Chapter 39 – Chen Hong's Breakthrough

With a single downward point of Chen Hong's sword finger, the massive vortex of sword rain roared to life—like legions of armies screaming, like ferocious soul beasts howling at the heavens.

Streams of blue sword light, like cascading waterfalls from towering peaks, swept downward like a downpour, targeting Jesus Weiss and the hundred-odd soul masters under his command.

The ferocity of the swords carried a momentum of slaughter and annihilation—like divine wrath from the heavens, heavenly thunder punishment, and a tsunami that destroys everything. The will to obliterate all life spread across the battlefield.

"If you don't want to die—defend yourselves! Soul force shields—activate the Demonic Ram Blood Spirit Array!"

A piercing cry rang out as all eight of Jesus Weiss's soul rings lit up. His thin and tall figure swelled within a surge of dark light.

"Seventh Soul Skill – Demonic Ram True Form!"

A thirty-meter-tall black demonic ram appeared, hovering above the heads of the Demon Ram Sect soul masters.

"Screw it—if I die, so be it!"

"To die beneath a Titled Douluo's sword—this life will have been worth it!"

"Haha! Brothers, see you in the next life!"

Under the immense pressure of impending death, many soul masters unleashed their battle spirits, rousing the rest with their final stand.

At once, a multitude of soul forces surged from the hundreds of Demon Ram Sect soul masters, forming a massive, multicolored protective barrier in the sky, attaching itself to the Demonic Ram True Form.

In an instant, the ram's form swelled by dozens more meters. Its central third eye burst forth with a blinding light, splintering into veins of red lines that rapidly spread across its entire body, releasing a mournful, despairing cry.

At that moment, waves of space-distorting shockwaves erupted, causing the surrounding few hundred meters of space to ripple violently. The heavens fell into an unnatural silence.

Sword aura chilled to the bone, sword wind whistled like bamboo flutes. One could hear a constant "shua-shua-shua" as sword after sword ripped through the air.

Tens of thousands of flying swords collided with the spatial shockwaves—and at the point of impact, both vanished without a trace.

Then, a twisting ring of blue light erupted from the center of the collision, spreading out in all directions, dyeing the surroundings in a radiant blue hue.

The flying swords in the sky shattered one by one, dissolving into countless specks of light that scattered across the battlefield.

The vortex of sword rain above the crowd dissipated like wind-blown clouds as if the heavens had finally cleared.

They had survived the onslaught—but not completely unscathed.

Many Demon Ram Sect soul masters fell lifelessly to the ground. Others spat blood, bleeding from all seven orifices. Jesus Weiss's body was drenched in blood, a walking corpse.

They may have survived, but they knew well—this was just the appetizer.

To face a Titled Douluo alone, against a grand formation of hundreds led by Soul Douluo, and still come out on top—this was the might of a Titled Douluo!

"Not bad… continue."

Chen Hong smiled, slowly closing his eyes.

An incredibly intense soul power surge erupted from within him. A massive swordlight shot up to the sky.

Unprecedented pressure spread in all directions—even the air seemed to grow heavy. Seven glowing characters for "kill" (杀) circled Chen Hong.

Each "kill" radiated with profound and ineffable meaning—mysterious and unfathomable. The destructive energy they exuded made all who looked upon them tremble.

In the blink of an eye, a hundred-meter-long Seven-Kill Sword—inlaid with nine shining blue stars—descended from the heavens.

With a crushing aura like Mount Tai, it pressed down.

There was no imagined grand explosion of colliding soul forces. Instead, a crisp boom echoed as the massive demonic ram form was instantly pulverized…

This strike combined three of Chen Hong's soul techniques:

"Nine-Star Inlay", the core of the Impartial Sword Qi Method

"My Body is the Sword", the essence of Sword Shadow Body

And the Seven "Kill" Characters, from the Seven-Kill Qi Suppression Technique

"Chen Hong… spare the women and children…"

Jesus Weiss's voice faded into silence.

"Father!"

From afar, Guido Weiss let out a furious and grief-stricken roar.

"Go accompany your father."

A dazzling red lotus bloomed alongside a blade of light—descending like divine retribution.

Meanwhile, dozens of Demon Ram Sect disciples stood guarding a manor, refusing to retreat even a step.

Before the gates lay hundreds of corpses.

Inside that manor were their families.

The last soul master fell under the onslaught of the Douhun Legion, and the tightly shut gates finally opened.

What burst forth was a group of elderly men near death and young children, their eyes filled with hatred. Many were weaker than ordinary people, yet they still charged at the soul masters of Douhun City…

Chen Hong looked quietly at Chen Xun as if leaving the decision to him.

"You must learn to accept these things.

The law of the Douluo Continent is survival of the fittest.

What you must do is grow stronger—

or one day, your parents, your wife, and your children will be the ones who die."

Chen Hong sighed and whispered in Chen Xun's ear.

"Spare the pregnant women and children under six."

Chen Xun said, his gaze falling on a pregnant woman.

Chen Hong shook his head… then gave the order:

"No one is to harm any pregnant women or children under six!"

Even if it was sentimentality, Chen Hong still granted the young clan lord's request. It was the first time he had ever spared anyone.

Then, they approached the group of surrendered Demon Ram Sect soul masters, guarded by the Douhun Legion.

A Soul Sage led a squad to guard them. Their soul power had been sealed with iron shackles—sourced from Demon Ram Sect's materials, ironically—which pierced their shoulder blades, rendering them incapable of escape.

None dared show a trace of hatred or anger.

After all, the Great Douhun Arena had a Life-and-Death Battle Mode.

From today onward, this group of once-lofty sect soul masters will become a relic of history.

A pity. A tragedy. A lament.

Suddenly, a flash of insight struck Chen Hong. He stood in place, muttering to himself:

"So that's it… to know when to advance… and when to withdraw…"

Originally, Chen Hong excelled in slaughter but was still lacking in self-cultivation.

Now, with newfound understanding swelling in his heart, Chen Hong closed his eyes and entered a unique state of enlightenment. The heavenly soul force within a kilometer radius began to converge upon him…

The surrounding soul energy churned wildly like surging tides, crashing into the void.

After just a dozen heartbeats, a torrential burst of energy erupted from within Chen Hong, sweeping outward. His internal strength seemed to gain new vitality.

At the same time, a mysterious aura rose from within him—as if he had undergone a spiritual rebirth from the inside out. The previously wild energy gradually calmed, and he opened his eyes slowly.

At this moment, his entire body felt refreshed, as if cleansed and purified. His soul power had become more refined and vast, and his mastery over strength had ascended to a new level.

Though his eyes remained closed, he sensed everything around him with precision.

"Uncle Hong, what's happening to you…?"

Even Chen Xun felt a mysterious inspiration rise within him. He looked at the surging energy around Chen Hong and couldn't help but ask.

"It's nothing… I've comprehended my Domain at last.

Finally, I've caught up to your father's pace."

Chen Hong withdrew the aura of his domain, the corners of his mouth lifting into a slight smile. After years of devoted cultivation, he had finally achieved a breakthrough—mastery of a Domain through sudden enlightenment.

"Congratulations, Uncle Hong!"

Chen Xun beamed with joy.