Qian Xunyi

Tang Chen practically forced himself into the sect and made his way to the council hall. Once they had left Spirit Hall's sight, and with only his son Tang Zhen and grandsons Tang Hao and Tang Xiao remaining in the room, Tang Chen could no longer hold on. His dark, burly body dropped to its knees, and he spat out a mouthful of old blood.

"Father!" "Grandfather!"

Tang Chen reached out and grabbed Tang Zhen. With Tang Zhen's support, he sat down in the grand chair and replied weakly, "It's nothing. This is the side effect of Ring Detonation. A period of rest will be enough."

Only then did Tang Zhen and his two sons breathe a sigh of relief.

Tang Chen continued, "What do you have to say about this year's duel?"

"Grandfather, you were incredible! Qian Daoliu was no match for you." The young Tang Hao looked at his grandfather with shining eyes, his face full of admiration.

Tang Chen said, "Of course. Qian Daoliu only attained the rank of Peerless Douluo by riding on his ancestors' legacy. As for me, I cultivated the Clear Sky Hammer step by step. How could he compare to your grandfather? But—"

Tang Chen changed the subject. "The Angel Martial Soul truly is troublesome. If I hadn't reached an agreement with Qian Daoliu beforehand, today's match would likely have ended badly. In terms of martial soul quality, the Clear Sky Hammer cannot compare to the Angel Martial Soul."

"Divine-Grade Martial Soul... Divine-Grade Martial Soul..." Tang Chen murmured, a trace of longing flashing through his eyes.

He extended his callused hand and stroked his two grandsons' heads, then said sternly to Tang Zhen, "Son, do you remember the agreement your old man made with your senior Bo Saixi on Sea God Island?"

"I remember, Father."

Tang Chen nodded. "That is also why I made Qian Daoliu agree to this today. I plan to set out in search of the path to godhood. Aside from fulfilling my agreement with Saixi, it is also for the Clear Sky Sect—"

"Back then, the Angel God suppressed the evil forces of the world and gathered the continent's faith to ascend to godhood. The Divine-Grade Angel Martial Soul passed down through the generations allowed Spirit Hall's Angel Clan to stand firm on the continent for tens of thousands of years. I, Tang Chen, have never considered myself inferior to anyone. Level 99 is already the end of a soul master's path. Next, I will win this ten-thousand-year foundation of godhood for our Tang Clan as well." Tang Chen's eyes burned, as though becoming a god was already within his grasp.

Tang Hao and Tang Xiao's eyes gleamed. Tang Hao said proudly, "Grandfather, the Angel God merely got lucky. He lived in an era when evil soul masters ran rampant, which gave him the opportunity to become a god. You are no worse than the Qian Household's ancestor. You will definitely become a god too."

"Good grandson, you're right. Grandfather will turn our Clear Sky Hammer into a God-Level Martial Soul too, so that the disciples of our Clear Sky Sect can pass it down through every generation." Tang Chen spoke excitedly.

After saying that, he turned to Tang Zhen. "While I am gone, all sect affairs will be entrusted to you. Remember, you may look down on Spirit Hall in your hearts, but outward appearances must still be maintained. While I am away, Qian Daoliu will be the strongest man on the continent. The Clear Sky Sect must shrink its sphere of influence and restrain those arrogant disciples under you. Avoid provoking Spirit Hall whenever possible. If you do provoke them, retreat to the Clear Sky Sect Mountains. Do not fight to the death."

Tang Zhen nodded. "Yes, Father."

Tang Chen said, "Qian Daoliu is a man who keeps his promises. He will not make things too difficult for us. As for Qian Xunji—" At the mention of him, Tang Chen's voice carried a hint of disdain. "His father is a formidable man, but he is worthless. There is no need to pay him any attention. But his other son, Qian Xunyi—" Tang Chen frowned tightly. "That man gives me the feeling of a sword hidden in its sheath, waiting for the moment it is drawn. He must not be underestimated!"

Qian Xunyi rarely displayed his abilities, so Tang Chen did not know his true strength. Yet his instincts told him that this man was no simple figure.

Tang Xiao said disdainfully, "No matter how strong he is, can he be stronger than his father, Qian Daoliu? Qian Daoliu is your stepping stone, Grandfather. Then that man will become a stepping stone for Hao and me in the future."

Tang Hao also wore an eager expression.

Tang Chen smiled and stroked them. "Well said. Young people, Spirit Hall will be left for you young people to deal with. You are the future of our Clear Sky Sect."

Afterward, Tang Chen gave further instructions regarding sect affairs, then passed down secret techniques he had created, such as the Great Sumeru Hammer. He then departed alone in search of godhood. From that point onward, Tang Chen vanished without a trace.

Within the Star Dou Great Forest.

Qian Daoliu stood in the air, standing guard for Qian Xunyi.

Meanwhile, Qian Xunyi relied on his level 90 Soul Douluo strength to battle a 150,000-Year Soul Beast.

Qian Xunyi activated his Angel Martial Soul. Notably, the soul power surrounding his Angel shone purple-gold, while the weapon he wielded was not the Angel Sacred Sword, but a spear.

His opponent was—

The World-Devouring Insect Emperor, a rare soul beast capable of devouring space, creating wormholes, and controlling spatial attributes. Its strength was comparable to that of a level 96 Title Douluo.

What it feared was an unfathomably powerful expert like Qian Daoliu. It had originally intended to create a wormhole and flee, but when it saw a mere human Soul Douluo recklessly challenging it at the peak of its strength, it was enraged.

The intelligent World-Devouring Insect Emperor decided to capture this human as a hostage and use him to threaten that unfathomable human.

However, once the battle began, the Insect Emperor was utterly stunned.

The moment the Tyrant Angel Domain opened, forty percent of its strength was directly suppressed. Its soul power was also suppressed and assimilated. In just a few moves, the Angel Tyrant Spear severed several of its limbs, and the spear tip easily pierced its soul power barrier before passing through its body.

This... is this really a Soul Douluo? Are you sure he isn't a human Super Douluo above level 97?

After testing him, the Insect Emperor lost its nerve. It immediately unleashed its life-saving ability, Spatial Jump.

Just as it was about to activate it, a golden wave of soul power descended and suppressed it, interrupting the ability—Qian Daoliu had acted.

At the same time, a black Soul Ring surrounded the purple-gold Angel. The Angel raised its spear with both hands and aimed it at the Insect Emperor's core.

"Fifth Soul Skill, Angel Overlord Spear."

The Angel's spear pierced through the Insect Emperor's core, killing it.

A blood-red Soul Ring rose from the Insect Emperor's corpse.

"Absorb it in peace. I will stand guard for you," Qian Daoliu said with his hands behind his back.

Qian Xunyi nodded, drew the Soul Ring over, and began absorbing it in peace.

Qian Daoliu watched his second son sit cross-legged and quietly absorb the Soul Ring. As he looked at the purple-gold Angel, so clearly different from the Angel Clan's inherited martial soul, his eyes held both gratification and regret.

Compared to Qian Xunji, Qian Daoliu valued Qian Xunyi more. In the past, Qian Xunyi had inherited his looks as well, with a head of golden hair and a traditional Angel Martial Soul. His talent was so exceptional that even being chosen by the Angel God as the next inheritor of the Angel God would not have been excessive.

But unfortunately—