An Idol's Fall

In the future... I actually took a Limit Douluo as my master?!

Zhu Zhuqing stared at the scene in the video. Seeing in particular her own aggrieved expression as though she were running to a parent for help, she felt as if she were in a dream. After all, this was an enormously powerful backer!

What did a Limit Douluo represent?

It represented the pinnacle of Soul Masters, the pinnacle of Titled Douluo.

A realm that stood above the entire age!

That was why this realm was also known as that of a Peerless Douluo!

If Zhu Zhuqing truly was the disciple of a Limit Douluo, then the Star Luo Empire Royal Family's so-called duel to the death would be a joke. So long as Zhu Zhuqing did not want it, no one would dare force her!

With a Limit Douluo backing her, she could do whatever she wanted.

But how had her future self met this Limit Douluo and become his disciple?

Zhu Zhuqing was puzzled. At the same time, she was even more worried about changes to the future. Once this Future Video played, it meant that the future had very likely already been affected. Whether she could still become this Limit Douluo's disciple as she had in the original future shown in the video was now filled with uncertainty.

In the video.

When the black-clothed man Tang Hao saw the newcomer summon the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda—especially the nine bloody Soul Rings above it—he could not help but feel that something was wrong. Looking at that iconic martial soul and those Soul Rings, how could he not know who this mysterious person who had suddenly appeared was?

It was worth mentioning that Tang Hao and the others in this video were, by default, set up to have watched the "Future Video," just like the real Tang Hao. Therefore, it was not strange that he knew of Ye Cheng.

After all, this fabricated video was set in the "future" of reality—events that were about to happen.

Seeing how badly injured Zhu Zhuqing was, Ye Cheng immediately summoned the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda. Without hesitation, he directly activated his Fourth Soul Skill!

Of the nine Soul Rings, the fourth one lit up!

—Soul Incantation: Nine Treasures have a name; the fourth is: Body!

Of course, having reached Ye Cheng's realm, he no longer needed to recite Soul Incantations to activate Soul Skills. He could cast them without an incantation. Thus, with a mere thought, a ray of light shot out from the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda and enveloped Zhu Zhuqing.

The Fourth Soul Skill was called: Body.

As its name suggested, this Soul Skill enhanced the physique. It could effectively increase the recipient's recovery ability, immunity, and all forms of resistance tenfold!

Within the enveloping light...

Zhu Zhuqing's originally severe injuries began healing rapidly at a speed visible to the naked eye!

The human body itself possessed the ability to heal. Even if one was injured, so long as they did not die on the spot or suffer irreparable injuries such as severed limbs or destroyed internal organs, the body could gradually recover on its own with time.

Ye Cheng's Fourth Soul Skill, however, could make this natural healing ability even stronger!

Strong enough that even severed limbs or destroyed internal organs could regenerate on their own.

In a sense, although this was not a healing Soul Skill, it surpassed one!

In just a few breaths.

Under the enhancement of the Fourth Soul Skill, Zhu Zhuqing's injuries healed by themselves.

"...Teacher."

Zhu Zhuqing, fully recovered from her injuries, looked at Ye Cheng with intense delight in her eyes. "Didn't you say yesterday that you would be leaving to handle some matters for a while? Why are you already... Could it be that you've been protecting me in secret all along?"

"Silly girl, have you forgotten your teacher's soul bone skill?"

Ye Cheng looked at Zhu Zhuqing, who was a head shorter than him, and smiled as he rubbed her head. "Your teacher planted a Space Imprint on you. It will only trigger when you encounter a life-or-death crisis."

Upon hearing this, Zhu Zhuqing immediately understood. She knew something about her teacher's abilities, so she naturally understood what this so-called Space Imprint was. She also knew that when paired with another ability, Space Transfer, it could allow someone to arrive in an instant even from tens of millions of miles away.

After the master and disciple exchanged a few casual words, Ye Cheng slowly turned around. The smile on his handsome face gradually faded, replaced by calm indifference and an expressionless look.

He gazed calmly at the black-clothed man, who faced him as though confronting a great enemy. His eyes were unfathomably deep, revealing none of his thoughts.

"..."

"..."

Neither of them spoke.

In the end.

Ye Cheng spoke first.

"State your name."

He looked at the masked Tang Hao clad in black, his gaze focusing on the Clear Sky Hammer in his hand. "I do not slay nameless men beneath my sword!"

"..."

Tang Hao still said nothing. He merely tightened his grip on the hammer, his entire body tensed as though facing a great enemy!

"Could it be that a dignified Titled Douluo does not even have the courage to state his name?" Ye Cheng looked at Tang Hao, who was masked and dressed in black yet still refused to reveal his identity. A trace of contempt appeared in his eyes as he said disdainfully, "Your martial soul is the Clear Sky Hammer, and you possess a rare Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring. Do you truly think your identity can remain hidden?"

"Tang Hao!"

He called out his name in one breath.

Seeing that he could no longer conceal it, Tang Hao simply tore off his face covering, revealing his true face.

Yet the appearance of this Clear Sky Douluo was truly disappointing.

His hair was a messy bird's nest, clearly unkempt for a long time. His otherwise decent features were covered in a waxy yellow pallor, and there was even sleep crust at the corners of his eyes—who knew how long it had been since he had washed his face. Not to mention that scraggly beard covering his face... Overall, he looked like a dejected, filthy drunkard. He possessed none of the domineering presence and grandeur that the legendary Clear Sky Douluo ought to have had.

This was... the Clear Sky Douluo?

My God, my former idol looked like this?

If the Question and Answer Video couldn't possibly be wrong, I absolutely wouldn't believe this guy was the Clear Sky Douluo.

He looked utterly finished at a glance, didn't he?

Who knew what kind of blow he'd suffered? It was like his wife had run off with another man...

Sigh, Tang Hao was already finished.

The Clear Sky Douluo in my heart had long since fallen.

Clear Sky is dead!

Clear Sky is dead!

Clear Sky is dead!

Clear Sky...

By the end, the barrage was filled with only four words: Clear Sky is dead!

As the youngest Titled Douluo on the continent at the time, and with the glorious achievement of severely wounding the Spirit Hall's Pope shortly after becoming a Titled Douluo, Tang Hao's deeds had been sung across the continent. He had been regarded as an idol by countless young people!

But now, as the Question and Answer Video exposed Tang Hao's true face, that halo of idol worship was stripped away. It also woke many who had previously been blinded by it.

Everyone realized that this Clear Sky Douluo was not as perfect or as indomitable as they had imagined.

What followed was the fury of having been deceived!

The more they had once admired Tang Hao, the more they now loathed him.

This was the collapse of an idol!

(PS: I'm writing as fast as I can—there'll be another update later. Also, shamelessly asking for some votes. Dear readers, this new book can't do without your support! Please don't stockpile chapters during the new-book period. Without follow-up reads, this book's performance will only get worse and worse. It might not even get any recommendations. It's really miserable.)