Chapter 14: The Final Battle Between Qian Daoliu and Tang Chen

Elder Yuxiao, let's return to the Spirit Hall."

Qian Xunji had no intention of continuing to watch the battle of the Extreme Douluo. The knowledge he could gain about the Haotian Hammer was limited to what he had already seen, so there was no point in wasting time. What he needed most now was to strengthen himself.

Without sufficient power, he wouldn't even have the chance to watch as a spectator like today. Besides, drawing Qian Daoliu and Tang Chen to Sea God Island had already fulfilled its purpose. Tang Chen's future development would follow the original storyline—heading to the Killing Capital and never returning.

"Your Holiness, this is a fight between two level 99 Title Douluos!" Elder Yuxiao said anxiously. His spirit power was almost equal to Qian Xunji's, who had absorbed a soul bone in his head. Although they were only watching a recorded battle, Elder Yuxiao still felt immense satisfaction.

"If you want to watch, then stay here," Qian Xunji replied with no interest. He spread his four wings and flew toward the Spirit Hall.

Elder Yuxiao gritted his teeth but followed Qian Xunji back. As the Hall Protector Douluo, his duty was to protect Qian Xunji. If anything happened to him, Qian Daoliu would likely tear him apart.

Back at the Spirit Hall, Qian Xunji gathered a pile of training resources and declared a closed-door cultivation session, vowing not to emerge until he broke through the Title Douluo rank.

On Sea God Island, Qian Daoliu, Tang Chen, and Poseidon had fought across several battlefields for days and nights. Eventually, the undefeatable champions of the sea, land, and sky emerged.

Qian Daoliu and Tang Chen then visited Sea God Island and launched a fierce assault on Poseidon. After all, both old men had lost their wives long ago. Poseidon was not only stunningly beautiful but also a level 99 Title Douluo who had defeated them soundly at sea.

Women admire strength, and men aren't any different.

At Sea God Island, in front of the Sea God Temple, the sun had just risen. Tang Chen and Qian Daoliu waited early at the entrance.

Tang Chen wore a brown cowhide windbreaker. The coat was not fancy but extremely sturdy and durable. His face was clean-shaven.

Qian Daoliu donned a white-gold robe trimmed with gold edges. His long hair was meticulously groomed and flowed behind him in the sea breeze.

They occasionally exchanged glances, and invisible sparks flew between them. Today, both had dressed in their finest clothes and carried their best spirits because yesterday they both confessed to Poseidon, who promised to give her answer early the next morning.

Soon, the great doors of the Sea God Temple opened. Poseidon stepped out, unlike before. She wasn't wearing the grand priestess's red gown but a short white-gray skirt. The long train dragged behind her, revealing her slender, fair calves.

She also wore light makeup—her lips a delicate rosy pink, her eyelashes fluttering gently with each blink. Although her expression remained calm as usual, the two old men were stunned, their hearts pounding, their throats tightening.

Poseidon walked to a spot two meters ahead of Tang Chen and Qian Daoliu and said, "I already know your feelings, but you are both too outstanding. I really cannot choose between you, so I've decided that whoever breaks through to level 100 first, I will accept their feelings."

Hearing this, Qian Daoliu's golden eyes dimmed slightly. Poseidon, as a divine devotee, clearly knew she could never become a god herself. Her words were obvious—she was accepting Tang Chen's feelings and was just sparing his face.

Just as Qian Daoliu was about to congratulate Tang Chen, Tang Chen suddenly said confidently, "I, Tang Chen, will definitely become a god, and then I will come back to marry you, Poseidon. Wait for me!"

With that, Tang Chen soared into the sky and shot back toward the mainland like a cannonball.

Qian Daoliu: "??!"

Poseidon: "???"

Poseidon suddenly turned sharply toward the departing Tang Chen, about to call him back, but a woman's pride and the pride of an Extreme Douluo welled up inside her, and the words never came out.

"What a reckless man," Qian Daoliu sighed, feeling both regret and a hint of joy. "Breaking through to level 100 and becoming a god was just his excuse to reject me, but he truly believes it."

Poseidon showed no expression on her face. "After all, he doesn't know the fate we divine devotees must bear. But as those closest to the gods, enjoying their blessings, we must also repay."

"Your heart's greatest priority has always been the Angel God, hasn't it? Though we can never become gods ourselves, the path is lonely and difficult, and we both know that well."

"You're right. I cannot give up the responsibilities in my heart, but if one day the heir I choose must also embark on the path to godhood, I hope he doesn't see it as suffering but embraces it with the duty I cannot abandon and the hope to change things."

After speaking, Qian Daoliu turned and walked out of the Sea God Temple. He was returning to the Spirit Hall. He could have taken this chance to pursue Poseidon further, but his pride wouldn't allow him to be shameless. Moreover, his love for Poseidon was nothing compared to his faith in the Angel God.

Upon returning, Qian Daoliu learned that Qian Xunji had secluded himself in a secret chamber for cultivation, vowing not to emerge until breaking through the Title Douluo rank. A smile appeared on Qian Daoliu's face—not because of Qian Xunji's efforts, but because Qian Xunji would no longer disrupt the Spirit Hall.

He had already been deeply disappointed by Qian Xunji's careless dealings—trading a genius like Bibi Dong to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan and hunting spirit beasts for whale glue, a kind of aphrodisiac.

Rather than letting Qian Xunji continue to wreak havoc in the Spirit Hall, it was better for him to seclude himself, cultivate for several years, and perhaps help the Spirit Hall when he emerged. The position of Supreme Leader was already passed down, and Qian Xunji would never succeed him. As for the Spirit Hall's accumulated issues during his seclusion, the family's collateral branches would handle them.

Qian Daoliu planned to resume a peaceful life, but two days later, he received a letter—a challenge from Tang Chen. He was invited to meet on a mountain three hundred miles east of Tiandou City in three days for a fight.

Naturally, Qian Daoliu agreed. Especially since Tang Chen ended the letter with a provocation: "If you don't have the guts, don't come." To not go would make him a coward.

Three days later, on a snow-capped peak a thousand meters high, three hundred miles east of Tiandou City, the air was bitterly cold, and every breath felt like icy needles in the nostrils.

From afar, Qian Daoliu saw Tang Chen sitting cross-legged at the summit, surrounded by an invisible soul power barrier blocking wind and snow.

Tang Chen opened his eyes and stood. "Qian Daoliu, this mountain was once my place of seclusion. Today, let's have our final battle here."

"Are you really going to explore that elusive path to godhood?" Qian Daoliu was stunned. Was this reckless man serious?

"Of course," Tang Chen laughed heartily, brimming with confidence. From awakening his spirit to now reaching level 99, he had faced few bottlenecks. Naturally, he believed he could become a god.

"Qian Daoliu, since the day we met, we've been rivals. We've fought countless times but never decided a winner. I don't know if this time we can settle it, so why don't we make a bet? Whoever breaks through to level 100 first wins. How about that?"

Unlike before, Qian Daoliu didn't reply. A trace of bitterness flashed in his eyes. As a divine devotee, his body was altered by the Angel God's power—he was destined never to reach level 100 and become a god.

Tang Chen, naturally, didn't see Qian Daoliu's inner feelings. Seeing no answer, he unconsciously looked down on him. He always regarded Qian Daoliu as a worthy opponent, but someone who lacked the courage to become a god was just a coward—not fit to be his rival.

Tang Chen didn't say this aloud, but in his mind he wondered: If he searched for the path to godhood and stayed away from Haotian Sect too long, would Qian Daoliu attack his sect?

After some thought, Tang Chen's eyes scanned the mountain range, and he came up with an idea.

"Qian Daoliu, since we are the undefeated champions of sky and land, this mountain range is vast but still small for our level of combat. The limited space affects my performance. So, since you won't take advantage of the sky and I won't take advantage of the land, let's have a fair and just final battle right here in this mountain range!"

"Agreed!"

Qian Daoliu became excited. The Heavenly Sword appeared in his hand. Two yellow, two purple, and five black soul rings floated up at his feet, and an endless fighting spirit surged in his heart. A fair duel with Tang Chen was just what he wanted. He had waited a long time for this day.

Two yellow, two purple, four black, and one red soul ring appeared beneath Tang Chen. He held the Haotian Hammer tightly.

Both vanished from sight. Within the mountain range, red and gold light clashed repeatedly with explosions ringing out. The whole mountain trembled, and rocks tumbled.

Because the mountain wasn't very large, Tang Chen did not manifest his spirit's true form. Since Qian Daoliu wanted a fair fight, he also refrained from using his spirit's true form and aerial advantage.

They fought for three whole days. The hammer and sword clashed constantly, and the surrounding terrain was left pocked with craters and sword marks from their fierce battles.

The snow melted under Qian Daoliu's angelic flames, and the dark clouds above were pushed back a thousand meters from the mountain's center by their powerful soul energies.

Sparks flew again as both warriors staggered back, breathing heavily. Tang Chen's breath was more rapid because the Haotian Hammer had weaker recovery than the Angel Spirit. Previously, activating spirit true forms was Tang Chen's advantage, but now both refrained, so Tang Chen's edge was diminished.

Qian Daoliu smiled. "Tang Chen, looks like you're going to lose if this continues."

Tang Chen suddenly laughed loudly. "Qian Daoliu, there's a move I've never used against you before—a technique I created called the Great Sumeru Hammer, along with an even more terrifying combo. Do you want to see it?"

"What?"

Suddenly, the nine soul rings beneath Tang Chen turned golden. The first four shattered explosively, releasing all their soul power into the Haotian Hammer. His aura grew stronger, more domineering.

"Watch closely. This move is called Ring Explosion!"

Qian Daoliu's pupils constricted, and his seventh soul ring flared. "Angel True Form!"

In the end, Tang Chen shattered eight rings and defeated Qian Daoliu, forcing him to promise that before Tang Chen defeated him, no one from the Spirit Hall would set foot on this mountain.

After returning to the Spirit Hall, Qian Daoliu documented Tang Chen's Ring Explosion technique in the Spirit Hall's records and then began his final Angel test—the reward for extending his soul ring's lifespan by ten thousand years.

Haotian Sect

After battling Qian Daoliu, Tang Chen secluded himself for thirty-six days before emerging. The shattered soul rings from using Ring Explosion took three days to slowly re-form, during which he couldn't use soul skills. It took thirty-six days for the rings to fully recover.

Upon emergence, Tang Chen immediately called a council of elders and summoned his grandson, Tang Hao.

Haotian Sect Main Hall

Tang Chen sat in the sect leader's seat. Before him were seven chairs, occupied by his son Tang Zhen and the six elders of Haotian Sect. The six elders were Spirit Douluos who appeared after the sect was sealed for twenty years. The sixth elder died during the Spirit Hall's attack on Haotian Sect following Qian Xunji's death.

Of the seven, only Tang Zhen was a Title Douluo; the others were Spirit Douluos.

These six could still breakthrough to Title Douluo if they trained hard, but at their age, they weren't foolish. Tang Chen was an Extreme Douluo with many years left. Even if these six elders became Title Douluos and died of old age, Tang Chen would still be alive. As long as Tang Chen lived, Haotian Sect would remain supreme, and the sect leader position would never be theirs.

Since that was the case, why bother working so hard? Eat, drink, play, and sleep, and use their power to bully others—that was easier.

Tang Chen understood this but did not interfere. He had his own selfish desires: he wanted the sect leader position to always remain in his family line. Tang Zhen's health was poor. When young, Tang Chen taught him the Great Sumeru Hammer, but Tang Zhen lacked talent and failed to master it, even suffering backlash. He would never advance beyond level 95 and might have a shortened lifespan.

"Grandfather, Father, uncles," Tang Hao greeted respectfully as he entered the hall.

Though just over twenty, Tang Hao had reached Soul King level. His spirit was awakened with full innate soul power, making him a once-in-a-century talent for Haotian Sect. His mastery of the Wild Wind Hammer Technique and the Haotian Nine Absolutes had broken sect records repeatedly. He was surrounded by countless auras, and even the current leader of the Strength Clan, Titan, willingly recognized him as master.

"Come here, Hao'er," Tang Chen said, rising to wave him over. The fondness on his face nearly overflowed. This was his proudest grandson.

(End of Chapter)

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