Although Qian Daoliu and Tang Chen both went all out in their battle, it was merely the full extent of their normal strength. Neither of them used divine power, and neither detonated their soul rings.
This duel was a test of limits without trump cards—a pure contest of strength that best reflected their actual capabilities.
They fought with full force, but without pulling out their final cards.
Even so, the battle was earth-shattering. Terrifying waves of soul power rampaged across the entire valley.
The Seraphim Spirit proved its reputation as an all-rounded powerhouse—when it came to strength, Qian Daoliu held his ground against Tang Chen without faltering.
Sword clashed against hammer once more before the two separated. Tang Chen landed on the ground, and the Clear Sky Hammer in his right hand suddenly swelled in size.
"Great Sumeru Hammer!!"
Boom—whoosh!!
The ground split and caved in instantly. Tang Chen's figure shot into the sky like a cannonball, his Clear Sky Hammer expanding to a hundred meters in length as it came crashing down with overwhelming might.
"Angel True Body!"
Qian Daoliu didn't dare show the slightest carelessness. He immediately activated his Soul Avatar. All of his attributes doubled, and the hundred-meter-tall Six-Winged Angel raised its sacred sword to meet the descending hammer, charged with thunderous force.
As for dodging?
As always—
"Should I yield to his edge?"
BOOM!!!
A towering mushroom cloud erupted into the sky, and a terrifying shockwave tore through everything in its path.
"Not good! Soul Avatars, now!!"
Almost simultaneously, all the spectators watching from afar widened their eyes and unleashed their Soul Avatars. Ning Fengzhi immediately focused all his support on the strongest present—Golden Crocodile Douluo.
A golden giant crocodile, dozens of meters long, coiled protectively around everyone as layers of barriers rose to shield them. Only then was the full force of the explosion's aftershock blocked.
Gu Han, Bibi Dong, Ning Fengzhi, and the three Tang siblings were tightly guarded in the center by numerous Titled Douluo and Soul Douluo, avoiding all damage.
"So strong… Is this the true power of Rank 99?"
Everyone, including the high-ranking Elders, was utterly shaken. They had witnessed battles between Limit Douluo before, but never one this fierce or this destructive.
"It seems both my brother and Tang Chen had been holding back during their earlier fights."
Golden Crocodile Douluo's heart sank. Even just the shockwave from this clash could wipe out a group of Soul Sages—or severely wound an average Titled Douluo. A head-on confrontation was unimaginable.
Though he himself was Rank 98, the gap between Rank 98 and Rank 99 was like the gulf between a commoner and a Titled Douluo—entirely different leagues.
Among them, Chen Xin's thoughts were the most complicated. Was this the realm his father had pursued his entire life?
The pinnacle of swordsmanship. The ultimate evolution of one's martial soul.
But the deeper his cultivation grew, the more Chen Xin's confidence in inheriting his father's will wavered. Could he really reach such a realm?
He searched his heart but found no answer.
Bibi Dong's eyes sparkled. She whispered, "Junior Brother, I'll definitely reach that realm too."
Gu Han nodded slightly. Not only that—Rank 99 was merely the beginning. Only by stepping into the realm of Gods could one truly stand at the pinnacle of this world. And he would—he must—reach that height.
Yet, as his soul power and spiritual strength continued to grow, an inexplicable sense of unease gnawed at his heart. He constantly felt as though a pair of invisible eyes were watching him—but he had no idea where the gaze came from.
Driven by this unease, Gu Han's desire to cultivate and grow stronger burned even fiercer.
Tang Hao's eyes gleamed with ambition, filled with yearning for the power of a Limit Douluo. He thought to himself: "This is how a true man should be!"
After witnessing a battle between two Limit Douluo, some spectators were filled with self-doubt, convinced they could never reach such heights. But others were stirred with boundless passion, hearts set ablaze, determined to become that strong one day.
As the terrifying shockwave gradually faded, more than half the valley had collapsed.
Surprisingly, both Tang Chen and Qian Daoliu were in better condition than expected. They had landed atop a relatively intact peak.
The Seraphim spirit was withdrawn. Qian Daoliu's golden eyes lowered, his right arm crackling with the sound of joints resetting. He let out a deep sigh in his heart.
Sigh… Without divine power, I still fall short of Tang Chen.
Tang Chen, meanwhile, gazed at his Clear Sky Hammer. A deep sword scar had been carved into the haft—nearly severed completely.
"Hahaha! Brother Qian, your prowess is as dazzling as ever. You've grown even stronger!"
Tang Chen laughed heartily. The battle's outcome was acceptable to both sides.
To any onlooker, it was impossible to tell who had won. It appeared to be a draw.
But Qian Daoliu knew—he had still lost by half a move.
That said, such things were of little consequence. Qian Daoliu was broad-minded; he never placed too much importance on winning or losing.
If he had truly wanted to win, he could have invoked the Angel God's power during the fight. Even if Tang Chen detonated his rings, it would have been futile. Here, near Spirit Hall, Qian Daoliu was invincible.
Just like Bo Saixi on Sea God Island—unless one was a god, no one could defeat her there.
A faint, gentle smile tugged at Qian Daoliu's lips as he openly admitted the result of their duel.
"Tang Chen, your praise is too generous. In truth, I lost by half a move."
Everyone present was slightly surprised by the outcome. The battle could have easily been declared a draw—after all, no outsider could tell the difference.
But Qian Daoliu had the integrity to speak the truth without hesitation.
"As expected of Big Brother—still as open and honest as ever."
Golden Crocodile Douluo sighed in admiration. The others all nodded in agreement.
Gu Han felt the same. Qian Daoliu's moral standards were incredibly high. This was a virtue—but also a flaw.
Just like in the original story, he regarded Tang Chen as a lifelong friend and refrained from delivering a killing blow to the Clear Sky Clan.
But the Clear Sky Clan didn't reciprocate. Once they turned against Spirit Hall, they went all out, showing no mercy and giving Spirit Hall no chance to recover.
Once the die was cast, the end was already set—one side had to fall.
Yet Qian Daoliu, bound by a promise, let them go. At that point, such righteousness was no longer noble, but naïve—even foolish. It had become his weakness.
The members of the Clear Sky Clan, upon hearing the declaration, all swelled with pride. They straightened their backs, and their smug grins were hard to hide.
In contrast, Ning Fengzhi's expression was far more complicated.
No matter who won, it made no real difference to him.
If anything, he preferred a balance of power rather than dominance by one side.
Whether it was Spirit Hall or the Clear Sky Clan, either faction growing too powerful would be equally disadvantageous to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan.
In fact, the Clear Sky Clan's strength might pose an even greater threat than Spirit Hall's.
At least Spirit Hall had rules and operated with reason. The Clear Sky Clan, on the other hand, was full of hot-blooded hammer-wielders who were prone to violence and far less controllable.
Still, even though Qian Daoliu had admitted defeat, no one truly knew what trump cards each side held.
And when it came to overall power, Spirit Hall still held an overwhelming advantage over the Clear Sky Clan.
If Qian Daoliu were to pin down Tang Chen in battle, the rest of the Clear Sky Clan would be left to face a siege from dozens of Titled Douluo.
~~~
If You Wish To Support Me And Read 30 Chapters Ahead, Consider Joining Me On This Journey!
> p@treon.com/HudaLin