Want to Lay a Hand on A Yin? First Ask Whether My Clear Sky Hammer Agrees!

A Yin was in despair. If she had known this would happen, then when she first met Tang Xiao and Tang Hao, she would never have accepted their invitation to travel the continent with them.

She should have stayed hidden deep in the mountains and forests, cultivated until reaching the Mature Stage after her rebirth, and only then emerged.

If she were at the Mature Stage now, even standing before Qian Xunji, he would not be able to tell that she was a soul beast!

"Let's go. Since His Holiness the Pope wants to see us, we have no choice. Let's go and see what he wants."

Tang Xiao rose to his feet and looked at the other two. "The former Pope of Spirit Hall had some mysterious agreement with our Clear Sky Sect's ancestor, Tang Chen. I imagine that, at least openly, the current Pope will not go too far. As long as we show proper courtesy, there should not be any danger."

Tang Hao also stood up, his expression somewhat grave. Then he looked at A Yin, his gaze so tender it practically dripped affection, and his voice was unbelievably gentle.

"A Yin, don't be afraid! Although Spirit Hall can be overbearing and cold-blooded in its usual conduct, they are not a force that slaughters innocents indiscriminately."

"Even if they really intend to do something to us, with my brother and me here, we will definitely keep you safe!"

A Yin did not want to speak at all, nor did she want to pay Tang Hao any attention. Keep me safe? If a fight really breaks out, my identity will be exposed...

In a secluded, shadowy forest not far from the town, Qian Xunji stood with his hands behind his back, quietly waiting for the three of them.

Soon, rustling footsteps sounded. Tang Xiao, Tang Hao, and A Yin, who had her head lowered, entered the forest and stopped not far from Qian Xunji.

"Tang Xiao of the Clear Sky Sect greets Your Holiness the Pope! May I ask why Your Holiness has condescended to come to such a remote place and specifically summoned my brother and me? Do you have any instructions for us?"

Tang Xiao stepped forward first and gave Qian Xunji a slight bow with impeccable propriety. His tone was neither servile nor arrogant, and his etiquette was flawless.

Although their Clear Sky Sect was the number one sect under heaven, he knew his own limitations. Their ancestor's whereabouts were currently unknown, and the entire sect relied on his father, a single Titled Douluo, to hold it together.

At such an awkward time, the Clear Sky Sect simply had no standing to clash with a behemoth like Spirit Hall.

The Clear Sky Sect's illustrious reputation had all been earned by their ancestor alone. It was Tang Chen who was powerful, not the Clear Sky Sect itself!

The Clear Sky Sect now had only one Titled Douluo, while Spirit Hall... Titled Douluo were practically everywhere. They did not know how many were hidden away, but there were already seven Titled elders known to the public!

Therefore, all he could do was try his best not to offend the Pope before him, lest he bring an undeserved disaster upon his sect!

Compared with Tang Xiao's proper and courteous manner, Tang Hao, as the younger brother, appeared far more arrogant.

He merely gave Qian Xunji a cold nod. He could not even be bothered to perform a clasped-hands salute, and his gaze carried a defiant edge.

He had always felt that Spirit Hall's Pope had come with ill intentions today. There was no need to give Qian Xunji any pleasant expression!

As for A Yin, she trembled as she hid behind Tang Hao's burly body, nearly shrinking herself into invisibility.

"Hehe... Don't be nervous, don't be nervous."

Seeing the three of them acting as though they faced a great enemy, Qian Xunji could not help but chuckle. He did not take Tang Hao's discourtesy to heart.

He said warmly, "Although Spirit Hall's conduct over the years has earned us a reputation for being overbearing, we are still reasonable. How could we suddenly attack two juniors traveling the continent without any cause?"

"Spirit Hall is not the enemy of your Clear Sky Sect. On the contrary, Spirit Hall is the guardian of continental order. Your Clear Sky Sect knows very well what we do!"

Qian Xunji smiled faintly. "I merely happened to pass through this place today with nothing better to do. I happened to encounter you, so I came over to take a look. As for the reason? You will learn it after some time..."

Upon hearing this, Tang Xiao and Tang Hao's taut nerves relaxed slightly, though they still remained wary.

Tang Hao tilted his head slightly and secretly winked at A Yin behind him, as though saying, See, A Yin! Even Spirit Hall's Pope does not dare attack us casually! This is the prestige of our Clear Sky Sect!

How could A Yin possibly have the leisure to pay attention to that fool Tang Hao at a time like this?

She did not believe that Spirit Hall's Pope had come all this way simply because he was bored. He definitely had a purpose!

Even if he truly had only happened to pass by, the moment she appeared before Qian Xunji, her identity had already been exposed. The only reason he had not acted against her yet was that the time had not come to make his move.

"The Twin Stars of Clear Sky, Tang Xiao and Tang Hao, your names have echoed throughout the continent over the past five years!"

"Everyone says that the Clear Sky Sect will have two Douluo in one generation in the future, and that you will surely recreate the glory of Tang Chen's era!" Qian Xunji said with an amused look in his eyes. "Now that I have seen you, your reputations are indeed well deserved!"

"Perhaps one day in the future, even I, the Pope, will have to associate with you as equals..."

"Your Holiness overpraises us. My brother and I have merely just entered the Low-Rank Soul Douluo and High-Rank Soul Saint realms."

"We are still far from becoming Titled Douluo. And if Spirit Hall had not maintained the order of the entire soul master world, we would not have dared to travel the continent so freely."

Although Tang Xiao was quite pleased inwardly, his instincts told him that this matter was definitely not as simple as it appeared.

"Of course, of course! The rank of Titled Douluo will be nothing more than something in our pockets for my brother and me in the future!"

Unlike Tang Xiao's humility, Tang Hao was clearly not so low-key. He practically wished Qian Xunji would say a few more things like that.

Seeing his younger brother act so arrogant and rude, Tang Xiao's brow gradually furrowed, and displeasure rose in his heart.

Over five years of training, his younger brother's soul power had improved rapidly, but his understanding of how to conduct himself around others still seemed severely lacking.

"However..." Qian Xunji's previously gentle smile vanished in an instant. "My purpose in coming here today was only incidentally to befriend the two outstanding talents of the Clear Sky Sect. My true purpose is her..."

As he spoke, Qian Xunji slowly raised his hand and pointed directly at the blue-haired girl hiding behind Tang Hao. The mutual flattery was over; it was time to get to the point!

"A Yin?" Tang Xiao's expression changed drastically. "Does Your Holiness not know that A Yin is a wanted criminal of Spirit Hall?"

"Not at all." Qian Xunji said blandly, "She is not wanted by Spirit Hall, nor has she ever offended Spirit Hall."

"Then why..." Tang Xiao had not even finished speaking when Tang Hao's face darkened.

Boom...

With a flash of black light, an enormous pitch-black warhammer instantly appeared in his hand, while seven soul rings rose from beneath his feet.

"Qian Xunji, although you are the Pope of Spirit Hall, A Yin is our friend! If you want to lay a hand on her in front of me, first ask whether the Clear Sky Hammer in my hand agrees!"

Tang Hao's muscles bulged as he shielded A Yin behind him. Like an enraged lion, he roared at Qian Xunji.

He gave no thought at all to what consequences attacking Spirit Hall's Pope here today might bring upon their sect!

"What a reckless brute..." Qian Xunji said helplessly.

A Yin had never expected Tang Hao to protect her so fiercely. She was deeply moved, but what could that change?

It was nothing more than an egg striking a stone... His opponent was a Titled Douluo!