"Come forth, Martial Soul!"
Tang Hao roared and suddenly clenched his right hand.
A massive black iron hammer appeared out of thin air in his palm.
However, under the baptism of golden light, the originally pitch-black Clear Sky Hammer began to change rapidly.
Its rough surface became exquisitely crafted, and ancient dark-gold patterns intertwined and spread across the hammerhead, faintly converging into the image of a colossal god who towered between heaven and earth.
More and more golden runes appeared around the handle, radiating an air of absolute supremacy.
This was no longer an ordinary Clear Sky Hammer, but the evolved Supreme Clear Sky Hammer!
At last, an arm bone radiating dazzling red light and brimming with power slowly fused into Tang Hao's left arm amid the golden light.
Boom!
Tang Hao threw a punch, and the violent force tore a pitch-black rift through the space before him.
"Power! This is the power of Level 98!"
Tang Hao looked at his hands, feeling the divine power surging within him. Arrogance and smug satisfaction filled his eyes to the brim.
"Qian Daoliu, Bibi Dong, and that so-called Blue Silver Empire—you'd better wait for me!"
"I, Tang Hao, am the ruler of this world!"
Meanwhile, at the Heaven Dou Allied Forces' camp.
As golden rain poured down from the Sky Screen, along with rewards that left everyone stunned,
Tang San, whose face had been dark with gloom, finally burst into laughter.
"Good! This is wonderful!"
Tang San clenched his fists, excitement flashing in his eyes.
"Father has broken through to Level 98, his Martial Soul has evolved into the Supreme Clear Sky Hammer, and he's obtained a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bone!"
"With this kind of strength, who on Douluo Continent could possibly stand against my father, aside from those at Level 99?"
His voice brimmed with pride and smug satisfaction.
All the gloom of before vanished in an instant.
In his eyes, his father growing stronger meant his own forces growing stronger.
With such a nearly invincible father at his side, his Tang Sect and his Heaven Dou Allied Forces would be unassailable.
Beside him, Yu Xiaogang was flushed with excitement. He waved the feather fan in his hand nonstop and laughed aloud.
"Hahaha, worthy of the Clear Sky Douluo!"
"A Level 98 Supreme Clear Sky Hammer, combined with the Great Sumeru Hammer and the divine Ring Detonation technique, would be more than enough to fight a Level 99 Peerless Douluo!"
"Xiao San, your father's breakthrough is simply wonderful news for us!"
Flender, Zhao Wuji, and the other powerful members of Shrek Academy were delighted as well, chiming in one after another.
"That's right! Let's see how the Spirit Hall Empire can possibly fight us now!"
"Hahaha, His Excellency Haotian is mighty!"
The oppressive atmosphere in the entire Heaven Dou Allied Forces' camp swept away, replaced by laughter and wild celebration.
In their eyes, with Tang Hao now a terrifying powerhouse, the outcome of this great battle was no longer in doubt.
The dazzling golden pillar of light on the horizon gradually faded, but the shock brought by the Heavenly Dao Gold List lingered above the entire continent.
The cheers from the Heaven Dou Allied Forces' camp seemed to carry through the void, while Tang Hao's wild laughter after breaking through to Level 98 rang in everyone's ears as if he were standing among them.
Yet on the Sun Moon Continent, thousands of miles away, the atmosphere inside the Blue Silver Temple was heavy.
Ah Yin sat quietly in a chair carved from blue crystal, watching the images on the Sky Screen slowly fade. Her hands clutched the hem of her clothes.
Her knuckles had gone white from gripping so tightly, and she could not hide the worry in her eyes.
"Level 98... Supreme Clear Sky Hammer..."
Ah Yin murmured softly, her voice trembling.
She turned to look at her eldest son beside her, whose expression remained composed, and the worry in her eyes deepened.
"Xiao'er, that man's strength has actually reached such a level."
"Back then, he was willing to do anything to achieve his ends. Now that the Heavenly Dao has rewarded him and made him even stronger, he probably has few rivals left on Douluo Continent."
"If he learns that you rescued me and built such a vast empire, he'll never let it go."
As she spoke, Ah Yin rose and walked over to Tang Xiao, taking his hand.
"Mother doesn't want you to put yourself in danger because of me. Now that he has the Supreme Clear Sky Hammer and a hundred-thousand-year divine bone, his strength is too frightening."
Looking at his mother's face, etched with worry, Tang Xiao remained composed.
He gently patted the back of her hand. A warm, pure force flowed into Ah Yin, instantly soothing the anxiety in her heart.
"Mother, you're worrying too much."
Tang Xiao's voice was calm, without the slightest ripple.
"In your eyes, a Peak Douluo at Level 98 might be a towering mountain."
"But to me, he's nothing more than a slightly stronger insect crawling on the ground."
"Forget Level 98. Even if he ascended to godhood today, it would make no difference before me."
He spoke calmly, yet his steady composure put everyone at ease.
"I've already crossed beyond the limits of mortals and entered the realm of a God King."
"My cultivation is measured in millions of years."
"How could a mortal who has never even touched the divine level possibly harm me?"
A gentle smile appeared on Tang Xiao's face, like a spring breeze sweeping away the lingering gloom in the temple.
Seeing this, Zhong Lingyue also stepped forward lightly.
She held out a steaming cup of spirit tea to Ah Yin and gently reassured her.
"Mother, His Majesty is right. You've only just returned and don't yet know his true strength."
"On the Sun Moon Continent, His Majesty is the supreme god, ruler over all living things."
"I've served His Majesty for many years and seen countless self-proclaimed powerhouses, but he is the strongest man I've ever known."
"That Tang Hao may have some ability, but before His Majesty, he's no more than a drop in the ocean—nothing worth mentioning."
Zhong Lingyue's voice was clear and sweet, full of admiration for Tang Xiao.
Looking at the two young people before her and feeling their confidence radiating from within, Ah Yin's anxious heart finally began to settle.
She took the spirit tea and sipped it. The warm liquid slid down her throat, turning into pure energy that nourished her meridians.
"The strongest man..."
Ah Yin looked at Tang Xiao's tall, straight figure, pride passing through her eyes.
He was her son, her eldest child, whom she had risked her life to bring into the world. Now he had grown into an extraordinary powerhouse who could hold up the heavens.
Tang Xiao smiled slightly and turned to look at his mother.
"Mother, set aside those worldly concerns for now. The most important reason I brought you back today is to recreate your body."
"Your current body is only a temporary shell, formed from my life essence. It can't contain your original soul for long."
"Next, I'll create a true divine body for you, so you can escape the shackles of the past."
Ah Yin paused.
"A divine body? But my cultivation was completely exhausted when I sacrificed myself back then..."
Tang Xiao gently shook his head.
"With me here, cultivation and godhood are both within easy reach."
As he spoke, he held out his right hand to Ah Yin.
"Mother, come with me."
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