Sky Pillar Douluo

Holy Spirit Village fell quiet once more—so quiet that it felt almost excessive.

After discovering the blood at the bottom of the pit, Village Chief Jack told everyone to hurry home.

The villagers were obedient as ever, racing back to their homes as quickly as they could.

Soon afterward, every light and sound vanished.

People from small villages had their own wisdom for survival, especially since Holy Spirit Village was said to have once produced a Soul Saint.

Such a huge pit, with blood inside—it was very likely the result of a battle between Soul Masters.

No matter who the two sides were, it was not something a small village like theirs could concern itself with. Pretending they had seen nothing was the wisest choice.

After all, what if they discovered something they should not have?

"Cough, cough... cough, cough, cough."

Hearing the suppressed coughing, Tang San hurriedly got up, poured a cup of water, and brought it to Tang Hao.

Tang San had also been awakened by the Loud Noise earlier, but he had cautiously refrained from going out to investigate. Just as he was about to ask Tang Hao what to do, Tang Hao told him not to go anywhere.

Yet the moment Tang San lay back down, he heard Tang Hao coughing.

"Dad, are you sick? I poured you a cup of hot water."

Tang Hao lay on his side with his back to Tang San.

"I'm fine. Just put the cup down."

"Dad." Tang San was still worried.

Tang Hao had spent all these years drowning himself in alcohol, but Tang San had never seen him fall ill before.

"Get out." Tang Hao's voice became sterner.

Though Tang San was puzzled, he still placed the cup beside Tang Hao's bed.

"Dad, I left the water there. Drink it while it's hot."

"I know. Cough... cough, cough."

After hearing Tang San leave, Tang Hao turned over, his face deathly pale.

"Cough, cough..." Tang Hao tried his best to suppress his coughs, but blood kept streaming from the corner of his mouth.

Tang Hao gripped the cup Tang San had brought him, his face still filled with lingering fear.

"How could such a powerful expert suddenly appear? His Soul Power was absolutely above rank ninety-six. Perhaps... no, he had definitely reached rank ninety-eight. That kind of pressure could not be mistaken."

Tang Hao still vividly remembered the axe strike from that mysterious expert. It had smashed into his Clear Sky Hammer, sending the hammer back into his own chest.

With that kind of power, not to mention Tang Hao, who had been despondent for years and had yet to fully recover from his injuries—even at his peak, he would have been no match for that man.

Tang Hao knew that if the man had truly intended to kill him, he likely would not have been able to escape. He might well have died tonight.

"A Guardian... Such a powerful expert was actually the Guardian of an ordinary child in the village?"

Tang Hao clenched the cup tightly. He had only just regained his fighting spirit after Tang San awakened Twin Martial Souls, only to be severely wounded by someone who had appeared out of nowhere.

Tang Hao pressed hard against his chest. His injuries, which had not fully healed to begin with, had worsened greatly after this battle.

"Damn it. I still have to watch Little San grow up and take revenge on Spirit Hall. I must recover quickly."

Tang Hao took a sip of hot water. The blood spilling from the corner of his mouth dyed the remaining water in the cup red.

"Lin Qi, Lin Qi... just who are you?" Tang Hao set down the cup, his gaze flickering uncertainly.

No matter what, even though Tang Hao was filled with anger, he no longer dared harbor any ill intentions toward Lin Qi.

Instead, Tang Hao had to worry about his own safety and Tang San's. With such a powerful expert nearby, he did not even dare fully close his eyes when he slept.

In Tang San's room, he was still awake. Listening to Tang Hao's unceasing coughing, he had a bad feeling.

After awakening two Martial Souls and gaining such extraordinary talent to become a Soul Master, Tang San should have been delighted.

Yet ever since Lin Qi awakened his Martial Soul after him, Tang San felt that nothing had gone right. A sense of oppression constantly weighed on him.

Moreover, he had actually guessed that Tang Hao had gone out.

Tang San had not noticed when Tang Hao left, but when Tang Hao returned, his severe injuries inevitably caused him to make some faint sounds.

In his previous life, Tang San had belonged to the Tang Sect and had always been highly vigilant. He noticed the tiny sounds Tang Hao made.

After bringing Tang Hao hot water, he became even more certain.

Could Dad not be an ordinary blacksmith? He also seemed very different when he saw my Martial Soul today. What did he secretly go out to do? Could his coughing be from injuries rather than illness?

Tang San had too many doubts in his heart. Listening to the muffled coughing, he could not fall asleep for a long time.

The other place in the village where there was some activity was Lin Qi's home.

"You're my Guardian?"

Lin Qi looked curiously at the burly man standing before him. The man was nine feet tall, his muscles bulging high, and he exuded a fierce, murderous aura.

Had the system literally created a living person for him? Or did Douluo Continent truly have such a hidden expert?

"In reply to Young Master, this subordinate is your Guardian. Protecting your safety is this subordinate's mission."

"What about your previous identity? Do you still remember it?"

"Of course I remember." The burly man said, "This subordinate has always been your Guardian. It is my mission and the meaning of my existence."

Lin Qi raised an eyebrow. It seemed more likely that this man had been created by the system out of thin air.

"Then what is your name? Don't tell me you don't even have one?"

The burly man replied, "This subordinate is Leng Qing. My Martial Soul is the Sky Opening Axe, and my title is Sky Pillar Douluo."

Lin Qi: "..."

Tang Hao's Martial Soul was the Clear Sky Hammer, while this man's was the Sky Opening Axe. It seemed rather specifically targeted.

The name Sky Opening Axe was rather intimidating too, though it was obviously not the mythical axe that split heaven and earth apart.

"Other than protecting me, can you teach me how to cultivate? Especially when it comes to combat."

Although he had a powerful system, Lin Qi still needed to work hard himself to turn his advantages into strength.

"It would be this subordinate's honor," Leng Qing said.

It seemed that Leng Qing, this Guardian, was not limited to merely guarding him.

"You fought Tang Hao just now, didn't you? How badly was he injured?"

After resolving his doubts, Lin Qi asked about Leng Qing's battle with Tang Hao.

He did not bother asking who had won. After all, the system's purpose was to put him above Tang San. Even if Tang Hao erupted with some hidden power, Leng Qing certainly would not lose.

"That thief already had old injuries. After taking one axe strike from this subordinate, combined with his previous injuries, he can forget about recovering without several years of rest."

"Good work." Lin Qi nodded in satisfaction.

Served you right for being dishonest, Haozi.

Lin Qi had not planned to kill Tang Hao just yet. He could not shear all the wool from a sheep in one go; he was waiting for Tang San to trigger more rewards.

Besides, Tang Hao no longer counted as a threat to him.

"I'm getting ready to rest. There's another room here. If you need to sleep, you can use the room next door."

"Rest without worry, Young Master. With this subordinate here, no one can harm you."

After saying that, Leng Qing turned and left, disappearing into the darkness once more.

"Whew..."

Lin Qi relaxed and lay down on the bed. Since crossing over, he had never felt safer than he did tonight.

In complete contrast to Tang San, Lin Qi slept soundly.