Tang Ling Makes a Move

Tang Hao took a deep breath, just about to summon the Clear Sky Hammer.

A hand gently rested on his shoulder.

The hand exerted barely any force, light as a feather, yet Tang Hao's movements came to an abrupt halt. His body trembled involuntarily. It was the crushing suppression of a higher level, a shudder from the depths of his soul.

"I'll do it."

A calm voice sounded behind him.

At some point, Tang Ling had appeared at the entrance of the blacksmith shop. He was still dressed in that simple azure robe, still wearing that same unhurried expression.

The six Spirit Hall experts all turned toward the young man who had suddenly appeared.

The white-robed old man at their head frowned. "Who are you? Spirit Hall is conducting business. Outsiders—get lost."

The instant the final word left his mouth, his sixth soul ring lit up, and immense pressure surged toward Tang Ling like an avalanche.

Then, nothing happened.

Tang Ling did not even raise his eyelids. The pressure, enough to crush a Soul Emperor, vanished without a trace upon reaching within three feet of him, like a clay ox sinking into the sea.

"Hm?" For the first time, the old man's expression changed.

He began scrutinizing the young man before him, trying to sense fluctuations in his soul power, but he sensed nothing.

There was no soul power on this person. But that was impossible. How could someone without soul power ignore his pressure?

"Attack together!"

The old man possessed extensive combat experience and made his decision the instant he realized something was wrong.

All six of their soul rings lit up at once, and six attacks of different attributes blasted toward Tang Ling from every direction.

Tang Ling finally moved.

He raised his right hand, extended his index finger, and lightly tapped the air.

Just one tap.

There were no soul power fluctuations, no dazzling visual effects. Yet with that single tap, all six attacks froze in midair.

As though invisible hands had seized them by the throat, those soul skills capable of destroying an entire town simply stopped in the air, unable to advance another inch.

The next moment, Tang Ling lightly flicked his index finger.

"Bang—!"

The six attacks exploded simultaneously, turning into fragments of light that filled the sky.

The six Spirit Hall experts all spat blood, their bodies flying backward like kites with severed strings. They crashed heavily into the ground dozens of meters away, leaving behind six deep craters.

One strike. Just one strike.

Two Titled Douluo and four Soul Sages were all severely injured and knocked to the ground.

Tang Ling withdrew his finger and stood with his hands behind his back. His gaze swept over the six struggling figures at the bottoms of the craters, his tone calm. "Go back and tell your Pope that as long as I am in Holy Soul Village, there is no need for anyone from Spirit Hall to come again."

The white-robed old man struggled up from the crater, blood staining the corner of his mouth, his eyes filled with horror.

He opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but in the end, he did not dare utter a word.

Gritting his teeth, he took out a teleportation soul tool from his robes and vanished into the light with the other five.

Tang Ling looked in the direction they had disappeared and shook his head.

"Too weak," he muttered to himself before turning back toward his own courtyard.

Behind him, Tang Hao held Tang San, his entire body frozen like a stone statue. His eyes remained fixed on the retreating figure in the azure robe. His lips moved, but no sound came out.

He knew Tang Ling was strong, but he had never imagined he could be this strong.

He had crushed six Spirit Hall experts in a single strike, including two Titled Douluo. Even Tang Hao at his peak had been nowhere near such power.

Just who was this man called Tang Ling?

In Tang Hao's arms, Tang San's eyes were wide open, his tiny body trembling slightly.

He had witnessed that scene with his own eyes.

From beginning to end, only a few breaths had passed. That man had merely flicked a finger, and all six experts had been severely injured.

The unknown could sometimes be more terrifying than fear itself.

"System!!! Who exactly is this person?!"

[System Notification: Reassessing... Assessment result updated. The target's strength far exceeds the upper limit of Soul Land's current power system. However, host, please rest assured. The system has confirmed that this expert bears no direct grudge against the host. Based on an analysis of his actions, this expert's purpose in settling here is also unrelated to the host.]

Unrelated to the host.

Tang San repeatedly chewed over those four words, forcing his racing heart to calm down.

In his mind, he replayed Tang Ling's attack frame by frame: that tap, that flick, that effortless posture...

This was what a true powerhouse looked like.

Tang San secretly clenched his little fists. One day, I will become a powerhouse like him too. No, I'll become even stronger than him. Once I awaken my martial soul, once the system gives me the optimal cultivation plan, I'll make everyone look up to me.

But at this moment, he still did not know that the power behind Tang Ling's flick had been far greater than what he had seen.

Spirit Hall Headquarters, Papal Hall.

The white-robed elder knelt on the ground, covered in blood, and reported everything that had happened in Holy Soul Village in full detail.

Pope Bibi Dong sat upon her lofty papal throne. After hearing the report, she remained silent for a very, very long time.

"One strike, crushing two Titled Douluo and four Soul Sages?"

Her voice was soft, yet everyone in the hall could feel the gravity within it.

"Y-Yes..." The white-robed elder lowered his head, not daring to raise it. "That person also said that as long as he was in Holy Soul Village, there was no need for anyone from Spirit Hall to go there again."

"Outrageous!" A red-robed bishop roared. "Your Holiness, please allow this subordinate to lead men—"

"Shut up." Bibi Dong cut him off, her voice cold as ice.

The entire hall fell deathly silent.

Bibi Dong rose and walked to the window, gazing toward the southwest with profound eyes.

After a moment, she turned around and made her decision.

"Within a hundred-mile radius of Holy Soul Village shall be designated a forbidden zone. No one may enter without authorization. Those who disobey will be killed without mercy."

The red-robed bishops exchanged looks, scarcely believing their ears. Spirit Hall, the most powerful force on Soul Land, was actually retreating because of a single person's words?

"Your Holiness!"

"I said, anyone." Bibi Dong's gaze swept across everyone present. Every person she looked at involuntarily lowered their head.

She returned to the papal throne, her fingers lightly tapping the armrest.

One strike had crushed six powerful figures, including two Titled Douluo.

Such a person had long surpassed the level of an ordinary Titled Douluo. A level ninety-nine Ultimate Douluo? Or...

She did not dare think further.

But one thing was certain: Spirit Hall could not afford to provoke someone like that, at least not for now. Rather than antagonize an enemy whose depths were unknown, it was better to focus first on completing the Soul Hunting Plan.

After Spirit Hall's shadow retreated, Holy Soul Village returned to its former tranquility.

However, the villagers' gazes toward Tang Ling had changed from kindness to reverence. Whenever Old Jack passed by Tang Ling's courtyard, he would unconsciously lighten his footsteps, even breathing with caution.

Tang Hao's attitude, however, underwent a subtle change.

Early the next morning, Tang Hao brought Tang San and knocked on Tang Ling's door.

He carried a jug of home-brewed wine. Though it was nothing good, in this blacksmith's household that was poor as dirt, it was already the most presentable thing he could offer.

"Thank you for yesterday." Tang Hao set the wine on the table. His tone was stiff, but the gratitude in his eyes could not be concealed.

Tang Ling glanced at the jug of wine and nodded. "Sit."

Tang Hao sat down and opened his mouth, as though he had much to say but did not know where to begin. He remained silent for quite some time before finally asking the question that had lingered in his heart for so long.

"Who exactly are you, sir?"

Tang Ling's hand holding the teacup paused.

He looked into Tang Hao's eyes and saw the deep confusion and unease within them.

This man had once been one of the strongest figures on Soul Land. The name Clear Sky Douluo had once made countless people tremble in fear.

But now, he was merely a wounded and downtrodden father, hiding from place to place with his son.

Tang Ling suddenly felt that it was time to tell him something.

"My surname is Tang." Tang Ling put down his teacup, his tone calm. "My given name is Ling. Tang as in Tang Sect, Ling as in soaring clouds."

Tang Hao froze for a moment. Tang Sect? He had never heard of it.

But Tang San, lying in the cradle, felt his entire body turn ice-cold the instant he heard that name.