Deep within Spirit Hall.
In a hidden underground chamber where sunlight had never reached, year after year,
countless ancient books and stone tablets filled the room, and the air was thick with a musty smell.
At the center of the chamber sat an old man dressed in a gray robe.
His hair had turned completely white, and his face was covered in countless wrinkles. He looked utterly worn out.
And yet.
If the upper echelons of Spirit Hall had been there, they would have been too shocked to speak.
For that old man was none other than the Great Enshrined of Spirit Hall, Qian Daoliu—the man who should have died during Qian Renxue's godhood ceremony!
At that moment, Qian Daoliu was silently watching the Sky Screen in the sky through a small opening above the chamber.
Watching the reward Chen Xin had received, he couldn't help letting out a sigh.
"What a pity."
"Chen Xin truly is an astonishing talent."
"Back then, I considered many times trying to bring him over to Spirit Hall."
"Unfortunately, his resolve was too unyielding, and the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's feud with us ran too deep."
Qian Daoliu lowered his head and looked at his trembling hands.
There was nothing inside him.
Not a trace of Soul Power.
He was now nothing but a cripple, weaker even than an ordinary person.
A bleak, bitter smile touched Qian Daoliu's lips.
He should have died.
As the Angel God's representative, his fate was to offer up his life as a sacrifice and open the gates to godhood for Qian Renxue.
On the day Qian Renxue became a god, he had indeed prepared himself to die.
But just as he was about to offer his soul and life to the Angel Divine Raiment,
everything changed.
A mysterious man suddenly tore through space and appeared inside the Angel Holy Temple.
The man wore a simple blue robe.
With only a casual wave of his hand, he forcibly interrupted the sacrificial ceremony.
Qian Daoliu still remembered the man's words as clearly as if he'd just heard them.
"I'm Xue'er's husband."
The man looked at him.
"Xue'er doesn't need you to pave her path to godhood with your life."
"I'll give her something better."
"As for you, just live quietly and watch her reach the summit."
After saying that, the man left with Qian Renxue.
Qian Daoliu had survived, but the price of forcibly interrupting the sacrifice was the shattering of his Martial Soul and the loss of all his Soul Power.
He had become a complete cripple.
"Xue'er..."
Qian Daoliu gazed at the sky beyond the window and murmured to himself.
His heart held both worry and relief.
Though he didn't know who the man claiming to be Qian Renxue's husband really was,
he could sense that the man meant her no harm.
"As long as Xue'er is all right, what does it matter whether an old man like me lives or dies?"
Qian Daoliu sighed, slowly closed his eyes, and vanished once more into the darkness of the chamber.
The Heaven Dou Empire's military camp.
Dai Mubai strode up to Tang San.
"Third Brother, we're all ready now."
"The Heaven Dou Army's morale is high, and Senior Sword's strength has surged. Our side has reached the peak of its power."
His eyes gleamed with fervor.
"We can attack the Spirit Hall Empire at any time."
"In my opinion, we should give the order right now and throw every soldier into an all-out assault on Jialing Pass!"
"Before Spirit Hall can react, we'll wipe them out in one fell swoop!"
At Dai Mubai's words, the surrounding generals voiced their agreement.
"That's right, Alliance Leader. This opportunity won't last!"
"After seeing what Senior Sword went through back then, every one of us is itching for a fight!"
"Spirit Hall's lot must pay for their blood debt!"
Everyone clamored to fight, their spirits soaring.
Tang San looked at the battle-hungry crowd and took a deep breath.
He slammed the Seagod Trident in his hand against the ground.
Boom!
A vast yet gentle blue ripple spread out, and the noisy command tent fell silent at once.
Tang San looked at everyone and slowly nodded.
"Good."
"Since everyone is eager to fight and the time is right,"
"hear my order: assemble the entire army and march at once. We'll storm Jialing Pass!"
"In this battle, we'll bring the Spirit Hall Empire's rule to an end!"
"Yes!"
Everyone roared in unison, their voices deafening.
At the same time.
Above the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect,
the clear sky suddenly rippled with an unusual shade of blue.
The ripples spread like waves across water, carrying a rich breath of life.
Then,
an invisible hand tore open the void.
A tall, slender figure slowly stepped through.
It was Tang Xiao.
He stood high in the air, his black hair whipping in the wind.
A faint, shimmering blue light radiated from him, reflecting the enormous Sky Screen above.
At that moment,
every plant within a hundred miles—especially the Blue Silver Grass growing wild in the mountains—seemed to sense the arrival of their sovereign.
They all bent toward Tang Xiao, swaying gently.
A faint, sweet fragrance filled the air.
Tang Xiao closed his eyes.
His powerful divine sense spread out like an invisible net, covering the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect below.
In an instant,
he sensed his mother Ah Yin's presence in a secluded valley in the rear mountains.
There was no mistaking that feeling of blood connection.
However,
before he could breathe a sigh of relief, his expression darkened.
Through his divine sense,
he could tell that his mother's presence was weak, and that some force had bound her in place.
That force was like a heavy mountain, suppressing her life force and preventing her from contacting the outside world.
"This power..."
Tang Xiao's eyes snapped open, a piercing chill flashing deep within them.
"Tang Hao."
He gritted his teeth as he spat out the name.
As Tang Hao's eldest son, how could he fail to recognize the power of the Clear Sky Hammer?
"You abandoned me in the wilderness for your own selfish desires."
"And now you're tormenting Mother with this kind of trick!"
Tang Xiao's voice was calm, but the space around him began to warp.
Meanwhile.
The main hall of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect was filled with celebration.
Ning Fengzhi sat at the head of the room, unable to hide his joy.
"Congratulations, Uncle Jian! My congratulations!"
Ning Fengzhi raised the teacup before him and spoke excitedly:
"Not only have you recovered from your injuries and regrown your right arm, but the Heavenly Dao has also bestowed upon you a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring and Level 98 cultivation."
"This is the greatest celebration our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect has seen in a hundred years!"
Chen Xin sat nearby.
He looked at his perfectly restored right arm, a faint smile on his face.
"Fengzhi, this truly is a heaven-sent opportunity."
Chen Xin gently stroked the Heavenly Dao Seven Kill Sword at his side, feeling the surging sword intent it carried.
"With this power, I'll be able to help Xiao San destroy Spirit Hall on the battlefield!"
"And repay them for the arm I lost all those years ago!"
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