"Very well, let them have a match."
Qian Daoliu nodded slightly. Although he had never interacted with Gu Han directly, he was thoroughly informed about the boy's situation.
Despite being only a Rank 43 Soul Ancestor, Gu Han's true strength was such that even an ordinary Soul Emperor might not be his match. And at such a young age, his mastery and exploration of the sword were already profound.
Tang Hao was certainly formidable, but in Qian Daoliu's opinion, to determine who was stronger, a proper match was necessary.
With a subtle movement of his lips, Qian Daoliu transmitted a message directly to Yue Guan, who was still on the field.
Yue Guan's eyes widened slightly in surprise. He hadn't expected the Grand Worshiper to personally call Gu Han onto the stage. Still, he didn't dare delay and immediately picked up the microphone to call out to Tang Hao.
"Tang Hao, hold on. Someone from Spirit Hall would like to challenge you."
Tang Hao, who had just been about to step off the dueling platform, halted in his tracks. His eyes scanned the surroundings, clearly searching for his opponent.
However, since Gu Han and Bibi Dong were seated off to the side, Tang Hao didn't spot anyone he considered worthy of his attention among the front-row contestants. With a hint of arrogance in his tone, he called out loudly:
"If that's the case, then hurry up and come on stage."
Everyone in the audience was curious—who could Spirit Hall be sending out? To challenge someone like Tang Hao, a mid-ranked Soul King, the challenger would have to be at least a high-level Soul Ancestor, otherwise they'd end up like Yu Qingtian—hammered off the stage in less than three rounds.
No one was surprised when Yu Qingtian lost. The difference in soul power was obvious, so the result was expected. In fact, people admired him more for not surrendering outright, instead daring to face a superior opponent head-on.
At that moment, Gu Han was explaining the logic behind the battle to Bibi Dong. Regarding Tang Hao's refusal to use soul skills, Gu Han offered a complete explanation.
The Clear Sky Hammer, while renowned, wasn't actually among the top-tier tool spirits in terms of innate quality—it was inferior to even the Seven Kill Sword. Yet it had gained the reputation of being the strongest tool-type spirit in the world. The reason for that was Tang Chen.
A peerless genius, Tang Chen broke away from the norm of using soul skills in combat. Instead, he chose a different path—attaching only power-amplifying soul rings and creating a set of hammer techniques tailored specifically for the Clear Sky Hammer.
These techniques were immensely powerful and not limited by soul ring age. Each move scaled with the user's strength.
Techniques like the Clear Sky Nine Techniques, Disorder Splitting Wind Hammer, and Ring Detonation were all self-created skills. Once unleashed, their power could even surpass that of conventional soul skills.
Moreover, since they weren't tied to soul rings, they could be passed down through generations. In particular, Ring Detonation was considered a godlike skill—almost too overpowering.
In short, the true strength behind the Clear Sky Hammer wasn't the martial soul itself, but the man who wielded it—Tang Chen.
"Ohh, I see. So, you're planning to follow Tang Chen's path, junior brother?"
After being constantly exposed to theory lately, Bibi Dong was no longer a novice. Upon hearing Gu Han's explanation, she immediately understood why he seldom used soul skills in battle, relying instead on sword techniques.
First, they consumed less soul power but offered tremendous force.
Second, they allowed him to deepen his understanding of his martial soul, increasing his compatibility with it.
"Wait—junior brother, did Uncle Chrysanthemum just say someone was going up to fight Tang Hao? Don't tell me… it's you?"
Just as she spoke, both of them heard Yue Guan call out to Tang Hao, and couldn't help but speculate.
"Probably not... Uncle Chrysanthemum' knows our situation, after all."
"Gu Han, a newly accepted disciple of His Holiness the Pope, recently blessed by the Angel God—his strength has grown significantly. This is the perfect opportunity for him to test his limits."
Yue Guan's announcement was practically a full-fledged buff for Gu Han. The crowd buzzed with interest, and Tang Hao's fighting spirit soared.
Meanwhile, Gu Han was left speechless.
Wait—weren't we supposed to keep a low profile for a while?
He hadn't revealed himself, so why were they the ones exposing him?
A solemn voice rang in his ears.
"Young man, I'm the Grand Worshiper of the Hall of Consecration, and Qian Xunji's father. Don't just stand there—get up there and give Tang Chen's grandson a good match. Don't let that boy hog all the spotlight."
Qian Daoliu's voice left Gu Han twitching at the corner of his mouth. That introduction was way too blunt. Still, with the Grand Worshiper personally calling him out, he had no choice.
Besides, he was itching to test his own strength. A match against Tang Hao? Why not?
"Told you, there's no way you were escaping this."
Guang Ling lifted his chin smugly, clearly having seen this coming.
"Ahaha... Guang Ling Worshiper is right. Then, I'll head up first."
"Good luck, junior brother!"
"Mm."
Gu Han nodded, stood up, and strode confidently toward the platform.
"That boy's aura reminds me a lot of you, Uncle Sword."
Ning Fengzhi's gaze sharpened, light flashing in his eyes. Gu Han's hair fluttered, his green robe rippling gently as he moved. He stood tall and composed, exuding an air of serenity—but also the restrained sharpness of a sword yet to be drawn.
"Hm. He's already mastered hiding his edge within. He's only twelve, right? To have such deep sword comprehension at that age—he's quite the prodigy."
Chen Xin nodded slightly, eyes filled with appreciation. As the Guardian Elder of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan, he was well aware of His Holiness's new disciple.
Previously, he'd dismissed the boy as just another sword spirit user. There were plenty of those, after all—and not many strong ones. And since Gu Han had already become Qian Xunji's disciple, he hadn't paid him much attention.
But now, seeing him in person, he realized—this boy truly was extraordinary. No wonder Qian Xunji had chosen to take him as a disciple.
Still, he couldn't help but feel a bit of regret.
"If only I'd met him sooner... I might have taken him as my own disciple and passed on my legacy."
Gu Han stepped onto the stage, gave Yue Guan a polite nod, then turned to face Tang Hao. In an instant, his fighting spirit surged forth. A long sword materialized in his hand—dark blue in hue, exuding an aura of bone-chilling cold and razor-sharp intensity.
His presence no longer suppressed, he now stood like a sword drawn from its sheath—cold, deadly, and utterly unyielding.
"Gu Han of Spirit Hall. Martial soul: Frostblade Sword. Rank 43, Power-Attack Type Soul Ancestor. Please enlighten me."
Tang Hao's eyes flickered with mild surprise upon hearing Gu Han's level. According to the intelligence, the Pope's new disciple was only twelve years old. To reach such strength at that age... clearly, this was an opponent worth his attention.
Still, Tang Hao shook his head slightly. The gap in levels was too vast. He wouldn't be able to go all out—but he wouldn't skip the customary etiquette of a proper duel.
"Tang Hao of the Clear Sky Clan. Martial Soul: Clear Sky Hammer. Rank 56 Power-Attack Type Soul King. I await your guidance."
~~~
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