Tang Hao's weather-beaten face twisted with utter hatred.
Beneath his disheveled hair, his bloodshot eyes fixed on the girl before him.
The crimson light radiating from his hundred-thousand-year red Soul Ring bathed the entire courtyard in scarlet.
That aura of venomous hatred crashed down on Qian Renxue's shoulders like a mountain.
Facing the Clear Sky Douluo, whose name shook the continent, Qian Renxue's heart churned like a storm-tossed sea.
Until now, Spirit Hall's network of spies had covered Heaven Dou City, and even the outskirts of this courtyard had been lined with the most elite Soul Master sentries.
Yet the man before her had somehow eluded every watchful eye, appearing in the heart of the compound like a ghost.
A powerful sense of danger sent the Soul Power inside Qian Renxue surging wildly.
The phantom of her Six-Winged Angel Martial Soul instantly solidified behind her.
Blazing golden light pierced through the crimson pressure around her like a sharp sword.
Yellow, yellow, purple, purple, black, black—six Soul Rings of the optimal configuration rose one after another from beneath her feet.
They circled her graceful figure, pulsing up and down as they forcibly dispelled the heavy stench of blood in the air.
"Tang Hao, if you want to kill me, I'm afraid it won't be that easy."
Qian Renxue clasped her hands before her chest, and a ball of golden flame blazed fiercely between her palms.
A long sword formed swiftly within the flames, coalescing entirely from sacred fire.
Ever since she had swallowed that Bright Heaven Grass, Gu Qing had purged the impurities from her Martial Soul.
Now, a pure golden radiance of the utmost brilliance shimmered across the surface of the Holy Sword she conjured.
At the sight of the Six-Winged Angel's phantom, Tang Hao's eyes instantly reddened, like a ferocious lion provoked to fury.
The tragic scene of Ah Yin's sacrifice flashed through his mind, and that heart-rending pain surged through him once more.
"Seeing that piece of trash, Qian Xunji's Martial Soul, really makes me sick."
Tang Hao gripped the thick handle of the Clear Sky Hammer with both hands, and the seventh black Soul Ring on his body suddenly lit up.
He released his Martial Soul Avatar without holding anything back.
The enormous Clear Sky Hammer swelled rapidly in the wind, transforming in the blink of an eye into a gigantic hammer the size of a small mountain.
Its terrifying weight pressed the earth beneath his feet, opening a series of bottomless fissures.
A violent gale swept up dust across the sky as the hammer came crashing toward the golden figure with the force of Mount Tai bearing down.
Facing this world-shattering blow, Qian Renxue chose not to meet it head-on.
Memories of Gu Qing sparring with her and guiding her over the past half month flashed through her mind like lightning.
"When facing an opponent who relies on pure strength, never clash head-on. Use skill to overcome force, and strike where they must defend."
Recalling Gu Qing's advice, Qian Renxue gave the six golden wings on her back a sudden beat.
She drifted backward and to the side like a weightless feather, carried by the gale stirred up by the Clear Sky Hammer.
At the same time, the Holy Sword in Qian Renxue's hand traced an elegant arc through the air.
Its golden swordlight struck precisely at the wrist joint of the hand gripping Tang Hao's hammer.
She had timed the strike to perfection, just as Tang Hao's old force faded and before his new strength could rise.
If Tang Hao insisted on bringing down his hammer, the pure sacred fire would pierce straight through his wrist.
"Not bad. You're a lot stronger than your good-for-nothing old man."
Tang Hao gave a heavy snort and abruptly twisted his wrist, forcing the enormous Clear Sky Hammer to pause in midair.
The black hammerhead swept sideways, unleashing a deafening sonic boom.
A massive wave of counterforce surged through the air and slammed into the golden light protecting Qian Renxue.
She felt her blood and energy churn in her chest as her body was hurled backward more than a dozen steps.
With each step, the flagstones beneath her feet shattered, and she only managed to stop after crashing into a corridor pillar and knocking it down.
Even so, Qian Renxue's eyes still gleamed with defiance and fighting spirit.
After Gu Qing's careful tutelage and the cleansing power of the Bright Heaven Grass, her Soul Power—once only level sixty-five—had now stabilized at the peak of level sixty-nine.
She had lost the brief exchange, but she had successfully deflected Tang Hao's fatal blow.
Half a month ago, even the shockwave from the Clear Sky Hammer would have been enough to leave her gravely wounded.
"Take another strike!"
Tang Hao gave Qian Renxue no chance to catch her breath. He strode forward, and one of the black Soul Rings on his body shattered with a thunderous bang.
The terrifying energy from Ring Detonation flooded into his body, driving his already fearsome aura to a whole new level.
Countless hammer-shadows formed a dense black net, enveloping the sky above the entire courtyard.
Qian Renxue gritted her teeth as the phantom of the Six-Winged Angel behind her suddenly burst with dazzling light.
Her fifth Soul Ring lit up, and countless golden swords of light formed in the air in an instant.
Like a torrential downpour, they shot toward the hammer-shadows filling the sky.
Deafening booms echoed again and again through the night sky above Heaven Dou City.
Golden swords of light and black hammer-shadows collided fiercely in midair, and every clash unleashed a small storm of energy.
The surrounding rockeries, trees, and covered walkways were all reduced to dust before this destructive force.
The surviving red plum blossoms were shredded by the gale, fluttering down over the ruins in a scattered shower.
Tang Hao's face had grown somewhat pale. The old injuries he had sustained in his youth throbbed faintly beneath the backlash of Ring Detonation.
A trace of crimson blood seeped from the corner of his mouth, but the killing intent in his eyes only grew more frenzied.
The Clear Sky Hammer in his hands swung faster and faster, each blow growing heavier.
Before an overwhelming gap in strength, the disadvantage skill could make up was ultimately limited.
Qian Renxue's Soul Power rapidly drained as she fought, and beads of sweat covered her forehead.
Her brilliant sacred light began to flicker, while the radiance on her six wings dimmed considerably.
The Holy Sword had collided with the Clear Sky Hammer again and again, and its surface was now covered in fine cracks.
The pain shooting from the web of her thumb made Qian Renxue almost lose her grip on the hilt.
"Little girl, you won't last much longer."
Tang Hao roared as he unleashed his Divine Slaughter's Domain without restraint.
His ghastly white killing intent took on the shape of tangible spikes and stabbed viciously into Qian Renxue's Sea of Consciousness.
Qian Renxue let out a pained groan as a tearing agony surged through her mind.
Her protective golden light shattered beneath the onslaught of the killing intent, scattering into golden flecks that vanished in the air.
"Die!"
Tang Hao laughed wildly. The Clear Sky Hammer in his hands carried world-shattering force as it smashed through the last golden sword of light.
The gigantic hammerhead swelled rapidly in her pupils, descending upon her with the shadow of death.
An overwhelming sense of despair washed over Qian Renxue like a tide.
The Soul Power in her body was completely spent; she didn't even have the strength to raise her arms.
The Clear Sky Hammer's terrifying pressure sealed off the surrounding space, leaving her nowhere to run.
Qian Renxue let her arms fall helplessly and slowly closed her eyes, awaiting death.
In the final moments of her life, what came to mind wasn't Spirit Hall's grand ambitions.
It wasn't the lofty throne of the Pope, nor her ambition to unite the continent.
It was the man named Gu Qing.
The man who always wore a calm smile and used Immortal Herbs from the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well to cleanse and remold her body.
The man who built a barrier for her in the dead of night, standing watch over her with tender care.
Back in Spirit City, her grandfather, Qian Daoliu, should be joyfully arranging the wedding banquet right about now.
The red silk draped across the streets and alleys of Spirit City must look beautiful and festive.
What would she look like wearing that phoenix coronet and rosy cape, made to the highest standards?
If she could survive, if they could marry without a hitch, how wonderful would that be?
In the morning, she could help him dress; in the evening, she could stroll with him in the back garden of the Pope Palace.
She could listen to him explain those wondrous tactics and watch him use Life-Type Blue Silver Grass to conjure all sorts of amusing little trinkets.
Perhaps they could even return to Heaven Dou City and walk its streets like an ordinary married couple, in the city where she had spent so many years in hiding.
She could even bear him a child with both the Angel and Blue Silver Grass Twin Martial Souls.
She could teach that child to read and write, and watch the little one run and play in the courtyard.
That ordinary, warm life was already so close.
In just a little while, she could become his wife openly and honorably.
A glistening tear slid down the corner of Qian Renxue's eye and landed on the shattered flagstones.
"Gu Qing, I'm sorry. I couldn't wait for you to come back."
She silently murmured his name, preparing to face the end that would shatter her body to pieces.
Just as the Clear Sky Hammer was less than half a foot from Qian Renxue's head,
a vast power filled with boundless vitality and gentleness erupted from nowhere in the courtyard.
Hundreds upon hundreds of vines, glowing with a soft blue light, burst from the earth like enraged dragons and instantly wove together into a thick wooden shield.
At that moment, the seemingly fragile Blue Silver Grass displayed a resilience that sent chills down the spine.
The Clear Sky Hammer, wrapped in the might of Ring Detonation, slammed into the Blue Silver Grass shield.
With a muffled boom, it caved in the shield's surface, leaving a deep dent.
Countless vines snapped and flew apart, yet they forcibly absorbed and dispelled the terrifying force, enough to split mountains and shatter stone.
The Blue Silver Grass's aura of life forcibly smoothed away the violent gale.
The tremendous counterforce traveled down the vines into the earth, collapsing the ground for dozens of feet around them.
The pain she had expected never came.
Instead, a familiar, reassuring presence wrapped tightly around her.
Qian Renxue snapped her eyes open.
What came into view was a sharply defined profile radiating calm composure.
One strong arm encircled her waist, while the other supported her beneath the knees.
Gu Qing held Qian Renxue securely against his solid chest in an exceptionally domineering bridal carry.
His familiar warmth seeped through her clothes, driving away all the cold and fear.
Qian Renxue stared blankly at the face so close to hers, her mind going empty for a moment.
Her beautiful eyes brimmed with shock and disbelief, and even her breathing quickened.
"How could it be you..."
Qian Renxue's voice trembled despite her efforts to hide it, and her slender fingers clutched the front of Gu Qing's clothes.
She had just been imagining her final farewell, and now the man himself had truly appeared before her.
The tremendous shift from hell to heaven in an instant made the eyes of Spirit Hall's Young Master redden at once.
Gu Qing lowered his head and looked at the peerless beauty in his arms, tears still clinging to the corners of her eyes.
His long fingers gently brushed a loose strand of hair from Qian Renxue's cheek, his touch as tender as if she were a priceless treasure.
"I finished taking care of things at Heaven Dou Royal Academy and hurried back to be with you."
Gu Qing's tone was calm, as though he didn't even consider the murderous Clear Sky Douluo across from him worth noticing.
A gentle stream of life-type Soul Power flowed from his palm into Qian Renxue's body.
Her nearly dried-up meridians quickly recovered their vitality under its nourishment.
A flush gradually returned to her pale face.
"Good thing I made it in time. If you'd been hurt, where would I find another wife as beautiful as you?"
Gu Qing turned his head slightly. His deep eyes remained utterly calm, yet his presence carried an authority that seemed to tower above all living beings.
Tang Hao pulled back the Clear Sky Hammer that had been forced away. The enormous recoil sent him stumbling back three steps before he managed to regain his footing.
His chest heaved violently. A sweet, metallic taste rose in his throat, but he forcibly swallowed it down.
He stared at the young man who had appeared out of nowhere and effortlessly deflected his killing blow.
An extremely dangerous glint flashed through Tang Hao's eyes, and his aura grew increasingly violent.
His rough hand gripped the hammer's handle, his knuckles turning white from the strain.
Those bloodshot eyes fixed on the vibrant Blue Silver Grass beneath Gu Qing's feet.
During his time lying low in Heaven Dou City, Tang Hao had thoroughly investigated everything about Gu Qing.
This bastard, who possessed the Life-Type Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul, had made a great stir at Heaven Dou Royal Academy.
This was also the bastard who had caused Zhao Wuji of Shrek Academy to die in the forest outside the city.
And, to top it off, Spirit Hall was making a grand spectacle of preparing a wedding for this brat and Qian Renxue.
"So you're that little bastard named Gu Qing."
Tang Hao slammed the Clear Sky Hammer in his hand into the ground, shattering a large patch of flagstones.
His arrogant laughter echoed through the ruined courtyard, laced with a hysterical madness.
He had only meant to kill Qian Renxue while Gu Qing was away, to pay tribute to Ah Yin's spirit.
He had also wanted to deliver a resounding slap to Spirit Hall, turning their highly anticipated wedding into a funeral.
He never expected heaven to be so kind as to send both of his most important enemies right to him.
"Good. Very good!"
Tang Hao took a step forward, and his violent Divine Slaughter's Domain erupted, staining the surrounding air blood-red.
The scarlet light cast Tang Hao's weathered face in the image of a demon crawling out of hell.
"Today really is an auspicious day. Since you two adulterous lovers are both here,"
"then I'll do a good deed and send you down together to be a pair of star-crossed lovers."
"That way, Zhao Wuji won't be so lonely down below!"
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