This Splendid Sight, Though I Long for It, I Cannot Have It (Two-in-One)

Tang Hao raised the Clear Sky Hammer in his hand. Its head glinted with a cold light beneath the sun as he pointed it at Blade and said mockingly, "What the hell are you doing? Counting how many times I hit you, then building up your anger like some little brat before letting it all out? What a joke!" Tang Hao's voice was full of disdain and contempt, his words like sharp blades meant to tear apart Blade's confidence.

Faced with Tang Hao's mockery, Blade remained remarkably calm. A teasing smile curled at his lips, and amusement flickered in his eyes, as though he had seen through Tang Hao's tactics and mindset. He raised Shizun's Sword as well, casually flicking its tip up and down. The motion appeared relaxed, but it was full of provocation, as if saying, If you've got the guts, keep coming.

Having suffered another silent rebuff, veins bulged on Tang Hao's forehead. Soon, he let out another furious roar, vanishing from where he stood as he swung his hammer at Blade, his voice overflowing with killing intent:

Seeing this, the veins on Tang Hao's forehead bulged as his pride was challenged once again. Rage burned within his chest, and his gaze became even fiercer. Soon, he roared again, his voice exploding like thunder as he vanished from his spot, his body becoming an afterimage. At the same time, he swung the Clear Sky Hammer, overflowing with killing intent as it crashed toward Blade. "Heh! I won't give you another chance! Die!!"

The air seemed to tear apart at that instant. Accompanied by several piercing whistles, Tang Hao closed in on Blade at terrifying speed. The Clear Sky Hammer rapidly grew in Blade's sight like a falling meteor, carrying the power to destroy everything.

"Boom!!" A deafening crash rang out as Tang Hao's Clear Sky Hammer violently collided with Blade's Shizun's Sword once more. At the moment of impact, the surrounding air seemed to freeze. A powerful shockwave spread outward from the collision point, throwing up the dirt from the ground and forming rolling clouds of dust.

The collision of the two powers was like heavenly lightning igniting earthly fire, utterly breathtaking. Tang Hao and Blade stood within the center of the shockwave. Tang Hao's expression was exceptionally savage, and there was not a shred of retreat in his eyes!

This time, the Soul Power Tang Hao released was like a boiling ocean, surging and violent. The power gathered on the Clear Sky Hammer seemed capable of tearing apart everything. Every hammer strike carried the force of mountains and seas, forcing Blade backward again and again. The ground beneath his feet cracked under the crushing pressure, and dust flew everywhere.

A bloodthirsty ruthlessness flashed through Tang Hao's eyes. It was his desire for victory, his cruelty toward his opponent. A cold smile tugged at his lips as he silently swore to drain all of Blade's strength before delivering the final blow with his deadly Disorder Splitting Wind Hammer. He sneered inwardly. For a mere level-twenty Spirit Master to force a Titled Douluo like him to unleash so many hammer strikes was already more than enough glory.

"How much longer can you hold on?!" Tang Hao's voice echoed through the forest like thunder. Every swing of the Clear Sky Hammer carried unquestionable killing intent. Determination gleamed in his eyes. He would not rest until he had hammered Blade to death.

However, just as Tang Hao believed victory was in his grasp and prepared to follow up with a finishing hammer strike, Blade's voice suddenly reached his ears. It was low and suppressed, like a demon whispering from the abyss, filled with an eerie and unfathomable Aura.

"Five."

The word fell softly, yet it struck Tang Hao's heart like a heavy hammer. He instantly sensed that something was wrong. His eyes widened, and the Clear Sky Hammer in his hand actually began to tremble. It was not the tremble of power, but fear from the depths of his soul. An inexplicable panic rose in Tang Hao's heart. He suddenly realized that this battle might not be as simple as he had imagined.

The sight before him made Tang Hao's eyes widen. Intense crimson light suddenly surged from Blade's body, like scarlet pythons coiling around him. The red glow became increasingly dazzling, as though it could seize one's soul, staining even the surrounding air with blood-red color.

A subtle curve rose at Blade's lips. His smile was cold and distant, as if he did not belong to this world. There was even less emotion in his eyes, which were as indifferent as those of a walking corpse, without the slightest trace of life.

During Tang Hao's brief distraction, Blade suddenly exerted force. Shizun's Sword erupted with unimaginable power in an instant. A flash of sword light, carrying a blood-red glow, directly knocked both Tang Hao and his hammer away. Tang Hao's body traced an arc through the air before crashing heavily onto the ground, kicking up a cloud of dust.

Although the sudden eruption of power had sent him flying, Tang Hao had not suffered any substantial injury. It was more as though Blade's force had shoved him backward. The distance between them was instantly widened, and the atmosphere of battle became even more tense.

Tang Hao resumed his fighting stance, believing Blade was merely making a final struggle before death. He sneered, preparing to step forward and deal a fatal blow once more.

However, the instant he took a step, he saw a sight that left him both shocked and utterly bewildered. Blade crouched down, holding Shizun's Sword in his left hand as he twisted his upper body backward. The movement was swift and strange, and his figure blurred at that instant, seeming to merge with the surrounding space. Then, amid a sharp gust, Blade's crouched body and back-facing silhouette suddenly vanished from where he stood like smoke scattered by the wind.

This sudden change made Tang Hao's heart leap. His pupils shrank sharply as he felt an unprecedented crisis. Blade had moved too fast—so fast that even a Titled Douluo like him could not react in time. He could only watch helplessly as Blade vanished from his sight as though he had never existed, leaving only that blood-red light swaying in the air.

In the instant Tang Hao blinked, his world seemed to split in two. When he opened his eyes again, Blade had already crossed the boundaries of space and time, appearing before him in an instant. At that moment, Blade seemed like a deity who ruled over life and death. His arrival was silent, yet it carried boundless pressure.

Blade's entire left arm curved into a perfect full-moon arc. Under the blood-red glow, the lines of his muscles looked even clearer and more powerful. He tightly gripped Shizun's Sword, its blade reflecting a cold gleam like the brightest star in the night sky. His gaze held an aloof indifference, as though he were looking down upon an ant on the ground. The blood-red light brimmed with endless killing intent.

At the same time, a voice that seemed to come from the depths of the netherworld drifted into Tang Hao's ears with an icy echo. Those four words seemed carved into Tang Hao's soul, perhaps destined to remain unforgettable even in his next life.

"Other Shore."

"Bury!!"

The final two words exploded like thunder beside Tang Hao's ears.

As those four words fell, a dazzling radiance erupted from Shizun's Sword. It was as brilliant as the sun, yet carried the Aura of death. Violent wind elements gathered around the blade! In an instant, the sword light tore through the sky, and a blood-red void that ripped through space appeared!

This sword strike went straight for Tang Hao's heart, moving so fast that not even its shadow could be caught.

Tang Hao's heart clenched. This time, he truly felt unprecedented fear!!!

"Bury on the Other Shore!!"

That furious roar echoed through the silent forest like the awakening of a demon god from the depths of the netherworld, making every living creature feel that suffocating terror.

Blade's left hand tightly gripped Shizun's Sword. The red cold light on its blade resembled coagulated blood, reflecting the resolute killing intent in his eyes. That cold gleam condensed in the air, seemingly gathering into a blood-red river that mercilessly swept toward Tang Hao!

Faced with this sword strike that resembled the judgment of doomsday, Tang Hao was filled with terror unlike anything he had ever known. His body trembled instinctively, and the shadow of death clung to him like maggots to bone, leaving him nowhere to escape. The dignity and pride of a Titled Douluo were ruthlessly torn apart at that moment. He finally understood just what kind of hellish existence Blade's power was!

In a flash, Tang Hao's Clear Sky Hammer spun rapidly through the air, leaving afterimages as it attempted to intercept the deadly strike. The ancient runes on the hammer shone like stars, seemingly burning away their own vitality as they resisted that destructive power with all their might.

Tang Hao's pupils contracted sharply as he watched the sword light dance through the air like a blood-red giant python, carrying the Aura of death toward him. The Soul Power within him surged wildly as he tried to counterattack at the critical moment.

Under Tang Hao's control, the Clear Sky Hammer instantly expanded several times in size. The glowing runes on its body seemed to come alive, intertwining to form a sturdy shield. But Blade's sword light crashed into that shield without mercy, sending rings of energy rippling outward.

The details of the battle were infinitely magnified at that moment. The instant the sword tip touched the hammer's surface, sparks scattered everywhere like dazzling fireworks in a festival night sky. The surrounding air seemed compressed and warped by the force. The leaves on the trees froze for an instant before being torn into pieces by the violent energy storm.

Sword light and hammer shadows intertwined in the air like a duel between heaven and earth, producing deafening roars. Yet all of it paled before an even more terrifying sound. It was the wail of space being torn apart, the roar of power destroying all things!

"Bang!" A tremendous explosion rang out, as though heaven and earth themselves were trembling. That sword strike, like the first light of dawn, directly sent Tang Hao and his hammer flying!

Tang Hao's body traced a tragic arc through the air, like a fallen leaf ravaged by wind and rain, tumbling and crashing through the forest. Towering trees broke one after another beneath him, as though recounting the brutality of the battle. Only after smashing through an unknown number of trees did Tang Hao finally collapse limply onto the ground like a lifeless puppet, dust rising around him.

"Hehe, it's still my turn." Blade's voice carried a trace of mockery. His fingers lightly brushed Shizun's Sword's blade as though caressing a lover's cheek. His gaze swept over Tang Hao, who was struggling in a sorry state as he tried to rise from the ground.

Blade sneered inwardly. After taking so many blows, he naturally understood that Bury on the Other Shore was merely an appetizer. The true killing move—Great Death Penalty—was already poised to strike.

Under Blade's control, Shizun's Sword moved lightly through the air as though it possessed a life of its own, its tip tracing elegant arcs. Then Blade flicked his wrist and brought the blade down in a clean slash, creating a flash of cold light before smoothly resting it behind him. His steps were steady and powerful as he walked unhurriedly toward the struggling Tang Hao, each step seeming to land upon his enemy's heartbeat.

Blade's lips curved upward slightly in a confident and cruel smile. The blood-red light in his eyes gradually gathered, eventually condensing into an intensely bright beam, as sharp as a laser. The energy fluctuations around his body rose at an unimaginable speed. The power caused broken leaves and dust around his feet to slowly rise, as though he stood atop an invisible tornado.

At this moment, Tang Hao finally experienced what it meant to be hurt. He no longer dared to underestimate Blade as he had before. He had underestimated Blade's hidden strength again and again! His shock was beyond measure. He, a Titled Douluo, had actually been beaten into such a miserable state by a level-twenty Spirit Master. In the history of Douluo Continent, he would surely be the first Titled Douluo to suffer such utter humiliation!

Tang Hao gritted his teeth, his fists clenching until they cracked. Veins bulged along his arms like earthworms. He struggled to grip the Clear Sky Hammer firmly again. Facing Blade, whose Aura was steadily soaring, he no longer dared to show the slightest contempt.

At that instant, all of Tang Hao's Soul Rings lit up once again. They revolved around his body, radiating dazzling light. At the same time, the Clear Sky Hammer in his hand expanded wildly under the stimulation of his Soul Power. The ancient runes upon it seemed to come alive, flickering with heart-palpitating light. Fighting spirit ignited in Tang Hao's eyes again. He knew the next battle would be a contest between life and death.

A trace of resolve flashed through Tang Hao's eyes. He knew he could no longer hold back. It was time to use his ultimate technique—the Great Sumeru Hammer! He had believed this was a Trump Card he would never need in this battle, yet a young man who had only just awakened his Martial Soul had forced him to this point! This humiliation was even harder to bear than the pain of his wounds.

But circumstances were stronger than men. No matter how unwilling he was, Tang Hao understood that this was no time to hold back. Blade's Aura had made him feel danger unlike anything before, an oppressive force that seemed almost capable of tearing apart his soul.

Just as Tang Hao gathered all his strength and prepared to launch his attack, Blade's voice suddenly came. It was neither loud nor soft, yet it landed clearly in his ears. "This splendid sight, though I long for it, I cannot have it." The words were like a bucket of cold water poured over Tang Hao's head, instantly causing his rage to flare.

Irritated and enraged by those nonsensical words, Tang Hao's anger blazed like dry grass set alight. His eyes turned crimson as he roared furiously, "I'll send you to hell to see all the splendid sights you want!!"

"Take my Great Sumeru Hammer!!" Tang Hao's voice exploded like thunder, ringing through the entire forest.

Before his words had faded, Tang Hao's body had already accelerated. Both hands tightly gripped the ever-growing Clear Sky Hammer. Saturated with Soul Power, its head seemed to transform into a miniature planet, heavy and overflowing with destructive force. He swung it through a massive arc, and the Clear Sky Hammer shrieked as it tore through the air, charging madly at Blade with boundless killing intent!

Every movement Tang Hao made was filled with power and beauty. Under the strain of tension and strength, his muscles resembled living steel wires, outlining the powerful form of a warrior. As he swung it, the Clear Sky Hammer seemed to gather the essence of heaven and earth itself. Its momentum was enough to make anyone tremble in fear. Tang Hao's gaze, however, was even more resolute and colder than his hammer. He had already made up his mind—this strike would utterly crush Blade!

At this very moment, facing Tang Hao's world-destroying attack, Blade's expression remained incomparably indifferent, as though none of it had anything to do with him. There was no fear or tension in his eyes, only a calm detachment that stood beyond the battle itself.

Blade slowly closed his eyes and lightly raised Shizun's Sword before his face, its blade reflecting his composed expression. His Aura rose in silence, reaching a suffocating peak. Then, at that very instant, he abruptly opened his eyes!

Those blood-red eyes, like the legendary Sharingan, stared coldly and resolutely at the sword blade, as though they could see through every illusion. Cracks spread across the blade at that instant. Shizun's Sword immediately split into countless sharp sword fragments, each one carrying deadly cold light!

At the same time, a petal from a Red Spider Lily drifted gently down. Its reflection fell upon the ground and instantly spread, making everything within several miles seem to transform into Blade's Other Shore Domain—a tranquil lake. The lake's surface reflected the sky and everything around it, yet Blade's figure alone was absent.

Then, beneath the lake's reflection, Blade's figure suddenly leaped upward. He raised Shizun's Sword high above his head, its tip pointing toward the heavens. A vast power erupted from his body as a voice like the judgment of the God of Death echoed between heaven and earth:

"Yet I can."

"Invite you all to admire it!!"

As those words rang out, Tang Hao had already completed most of the arc with the Clear Sky Hammer. His power was ready to burst forth as he prepared to unleash the Great Sumeru Hammer. His figure and Blade's formed a stark contrast, one in the sky and one on the ground. Their Auras met and collided at that instant!

In an instant, the collision of their ultimate moves seemed ready to shake heaven and earth. Shockwaves of power had already begun surging through the air. The surrounding trees all snapped in that moment, leaves whirled through the air, and dust rose, as though the prelude to the end of the world had begun to unfold.

At that moment, heaven and earth seemed to fall silent. All sounds were suppressed beneath the power about to erupt. The birds and beasts in the forest had long since fled in panic. Only the nearly tangible killing intent of the two combatants intertwined and collided across the empty battlefield.

The trajectory of Tang Hao's Clear Sky Hammer through the air stirred violent gusts, sweeping up fallen leaves and dust from the ground to form a small whirlwind. Each of his breaths was heavy and powerful, as though capable of shaking the air around him. Beads of sweat the size of beans slid down his forehead, yet they seemed insignificant before his unyielding will.

Blade, meanwhile, looked exceptionally solitary in midair, yet utterly supreme. Shizun's Sword gleamed coldly above his head, while the split sword fragments surrounded him like stars circling the moon, forming a dense net of blades.

His gaze was cold, and his blood-red eyes reflected the destruction about to arrive!!

Bang!!

With a tremendous crash, their ultimate moves finally collided at that moment. The deafening roar seemed ready to tear apart the entire world. The sparks of battle reached their climax, and the tension peaked!

Thousands upon thousands of fragmentary sword lights poured down like a torrential rain. Every fragment carried the sharpness to cut through the void. They gathered in the air into an ocean of swords, flashing with a light that made one shudder in terror.

Tang Hao's Clear Sky Hammer had expanded to an incomparably massive size. It seemed to bear the weight of heaven and earth itself, truly worthy of the name Sumeru. Once it fell, it would be enough to shake mountains and shatter stars.

At that instant, the fragmentary sword lights collided with the enormous Sumeru Hammer. The sound was like an explosion at the birth of the universe, deafening as it resounded through the clouds. The collision of sword light and hammer shadow produced a dazzling radiance that instantly illuminated the entire forest, causing even the sun in the sky to pale in comparison.

At the moment of impact, the air seemed torn open by a massive rift, and energy shockwaves spread wildly outward from the collision point.

The surrounding trees snapped, fell, and were uprooted under the impact of that force as though they were made of paper. The soil was thrown into the air, forming ravines so deep that their bottoms could not be seen, as though the earth itself were groaning in agony!