Tang Hao, You Had It Coming

The battle raged on outside the city.

Because of his hidden injuries, Tang Hao dared not use his soul skills recklessly. He could only rely on the Clear Sky Nine Absolutes and the Disorder Splitting Wind Hammer.

But Tang Hao had learned both techniques as a child, and they suited him better than soul skills.

His hammer blows grew fiercer, each strike of the Disorder Splitting Wind Hammer building on the last!

Every blow was stronger than the one before. His power mounted, doubled, then doubled again. The ferocious force of his hammer swept across the field, driving Chen Xin back step by step!

The Clear Sky Hammer lacked the Seven Kill Sword's cutting power, but its explosive force was terrifying.

Tang Hao had seemed unstoppable at first, but before long, he began to lose ground.

That brutal fighting style also placed an immense strain on his battered body.

After just a few exchanges, the hidden injuries that had lain dormant for more than a decade flared up!

His blood churned, and the taste of blood rose in his throat. A thin trickle escaped the corner of his mouth.

"Tang Hao, it's been years. You've only grown weaker."

Chen Xin lowered his sword half an inch and stood with one hand behind his back. Not a speck of dust stained his white robes. The Seven Kill Sword pointed diagonally at the ground, drops of Tang Hao's blood falling from its tip.

"If it weren't for that battle back then, do you think you'd be a match for me?"

Tang Hao wiped the blood from his mouth. His voice was hoarse.

With the extraordinary Ring Detonation and Divine Slaughter's Domain, Tang Hao had been nearly invincible among his generation.

"Is that so?"

Chen Xin's expression did not change.

[Tang Hao, you had it coming.]

[You're the perfect example of a scheme backfiring!]

[There's a good chance Tang San's mother, the Blue Silver Emperor Ah Yin, sacrificed herself because Tang Hao had planned it behind the scenes and let events take their course.]

Chen Xin raised an eyebrow.

He had not expected Tang Hao's wife to be a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast in human form, much less that Tang Hao was that kind of man.

As a Soul Master, Chen Xin understood the desire for a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring. What he could not accept was using such a vile method to get one.

What kind of man schemed against a woman, especially his own wife?

[Tang Hao's behavior before the sacrifice was suspicious from start to finish!]

[He knew the Blue Silver Emperor Ah Yin was pregnant and could be exposed at any moment, yet he still took her wandering across the continent.]

[And wouldn't you know it, Tang Hao was just one step from becoming a Titled Douluo. All he needed was to hunt a Soul Beast for his ninth Soul Ring.]

[Then, right at that moment, Qian Xunji and a group of Spirit Hall Leadership surrounded Tang Hao and Ah Yin while they were out traveling.]

[In the end, the Blue Silver Emperor Ah Yin was forced to sacrifice herself for Tang Hao. That made him the youngest Titled Douluo on the Douluo Continent—and a Clear Sky Douluo who had reached that rank with a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring.]

[Once is a coincidence. Twice could still be a coincidence. But a third time?]

Xiao Wu looked at Tang Hao with even greater disgust.

Tang Hao's ambition knew no bounds. So she was not the only one he had targeted.

She had never known the Blue Silver Emperor Ah Yin, but they were both Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beasts in human form, and Tang Hao had schemed against them both. She could not help feeling a chill at what might have been.

Unlike Ah Yin, though, Xiao Wu had been lucky. She had met her fiancé, Ning Wen.

[Too bad his scheme went too far. He suffered grievous injuries himself and dragged the Clear Sky Sect into it.]

[If that underhanded Asura hadn't intervened, Tang Hao might have died right there.]

[Tang Hao had only just become a Titled Douluo, and Tang San was still an infant. How could they possibly have escaped Qian Xunji and all those Spirit Hall experts unharmed?]

Ning Wen: "..."

Asura God, you really outdid yourself!

You threw away every shred of dignity just to pass on your divine position.

And you call yourself a god of law enforcement!

Funny, you never went to these lengths for Tang Chen.

His devotion was wasted on you after all.

Tang Chen's tragedy just keeps getting worse.

Tang Hao had no idea what had happened. He only sensed an unfamiliar contempt in Chen Xin's gaze, and his heart sank.

"Chen Xin, what's that look for?" Tang Hao tightened his grip on the Clear Sky Hammer, anger edging into his low voice.

"Nothing. I just have no respect for you."

Chen Xin smiled faintly and raised the Seven Kill Sword, pointing its blade at Tang Hao. "The Clear Sky Sect made its greatest mistake when it let you inherit the title of Clear Sky."

"You're dead!"

Chen Xin had struck a nerve. Ignoring his torn hidden injuries and roiling blood, Tang Hao summoned his nine Soul Rings. They shot up and spun rapidly above his head!

In the next instant, his first five Soul Rings, yellow, purple, and black, shuddered and shattered!

Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!

Five deafening blasts rang out in succession!

The shattered rings became a torrent of violent Soul Power, which poured into the Clear Sky Hammer in Tang Hao's hands!

The ancient black hammer swelled to ten meters across. A dark-red aura of violent energy wreathed it, and its crushing pressure swept in every direction. The air throughout the forest seemed to freeze!

His hidden injuries kept Tang Hao from detonating too many rings, but he feared too few would have no effect. So he detonated five.

"Chen Xin, take this!"

With a roar, Tang Hao shot into the air like a black meteor. He raised the giant Clear Sky Hammer in both hands and brought it crashing down toward Chen Xin's head with enough force to destroy everything in its path!

The hammer compressed the air with a dull boom, as if one blow could smash the night sky itself.

"Old Bones, now!"

Chen Xin's face turned grave as he shouted.

The moment he spoke, the air twisted and shook!

"I was waiting for you to say that!"

A shadowy figure burst through the night and landed beside Chen Xin. His form shifted unpredictably, impossible to tell from illusion. It was Bone Douluo Gu Rong!

Nine dark Soul Rings revolved around him, and his chilling Soul Power spread outward, merging at once with the sword intent of Chen Xin's Seven Kill Sword!

The famed Sword and Bone duo stood together.

[Since when did I need anyone's help?]

[Hmph. Don't think I'll owe you anything just because you decided to meddle.]

[I don't need help from anyone.]

[The moment Tang Hao comes within three feet of me, he's dead!]

[Mark my words!]

At those words, Chen Xin and Gu Rong, poised to strike, both stiffened.

We're meddling?

What do you mean, we're meddling?

Isn't that going a little too far?!

So they risked their lives to fend off danger, and the person they were protecting resented them for it?

Chen Xin's mouth twitched. For the first time, his calm expression nearly cracked.

Gu Rong looked utterly speechless.

Unbelievable!

They worked tirelessly to protect this little brat, and he wasn't grateful at all!

Worse, he thought the two of them were sticking their noses in where they didn't belong!

Where was the justice in that?

Chen Xin and Gu Rong almost wanted to turn around and leave.

The kid was just that infuriating!