Sword and Hammer, Rankings of the Upper Three Sects

"Come on."

Chen Xin held the Seven Kill Sword, and the restraint he had shown moments ago gave way to surging sword energy.

"Kill!"

Chen Xin slashed out six streaks of sword light. The six streaks merged into the character "Kill"—the Chen Family's Seven Kill Sword was famed for strengthening sword energy and attacking with the "Kill" character.

"Earth-Shaking Art!"

The collision between hammer and sword energy painted an entirely different scene across the sky.

The Seven Kill Sword's energy tore through space, while the Clear Sky Hammer's imposing force suppressed the heavens.

"Fifth Spirit Skill, Awe the Four Directions!"

"Break Art!"

Boom—

The clash between the Clear Sky Hammer and the Seven Kill Sword drew the attention of every Spirit Master in Spirit City, including the worshippers of the Worship Hall.

Which side would emerge victorious from the clash between these top-tier tool spirits? It was truly a matter of curiosity.

Qian Xunji watched the two men in the sky, his brows tightly furrowed.

"That old fossil Tang Zhen can still fight? Damn it! The Clear Sky Sect truly is the greatest enemy of our Spirit Hall! Sword Dao Chen Xin—his father, Sword Hero Chen Jianjun, was defeated by my father back then.

I, too, want to use the Angel God Sword in my hand to shatter the Seven Kill Sword you are so proud of!"

In the distance, where the worshippers stood.

"Chen Xin is quite strong, even more outstanding than his father. I wonder if he can surpass him?" Qian Daoliu murmured.

"Big Brother, you jest. How could the chasm of Level 98 be so easily crossed? Only a 100,000-year Spirit Ring could break through that bottleneck in one stroke—or someone like you, Big Brother, who has received a Deity's favor," Golden Crocodile Douluo said blandly.

"Perhaps I was overthinking it." Qian Daoliu smiled as well. "I wonder what odds Qian Jun and Jiang Mo would have against them.

The Coiling Dragon Staff, the Clear Sky Hammer, and the Seven Kill Sword are all top-tier tool spirits. The Coiling Dragon Staff also houses the dragon soul of the Heavenly Awakened Sacred Golden Dragon. I am quite curious what sort of sparks their clash would produce."

"Now that you mention it, I am rather curious as well," Golden Crocodile Douluo said with a smile.

Only four people from the Worship Hall had come this time: Qian Daoliu, Golden Crocodile Douluo, Azure Luan Douluo, and Mighty Lion Douluo.

Radiant Feather Douluo had gone to play with Bibi Dong, while Qian Jun and Jiang Mo were in seclusion to break through. They had missed quite a spectacle today. Otherwise, with Jiang Mo's personality, he would definitely have rushed in to fight them.

"Sixth Spirit Skill, Myriad Swords Return to Origin!"

Countless Seven Kill Swords formed from Soul Power appeared behind Sword Douluo and flew toward Tang Zhen like a rain of swords.

"Haotian Bodyguard!"

The Clear Sky Hammer in Tang Zhen's hand released four shields, blocking Sword Douluo's attack.

"Hmph! Defense? Then let the rain fall even harder."

Sword Douluo increased the number of swords in the rain. What had been a moderate rain became a torrential downpour.

"You're pretty tough. Old man, you'd better hold on against this move. Eighth Spirit Skill, Seven Kill Thunder Rises, One Sword Shatters the Sky!"

Chen Xin controlled the countless swords in the rain, fusing them into an incomparably massive Seven Kill Sword.

The enormous Seven Kill Sword hung above Tang Zhen's head.

"Explode Ring!" Tang Zhen used Explode Ring once again, detonating his Fifth Soul Ring and Sixth Soul Ring.

"Eighth Spirit Skill, Soaring Strike!"

The Clear Sky Hammer in Tang Zhen's hand also grew incomparably huge as he smashed it toward the Seven Kill Sword above him.

Boom—

Explosions burst, clouds surged.

"Cough, cough." Tang Zhen's figure shot backward as blood continuously spilled from his mouth. Explode Ring had inflicted too much damage on his body.

In contrast, Chen Xin's fighting intent and sword intent had reached their peak!

"Old man, again! Thirteen Strings in a Cup! A lifetime of wind and rain, all returning to one sword!"

Chen Xin rapidly slashed out thirteen streams of sword energy, so fast that no one could react.

"Clear Sky Hammer! Disorder Splitting Wind Hammer!"

Tang Zhen unleashed the Disorder Splitting Wind Hammer, continuously stacking its layers. He was still enhanced by Explode Ring, making it relatively easy for him to use the Disorder Splitting Wind Hammer against his opponent.

However, Tang Zhen's body was already close to collapse. Using Explode Ring twice in succession had placed too great a burden on him, and his Soul Power was nearly depleted as well.

"Chen Xin, come. Let us decide the victor with one final move. Explode Ring!"

Tang Zhen went all out and directly detonated all of his Soul Rings, then continuously stacked the Disorder Splitting Wind Hammer. He wanted to defeat Chen Xin with the Nine-Nine Return to One of the Disorder Splitting Wind Hammer.

"Good! Then I shall settle victory and defeat with you in one move!

Green cassia trees stretch for a hundred li, while partridges cry through the cool midday shade. On Yanping Ford, peaks rise sharp as blades; when the sword departs, the river and sky stretch endlessly.

Ninth Spirit Skill, Sword Dao Chen Xin (God-Demon Twin Slashes)!"

Behind Sword Douluo Chen Xin, a phantom of himself appeared—half blue, half red; half god, half demon. Holding the Seven Kill Sword, it slashed toward Tang Zhen.

"Seven Treasures Emerge into Glazed Tile!" Ning Fengzhi cast an enhancement on Chen Xin. Six-colored light entered Chen Xin's body, greatly increasing his combat strength.

"Chaotic Wind and Waves Ninety-Nine Returns to One!" The Clear Sky Hammer in Tang Zhen's hand had completed all eighty-one strikes. A massive Black Dragon coiled around his Clear Sky Hammer.

The final clash between sword and hammer.

BOOM—

Spirit Hall was truly peaceful today.

In the sky, As the smoke dispersed, Tang Zhen and Chen Xin stood in midair. Neither of them appeared to have suffered any major injuries.

"This old man concedes," Chen Xin said first. That move had made him realize where his own weakness lay.

"No, no, Brother Chen Xin, you are too modest. In terms of pure attack power, your Seven Kill Sword surpasses the Clear Sky Hammer. There are simply too few members of the Chen Family, and you have no interest in fighting for power or profit.

"Otherwise, the title of the world's number one tool martial spirit might have gone to your Seven Kill Sword."

Tang Zhen was equally courteous. After all, only he knew his own condition.

"Thank you. Your Holiness the Pope, our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect concedes," Chen Xin said to Qian Xunji.

Qian Xunji nodded, then raised the Papal Scepter and addressed all the Spirit Masters present. "Good! Today's Seven Great Sects Re-selection Assembly has concluded.

"The first sect among the Upper Three Sects remains the Clear Sky Sect. The second is the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, and the third is the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan.

"You may return to your sects for now. A new batch of Pope's Edicts must be produced. When the time comes, the leaders of the Upper Three Sects may each hold a new Pope's Edict.

"To see the Pope's Edict is to see me. In addition, Tang Zhen is hereby conferred the title Earth Shaking Douluo, Chen Xin the title Sword Douluo, Yu Yuanzhen the title Thunder Douluo, and Sect Master Ning Fengzhi is appointed an Honorary Elder of Spirit Hall."

Qian Xunji's voice carried throughout all of Spirit City. Before long, the entire continent learned of the Seven Great Sects' new rankings, as well as the addition of several Spirit Hall elders.

Chen Xilin had watched a battle between the continent's top experts from below and gained a great deal from it.

The other six of the Seven Beasts of the Strange Beasts had gone to visit friends. After all, they had quite a few friends. Only Feng Qingyu accompanied Chen Xilin back to the hotel.

"Ah, so that is a Titled Douluo? I wonder if I can reach that level too?" Feng Qingyu yearned deeply for that realm.

"Brother Yu, your talent is beyond doubt. Though you cannot compare with me, becoming a Titled Douluo is only a matter of time.

"If you can learn that to a certain level, it will be of great benefit to you," Chen Xilin said with a smile.

"That's right. With your talent, reaching the level of Titled Douluo is indeed only a matter of time." A young voice rang out.

He appeared to be only in his thirties or forties. He was exceptionally handsome, with a faint smile on his face. His calm and tranquil aura made people feel very comfortable.

He was tall, though not particularly muscular. He wore a simple gray robe, while his golden hair draped behind his back, meticulously combed.

Although his clothes were so plain, merely standing there gave people the urge to bow in worship.

"Little friend, wearing someone else's face is probably not very appropriate, is it?" The Golden Middle-aged Man looked at Chen Xilin, his expression rather imposing.