Angel's Breath

Before the Pope's Hall plaza in Spirit City.

Chen Jianjun and Chen Xin were already standing there.

Just then, three figures flew out of the Worship Hall, which stood higher up.

The man in the lead had white hair and wore golden enshrined robes. He stood tall and straight, his deeply set, aged eyes bearing down on Chen Jianjun and Chen Xin with boundless pressure.

Golden Crocodile and Azure Luan followed at Qian Daoliu's side.

Was this a Limit Douluo? His gaze alone could send a chill through one's heart.

Chen Xin's heart sank. Almost afraid to raise his head, he turned to look at his elderly father, who respectfully cupped his fists and bowed. "Chen Jianjun greets the Great Enshrined."

"Chen Xin greets the Great Enshrined." Chen Xin followed Chen Jianjun's example.

Qian Daoliu spoke slowly. "Chen Jianjun, I met you in my early years and still have some impression of you. Level 97 Soul Power-your talent is fairly good on the continent. What brings you here to seek me out in person?"

Chen Jianjun replied, "I seek a battle."

Golden Crocodile and Azure Luan exchanged surprised glances.

Then Golden Crocodile looked at Qian Daoliu and said respectfully, "Big brother, he only has Level 97 Soul Power. I, your second brother, can kill him myself."

Sensing that the atmosphere had suddenly turned icy,

Chen Xin gripped the Seven Kill Sword in his hand.

At that moment, Chen Jianjun raised a hand slightly, signaling Chen Xin to restrain himself. Then he looked respectfully at Qian Daoliu and straightened his own back. "Great Enshrined, I have come not only to seek a battle, but also to temper my sword path. I have heard that you, Great Enshrined, also wield a sword, so I beg you to grant me a battle."

With that, Chen Jianjun cupped his fists and bowed deeply once more, expressing his apology for the unreasonable request.

Only then did Golden Crocodile and Azure Luan understand. This swordsman had not come to make trouble; he had come to die.

The two looked at Qian Daoliu. Whatever else might be said, Chen Jianjun was a powerhouse of the continent, and he had come with such sincerity. Old relics of their era would all choose to show him some consideration.

"You will die," Qian Daoliu replied calmly.

"Even in death, I will have no regrets," Chen Jianjun said firmly.

"Heh." Qian Daoliu's lips twitched in a rare smile. He seemed to see a glimpse of Tang Chen in Chen Jianjun. Though the two had now fallen out, there was no denying they had once been close friends. Qian Daoliu nodded. "Very well."

"To avoid damaging anything in Spirit City, and to give you room to fight, let us go outside Spirit Hall."

With that, Qian Daoliu turned into a streak of golden light and flew beyond Spirit City. Seeing this, Chen Jianjun became a streak of white light and followed.

Chen Xin, Golden Crocodile, and Azure Luan followed close behind.

And not just them: the powerhouses of the Worship Hall and the Elder Hall, Qian Xunji, and every powerhouse in Spirit City who sensed the two presences followed them out.

Qian Daoliu stopped above a field of tall, golden-yellow crops.

The only thing different below him was a winding dirt road that connected Spirit City to the rest of the continent.

After taking a glance, Qian Daoliu turned his gaze toward a patch of scorched yellow crops not far away. His expression showed a trace of disbelief, but he did not expose them. Instead, he said calmly, "The Sea God's Power?"

"Grandmaster saw us!" Little Spider smiled inside the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud and pointed toward Qian Daoliu. Qian Xunling, by contrast, looked somber. "How did I forget about that? He possesses Angel Soul Power. It's different from ordinary Soul Power and can see through things ordinary Titled Douluo can't."

But why didn't he expose us? Qian Xunling thought quickly. In the end, only one answer seemed most reasonable: Qian Daoliu had recognized the special nature of the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud and its great similarity to Bo Saixi's Sea God's Power. Out of respect and affection for Bo Saixi, he had chosen to turn a blind eye.

"Martial uncle, how did you know Grandmaster and that old grandpa would fight here?" Bibi Dong asked curiously.

Qian Xunling replied, "I guessed."

He had originally planned to approach Spirit City after they started fighting, but he really had not expected them to come here to fight.

Yet Bibi Dong looked at Qian Xunling with admiration. "Martial uncle, you're amazing."

Soon.

Chen Jianjun arrived, leaving a considerable distance between himself and Qian Daoliu.

One above, one below.

Qian Daoliu withdrew his gaze and focused on Chen Jianjun once more, giving him one final reminder. "The gap between our Soul Power is too great. This may not help temper your sword path."

"But I have already reached the limit of my talent. Unless I take more drastic measures, I may not cross the chasm to Level 98 even when the end of my life draws near." As he spoke, Chen Jianjun's lips curved into a smile. "Besides, the chance to fight the strongest in the sky, one of the two strongest people alive today, fills me with excitement."

"Three moves. After three moves, I will no longer hold back, regardless of whether you live or die."

"I am deeply grateful."

With that,

Nine Soul Rings emerged beneath Chen Jianjun's feet: two yellow, two purple, and five black.

Level 97 Soul Power poured forth.

In truth, there was one thing Qian Xunling had not told Chen Jianjun.

Without the aid of a divine gift, an Immortal Herb, a special bloodline, or a God Trial, an ordinary Soul Master who had not obtained a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring could scarcely break through to Level 98 in an entire lifetime.

That truth was too cruel for him.

A Soul Core could also enable a breakthrough to Level 98, but Qian Xunling did not know how to condense one either.

So Qian Xunling had not told him.

At the same time, Qian Daoliu's terrifying Soul Ring Configuration emerged: eight black and one red. The sight alone was enough to leave one feeling suffocated.

His Level 99 Soul Power crashed down like a towering tsunami, pinning Chen Jianjun's Soul Power firmly beneath it.

Seeing this, Chen Jianjun knew that if he did not strike now, he would never have another chance. He roared, "Seventh Soul Skill, Seven Kill True Body, man and sword as one!"

"Ha!"

Chen Jianjun seemed to transform into a gigantic Seven Kill Sword, plunging straight toward Qian Daoliu. Qian Daoliu formed the Angel Holy Sword in his hand and said, "Seventh Soul Skill, Angel True Body."

An enormous Angel Martial Soul hovered behind Qian Daoliu.

Though he could have easily suppressed Chen Jianjun with the Angel Martial Soul alone, Qian Daoliu used another Soul Skill. "Third Soul Skill, Angel's Punishment."

Qian Daoliu swung the Angel Holy Sword, wreathed in golden-red sacred flames. A massive surge of sword Qi shot out, slashing toward Chen Jianjun, who had become Man and Sword as One. Chen Jianjun felt firsthand the suppression of Angel Soul Power, which was on a higher level.

But he did not retreat in the slightest. With a roar, he collided heavily with the sword Qi. With a thunderous crash, Chen Jianjun's Seven Kill Sword shattered, and he was sent flying backward!

But the sword Qi condensed from Angel Soul Power was neutralized.

Chen Jianjun gripped the Seven Kill Sword tightly and charged forward again.

"Ninth Soul Skill, Ten Thousand Swords Return to the Sect!"

Seven Kill Swords formed from countless manifestations of sword Qi, all aimed at Qian Daoliu alone. They waited silently for Chen Jianjun to enter the formation, until he flew high into the air and thrust the Seven Kill Sword in his hand toward Qian Daoliu.

The swords of Qi all shot toward Qian Daoliu.

Qian Daoliu said approvingly, "Not bad. Sword Qi, man and sword as one... Chen Jianjun, you should be the sword cultivator who has reached the greatest height in the continent's history. But you still cannot escape the constraint that a sword cultivator is also a Soul Master."

Flames rose once more on the Angel Holy Sword.

Qian Daoliu stood before the enormous Angel Martial Soul.

Like an unshakable mountain.

"In that case, I will give you the respect you deserve."

"Eighth Soul Skill, Angel's Light."

Unlike the sword Qi Chen Jianjun had cultivated, Qian Daoliu transformed his Soul Power into countless Angel Holy Swords wrapped in angelic sacred flames, illuminating the entire area like rays of light.

But that still seemed insufficient to satisfy Chen Jianjun. He had now wagered everything and roared, "Great Enshrined, please use your full strength. I beg you!"

At the same time, Chen Jianjun's countless swords of Qi grew sharper, as if infused with a power beyond his Level 97 strength, allowing Qian Daoliu to understand his intentions.

He had never expected to last until the third sword strike.

So he had wagered everything on this second strike.

This strike would decide whether he could advance any further in this lifetime.

But it would also decide whether his journey ended here.

Such resolute determination and will stirred even Qian Daoliu, who had enjoyed smooth sailing since childhood and, after reaching Limit Douluo, had felt no regret even when narrowly defeated by Tang Chen.

They were somewhat alike, in truth.

They shared an obsession: one with the sword path, the other with the God Trial.

That obsession had driven Qian Daoliu to strive and remain steadfast.

So Qian Daoliu changed his move. Looking at Chen Jianjun, who had already leaped above him with his increasingly sharp Seven Kill Sword in hand and had even closed his eyes to listen only to the sound of the sword, he decided to move instantly to a greater height.

Having reached the higher sky, Qian Daoliu spoke.

"Ninth Soul Skill, Angel's Breath."

Sacred golden Angel Soul Power erupted across the sky from the Angel Martial Soul's true body. It was as though the entire world had become a domain under the angel's control, leaving only Chen Jianjun's white-blue sword Qi and the golden-yellow Angel Soul Power.

Chen Jianjun roared, "Thank you for your guidance!"

With that, he sent his sword thrust forward.

White-blue sword Qi blasted toward Qian Daoliu.

Qian Daoliu's golden eyes were impassive as he said slowly, "You're welcome."

The white-blue sword Qi crashed into the Angel Soul Power, only to be completely swallowed. The Angel Soul Power continued spreading toward Chen Jianjun. He gripped the Seven Kill Sword with all his might, all nine Soul Rings beneath his feet trembling.

But even when faced with Angel Soul Power filling the sky,

He still did not retreat!

Until he was engulfed.