The Chase and the Shattering

Above Suotuo City,

Two figures, one black and one gold, streaked across the sky one after the other. They were both middle-aged men, and they could actually soar through the heavens. The auras radiating from them were both tremendously powerful, and nine Soul Rings appeared beneath each of them. They were Titled Douluo powerhouses.

The man in front wore a black robe that shrouded his entire body, concealing his features. He looked like a rat in a gutter. His right hand gripped a huge hammer, its head entirely crimson and covered in vicious patterns. The handle was about half a chi long, and the head was a thick cylinder. The whole thing radiated a weighty, oppressive feeling. In his left arm, he cradled a baby.

He was fleeing.

The golden figure chasing after him seemed almost otherworldly. Six golden-white wings sprouted from his back, radiating holiness and purity. He wore a gray robe, his long golden hair draped over his shoulders, and he held a golden longsword. He looked like an angel descending into the mortal world to pass judgment on evil.

"Tang Hao! You grievously wounded my son and killed him. Where do you think you're going?"

The golden figure casually swung his sword, sending a golden sword beam slashing toward the man he had called Tang Hao.

"Qian Daoliu, your son came after my wife first. I merely retaliated. He was inferior to me; who else can he blame? If you keep hunting me, my grandfather won't spare you!"

"Clear Sky Body Protection!"

The enormous hammer in Tang Hao's hand left his palm and spun rapidly around his body, forming a black barrier that blocked the golden sword beam. The tremendous shock made his body falter slightly.

This won't do. If this goes on, I'll die for sure. I have to find a way to shake this old bastard.

Tang Hao wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth as he pondered. He looked around, but couldn't find an opportunity to escape.

Boom~

A thunderous crash came from ten li away. Countless dark clouds and bolts of lightning swirled overhead.

An anomaly like this is sure to draw people there. If there are any Spirit Hall powerhouses among them, things will be bad.

Tang Hao immediately turned to fly in the opposite direction. Just then, a flash of dark red bloodlight passed through his eyes, and he flew straight toward the place where the clouds had gathered.

Seeing this, Qian Daoliu swiftly pursued him as well.

By the time Tang Hao arrived, the anomaly had already vanished. A crowd had gathered in the center of the village below.

Spirit Hall Soul Masters! That anomaly just now must mean someone awakened a powerful Martial Soul. I can't let Spirit Hall benefit from such talent. I'll make sure you all disappear for good.

"Sky-Piercing Strike!"

The Clear Sky Hammer rapidly grew larger and smashed down toward the people below.

Su Changkong was overjoyed. Both of his children could become Soul Masters, and his younger son's talent was even more formidable. He could already imagine how dramatically their lives would change in the future.

He was about to see the powerful mutated Martial Soul Xiao Zhen had told him about.

A huge shadow suddenly loomed over him. He looked up and saw a massive black pillar descending from the sky, aimed right at them.

Su Changkong had no time to think. He rushed forward and shoved Su Zhen away. Seeing Su Zhen hit a tree trunk and pass out, he couldn't help worrying that he'd used too much force. What if Su Zhen didn't die beneath the pillar, but died at his own hands instead?

"You dare, villain!"

A furious shout rang out from above. Su Changkong saw Su Zhen's unconscious body covered by a golden barrier. He knew his Zhen'er was safe—someone had saved him.

He knew the person who had shouted was the one who'd protected Zhen'er. He wanted to thank him, but when he looked up, all he saw was the massive black pillar. He couldn't find him.

Just when life was about to get better, it's all fallen apart again. I won't get to enjoy it, but Zhen'er and Ming'er will take good care of Xiu Lian. I have no regrets.

Su Changkong took one last look at Su Zhen, unconscious in the distance, and smiled faintly.

"Thank you."

His lips parted slightly as he thanked the golden barrier. His voice was very soft.

The Clear Sky Hammer came crashing down, striking the ground and sending wave after wave of dark red shockwaves spreading outward. Houses were flung into the air one after another, and the villagers were not spared either. The dark red shockwaves seemed to possess supreme power; when they struck people, they stripped away their flesh, exposing stark white bones.

"Tang Hao, you're a disgrace as a son!"

"Fifth Soul Skill, Holy Sword!"

A sword beam slashed into Tang Hao, who was caught off guard, leaving a hideous wound across his back. Tang Hao spat blood and surged forward, using the force of the attack to flee at once.

Qian Daoliu was furious. He hadn't expected Tang Hao to attack ordinary people, much less destroy an entire village. He didn't go after Tang Hao—or rather, he didn't want to keep pursuing him.

He had sensed the aura of a god in Tang Hao's attack. It was faint, but he had served the Angel God for years and could not mistake it. A god's shadow lay behind this matter. Reason told him he couldn't keep pressing Tang Hao. Who knew what other mad thing he might do?

Qian Daoliu slowly descended from the sky and looked over the village's horrific state. He couldn't help clenching his fists, but then he relaxed them. Matters involving deities were beyond his ability to interfere with.

He came to Su Zhen and looked down at the unconscious child with pity. Tang Hao's attack had come too suddenly, and he hadn't had time to react. He could only save this small figure who'd been shoved away. He sensed a trace of aura within the child's body—an aura filled with destruction, yet also tinged with holiness. This child's Martial Soul had to be powerful. An anomaly of this scale could only have been caused by a super Martial Soul, or even a god-level Martial Soul. That was the main reason he'd saved Su Zhen.

Su Zhen slowly opened his eyes. His head throbbed painfully, and he sat up, rubbing it.

"Hiss~"

"Ow, that hurts. Dad, why'd you shove me away? I hit a tree. Huh? That's strange. Why isn't there a bump on my head?"

"Because I used Soul Power to heal your injury."

Su Zhen heard the unfamiliar voice and quickly looked up at the middle-aged man sitting not far away.

"Uncle, who are you? Where is this?"

Su Zhen first asked who the man was, then looked around. The place was a scene of rubble and ruin, yet it stirred a sense of familiarity in him.

"My name is Qian Daoliu. I'm the Great Enshrined of Spirit Hall."

"The Great Enshrined of Spirit Hall? So this is Spirit Hall? It doesn't look like much. Uncle Shi lied when he told me Spirit Hall was the best place on the whole continent."

Su Zhen didn't know what had happened earlier. He thought Shi Heng had brought him to Spirit Hall while he was unconscious.

"Little one, this isn't Spirit Hall. Take another good look. Where are you?"

Qian Daoliu wasn't angered by Su Zhen's misunderstanding about Spirit Hall. He simply gestured for him to take a closer look.

After hearing Qian Daoliu's words, Su Zhen carefully examined the ruins.

Why are so many of these collapsed houses made of wood? This place looks a lot like Hound Village. There's a huge pit up ahead. What a waste, leaving so many broken bones in it. Doesn't this village have any dogs? Huh, what's this?

Su Zhen spotted something and jumped into the pit ahead. He picked up a palm-sized scrap of cloth from a bone. A white lotus was embroidered on it. The stitching was crooked, but it was still recognizable as a lotus.

"This is the lotus Mom embroidered. Why is it here?"

Su Zhen shot to his feet and looked around. A thought that frightened him crept into his mind. The collapsed houses, the enormous pit, the scattered broken bones, the snapped trees—trees!

Su Zhen jumped back into the pit and started searching through the broken bones. His searching hand suddenly froze as he uncovered a wooden hairpin. It was ugly and plain, with a lotus carved into it. Cracks ran all over it.

"No, no, this can't be real. It can't!"

Su Zhen fell to the ground and struggled backward.

He recognized the hairpin. It was a birthday present Dad was going to give Mom in a few days. He'd seen Dad carving it by the river, and Dad had made him promise to keep it secret. It was a surprise for Mom.

Su Zhen threw himself forward and clutched the hairpin and broken bones to his chest.

"Ahhhhhhh!"

Su Zhen burst into tears, his whole body trembling. Scalding tears fell, wetting the hairpin and broken bones.

"Dad!"