Powerful Enemies Arrive

Spirit City!

A high platform had been erected outside the city. A guillotine stood atop it, its blade glinting coldly and stained with blood. Even beneath the blazing sun, it gave off not the slightest warmth.

No one knew how many living beings had been beheaded beneath that blade for it to have accumulated such dense killing intent.

The area around the platform was packed with layers upon layers of spectators. They were all residents of Spirit City—either soul masters or relatives of soul masters, and the most devoted believers of Spirit Hall.

Noon had arrived!

Qiangu Aoshi personally led the escort, bringing Tang Hao, who had gone limp like a pile of mud, all the way to the platform where the guillotine stood.

The crowd around them buzzed with discussion.

"So this is Tang Hao? He looks like a beggar!"

"A spineless coward like him killed the previous Pope? He must have used some shameful trick!"

"Avenge the previous Pope!"

"Kill him! Kill him! Kill him!"

The cries demanding Tang Hao's death rose and fell without end.

With a wave of Qiangu Aoshi's hand, two black-robed bishops escorted Tang Hao beneath the guillotine.

Tang Hao had lost his martial soul, as well as all his soul rings and soul bones. At this moment, he did not even possess the strength to resist.

Yet his eyes remained fixed on Qiangu Aoshi from beginning to end, filled with hatred and venom. They were so red they seemed ready to bleed, while harsh gasps escaped his mouth.

"Qiangu Aoshi, you won't die a good death!"

"My grandfather won't let you go!"

"The Clear Sky Sect will surely raze Spirit Hall to the ground!"

"As long as my grandfather returns, every one of you in Spirit Hall will be buried with me!"

"I'll wait for you in hell!"

"You may have taken Ah Yin's soul ring and soul bone, but the son Ah Yin and I had will definitely avenge us! He'll tear out your tendons, skin you alive, and grind your corpse to pieces!"

"You will die! Everyone in Spirit Hall will die!"

Hearing Tang Hao's vicious curses, Qiangu Aoshi showed no reaction, but the spectators around them were already burning with rage.

Rotten eggs, spoiled vegetable leaves, and stones of every size were hurled onto the platform, striking Tang Hao's body.

"Die, Tang Hao!"

"Die, Clear Sky Sect!"

Qiangu Aoshi curled his lips. Clear Sky Sect... Heh. Today would be the Clear Sky Sect's final day. As long as they dared to come, the ground beneath Spirit City would become their burial place.

He raised his head and looked at the sky. The sun had already climbed to its highest point.

"The appointed hour has arrived. Tang Hao is guilty of heinous crimes: betraying humanity, consorting with soul beasts, and murdering the previous Pope. The evidence is conclusive, and his crimes are unforgivable. Today, he is sentenced to be beheaded. Execute him at once!"

The surrounding spectators were already eagerly awaiting the sight of Tang Hao's head falling to the ground.

But at that critical moment!

"Stay the blade!"

This was followed by a series of sharp rushing sounds.

Several figures tore through the sky, while on the ground, a full five thousand elite soul masters marched forward, making the earth tremble beneath their steps.

The tall, burly figure at the front trembled upon seeing Tang Hao's miserable state, his eyes splitting with fury. A Clear Sky Hammer condensed in his hand, and the aura of a Titled Douluo shook heaven and earth.

"Ah Hao!"

"Qiangu Aoshi, you dared harm my brother Hao! Today, I will tear you into a thousand pieces!"

"Soaring Heaven Strike!"

Tang Xiao swung his hammer. The air split apart with a sonic boom, making everyone clutch their ears in pain.

Wrapped in black light, the Clear Sky Hammer shot toward Qiangu Aoshi like a black dragon.

Qiangu Aoshi stood with his hands behind his back, utterly motionless. His calm demeanor made it seem as though he were merely out for a stroll.

At Qiangu Aoshi's side, Bibi Dong's former right-hand men, Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo, stepped forward.

"Ten Thousand Rays!"

"Ghost Gate Unleashed!"

One golden and one black beam of light, accompanied by fierce, tidal waves of energy, blasted the Clear Sky Hammer flying backward and continued sweeping toward Tang Xiao.

After consuming the Narcissus Jade-Marrow Bone and the Eight-Petal Immortal Orchid, Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo had not only reached rank 96 soul power, but their martial souls had also evolved.

Now that the two attacked together, even Tang Xiao sensed the threat of death.

It took all five elders of the Clear Sky Sect attacking together—five entire Titled Douluo—to break Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo's Ten Thousand Rays and Ghost Gate Unleashed.

Still shaken, Tang Xiao cried out:

"A chrysanthemum and a little ghost—you actually broke through to rank 96 soul power too!"

Chrysanthemum Douluo's feminine face turned icy to the extreme.

"Tang Xiao, your Clear Sky Sect has been hiding like dogs for so many years. Why have you finally decided to show yourselves today?"

Ghost Douluo's hoarse voice brimmed with killing intent.

"Your Clear Sky Sect really is something. You sealed off your mountain and secluded yourselves, yet you produced five Titled Douluo. Perfect. We can wipe you all out today and spare ourselves future trouble."

No matter how composed Tang Xiao was, seeing Tang Hao crippled had filled him with the urge to perish together with Spirit Hall.

"Who wipes out whom is still uncertain! Do you really think our Clear Sky Sect fears your Spirit Hall?"

It was still the Second Elder who raised a hand and pressed it onto Tang Xiao's shoulder, stopping his impulsive move.

"Sect Master, do not forget the main purpose of our visit. We are only here to rescue Tang Hao, not to perish together with Spirit Hall."

"Tang Hao possesses the Clear Sky Sect's ultimate arts: the Great Sumeru Hammer, the Clear Sky Nine Techniques, the Chaotic Wind Hammer Technique, and two inherited soul bones. None of these can fall into Spirit Hall's hands."

Tang Xiao gritted his teeth and forcibly endured it.

"Qiangu Aoshi, today, all three upper sects have come together. We represent half the power of the soul master world. Hand over my brother Hao, and we can leave it at that."

"Otherwise, you surely do not wish to see us perish together with Spirit Hall."

"We have eight Titled Douluo in total. Once we fight without restraint, we can overturn your entire Spirit Hall."

As soon as those words were spoken, a commotion spread through the crowd. Throughout all these years, Spirit Hall had never faced such a dangerous situation. Facing eight Titled Douluo from the three upper sects truly made many people tremble in fear.

Qiangu Aoshi stepped forward. He was only twelve years old, neither tall nor particularly sturdy, yet at this moment, he stood before everyone in Spirit Hall like a mountain, holding up the sky for them.

Empowered by soul power, his voice spread in every direction.

"Tang Xiao, it seems you have forgotten how Spirit Hall once hunted you until you could neither flee to heaven nor hide in the earth."

"All of this was because Tang Hao betrayed humanity and consorted with soul beasts. Today, all three upper sects have come to raid the execution ground."

"It seems the three upper sects have lived too comfortably these past years. You intend to use Tang Hao to collude with the soul beast race. You are cutting yourselves off from the soul master world and making enemies of all humanity!"

The Clear Sky Sect was full of reckless brutes who had trained their muscles all the way into their brains. Qiangu Aoshi's words left them speechless.

They only wanted to rescue Tang Hao. They had never intended to become enemies of all humanity.

"Bullshit!"

Tang Xiao's face flushed red, but that was all he managed to force out.

Clap, clap, clap—

Amid a burst of applause, Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect Master Ning Fengzhi flew over, carried by Bone Douluo.

"Holy Son Qian Gu truly has a sharp tongue. I greatly admire you. However, there is something you have misunderstood. We did not come here to save Tang Hao. We came for you!"