The wilderness outside Slaughter City instantly fell silent.
Birds and beasts stopped moving.
Blades of grass pressed against the ground.
Even the wind in the distance stalled for a moment beneath this power.
Qian Daoliu stood at the foot of the mountain.
He watched Qian Renxue walk out through the city gates.
"Grandpa."
Qian Renxue put away the Angel Holy Sword and hurried over to him.
Qian Daoliu raised his hand to examine her body.
Golden divine power flowed through her meridians.
There were no internal injuries.
Her soul power was also very stable.
"Your Divine Slaughter's Domain has formed."
Qian Daoliu withdrew his hand.
"You did well."
Qian Renxue's eyes lit up.
"Just well?"
"Hell Road went very smoothly."
"I encountered the Nine-Headed Bat King in there."
"I also encountered a blood-colored centipede."
Qian Renxue recounted her experiences on Hell Road one by one.
She spoke very quickly.
When she reached the blood-colored centipede, she even raised her hands to indicate its size.
Qian Daoliu listened quietly until she finished.
"How did you kill the Nine-Headed Bat King in the end?"
"I cleaved it apart head-on."
Qian Renxue lifted her chin.
"Its bloodlight was powerful, but my sword was faster."
"When you encounter similar enemies in the future, don't think only about speed."
Qian Daoliu said, "Observe how it attacks first, then decide whether to confront it head-on."
"Grandpa, I'll remember."
Qian Renxue nodded.
"But this time, I wasn't injured."
Qian Daoliu glanced at the bloodstains on her clothes.
"Your clothes say otherwise."
"This blood all came from soul beasts."
Qian Renxue looked down at her sleeves.
"My wounds have all healed."
"Change when we get back."
"All right."
Qian Daoliu raised his hand and tore open space.
A golden passage unfolded before them.
Qian Renxue did not enter immediately.
She turned around and looked toward the pitch-black city.
A pale red domain radiance spread outward from beneath her feet once again.
"Divine Slaughter's Domain."
Qian Renxue said softly:
"Grandpa, this domain can suppress an enemy's soul power."
"It can also weaken their will to fight."
Qian Daoliu nodded.
"The strength of Divine Slaughter's Domain depends on your killing intent and spiritual power."
"Although you passed Hell Road, you haven't truly mastered it yet."
"From now on, you must practice controlling its range every day."
Qian Renxue withdrew her domain.
"I'll train hard."
She linked her arm through Qian Daoliu's.
"Grandpa, what will we do first when we get back to Spirit City?"
"Eat first."
The expression on Qian Renxue's face immediately relaxed.
"I want to eat your stewed meat, Grandpa."
"Of course."
"And a bowl of rice."
"All right."
"Prepare some fruit too."
Qian Daoliu turned his head.
"Didn't you get enough to eat in Slaughter City?"
"The food there was awful."
Qian Renxue gently shook her head.
"I thought about your cooking every day, Grandpa."
Qian Daoliu led her into the spatial passage.
The golden light dispersed.
The two appeared in the rear courtyard in Spirit City.
Liu Erlong had long been waiting in the courtyard.
She wore a long black dress and held warm tea in her hands.
Seeing Qian Renxue emerge, she immediately stepped forward to greet her.
"Congratulations on completing Hell Road, Young Master."
Liu Erlong had long been waiting in the courtyard.
She wore a long black dress and held warm tea in her hands.
Seeing Qian Renxue return, she immediately stepped forward to greet her.
"Congratulations on completing Hell Road, Young Master."
Qian Renxue nodded slightly.
"Has anything happened in Spirit City during this time?"
Liu Erlong handed her the tea.
"None of the three great sects have submitted."
"The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's Sword Douluo has already left the sect and is heading toward Heaven Dou City."
Qian Renxue paused as she took the teacup.
"What is he going to Heaven Dou City for?"
Footsteps sounded outside the courtyard gate.
Snake Lance Douluo strode into the rear courtyard.
He approached Qian Daoliu and bowed.
"Great Enshrined."
"The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect has discovered that Ning Rongrong is being held in a hotel in Heaven Dou City."
"Sword Douluo Chen Xin left the sect alone, intending to rescue her."
Qian Daoliu looked in the direction of Heaven Dou City.
The angel restrictive seal he had left inside the hotel had not been touched.
Ning Rongrong was still confined in the room on the top floor.
"Where is he now?"
"Less than fifty li from Heaven Dou City."
Snake Lance Douluo continued:
"The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect has not mobilized any disciples for now."
"Ning Fengzhi and Bone Douluo remain at the sect."
Qian Renxue set down her teacup.
"Grandpa, I'm going with you."
She had just completed Hell Road.
There were still several bloodstains on her gold-and-white training clothes.
Her pale red killing intent had not been fully reined in.
Qian Daoliu looked at her.
"Change first."
Qian Renxue glanced down at her cuffs.
"All right."
She turned and walked into the room.
Liu Erlong set down the tea tray.
"Senior, I'll go too."
"Ning Rongrong is the heir to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect."
"If Chen Xin doesn't get to see her, he certainly won't leave easily."
Qian Daoliu said:
"Then come along."
A short while later.
Qian Renxue changed into a long white dress.
Her long golden hair fell loosely behind her shoulders.
The Angel Holy Sword she had brought back from Slaughter City hung at her waist.
She approached Qian Daoliu and reached out to link her arm through his.
"Grandpa, we can go now."
Qian Daoliu raised his right hand.
Golden divine light enveloped the three of them.
Space parted to either side.
A golden passage leading to Heaven Dou City appeared in the courtyard.
The three stepped inside.
Heaven Dou City.
Hotel South of the City.
The hotel's main doors remained tightly shut.
No pedestrians approached from either side of the street.
Zhao Wuji and Flender had died here one after the other.
The Golden Iron Triangle had also shattered completely here.
The soul masters of Heaven Dou City already regarded this hotel as forbidden ground.
A streak of white sword light swept over from the distance.
The sword light stopped above the hotel.
Chen Xin descended from midair.
His white robes spread with the airflow.
A long, slender ancient sword floated beside him.
The words "Seven Kill" were engraved on its blade.
Chen Xin raised his head and looked toward the hotel's top floor.
He could sense Ning Rongrong's presence.
That presence was extremely faint.
A layer of powerful divine power outside also blocked his spiritual perception.
"Rongrong."
Chen Xin raised his right hand.
The Seven Kill Sword fell into his palm.
Two yellow, two purple, five black.
Nine soul rings rose from beneath his feet in succession.
His Rank 96 soul power erupted in full.
The paving stones along the street cracked at once.
Sword energy swept around the Hotel.
Yet the eaves and windows suffered no damage.
Chen Xin kept his power under control.
He did not know which room Ning Rongrong was being held in.
Recklessly destroying the Hotel could very well injure her.
"Hand Rongrong over."
No answer came from inside the Hotel.
Chen Xin walked forward.
The Seven Kill Sword touched the golden barrier outside the entrance.
Clang!
The clash of metal rang throughout the street.
A ripple spread across the golden barrier.
The Seven Kill Sword failed to penetrate even half an inch.
Chen Xin looked at the Angel God Rune before him.
This barrier was far sturdier than he had anticipated.
It was only after breaking the restrictive seal that Zhao Wuji had died at Qian Daoliu's hands.
"Seventh Soul Skill."
"Seven Kill Avatar."
His seventh soul ring lit up.
The Seven Kill Sword rapidly grew larger.
An enormous sword phantom rose into the air behind Chen Xin.
Within Heaven Dou City, countless soul masters sensed an overpowering sword intent at the same time.
Chen Xin gripped the sword with both hands.
The Seven Kill Avatar slashed down toward the Hotel's entrance.
The golden barrier lit up again.
The blade struck the center of the barrier.
Boom!
The street caved in.
The surrounding buildings shook one after another.
Dozens of fissures split the ground beneath Chen Xin's feet.
The Hotel remained undamaged.
The golden barrier covering the entrance had merely gained a faint ring of ripples.
Chen Xin took half a step back.
His gaze settled on the Six-Winged Angel God Rune.
"A single restrictive seal can block my Seven Kill Avatar."
"Has he already become this powerful?"
On the Hotel's top floor.
Ning Rongrong sat inside the Golden Cage.
Hearing the clash outside, she immediately rose from the floor.
Her long white dress had become creased.
Her once-neat short hair had also fallen loose around her face.
Ning Rongrong hurried to the window.
A layer of golden divine light blocked her path.
She could not push the window open.
Nor could she make the people outside hear her voice.
But she saw the Seven Kill Sword hovering outside the Hotel.
"Sword Grandpa!"
Ning Rongrong raised both hands and kept pounding on the barrier.
"I'm here!"
"Sword Grandpa, hurry and get me out!"
The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda within her had already been sealed.
Her two soul rings could not manifest.
No matter how she struck it, the golden barrier before her remained unchanged.
Ning Rongrong saw Chen Xin raise the Seven Kill Sword again.
Hope immediately filled her eyes.
"Sword Grandpa can definitely save me."
"He's a Rank 96 Titled Douluo."
"No one can stop the Seven Kill Sword."
Outside the Hotel.
The ninth soul ring behind Chen Xin slowly lit up.
The power spreading from the pitch-black soul ring suppressed the entire street.
The Seven Kill Sword rang out.
The enormous sword phantom contracted once more.
All the sword energy gathered within the blade.
"Ninth Soul Skill."
"God-Demon Dual Slash."
Chen Xin held the sword with both hands.
The first slash fell.
White sword light pierced the long street and struck the center of the golden barrier.
Bang!
The Six-Winged Angel God Rune on the barrier's surface trembled slightly.
Chen Xin did not stop.
The second slash followed right behind.
The power of this slash far surpassed the first.
The Seven Kill Sword tore a black rift through the surrounding space.
While the blade was still several yards from the Hotel's entrance, the stone steps outside the door had already turned to powder.
Just as the second slash was about to fall.
A golden passage appeared before the Hotel's entrance.
Qian Daoliu stepped out of the passage.
He raised two fingers.
The Seven Kill Sword stopped between them.
All the sword light dissipated on the spot.
Chen Xin remained in his swinging stance.
The soul power within him continued pouring into the Seven Kill Sword.
Yet the blade could descend no farther.
Qian Daoliu merely held the blade between two fingers.
The power of the ninth soul skill was completely sealed off.
Veins bulged on the backs of Chen Xin's hands.
He drove his soul power once more.
The Seven Kill Avatar released a vast expanse of white light in response.
Qian Daoliu's fingers still did not move.
"Rank 96."
"Is that what gave you the confidence to come rescue her?"
Chen Xin looked up at the white-haired man before him.
He had never seen Qian Daoliu as he was now.
That face was far too young.
But the aura of the Six-Winged Angel lineage could not be faked.
"You're Qian Daoliu?"
"I am."
Chen Xin stared at the two fingers gripping the Seven Kill Sword.
He had already used his ninth soul skill.
Yet Qian Daoliu had not released his martial soul.
There were no soul rings beneath his feet, either.
The gulf between them was even greater than the reports sent back from Heaven Dou City had indicated.
Qian Daoliu applied a little pressure with his fingertips.
Crack!
A fracture appeared on the surface of the Seven Kill Sword.
Chen Xin's expression abruptly changed.
The Seven Kill Sword was his martial soul.
With the blade damaged, his mind and meridians suffered an impact at the same time.
A trickle of blood ran from the corner of Chen Xin's mouth.
"Let go."
Chen Xin did not release the sword's hilt.
"Where is Rongrong?"
"She did something wrong and is being punished."
Qian Daoliu looked at him.
"The three-day deadline for submission has passed."
"The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect gave no response."
"And now you've come here to break my restrictive seal."
"Chen Xin, are you declaring war on me on behalf of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect?"
Chen Xin did not rein in the soul power within him.
"I came here today only for Rongrong."
"She's just a child."
"Whatever she's done, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect will provide compensation."
Qian Daoliu said:
"Seizing things."
"Slandering someone in public."
"Ordering Zhao Wuji to kill."
"In the eyes of your Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, can all of that be brushed aside with compensation?"
Chen Xin fell silent for a moment.
"We've spoiled Rongrong since she was little."
"She does lack a sense of restraint in her actions."
"I'll take her back and discipline her."
"Hand her over to me."
Qian Daoliu released the Seven Kill Sword.
Chen Xin immediately retreated.
He did not withdraw his martial soul.
Nine soul rings still revolved around his body.
"You're not qualified to negotiate terms with me yet."
Qian Daoliu raised his right hand.
A wave of divine pressure descended from above the Hotel.
Chen Xin's body plunged downward.
Boom!
His feet shattered the street beneath them.
His knees bent.
The Seven Kill Sword plunged into the ground, supporting his body.
Chen Xin tried to straighten up.
Yet the pressure on his shoulders grew heavier and heavier.
The Rank 96 Soul Power within him had barely left his meridians before Angel Divine Power forced it back.
The first Soul Ring went out.
The second Soul Ring lost its luster as well.
In just a few breaths.
All nine Soul Rings beneath Chen Xin's feet dimmed.
His Seven Kill Avatar shattered with them.
The enormous sword phantom dissolved into countless white motes of light.
Qian Renxue and Liu Erlong stepped out of the spatial passage.
Qian Renxue glanced at Chen Xin, who stood propped up on his sword.
"Grandfather, is he Sword Douluo?"
"That's right."
Qian Renxue studied the Seven Kill Sword.
"Rank 96 cultivation is certainly not weak."
"But he can't even break a single restrictive seal Grandfather left behind."
Chen Xin turned to look at Qian Renxue.
He recognized the aura of the six-winged angel Martial Soul.
He also saw the Angel Holy Sword at her waist.
Chen Xin looked back at Qian Daoliu.
"I can submit."
"Let Rongrong go."
Qian Daoliu asked:
"Can you speak for the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect?"
"I am a sect-protecting elder of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect."
Chen Xin gripped the sword's hilt.
"As long as Rongrong is safe, I can leave the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and submit to Spirit Hall."
"Whether Ning Fengzhi and Gu Rong submit is for them to decide."
Qian Daoliu raised a finger.
Golden divine light fell upon the Seven Kill Sword.
Bang!
The blade snapped in the middle.
Chen Xin's body suffered a backlash from his Martial Soul.
He spat out a mouthful of blood.
With his support gone, one knee slammed into the ground.
The shattered Seven Kill Sword turned into white light and returned to his body.
Qian Daoliu came up to Chen Xin.
"You can't even preserve your own life."
"What makes you think your submission can buy her freedom?"
Chen Xin pressed his palm against the ground.
He wanted to stand up again.
Qian Daoliu merely glanced at him.
An even greater pressure descended.
Chen Xin's other leg dropped to the ground as well.
The street continued to sink.
The doors and windows of the shops on either side remained completely unaffected.
All that power was concentrated on him alone.
Chen Xin raised his head.
Blood dripped down his chin.
"Qian Daoliu."
"What will it take for you to let Rongrong go?"
"She has already suffered the punishment she deserved."
"If you still intend to pursue this, I'll bear it for her."
Qian Daoliu raised his right hand.
A Golden Longsword condensed in his palm.
The moment the Angel Space-Rending Sword appeared.
The Seven Kill Sword within Chen Xin, which had only just recovered, was suppressed once again.
Both were sword Martial Souls.
Yet the Seven Kill Sword could not even resist.
Before you continue