A blue barrier enclosed Ah Yin and Tang Hao.
Inside, Blue Silver Grass burst through the ground and grew wildly.
"No! Ah Yin! I failed to protect you! I'm sorry! Ah Yin! Don't go!"
Tang Hao's despairing cries rang out, mournful and far-reaching. They were like the long howl of an ape, or a cuckoo weeping blood.
Alas, no matter how loudly he called, he couldn't rouse the gods above to descend and save the star-crossed lovers!
The sacrifice had begun!
Pure blue-gold light encircled Tang Hao, while Blue Silver Grass gently caressed his forehead.
Ah Yin's body turned to starlight and slowly faded away, like fireworks—brilliant, yet fleeting.
In that instant, her graceful figure was etched into Tang Hao's heart, never to fade.
In the end, she had loved him with all her heart!
"Hao, goodbye. Take good care of our son. Let's name him Tang San."
"No! Ah Yin! Don't go! Ah Yin!..."
A crimson Soul Ring coalesced, and all the wounds on Tang Hao's body were completely healed.
Ah Yin had sacrificed everything.
What was love, that it could make two people pledge their lives to each other...
The full might of a Titled Douluo was now on display. Tang Hao leapt to his feet like a wrathful Vajra, then glared up at Qian Xunji, eyes bulging with rage.
"Qian Xunji! You deserve to die! Give me back Ah Yin!"
"Ring Detonation! Great Sumeru Hammer!"
Tang Hao swung the Clear Sky Hammer and charged at Qian Xunji, ready to fight to the death. Today, he would trade his life for Qian Xunji's!
Seeing the wolfish look in Tang Hao's eyes, Qian Xunji—a level 96 Super Douluo—actually faltered, despite being six levels above his opponent.
As Tang Hao attacked with reckless abandon, Qian Xunji grew fearful too. Caught off guard, he took a blow from the Great Sumeru Hammer to the chest.
He was sent flying more than ten meters, only stopping when he crashed into an earthen wall.
"Pfft!" Qian Xunji spat out a mouthful of blood. This Clear Sky secret art was truly formidable.
Qian Xunji was injured, and his fear only deepened. Even the hand gripping the Angel Holy Sword trembled three times.
Before he could think it over, Tang Hao came at him like a mad dog, swinging his hammer toward Qian Xunji's head.
Qian Xunji didn't immediately use his six-level advantage to fight back. Instead, he chose to evade the attack.
But Tang Hao was determined to fight him to the death. When his hammer missed, he clenched his left fist and slammed it into Qian Xunji's chest.
Qian Xunji took the punch head-on and spat out another mouthful of blood.
Only then did he remember that he could fly and had the advantage of controlling the skies.
He activated his Martial Soul Avatar, took to the air, and prepared to launch an aerial assault on Tang Hao.
With control of the skies, Qian Xunji quickly gained the upper hand and began to wear Tang Hao down.
Tang Hao managed to land a few attacks, but he was clearly suffering worse injuries.
Then, the Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring beneath Tang Hao's feet unleashed its power.
Even in death, Ah Yin was still protecting Tang Hao!
The Blue Silver Emperor Soul Ring's Ninth Soul Skill: Blue Silver Protection.
Blue Silver Protection began healing Tang Hao's wounds, allowing him to briefly fight Qian Xunji to a standstill.
With the Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring bolstering him, Tang Hao now had the confidence to outlast Qian Xunji.
They traded blows, steadily draining each other's Soul Power. In the end, Tang Hao had a slight edge.
Qian Xunji no longer had enough Soul Power to stay airborne, while Tang Hao was nearly exhausted as well.
With neither man having any Soul Power left, they resorted to the Soul Masters' most primitive way of fighting—hand-to-hand combat!
Driven mad by Tang Hao's murderous intent, Qian Xunji stopped holding back. He resolved to fight Tang Hao to the death!
Both men attacked with their most primitive fighting instincts, throwing themselves at each other with everything they had.
After all those years as Pope, Qian Xunji's martial skills had grown rusty, and he gradually fell behind.
Fueled by hatred, Tang Hao pushed his body beyond its limits, all for the strength to swing his hammer a few more times. He was going to kill Qian Xunji!
The hammer came down, carrying Tang Hao's resolve to avenge Ah Yin and an unparalleled killing intent!
In the end, Qian Xunji lost his nerve. Facing the blow, he no longer had the courage to resist and tried to step back and dodge.
But alas! He had already exhausted his strength. His legs felt as heavy as lead, and he couldn't even lift them.
By the time he thought to raise the Angel Holy Sword to block, it was too late.
Qian Xunji took the blow head-on. Every meridian in his body snapped, and his heart was crushed.
Just as Tang Hao was about to bring down one last blow and finish Qian Xunji off, voices came from afar.
"Big Brother!" "Your Holiness!" "Where are you?"
Tang Hao froze for a moment, then hurriedly gathered Ah Yin's possessions—the Blue Silver Emperor Right Leg Bone and the Seed of Life she had left behind. Finally, he picked up Tang San and fled in a panic.
Chrysanthemum Douluo, Ghost Douluo, Qianjun Douluo, Jiangmo Douluo, and Qian Xunqian searched as they shouted.
When they heard a noise in the distance, they hurried toward it.
Unfortunately, by the time the five arrived, only Qian Xunji remained, his breath faint.
Qian Xunqian hurried over and lifted him up, using her Second Soul Skill and Seventh Soul Skill to heal him.
"It's no use. Tang Hao crushed my heart. There's no saving me! Don't waste your Soul Power. Go after Tang Hao. He... cough, cough! He went that way!"
Qian Xunqian gave a signal, sending the powerful Qianjun and Jiangmo after him. She left Chrysanthemum and Ghost behind to protect them, in case Tang Hao made a desperate return attack.
"Little Sister... Big Brother wronged you... I was jealous of your talent! Your brilliance! Cough, cough! Jealous that everyone liked you so much, that the people of Spirit City cherished you! I..."
Qian Xunqian sighed. "Big Brother, don't say any more. Please, don't."
"I just wanted to prove myself for once. Why is that so hard? It seems I, Qian Xunji, really am a worthless man! Hahahaha..."
"Big Brother! You're not worthless! You... you were just too stubborn... Sigh—"
"Little Sister, apologize to Father for me, and to Yun'er and Xue'er... I... I'm sorry to them..."
"All right, all right! Big Brother, don't say any more! Your body can't hold on much longer! Hang on. As long as you're still breathing, we'll find Divine Doctor Ye. There's still hope!"
"I don't expect them to forgive me. I only hope you'll promise your brother, Little Sister, that you'll inherit the position of Pope. You're a thousand times more capable than I am. You can surely lead Spirit Hall to greater heights!"
"Big Brother!" Qian Xunqian was now in floods of tears.
"Little Sister, I need to hear you promise me with my own ears! Otherwise, I'll die with regrets!"
"Fine! Fine! I promise! Sigh—"
"Good! Good! Now I can go in peace. I'm leaving Xue'er in your care..."
At last, Qian Xunji breathed his last. He slowly closed his eyes and departed, carrying endless remorse and regret...
Qian Xunqian wiped away her tears, took a deep breath, and issued orders to Qianjun and Jiangmo Douluo:
"Qianjun Douluo, immediately send a message to the two elders, Chrysanthemum and Ghost, telling them to return. Jiangmo Douluo, go ahead to Spirit Hall and inform the elders that the Pope has been assassinated!"
"We... we'll take Your Holiness back to Spirit Hall! Take the Pope home, home!"