Tang Xiao's Death

The battle between the two intensified, with neither holding back, unleashing a barrage of Soul Skill and sending energy shockwaves spreading outwards in waves.

Fifth Soul Skill: Brilliant Explosion!

The man in black slammed the Clear Sky Hammer into the ground, and a dazzling burst of light exploded from the hammer.

The light contained a violent energy that swept towards Xia Guyi.

Soul Skill: Shadow Shuttle!

Xia Guyi's figure blurred, transforming into a black shadow, instantly appearing behind the man in black and avoiding the attack.

Soul Skill: Fear Echo!

Xia Guyi swung her dark longsword, and a black sound wave spread out, directly striking the black-clad man's mental state.

The man in black groaned, his mind reeling, and his movements faltered slightly.

But he quickly realized what was happening and roared, "Earth Ant Emperor Slash!"

The Clear Sky Hammer slammed down, and a sharp, earth-yellow Soul Power slash burst forth from the ground, spreading like an ant Xia Guyi. Wherever it passed, the ground was torn open, leaving a long trench.

Seventh Soul Skill: Dark Armor True Body!

Xia Guyi no longer held back and directly released her Martial Soul Avatar.

Her dark armor instantly became even thicker, and a pair of enormous black Wings unfurled from her back, causing the pressure of her dark Soul Power to surge to its peak.

"Eighth Soul Skill: Sword of Darkness!"

Xia Guyi poured all her Soul Power into the dark longsword in her hand, and the longsword instantly grew several feet in length, carrying a destructive aura as it slashed down at the man in black.

"Defense: Hammer Shield Guard!"

The man in black had a solemn expression. He held the Clear Sky Hammer horizontally in front of him, and a thick layer of earthy yellow light emanated from the hammer, transforming it into a huge shield that blocked the attack of the Sword of Darkness.

"Clang!"

A crisp sound rang out, and sparks flew everywhere.

Both were forced back several steps by the force of the other's blow, and a trickle of blood escaped from the corner of their mouths.

"Thousand Mountains Shattered Annihilation!"

The man in black wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, his eyes growing increasingly crazed.

He raised the Clear Sky Hammer high, and countless earth-yellow Soul Power condensed into the phantom of a mountain, which smashed down densely on Xia Guyi. The ground of the entire Drill Ground trembled violently, as if a thousand mountains were really collapsing.

"Ninth Soul Skill: Black Hole of Finality!"

Xia Guyi's eyes were icy cold. She clasped her hands together, and the dark abyss phantom behind her suddenly expanded, slowly revealing a pitch-black Black Hole.

The Black Hole exuded a terrifying devouring force, swallowing up the illusory mountain peaks that crashed down upon it one by one.

But this attack also took a huge toll on her; her forehead was covered in sweat, and her breathing became somewhat disordered.

The Black Hole collided with the energy that Thousand Mountains Shattered Annihilation, generating a devastating shockwave.

The surrounding ground was completely overturned, and rubble flew everywhere.

After the shockwave dissipated, a huge crater appeared in the center of the Drill Ground.

Xia Guyi and the man in black stood at the edge of the deep pit, their auras weak and their armor riddled with cracks, clearly indicating that they had both suffered serious injuries.

"Ahem... As expected of Xia Yang's daughter, she's truly remarkable."

The man in black clutched his chest and coughed violently a few times, his tone carrying a mixture of resentment and admiration.

Xia Guyi was also in bad shape; her face was as pale as paper, and her breathing was rapid. She said, "You're not bad either."

"Level 96 Super Douluo, possessing such cultivation in the Clear Sky Sect, yet daring to covet the Emperor Armor —I already know who you are."

"So what if you've thought of it? You must die today!"

A ruthless glint flashed in the man's eyes, and the remaining Soul Power within him surged once more, clearly indicating that he was about to unleash his trump card Soul Bone Skill.

A strange black aura emanated from him, the patterns on the Clear Sky Hammer became even more ferocious, and an aura even more terrifying than before spread out.

At this critical moment, a cold shout suddenly came from the periphery of the battlefield.

"Pear Blossom Needle in Rainstorm!"

It turned out that Tang San had quietly crept to the edge of the battlefield without anyone noticing.

He kept a close eye on the battle, waiting for the best opportunity to strike.

Seeing the man in black still unleashing a deadly move despite being severely injured, he immediately seized the opportunity and activated the Hidden Weapon he had prepared beforehand.

Countless fine, hair-like pear blossom needles, gleaming with a cold light, shot towards the man in black like a torrential rain.

The man in black was already at his limit, his Soul Power in disarray, and he had no time to mount an effective defense.

The Pear Blossom Needle in Rainstorm precisely struck his vital points, penetrating his defenses and penetrating deep into his body.

"Ugh--"

The man in black let out a shrill scream, his body swayed, and he fell straight down, lifeless.

Tang San strode forward, squatted down, and reached out to lift the mask off the man in black.

When he saw the familiar face beneath the mask, he froze, his eyes glazed over, his body trembled uncontrollably, and he uttered two words.

"Uncle?"

The person behind the mask was none other than Tang Xiao!

Tang San couldn't believe that the man in black who had infiltrated the Imperial Palace to steal the Emperor Armor and fought a deadly battle with Xia Guyi was his uncle.

He vaguely remembered hearing from the elders of the sect when he was a child that Tang Xiao had clashed with Xia Yang because he opposed Tang Yuehua's marriage to Xia Yang Xia Yang, and they even fought.

In that battle, Tang Xiao was severely injured and fell into a coma by Xia Yang, while Xia Yang was unharmed.

Everyone assumed that Tang Xiao had let go of his grudges after that incident.

Unexpectedly, he harbored a grudge all along, and after Xia Yang ascended to immortality, he couldn't wait to steal the Emperor Armor and take revenge on the Xia Family.

What Tang San found even more unacceptable was that he himself had killed Tang Xiao with his own hands.

He stood there, motionless, his mind blank, the only sound the heavy pounding of his own heart.

Not long after, Emperor Xia Tian, having received the message, arrived with a large number of guards.

When he saw Tang Xiao's corpse on the ground and Tang San standing there blankly, he was stunned for a moment, and then he understood what had happened.

Seeing Tang San's dejected appearance, he sighed softly, stepped forward, patted him on the shoulder, and said in a deep voice, "Little San, this isn't your fault."

"He harbored evil intentions and brought about his own destruction."

"Come back with me first, I'll handle things here."

Tang San nodded mechanically and followed Xia Tian out of the Drill Ground.

Soon, only Xia Guyi and Tang Xiao's cold corpse remained at the scene.

Xia Guyi slowly walked to Tang Xiao's corpse, her eyes cold and devoid of any pity.

She extended her right hand, palm facing Tang Xiao's corpse, and activated the Soul Power within her body.

The golden orb of light that she had previously retrieved— the Emperor Armor —rose again and flew above Tang Xiao's corpse.

Golden light enveloped Tang Xiao's corpse.

Then, a bizarre scene unfolded.

Tang Xiao's corpse shriveled up at a visible rate, and his Soul Power, Martial Soul Origin, and even the memories in his soul were absorbed by the Emperor Armor little by little.

Before long, Tang Xiao's body turned into a pile of ashes, which drifted away in the wind.