Tang Hao: Surrounded, but on Purpose

After a sleepless night of relentless travel, Tang Hao finally reached his destination.

Barak City, the economic and political heart of the Balak Kingdom.

The Spirit Hall stationed there was a Spirit Hall Main Hall, the third tier in its hierarchy.

An eighty-second-level Soul Douluo, a cardinal, presided over the main hall.

Ordinary people would never dare act out of line there.

Today, however, the Spirit Hall Main Hall received an uninvited guest.

"Who are you, sir? How dare you barge into our Spirit Hall Main Hall?"

"Aren't you afraid His Holiness the Pope will personally issue the Continental Kill Order against you?"

The elderly speaker was slightly stooped. He wore a scarlet, gold-trimmed bishop's robe, and terrifying Soul Power radiated from his body.

Behind him stood four more cardinals and over a dozen Temple Knights, their Soul Power ablaze.

"Hahahahaha..."

"The Continental Kill Order?"

"Is this how Spirit Hall treats its guests?"

Tang Hao stood before the old man in a coarse black robe. He had not even released his Martial Soul, yet his presence overwhelmed everyone there.

With the physique and Soul Power of a Titled Douluo, who could stop him even barehanded?

But Tang Hao was like a cat toying with mice. He was in no hurry to destroy the Spirit Hall Main Hall.

His real targets were the Chrysanthemum Ghost Douluo standing behind the main hall.

"I'll warn you one last time!"

"Don't think a little strength gives you the right to challenge Spirit Hall's unfathomable legacy of ten thousand years!"

"Leave now while you still can. Otherwise, when the Chrysanthemum Ghost elders of our Spirit Hall arrive, you won't escape even if you grow wings!"

Cardinal Warren kept his composure, his gaze darkening slightly. Tang Hao's arrival did not worry him.

Just last night, Spirit Hall's two elders, Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo, had arrived in Barak City.

They were only away discussing matters with the king of the Balak Kingdom. That was how this scoundrel had slipped through!

"A Chrysanthemum and a Kid..."

"Why would I fear two pieces of trash like them?"

A contemptuous smile tugged at Tang Hao's lips.

Years ago, Pope Qian Xunji had brought those two to hunt down him and Ah Yin. Three Titled Douluo had attacked him alone.

And what had happened?

Using Ring Detonation, the secret art of the Great Sumeru Hammer among the Clear Sky Secret Techniques, he had severely wounded all three Titled Douluo on the spot.

If he had not feared that killing Qian Xunji would bring Qian Daoliu down on the Clear Sky Sect in a bloodbath, how could any of the three have left alive?

Even so, Qian Xunji had died of his wounds after returning.

Had his injuries still not healed, Tang Hao might have been wary of Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo.

But now...

Not only had his hidden injuries healed, he had also received an epic boost!

With the help of the Wish-Granting Tree Martial Soul, he even had a body capable of enduring the full force unleashed by Ring Detonation!

If Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo dared come, they would never return!

The instant his words fell, a gust of wind blew the doors open.

"What a big mouth!"

"Old Ghost and I have been famous for years. We've both long since reached level ninety-five."

"What gives you the nerve to look down on us?"

The newcomer wore white. His voice was exceedingly soft, and a faint fragrance followed his every movement.

Without turning his head, Tang Hao said evenly, "Since you've come out, Chrysanthemum, why is that Kid still hiding?"

At that, Ghost Douluo emerged as a black shadow. "Which old acquaintance has gone to such lengths to find us?" he asked hoarsely.

By then, Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo had begun to realize they were the man's true targets.

"Heh. It's only been a few years, and you've already forgotten?"

Tang Hao pulled off the black robe concealing his identity, revealing a sallow face and a tangled head of Messy Nest Hair.

"You are?"

Chrysanthemum Douluo narrowed his eyes and studied him for a long while, but could not find a familiar face in his memory.

He could hardly be blamed. The Tang Hao before him was a far cry from the once high-spirited Clear Sky Douluo.

Tang Hao's face darkened. "Clear Sky Douluo. Tang Hao," he said coldly.

"Tang Hao!"

"The legendary Clear Sky Douluo who gravely wounded and killed the previous pope?"

"The continent's former greatest genius, known alongside his elder brother as one of the Clear Sky Twin Stars!"

"They say he's also the youngest Titled Douluo on the continent today!"

Every cardinal in the Spirit Hall Main Hall blanched at the news.

Even the Chrysanthemum Ghost Douluo went on high alert!

Neither had forgotten the devastating force of his Great Sumeru Hammer's Ring Detonation!

"Tang Hao, Spirit Hall has hunted you for years, yet you dare show your face on the continent!"

"Have you finally run out of places to hide?"

"Breaking into a Spirit Hall Main Hall was bad enough, but you stayed to walk straight into our net!"

"You're surrounded. Today is the end of the road for you!"

Chrysanthemum Douluo lightly stroked the petals in his hand. Golden Soul Power burst forth, and nine Soul Rings descended one after another.

Ghost Douluo said nothing, but released his Martial Soul as well. Black Soul Power surged and roiled, as though seeking to merge with the gold.

"Surrounded? That was the whole point!"

"If I hadn't let you surround me, how else could I have lured every last one of you rats out of the gutter?"

Tang Hao's eyes turned bloodred. Divine Slaughter's Domain had opened.

A massive hammer appeared from thin air, pitch-black and covered in fine dark-gold patterns.

Nine Soul Rings rose from beneath his feet: two yellow, two purple, four black, and one red!

A crushing pressure swept outward, carrying dust with it.

"Arrogant!" Chrysanthemum Douluo shrieked.

"Arrogance takes strength, and I have plenty!" Tang Hao declared with fearless pride, lifting the Clear Sky Hammer and pointing it straight at the two level-ninety-five Titled Douluo.

That blinding red light illuminated the entire Spirit Hall Main Hall. The sight of a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring struck terror into every heart.

"Chrysanthemum! Little Ghost! Six whole years!"

"It's time you paid for what you did back then!"

"Six years ago, I used Ring Detonation to cripple Qian Xunji, and I gave up everything!"

"Six years later, I'll use Ring Detonation to take it all back!"

Tang Hao stepped into the air and roared at the heavens. Dark-red Soul Power surged around him, as if it would stain the sky with blood.

"Ninth Soul Skill: Chrysanthemums Wither, the Ground Lies Wounded, and Falling Flowers Break the Heart!"

"Ninth Soul Skill: Hell Wraiths!"

All eighteen Soul Rings belonging to Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo appeared at once. In perfect accord, both unleashed their ninth Soul Skills!

Their Martial Soul Fusion Skill was formidable, but it took too long to prepare. At this distance, they had almost no chance of pulling it off.

"Too weak! Let me show you the true Clear Sky Hammer!"

"Great Sumeru Hammer: Four Rings Detonate!"

Tang Hao's voice rang out, loud and imperious. Unbridled excitement shone in his eyes. At last, he would have his revenge!

Soul Power churned through his meridians, and blood thundered through his skull. His whole body sank into a frenzy of extreme fury.

Perhaps he was too worked up, but Tang Hao had the strange feeling his brain was about to leap out of his head.

He had no time to think about it.

Clear Sky Hammer in hand, Tang Hao charged the Chrysanthemum Ghost Douluo, intending to bring the hammer down and cripple them both in one blow.

Crack!

His two yellow and two purple Soul Rings shattered together, sending the "terrifying" energy within them into his body.

"Hm?"

Tang Hao abruptly sensed something was wrong. But by then, he had already hurtled straight into the ninth Soul Skills of two level-ninety-five Titled Douluo.