The radiance blooming from the Ice Phoenix Flame Shadow was said to be four domains, but in truth, it could only be counted as three.
Because neither Mu Yang nor Shui Bing'er's Killing God Domains had grown to the limit, only when the two Killing God Domains fused together could the effect rival that of a fully matured Killing God Domain.
With the fused dual Killing God Domain, combined with the Iceflame Domain and the Ice Phoenix Domain, in terms of domains, the Ice Phoenix Flame Shadow would hold an absolute advantage.
In terms of soul power level, Tang Hao was the same as the last time Mu Yang had seen him—still a level 95 Title Douluo.
However, with the formidable foundation brought by a hundred-thousand-year ninth soul ring and a full set of soul bones, Tang Hao's qualities in every aspect were no weaker than an ordinary level 96 Title Douluo.
Paired with his supreme techniques aside from the Great Sumeru Hammer, his combat strength surpassed level 96 Title Douluos, and most likely was not far off from level 97.
But Tang Hao's old injuries had not yet healed, so he could not fight a prolonged battle.
Based on the original work, his own experiences, and the battles he had once witnessed between powerhouses, in Mu Yang's view, Tang Hao in his normal state had overall strength roughly at the level of a 96 Title Douluo like Fifteen Ton Douluo; if he were to detonate all nine rings at once, he could probably contend with a level 98 Title Douluo with optimal soul ring configuration.
Of course, once Tang Hao used the Great Sumeru Hammer's profound art—Ring Explosion and detonated multiple soul rings, then regardless of victory or defeat, Tang Hao himself would ascend to heaven.
Mu Yang felt that this fight was one he was destined to win.
Back then, the reason Qian Xunji had been defeated by Tang Hao, who had only just reached the rank of nine-ring Title Douluo, was entirely due to using the wrong tactics. If it had been him in that place, there would absolutely not have been left behind the disgraceful record of "generation after generation of Hammer Kings hammering Angels."
In his normal state, Tang Hao's strength was only "so-so," not much stronger than the hundred-thousand-year Titan Giant Ape that had died at his hands in the past.
And compared to when he had hunted the Titan Giant Ape, both he and Shui Bing'er's soul power levels had undergone a qualitative leap.
Therefore, facing Tang Hao without ring detonation, the Ice Phoenix Flame Shadow practically had the fight in hand.
As for after detonating nine rings, when Tang Hao's strength soared?
The Hammer King excelled in power and attack, but not in speed.
If that guy dared to play Ring Explosion, Mu Yang dared to employ the tactically "unvirtuous" retreat, hanging him from afar with speed much greater than his, and once the aftereffects of Ring Explosion set in, taking his head would be effortless.
Taking advantage of another's peril? This was called the best tactic!
If not for the fact that Tang Hao's soul power level was far higher than his, and his soul bones were fully equipped with a head bone that boosted spiritual power, Mu Yang would not have been cautious—otherwise, a single Soul-Seizing Secret Art would settle the outcome, directly crippling the Clear Sky Douluo's famed Great Sumeru Hammer.
"Die!"
With a furious roar, Tang Hao swung the enormous black hammer in the Clear Sky True Body's hands, as large as a hill, and smashed it fiercely toward the Ice Phoenix Flame Shadow on the barren mountain.
"Swish—"
Seeing this, the Ice Phoenix Flame Shadow's wings of iceflame behind it flapped once, and before the hill-sized black hammer could land, its figure rapidly retreated, soaring up into the air.
Against a strength-type opponent, one must exploit one's advantage in speed—head-on confrontation was not the best choice.
"Boom—"
As the massive hammer struck down, a large portion of the barren mountain, sparsely vegetated and heavily weathered, collapsed instantly, sending out a tremor like the shaking of earth and mountains.
"As expected of the Clear Sky Douluo. The power of this hammer is considerable. But if it doesn't hit, what can you do to me?"
Avoiding that forceful strike, Mu Yang, flying into the sky, mocked coldly.
Having blasted Tang San, Tang Hao was now irreconcilable with him, but Mu Yang didn't mind adding a few more flames, driving Tang Hao to completely lose his reason.
After all, once reason was lost, Tang Hao would become even easier to deal with.
"Whoosh—"
Facing Mu Yang's taunt, Tang Hao did not reply, but with eyes brimming with hatred locked on the Ice Phoenix Flame Shadow, he swung out another hammer, bringing with it a whistling sound like a sonic boom.
But how could the well-prepared Mu Yang be struck so easily?
A high-speed, high-attack ranged mage was not so easily hit by a close-combat warrior.
The moment Tang Hao swung his hammer, the Ice Phoenix Flame Shadow's figure vanished from its original spot.
"Secret Art: Spear of Slaughtering Iceflame!"
Flapping its wings to retreat into the distance, a flash of blue light appeared in the Ice Phoenix Flame Shadow's hand, condensing into a spear of iceflame over a zhang long.
At the same time, the endless killing intent suffusing the Killing God Domain rapidly surged into the Spear of Iceflame.
Soon, as the killing intent accumulated to its peak, with a twist of its wrist, the Ice Phoenix Flame Shadow hurled the Spear of Slaughtering Iceflame toward the distant Clear Sky True Body, carrying boundless murderous will.
Cannot take it head-on!
Staring at the incoming Spear of Slaughtering Iceflame, Tang Hao's heart sank, perceiving an intense threat. He immediately moved to dodge.
In the next moment, the shooting spear brushed past the Clear Sky True Body.
Seeing this, Mu Yang was not annoyed. With but a turn of his will, the spear curved in midair, drawing an ice-blue arc, and once again shot toward the back of the Clear Sky True Body.
The secret arts deduced by Mu Yang were not necessarily all overwhelming, but they all had one very distinct advantage—that even after leaving the hand, they could still be controlled.
It could be said that, so long as he willed it, unless the distance was too great or the attack was disrupted by other means, the secret arts cast by Mu Yang were certain to hit their target.
For an ordinary opponent, caught unawares, they would most likely be struck in the back by the redirected Spear of Slaughtering Iceflame.
But Tang Hao was no ordinary soul master. As one of the few top experts on the continent, his combat experience was extremely rich, not comparable to common soul masters.
Though he had not anticipated this beforehand, when the spear turned and came again, Tang Hao still perceived it instantly.
Of course, this was not only because Tang Hao had abundant battle experience, but also closely tied to his extraordinarily strong spiritual power and keen perception.
However, though he saw through it, at this moment Tang Hao's heart, beyond hatred and fury, was also filled with frustration.
He understood that against such a secret art with spiritual locking effect, pure evasion was useless. After all, no one could guarantee making not the slightest mistake in the midst of fierce combat.
The best way to deal with it was to disrupt this secret art, or to kill the caster.
As for the latter, that was clearly impossible, because his opponent was faster than him, simply not giving him the chance to close in.
As for the former, the spear's might was extraordinary, not easy to block!
"Hmph! Great Sumeru Hammer!"
Once again evading the pursuing Spear of Slaughtering Iceflame, Tang Hao steeled his heart and used his trump card.
The Haotian Sect's inherited supreme art—the Great Sumeru Hammer—circulated, and his nine soul rings of yellow, yellow, purple, purple, black, black, black, black, and red merged into one, fusing into the Haotian Hammer in his hand.
In an instant, the enormous black hammer in the Haotian True Body's hands swelled once more, crimson patterns surfacing all over, as the black giant hammer transformed into a blood-red color, emanating an incomparably terrifying aura.
For additional chapters
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