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After learning about the Grand Sumeru Hammer, Qian Renhan saw Tang Xiao instructing Tang Hao in the Nine Techniques of the Clear Sky Hammer: Void, Seal, Pierce, Penetrate, Bind, Shock, Break, Kill, Collapse.
Having obtained his answers, Qian Renhan withdrew his spiritual power from Tang Hao's sea of memories. He had no interest in wasting time watching the rest of Tang Hao's experiences—such as how stunningly beautiful the Blue Silver Empress was, irrelevant details, or conspiracy theories. None of that mattered to him. That information was utterly worthless.
That 100,000-year-old Blue Silver Empress had already been described in the original work, including its location. He would later send Ghost Douluo to uproot and destroy that plant entirely. Although Tang Hao had planted the Blue Silver Empress in a dark, damp cave with no chance of rebirth—and even though Tang San didn't know where it was—Qian Renhan didn't want to leave any potential threats alive. After all, the Blue Silver Empress's ability to transmit information was truly astonishing.
"Thank you for your selfless contribution, Tang Hao. You may now rest in peace."
Qian Renhan extended his hand, unleashing four streams of pitch-black soul power capable of devouring everything. Each beam entered Tang Hao's head, left arm, left leg, and torso. With a flick of his hand, the sound of flesh tearing echoed, accompanied by Tang Hao's heart-wrenching scream that shook the halls of the Pope's Palace. From the four parts of Tang Hao's body where the soul power had entered, four dazzling lights burst forth.
"Ugh!"
Tang Hao's body was torn apart, his soul bones forcibly extracted, and blood and flesh churned. The gruesome sight caused many fledgling soul masters in the Pope's Palace, who had never ventured into the outside world, to feel sick to their stomachs. Even Ning Fengzhi found the scene deeply disturbing.
Qian Renhan, however, showed no reaction at all. The savage world of Slaughter City could not stir even a ripple in his heart—what was peeling Tang Hao's bones compared to that? Even if Tang Hao were minced into meat paste, Qian Renhan wouldn't bat an eye.
"Six soul bones—Tang Hao actually had six soul bones! And they all appear to be top-tier, ten-thousand-year-level bones. No wonder his strength was so formidable, and his cultivation advanced so rapidly."
The four Titled Douluo present in the Pope's Palace stared at Tang Hao's six soul bones, consumed by jealousy and envy. How had Tang Hao come by six soul bones? Was the Clear Sky Clan really that wealthy?
Bang! Bang!
After having four soul bones torn from his body, Tang Hao collapsed lifelessly to the ground.
"Father!"
Tears burst from Tang San's eyes as he desperately tried to crawl toward Tang Hao's mutilated, blood-soaked corpse. Yet under Qian Renhan's overwhelming pressure, he couldn't move an inch.
"Don't make me waste any more effort."
Qian Renhan reached out toward Tang San's head, just as he had when probing Tang Hao's memories.
"San Ge!"
"Little San!"
"Ge~!"
The members of Shrek Academy shouted, while Xiao Wu, lips pursed, furiously rammed into the iron cage imprisoning her. Her skin bruised from the effort, but she couldn't break free. She wanted to sacrifice herself, but her soul power was sealed—she couldn't summon even a single soul ring.
Just when everyone thought Tang San was doomed to share Tang Hao's fate, a figure suddenly rushed forward, shielding Tang San with outstretched arms. That person was not his teacher Yu Xiaogang, nor the ever-loyal Dai Mubai, and certainly not Xiao Wu—it was none other than Ning Rongrong!
"Rongrong, come back!"
Ning Fengzhi turned pale with shock. He hadn't expected Ning Rongrong to be so fearless, rushing forward to protect Tang San. Had she forgotten everything he told her? Everything she had been taught that day at the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect?
"Rongrong!"
Over at Shrek Academy's side, Oscar felt his heart shatter watching the scene unfold. Dai Mubai turned to glance at Oscar, feeling as though Oscar's silver hair had suddenly been dyed with another color.
Ning Rongrong hadn't yet fully grown, standing at just under 1.7 meters tall, while Qian Renhan loomed over her at two meters. Standing in front of Tang San, her legs trembled, like a helpless lamb facing a ravenous wolf.
Ignoring Ning Fengzhi's shouts, she pleaded in a trembling voice, "Please, Your Holiness, I beg you—don't drive him to death. Please spare Third Brother. His father has already been killed by you. Xiao Wu has also been taken away by your powerful, invincible, and noble Spirit Hall."
Qian Renhan's blood-red eyes stared down at Ning Rongrong. As black light surged around his right hand, he slowly raised it and said coldly, "Get out of my way."
"Your... Holiness... I beg you..." Ning Rongrong looked at Qian Renhan's raised palm, and the memory of the Star Dou Forest flashed through her mind. Tears welled in her eyes as she instinctively stepped back, covering her face in fear.
"Your Holiness, please don't strike her! I, Ning Fengzhi, will properly discipline Rongrong!" Seeing Qian Renhan fully raise his hand, Ning Fengzhi cried out in desperation, momentarily forgetting to use formal address in his panic. He turned to call for Sword Douluo, intending to pull Ning Rongrong back.
But before he could act, a terrifying pressure suddenly descended on him. With a pained cry, Ning Fengzhi collapsed to his knees, his hands pressed against the ground. The once-elegant nobleman, always poised and persuasive, now looked like a prisoner groveling in chains.
"You're trying to teach me how to act?" Qian Renhan glanced at the kneeling Ning Fengzhi. Normally, he wouldn't be angered by a single careless word. But that depended on who spoke it. As someone who had previously stirred up trouble, Ning Fengzhi had long been a thorn in his side. Qian Renhan felt nothing but disdain toward him—and now that he had an excuse, he acted on it without hesitation.
"Father!" Ning Rongrong's eyes widened in shock. In her memory, her father had always stood tall, skillfully navigating the politics of every major power. Even when facing the former Pope Qian Xunji, he remained calm and composed, the very picture of grace. But now, he was reduced to kneeling in humiliation. The worldview Ning Rongrong had built over 14 years shattered in an instant.
At the same time, one question echoed in her mind—Where was Sword Grandpa? Why wasn't he protecting Father?
Just then, several furious voices shouted in unison, "Chen Xin, how dare you!"
Following the voices, all eyes turned to see Sword Douluo standing near the Spirit Hall's team. Beneath his feet glowed nine soul rings—two yellow, two purple, and five black. He stood behind Ye Lingling, with the Seven Kill Sword pressed to her neck.
"Chen Xin, do you realize who you're holding hostage? His Holiness's fiancée! If you so much as harm her, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect will be wiped from the face of the earth!" Chrysanthemum Douluo shouted coldly. As a fellow Titled Douluo, he knew he couldn't stop Sword Douluo from threatening Ye Lingling. Who would have thought that the proud and aloof Chen Xin would resort to such disgraceful tactics? For a sword cultivator, this was the ultimate humiliation.
At those words, Qian Renxue, standing before the Pope's Palace, froze in place. When did my brother get a fiancée? That woman is his fiancée? She wants to steal my brother from me!
"I, Chen Xin, hereby sever all ties with the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. From this moment on, everything I do has nothing to do with the sect. Your Holiness, I ask that you spare Sect Master Ning and Young Mistress Ning. If not, my Seven Kill Sword will claim another soul." Chen Xin's voice was cold and resolute. He cultivated the Gentleman's Sword and had attained the Sword Heart of a Gentleman. If his sword heart remained intact, then to protect Ning Fengzhi and Ning Rongrong, he would fight to the death. He would never stoop to such dishonorable means—unless he had no choice.
Qian Renhan turned, and the fifth soul ring beneath his feet lit up. The Dark Demon Sword appeared in his hand. Gazing at Ye Lingling with the sword at her throat, he asked indifferently, "Are you afraid?"
Ye Lingling's delicate face tensed at first but soon calmed. A stunning smile blossomed across her face as she replied, "No."
"Don't move."
Ye Lingling obediently nodded. Her tense body relaxed, and her heartbeat quickly slowed.
Sword Douluo locked his gaze and spiritual power onto Qian Renhan and the soul ring beneath him, giving him no chance to make a move. When he took Ye Lingling hostage, he never expected to walk away alive. But if it meant saving Ning Fengzhi and Ning Rongrong, it was worth it.
Qian Renhan's eyes snapped open, and a sword-shaped crimson mark on his forehead flared with blood-red light. In that instant, Sword Douluo's mind faltered. He was dragged into a blood-red world. Before him stood a towering giant, hundreds of meters tall, with three heads and six arms. Compared to just one finger of this blood-colored giant, he was utterly insignificant.
The murderous aura radiating from the giant was terrifying—countless times more potent than the semi-corporeal giant conjured by Tang Hao's fully-activated Killing God Domain. Just one glance sent Sword Douluo's soul reeling, much like how a Soul Saint or Contra would falter before Tang Hao's giant.
When Sword Douluo regained awareness, his body was riddled with wounds. He was sent flying, blood spraying as his arms were severed, the Seven Kill Sword clattering to the ground beside him.
(End of Chapter)