"What a kid! That strike's power has already surpassed the hundredth level!"
"Even without divine power to fuel it, it's not much weaker than a standard divine skill."
Niu Tian couldn't help but exclaim in awe.
But he wasn't just watching idly.
As the punch flew toward the Corpse God, Niu Tian also activated his ultimate technique.
The single horn on the forehead of the Sky Azure Bull Python burst with thunderous force — an immensely powerful strike, like a fusion of the four elemental attributes represented by the Four Symbols, devastating in power.
"Heavenly Azure Annihilation Divine Thunder!"
The dragon fist and divine thunder struck in unison, sealing off every escape route of the Corpse God.
A gleam flashed in the Corpse God's eyes.
"Tch… my true self really likes to give me a headache."
He had to take this blow without exposing his real strength — that left him only one option: using external forces.
The Ten Thousand Corpse Grand Array suddenly shuddered, its power linking directly with the Corpse God's body, enveloping him in corpse aura armor.
"Ten Thousand Corpse Grand Array — Corpse Body Armor!"
BOOM!!!
When the attack landed, its force seemed distributed throughout the Ten Thousand Corpse Grand Array. The shock was shared across all the zombies in the formation — many of the weaker ones collapsed and didn't get back up for quite a while.
The array itself looked significantly weakened as well.
But under the protection of the Corpse Body Armor, the Corpse God emerged unscathed, though looking a bit disheveled — blasted far into the distance.
This blow seemed to have genuinely frightened him.
"You actually had this kind of power? Hmph. Next time, you won't be so lucky!"
And with that, the Corpse God decisively rolled up the entire Ten Thousand Corpse Grand Array and vanished into a cloud of black smoke.
He could actually retract the array!
This was thanks to the power of his domain — a space-like field he could expand or retract at will, capable of storing zombie bodies within.
Once the Corpse God fled, Huo Yuhao and Niu Tian reappeared before the others.
Cheers erupted all around.
"We won! The Pavilion Master won!!"
"That's amazing!"
"Long live the Pavilion Master!"
But the top powerhouses like Zhang Lexuan knew the truth: the Corpse God had merely escaped — he would return.
And there were still over 100,000 zombies across the northern Dou Ling Empire. Cleansing them all would be a massive undertaking.
Niu Tian was puzzled by the Corpse God's retreat. "Why did he run? He seemed to be holding back… Could it be there's some hidden weakness? Or a flaw in his breakthrough past level 100?"
His suspicions seemed valid.
If reaching level 100 were truly so easy, the Douluo Continent would've seen many such powerhouses long ago. In all these thousands of years, countless geniuses had emerged — but without a divine position, they all ended up stuck at the Limit Douluo stage. None had succeeded in breaking through.
As for how the Corpse God did it, Niu Tian had some ideas — he could tell the Corpse God wasn't fully human.
Then, when Niu Tian looked at Huo Yuhao, who had just seemed fierce enough to launch another punch, he saw the youth suddenly go limp.
The Golden Ancient Tree returned to Yuhao's body, the Variant Ice Jade Centipede retracted into him — his life force visibly weakened, his hair and eyes dimming, before he plummeted from the sky.
Niu Tian rushed over and caught him. Upon seeing Huo Yuhao's condition, his brow furrowed.
Moments later…
Everyone had relocated to a city within the Dou Ling Empire.
Inside an inn…
"Uncle Niu, what's wrong with Yuhao?" Wang Dong'er asked anxiously.
After the battle, Huo Yuhao had fallen into a state of weakness and unconsciousness. The healers in the group treated him at once, and once they found shelter, Niu Tian personally examined him.
But his expression was heavy, darkening everyone's hearts with unease.
Seeing Wang Dong'er's concern, Niu Tian felt a twinge of jealousy but still forced a smile and explained:
"Don't worry too much. The kid just overexerted himself — pushed his strength beyond its limit."
"But..."
His tone turned stern, making everyone tense up again.
"If he keeps using that technique, it will not only shorten his lifespan, but also cripple his potential — he'd never be able to progress again."
Everyone breathed a sigh of relief, but members of the inspection team still looked worried.
They hadn't expected Huo Yuhao to pay such a heavy price just to protect them.
"Cough… Niu Tian-senior, everyone… don't worry, I know my body."
At some point, Huo Yuhao had awakened, speaking weakly to comfort them.
His waking brought joy to all.
"Relax, I know what I'm doing. That move was a last resort — I don't use it under normal circumstances," he said with a smile.
"Yuhao! You scared us half to death!" Wang Dong'er pouted unhappily.
Having revealed her true identity earlier, she had now returned to her feminine appearance. Seeing her pout made Huo Yuhao's heart tremble slightly.
He couldn't help but feel a bit helpless.
"I really have to send the mid and upper corpses away soon… the lower corpse is starting to affect me more and more."
Forcing himself to stay calm, Huo Yuhao looked at Wang Dong'er with clear eyes and said,
"It was just an accident, nothing more. I won't let it happen again. Thank you — you and Niu Tian-senior both."
"The academy was in trouble — how could I do nothing? The real problem was that I was in seclusion and didn't learn about it soon enough. If I had just gotten out earlier…" Wang Dong'er said with some regret.
A large hand gently rested on her shoulder.
It was Niu Tian.
He said solemnly, "Actually, by the time our Clear Sky Sect learned what was happening, it was already too late. We usually remain secluded from the world, and only reacted so quickly this time because the situation was that dire."
"From the looks of it, the entire destruction of Shrek probably didn't even take half a day."
"And if that powerhouse really was involved… Shrek had no chance. That person is beyond the limit."
In other words: even if the Clear Sky Sect hadn't come, they weren't to blame. And that was true.
Everyone's emotions were complicated at this point.
Niu Tian had already explained some things — the general state of Shrek, the Corpse God's power — everyone had a clearer picture now.
He then left the room with Wang Dong'er, giving Huo Yuhao and the Inspection Team leaders some space.
Inside, only Zhang Lexuan, Han Ruoruo, Ma Xiaotao, Ling Luochen, Hua Yao, and Wu Ming remained — the remaining leadership of the team.
The six women looked at Huo Yuhao, many questions on their minds, but none knew where to begin.
So Huo Yuhao started first, speaking solemnly:
"Both the Academy and the Sea God's Pavilion have been destroyed. Other than me, the only survivors are Senior Brother Yan Shaozhe, Senior Sister Xian Lin'er, Dean Cai Meier, and Senior Jiang Nannan."
"…How could this happen?" Zhang Lexuan swayed, nearly losing her balance.
The others all looked stricken with grief.
"Even Elder Qian dodo and the others…"
After a round of discussion, everyone finally understood the current situation and exactly what Shrek had gone through.
The members of the Inspection Corps were all filled with sorrow—but now was not the time for grief. They still had to consider their next steps.
Fortunately, the rescue of the Inspection Corps brought a brief sigh of relief to Shrek. However, Shrek's remaining members now numbered fewer than fifty.
But every one of them was elite!
Counting Huo Yuhao and the others, Shrek's current lineup was as follows—
Six Titled Douluos:
Huo Yuhao, Yan Shaozhe, Xian Lin'er, Cai Mei'er, Zhang Lexuan, and Han Ruoruo.
Nineteen Soul Douluos:
Ma Xiaotao, Ling Luochen, Jin'er, Mu'er, Shui'er, Huo'er, Wu Ming, Hua Yao, Wang Dong'er, Meng Hongchen, Jiang Nannan, Xu Sanshi, plus seven other powerful members of the Inspection Corps.
Twenty-two Soul Sages:
Xiao Xiao, Lulu, Xie Huanyue, Cao Jin Xuan, and eighteen others.
One Soul Emperor:
Wang Yan.
Total: 48 people.
Many familiar faces were gone—like Huang Chutian, Luo Tianlong, Luo Tianba, and other classmates of Huo Yuhao—all of whom had fallen in the prolonged battles against the zombie army.
Some had become zombies themselves; others had been devoured by them.
Even among these remaining forty-eight, not all were guaranteed to stay with Shrek.
Many had family ties and obligations and were likely to be recalled by their clans.
Of course, among the Inspection Corps, some were also members of the Huo Alliance—or even Huo Yuhao's spiritual partners.
Such as Cui Yajie, Lan Luoluo, and Lan Susu. These women had long since left the Inspection Corps under various "accidents" and entered Huo Yuhao's divine realm before his rescue mission. They were now training alongside the Huo Alliance in his divine kingdom.
There's no denying it—war truly is a catalyst for power. Many of Shrek's survivors had broken through their limits during the zombie battles.
For instance, the four maidens, Wu Ming, Hua Yao, Meng Hongchen, Xiao Xiao, and others—each now just one soul ring away from a new rank.
Their combat experience in life-and-death struggles had honed them into true elites.
Now, Shrek was like a rootless water plant, drifting.
The Four Empires naturally extended olive branches, inviting Shrek's survivors to come rebuild Shrek Academy within their territories. This was also to prepare for a joint effort to destroy the Holy Spirit Cult.
But Huo Yuhao rejected all of them.
His response:
"What represents Shrek has never been a school—but Shrek's spirit! Until our revenge is complete, I will not rebuild Shrek Academy. Only when the darkness has been entirely wiped away will Shrek return!"
"In times of peace, Shrek is an academy. In times of chaos, Shrek is the first line of defense!"
Rebuilding Shrek Academy? Impossible!
If he really rebuilt the academy now, the destiny and fortune gathered on Huo Yuhao as Shrek's last hope would scatter again.
That would be unwise—very unwise.
The Inspection Corps had no objections to his decision. After all, with Shrek's current condition, it was simply impractical to reestablish the academy. They were already stretched too thin.
The Four Empires also voiced no opposition. Instead, they chose to support Huo Yuhao's decision and soon began discussions with him on how to unite the Four Empires to prepare a full assault on the Holy Spirit Cult.
Niu Tian, on account of Wang Dong'er, also agreed to have the Clear Sky Sect assist Shrek. But help would only come after he returned to the sect.
"Titan and I aren't currently at Clear Sky Sect. If we want to mobilize them, one of us has to go back first," Niu Tian explained.
Huo Yuhao was surprised.
"Senior Titan isn't there either?"
Niu Tian nodded.
"Right. Titan went north to the North Sea to handle another matter."
"I see…" Huo Yuhao's eyes flickered slightly.
"What is it?" Niu Tian asked, noticing Huo Yuhao's tone.
Huo Yuhao smiled.
"Nothing. I just remembered that Elder Xuan Zi and Di Tian also went to the North Sea and haven't returned. Could Titan's journey be related to them? The North Sea isn't exactly stable right now."
A gleam flashed in Niu Tian's eyes—he hadn't expected Huo Yuhao to know about matters in the North Sea.
Still, he brushed it off casually and didn't mention Tang. Some things were best left unknown.
After all, Huo Yuhao wasn't officially the son-in-law of the Clear Sky Sect yet—and the number of women around him was a bit… excessive.
Even in just a few days, Niu Tian noticed many women in the Inspection Corps eyeing Huo Yuhao with suspicious looks.
Niu Tian may not have been in love before, but hadn't he seen how obsessed Xiao Wu was with Tang?
Besides, if word got out that Tang knew what was happening on the continent, the Shrek survivors might develop complicated feelings toward him.
A few days later.
Huo Yuhao decided to lead everyone back to Shrek City to rebuild a place to live. He also invited the Four Empires' elites to meet at the ruins of Shrek City to plan the war against the Holy Spirit Cult.
One thing everyone now agreed on—defeating the Holy Spirit Cult would require a united front of all top-tier powerhouses.
Because the ultimate outcome of this war would be determined by those at the Limit Douluo level.
If the Four Empires could truly unite—if Xuan Zi and the Sun-Moon Emperor could join forces, and with Huo Yuhao's team as well—then they might have a real chance of fighting the Holy Spirit Cult's three Limit Douluos.
But taking on those three was only the beginning. Everyone still remembered the terrifying Corpse God they had faced.
"Lord Huo, when can we sound the horn for the counterattack?" Kong Deming asked before leaving.
Huo Yuhao gazed toward the distant sky and replied gravely:
"At the soonest—a year. At the latest—three years. Once I break through, it will be the time for our decisive battle with the evil soul masters!"
"Very well. Then this old man shall wait for you. Lord Huo, take care!"
Kong Deming bid farewell and left with his team.
The other three empires soon followed.
Though the Holy Spirit Cult was still growing, after the appearance of the Corpse God, many believed the danger wasn't quite as immediate as before.
They would wait until Huo Yuhao had grown stronger and could strike with certainty—eradicating all evil soul masters in one fell swoop to avoid leaving any survivors.
As for the sacrifices that might occur in these years…
They were considered necessary sacrifices.
This time window was for Huo Yuhao's final growth—and for his demon disciples and offspring to conquer the seas.
In the end, the true decisive battle would not be Shrek vs. the Holy Spirit Cult, but Brother Hao vs. Tang Dog!
"But before that, let's first cut off one of Tang Dog's limbs…"
Huo Yuhao turned to look at Niu Tian standing beside him and gave a bright, sunny smile.
Niu Tian raised an eyebrow and snorted.
He thought Huo Yuhao was still trying to gain favor because of Wang Dong'er.
"Flattery won't work on me. You'd best focus on your relationship with Dong'er. And let me warn you—her parents will never approve of a playboy like you!"
"…"
Night.
Darkness.
The wind ceased. The clouds stilled.
The moonlight was hidden behind layers of cloud, plunging the world into pitch-black darkness. Only the faint glimmers of manmade lights offered a sliver of comfort in the gloom.
Deep in the mountains—
Clear Sky Sect's base: Clear Sky City.
For thousands of years, the soul masters of Clear Sky Sect had built this city within the mountains. Because of its location, the city's size and prosperity naturally could not compare with the great cities beyond the mountains.
Yet within Clear Sky City lived only soul masters. Not a single ordinary person. There was more than one Titled Douluo among them.
In truth, the Clear Sky Sect territory had three key locations:
Blue Silver Town, situated outside the mountains. It was said to have originated from a small village left behind when the Clear Sky Sect sealed off the mountains ten thousand years ago. Now, it served as a supply point along trade routes and a hub for gathering resources and intelligence for the Sect.
It was likely named Blue Silver Town due to the phrase, "The Blue Silver Grass comes first, the Clear Sky Hammer follows — the hammer protects the grass."
Clear Sky City, nestled within the mountains. This was the heartland of the Sect, home to its soul masters and a storehouse of its heritage.
Clear Sky Fortress, atop the mountain peak. This was the Sect's true core, where the full legacy of the Clear Sky Sect was preserved.
Although outsiders rarely visited Clear Sky City, patrols still took place every night.
And not by mere foot soldiers—these patrol teams were composed of Soul Saints.
That was the might of the Clear Sky Sect.
"Hmm? The wind's picking up?" One patrolling Soul Saint frowned, eyeing the trees nearby.
Just moments ago, there had been no wind at all. Now it was rising swiftly. This unnatural change immediately drew the Soul Saint's attention.
A Soul Saint would never assume this was a mere natural occurrence.
His partner, another Soul Saint, became instantly alert.
Both scanned their surroundings sharply—above, below, all directions. When they looked up at the sky, their pupils contracted in shock.
The wind had scattered the clouds, revealing a bright full moon. But upon that moon appeared the mark of a bat. And then, the brilliant moonlight was dyed blood-red. The pure white rays became an ominous crimson glow.
"Enemy attack!!"
Without hesitation, the two Soul Saints cried out in alarm.
The other patrolling Soul Saints followed suit—they too had noticed something was wrong.
In an instant, several overwhelming auras erupted across Clear Sky City. The Titled Douluos residing there sensed the alarm and rushed from their quarters.
"What's going on? Who dares stir trouble in our Clear Sky Sect?"
The men of Clear Sky Sect had always thirsted for battle. Even after becoming a hidden sect, they frequently roamed the world in secret to engage in Soul Duels.
After all, wielding the most fearsome weapon spirit in the world—the Clear Sky Hammer—without using it in combat, would be a waste of such a fearsome martial soul.
Then, as the soul masters burst out of their homes, they all noticed the strange moon in the sky.
Looking up, they saw the bat insignia and the eerie red light pouring down.
At the same time, a vast swarm of bats descended from the sky, launching a full-scale assault on everyone in Clear Sky City.
"Evacuate the women and children first! Clear Sky warriors, follow me into battle!" Third Elder Tang Ming roared, charging into the fray. His Clear Sky Hammer swung fiercely—each blow crushing swathes of bats.
But more bats continued to pour in, fearless and frenzied, relentlessly attacking the city.
"This is a soul skill—fight soul skill with soul skill!" shouted Fifth Elder Tang Yang, realizing the truth. He activated his abilities, his Clear Sky Hammer glowing with intense heat. As he swung, the searing flames incinerated massive swarms of bats.
BOOM—
The ground trembled. Countless stone spikes erupted from the earth, skewering large clusters of bats overhead.
This was the work of Ninth Elder Tang Kun, who had slammed his Clear Sky Hammer into the ground to unleash a tide of jagged stone.
"You're too slow! Didn't I always say you're the weakest of us?" Eighth Elder Tang Hai bellowed with laughter, twirling his Clear Sky Hammer to stir a whirlwind that pulled the bats together. With a mighty slam, he crushed a huge group of them, clearing a path through the swarm.
Tang Kun clicked his tongue in dissatisfaction. His abilities weren't ideal for airborne foes.
"But as long as I stand on the ground, I am invincible. I'll finish them off eventually," Tang Kun muttered.
Elsewhere, phantom images of beast souls—infused with soul skills—ripped apart the bat swarm.
It was Thirteenth Elder Tang Bin, whose Clear Sky Hammer enslaved nine beast souls, enabling him to channel their power into each attack for devastating amplification.
Among these elders, one stood out. His Clear Sky Hammer gleamed with a dark golden hue, and his attacks weren't flashy nor fast—but he could withstand wave after wave of bat assaults, forming a solid defensive line for weaker clan members.
This elder was unfamiliar to Huo Yuhao—he was Elder Tang Zhe, wielder of a variant spirit: the Darkgold Clear Sky Hammer. He had enhanced offense and defense, but due to its massive weight, it lacked agility.
Against nimble foes, it was ill-suited. But if the enemy lacked sufficient strength, no matter how fast they were, they couldn't break through his defenses.
Moreover, Tang Zhe could afford countless mistakes—but the enemy could not. One hit from his Darkgold Clear Sky Hammer, and they would be crushed.
Thus, his title was: "Unbroken."
These were the six elders currently stationed in Clear Sky City.
First Elder Tang Cheng was not present—he remained in Clear Sky Fortress.
Other elders were scattered across the world: training, traveling, or gathering intelligence.
And it wasn't only the men of Clear Sky Sect who fought—many of the women summoned their spirits and joined the battle.
Not every soul master in Clear Sky City wielded a Clear Sky Hammer—there were other spirit types too, including support-type and food-type spirits.
As a result, Clear Sky City's soul master lineup was at least somewhat balanced—there were healers, support, supplies, and a formidable frontline of attackers.
Given this setup, the Clear Sky elders wracked their brains—who would dare invade Clear Sky City?
Could it be the overconfident Holy Spirit Cult?
But none of their known soul masters had the ability to command bats in battle…
Meanwhile, the entire fight was being silently observed by three figures hovering in the sky.
"So this is the Clear Sky Sect of ten thousand years later? So many Titled Douluos… not bad, it reminds me a little of my old Spirit Empire." Bibi Dong said calmly.
The three in the sky were: Bibi Dong, Zi Ji, and Cain.
Now subjugated by Huo Yuhao as pets, Bibi Dong and Zi Ji had received their first mission:
Annihilate the Clear Sky Sect.
Neither had any objections.
"There's only one Super Douluo—nothing to fear. I'll go first!"
With that, Zi Ji dove downward, transforming midair into her true form: the Abyss Demon Dragon. Activating her Devouring Domain, she dove straight toward the strongest elder—Third Elder Tang Ming.
Bibi Dong snorted coldly and followed, her Death Spider Emperor spirit erupting with a chilling aura of death.
Cain remained aloft, watching the two with growing bloodlust gleaming in his eyes.
Ziji and Bibi Dong stormed into Clear Sky City one after another.
Thanks to the effects of the Hao Emperor Banner and the personal guidance of Huo Yuhao, they were no longer mere ghosts, but something akin to "spirit cultivators."
Their strength had surpassed what it was in life, and most of their original techniques could still be used. However, going forward, their power would no longer be based on bloodline inheritance, but rather on soul aptitude and cultivation techniques.
Ziji cast her Devouring Domain down upon the Third Elder, Tang Ming.
Tang Ming's expression changed drastically, and he instinctively tried to retreat—he had no domain ability to counter it.
Avoiding a direct confrontation was the wise choice.
However, to his shock, Tang Ming found himself unable to escape—the Devouring Domain was generating a suction force that held him fast.
"If I can't escape, then I'll smash it!" Tang Ming gritted his teeth and unleashed his full strength, activating his Martial Soul True Body.
"Seventh Soul Skill: Clear Sky True Body!
Ninth Soul Skill: Heaven-Raising Strike!"
Whatever the method, it came down to a contest of raw power. Even brute force might work.
A massive projection of the Clear Sky Hammer appeared in Clear Sky City and smashed upward at the domain above, like a heavenly pillar crashing down, intent on destroying everything in its path.
But Tang Ming's attack… was too weak.
The Devouring Domain had the power to absorb energy. His attack failed to exceed its threshold and instead, the domain absorbed his strike.
The Clear Sky Hammer's form was dragged into the domain, and Tang Ming's soul power was quickly consumed, strengthening the domain further.
Now, Ziji had cultivated for over 400,000 years, her power rivaling that of a demigod.
What she relied on was the strength Huo Yuhao had instilled into her and the cultivation method he had taught her.
After becoming a first-level god, Huo Yuhao discovered that creating demigods was practically effortless.
If he wished, he could even spend divine power to raise god officers—soulless gods without divine thrones.
However, once it came to third-level gods, it was no longer efficient or worthwhile.
It wasn't impossible, but the cost far outweighed the benefit. Forced promotion led to weak third-level gods who couldn't match those who advanced naturally, especially in their understanding and use of power.
Within the Devouring Domain, Ziji looked down at the trapped Tang Ming, violet flame-like light flickering at the corners of her eyes—a sign of her technique reaching a profound level.
Seeing Tang Ming in peril, the other Clear Sky elders couldn't just stand by.
"Third Brother, I'm coming!" cried the Fifth Elder, Tang Yang.
The Eighth Elder Tang Hao, Ninth Elder Tang Kun, and Thirteenth Elder Tang Bin followed suit.
Four Title Douluo launched their strongest attacks together, activating their Martial Soul True Bodies and bombarding the Devouring Domain.
However, their efforts were in vain.
They too fell under the domain's control, and as their power was absorbed, the domain expanded, growing stronger and more encompassing.
The domain radiated a dark violet hue, with energy rotating rapidly like a whirlpool into the abyss—trapping anything caught within.
"No wonder Master taught me the Violet Demon Codex," Ziji marveled inwardly. "Just the method for controlling soul power combined with the heart method dramatically enhanced the suction force of my domain."
Her domain always had control effects, but against this many Title Douluo, she would never have had such an easy time before.
She couldn't help but wonder, "If cultivation methods can enhance power this much, why didn't humans study them more seriously in the past?"
Beasts had an excuse—they were slow to gain intelligence, had little knowledge, and often relied on bloodline inheritance. But what about humans?
Did they just… not like cultivation techniques?
Meanwhile, elsewhere in Clear Sky City, Bibi Dong was slaughtering her way through the enemy. Soon, her eyes fell on the Seventh Elder, Tang Zhe, who was guarding the younger generation of Clear Sky Sect.
Around him were several Soul Douluo and Soul Saints, warily standing guard against her.
Bibi Dong looked down upon the members of the Clear Sky Sect, her eyes calm and emotionless. She felt no guilt in targeting them.
"Ten thousand years ago, the Clear Sky Sect stood against my Spirit Empire. Ten thousand years later, I will now destroy the Clear Sky legacy! This is karma."
With a final sigh in her heart, Bibi Dong's figure vanished into purple mist. When she reappeared, she had transformed into a massive Death Spider Emperor and lunged at Tang Zhe and the others.
Bibi Dong was even stronger than Ziji. She now had god officer-level power.
This wasn't from new cultivation, but from restoring her strength.
Although she had lost her divine seat, she still had the potential to regain first-level god power.
In truth, Bibi Dong wasn't much different from those gods who passed on their divine thrones—she could still cultivate normally.
"Demonic Aspect Divine Aura: Death Spider Emperor Transformation!"
Just standing there, the murderous intent and malice radiating from the Death Spider Emperor shook the nearby disciples of Clear Sky Sect.
Only Tang Zhe could still resist, while others clutched their heads and screamed in agony.
Some of the weaker-willed soul masters even lost control, their eyes turning red as if possessed, attacking their comrades in a berserk frenzy.
"Clear Sky Sect has grown strong over the millennia, but that strength has also made its disciples soft. They lack the tempered will of old," Bibi Dong sneered.
"What kind of technique is this?! Fall back—everyone, retreat! I'll hold her off!" Tang Zhe gritted out, issuing the order.
But the next second, the Death Spider Emperor pounced straight at him.
Tang Zhe's face hardened. He raised his Clear Sky Hammer, not daring to hold back.
"Seventh Soul Skill: Clear Sky True Body!"
A dark golden Clear Sky Hammer appeared before him.
But Bibi Dong simply brushed past it and flew deeper into the rear ranks, ignoring Tang Zhe entirely.
As she left, the Clear Sky Hammer shattered. Tang Zhe fell to his knees, staring blankly at the sky.
He had already been corrupted.
Gradually, a blood-red evil light filled his eyes. Tang Zhe, as if possessed, picked up the dark-golden Clear Sky Hammer again—and this time, he turned it on the Clear Sky juniors he had just been protecting.
Screams filled the air. Children of the Clear Sky Sect cried out in terror, soul masters howled in despair, but none could halt the tide of death and slaughter.
Hearing the chaos, Bibi Dong—now back in human form—smiled in twisted delight, intoxicated by the sound.
The Demonic Aspect Divine Aura that she cultivated harnessed negative forces—murderous intent and malice—to construct a demonic god avatar and fight through that power.
It could manipulate the minds of others.
This requiem of death playing through Clear Sky City released the resentment she had accumulated over ten thousand years.
"Clear Sky Sect… If you want someone to blame, blame the Sea God. He provoked someone he shouldn't have."
After learning many things about Huo Yuhao, Bibi Dong sometimes wondered—if she had had his help back then, would she have been the ultimate victor ten thousand years ago?
Would Qian Renxue have been spared?
But knowing Huo Yuhao's character, she still didn't want him to be too close to Qian Renxue. That's why she had never revealed the location of the Angel God's inheritance.
Not that it mattered—Huo Yuhao didn't need her help anymore.
Nearly the entire Douluo Continent was now under Huo Yuhao's control. If he still couldn't find the Angel God's legacy, then his so-called "control" would be a joke.
Up in the sky…
The bat before the moon had disappeared.
Cain no longer paid attention to Clear Sky City. He flew into the mist-shrouded distance and arrived at Clear Sky Fortress.
Clear Sky Fortress was not the same as Clear Sky City—it was the true core of the Clear Sky Sect, and the place Tang Dog would truly be concerned about.
Since Tang Laodeng was suspected to be watching over the situation on the Douluo Continent, Huo Yuhao decided to send Cain to test the waters—to see just how far Tang Laodeng's influence could reach.
Cain was chosen because she was unafraid of death. Her main soul could continuously resurrect within the Hao Emperor Banner.
Moreover, the toll from her deaths was within acceptable limits for Huo Yuhao.
Cain looked down at Clear Sky Fortress, a wicked smile spreading across her face. Her beauty turned sinister and seductive, and the power of the Rakshasa God surged within her.
Now, Cain had already broken through level 100 and could fully wield the divine power of the Rakshasa God.
Unlike Bibi Dong, though they both held the rank of divine emissary, Cain bore the direct blessing of a god's position. Even against an ordinary Tier-3 god, she had the power to fight back.
The Rakshasa Domain unfolded, engulfing the entire Clear Sky Fortress.
Only then did the soul masters stationed inside the fortress sense something was wrong. Under the lead of the Grand Elder Tang Cheng, they charged out of Clear Sky Fortress to confront the intruder.
However, just as they emerged, a massive blood-colored bat descended from the sky, diving into their ranks.
Apart from Tang Cheng, a Super Douluo who narrowly avoided the blow through his strength and reflexes, the others didn't even have time to react. One by one, they were struck by the blood bat.
Before Tang Cheng's disbelieving eyes, everyone—except himself—exploded into a mist of blood. That blood mist floated away from the fortress and gathered into Cain's mouth.
She closed her lips and swallowed with a gulp—devouring all the blood and life force of Clear Sky Fortress's elite in one breath.
Her enticing red tongue licked her purple lips.
Floating outside the fortress, Cain looked down at the terrified Grand Elder standing at the gates, her face filled with excitement.
"Blood full of masculine vigor... I like it~"
That was her assessment.
"Who is she? How could she possibly be this powerful?" Tang Cheng gripped his trembling right hand with his left, suddenly realizing—he was afraid. His body trembled uncontrollably, as though he had encountered an overwhelming terror, or worse, a natural predator—the kind at the top of the food chain.
"That aura... that's a god-level powerhouse! Without a doubt! The same divine aura as the two Sect Masters!"
"Why would she come now, of all times—when the two Sect Masters are away?"
"I can't fight her! I'm no match for her!"
In the next instant, Tang Cheng bit the tip of his tongue, using the pain to snap himself out of his fear. He immediately slammed the fortress gates shut and fled back inside.
The only thing he could do now was defend the fortress, relying on its hidden powers to resist Cain.
He didn't know if this would keep him alive—but it was the only idea he had.
If he gave up, everything inside Clear Sky Fortress would fall to the enemy. How could he face the ancestors of the Clear Sky Sect then?
Cain narrowed her eyes, her smile unwavering. Raising her hand, blood-red energy coalesced in her palm—shaping itself into a crimson version of the Clear Sky Hammer.
This was Cain's bloodthirsty method: stealing others' powers through their blood.
"Clear Sky Killing Move—Hammer Break!"
When this stolen power was activated, it triggered the origin of the stolen force itself—unleashing its ultimate strike: a killing move.
The blood-colored Clear Sky Hammer instantly swelled to the size of a small mountain. Cain swung it down toward Clear Sky Fortress.
When the hammer struck, it exploded violently—releasing a terrifying blast that shattered the fortress's uppermost level, revealing the structure beneath.
Tang Cheng nearly fell over, barely keeping his footing. Fortunately, the fortress's defenses were strong enough: Cain had only destroyed the top level. There were still two layers below that blocked most of the hammer's explosion.
But Tang Cheng didn't dare linger. He rushed to a secret chamber, opened a hidden passage on the floor, and slipped into one of the fortress's most secret sanctuaries.
This was a place known only to the two Sect Masters and successive Clear Sky Douluos.
Beneath Clear Sky Fortress lay the tablets of all former Clear Sky Douluos. Also kept here was the cultivation method for the Great Sumeru Hammer.
But that wasn't what Tang Cheng came for.
He quickly pushed aside the memorial tablets, revealing seven blue circular disks embedded in the floor behind the altar.
With the sound of explosions drawing ever closer, Tang Cheng didn't hesitate. He dropped to his knees before one of the disks, slit his wrist, and let his blood drip onto it.
"Ancestors, descend upon me!"
He slammed his head into the ground with force, uncaring that blood now poured from his forehead.
As his blood touched the disk, all seven lit up in sequence. Beams of brilliant sea-blue light shot into the sky, piercing through Clear Sky Fortress and reaching the heavens.
A mighty figure began to appear in the sky above.
"The ancestor... has manifested!" Tang Cheng cried, overwhelmed with emotion.
Cain was momentarily stunned by the sight. Only when Huo Yuhao's voice rang in her ears did she come back to her senses.
"Withdraw—we've learned enough."
Huo Yuhao had been monitoring Cain the whole time. The moment the Sea God was summoned, he knew it was time to pull back.
There was nothing more to gain, and if Cain clashed with the Sea God's projection, she could very well die.
The Sea God projection had to be under Tang Dog's direct control.
Now that he knew the Clear Sky Sect had such a trump card, Huo Yuhao felt it was enough. There was no need to risk Cain's life further.
"Cain always listens to Master~" she replied cheerfully, and without hesitation, turned and fled.
By the time the Sea God projection fully descended, Cain had already vanished. At her speed, she could escape the mountain range in the blink of an eye.
And forming a projection of the Sea God at full strength required a few seconds.
When the Sea God projection finally arrived, the enemy had already escaped. But the lingering traces they left behind were crystal clear.
The Sea God projection reached out, grasping those residual traces, and condensed them into a form that made him narrow his eyes.
"This is... the aura of the Rakshasa God? Bibi Dong—no, this is a new inheritor of the Rakshasa God. The bloodthirst in her scent is different from Bibi Dong's aura of death."
"Is this destiny at work? The Rakshasa God has returned once again!"
"The new Rakshasa God dares to invade my Clear Sky Sect. She walks the road to death!"
Finally, the Sea God projection looked down at Tang Cheng, who still knelt in the underground chamber.
He sighed deeply—then made the most of the projection's remaining power, pouring it all into Tang Cheng's body. On Tang Cheng's brow, the Sea God's trident symbol appeared.
Tang Cheng immediately sat cross-legged and began to cultivate. His strength surged visibly:
97… 98… 99!
A new Limit Douluo was born.
"From this day forward, you are the High Priest of the Sea God!"
"Find me the inheritor of the Rakshasa God!"
Tang San's voice echoed in Tang Cheng's ears, burning into his mind like a divine brand—etched into his very soul.