Chapter 37: Chapter 37: Both Shall Perish
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Under normal circumstances, the flute technique might have worked, but at this moment, Tang Hao was consumed by bloodlust. Surrounded by a violent killing aura, the sound of the Jade Flute Douluo's music was completely blocked from reaching his ears.
The Diamond Douluo, using the last of his strength, warned, "Jade Flute, be careful!"
As the Jade Flute Douluo opened her eyes and stopped playing, Tang Hao, his eyes bloodshot, had already charged toward her. His fifth and sixth soul rings erupted, and the massive Clear Sky Hammer descended.
With a horrific scream, the Jade Flute Douluo's head was obliterated, her body buried in the ground as she perished instantly.
As a control-type Douluo, the Jade Flute Douluo's defense was naturally not as strong as the Diamond Douluo's. Furthermore, Tang Hao's Clear Sky Hammer struck with the explosive power of five or six 10,000-year soul rings, releasing an energy several times greater than that of three or four 1,000-year rings. Even defense-oriented Titled Douluo were severely injured by a single strike from Tang Hao, let alone the Jade Flute Douluo.
Witnessing the brain matter splatter and the dismembered body of the Jade Flute Douluo, as well as the heavily wounded Diamond Douluo—his chest shattered and at least 80% of his body crippled—Qian Xunji's fury caused his entire body to tremble. These two Titled Douluo, who had served him loyally for so long, were now reduced to one dead and the other likely incapacitated.
After effortlessly dispatching the two Titled Douluo, Tang Hao, expressionless, held little Tang San in one arm and dragged the Clear Sky Hammer with the other, walking toward Qian Xunji. The massive Clear Sky Hammer, the size of a water barrel, carved a deep trench in the ground as it dragged behind him. The friction of the hammer screeched loudly, with the last three soul rings—black, black, and red—circling around it.
After many years, the new generation of Clear Sky Douluo and Angel Douluo were about to face off once again.
Qian Xunji, the Angel Douluo, stood at the peak of level 95, with his soul ring configuration: two yellow, two purple, five black, and two Angel God soul bones.
Tang Hao, the Clear Sky Douluo, was at level 92, with his soul ring configuration: two yellow, two purple, four black, and one red, alongside six soul bones fully equipped.
Nine soul rings rose from the ground beneath their feet. Qian Xunji grew six wings and took flight. After consuming an immortal herb, his cultivation had reached the pinnacle of level 95, with only a natural breakthrough to level 96 remaining.
Qian Xunji's ninth soul ring glowed, and three pairs of fiery wings on his Angel Spirit ignited in flames. He clasped his hands together, channeling both flames and light soul power into his palms.
The Angel Spirit held three attributes: divine, light, and flame. However, due to its nature as a soul beast-hunting spirit, Qian Xunji could typically only unleash one attribute at a time. But with the rare dual-element soul beast he had killed, he could unleash both the light and fire attributes of the Angel Spirit simultaneously. This made his ninth soul skill far more powerful than normal.
Torrential waves of energy exploded from Qian Xunji's palms. The surrounding mountains cracked and trembled under the pressure.
Realizing the devastating force of the attack, Qian Xunji flew backward, creating distance.
Tang Hao stood firm, unflinching. The three soul rings on the Clear Sky Hammer erupted in unison. The shockwaves from the explosion lifted the surrounding earth, and Tang Hao stamped his right foot into the ground, creating a small crater. The Clear Sky Hammer rapidly expanded in size, the hammer's handle stretching to several dozen meters, while the hammerhead grew to the size of a small mountain.
"Ninth Soul Skill, Angelic Glory!"
Qian Xunji shouted, spreading his arms wide. The accumulated energy surged outward in the form of a massive golden shockwave, surrounded by layers of golden flames.
The overwhelming recoil from the technique forced Qian Xunji to keep retreating, unable to withstand the power of his own attack.
"Great Sumeru Hammer!"
Tang Hao also roared, channeling every muscle in his body and gathering all his soul power into his left hand. He poured all his strength into the Clear Sky Hammer, swinging it with all his might toward the approaching golden shockwave.
When the golden shockwave collided with the Clear Sky Hammer, there was a brilliant flash of light. An enormous golden-black energy pillar, crackling with infinite lightning, shot up into the sky. The surrounding mountains were caught in the explosion, shattering in all directions, with the resulting deafening explosion echoing for hundreds of miles.
The terrifying energy ripples surged toward Qian Xunji, and the six wings on his back shattered. The defensive power of his Angel Spirit was destroyed, and his chest caved in, sending a large spray of blood from his mouth. He was thrown hundreds of meters, crashing into a mountain peak and then to the ground. His Pope's crown fell from his head, and his once neatly arranged golden hair now hung in disarray, making him look extremely disheveled.
Tang Hao was no better off. The Clear Sky Hammer, propelled by the energy ripples, slammed into his chest, causing his internal organs to shift. The bones in his chest were likely broken in multiple places, and a large mouthful of blood sprayed out. The Clear Sky Hammer flew from his grasp, becoming a streak of light and returning to his body.
Tang Hao, who had been sent flying by the impact of the Clear Sky Hammer, opened his bloodshot eyes and glared at Qian Xunji, who had collapsed on the ground several hundred meters away. He shouted, "Qian Xunji, if you didn't have help, you wouldn't even be my match!"
"One must bear their own consequences. If you want revenge, come find me, Tang Hao!"
After shouting, Tang Hao used the last of his strength to flee as quickly as possible. Both of them had used their ninth soul rings, resulting in mutual devastation. Tang Hao no longer had any fighting ability left. Normally, even if it meant sacrificing his life, he would have dragged Qian Xunji down with him and gone to the afterlife to be with A Yin. However, he still had a child to raise, the precious bloodline he and A Yin had created.
"Tang Hao!"
Qian Xunji stumbled to his feet, clutching his wounded chest as he watched Tang Hao disappear into the distance. He gritted his teeth in frustration. He didn't want to admit it, but if it weren't for the immortal herb's effect, the final clash would have resulted in a loss for him, not a draw. To think that this nephew of his, Tang Hao, had bested him, a man of his generation.
However, Qian Xunji's pride quickly turned into cold laughter as he felt the extent of his injuries. Tang Hao's Clear Sky Hammer didn't have the defensive capabilities of the Angel Spirit, and the wounds he sustained were likely far worse than his own. With injuries like that, even the Nine Heart Sea Heart Lotus might not be able to heal him. The Clear Sky Douluo, the youngest Titled Douluo on the continent, was now crippled!
Some of the Spirit Hall soul masters, blown far away by the residual energy from the battle, hurriedly returned. They knelt on one knee and asked, "Pope, should we pursue?"
"Collect Elder Jade Flute's remains, and bring the Diamond Douluo with you. Return to Spirit Hall," Qian Xunji ordered coldly, casting one last glance at the place where Tang Hao had disappeared, before turning and walking toward Spirit Hall.
Three days later, Qian Xunji and the others returned to Spirit Hall. The entire hall was shaken by the news: Pope Qian Xunji had been severely injured, Elder Jade Flute had died, and Diamond Douluo was left crippled. The Pope's palace had suffered heavy losses, with many soul masters killed.
Such a massive event couldn't be concealed. Thanks to the espionage network in the hidden Spirit City, the news spread quickly across the continent, causing a ripple of shock to run through the entire land.
(End of Chapter)