The Angel Secret Realm Within Douluo Hall

The dungeon of the Clear Sky Sect was dark and damp, the stone walls biting with cold, while the air hung heavy with the stench of mold and the suffocating pressure of soul power seals.

This was the forbidden ground where the Clear Sky Sect imprisoned its most dangerous criminals; the security was so tight that not even a fly could escape.

Ah Yin slowly opened her eyes, a wave of soreness radiating from the back of her neck.

She raised a hand to rub it gently, her azure eyes flickering to life in the darkness, filled with a momentary confusion that was quickly replaced by a cold, sharp clarity.

The surrounding stone walls were thick and unyielding, and the faint sound of chains scraping against stone could be heard; there was no sunlight, no vitality, only an endless, oppressive darkness.

If she guessed correctly, this place must be the homeland of Tang Hao and Tang Xiao.

It was the very place known as the number one sect under heaven: the Clear Sky Sect.

Drip... drip... drip...

Just then, a steady, icy rhythm of footsteps approached from the distance, shattering the deathly silence of the dungeon.

Ah Yin jerked her head up, staring toward the cell door.

Two figures, both familiar and strange, walked side by side toward her.

The arrivals were none other than Tang Hao and Tang Xiao.

After only a few days, the warmth they had shown on the road had vanished, replaced by greed, indifference, and the arrogance of those who believed their prize was already secured.

They stood outside the cell, their gazes fixed upon her as if appraising a trophy—their eyes burning with heat yet chillingly detached.

Ah Yin braced herself against the cold stone wall and struggled to stand, her slender frame appearing exceptionally fragile in the dim light.

She clenched her fists until her knuckles turned white, the tenderness in her azure eyes extinguished, leaving only fury, coldness, and disappointment.

"What is it that you want?"

Her voice was soft, yet it carried a bone-chilling frost.

Tang Hao let out a scoff, his tone mocking and cruel: "Do you really not understand what we want?"

Tang Xiao, standing to the side, maintained a calm expression, though his tone was as cold as iron: "Ah Yin, do not blame us."

"We are human, and you are a Soul Beast; we were never meant to walk the same path."

"There is a human saying: those who are not of our kind will surely have a different heart. Since you chose to transform into a human, you should have been prepared to be discovered and hunted, rather than harboring resentment toward us now."

Tang Hao nodded in agreement, not a shred of guilt on his face: "Exactly. We are not children anymore; one must take responsibility for their own choices."

"You know the saying: those who gamble must be prepared to lose."

Every word was like a cold blade, stabbing deep into Ah Yin's heart.

The surging fury she had felt only moments ago began to cool, bit by bit.

Yes... it was she who was too naive.

She was a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast who had transformed into a human; it was an act that defied the heavens.

In the eyes of human soul masters, she was never a "person," but a walking, infinitely precious soul ring and soul bone.

She had been a fool—a fool to believe in human warmth, a fool to believe in those promises of protection.

But...

She was truly different from other Soul Beasts.

At this thought, Ah Yin suddenly began to laugh softly.

The laughter was light, yet it carried an indescribable mockery and sorrow, echoing through the empty dungeon.

Tang Hao and Tang Xiao exchanged a glance, both seeing confusion and impatience in the other's eyes.

"What are you laughing at?"

Tang Hao frowned and barked a warning: "Don't think that playing the fool will make us let you go. I tell you, that is impossible!"

"Playing the madwoman won't save you," Tang Xiao added coldly.

Ah Yin slowly raised her head, the fear in her azure eyes completely gone, replaced by a cold, absolute resolve.

She looked at the two of them, a sharp, proud, and tragic sneer curling her lips: "I admit it, I was a fool—a fool to believe in humans."

"But do you truly think... that I, a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast, have no means of my own, and am just here to be slaughtered by you?"

Tang Hao's eyes sharpened as he demanded, "What do you mean by that?"

Tang Xiao also tensed slightly, sensing that something was wrong.

Although he did not believe Ah Yin possessed any real power or leverage, the look in her eyes did not seem like a bluff.

Ah Yin straightened her back, her voice cold and firm, each word ringing clearly in their ears:

"I will tell you the truth—my true form is not an ordinary Blue Silver Grass, but the sovereign of all Blue Silver Grass, the legendary Blue Silver Emperor."

"The Blue Silver Emperor is born with the innate power of the source: 'Wildfires cannot destroy it; it grows again with the spring breeze.'"

"This means that unless I choose to die of my own volition, even if you kill me with your own hands, you will never obtain my soul ring, nor will you ever obtain my soul bone!"

"I am willing to pay the price for my naivety, but you... you will never get what you want!"

As her voice fell, the dungeon plunged into a deathly silence.

Tang Hao and Tang Xiao's expressions changed drastically, and they froze completely in place, their eyes filled with shock and disbelief!

Unable to obtain a spirit ring?

Unable to obtain a spirit bone?

Then what was the point of them going through all that trouble to drag her back to the Clear Sky Sect?

To keep her as a decorative vase?

One had to know that in order to obtain Ah Yin's spirit ring and spirit bone, they had not hesitated to offend a powerhouse at the Title Douluo level.

Even though they did not know who that Title Douluo was, or which faction they hailed from.

Watching their faces turn deathly pale in an instant, the last shred of warmth in Ah Yin's heart was extinguished completely.

She slowly closed her eyes and whispered softly:

"I transformed into a human not to become anyone's prey."

"If it truly comes to that point... I would rather destroy my own origin and let my soul scatter than ever let you succeed."

Better to be a shattered jade than an intact tile.

This was the final pride of the Blue Silver Emperor.

Meanwhile, on the other side, Ye Qing, led by Qian Daoliu, arrived at the third great hall outside of the Pope Palace and the Worship Hall: the Douluo Hall.

Aside from a massive statue of a female angel, the place was filled with dense rows of stone tablets.

Inscribed upon them were names and accounts of their life's deeds.

Qian Daoliu walked at the very front, his tone calm as he introduced them: "These people were either Title Douluos or individuals who made immense contributions to the spirit master world."

"I can see that!"

Ye Qing nodded and said softly: "They are buried here, presumably to bathe in the radiance of the Angel God."

The Angel God was the only deity on the Douluo Continent and, furthermore, the God of Light in the hearts of countless people.

Among these people, they might hate the Martial Soul Hall or despise a certain power-holder within it, but it was absolutely impossible—and they would never dare—to hate the Angel God.

Because if it weren't for the Angel God eradicating the evil spirit masters, no one knew what kind of life the Douluo Continent would be living today.

This was also the reason why the Martial Soul Hall was able to grow so rapidly in such a short period of time.

It was just like Shrek Academy ten thousand years later.

If it weren't for the reputation of Tang San and the others, how could such a dilapidated academy ever hope to become the number one academy on the continent?

Under Qian Daoliu's guidance, the two arrived at the end of the great hall.

Standing there was a statue of an angel.

Although it looked identical to the one outside, if one looked closely, it was obvious that this one possessed a greater sense of divinity.

Under Ye Qing's gaze, Qian Daoliu began to circulate his spirit power.

The next moment, the angel statue emitted a faint golden light.

Immediately following, it transformed into a golden vortex.

Qian Daoliu stepped inside first.

Ye Qing followed right behind...