Spirit City.
Outside the Worship Hall.
Mighty Lion Douluo burst into laughter.
"Tang Chen is only sixth!"
"The Grand Worshipper's ranking is indeed higher than his!"
Subduing Demon Douluo slammed the Coiling Dragon Staff heavily onto the ground.
"The Grand Worshipper is the true strongest among the three Peerless Douluo."
"For all these years, the Clear Sky Sect has used Tang Chen to suppress Spirit Hall."
"Now that the Heavenly Dao Ranking has given its answer, let's see what else they have to say!"
Qian Jun Douluo looked toward the Angel God's Temple.
"If the Grand Worshipper can enter the top five, the reward he receives will surely surpass that of the Deep Sea Demonic Whale King."
"Spirit Hall may soon produce a true God Rank powerhouse."
Golden Crocodile Douluo nodded.
"Bibi Dong has already reached Level 99."
"The Grand Worshipper's strength surpasses Tang Chen's as well."
"In today's Douluo Continent, what force can still compare with Spirit Hall?"
The joy in the eyes of the Worshippers grew ever stronger.
Before the Papal Hall.
Bibi Dong also released her grip on the Rakshasa Sword.
Her relationship with Qian Daoliu had never been good.
The two had even clashed many times over Qian Renxue and control of Spirit Hall.
Yet Qian Daoliu was, after all, Spirit Hall's Grand Worshipper.
The stronger he was, the deeper Spirit Hall's foundation became.
Tang Chen had already ranked sixth.
Qian Daoliu could at least enter the top five.
Once he received the Heavenly Dao reward, Spirit Hall would possess two powerhouses far beyond ordinary Peerless Douluo.
Bibi Dong looked toward the two great empires.
The unification plan that had originally required further preparation could now be moved ahead.
The Clear Sky Sect had been without Tang Chen for many years.
The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan also had no trump card capable of contending against a Level 99 powerhouse.
Once the Supreme Ranking's review ended, Spirit Hall could begin mobilizing its Soul Master legions.
"Heaven Dou Empire."
"Star Luo Empire."
"You have occupied this continent for too long. It is time for you to be destroyed."
Slaughter City.
Deep within the Blood-Red Palace.
Tang Chen slowly raised his head from the throne.
His eyes alternated between clarity and being covered by blood-red haze.
The Nine-Headed Bat King's consciousness constantly assailed his soul.
Tang Chen raised a hand and pressed it to his forehead.
The Clear Sky Hammer appeared in his palm.
The heavy hammer handle struck the ground, sending vast cracks through the palace steps.
"The Supreme Powerhouse Ranking?"
Tang Chen saw his own name.
Sixth place.
Heavenly Dao Golden Light passed through Slaughter City's laws and shone directly into the palace.
The Nine-Headed Bat King, which had suppressed him for years, rapidly retreated deep into his body beneath the golden light.
Tang Chen's consciousness finally regained clarity.
He lowered his head and looked at his hands.
His skin was pale.
His nails were long.
His body was still filled with the killing power left behind by the Rakshasa God.
"I was actually controlled by that beast for so long."
His memories gradually returned.
He recalled the Asura God Exam.
He also recalled how, at the final step, the Rakshasa God's divine intent had interfered, allowing the Nine-Headed Bat King to seize the chance to parasitize him.
Over the years, he had never completely lost consciousness.
Yet whenever he tried to reclaim his body, the Nine-Headed Bat King would suppress him once more.
Tang Chen had once believed that he would be trapped in this blood-red city forever.
But the Heavenly Dao Ranking had given him a new opportunity.
As long as he obtained the reward, he could purge the Nine-Headed Bat King from his body.
Tang Chen looked beyond Slaughter City.
"So many years have passed."
"I wonder what the Clear Sky Sect has become."
"Have those juniors upheld the name of Clear Sky?"
He gripped the Clear Sky Hammer.
The Nine-Headed Bat King tried to seize control of his consciousness once again.
Golden light descended from the Heavenly Screen and forced that blood-red intent back.
Tang Chen straightened in his seat again.
"Once I recover."
"It will be time to return to the Clear Sky Sect and take a look."
Suotuo City.
Outside the Great Soul Arena.
The Shrek Academy group had just finished a team battle.
Tang San raised his head and looked at the name on the Heavenly Screen.
"Land Invincible."
"Clear Sky Douluo Tang Chen."
Dai Mubai rolled his wrist.
"A Level 99 Peerless Douluo."
"If such a powerhouse brought down a single hammer, even all of Suotuo City might not survive."
Ma Hongjun looked at Tang San.
"Third Brother."
"Your Clear Sky Hammer is also the Clear Sky Sect's Martial Soul."
"Could this Tang Chen be related to you?"
Tang San did not answer immediately.
He vaguely guessed that his father was the Clear Sky Douluo.
Now another Tang Chen bearing the same title had appeared.
Both were surnamed Tang.
Both possessed the Clear Sky Hammer as their Martial Soul.
There had to be a connection between them.
Tang San looked toward Ning Rongrong, who stood behind the crowd.
"Rongrong, you are from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect."
"You should know Tang Chen's origins, right?"
Ning Rongrong had only recently returned to Shrek Academy.
Ning Fengzhi had feared that she would secretly chase after him to Spirit City, so he had Gu Rong personally send her back to Suotuo City.
She had changed back into Shrek Academy's uniform.
Her short hair rested against the sides of her face, and her fair cheeks still carried a flush from the journey.
Her fitted top clung to her slender waist, while beneath her white skirt, her shapely calves stood together.
Ning Rongrong lifted her glazed eyes.
"Tang Chen was the previous Clear Sky Douluo of the Clear Sky Sect."
"He, Qian Daoliu, and Bo Saixi were known as the three Peerless Douluo."
"Many believed that he was the strongest among the three."
Oscar asked, "Then why is he only ranked sixth?"
Ning Rongrong thought of Qian Daochen.
That man in snow-white robes, who had defeated Chen Xin with a single sword strike and called a million-year Soul Beast a big fish.
Compared with Qian Daochen, Tang Chen's sixth place did not seem particularly shocking.
She quietly touched her forehead.
The spot Qian Daochen had flicked no longer hurt.
Yet that handsome face had remained in her mind.
"There are even stronger people on the Supreme Ranking."
Ning Rongrong raised her head toward the top of the ranking.
"Perhaps even Tang Chen is no match for them."
Xiao Wu noticed her expression.
"Rongrong, did you meet someone when you returned to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect this time?"
Ning Rongrong immediately lowered her hand.
"No."
"I only watched a sparring match."
Xiao Wu still wanted to press further.
But the scene on the Heavenly Screen had already begun to change.
Tang Hao, hidden atop a tall building in Suotuo City, also raised his head.
As he looked at the words Tang Chen, a trace of reminiscence appeared in his eyes.
Tang Chen was his grandfather.
He was also the strongest Clear Sky Douluo in the history of the Clear Sky Sect.
His father had mentioned countless times how Tang Chen had single-handedly upheld the Clear Sky Sect.
Tang Hao had originally believed that his grandfather had long since fallen.
He never expected him to have remained alive in Slaughter City all along.
"Grandfather."
"What exactly have you experienced all these years?"
Above the Heavenly Screen.
The blood-red city gradually faded away.
The scene returned to several decades earlier.
Amid a range of mountains, the Clear Sky Sect rose from the earth.
At that time, the Clear Sky Sect had not yet earned the title of the world's number one sect.
Outside the sect, several Titled Douluo arrived together.
Vast Soul Power pressed down upon the mountain gate.
Countless Clear Sky Sect disciples gripped their Clear Sky Hammers, their faces pale.
A figure emerged from the sect's main hall.
Tang Chen wore a black robe and carried the Clear Sky Hammer over his shoulder.
He descended the stone steps alone.
No elders followed behind him.
Nor did any sect powerhouses come to his aid.
Tang Chen stood before the mountain gate and looked up at the several Titled Douluo in the air.
"If you want to touch the Clear Sky Sect, ask the hammer in my hand first."
Nine Soul Rings rose one after another.
The final Soul Ring lit up with dark-red radiance.
The Clear Sky Hammer swelled fiercely in the wind.
Before you continue