Tang Hao Fought Desperately, but the Sacrifice Came in the End

Violent power enveloped the Clear Sky Hammer and spread around Tang Hao, forming an invisible barrier that protected him.

Boom!

A thunderous collision rang out. Flower, ghost, and god slammed viciously into the great hammer, and a torrent of energy ravaged the area.

Even as the Clear Sky Sect's foremost talent, and even after using the divine technique Ring Detonation, Tang Hao could not withstand their combined attack head-on. Tremendous force rebounded through his Martial Soul.

"Watch my Chaotic Cloak!"

Tang Hao showed no panic despite being at a disadvantage. He used the rebound to spin, turning the force sent back at him into his own power before striking again.

Each swing was fiercer than the last, each blow more overwhelming.

If your strength exceeded his, he would use it to build the power behind his hammer.

If it fell short, his blow would leave you reeling, still within the hammer's reach.

That was the true essence of the Disorder Splitting Wind Hammer. It did not build power from nothing; it borrowed the opponent's attacks. Interrupting it was almost impossible.

Clash! Clash! Clash!

Qian Xunji, Chrysanthemum Guan, and Gui Mei soon realized what was happening. Their faces darkened.

A massive chrysanthemum took the next blow head-on, but Chrysanthemum Guan was driven back more than ten meters.

"Your Holiness, this won't work. If Tang Hao keeps building power, even the three of us together might not be his match."

The towering Angel God Statue unleashed dazzling sacred sword beams, only for the enormous black hammer to smash them all with ease.

The shattered beams dissolved into points of light drifting through the air.

"Then we'll hit him with more power than he can withstand at once and break his momentum."

Qian Xunji, the Pope, quickly found his answer. His Sixth Soul Ring flashed.

"Angel Holy Light!"

Brilliant light enveloped the statue, intensifying its divine might.

The giant sword of light met the black hammer head-on. This time, they were evenly matched.

But that was only the beginning.

As Chrysanthemum Guan's Soul Ring flashed, an enormous chrysanthemum rose from the ground once more, then broke apart in midair.

A massive orange beam erupted from the scattering petals and struck the Clear Sky Hammer.

Gui Mei was an agility-type Titled Douluo and lacked that kind of overwhelming attack power. He could only circle Tang Hao, waiting for a chance to land a fatal blow.

The powerful assault broke through. Tang Hao's Chaotic Cloak was forced to stop accumulating power, and he stumbled backward again and again.

Each step left cracks in the ground as he channeled nearly all the violent recoil into the earth.

No wonder Tang Chen had once been called "Invincible on the Ground." He had exploited the terrain beneath his feet to its utmost.

Tang Hao raised his head, his hands trembling. His face remained impassive, though a trickle of blood ran from the corner of his mouth.

The giant Angel soared overhead, looking down at Tang Hao as he struggled to resist.

"I hadn't intended to kill you. If you had obediently handed over that Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast, we would have left.

"But you surprised me, Tang Hao. Facing three Titled Douluo head-on as a mere Soul Douluo is impressive.

"That makes today the day you die! Spirit Hall will never allow another Tang Chen to emerge from the Clear Sky Sect!"

The cold declaration came with a flood of white light. An immense domain engulfed all four combatants.

Gui Mei and Chrysanthemum Guan grew stronger within it, while Tang Hao was suppressed even further.

At the same time, the commotion behind him made his heart sink.

Dense Blue Silver Grass grew wildly, draining the earth of its fertility.

Huge vines lashed out at the other Spirit Hall fighters, but Ah Yin could not hold off so many enemies. She soon began to lose ground, and even her Blue Silver Domain could not save her.

"You forced me to do this!"

A bitter smile crossed Tang Hao's face. Without another moment's hesitation, he detonated his last three Ten Thousand Year Soul Rings at once.

The power that had ebbed away returned, surging higher than before.

The white patterns on his hammer blazed. Their icy light collided with Qian Xunji's Angel Domain, each pressing against the other.

But the price Tang Hao paid was terrible. The power unleashed by Ring Detonation was not easily endured. His body was already ravaged within, and without some extraordinary stroke of fortune, he would likely never reach the rank of Titled Douluo.

Blood streamed from all seven of Tang Hao's facial orifices. Yet despite his desperate burst of power, he did not keep fighting the three Titled Douluo. He turned and charged toward Ah Yin.

"He's trying to escape with that Soul Beast!"

Gui Mei reacted first to the Pope's warning.

His figure flickered, and icy ghost claws swept toward every vital point on Tang Hao's body.

Tang Hao merely swung the Clear Sky Hammer through empty air. Its tyrannical force churned the space around them, forcing Gui Mei into view. Waiting for him was a Clear Sky Hammer that had swollen to two hundred meters long and ten meters across.

Had Gui Mei reacted a fraction slower, he would have died beneath it.

Even so, the distortion caused by that tremendous force shook his internal organs. He spat a mouthful of blood mixed with tiny fragments of flesh.

If not for his deep cultivation and unusual Martial Soul, a weaker Titled Douluo would have been gravely wounded, if not killed outright.

Tang Hao paid him no further attention. Having driven off the nuisance, he turned and blocked an attack from behind with one swing, using its force to accelerate again.

Tang Hao knew exactly what he had to do. The power gained from Ring Detonation would not last. Rather than waste it battling three Titled Douluo, he would sacrifice his life to carve an escape route for his wife and son.

Big Brother, I'm sorry. If there's another life, I'll still be your younger brother.

Father, I'm sorry. I've failed to live up to your hopes.

Clear Sky Sect, forgive me. I may bring trouble upon you. I'm a sinner against the sect.

These thoughts passed through Tang Hao's mind, but his eyes only grew brighter.

I may be guilty, but I have no regrets.

Every Spirit Hall fighter in Tang Hao's path was swept aside like fallen leaves in an autumn wind. None could resist him.

Soon he saw Ah Yin, pale-faced in her blue dress, fighting three Soul Saints. Blood marked the corner of her mouth. Already wounded and having only just given birth, she was in grave danger.

"Die!"

Tang Hao's face went cold. Three hammer blows flashed past, and the Soul Saints surrounding Ah Yin burst into clouds of blood.

He appeared beside her and caught her swaying body. Before he could speak, his beloved cried out.

"Brother Hao, what happened to you?"

Ah Yin looked weak and plainly injured. Tang Hao looked as though he might drop dead at any moment.

His clothes were soaked in his own blood, and blood covered his face, making him a terrifying sight.

Tang Hao gripped Ah Yin's shoulders with bloodied hands, strangely calm in the face of their desperate plight.

"Ah Yin, listen to me. Your identity has been exposed. Three Titled Douluo from Spirit Hall are coming to kill you. I've dealt with the others. Take our son and go. Ring Detonation has given me enough power to hold them off for a while. Once you're safely away, I'll escape and find you both."

Ah Yin's answer was simple.

Brilliant blue light enveloped Tang Hao. His eyes widened in horror as a blood-red Soul Ring appeared around his wife.

He tried to stop her, but the power of the world's laws held him fast.

Ah Yin's gentle voice, full of life, reached his ears.

"Brother Hao, I'm sorry. I can't go on with you. When I learned that Titled Douluo were chasing us, I'm sorry, but I had my doubts. I wondered whether the Clear Sky Sect was behind it, whether you wanted my Soul Ring and Soul Bone.

"Please forgive a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast for being wary. What you've done has made me ashamed of doubting you.

"Brother Hao, I'm sorry. Though I'm a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast, I truly love you.

"I know you're lying to me. I'm the Blue Silver Emperor. I command life force, and my sense for life is extraordinary.

"I may understand the state of your body better than you do. You won't escape the pursuit. I'm afraid that when this burst of power fades, you'll die.

"Even if I run, Spirit Hall will still hunt me down. Only if you become a Titled Douluo can you protect our child.

"Take my Soul Ring. Leave my Soul Bone for our child.

"I'm grateful I met you. If there is another life, I hope we meet again."

Blood slid from the corners of Tang Hao's eyes. He opened his mouth to speak, but no sound came out.

There was no grief greater than a broken heart. When Tang Hao had learned that Ah Yin was a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast in human form, it would have been a lie to say he felt no temptation. But in the end, his feelings had won out, and he had chosen her as his wife.

Today's sudden calamity had laid his heart bare. For Ah Yin, what did death matter?

His resolve had held firm against his pursuers, only to be shattered by Ah Yin's final words.

It was hard enough for a top Soul Master to resist the temptation of a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast. For a Soul Beast in human form to reveal her identity to a powerful human was harder still.

Today, their love reached its height. Today, they were parted.

Ah Yin's body slowly turned insubstantial. She took one last, lingering look at the burly man before her, then dissolved into the blood-red Soul Ring and merged with Tang Hao.

The blue domain gradually faded. Dazzling Soul Rings rose one by one beneath Tang Hao's feet.

Yellow, yellow, purple, purple, black, black, black, black, red...

The Soul Rings flashed in sequence, and an overwhelming pressure erupted from Tang Hao.

"Ah Yin!"

His roar surged out as the sacrificial domain dispersed, sending waves of air through the dust and sand.

The three Titled Douluo hovering outside the domain looked grim. Bound by its laws, they could only watch the Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast that had been almost within their grasp vanish.

P.S. Thanks to DR True Red K, Brother Jing's Golden Hits, reader 20251003093817176, reader 20210519171505553, Li Yufa, reader 20170709004852881, reader 20190219152221283, Shule Er, and 52HERTZ929 for their recommendation votes.