Yang Xiong soared through the air, standing atop the hilt of the Asura Demon Sword, his presence overwhelming. A crimson aura surrounded him, as if it sought to dye the heavens and earth red.
In a flash, Yang Xiong appeared before Ning Fengzhi and Lin Gong. With a wave of his hand, Ning Rongrong, Oscar, and the others emerged from a storage-type soul-guiding artifact.
When Yang Xiong had sensed Qian Renxue's ascension to godhood, he was still near Hanhai City. However, with time running short, he decided to travel directly to Jialing Pass using his sword-flight technique. Though Yang Xiong trusted that Qian Renxue wouldn't harm innocents indiscriminately, Jialing Pass held too many of his friends and loved ones for him to take any chances.
As for Ning Rongrong, Oscar, and the other six, their speed was far too slow. Yang Xiong had placed them in a living-storage soul-guiding artifact, allowing him to maximize his own speed.
Once Ning Rongrong and the others appeared, they quickly rushed to Ning Fengzhi's side upon seeing the condition he, Sword Douluo, and the others were in.
Yang Xiong addressed Ning Fengzhi, Lin Gong, and the others: "Master, Teacher Lin, Teacher Sword Douluo, Teacher Bone Douluo, Old Goat—how are you all? Are you injured?"
Ning Fengzhi's face revealed a bitter smile: "Xiao Xiong, we're fine. But you shouldn't have come back."
As Ning Fengzhi said, Yang Xiong had yet to ascend to godhood, and the gap between him and a true god was immense. Returning now would be akin to throwing an egg at a rock.
However, Ning Rongrong swiftly summoned her Nine-Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda to assist Ning Fengzhi, Sword Douluo, and the others.
"Dad, Grandpa Sword, Grandpa Bone—don't worry. Xiao Xiong and I are here. You'll be alright."
The crowd was astonished to see Ning Rongrong like this. She had already reached Level 91, making her one of only two Title Douluo in the history of the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect—and the only support-system Title Douluo in the entire Douluo Continent.
Her soul ring configuration—two purple, six black, and one red—was unparalleled among support soul masters. Her possession of a hundred-thousand-year soul ring set a precedent across the continent.
Meanwhile, Oscar quickly distributed his Super Recovery Sausages to alleviate everyone's injuries.
Sword Douluo and Bone Douluo looked at Ning Rongrong and the others in shock. These individuals had only been away for over a month, yet their soul power had surged significantly, likely due to some extraordinary encounter.
However, both Sword Douluo and Bone Douluo were filled with concern. Though they knew Yang Xiong was powerful, the opponent was the Angel God—a being that appeared once every tens of thousands of years. Such divine strength was beyond human resistance.
The two silently prepared themselves, ready to fight to the death if necessary, at least to secure a path to survival for Yang Xiong and Ning Rongrong.
Yang Xiong observed everyone's expressions and smiled faintly: "Teachers, now that I've returned, leave everything here to me. Rest assured."
Though Yang Xiong's words were calm, they carried an undeniable weight, calming even Sword Douluo and Bone Douluo, who had been on edge just moments ago.
Yang Xiong surveyed the surroundings and immediately grasped the situation. It seemed Qian Renxue had indeed killed Emperor Xue Ye and Tang Hao, while the others, though injured, were not critically harmed.
Emperor Xue Ye and Tang Hao represented Qian Renxue's deepest obsessions. For years, she had plotted within the Tian Dou Palace, nearly succeeding in her plans, only to have them collapse at the last moment. Emperor Xue Ye had been her greatest obstacle; without him, the Spirit Empire's unification of the world would have faced far less resistance.
As for Tang Hao, he was her lifelong enemy. Had it not been for him, Qian Renxue would not have lost her father or grown up alone and destitute.
At this moment, Qian Renxue suddenly laughed: "Yang Xiong, I've waited so long for you. Don't you have anything to say?"
Yang Xiong glanced at Qian Renxue: "Congratulations, Qian Renxue. I didn't expect you to break through to Level 100 so quickly. It seems the Angel God has favored you greatly."
"Also, thank you for waiting so long. Otherwise, with your strength, these people would have been dead long ago."
Qian Renxue sneered: "I'm nothing like you, a shameless wretch. If I want to defeat you, I'll do so honorably—I won't take my anger out on these innocents."
Yang Xiong shook his head: "Qian Renxue, it seems you still don't understand me. Even if you kill all these people, it won't affect me in the slightest. I'll simply grow stronger and seek revenge."
"Besides, Qian Renxue, though you've become a god, has it truly fulfilled your desires? Has everything fallen into place as you wished?"
Qian Renxue's expression darkened: "What do you mean? Now that I've become a god, I am the strongest being in the Douluo world. Even Limit Douluo are like ants to me now. The three great Limit Douluo of the past are nothing but a joke."
"After I defeat you, I will personally visit the Sea God Island to wash away the shame of my grandfather's defeat."
Yang Xiong's lips curled slightly: "Qian Renxue, though you've become a god and can see a broader world, it won't mend your regrets. Qian Daoliu has already fallen, and Bibi Dong is your mortal enemy. Is this the strength you desired?"
The crowd was shocked to hear this. They hadn't expected that Qian Daoliu, who had once dominated the soul master world, had perished—and he was Qian Renxue's only remaining family member.
Qian Renxue clenched her teeth: "Yang Xiong, you know quite a lot. Unfortunately, I've become a god. In my eyes, even you are no longer invincible. Today, I'll make you experience your first-ever defeat."
Yang Xiong chuckled: "Though gods are powerful, they are not invincible. Moreover, you know full well that your father was killed by Bibi Dong, yet you remain unable to confront her."
"No matter how you look at it, you are now parentless, and your only remaining kin has fallen. What meaning does your divinity hold?"
Qian Renxue's fury erupted: "Yang Xiong, you're courting death!"
"Don't think that because you once defeated me, you can spout nonsense in front of me now. I'll make sure you die without a grave!"
Qian Renxue's soul power surged, and six black, three red, and one golden soul rings appeared around her. She resembled a descending angel, radiating divine light, causing the very heavens and earth to tremble.
Yang Xiong snorted coldly. His body shimmered with a faint golden glow, and a massive blood-red figure emerged behind him, covered in dense demonic patterns. His soul rings consisted of five black, three red, and one blue-golden ring.
Especially when Yang Xiong's blue-golden soul ring appeared, everyone was astounded. Such a soul ring color was unprecedented in the history of soul masters—only Qian Renxue's tenth soul ring, a white-gold ring, came close.
As the two summoned their martial souls, the surrounding crowd was pushed back by the overwhelming pressure, feeling as if mortals facing gods.
The sky split in half—half golden, half blood-red—as if two terrifying domains were colliding.
Qian Renxue sneered: "Yang Xiong, you do have some tricks up your sleeve. I didn't expect you to obtain a god-level soul ring. But even with a that, you're still just a mortal. There's an insurmountable gap between humans and gods."
Yang Xiong replied: "Whether there's a gap remains to be seen. Your excessive arrogance needs to change. The gap between soul masters isn't solely about soul power. You've lost so many times—haven't you learned anything?"
"This place is inconvenient for battle. Let's go to our usual spot!"
In an instant, the killing intent from both figures soared to its peak as they shot off into the distance.
After ascending to godhood, Qian Renxue's speed had increased several times compared to her Level 98 days.
As for Yang Xiong, after breaking through to Level 98, he seemed to have overcome the gravitational restrictions of Douluo Planet, allowing him to fly at incredible speeds.
The two soon reached the skies above. Qian Renxue radiated dazzling golden light, resembling a golden sun.
Yang Xiong stood motionless, calmly holding the Asura Demon Sword, as if merging with heaven and earth.
The two figures faced off in the sky, seemingly transcending the world's limits. Only they could sense each other's true power.
Everyone in Jialing Pass watched the skies—the soul masters on the walls, Ning Fengzhi and the others, and even the injured Bibi Dong, who had come to observe from the battlements.
Qian Renxue's eyes revealed disdain: "Yang Xiong, do you know that my Six-Winged Angel Clan is also known as the Invincible of the Skies? Especially under the sun, the sky is my domain."
Yang Xiong sneered: "Sun or no sun, heaven or earth—if it's within the Douluo world, no one can defeat me—not even a god."
The massive blood-red figure behind Yang Xiong seemed to merge with the heavens, turning the sky crimson. Even Qian Renxue's colossal Six-Winged Angel martial soul began to feel restricted.
With a flap of her wings, Qian Renxue transformed into a streak of golden light, charging directly at Yang Xiong. The sky itself seemed to compress under the force of her attack.
Even a casual strike from Qian Renxue rivaled the power of a hundred-thousand-year soul skill.
But Yang Xiong clenched his right fist and unleashed a full-powered punch in response.
Their right fists collided for the first time. As expected of a Level 100 god, Qian Renxue's soul power had fully transformed into divine power. Even Yang Xiong's formidable physique felt a sharp pain in his right hand as he was forced back several dozen meters, while Qian Renxue remained unmoved.
Yang Xiong's expression shifted slightly. In an instant, he summoned all his soul bones, which turned a deep blood-red and enveloped his body like a thick suit of armor.
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