Beside him, Ning Rongrong was hearing for the first time about Dugu Feng's experience in the Slaughter City.
Although Dugu Feng spoke of it lightly, she still felt a chill run down her spine.
That was a place crawling with murderers and madmen, where no one's hands were clean.
She couldn't even imagine how Dugu Feng had survived there.
He must have suffered a great deal!
A pang of guilt struck her heart and her own efforts suddenly seemed far too little.
Compared to Dugu Feng's struggles, she still had a long way to go.
A sense of urgency quietly bloomed inside her. If Dugu Feng was that desperate in his pursuit of strength, she too had to work harder.
"Your Majesty Clear Sky," Bone Douluo began directly, "outside Heaven Dou City that day, Bibi Dong once claimed that the Killing God Domain was only the beginning, intending to lure our Heaven Dou Empire's geniuses to her side.
She had no idea that our Heaven Dou side also has those who have mastered this domain.
I wonder, Your Majesty, do you know what is truly special about the Killing God Domain?"
At his words, Tang Hao glanced again at Dugu Feng.
He could sense a sharp, compressed aura swirling faintly around the youth, very much like a blade ready to burst forth.
Tang Hao understood immediately.
"When I fought Bibi Dong," he said slowly, "she released an aura of corruption. The corruption carried an evil, twisted energy filled with malice, resentment, and killing intent.
That was her Killing God Domain, merged with her martial spirit.
I see that the young master of the Dugu family has already learned to apply his domain in battle. Your control over killing intent must be quite refined.
From here on, you can treat your Killing God Domain as another martial spirit. Cultivate your killing intent just as you would soul power.
In time, it will merge with your Jade Phosphor Serpent martial spirit, amplifying your soul skill and eventually, you'll even be able to attack directly using pure killing intent."
Tang Hao had actually shared his own experience truthfully.
Bibi Dong's Killing God Domain had been tainted by the Rakshasa God, turning it into the Rakshasa Domain which was evil and vile in nature.
It was very different from pure killing intent.
From Tang Hao's perspective, it was simply that Bibi Dong had fused her domain with her martial spirit.
His own Killing God Domain had merged with the Clear Sky Hammer, allowing him to condense killing intent into tangible strikes very much like wielding a second martial spirit.
"Another martial spirit?"
Dugu Feng was genuinely surprised.
He'd thought Tang Hao, being a man of power and momentum, would speak about the domain as a type of aura—something to blend into soul skills to strengthen them.
But Tang Hao's explanation went even deeper.
"Then isn't that basically like having twin martial spirits?" Ning Rongrong asked curiously.
Tang Hao's gaze flickered coldly but only for a moment.
He remembered that Tang San had already revealed his Clear Sky Hammer when school began. Ning Rongrong surely knew.
If she knew, then the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan knew as well.
Given how close the two clans were now and working together against Spirit Hall—he couldn't very well take offense.
He only hoped they had the sense to keep it quiet.
If rumors spread… then even he, Tang Hao, wouldn't stay polite.
"Killing intent itself is a form of power," he said mildly. "When used properly, it can rival twin martial spirits.
I've heard that Young Master Dugu uses a finger technique. That should be your family's self-created soul skill, yes?
You can also treat killing intent as the 'force' behind that finger technique, or even use it as the foundation to develop new skills."
Inside, Tang Hao sneered.
The true strength of the Clear Sky Clan lay in their vast library of self-created techniques each built and perfected over generations of study. They weren't bound by their spirit rings; their combat methods were flexible, often allowing them to defeat stronger opponents.
Killing intent could indeed be used that way.
But if this boy immersed himself too deeply into it, his cultivation speed would naturally slow.
And such an abnormal genius… might end up wasting his prime years.
Once the best age for growth passed, his ceiling would be fixed.
No—Tang Hao wasn't so kind as to truly guide Dugu Feng.
But to Bone Douluo and Ning Rongrong, his words sounded perfectly reasonable.
Bone Douluo nodded again and again. "So the true power of the Killing God Domain depends entirely on one's own comprehension, then?"
He had no idea about Tang Hao's malicious intent.
"Precisely," Tang Hao said. "After I obtained it, it took me more than ten years to grasp the domain's essence.
Only then did I begin treating it as another martial spirit and my cultivation level and strength surged.
The first self-created technique I developed was Slaughter Assault—a straight-line strike condensed purely from killing intent…"
He went on explaining—calmly, thoroughly, and with striking sincerity.
Even Bone Douluo was taken aback.
So the Clear Sky Douluo, known for his pride and silence, could actually speak so patiently?
Rumor had it that Clear Sky Douluo was arrogant and disdainful of communicating with others. Now, it seemed he treated people with sincerity and was happy to guide younger generations.
Perhaps, Bone Douluo thought, the death of his beloved had softened him?
Dugu Feng listened intently, cross-checking every point with his own understanding.
Was Tang Hao really being this kind?
Well, regardless of motive, Dugu Feng wasn't the kind to reject useful advice.
He had already possessed the Killing God Domain for several years and his soul skills already carried traces of killing intent, greatly amplifying their power.
What Tang Hao described—using killing intent as a standalone attack—was something new.
Learning from Tang Hao's experience could at least help him avoid unnecessary detours.
He still kept his guard up, suspecting deception.
But Bone Douluo kept nodding beside him, utterly convinced.
There was no way Tang Hao would dare share false teachings in front of another Title Douluo—especially one like Bone Douluo! Both Bone Douluo and Sword Douluo possessed domains. Although the Killing God Domain was different from theirs, they shared commonalities.
If Tang Hao spouted nonsense, he'd only humiliate himself.
Seeing Tang Hao explaining so earnestly, Dugu Feng secretly smirked.
So my future enemy is teaching me how to grow stronger?
How amusing.
Tang Hao, Tang Hao… when you one day learn that the external soul bone your son lost ended up with me, I wonder if you will go crazy!?!
Time slipped by.
Half an hour later, Tang Hao finally rose and left.
"Many thanks, Your Majesty!"
Dugu Feng turned and bowed to Bone Douluo in gratitude.
Bone Douluo smiled, pleased.
Tang Hao had been willing to teach Dugu Feng, it was surely that was out of respect for the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan and for himself.
Dugu Feng should be thanking him!
"The defect of your Dugu family's martial spirit," Bone Douluo said gravely, "you and I both know it well. I await the day you overcome it!"
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
Dugu Feng responded respectfully.
"Alright, Bone Grandpa, you can go now. We're going to stroll around Suotuo City!"
And there it was...Ning Rongrong's mischievous side emerging once more, shooing him away.
Bone Douluo's face darkened. He downed his tea in one big gulp before sighing helplessly and parting ways with the pair.
Finally, Ning Rongrong's moment of freedom arrived.
Since coming to Suotuo City, she'd had little chance to wander around.
Now was the perfect opportunity.
Suotuo City, the second-largest in the Barak Kingdom, was bustling and prosperous.
Its busy shopping streets, filled with snacks and boutiques, instantly lifted Ning Rongrong's spirits.
As they walked, Dugu Feng discreetly sent one his pearls, the same kind he once kept within himself.
Though Ning Rongrong had already chosen him, Dugu Feng still trusted the bond of the Pearl more than mere words.