"No, honored elders!!"
Qian Daoliu's heart twisted in anguish as he watched five of the elders get killed just like that.
"Don't worry. You'll all be joining them soon enough!" Haimala stepped forward with the Sea God Trident in hand and spoke calmly.
At that moment, Qian Pocheng returned to the warship with Murong Chayue and the other person. Seeing the corpses of the four elders, he, too, was overcome with grief.
"Father, Mother!!"
When Murong Fuhai saw that the two of them had passed out, he hurried to their side and examined them. Their condition was identical to what Qian Pocheng had found earlier. Murong Fuhai's eyes instantly became bloodshot.
Qian Pocheng glanced at Haimala, then at Murong Fuhai, and said:
"Fuhai..."
Hearing Qian Pocheng's words, Murong Fuhai nodded firmly. He gently laid the two of them down, drew a deep breath, his eyes bloodshot, then turned and rose into the sky. Soul Power surged around him as he roared:
"Black Flame Army, form the array!!"
"Yes!!"
At his words, the thirty thousand soldiers of the Black Flame Army immediately formed a Three-Star Star Array. A vast mass of Soul Power gathered above Murong Fuhai.
"Ahhh!!!"
Murong Fuhai poured all his remaining Soul Power into it, then channeled the energy of the thirty thousand soldiers and himself into Qian Pocheng's body.
As Qian Pocheng received the energy, his aura surged, breaking straight through the level-ninety-nine limit.
The Angel God Mark between Qian Pocheng's brows shone with golden light. He strode through the air and raised a hand.
"Come, sword—"
In the Worship Hall of Spirit Hall, before the Angel God Statue, a holy sword radiating sacred golden light seemed to feel some kind of summons. It suddenly leaped from its scabbard, flew out of the Worship Hall, and streaked across the sky at an unfathomable speed, heading toward the sea.
In Star Dome Valley, Murong Huai stood guard over the sword. Watching the slash cut across the sky, he murmured:
"So things really have come to this. Grandfather, Grandmother, Father, you must come back..."
The Angel God's own sword—the Angel Holy Sword—streaked across the sky, crossed the continent, and flew over the boundless sea to Sea God Island, where it fell into Qian Pocheng's hand.
Qian Pocheng's aura suddenly surged. The Six-Winged Angel behind him transformed into golden streams of light and attached themselves to his body.
Murong Fuhai dropped from the sky and landed on one knee on the warship, coughing up black blood. Just moments ago, he had gathered all the remaining Soul Power of the thirty thousand Black Flame Army soldiers and poured it into Qian Pocheng, bringing him to the same Limit Douluo level as Haimala.
However, it would last only the time it took an incense stick to burn. Once that time was up, regardless of the outcome, Qian Pocheng was doomed to die.
Qian Pocheng looked at Haimala and said:
"Haimala, when you think about it, you and I were the only ones who started this battle. It was nothing more than the result of the grudge between us.
"But it led to the deaths of so many people. I, Qian Pocheng, can no longer face the Angel God, nor the soldiers who sacrificed their lives for Spirit Hall.
"Today, let us end the grudge we've carried for all these years. Let me atone to the fallen heroes of Spirit Hall!!!"
As he spoke, tremendous energy erupted from Qian Pocheng. The divine weapon—the Angel Holy Sword—radiated endless light. "Come and fight!!"
"Fine! Come on!!" Haimala was shaken by Qian Pocheng's words. Had he not felt the same way? He looked mighty now, but only he knew that he would not live long after this battle.
"Let this battle become our final resting place!!"
As the words left his mouth, Haimala, too, unleashed the strongest power he could muster.
The two soared into the sky. The Angel Holy Sword clashed with the Sea God Trident, as if they had returned to the scene of the battle between the Angel God and the Sea God a thousand years ago.
Their weapons struck together, spraying countless sparks. They moved with incredible speed, turning into streaks of light as they collided again and again in the sky. The onlookers could not make out their movements at all.
Neither held back in the slightest. This was the last battle of their lives, and they had to give it everything they had.
Their methods were fearsome, and the two divine weapons unleashed boundless power. The clouds trembled, and ripples spread through space.
The Angel Holy Sword streaked through the air, its edge glinting coldly as sacred sword intent raged across the sky, unleashing endless sword energy.
The Sea God Trident was fierce and overbearing, its power as boundless as the sea, heavy and mighty. The ocean's power poured into it; with every casual sweep came raging waves and towering surges.
"Qian Pocheng, you can't hold out much longer, can you? On the sea, I'm invincible!!"
Haimala roared as even mightier energy burst from the Sea God Trident in his hand and crashed toward Qian Pocheng. His attacks came like afterimages, giving Qian Pocheng no chance to strike back.
The boost empowering Qian Pocheng was gradually weakening. Once the time ran out, there would be no chance left to kill Haimala. Thinking of this, Qian Pocheng's Angel Holy Sword erupted with a golden beam. His ninth red Spirit Ring blazed with light and vibrated rapidly, while cracks appeared across his other eight Spirit Rings.
"Haimala, try this! Ninth Soul Skill, Angel Demon-Sealing Slash!!!"
"Sea Halberd Angry Eyes!!!"
The Angel Holy Sword and the Sea God Trident collided, unleashing a terrifying shock wave. Dazzling light burst forth, blinding everyone.
The entire sea was shrouded in golden and blue light. After several breaths, the radiance gradually faded, and the crowd's vision returned. The clouds overhead had dispersed, revealing the two figures in the sky. Everyone gazed upward, waiting anxiously.
"Is it over?"
Thud—
A drop of golden blood fell. Everyone looked up and saw that the Sea God Trident had pierced straight through Qian Pocheng's abdomen, its shaft stained with golden blood.
"Grand Worship!!"
"Father!!"
Qian Daoliu and the others were shocked. Being pierced by a divine weapon meant certain death. On the other side, Bo Saixi saw something and cried out:
"Teacher!!"
At her cry, everyone hurriedly looked over. Though the Sea God Trident had pierced Qian Pocheng's body, his right hand still gripped the Angel Holy Sword. Half the blade had sunk into Haimala's heart.
Both had been mortally wounded by divine weapons. Death was inevitable, but neither feared it. They felt only release from everything, and sorrow for the lives lost.
"Qian Pocheng, I actually knew long ago that my sister's death wasn't your fault. You were powerless to help her at the time. Though I've now slain that beast, I still couldn't let go of the hatred in my heart, and I caused so many disasters. If my sister were still here, she would probably scold me.
"Cough, cough... If I'd made different choices back then, perhaps we could have joined hands and climbed to the summit of the Soul Master World together."
Haimala coughed up blood. The hatred had vanished from his eyes, leaving them filled with memories of his youth.
"Cough, cough... Haimala, our descendants will surely fulfill our wish and reach the summit of the Soul Master World."
The two let go at the same time. The Sea God Trident and the Angel Holy Sword flew back to the Worship Hall and Sea God Island.
Golden and blue motes of light gradually appeared around Qian Pocheng and Haimala. They knew their time had come.
Qian Pocheng slowly turned to face the people of Spirit Hall. His solemn voice rang out.
"I hereby issue my final order in the name of the Grand Worship of Spirit Hall: the position of Grand Worship shall pass to the Pope, Qian Daoliu. He shall decide all matters, great and small, concerning Spirit Hall. None of my descendants of the Qian Family may attack Sea God Island.
"Daoliu, you must lead Spirit Hall in fulfilling its responsibilities, safeguarding peace across the continent and protecting the lives and safety of its people. Do your duty with all your heart."
"Father, I understand!"
"We shall obey the Grand Worship's command!!!"
"We shall obey the Grand Worship's command!!!"
The people of Spirit Hall knelt before Qian Pocheng and bowed.
"Xiao Xi, I came to my senses too late. I wasn't a good teacher, nor was I a worthy High Priest. I must go and atone to the Sea God.
"From this day forward, you shall be the High Priest of Sea God Island. I hope you'll choose a new generation of Seven Sacred Pillar Guardians and lead the people of Sea God Island in keeping the seas peaceful. Do not wage war again. Protect the people of our boundless sea." Haimala, too, turned and announced his final words.
"This disciple will heed your teachings, Teacher!"
"We shall obey the High Priest's command!"
"We shall obey the High Priest's command!"
The people of Sea God Island also bowed and accepted his command.
When all was done, Qian Daoliu and Haimala exchanged smiles. Together, they transformed into motes of light and disappeared from the sea.
Everyone present dropped to one knee and bowed to the two of them.
"We respectfully see off the Grand Worship!!!"
"We respectfully see off the High Priest!!!"
Before you continue