Silence. As if all creation had fallen still. Above the skies of the Spirit Hall, only Chen Xiaoming stood, suspended in the air. Not a single sound was uttered by anyone else.
Dai Mubai, Tang San, Ma Hongjun, and the others were numb. They had seen too much. They no longer knew how to describe what they were witnessing.
Even Ning Fengzhi, Sword Douluo, and Flender were left speechless.
Just as they had been marveling at the overwhelming strength of the Spirit Hall, Chen Xiaoming had already slaughtered nearly all of them single-handedly.
The number of Titled Douluo he had slain was nearly five. Several more were seriously injured.
Even the so-called strongest of the Spirit Hall, Angel Douluo Qian Daoliu, had been unable to withstand a single move from Chen Xiaoming. He was sent flying, grievously wounded.
Faced with such a scene, even the experienced Ning Fengzhi and Sword Douluo were utterly dumbfounded.
"Sigh..."
A sigh echoed. From the Spirit Hall's side, the lingering Golden Crocodile Douluo coughed up a mouthful of blood. His already recovering body was once again critically injured.
Yet, despite his injuries, he did not hesitate. In a flash, he dashed toward the fallen Qian Daoliu.
Bibi Dong looked at the defeated Qian Daoliu, her heart heavy. His grievous injury should have made her happy. But at this moment, she felt no joy at all.
Because Qian Daoliu's defeat meant the Spirit Hall's grand ambition was nothing but an empty dream.
"Cough, cough..."
Qian Daoliu, who had crashed to the ground, was deathly pale, his eyes filled with disbelief. He had never imagined he would lose so utterly.
He, who possessed the supreme Martial Soul, the Six-Winged Angel, could not even withstand a single move.
"Cough... Have you ascended to godhood?"
Lifting his head with difficulty, he stared at the airborne Chen Xiaoming, who was now bathed in a silver glow. His voice trembled with doubt.
Both were Titled Douluo, yet how could there be such an unfathomable gap between them?
The only possible explanation was that Chen Xiaoming had already become a god. But when Qian Daoliu saw the blood-red hundred-thousand-year soul rings adorning Chen Xiaoming, his eyes darkened.
"Defeated. I never expected to lose so thoroughly."
He wasn't sure if it was unwillingness, regret, or despair—his emotions were complex.
Chen Xiaoming's emotions were just as complicated. As he surveyed the battlefield filled with the fallen and the wounded, he refrained from delivering the final blow. He had already reached the peak of this mortal world.
The next step was the path to godhood, past level one hundred.
Gods were few in number. Excluding the lesser deities such as the God of Food, the Angel God was considered a fairly powerful one.
Sweeping his gaze over Tang San, Bibi Dong, and Qian Daoliu, Chen Xiaoming paused momentarily.
Since he had chosen this path, it was time to prepare for the future.
During the wait for his experience points to accumulate, he might as well push these protagonists to grow faster.
He was so invincible that he had reached the point of training gods and forging his own rivals!
"Qian Daoliu, Bibi Dong, five years. I give you only five years. After five years, I must battle a god. If not, the Spirit Hall will be destroyed!"
His icy words stunned both Bibi Dong and Qian Daoliu. Battle a god? What did he mean?
As a devotee of the Angel God, Qian Daoliu suddenly thought of something. He looked at Chen Xiaoming with shock in his eyes.
Throughout his life, Tang Chen had been his greatest rival, yet he had respected Tang Chen's strength and courage. However, today, he saw someone with even greater resolve.
Five years from now, a battle against a god?
Qian Daoliu glanced behind him, an image flashing through his mind. Then, gritting his teeth, his eyes filled with determination.
"Very well. The Spirit Hall accepts this challenge!"
Chen Xiaoming nodded. Killing Qian Daoliu would serve no purpose. Even with his increased soul power, reaching level one hundred and ascending to godhood would still not make him a match for the likes of the God of Asura.
Qian Daoliu was the representative of the Angel God, just as Bo Saixi was for the Sea God. While he could dismiss Qian Daoliu, he still had to show respect to the Angel God.
Descending from the sky, Chen Xiaoming landed before Dai Mubai and the others. Seeing him return, Dai Mubai, Ma Hongjun, and the rest were at a loss for words. Their admiration and gratitude were beyond expression. Xiao Wu and Tang San stepped forward.
"Thank you!"
Both bowed deeply, expressing their heartfelt gratitude. With so many Titled Douluo in the Spirit Hall, Tang San knew that without Chen Xiaoming, even if he had risked everything, he could never have saved Xiao Wu.
"It's fine. I've repaid the debt of your soul bone, Xiao San."
Chen Xiaoming waved dismissively. The Spirit Hall? No matter how many mortals gathered, they were still just mortals.
However, his gaze shifted with amusement toward a certain spot.
"Well, you've been watching long enough. Aren't you coming out?"
His words startled everyone. Someone else was here?
Dai Mubai and the others tensed, thinking there was another hidden powerhouse from the Spirit Hall. But seeing Chen Xiaoming's relaxed demeanor, they sighed in relief.
A shadowy figure appeared silently. It was a middle-aged man, seemingly in his fifties, tall and burly. His tattered robes barely covered his bronze-colored skin. His eyes were drowsy, his unkempt hair resembled a bird's nest, and his beard was long-neglected.
"Hmph. That strike from before, how do you intend to settle it?"
With a cold snort, the figure revealed himself—none other than Clear Sky Douluo, Tang Hao.
Back then, in his youthful arrogance, Chen Xiaoming had nearly had his pride shattered by a single hammer strike.
Now, seeing Tang Hao again, he was intrigued.
"Cough. You must be joking. With your current strength, I'm at your mercy."
Tang Hao's words seemed submissive, but a sharp glint flashed in his eyes. He knew full well that if Chen Xiaoming truly held a grudge, he wouldn't be standing here now.
"Boring, boring. I'm leaving."
Having reached such heights, with boundless soul power, soul rings, soul bones, and bloodline essence, bullying a crippled Titled Douluo like Tang Hao felt beneath him.
"Oh, and Xiao San, your father's debt is now yours. In five years, at Shrek Academy, I will take you to the promised land of godhood. Remember, once you ascend, you must fight me in his place."
Life was as lonely as drifting snow. With those parting words, Chen Xiaoming vanished, his figure fading into the distance.
His soul-infused voice lingered in the air.
Azurewood sways in the breeze, swift as a falling star.
Once matters are settled, I depart, my name lost in the wind.
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