Qian Chen was too fast, covering ten meters in the blink of an eye. Before the Soul Saint Evil Soul Master could even see him clearly, Qian Chen was already before him, and he hurriedly raised his black saber to block. Qian Chen was already proficient with the Angel God Sword, and now that he had gained Sword Douluo Chen Xin's insights into swordsmanship, his swordplay was even more elusive and unpredictable.
Qian Chen raised the Seven Kill Sword and slashed at the Soul Saint Evil Soul Master. The Soul Saint Evil Soul Master was ready to block, but his defense failed completely. The instant Qian Chen slashed, he changed it into a thrust, slipping past the black saber and piercing his opponent's chest. Then he twisted the sword, worsening the wound and sealing his opponent's death.
Qian Chen did not even look to see whether his opponent was alive or dead. He swiftly pulled out his sword and fought his way toward his planned escape route.
Bishop Tang, standing on high ground, witnessed everything firsthand and sneered inwardly. The Seven Kill Sword Martial Soul. To think someone still possesses it. Today, I, a man surnamed Tang, will sever your inheritance once and for all.
Then Bishop Tang shouted to all the Evil Soul Masters, "Surround him! Don't let him escape! Kill him, and you'll be richly rewarded!"
Qian Chen moved swiftly, darting left and dodging right. After killing several more Soul Emperors and Soul Kings in succession, he was on the verge of breaking out of the encirclement.
Bishop Tang finally acted from his position on the high ground, shouting, "Seventh Soul Skill, Clear Sky True Body!"
Then a gigantic Clear Sky Hammer wreathed in black flames appeared. Without the slightest pause, Bishop Tang hurled it with all his might. The Clear Sky Hammer arrived in an instant with a shriek through the air, slamming down with a boom onto the path Qian Chen had to take to escape. The gigantic hammer's impact shook that stretch of the valley, which then began to collapse.
Qian Chen hurriedly retreated to avoid being injured by the shock waves from the Clear Sky Hammer striking the ground.
The next moment, Bishop Tang appeared atop his Clear Sky Hammer. "Heir to the Seven Kill Sword, surrender and join our Holy Cult. Our cult leader thirsts for talent. He might even grant you a heaven-defying opportunity to achieve Martial Soul Evolution."
"Haha, who would have thought? The Clear Sky Sect won ten thousand years ago, yet one of its disciples has actually joined an organization of Evil Soul Masters," Qian Chen retorted with a laugh.
"Don't mention the Clear Sky Sect to me. Once I reach the Limit, I'll slaughter every last one of those rats," Bishop Tang said harshly.
"So it's nothing more than dogs biting dogs within the Clear Sky Sect. Internal strife," Qian Chen said contemptuously.
"Heir to the Seven Kill Sword, you don't understand. Today's Sea God Tang San is no decent man. Take your Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect, for instance. To save his life, your ancestor ultimately ended up with his sword broken and his bones shattered. But look at your Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect now, barely clinging to life."
"What happens to the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect is not for you to judge. And you, a disciple of the Clear Sky Sect, not only joined the Holy Spirit Cult, an organization of Evil Soul Masters, but are also clamoring to wipe out those rats in the Clear Sky Sect. How laughable," Qian Chen replied.
Bishop Tang said viciously, "I am a descendant of Tang Lie, the Blazing Sun Douluo and seventh elder of the Clear Sky Sect back then. My ancestor merely insulted and opposed Tang San before he returned to the Clear Sky Sect. After he defeated Spirit Hall, he began settling scores with everyone he disliked. Naturally, my ancestor became a prime target and ultimately died in bitter frustration. Tang San is narrow-minded. All of us descendants of the Blazing Sun Douluo's line became targets of his persecution. In the end, my ancestors from a few generations ago only managed to escape the Clear Sky Sect after great difficulty."
"What the hell does that have to do with me? Like I said, this is nothing more than dogs biting dogs within your own Clear Sky Sect," Qian Chen said bluntly, giving him no face whatsoever.
"I wanted to persuade you not to return to the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect, which Tang San has tormented until it's half-dead. There's truly no future there. Come with me to the Holy Spirit Cult. Though we can't do anything about that scoundrel Tang San for now, it's still far better than constantly living under his surveillance and control. Since you don't know what's good for you, die here in this Strange Stone Valley." With that, the once-gigantic Clear Sky Hammer shrank to just two or three meters, and Bishop Tang raised it and smashed it toward Qian Chen.
Qian Chen immediately raised the Seven Kill Sword to meet it. Clang, clang! Hammer and sword collided, the sound carrying throughout the valley.
Hiding in a limestone cave, Ye Guyi gently tugged on Ye Qingshan's sleeve and asked, "Dad, are people fighting outside? Has someone come to save us? Will they have food and medicine? Can they still save my mom?"
Ye Qingshan looked at his daughter, Ye Guyi, his heart also aching over the loss of his wife. He nodded and said, "Maybe. Guyi, listen to me. Stay hidden here. Dad will go out and have a look. If someone really has come to save us, I can lend a hand. Guyi, listen carefully. You must wait until there are absolutely no bad people left outside before coming out. You must."
Ye Guyi could only nod. She wanted to hold her father back, but she also knew she could not do that. Having already witnessed life and death, she could only call out, "Dad, you have to come back for Guyi. Guyi has already lost Mom. I can't lose Dad too."
Ye Qingshan nodded and reassured his daughter, "Don't worry, Guyi. Once Dad drives away the bad people, I'll definitely come back for you."
By now, in Strange Stone Valley, Qian Chen and Bishop Tang had exchanged over a dozen rounds, neither able to defeat the other. Qian Chen had superb swordsmanship and even greater practical combat ability, while Bishop Tang had a higher Soul Power Level and was also extremely proficient in Clear Sky Hammer techniques.
"Not bad. There are very few people in the world who can fight me to a draw at the Soul Douluo realm," Bishop Tang remarked.
"I'll give you one last chance. Follow me and join the Holy Cult. You'll be able to enjoy everything wonderful this world has to offer," Bishop Tang continued to tempt him.
Qian Chen sneered. "What are you thinking? You want me to join the Holy Spirit Cult?"
Seeing that Qian Chen still had no intention of joining the Holy Spirit Cult despite the threat of force, Bishop Tang shouted, "So you insist on remaining stubborn! Everyone, attack with me! Surround this heir to the Seven Kill Sword! I'll tear him into ten thousand pieces!"
"Yes!" Although none of the remaining Holy Spirit Cult disciples was a match for Qian Chen individually, their numbers now added up. With the Clear Sky Hammer Evil Soul Master who could fight Qian Chen to a draw among them, the stalemate was instantly broken.
Qian Chen retreated repeatedly and said, "Damned Evil Soul Masters, let me show you my true strength!" The next moment, holy radiance bathed the entire Strange Stone Valley.
Qian Chen thought that under the holy light, the Evil Soul Masters' combat strength would be greatly reduced. Even if he could not defeat all of them, he should have no trouble escaping unscathed.
Qian Chen swept his gaze over his surroundings. Sure enough, the Evil Soul Masters who had just been surrounding and attacking him were suppressed by the holy light, their attacks, defenses, and speed all greatly weakened.
Qian Chen was about to dispatch a nearby Evil Soul Master in passing when, unexpectedly, the Clear Sky Hammer wreathed in black-and-red flames smashed toward him again, its might undiminished. If it struck him, he would certainly suffer serious injuries.
Qian Chen hurriedly abandoned his target, turned, and retreated swiftly, only then managing to evade the attack. Shocked, Qian Chen thought, How could this be? This Evil Fire Clear Sky Hammer actually wasn't suppressed by the holy light!
Seeing Qian Chen's astonished expression, Bishop Tang burst out laughing. "How unexpected. You actually possess the Holy Angel Martial Soul as well. You've surprised me, and I imagine I've surprised you too. Hmph, I didn't attain my present cultivation by slaughtering living beings. I relied on the strength of the Clear Sky Hammer and painstakingly cultivated my way here, step by step. Your holy light's ability to restrain Evil Soul Masters has no effect on me. Today, you will die without a doubt."
With that, he raised his hammer and attacked Qian Chen again.