Damn.
This was Shi Nian's first thought when he saw Tang Hao's face.
Shi Nian was undoubtedly a villain, and because of that, he paid special attention to the high-ranking members of powerful factions and those with similarly notorious reputations, fearing that one day he might cross the wrong person and die without knowing why.
The moment he saw Tang Hao, he immediately recognized him—the man known as the most dangerous outlaw on the continent: Tang Hao.
This recognition was thanks to Tang Yuehua. Tang Hao had been visiting Yuexuan frequently of late, and Tang Yuehua couldn't bear to see her beloved older brother looking so scruffy... ahem, unkempt.
Despite Tang Hao's impatience, Tang Yuehua had forcibly groomed him regularly, restoring his former appearance—at least as far as looks went.
Shit, Shi Nian thought. This is the guy who killed the former Pope of the Spirit Hall! Why is he targeting me?
But Shi Nian was a decisive person. After his initial shock, a vicious look flashed across his face. Without thinking, he launched a direct attack at Tang Hao's throat.
It didn't matter what the reason was—he would kill him first and figure out the details later. Tang Hao had been tailing him, clearly up to no good. What else could it be? Was Tang Hao here to chat with him?
The Clear Sky Sect had sealed itself off. At worst, after killing Tang Hao, he could go into hiding. After all, who would know it was him who killed Tang Hao? And if the worst came to pass and the truth came out, he could always join the Spirit Hall. He would have avenged their former Pope, after all. Would the Spirit Hall fear the Clear Sky Sect?
As these thoughts flashed through Shi Nian's mind, his hand drew closer to Tang Hao's throat, and a glimmer of excitement appeared on his face. Almost there. It's almost over.
But just as his fingers were about to touch Tang Hao's skin, Tang Hao's body suddenly erupted with a powerful wave of soul power. His head snapped back, and from his mouth came a gut-wrenching scream: "No, Ah Yin...!"
So close...!
Shi Nian thought in frustration as he looked at the distance between his fingertips and Tang Hao's throat. But Tang Hao's burst of soul power sent Shi Nian flying, slamming him into a large tree.
Thud!
Shi Nian crashed to the ground, his throat convulsing as he spat out a mouthful of blood.
He had attacked with all his might and hadn't raised his defenses. Now, after being struck so suddenly, he was seriously injured.
His movements had finally caught Tang Hao's attention. As their eyes met, Shi Nian felt as if his soul had frozen. The intense killing intent in Tang Hao's gaze slowed his movements as he struggled to get up.
Seeing Tang Hao's blood-red eyes and the murderous aura surrounding him, Shi Nian couldn't help but shudder. "Your Excellency, Clear Sky Douluo, I'm sorry. I didn't know it was you. Please, spare me!"
Tang Hao noticed that his hood had been pulled back, but he no longer cared. There was no point in talking to a dead man.
Shi Nian was unforgivable. He had to die.
If Tang Hao had initially been after his head soul bone, now it was pure, raw killing intent.
He hadn't expected Shi Nian to be able to use his martial soul and head soul bone in such a way that he broke through Tang Hao's mental defenses, trapping him in a nightmare.
In that illusion, Tang Hao had once again experienced the pain of losing Ah Yin. But this time, unlike the previous two times, he had watched helplessly as a Wind Baboon took Ah Yin in front of him, switching between her two forms, while he could do nothing. He was utterly powerless.
If Shi Nian's spiritual power had been stronger, or if Tang Hao hadn't had the Deathgod Domain, he didn't even want to imagine what would have happened next.
With that thought, Tang Hao no longer hesitated. His right hand summoned the Clear Sky Hammer, and above his head, a blood-red soul ring appeared.
His spiritual power, killing intent, and soul power pressure all locked onto Shi Nian, leaving him unable to move as Tang Hao slowly approached.
From the moment Tang Hao's martial soul and soul ring appeared, despair spread through Shi Nian's heart. As a fellow villain, he already knew what his fate would be.
He opened his mouth to curse but found that his mouth had been sealed by a surge of soul power. Tang Hao wasn't even giving him the chance to speak.
As Tang Hao's figure loomed larger in Shi Nian's vision, he noticed that the Clear Sky Hammer, once large and imposing, had shrunk without him realizing it.
Shi Nian's pupils dilated, but by then, the smaller Clear Sky Hammer had already landed on his left knee.
Crack.
The sharp sound of bone breaking echoed through the silent grove. Shi Nian's mouth opened wider, but no sound came out.
Tang Hao's left hand had already gripped his throat, further cutting off any chance of making a sound.
"Don't rush. This is only the beginning."
Tang Hao's voice, like the whisper of a demon, rang in Shi Nian's ears, sinking his heart deeper into an abyss.
It's over, was the only thought left in Shi Nian's mind.
Then, the crisp sound of bones breaking followed one after another. The red in Tang Hao's eyes slowly faded.
Glancing at the now limp Shi Nian in his hand, Tang Hao released his grip, letting the body fall to the ground.
At some point—perhaps it was after he had broken Yu Xiaogang's legs for the first time?—Tang Hao had grown fond of this method of venting. Inflicting the most painful death upon his enemies helped ease the knots in his heart.
On the ground, Shi Nian didn't even have the strength to groan.
He struggled to move his head, the only part of his body he could still control, and looked up at Tang Hao. From the depths of his soul, his most burning question escaped:
"W-why... kill... me? I... don't think... I offended you... right?"
"Why?"
Tang Hao let out a cold laugh and looked down at Shi Nian, who was no longer recognizable as human.
"Do I need that many reasons to kill you?"
"I... refuse..."
Shi Nian struggled to spit out a few words, his eyes filled with hatred.
"It doesn't matter if I tell you."
Tang Hao crouched down, seemingly satisfied with the look in Shi Nian's eyes.
"Your Seven-in-One Fusion Skill blocked my son's path, and I'm also quite interested in your soul bone. Is that enough?"
Shi Nian's lips moved, but he no longer had the strength to make any sound.
"However, your biggest mistake was attacking me. You shouldn't have made me remember those damned things."
Suddenly, a ferocious expression flashed across Tang Hao's face. He abruptly stood up and lifted his right foot, preparing to stomp on Shi Nian's head, intending to crush it completely.
Swoosh!
An ice arrow shot toward Tang Hao's raised right leg. Sensing the fluctuation in soul power, Tang Hao stopped his movement instantly. His right hand swung the Clear Sky Hammer, shattering the ice arrow.
"Who's there? Get out here!"
Tang Hao turned toward the direction from which the ice arrow had come, sending a powerful wave of soul power in that direction.
"Hehe, we meet again, Your Excellency, Clear Sky Douluo."
A familiar voice entered Tang Hao's ears, and in his sight, Ning Que, dressed in white, stepped out.
"It's you again, Ning Que!"
Tang Hao's killing intent surged instantly. His memory of this Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect disciple, who had escaped from him last time, was still quite vivid.
"You're still so impatient. Killing a teacher from a participating academy during the Soul Master Tournament is a serious crime, you know."
Ning Que smiled sweetly at Tang Hao, using polite language, but in Tang Hao's ears, it sounded full of threats.
"Are you threatening me?"
Tang Hao's grip on the Clear Sky Hammer tightened even more.
"Oh no, how would I dare to threaten you? I don't want to end up like Shi Nian, shattered into pieces. What I mean is..."
As Ning Que spoke, he suddenly paused.
Tang Hao looked slightly confused, and then he saw Ning Que flash a brilliant smile.
"Tang Hao, take this from me—Tower of God!"
The moment Ning Que finished speaking, Tang Hao sensed a gust of wind above him. Looking up, he saw four crystalline Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Towers, nested one inside the other, appearing overhead at some point. They were crashing down with immense force.
Without hesitation, Tang Hao's Clear Sky Hammer swung upward to meet the icy towers. This damned brat—just as devious as ever, Tang Hao thought. He would have to be more careful in the future; Ning Que's attacks could even mask their presence.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Three consecutive explosions echoed in the air as Tang Hao's hammer collided with the crystalline towers. However, something felt off—where was the fourth one?
Turning his head, Tang Hao saw that another Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Tower had curved around, bypassing his attack, and was now enveloping Shi Nian's body on the ground. It was quickly flying back toward Ning Que.
"Not good! His target is Shi Nian's body and his soul bone!"
Tang Hao was about to make a move when Ning Que's voice reached him: "Clear Sky Douluo, don't forget, we're not far from the city gates. If you take one step forward, I'll immediately detonate the ice crystals and let everyone admire your masterpiece."
"Oh, and I'll throw Shi Nian's body into Heaven Dou Imperial Academy. Do you think the three board members will be able to recognize that these wounds were made by the Clear Sky Hammer?"
"You wouldn't want your identity exposed right now, would you?"
Tang Hao's steps were forcibly halted. He watched as Ning Que's figure disappeared into the forest.
"Oh, by the way, Shi Nian left a message for you."
After a moment, just as Tang Hao, with a dark expression, was preparing to leave, Ning Que's voice echoed again. This time, Tang Hao couldn't pinpoint where it was coming from.
"He said that his illusion only had the power of suggestion. He couldn't control it. Before he died, he wanted to ask—what did you see in the illusion? What happened to Ah Yin? She wasn't hurt, was she? Hehe.""Ning Que's annoying voice finally faded away, but Tang Hao's eyes had already turned red again. He could no longer control the Clear Sky Hammer in his hand, and it slammed into the ground with a tremendous crash.
Ning Que, you truly deserve to die!
He had spent half the day tracking them, gained nothing, lost the soul bone, and had been toyed with again. His heart was filled with hatred.