Haozi: Where Is Ah Yin?

The reason Tang Hao's Clear Sky Hammer was still blue and had yet to unleash its exaggerated combat power was—

Because he wanted Ah Yin to see the desperate situation they faced. Only if she loved him deeply would she choose a Soul Beast sacrifice and offer all her cultivation to him.

Only after obtaining that cold, merciless Hundred-Thousand-Year Spirit Ring would Tang Hao choose to unleash his true, cheat-like strength.

But what could he do if Ah Yin refused to sacrifice herself?

If he revealed his trump card now, then they would no longer be in a desperate situation. Would Ah Yin still choose to sacrifice herself?

Would that cold, merciless Hundred-Thousand-Year Spirit Ring, as well as Xiao San's future position as Blue Silver Emperor, still be possible?

Golden Bell and Silver Hammer came hurtling through the air. Tang Hao blocked the shockwave from Golden Bell, but the Clear Sky Protection on his back was shattered by Silver Hammer, making him cough up another mouthful of old blood.

Qian Xunji, meanwhile, made the mistake every villain was supposed to make. Rather than press his advantage, he merely stood in the air with Angel Martial Soul behind him, striking a pose. Certain that victory was already in his grasp, he had no intention of acting and simply allowed Golden Bell and Silver Hammer to pursue Tang Hao.

With his hands behind his back, he watched Tang Hao being beaten into a miserable state, scrambling around like a rat, and said smugly, "Tang Hao, a Soul Douluo like you has no hope. Hand over that Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast obediently. That way, Spirit Hall and Clear Sky Sect can both save face."

"Qian Xunji, don't even think about it. I said it before—if you want to harm Ah Yin, you'll have to step over my corpse first." Tang Hao gritted his teeth, his gaze full of affection.

He knew Ah Yin was secretly watching everything. He hoped this heartfelt declaration would move her and make her more self-aware, prompting her to step out and sacrifice herself to him.

But she did not...

After taking another combined blow from Golden Bell and Silver Hammer, Tang Hao's Soul Power was nearly depleted.

Could it be that Ah Yin had been reborn too? Did she know he had this trump card, so she was waiting for him to use it?

But that did not make sense. Ah Yin was not supposed to be such a selfish person.

After being reborn, Ah Yin should have been even more willing to sacrifice herself to him. Only then could he obtain a Hundred-Thousand-Year Spirit Ring and better protect Xiao San. Her stepping down would also allow Xiao San to smoothly ascend the throne of Blue Silver Emperor in the future.

Could it be...

Did I really have to use my trump card?

Just as Silver Hammer's next attack descended and Tang Hao prepared to activate Divine Slaughter's Domain—

Blue Silver Emperor vines materialized out of thin air. Some wrapped around the incoming massive Silver Hammer, while others bound Golden Bell, blocking the fatal strike for Tang Hao.

Ah Yin, or rather A-Xi, emerged carrying Xiao San. She came before Tang Hao, handed Tang San to him, then said to Qian Xunji, "Let them go, and I'll go with you."

Qian Xunji looked at Ah Yin, nodded, and said, "Fine."

"Ah Yin, don't—" Tang Hao reached toward Ah Yin in grief.

Ah Yin kissed Tang Hao. Then Blue Silver Emperor vines burst from the ground, wrapping tightly around Tang Hao.

After that, Ah Yin walked step by step toward Qian Xunji. As she walked, she kept looking back at Tang Hao with deep affection.

That sight stabbed deeply into Tang Hao's heart.

Yes, Tang Hao wanted to scheme for Ah Yin's Spirit Ring, Soul Bone, and position as Blue Silver Emperor. Yet every time he witnessed this scene, deep guilt surged within him, along with an unbearable reluctance to face his own heart.

Fortunately, there was a remedy for regret. As long as Xiao San grew up, as long as Xiao San became a god—

Then Ah Yin's tenderness, Ah Yin's Spirit Ring and Soul Bone, and Xiao San's position as Blue Silver Emperor—I wanted all of them—

Just as Qian Xunji believed this Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast was already his for the taking, a blood-red glow instantly swirled around Ah Yin, or A-Xi.

"Not good, she's going to sacrifice herself!" Qian Xunji, who had been steady as a rock, immediately panicked.

He hurriedly ordered them to stop her. But Douluo Continent had one bullshit rule: a sacrificing Soul Beast would form an absolute barrier, isolating everyone outside to ensure the sacrifice could be completed smoothly.

A blood-red, cold, merciless Soul Ring condensed from the Scabby Giant Lizard... ah, no, from the Blue Silver Emperor's body.

"Ah Yin, don't—" Tang Hao looked at the blood-red, cold, merciless Hundred-Thousand-Year Spirit Ring with a grief-stricken expression. Tears filled his eyes, while beneath his sorrowful gaze lay an urgent longing.

Just like that, the blood-red Soul Ring layered itself over Tang Hao's existing rings.

With Ah Yin, or A-Xi's help, his Soul Power Level surged to level 92.

A Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bone appeared in Tang Hao's hand. In the distance, the Blue Silver Emperor Seed of Life shone with a faint glimmer of vitality.

And in a place no one noticed, a tiny Scabby Giant Lizard crawled into the grass.

"A Hundred-Thousand-Year Spirit Ring... a Title Douluo with a Hundred-Thousand-Year Spirit Ring." Golden Bell Douluo swallowed.

"Take him down while he has only just absorbed the Spirit Ring!" Qian Xunji had truly developed murderous intent this time as he gave the order.

Tang Hao possessed Innate Full Soul Power and the Clear Sky Hammer Martial Soul, and now he even had a Hundred-Thousand-Year Spirit Ring. Given time, he would become another Tang Chen. Worse, there was hatred between them. If they allowed him to keep growing, he would become a disaster for Spirit Hall.

Tang Hao stood where he was as the Blue Silver Emperor vines around him dissipated. His head was lowered, hiding his expression from view.

Suddenly, he raised his head. His eyes were red, and he panted like a bull. "Ah Yin—"

His ape-like arms spread wide as he beat his chest and let out a shrill baboon-like roar.

Divine Slaughter's Domain erupted at that moment, instantly melting away Qian Xunji's Angel Domain.

"You... all of you! You're the ones who killed Ah Yin! I'll avenge Ah Yin!"

Tang Hao activated all nine Soul Rings, with the ninth blood-red ring standing out in particular.

"We attack together," Golden Bell said to Silver Hammer Douluo.

Immediately afterward, his Golden Bell expanded as he unleashed his ninth Soul Skill—Bell Suppression Spirit Sealing!

Golden Bell grew larger and larger, ringing out with a series of clangs as it smashed toward Tang Hao.

At the same time, Silver Hammer Douluo also unleashed his ninth Soul Skill.

Ninth Soul Skill—Star River Heavenfall Hammer! Silver Hammer was hurled into the sky, where it rapidly expanded into a hundred-meter giant hammer and crashed down toward Tang Hao like a meteor.

One bell and one hammer came crashing down together.

Tang Hao gripped the Clear Sky Hammer tightly, a glint of killing intent flashing through his eyes—

For the sake of the bigger picture, he could let Qian Xunji go. But he did not mind sending these two to their deaths.

"Ninth Soul Skill—Scabby Hammer!" Tang Hao shouted instinctively, then swung the Clear Sky Hammer to meet the attack.

The moment the words left his mouth, Tang Hao realized something was wrong.

He saw pustules sprouting across the surface of the Clear Sky Hammer in his hand, which had grown to a hundred meters in size. They were densely packed, enough to give anyone with trypophobia goosebumps.

"This... this is my ninth Soul Skill?"

The Clear Sky Hammer collided with Golden Bell and Silver Hammer in midair. Empowered by the enormous boost of Divine Slaughter's Domain, Golden Bell and Silver Hammer lasted only briefly before shattering.

Then, one by one, the pustules on the Clear Sky Hammer burst open, spraying disgusting thick fluid like raindrops.

The two elders, Golden Bell and Silver Hammer, were drenched from head to toe. The highly acidic pus corroded their bodies.

"Ahhh... No, impossible..."

Golden Bell and Silver Hammer both collapsed.

In his previous life, one had died and the other had been crippled. In this life, both of them died.