Chapter 76: Let the Continent Taste the Path to Death
Clear Sky Sect.
The sect was nothing like its peaceful, joyous self of the past. Now it was blanketed in white. All disciples wore mourning robes. In the main hall, a massive coffin lay at the center—inside was the body of the deceased Tang Zhen.
Tang Xiao, the six elders of Clear Sky, and a tearful Tang Yuehua surrounded the coffin. Yuehua, now disfigured, wore a veil to cover her face, but the cruel scar beneath still peeked through.
Since Tang Xiao hadn't known Tang Yuehua was present at the duel, her injuries hadn't been treated in time—and the damage was permanent.
After her disfigurement, even Moon Pavilion had shut down. How could noble disciples tolerate being taught etiquette by a scar-faced woman who made them nauseous?
"Big Brother, Yuehua, uncles…"
Tang Hao limped into the hall, dragging one pant leg and leaning on a crutch. With one arm and one leg lost, and his cultivation dropped by twenty levels, he looked ten years older. The aftermath of the Nine-Ring Detonation and massive blood loss had left him frail to the point he couldn't even form limbs from killing intent.
"You jinx! Why are you here? You killed the Sect Master, lost two inherited soul bones, and utterly disgraced the Clear Sky Sect! You still have the face to show up here? Get out!"
Tang Lie shouted furiously, pointing at Tang Hao from the entrance.
In his eyes, everything was Tang Hao's fault—his arrogance in challenging Qian Xunji, his lunacy in detonating all nine rings in a sneak attack. If not for him, the sect master wouldn't be dead, their precious soul bones wouldn't be lost, and the sect's reputation wouldn't be in ruins. No one from the commoner world wanted to join them now.
The Clear Sky Sect's downfall—it was all Tang Hao's doing.
Tang Yuehua cried out, "Seventh Uncle, how can you blame everything on Brother Hao? It was clearly Qian Xunji who humiliated him first!"
"You worthless, ugly freak! Who gave you permission to speak?! If you weren't the sect master's daughter, I'd throw you out myself!"
Tang Lie spat his contempt. He'd always looked down on Tang Yuehua for being born with level-nine innate soul power, rendering her unable to cultivate. That she later earned the sect a fortune using her unique martial soul had softened some hearts.
But now that she was disfigured, Tang Zhen was dead, and Tang Hao crippled, she was once again a useless freeloader in Tang Lie's eyes. If he had the power, he would expel her immediately.
As for all the money she had brought in? She was the sect master's daughter—it was only her duty.
Tang Hao hung his head low, full of guilt.
Yuehua, sobbing from the cruel insults, had soaked her veil. Tears streamed down endlessly.
"Seventh Uncle, how can you say that to Yuehua and Brother Hao?!"
Tang Xiao was furious, but Tang Lie was an elder. Bound by the sect's values, he couldn't raise a hand against him.
"Watch your mouth, Tang Lie. Tang Hao and Yuehua are still the sect master's children," said the Second Elder sternly.
With a cold snort, Tang Lie backed off—but just slightly.
Tang Zhen was buried in the Tang ancestral grounds. Tang Xiao succeeded him as Sect Master of the Clear Sky Sect.
A month later, the storm stirred by the battle between Qian Xunji and Tang Hao had mostly settled.
On a balcony of the Pope's Hall, Qian Xunji lounged on a recliner, basking in the sun and snacking on fruit. He truly had nothing left to do. With Tang Hao's two soul bones absorbed, his cultivation reached the peak of level 96. With enough insight, he could break through to level 97 at any moment.
There were no more scripts to write—he had completed everything. With no one in the soul master world daring to oppose him after his fight with Tang Hao, Qian Xunji was bored. The only story left to write was his daughter Qian Renxue's, but she was only turning nine. Even if she was gifted, soul ring hormones couldn't stimulate brain development—he'd have to wait a few more years.
"Jier."
A flash of golden light, and Qian Daoliu appeared beside him.
"What's up, Father?" Qian Xunji replied casually, still lying back. There was no need for formality between father and son.
"You'd better do something about Xue'er!"
"What about her? Her soul power's growing fast, isn't it?"
"You really haven't been paying attention. Instead of practicing swordplay, she's training with a whip!"
Qian Xunji froze. Had she been influenced by watching him toy with Tang Hao using a soul-force whip? That was a bit off-track. After all, the Angel's sacred weapon was a sword—the divine Angelic Holy Sword.
Qian Xunji had chosen to use a whip mainly out of laziness. With his power, why waste energy smacking small fries with his hand when he could flick them from afar—graceful, efficient, and stylish?
Just then, Qian Renxue ran over joyfully, with Ah Yin following behind.
Seeing her, Qian Daoliu's anger vanished, replaced with a loving smile. "What is it, Xue'er? Why so excited?"
"Daddy! Grandpa! Mommy is pregnant again! I'm going to be a big sister!"
"What do you mean, 'Ah Yin is pregnant again'?"
Having already come to terms with Ah Yin after she gave birth to his innately full-soul-power, six-winged granddaughter, Qian Daoliu didn't care anymore.
Qian Daoliu: What? Ah Yin's a soul beast? I said she isn't, so she isn't! Once she reached maturity, she's human. Got a problem?
"Daddy, Grandpa, Mommy has a baby in her tummy! I'm going to have a little brother or sister!"
Ah Yin walked over, gently touching her belly and nodding with a smile.
Qian Daoliu was pleased. More descendants with six wings and full innate soul power? A dream come true.
Qian Xunji's eyes narrowed slightly. The timing… could it be? Was this child Tang San?
With all the wild fan theories—Tang San being manipulated by the God of Shura, or being a proxy for the God of Shura—it wasn't impossible.
If it really was Tang San, Qian Xunji would do just one thing—turn him from an angel into a fallen angel. He'd let the entire continent experience the wrath of defying fate.
Reform? Redemption? Disgusting.
Didn't everyone think the Qian clan was soft-hearted? Especially that rigid old man Qian Daoliu who made it impossible to write scripts in peace. But if this child really was Tang San, then the whole continent—especially the Clear Sky Sect—would feel the sting of hypocrisy and divine retribution.
Qian Xunji hated the policy of free martial soul awakenings and suppressing rogue soul masters without compensation. It was unsustainable.
You want us to do all the work—but where's the faith? How many people even knew who the Angel God was? Not even Ning Fengzhi knew—it had to be explained by Yu Xiaogang.
No faith, no obligation. Why should Spirit Hall bear all responsibility?
As the old saying goes in Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils: "Without demons, misfortune, or disaster, who would light incense?"
And as The Imperial Coroner says: "Corrupt officials must be cunning—but honest ones must be even craftier!"
A cold light flashed in Qian Xunji's eyes, then he smiled again.
"Well then, how about the four of us go on a trip? We haven't gone out as a family since Xue'er was born."
Qian Renxue jumped with joy. "Yay! Let's go play outside!"
Qian Daoliu folded his hands behind his back and said flatly, "I'm not interested. I must stay behind to protect Spirit Hall. You go—but don't neglect Xue'er's training."
Qian Xunji waved him off. "Father, don't flatter yourself. I never intended to bring you along. Why would we drag an old fossil around? When I said 'family of four,' I meant me, Ah Yin, Xue'er, and the baby. Don't flatter yourself."
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