Tang Hao Had No Escape

Holy Soul Village!

When Old Jack saw this group of important figures from Spirit Hall clad in magnificent robes, his legs went weak. Aside from forcing a smile, he could not even utter a single word.

The person in charge of Notting City's branch, Ma Xiu Nuo, respectfully said before Qiangu Aoshi:

"My lord, this is Holy Soul Village. The child named Tang San had his martial soul awakened here by Su Yuntao, a white-clad deacon from our Notting City branch."

Although Golden Crocodile, Azure Luan, and the others were present, Qian Daoliu had specifically appointed Qiangu Aoshi to lead the team. Thus, Qiangu Aoshi was the one in charge.

Qiangu Aoshi fixed Old Jack with a piercing gaze and put on a show as he asked:

"Village Chief Old Jack, there is no need to be afraid. We of Spirit Hall will not make things difficult for the innocent, so long as you truthfully tell us everything you know."

"Did your Holy Soul Village once take in a burly man named Tang Hao? He was also a fairly skilled blacksmith."

Old Jack was no reclusive master. His legs had already gone weak from fright, and when Qiangu Aoshi questioned him, he spilled everything he knew like pouring beans from a jar.

"Y-yes, that was twelve years ago. Tang Hao arrived in Holy Soul Village wearing nothing but tattered clothes, carrying a little baby in his arms."

"We pitied him, so we let him stay in the village. He was a blacksmith too, and his skills were excellent. The farming tools he made simply would not break, no matter how they were used."

Golden Crocodile, Azure Luan, and the other six worshippers' eyes lit up. Everything matched. This was indeed Tang Hao, the Clear Sky Douluo.

"Where is Tang Hao now?"

Old Jack jumped at the shouted question and stammered:

"He left. After Tang San began school six years ago, Tang Hao departed without saying goodbye. We don't know where he went."

Golden Crocodile furrowed his brows.

"Outrageous! Tang Hao hid in Holy Soul Village for six years. Why did the people from the Notting City branch not report it?"

Ma Xiu Nuo's legs gave out, and he was about to kneel and beg forgiveness.

Qiangu Aoshi waved a hand, telling him to step back.

"Uncle Golden Crocodile, although Tang Hao has left, he lived in Holy Soul Village for so many years. He must have left traces behind."

"Immediately search throughout Holy Soul Village and its surroundings, especially the mountain behind the village. Anything inconvenient for him to do in the village, he would surely have done in that deserted back mountain."

Azure Luan nodded approvingly.

"Second Brother, Aoshi is right."

"Tang Hao raised a child in the village, but if he wanted to cultivate, he would definitely have gone to the back mountain. Let us search there for clues."

Golden Crocodile swept his gaze over the back mountain. Amid those layered peaks, he seemed to already see Tang Hao hiding within.

"Then let us set out and conduct a thorough search of the back mountain."

As soon as he finished speaking, Golden Crocodile, Azure Luan, Lion, Light Feather, Thousand Jun, and Demon Subduing led the red-robed and black-robed bishops toward the back mountain.

At this moment, Old Jack regretted everything to death. Had he known, he never would have taken Tang Hao in.

From the look of things, Tang Hao was likely a major criminal wanted by Spirit Hall.

Ma Xiu Nuo was equally uneasy. He was so close to retirement, yet something like this had happened.

Still, the Notting City branch truly had been negligent. Every year, they sent white-clad deacons to Holy Soul Village to awaken martial souls, yet every year, no one reported Tang Hao. Tang Hao had not even changed his name and was still working as a blacksmith.

Qiangu Aoshi was not worried in the slightest. He knew Tang Hao was in a cave in the back mountain of Holy Soul Village. With the six worshippers acting this time, Tang Hao would not escape.

Before long, a terrifying aura that made the surrounding mountains tremble erupted from the back mountain of Holy Soul Village.

Qiangu Aoshi chuckled softly.

"Looks like they found him. Tang Hao truly never left."

"Zhuqing, let us go as well."

Only then did Qiangu Aoshi lead Zhu Zhuqing toward the heart of the battle.

Above the back mountain!

Tang Hao's eyes were wide as bells, and disbelief still lingered on his rough, unshaven face.

"How did you find me?"

Golden Crocodile was both shocked and delighted. He had thought Tang Hao must have left, and that finding any clues related to him today would already have made the trip worthwhile.

Yet!

The moment their spiritual power swept across the back mountain, Tang Hao had revealed himself.

"The net of Heaven is vast, and nothing slips through!"

"Tang Hao, you traitor to mankind, your crimes are unforgivable! You consorted with soul beasts and murdered the former Pope. Today, you have no chance of escape. Return with us to Spirit Hall to face judgment!"

Tang Hao gripped a dark crimson Clear Sky Hammer. Two yellow, two purple, four black, and one red soul rings pulsed around him. Roaring like a beast, he swung his hammer at Golden Crocodile.

"Don't even think about it!"

"Ah Yin and I truly loved each other. What does it matter whether she was human or beast? Qian Xunji wanted to harm Ah Yin, so he deserved to die! How could you old fossils of Spirit Hall understand the greatness of love?"

Golden Crocodile lashed out with his golden crocodile tail, sending Tang Hao flying with a single strike. He sneered mockingly.

"What fucking love? You were merely blinded by beauty."

"Tang Hao, look at the nine soul rings on your body. Which one was not obtained by hunting soul beasts? You claim to love soul beasts, yet I have never seen you stop hunting them."

"That Ah Yin of yours merely wore a human shell. A soul beast is a soul beast. Once a soul beast, always a soul beast!"

"And as for you, you have been utterly bewitched by a soul beast. You are foolish beyond measure."

Tang Hao's eyes turned bloodshot as he panted heavily.

"I will not allow you to insult Ah Yin!"

Killing God Domain!

Bone-chilling white light capable of freezing souls rapidly spread in every direction.

Golden Crocodile, Azure Luan, and the other six worshippers were inevitably affected to some degree, their bodies stiffening for an instant.

The killing intent raised Tang Hao's aura to its peak.

His seventh and ninth soul rings suddenly lit up.

Seventh Soul Skill, Haotian True Body!

Ninth Soul Skill, Haotian Strike!

The dark crimson patterns on the Clear Sky Hammer blazed with light as it expanded into a colossal hammer a hundred meters long. Dark crimson arcs of lightning flashed across it, twisting and collapsing the surrounding air.

It looked overwhelmingly imposing, but when Golden Crocodile, Azure Luan, Lion, Light Feather, Thousand Jun, and Demon Subduing joined forces and struck together, the entire sky seemed to explode into a black hole.

Tang Hao's Clear Sky Hammer was blasted away and smashed into his own body. Blood spewed from his mouth as he plummeted toward the valley below.

The Killing God Domain was indeed one of Tang Hao's core trump cards for defeating stronger opponents.

But everyone he faced today was an old powerhouse of the soul master world, each having experienced countless battles throughout their lives. That bit of killing intent could not frighten them at all.

Setting aside the Killing God Domain, Tang Hao possessed only rank 94 soul power.

Golden Crocodile possessed rank 98 soul power!

Azure Luan possessed rank 97 soul power!

Lion possessed rank 97 soul power!

Light Feather, Thousand Jun, and Demon Subduing all possessed rank 96 soul power!

Tang Hao would have struggled greatly against any one of them, much less their combined attack.

Just like this...

Once Golden Crocodile, Azure Luan, and the other six worshippers grew even slightly serious, Tang Hao was severely wounded by a single strike.

As he fell into the valley, the violent force shredded the flowers, grass, and trees to pieces. The earth cracked inch by inch, exploding into a huge crater dozens of meters wide.