The members of the Spirit Hall lying in ambush in the shadows looked up at the sky, where blood-red lightning brewed within ominous clouds.
"Even the heavens can no longer tolerate the sins Tang Hao has committed," Qian Xuanji said with a sigh.
They had just witnessed the tragedy that unfolded at Tian Gu Ridge.
From the moment A Yin began her sacrifice, Qian Xuanji's calculations had failed. But once a sacrifice started, it couldn't be stopped. Any intervention would have been meaningless. So, Qian Xuanji held his forces back, waiting patiently for the right moment.
Then something shocking happened.
That cripple Tang Xiao appeared, and the hundred-thousand-year soul beast shifted its sacrifice target. From the interaction, Qian Xuanji could see that these two brothers shared a peculiar affection for soul beasts. It was a complete collapse of morals and a distortion of human nature.
Tang Xiao, empowered by the soul beast's sacrifice, not only regained his health but also became a Title Douluo with a hundred-thousand-year spirit ring.
But the joy within the Clear Sky School was short-lived. The two brothers turned on each other in a savage fight.
Unexpectedly, Tang Hao, with only eight spirit rings, overpowered Tang Xiao, who possessed a hundred-thousand-year spirit ring, beating him back into a crippled state.
Tang Hao, disregarding brotherly ties, ruthlessly attempted to kill Tang Xiao. Tang Tian intervened to save Tang Xiao but ended up being killed by Tang Hao's Clear Sky Hammer.
Qian Xuanji commented, "Tang Hao, although you gave me quite the performance of brother slaying brother and father clashing with son, something isn't adding up. Are you sure you're just a Spirit Douluo? You're nothing like the other Spirit Douluos I've seen."
"Your Holiness, should we really go up against someone like Tang Hao?" Elder Golden Bell nervously swallowed and asked.
The rest of the Spirit Hall agents were clearly shaken by Tang Hao's terrifying strength.
"What are you afraid of?" Qian Xuanji said calmly. "The Clear Sky School's secret arts are powerful, but the side effects are severe. Once a ring is detonated, it can't be used again for several days. That means Tang Hao is currently extremely weak. Now is the perfect time for us to act."
Hearing this reminder, the Spirit Hall troops realized the opportunity before them. It was the perfect moment to strike.
"Besides, even if Tang Hao has broken ties with the Clear Sky School, the fact remains—an eight-ringed Spirit Douluo who can cripple a Title Douluo with a hundred-thousand-year ring and kill a Rank 95 Title Douluo is a disaster waiting to happen if he ever becomes a Title Douluo himself," Qian Xuanji said with killing intent flashing in his eyes. "Douluo Continent has no place for someone that monstrous. If we don't eliminate him now, when will we?"
The dark clouds finally cleared, and sunlight returned to the sky. It took a long while before Tang Hao dared to stand again.
A baby's wailing echoed nearby. At this moment, Little San had not fully regained consciousness. He was still operating on pure instinct for survival.
Hearing the cry, all of the darkness clouding Tang Hao's heart vanished.
That's right—Little San is still alive. As long as I protect him, when Tang San becomes a god, my beloved A Yin will return. Even the clan members of the Clear Sky School who died by my hand may be revived. And I can wash away my sins.
Having come to this realization, Tang Hao knelt before Tang Tian's corpse and knocked his forehead firmly against the ground several times, saying:
"Father, your son has failed you. But rest assured, I will give you—and our clan—an answer. Tang San will be that answer."
Carrying Little San, Tang Hao made his way to the site where A Yin had sacrificed herself, preparing to dig up the Blue Silver Emperor's seed of life.
Suddenly—
"Well, well. Who would have thought that the Clear Sky School's Twin Stars, once hailed as the future of the clan, would end up committing such heinous acts? Hahaha—!"
From the distant sky came a burst of wild laughter. On a high ridge at the valley's mouth, a figure descended, stepping upon a giant golden bell.
"Spirit Hall's Golden Bell Douluo, Rank 94 Control and Defense-Type Title Douluo," Tang Hao identified the newcomer.
"Tang Hao, you've harmed your brother, betrayed your clan, and killed your own father. It's a crime against heaven itself," came another voice.
This one came from a figure leaping across the mountains, each step taking him from peak to peak. In his hands, he held two massive silver hammers, and he finally landed on a high ledge opposite Golden Bell.
Unlike the blacksmith-like Clear Sky Hammer, Silver Hammer Douluo's weapons were oval-shaped war hammers, like those used by battlefield generals.
"Spirit Hall's Silver Hammer Douluo, Rank 93 Power-Attack-Type Title Douluo," Tang Hao said.
A golden light suddenly burst forth, illuminating the twilight canyon as if it were midday.
"Six-Winged Angel—Qian Xuanji." Tang Hao looked toward the light and instantly recognized the martial spirit.
From within the light stepped a figure radiating holiness and beauty, six wings unfurled. She spread her arms wide, revealing a man standing behind her with his arms crossed behind his back.
Looking down on Tang Hao, Qian Xuanji said coldly, "Tang Hao, you've certainly given us quite the spectacle."
Tang Hao bowed his head, hiding his face. One hand gripped the Clear Sky Hammer tightly, the other clenched into a fist. His burly frame trembled.
"Hand over the hundred-thousand-year spirit bone," Qian Xuanji said, "and I'll grant you a swift death."
Suddenly—
Tang Hao lifted his head, eyes bloodshot, breathing like an enraged bull as he roared:
"Qian—Xuan—Ji!"
Qian Xuanji froze. From Tang Hao's body, he sensed anguish and bitterness.
"Why? Why did you only show up now? AAAHHHH—!" Tang Hao roared, eyes burning red, pounding his chest with his long arms like a howling gorilla.
Qian Xuanji, Golden Bell, and Silver Hammer glanced at each other in confusion.
This guy… we came to kill him, but he sounds like he's blaming us for arriving too late?
"If… if you had come earlier—before my clan arrived to hunt me down—then I wouldn't have had to fight them. I wouldn't have been forced into conflict with my father, wouldn't have killed him. The ones lying dead beneath my Clear Sky Hammer would have been you, Spirit Hall scum! So—"
Qian Xuanji was stunned. It took a moment before he regained his senses.
"So… you're blaming us for not arriving in time to kill you first, and that's why you ended up slaughtering your own clan?"
"Exactly! Qian Xuanji—it's all because of you! You treacherous dog, you villain, you monster! You drove me to kill my own people. Today, I, Tang Hao, will make you pay the blood debt owed to the Clear Sky School!" (p.s; hahahahahahahaha)
Tang Hao summoned the Clear Sky Hammer, his voice full of madness.
"At last… I can finally kill to my heart's content!"
"Tang Hao, you're nothing more than someone with just eight spirit rings—don't get cocky! Let me, Silver Hammer, face you!"
The Silver Hammer Douluo leapt down into the valley depths, gripping his twin hammers tightly, charging straight toward Tang Hao.
"Today, let's see whether my Silver Hammer is stronger, or your Clear Sky Hammer is superior!"
Tang Hao roared, "Good! I, Tang Hao, accept your challenge to the end!"
With that, he held onto Xiao San in one arm and, wielding his Clear Sky Hammer in the other, charged forward.
Both were strength-type spirit masters. At the bottom of the valley, the Clear Sky Hammer and Silver Hammer clashed again and again, filling the air with the sound of metal striking metal.
In just a blink, the two had exchanged dozens of blows.
What puzzled Tang Hao was that even though he displayed strength rivaling that of a Title Douluo—and even suppressed Silver Hammer in terms of sheer momentum—his opponent still felt stronger than the Title Douluo of the Clear Sky Clan.
When fighting the Clear Sky Clan's Title Douluo, he would always hold back unless absolutely necessary—only taking full action when he needed to protect Xiao San and A Yin. Even then, he would restrain his strength. Yet, just a few blows were usually enough to shatter the enemy's martial soul and heavily injure them.
But when facing the Spirit Hall's Title Douluo, Tang Hao went all out, every move aiming to kill—
Yet, even so, he couldn't bring this one down.
In terms of how the battle felt: the Clear Sky Clan's hammers were like tofu—one strike and they crumbled. But this Silver Hammer? It was the real deal.
"This has to be an illusion. It must be an illusion. My Clear Sky Hammer is the strongest tool-type martial soul in the world. The soul masters of the Clear Sky Clan stand unrivaled. How can some Silver Hammer possibly compare?"
—
In the Divine Realm, within the Temple of Eternity, Huo Yuhao watched the battle between Tang Hao and Silver Hammer unfold through his divine vision.
He could instantly tell what Tang Hao was thinking.
Huo Yuhao sighed deeply and said,
"Ah, Haozi... Brother Huo might've promised to watch your back, but out of respect for Qian Renxue, I'll stay out of this one with Qian Xuanji.
I'm sure the assistant director won't just stand by and do nothing, right?"
That's right—the illusion that made Tang Hao feel that the Clear Sky Hammer was as fragile as tofu had been deliberately caused by Huo Yuhao.
Not only was Tang Hao dissatisfied with his performance, even the Spirit Hall side was growing impatient.
Qian Xuanji looked down into the valley where Tang Hao and Silver Hammer were trading blows and said irritably,
"What is Elder Silver Hammer doing? Tang Hao only has eight spirit rings—and just self-detonated a ring, too—why hasn't he been taken care of yet?"
He turned to the other elder. "Elder Golden Bell, assist Elder Silver Hammer."
Golden Bell dropped to one knee.
"Yes, Your Holiness."
He rose, spirit rings appearing around him: yellow, yellow, purple, purple, black, black, black, black, black.
Nine spirit rings in total. His ninth ring began to glow.
The black ring detached and expanded rapidly, floating high above the canyon.
"Ninth Spirit Ability—Golden Bell Enclosure."
From that black spirit ring, a massive golden bell began to take shape.
The bell fell toward the canyon below. Both Tang Hao and Silver Hammer paused their battle, looking up at the descending bell.
In an instant, the two were trapped beneath it.
Inside the golden bell, Tang Hao immediately felt a powerful gravitational force restricting his movements.
Elder Silver Hammer looked at the bell in awe and said,
"Elder Golden Bell's ninth spirit ability... within this bell, he can adjust gravity to suppress soul masters. It's not a domain, but it feels like one. Truly an incredible skill."
Then he turned to Tang Hao.
"Tang Hao, for someone with only eight spirit rings to fight me to a standstill is worthy of pride.
But now that you're inside Elder Golden Bell's ninth ability, your death is inevitable.
With Elder Golden Bell and I working together, we can take down even a level 96 Title Douluo!"
With that, Elder Silver Hammer gripped his twin hammers and swung them wide, charging at Tang Hao.
Under the Golden Bell's suppression, Tang Hao clearly felt Silver Hammer growing stronger.
—
In the Temple of Asura in the Divine Realm, the God of Asura frowned in displeasure.
"Tang Hao, I've already given you so many buffs, and you still can't take down just two Title Douluo after all this time? What a disappointment."
But since he was the one who chose Tang Hao as a protector for his precious one, the Asura God could only inject another thread of divine power into Tang Hao's domain, further boosting his strength.
—
Mid-battle, Tang Hao suddenly froze—a dangerous lapse at this level of combat. Even the slightest slip could mean death.
"Finally, a flaw!" Silver Hammer shouted. "Die!"
He swung his hammer directly at Tang Hao's head.
But in the next instant, it was blocked by a blood-red Clear Sky Hammer.
Tang Hao flicked his wrist, and Silver Hammer felt an unstoppable force travel through his weapon. He was sent flying backward.
As he stood up, he saw a shocking crack on his martial soul—his Silver Hammer had been damaged.
"Impossible..." Silver Hammer muttered in disbelief.
That casual strike from Tang Hao had damaged his martial soul.
He looked over—Tang Hao hadn't followed up, just stood where he was.
His killing aura, now blood-red, was even more intense than before. Tang Hao lifted his Clear Sky Hammer, basking in the sensation. The hammer glowed with red light, and crimson lightning coiled around it.
"Power," Tang Hao muttered, intoxicated. "Unrivaled power... flows through me."
Silver Hammer felt the terrifying shift in Tang Hao's aura.
It was so overwhelming it sent chills down his spine.
Tang Hao, what the hell is this? You've only got eight spirit rings!
Who's the Title Douluo here—you or me!?
Thinking back to the fate of those Clear Sky Clan Title Douluo, Silver Hammer suddenly wanted to run.
But he was trapped within Golden Bell's enclosure.
The very skill that had helped him defeat so many powerful foes was now the thing sealing off his escape.
Tang Hao's crimson eyes locked onto him.
"Silver Hammer," he said coldly,
"Prepare to die."
—
Back above the valley, Qian Xuanji looked at the golden bell and asked curiously,
"Elder Golden Bell, if Elder Silver Hammer weren't inside, how long could your bell trap Tang Hao?"
Golden Bell stroked his beard and smiled.
"My martial soul is one of the top defensive tool-type spirits. Tang Hao only has eight rings—and he even detonated one just now.
Under my Golden Bell Enclosure, I can trap him for as long as I want."
He added, "Judging by now, Elder Silver Hammer should be walking out with Tang Hao's corpse any minute."
But at that very moment, the massive golden bell began to expand like a balloon.
Golden Bell's expression instantly changed.
"Impossible! Absolutely impossible!"
He frantically poured spirit power into the bell, trying to force it back down—
The golden bell only withstood the pressure for a brief moment before cracking like glass, then shattering outward from within.
Fragments of the shattered martial soul erupted in all directions, and a blood-red killing intent spread outward from the inside of the bell. The Golden Bell Douluo suffered a backlash from his broken martial soul—his face turned pale as paper, and he vomited blood.
A figure was flung out from the bell's interior. Qian Xuanji looked over—it was the Silver Hammer Elder.
His chest was crushed and caved in, his body like a sack of blood as he was thrown into a cliffside, utterly dead.