As the voice echoed, everyone present—except for the Shui sisters, Shui Qingwu, Yang Wudi, and a few others—felt as though a massive Clear Sky Hammer weighed down on their shoulders, rendering them immobile. Even the two Titled Douluo could barely move.
"This voice... it feels like it's pressing directly on our souls. Just now, Sun Douluo's hammer carried a force of over ten thousand pounds, but the newcomer subdued everyone here with just his voice. Such power is truly astonishing," Meng Shenji struggled to hold on. As a control-type Soul Douluo, he found it even harder to resist this pressure compared to power-type Douluo.
Some Soul Douluo could barely manage, but weaker ones like Xue Beng and Prince Xue Xing had already been forced to their knees.
"Is the newcomer Sword Douluo? Your Grace, please restrain your wrath!" Under the protection of her family's Fifth Elder, Zhen Tian Douluo, Tang Yuehua fared better than Xue Beng and managed to ask this question.
Tang Yuehua thought it was Chen Xin, since even her elder brothers Tang Xiao and Tang Hao—the strongest in the current Clear Sky Sect—couldn't match this level of power. In her memory, only three people could: Qian Daoliu of Spirit Hall, Sea God Island's High Priest Bo Saixi, and her grandfather Tang Chen.
In other words, the newcomer had power close to an Ultimate Douluo. The only new Ultimate Douluo in recent years was Sword Douluo Chen Xin from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, who was famous not just for his swordsmanship but also for how fiercely he protected his people. It would make sense for him to show up here.
"It's been a while, Lady Tang Yuehua. Sorry, my master is in seclusion, so it's me who came instead!"
Suddenly, a flash of sword light swept through, turning the entire palace roof to powder in an instant.
A man bathed in endless sword aura hovered in midair. Bai Baoshan's heart skipped—he instantly recognized this entrance; it was just like Chen Xin's from years ago.
Only now, the one who was once suppressed had become the one who could suppress all.
"Tianlin?!" Huo Wu, Feng Xiaotian, and the others were shocked. They'd also just assumed it was Sword Douluo, but to their surprise, it was Tianlin, who had once participated in the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Tournament with them.
It had only been six years since then, yet his strength had become terrifying.
Tianlin slowly descended and stood in front of Yang Wudi and the others.
"Vice Sect Leader, sorry for causing trouble for the sect," Yang Wudi apologized, not regretting his actions but not denying his mistake either.
"Standing up for a friend isn't something to apologize for," Tianlin said, turning to Yang Wudi. The sight of Yang Wudi's bloodied hands made his brows furrow. "Senior Yang, who hurt you?"
"That bad guy!" Yang Wudi didn't answer, but the pure-hearted Shui Yue'er couldn't hold back, pointing at Lieyang Douluo and tattling.
To her, since Tianlin was Yang Wudi's superior, he should stand up for him.
Those with more political considerations might worry about offending the Clear Sky Sect for Yang Wudi's sake, but Tianlin wasn't like that. The more straightforward the person, the more they understood Tianlin's thinking. Shui Yue'er was absolutely right—he would stand up for Yang Wudi, sect interests and political calculations be damned.
"Don't worry, ladies. Please look after Senior Yang. Leave the rest to me," Tianlin smiled and walked into the crowd.
With magic sword in hand, his nine soul rings—yellow, purple, purple, black, black, red, red, red, dark gold—shone one by one.
Everyone was stunned. Tianlin had truly become a Titled Douluo at only twenty, and with such a soul ring configuration, was he trying to defy the heavens?
"Lieyang Douluo, was it? I'll answer Prince Xue Xing's earlier question—with you as the example!"
Tianlin unleashed his evolved Deathgod Domain, Asura Hell. The killing intent was so intense it was almost tangible, and the palace walls cracked instantly.
"W-what are you doing? If you touch me, Clear Sky Sect won't let you off!" Lieyang Douluo involuntarily gulped.
As a Titled Douluo, he could sense the stark power gap between himself and Tianlin. Looking at Tianlin was like seeing Tang Chen in his prime.
"You hit Senior Yang with a hammer; I'll respond with a single sword strike. Whether you live or die after that is up to you."
Tianlin lifted the killing intent, giving Lieyang Douluo freedom to move so no one could call it an unfair victory.
Tianlin swung his sword casually. The formless sword energy merged with killing intent and shot straight at Lieyang Douluo.
"Clear Sky Shield!" Lieyang Douluo reacted just in time, using his defensive spirit skill.
Unfortunately, the Clear Sky Hammer-shaped shield crumbled instantly before Tianlin's current attack. The sword energy swept past Lieyang Douluo.
In a single breath, Lieyang Douluo fell to his knees. Zhen Tian Douluo and Tang Yuehua were shocked and wanted to check on him, but they were still pinned by Tianlin's killing intent.
"Tianlin, stop! Do you really intend to slaughter everyone here?" Bai Baoshan yelled.
Seeing the short, chubby man, Tianlin sighed. Bai Baoshan had once helped him, so he couldn't ignore his plea. He withdrew all his pressure, and everyone breathed a collective sigh of relief—the helpless feeling had been unbearable.
"Seventh Elder!" Tang Yuehua and Fifth Elder rushed to check on Lieyang Douluo.
"Fifth Elder, how is he?" Tang Yuehua asked anxiously.
"He has no external injuries, but I can feel his body collapsing inside, his meridians vanishing bit by bit. If this continues, he'll be left an empty shell with only a skin, all flesh and blood gone." Zhen Tian Douluo shuddered. The sword technique was terrifying.
"It's the Sword Path of Destruction! Tianlin has mastered his master's Sword Path of Destruction!" Xue Beng remembered this technique vividly; the sensation of one's body fading away was a lifelong nightmare for him.
"Tianlin, you're too cruel! Seventh Elder only injured Yang Wudi, yet you're so ruthless!" Zhen Tian Douluo raged.
Tianlin replied calmly, "How laughable. Did Lieyang Douluo hold back just now? Senior Yang was only unharmed because of his strength. Otherwise, your seventh brother would have smashed him to pieces. This is karma. If you want revenge, bring out your Clear Sky Hammer. But don't throw your life away. If you really want vengeance, call all three remaining elders and Tang Xiao. No more one-at-a-time rescues—it's pointless and annoying. Better to send your whole family off together."
"So cool!" Shui Yue'er swooned again, infatuated by Tianlin's dominance. To dare say such things to the world's top sect, and no one dared retort.
Tianlin's sword had just proved his power—he'd instantly defeated Lieyang Douluo, something even Tang Xiao couldn't do.
"What a shame! Back in the academy tournament, he was just a brat. I was too busy crushing on more mature guys like Dai Mubai and Yu Tianheng. If I'd noticed him sooner, I'd have snagged this promising guy myself!" Shui Yue'er thought, feeling regret.
Seeing her sister's face, Shui Bing'er knew Shui Yue'er was lovestruck again—but this time, she didn't care. The despair they'd felt earlier from being besieged had vanished thanks to this man's arrival.