Heaven Dou City, deep within the palace. Xue Qinghe stood beside Xue Ye. Outwardly, he was upright and composed, but his slightly curled fingers betrayed the storm within his heart. Looking at the Lord of Nuoding City, he spoke in a deliberately calm tone, "Is it really true… That person was really Tang Hao?"
Below, the Lord of Nuoding City knelt trembling like a leaf in autumn wind, cold sweat soaking his official robes. He dared not raise his head, his voice choked with sobs and terror. "Y-yes, Your Highness. It's true! The villain… the villain was far away at the time, but I could clearly see the giant hammer and nine soul rings—especially the nine blood-red Douluo rings… There's no mistake, it was the legendary Clear Sky Douluo."
At Xue Qinghe's abnormal question, the Xue Emperor, sitting on a soft sofa, raised an eyebrow in surprise. He put down his keepsake and looked at his always calm and stable "son," but did not think too deeply, attributing this odd mood to the shock of a titled Douluo's fall. After all, Tang Hao's name had echoed throughout the land for years; his death was unsettling to all who heard it.
The Lord of Nuoding City, desperate to survive, revealed everything he saw and discussed at the time without hiding a thing. "...The man in green, or rather, that green-caped crowned figure—his power was… godlike! The Clear Sky Douluo's strength was undeniable, but he stood no chance."
"The giant Clear Sky Hammer was smashed down by a great silver hand… Then the crown became a palm, and the palm pressed ever so lightly on Clear Sky Douluo's head… Clear Sky Douluo just…"
Recalling the scene, the Lord of Nuoding City swallowed, his voice trembling even more. "Afterward, beneath the green cloak… six soul bones were removed from Clear Sky Douluo's body… six shining soul bones…"
Upon hearing that the green-clad man had utterly crushed Tang Hao, even stripping his soul bones, the Xue Emperor's composure finally cracked. He sat up straight, eyes filled with disbelief.
He knew something of Tang Hao's strength: an invincible slayer who had defeated the Pope of Spirit Hall. How could he be killed so easily? Just how powerful was this Grand Elder of the mysterious sect?
Hidden in the shadows behind them, Xue Qinghe appeared calm, as if listening to a story unrelated to herself. Yet anyone who saw her eyes would notice a nearly twisted pleasure deep within. Especially upon hearing that Tang Hao had not only died but had his soul bones taken by the Grand Elder—her fingers clenched even tighter under her sleeves, her heart erupting like a volcano.
"Tang Hao! Even today!"
Qian Renxue shouted silently in her heart. The man who had caused her father Qian Xunji's downfall and haunted her with hatred and responsibility since childhood was finally dead—and so tragically. The long-overdue "comfort" nearly overwhelmed her long-suppressed emotions. She could barely maintain her gentle "Xue Qinghe" facade, forcibly suppressing her soul power as waves raged within.
…
Far away in the borderlands of Fasinuo Province, in a deserted mountain range.
Chen Yi stood at the edge of a vast cracked landscape, gazing down with awe. Before him was a massive gorge, as if split by the gods' great axe. The cliffs on both sides were steep and sharp, their surfaces weathered gray by the wind year-round. The most heart-pounding part was not the silence, but the shrill cries of thousands of wailing ghosts echoing within!
Gray currents, visible to the naked eye, surged and swirled violently, sweeping up sand and gravel, carving deep scars into the rock walls with their destructive blades. Even standing at the edge, Chen Yi felt the terrifying pressure of the wind, as if it could shatter everything.
"This is… the Gale Canyon?" Chen Yi squinted, enduring the biting wind, and sought confirmation from the Great Elder beside him. In the original, this place was only briefly mentioned; Feng Xiaotian cultivated here for five years after the Soul Master Tournament, quickly gaining strength to rival the Golden Generation and protagonist group.
The Great Elder's blue shirt did not stir in the hunting wind. Gazing at the hellish gorge, he nodded, his voice calm as it pierced the howling wind. "Yes, this is the Gale Canyon. The wind inside is not ordinary, but a special fusion of heaven and earth's energies—strong enough to split metal and shatter stone, with extremely lethal tearing and penetrating power."
"Thus, this has always been a sacred place for cultivation, longed for and respected by soul masters across the continent."
Then the Great Elder turned to Chen Yi, his gaze deep. "And this is the place you've chosen for the second awakening of your Body Martial Soul."
Chen Yi nodded firmly. From sect scriptures and the Great Elder's teachings, he had learned much about the second awakening. It was not a simple accumulation of soul power or technique, but a forced breakthrough—like refining steel from iron—stimulating the true power of the martial soul through immense external pressure, breaking through bottlenecks and transforming one's life stage and essence.
Ordinary environments were useless; only the most extreme dangers on the Douluo Continent would do. The Gale Canyon, explored by the sect's ancestors, was the perfect spot.
The Great Elder, seeing Chen Yi's calm expression, continued, "Originally, you were to go to the even more magnificent and ever-changing depths of the sea to awaken. But recently, when Qing Yun took Shui Bing'er to Godwind Academy for an exchange, she accidentally discovered a new rift deep in this canyon. Though narrower, the wind's pressure and destructive power are exponentially greater."
"That environment is very special. Given your current state and dominant thunder attribute, it's a perfect match."
"Yes, Great Elder." Chen Yi's eyes were resolute, without hesitation.
Without further words, the two moved, their forms turning into streaks of green smoke that ignored the canyon's entrance pressure—something ordinary soul masters could hardly withstand—and plunged into the roaring Gale Canyon.
Near the entrance, several soul masters, dressed mostly for solo travel, sat in the less windy areas, resisting the pressure with their soul power, trying to sense the unique energy in the wind. Sensing someone new arrive, many glanced over, but most were ordinary cultivators or from small factions, and did not recognize today's two most famous figures in the soul master world.
They only felt that the old man and young man seemed extraordinary, moving so naturally even before the canyon's pressure. They quickly looked away, focusing on their own cultivation or gritting their teeth to head deeper into the canyon. In this dangerous place, everyone focused on themselves.
The Great Elder, the world's top expert, walked calmly as if strolling in his own yard—the howling winds unable to ruffle even the corner of his robe. Chen Yi, having recently broken through to Soul King and tempered himself beyond his soul ring absorption, already possessed tremendous strength. His soul power, condensed like mercury, only felt pressure from the wind, requiring some effort to resist, but nothing more.
He followed closely behind the Great Elder, sharply observing the canyon. The two moved swiftly, and before the other soul masters could react, their forms swept past like ghosts, quickly vanishing into the canyon's deeper, wilder winds.
…
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