"Qian Daoliu, you old scoundrel! That was underhanded!"
"You figured out how to absorb Soul Rings beyond their normal age limit and didn't say a word. Were you hoping to grow in secret, so you could beat me one day?"
Tang Chen was utterly stunned by the sight before him.
He had never imagined that Spirit Hall's research into Martial Souls had already reached such a level.
On that point alone, Spirit Hall had already pulled ahead of the Clear Sky Sect.
He could still keep Qian Daoliu in check for now, but what about a hundred or a thousand years from now?
Would the Clear Sky Sect still be able to hold on to its reputation as the foremost weapon-type Martial Soul?
"Clear Sky Douluo, you jest."
"I'm also very interested in your Clear Sky Sect's Ring Detonation Secret Technique. I wonder if I might have the chance to see it in action?"
Before Qian Daoliu could respond, Qian Xunji spoke up first, her tone openly challenging.
They were the ones who had acted shamelessly first. If so, there was no need for them to be so courteous.
After all, the Clear Sky Sect had come this time with the intent to provoke them.
If they did nothing in response, would the other side really think Spirit Hall was easy to bully?
Qian Daoliu watched as his daughter stepped forward to speak. He hesitated, but in the end, did not follow.
Since his daughter had already begun the God Ancestor's trial and was destined to take his place one day, she would have to gradually take on the responsibilities of dealing with the outside world.
From now on, he only needed to support her, until she had grown enough to stand on her own.
Even if she made a mistake along the way, he would not call her out in public. After all, his daughter was now Spirit Hall's Pope, and every word and action of hers represented Spirit Hall.
He could not undermine the Pope's standing in front of outsiders.
"Little girl, I'm talking to your father. You don't seem qualified to butt in just yet!"
When Tang Hao saw Qian Xunji step forward and openly mock him, a chill flickered in his eyes.
A mighty force spread from his body, pressing outward in every direction.
The Clear Sky Douluo's reputation had been earned in battle, not through empty boasts.
Though he thought highly of Qian Xunji and even hoped she would become his future granddaughter-in-law, he couldn't accept such an arrogant temperament.
Under Tang Hao's pressure, Qian Xunji showed no fear. Instead, she met it head-on.
She instinctively started to summon her Martial Soul to resist.
At that moment, Golden Crocodile Douluo, Azure Luan Douluo, Sword God Douluo, and Mighty Lion Douluo all released their auras, blocking Tang Hao's pressure.
Qian Daoliu had not made a move, but he had already stepped forward.
Seeing this, Tang Chen felt no fear at all. If anything, he wanted to challenge every one of them at once.
Tang Chen felt that perhaps only a great battle against them would let him truly unleash himself.
Maybe he would even break through during the fight.
And advance further.
Qian Daoliu alone wasn't nearly enough to give him a good fight.
Although Tang Chen thought this, he did not act on it.
He knew very well that, in the current situation, the Clear Sky Sect was at a disadvantage.
Though he considered Qian Daoliu the sort who couldn't fight, he had to admit that the man had a few tricks up his sleeve.
If Qian Daoliu managed to tie him down, the others from the Clear Sky Sect would be no match for Spirit Hall's many Titled Douluo.
If an uncontrollable conflict broke out, the Clear Sky Sect might suffer a crippling blow.
Tang Chen knew that Spirit Hall had accumulated a deep foundation over ten thousand years.
The Clear Sky Sect had only risen to prominence fairly recently. It would need more time before it could truly rival Spirit Hall in strength and resources.
They would have to wait until his two grandsons, Tang Hao and Tang Xiao, had fully grown.
If even one of them reached his current level—or came close—then the Clear Sky Sect would no longer need to fear Spirit Hall.
"Xiao Dong's Soul Rings can have such extraordinary age limits because of the Angel God's blessing."
Seeing this, Qian Daoliu knew Tang Chen had lost his nerve and backed down.
But the man cared too much about his pride to ever admit it.
So Qian Daoliu stepped in to smooth things over.
"The Angel God really exists?"
Seeing Qian Daoliu offer him an opening, Tang Chen took it.
But he still muttered under his breath.
At his level, he had reached the limit of the world as it was now. No matter how hard he tried, he could never see a path to go further.
That was why, though he firmly believed gods existed, he had always thought of them more as a legend.
If there really was a god in this world, then it would surely be him, Tang Chen, in the future.
If the Angel God truly existed and bestowed blessings, why hadn't Qian Daoliu, after worshipping the god for so many years, received any special gifts or improvements?
If he had, Qian Daoliu wouldn't have been suppressed by him at every turn.
"Tang Chen!"
Hearing him speak that way, the gentle smile Qian Daoliu had worn all along vanished. His expression turned solemn, and coldness entered his eyes.
He did admire Tang Chen—admired him as a rival, and even regarded him as a close friend.
But Tang Chen's words had clearly shown disrespect toward the Angel God. He had crossed Qian Daoliu's line.
If he continued to show such disrespect to the God Ancestor, Qian Daoliu would truly strike.
And he would hold nothing back.
Up in the sky, as the Angel God's High Priest, he could call upon divine power. That was even more true here, within Spirit City.
He had never used divine power in his previous battles with Tang Chen.
The reason was simple: he had treated Tang Chen as a rival and wanted to fight him fairly.
But when it came to his faith, when it came to the Angel God, he didn't care about fairness.
"I spoke carelessly."
"Great Angel God, please forgive me!"
Seeing Qian Daoliu's expression, Tang Chen realized he had misspoken and thoroughly offended the old scoundrel.
He hurriedly turned toward the Angel God Statue in the distance and offered an earnest apology.
Tang Chen had this much going for him: when he knew he was wrong, he admitted it, and when he was beaten, he stood firm.
He didn't know what other means Qian Daoliu had hidden, but in that brief moment, he had unmistakably sensed the threat of death from him.
Those means must have something to do with the Angel God.
He had already decided that from now on, he would never come to Spirit City unless absolutely necessary.
Qian Daoliu might be trustworthy, but what if?
What if something happened that neither of them could control? What would he do then?
As they clashed, over on the Soul Fighting Arena, Bibi Dong's opponent finally steadied their nerves and revealed their Soul Rings.
Before you continue