Chapter 73: True Wisdom
"Hao-ge…"
Down below, Tang Yuehua caught sight of Tang Hao embedded in the cliff wall after being punched there by Qian Xunji. Her eyes filled with disbelief. She couldn't accept it—her Hao-ge had… lost.
She had thought, at worst, he might not match Qian Xunji, but never imagined he would be defeated so miserably.
Qian Xunji, elegant as ever with one hand behind his back, hovered about ten meters in front of the cliff where Tang Hao was stuck. Tang Hao's face was blank, eyes wide open, seemingly questioning his entire existence. Qian Xunji's calm tone carried a commanding, irrefutable aura. His golden eyes swept over the crowd, and any soul master harboring hostility toward Spirit Hall instinctively lowered their gaze—especially Ning Fengzhi.
Damn. Clear Sky Douluo was beaten down by Qian Xunji in just a couple of moves. Only two soul skills were used. And they still talked about a united Upper Three Sects? What a joke.
Of course, this didn't include Yu Yuanzhen. Even if Qian Daoliu himself were here, Yu Yuanzhen's pride wouldn't bow to anyone—that was the pride of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan.
"So, it seems the outcome is settled."
After saying this, Qian Xunji, still with one hand elegantly behind his back, waved to Ah Yin in the distance.
Ah Yin pointed to herself, then activated her Blue Silver Domain, letting the vines carry her to Qian Xunji's altitude. The crowd was confused—was he showing off their relationship or something?
Once Ah Yin reached him, Qian Xunji gave her a firm flick on the forehead. "You just had to open your mouth and make me work harder."
Ah Yin rubbed her forehead, a little aggrieved. "I know you're strong, husband, but don't humiliate Tang Hao like this. He's still my sworn second brother."
The corners of everyone's mouths twitched. So that's what this was about—Qian Xunji blaming Ah Yin for telling Tang Hao to give up earlier. But… wasn't this still kind of a public display of affection?
Come to think of it, Tang Xiao, Tang Hao, and the Blue Silver Empress had once sworn brotherhood while traveling the continent. Judging from the wedding eight years ago, both Tang Xiao and Tang Hao seemed to harbor feelings for Ah Yin. But she had married Qian Xunji instead.
Clearly, part of Tang Hao's reason for challenging Qian Xunji was resentment over Ah Yin marrying him. And now he was publicly defeated, humiliated, and forced to watch this display of affection. This was utter disgrace.
No doubt, as Tang Hao heard Ah Yin's voice again, he instinctively looked up—only to see Qian Xunji and Ah Yin teasing each other. His pride was utterly shattered. It felt like the world had planted the greenest hat on his head. Humiliation turned into boiling rage.
"Adulterers! I'll kill you both! Grand Sumeru Hammer—Nine Rings Explode at Once!"
Tang Hao gripped his Clear Sky Hammer tightly as all nine soul rings turned gold and exploded simultaneously. Terrifying energy surged into the hammer. Behind him, a mountain split in two under the force. The hammer transformed into a colossal golden sun and smashed forward.
Qian Xunji, monitoring Tang Hao with his spiritual power, instantly pushed Ah Yin away. Activating his split-thought control and the Seven-Orifice Exquisite Heart, he unleashed Angel True Form, Angel Wings, Angel Descent, Angel's Guard, and Angelic Annihilation Thunder. He bolted away from the golden sun.
BOOM—
A massive mushroom cloud rose into the sky. The power of the nine-ring simultaneous detonation likely exceeded even the full 81-hammer attack of the Chaotic Cloak technique. The explosion obliterated several mountains.
"This is bad!"
"Chrysanthemum Pass!"
"Old Ghost!"
"Level-Two Stasis Domain!"
Sensing the oncoming shockwave, Chrysanthemum and Ghost Douluo instantly used their martial soul fusion skill. Eighteen soul rings appeared and temporarily suspended the energy wave, shielding Ah Yin.
"My body is a sword!"
Sword Douluo summoned his Seven Kill Sword, slashing open the approaching wave of destruction.
"Father!"
Yu Xiaogang, thinking the shockwave would be his end, opened his eyes to see a massive Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon, wreathed in purple-black lightning and nine soul rings beneath its feet—clearly Yu Yuanzhen had protected him.
Those with connections survived. The lower-level soul masters without such luck? Crushed by the shockwave, killed, maimed, or buried under falling stones.
Tang Yuehua was among them. Though not killed, a massive gash marred her once-delicate face—nearly slicing it open.
The blast leveled everything within several hundred meters.
Golden Crocodile Douluo guessed the energy of that strike was equivalent to a basic full-strength attack from a powerhouse like Qian Daoliu or Tang Chen.
On the Clear Sky Sect's side, Tang Zhen couldn't even be happy. In fact, he nearly died from anger. The battle was over, yet Tang Hao's strike amounted to a sneak attack—an assassination attempt.
If Qian Xunji had died, Spirit Hall would retaliate and the Clear Sky Sect would be annihilated.
As the energy dissipated, Tang Hao lay limp in a crater, his soul power depleted, his face twisted in pain. His muscles spasmed. The backlash from detonating all nine rings had nearly destroyed his body.
Even Tang Chen had only detonated his soul rings one at a time. But Tang Hao—at level 93—had blown up all nine at once.
Several hundred meters away, Qian Xunji floated in the sky, clutching his chest. His face was pale. Though protected by multiple soul skills and enough distance, he hadn't been seriously injured.
A faint smile tugged at Qian Xunji's lips. Other than Tang Hao's evolved Killing God Domain, every move had been within his calculations—including the Nine Ring Detonation.
Letting Ah Yin approach had been to push Tang Hao over the edge—to make him lose control.
The script had already been written. Now it was time to dismantle Tang Hao—piece by piece.
Everything had gone according to Qian Xunji's plan. To outsiders, everything seemed perfectly logical. He hadn't said a word, yet Tang Hao walked right into his trap.
This was true wisdom.
True wisdom is seeing five centuries ahead and five centuries back. It's holding the storm in your palm, reading the rise and fall of the world.
True wisdom is making you do what I want—because you have no other choice.
True wisdom is laying a chessboard for you, making every step you think is yours actually mine—guided, manipulated, controlled by me.
When the game is set, your fate is sealed—unalterable.
Qian Xunji's intelligence might seem like overkill in Douluo Continent, but it hadn't reached such god-like levels. No one could really foresee 500 years in either direction in this world. But directing a drama and crushing the Clear Sky Sect? That, he could do with ease.
Preparations: The Seven Sects Re-election Conference—observing the Clear Sky Hammer's combat style. Training against Worship Hall members to gain foundational combat experience. Learning from Qian Daoliu's battle with Tang Chen about the power of ring detonation.
Guidance: Toying with Tang Hao to provoke him. Stirring his fury. Using Ah Yin to snap his final thread of rationality—forcing him into the nine-ring explosion.
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