Chapter 71: A Father Beating His Son
Slap! Slap! Slap!
The sound of whips cracking rang out again and again as Tang Hao was repeatedly struck and sent flying into the cliff wall behind him.
Qian Xunji stood elegantly atop the Clear Sky Hammer, one hand behind his back, the other flicking a golden whip with two fingers, lashing it onto Tang Hao's body over and over again.
Tang Hao kept charging at Qian Xunji, whether by foot or soaring through the air, but every time he was knocked back with ease. His tough leather clothes were torn open strip by strip, and more and more Tang Hao-shaped dents appeared on the cliff wall behind.
The crowd, who had originally been watching this Title Douluo battle with excitement and fervor, began to quiet down. Was this really a fight between Title Douluos? Or was this just a father beating his son?
Of course, that was only the impression of those with Title Douluo-level strength. Because Qian Xunji was fighting a Tang Hao who couldn't use his martial soul, the fight's level had essentially dropped to that of Soul Douluos.
And a level 96 Title Douluo beating a Soul Douluo-level opponent... how else would you describe it but as a father disciplining his child?
There were two exceptions to this sentiment: the Spirit Hall and the Clear Sky Sect.
The people of Spirit Hall, including Golden Crocodile Douluo, were elated. This was the true power of the number one martial soul on the continent. The god-class martial soul, Six-Winged Angel, exuded absolute dominance. Compared to it, what were other martial souls? What was Clear Sky Douluo but a joke?
Qian Renxue, using A Yin's Blue Silver Domain to observe, watched excitedly as Qian Xunji toyed with Tang Hao. She even began mimicking Qian Xunji's arm movements as if wielding a whip herself.
The Clear Sky Sect, on the other hand, was overwhelmed with humiliation and fury. Every time Qian Xunji knocked Tang Hao down felt like a slap to their faces.
"Qian Xunji is so despicable. He's taking advantage of Brother Hao not having his martial soul. If he could swing the Clear Sky Hammer, how could he possibly be in such a miserable state?"
Qian Xunji wasn't concerned with what others thought. He was thoroughly enjoying the act of beating someone. It was rare to find someone as tough as Tang Hao, and he didn't want to end this too soon—after all, there was profit to squeeze from this fight.
Truthfully, if Tang Hao's martial soul weren't the Clear Sky Hammer, Qian Xunji wouldn't be so casual. On equal footing, the Clear Sky Hammer was no joke.
But really, since when could a slow, heavy weapon like that compete with a nimble ultimate predator?
Crack! Crack!
The whip sounds continued. Tang Hao shielded his head with his arms, trying to endure Qian Xunji's strikes with his body. Their domains canceled each other out—he couldn't solidify the Killing Intent Domain, and Qian Xunji couldn't fully use his Angel Domain either.
"Qian Xunji, you only dare to act mighty because I don't have my Clear Sky Hammer! Do you have the guts to return it and fight me fairly?"
Qian Xunji's whip snapped again, sending Tang Hao flying into the cliff wall.
"If you have the energy to question my courage, perhaps you should think about how your hammer ended up under my foot in the first place. Your attempt at baiting me is far too childish."
"A fair fight? I'm fighting you on the ground—how is that not fair? Or do you intend to tarnish your grandfather's legacy as the land's unrivaled warrior?"
"Don't you dare slander my grandfather!"
Tang Hao, enraged, grabbed the whip mid-air and charged at Qian Xunji.
Qian Xunji raised an eyebrow, amused. "When did I slander Tang Chen?"
He found Tang Hao's reaction amusing.
"I told you this isn't a weapon. It's just compressed soul power—don't you understand?"
With a flick of his fingers, Qian Xunji extended the golden whip another ten meters, coiling it around Tang Hao multiple times.
Tang Hao tensed his muscles and shattered the golden soul power with a violent burst.
But at that moment, he felt a powerful pull dragging him toward Qian Xunji, and he heard his voice echo in his mind.
"Tang Hao, have you ever heard of end lag?"
"Everyone has a moment of stillness after making a move—your hammer ended up with me because I exploited that delay. And now I'll do it again."
As Tang Hao broke free of the whip and lunged, he came right into Qian Xunji's space.
Just as he was about to act, a fist appeared before him—growing larger and larger—until it smashed into his face. He hadn't even had time to defend.
"AHH!!"
Tang Hao, who hadn't cried out from dozens of lashings, finally let out a scream. Two front teeth flew out along with blood. He crashed into the cliff again, this time creating a small crater instead of a dent.
"Hao'er!"
"Brother Hao!"
Tang Zhen coughed violently after shouting.
"Father, Big Brother! Watch closely—the real fight begins now!"
This time, Tang Hao recovered swiftly, as if Qian Xunji's words had sparked something in him. He punched the cliff behind him.
BOOM!
Dust flew and cracks spread. Chunks of rock broke free. With a wave of his hand, Tang Hao flung a mass of boulders at Qian Xunji.
Qian Xunji's soul power formed a golden Holy Sword, slicing each rock cleanly in half.
Suddenly, Tang Hao darted in from the side, seizing the moment while Qian Xunji was swinging his sword—his so-called "end lag"—and reached for the handle of the Clear Sky Hammer.
If he could just grab the hammer and activate Clear Sky True Form, Qian Xunji wouldn't be able to control it anymore. He could turn the fight around and return every ounce of humiliation tenfold.
Tang Zhen and Tang Xiao silently cheered him on. Yu Yuanzhen and Sword and Bone Douluo also hoped he'd succeed. If Tang Hao lost like this, the unity of the Upper Three Sects would seem laughably fragile.
They knew that even with a two-level lead, they might not beat Tang Hao. That first hammer swing had terrifying power—perhaps even as strong as a ten-thousand-year soul skill. And for Tang Hao, that was just a casual strike. He hadn't even used Clear Sky Nine Arts or Random Swinging Hammer yet.
Just as his fingers were about to close around the hammer handle, golden light flashed again. Qian Xunji's other hand—previously behind his back—moved. Another golden whip lashed out, striking Tang Hao and sending him skidding across the ground.
Qian Xunji smirked. "Sorry, Tang Hao. Both my hands are very coordinated. Your plan failed."
Ning Fengzhi's expression darkened. Qian Xunji's words were total nonsense. This wasn't just hand coordination—it was split-thought control, a technique like having extra minds to command his soul power perfectly.
Tang Hao's combat pattern had been under Qian Xunji's control from the start. This was never a fair fight.
Ning Fengzhi now regretted that his uncle, the former Sect Master Ning Zhiping, had once traded that technique to Qian Xunji.
Thank you for the support, friends. If you want to read more chapters in advance, go to my Patreon.
Read 20 Chapters In Advance: patreon.com/Johanssen