A Lifeline in Despair: Golden Crow Nirvana and Clear Sky's Wrath

An icy chill seeped through every limb and bone. Lin Ye struggled to open his eyes amid the haze.

He found himself locked inside a massive metal cage. Its bars were covered in eerie runes that constantly emitted a pale purple light, suppressing the Golden Crow Power within him. Around him was a dim stone chamber, with several burning torches set into its walls. Their flickering light illuminated the altar at the center: a circular platform built of black stone, covered in the same runes as the cage and giving off an evil presence that made his heart tremble.

"Awake?" A chilling voice rang out. Yue Guan sat in a stone chair beside the altar, toying with a golden chrysanthemum as he stared at Lin Ye like a hunter eyeing his prey. "You're more fire-resistant than I imagined. The Three-Legged Golden Crow's vitality truly lives up to its reputation."

Lin Ye struggled to get up, only to find his entire body weak and limp. The runes had firmly locked down his Soul Power, leaving him unable to summon even a wisp of Golden Crow Fire. Only then did he notice a black tube lodged in his chest. Its other end was connected to a huge crystal bottle, into which golden liquid was slowly flowing-his Soul Power essence.

"What are you trying to do?" Lin Ye's voice was hoarse, and fury burned in his eyes.

"What am I trying to do?" Yue Guan smiled, undisguised greed in his expression. "Extract your Golden Crow Power, of course. His Holiness the Pope said your Martial Soul has limitless potential. If your Soul Power essence can be fused with a Soul Ring, it'll be enough for him to break through to the peak of Titled Douluo."

He rose, walked up to the cage and tapped its bars with a finger. "Don't bother struggling. This Soul Locking Cage was forged from ten-thousand-year cold iron mixed with powdered Soul Beast bones. It was made to counter Power Attack System Soul Masters. Even a Soul Douluo who enters it can forget about getting out."

Lin Ye looked at Yue Guan's smug face, his heart filled with unwillingness. He regretted being so careless and failing to stop Yue Guan, but he was even more worried about whether Tang San and the others had escaped safely.

"Tang San and the others... already got away with the Soul Bone, didn't they?" Lin Ye asked deliberately, trying to glean information from Yue Guan's reaction.

Sure enough, Yue Guan's expression darkened. "Those brats got lucky. They actually managed to draw on the last of the guardian formation's power. But it doesn't matter. They won't get far. Spirit Hall has already sealed off the entire Soul Hunting Forest. Even if they sprouted wings, they wouldn't be able to fly out."

He paused, a trace of cruelty flashing in his eyes. "Once I've squeezed your Soul Power dry, I'll catch them myself. Especially that hundred-thousand-year Soft Bone Charming Rabbit and the Blue Silver Grass holding the Soul Bone. His Holiness the Pope is looking forward to them."

"Dream on!" Lin Ye roared. The Golden Crow Power inside him surged wildly against its restraints, only to be suppressed by the runes. Instead, it triggered a bout of intense pain that made him cough up a mouthful of blood.

"Tsk, tsk. What a touching friendship." Yue Guan shook his head and turned toward the altar. "Don't waste your strength. You'll die in three hours. I'll let you watch with your own eyes as your companions fall into my hands."

With that, he activated the mechanism on the altar. The black stone platform slowly rose, and the runes glowed more intensely. Heavy footsteps came from a corner of the chamber as several guards in black armor walked in and took their places around the cage, their faces expressionless.

Yue Guan gave them a satisfied glance, then turned and left the stone chamber.

The moment the stone door closed, Lin Ye's heart sank to rock bottom. Three hours. He had to escape within three hours, or not only would he die, but Tang San and the others would also be in danger.

But his Soul Power was locked down, his body was weak, and there were guards outside... how could he escape?

Despair surged over him like a tide, and Lin Ye's consciousness began to fade. Just then, he suddenly remembered the Soul Skill he had recently acquired-Golden Crow Nirvana.

It burned Soul Power in exchange for a brief burst of strength, at the cost of leaving him weakened afterward.

He had always considered the Soul Skill too risky and would never have used it unless he had no other choice. But now, it was his only chance.

"Better to go all out than sit here waiting for death!" Lin Ye clenched his teeth, determination flashing in his eyes.

He began to concentrate, ignoring the runes' suppression as he guided the last trace of Golden Crow Power within him toward his heart-the core of his Golden Crow Power.

"Golden Crow... Nirvana!"

Lin Ye roared in his mind. His heart contracted sharply, then erupted with scorching power! Golden light poured out of him, staining the entire cage red. The suppressed Golden Crow Power awakened like a sleeping volcano, battering the Soul Locking Cage's runes with wild force!

"Sizzle-"

The golden light collided with the purple runes, producing a piercing sound, and the cage shuddered violently. The guards noticed something was wrong and drew their weapons, converging on the cage.

"Stop him!" the lead guard roared, swinging his saber at the cage's bars in an attempt to suppress Lin Ye's eruption with external force.

Lin Ye ignored the attack from outside, focusing all his mind on breaking through the seal. He could feel his Soul Power burning at an astonishing rate and his vitality rapidly draining away. But at the same time, an unprecedented power was awakening-the most primal power of the Three-Legged Golden Crow, the power to be reborn from fire!

"Crack!"

With a crisp snap, a crack finally appeared in the runes on the Soul Locking Cage.

"Now!" A brilliant light burst from Lin Ye's eyes as he gathered all his burning Soul Power into his fists and smashed them into the crack!

"Boom!"

The bars forged from ten-thousand-year cold iron broke on impact. Lin Ye shot out of the cage like an arrow from a bow, golden flames burning around him to form a suit of flaming armor.

"Stop him!" The guards swarmed forward, slashing at Lin Ye in a flurry of blades.

Lin Ye snorted coldly and darted aside to evade their attacks. At the same time, he waved both hands, sending two golden spears of flame shooting out to pierce two guards through the chest. His burning Soul Power had brought his speed and strength to an unprecedented peak. The remaining guards were no match for him, and he quickly dealt with them all.

Once the guards were dealt with, Lin Ye's body began to suffer the backlash. His head spun, and the agony of burning his Soul Power left him barely able to stand. He knew he didn't have much time. Enduring the discomfort, he staggered toward the chamber door.

Just as he was about to open the stone door, an icy voice came from outside:

"It seems I underestimated you after all."

Yue Guan appeared in the doorway, the golden chrysanthemum in his hand now fully open and radiating a suffocating Soul Power pressure. Clearly, he had been waiting outside all along, waiting for Lin Ye to walk into his trap.

"Since you're so eager to die, I'll grant your wish!" Yue Guan roared, unleashing his Soul Power at full force. The golden chrysanthemum came crushing down on Lin Ye, accompanied by a fierce gale.

A trace of despair flashed in Lin Ye's eyes. In his current state, he had no chance of stopping Yue Guan's attack.

At that critical moment, a figure in black leaped like lightning through a crack in the ceiling and landed in front of Lin Ye!

It was a tall, middle-aged man in a tattered black cloak. His hair was disheveled, and stubble covered his face. In his left hand, he held a massive black hammer, its head bristling with fearsome spikes and radiating a presence that could destroy heaven and earth!

"Clear Sky Hammer?!" Yue Guan's expression changed drastically, and his eyes filled with disbelief. "Tang Hao?! What are you doing here?!"

The newcomer was none other than Clear Sky Douluo Tang Hao!

Ignoring Yue Guan's shock, Tang Hao simply glanced down at Lin Ye. His voice was hoarse, but held a trace of concern. "Can you still stand?"

Lin Ye froze. He had never expected to meet Tang San's father here. He gritted his teeth and forced himself upright. "I can!"

"Good." Tang Hao nodded and slowly raised the Clear Sky Hammer in his hand. Black Soul Power instantly enveloped the once-dim chamber. "Since you hurt my son's friend, then... die!"

"So what if you're Clear Sky Douluo? This is the Soul Hunting Forest, not a place for you to run wild!" Yue Guan roared, putting on a fierce front despite his fear. His golden chrysanthemum bloomed once more as he tried to resist the Clear Sky Hammer's pressure.

Tang Hao snorted coldly and wasted no words. Carrying the force of ten thousand weights, the Clear Sky Hammer smashed down toward Yue Guan!

"Boom!"

The black shadow of the hammer collided with the golden chrysanthemum. The entire stone chamber shook violently, and every torch on the walls went out, leaving only the light produced by the clash of two ultimate powers. Yue Guan screamed and flew backward like a kite with its string cut. He slammed into the stone wall and spat out a great mouthful of blood. His golden chrysanthemum Martial Soul dimmed in an instant.

"Impossible... how can your Soul Power be so strong...?" Yue Guan stared at Tang Hao in terror. He could sense that although Tang Hao's Soul Power was only at level ninety-one, it was several times stronger than that of an ordinary Titled Douluo. It was a power filled with endless rage and despair.

Tang Hao walked toward Yue Guan step by step, dragging the Clear Sky Hammer along the floor and carving a deep gouge through it. "Back then, you hurt my wife and child. Today, you tried to go after my son's friend... it's time to settle Spirit Hall's debts."

Looking at the killing intent in Tang Hao's eyes, fierce enough to destroy heaven and earth, Yue Guan finally felt fear. He struggled to escape, only to find his body firmly pinned by an invisible force, unable to move at all.

"His Holiness the Pope won't let you get away with this!" Yue Guan howled in despair.

Tang Hao ignored him and raised the Clear Sky Hammer again. This time, an even more terrifying power gathered on its head.

"No-!"

Amid Yue Guan's scream, the Clear Sky Hammer came crashing down. The entire stone chamber collapsed with a roar, and through the billowing dust, Yue Guan's voice could no longer be heard.

Lin Ye stared at the scene before him, utterly stunned. Was this the power of a Titled Douluo? Was this Tang San's father?

Tang Hao put away the Clear Sky Hammer and walked over to Lin Ye. With a casual wave of his hand, he sent a gentle stream of Soul Power into Lin Ye's body, easing his pain.

"Come with me. I'll take you to Little San." Tang Hao's voice was still hoarse, but it carried a reassuring strength.

Lin Ye nodded and, supported by Tang Hao, staggered out of the collapsed stone chamber.

The sky outside had cleared. Sunlight fell on the treetops of the Soul Hunting Forest, making them shimmer gold. Lin Ye looked back at the ruins, a jumble of emotions in his heart.

He didn't know how he had survived, nor where Tang San and the others were now, but he knew he must not let this chance at life, found in the depths of despair, go to waste.

Supporting Lin Ye, Tang Hao headed deeper into the forest. His black cloak fluttered in the wind, like a silent guardian.

Looking at Tang Hao's back, Lin Ye suddenly understood where Tang San's resilience and determination came from. This man bore too much pain and hatred, yet still protected those he cherished in the darkness.

"Senior Tang," Lin Ye couldn't help asking, "why did you suddenly appear?"

Tang Hao was silent for a moment before answering slowly, "I've been following you all along. Little San inherited his mother's Blue Silver Emperor. I can't let him follow in her footsteps."

He paused and looked at Lin Ye. "You're a good child. Someone willing to risk his life for his companions is worthy of trust."

Warmth filled Lin Ye's heart, and much of his exhaustion vanished at once.

The two walked on in silence, sunlight filtering through gaps in the leaves and casting dappled patterns of light and shadow over them. Lin Ye knew a new journey had begun, and this time, they had gained a most powerful guardian at their side.

On the distant horizon, the phantom of a Three-Legged Golden Crow slipped quietly across the sky, letting out a clear cry, as though announcing new life and hope.