rings rose one after another.
With each Soul Ring that rose, Qian Renxue's aura grew stronger.
First, two hundred-year yellow Soul Rings, then two purple thousand-year Soul Rings.
Next, three black Soul Rings appeared, bringing a slight sense of oppression.
Finally, a violently appearing blood-red color added a touch of allure to the pure light surrounding Qian Renxue.
A scarlet blood-red Soul Ring slowly floated up from her feet.
Yellow, Yellow, Purple, Purple, Black, Black, Black, Red.
With all Soul Rings revealed, Qian Renxue was actually an eight-ringed Soul Douluo.
The alluring blood color of that final Soul Ring represented the pinnacle of the Soul Master world.
A hundred-thousand-year Soul Ring.