The cross-shaped crimson slash tore through the air, reducing everything in its path to dust as it hurtled toward the Seventh Elder.
Faced with this devastating attack, the Seventh Elder gritted his teeth, his face flushed and his breathing ragged, as if he might suffocate at any moment.
"Old Seven!"
The Fourth and Fifth Elders cried out in despair. Under their horrified gazes, the Seventh Elder steeled himself and raised both hands, gripping the Clear Sky Hammer tightly as he charged forward to meet the attack.
But the moment his hammer clashed with Ye Hao's strike, it was sent flying from his grasp, embedding itself deep into the ground with a thunderous crash.
"So strong!" The Seventh Elder cursed, shaking his numb wrists.
The Fourth and Fifth Elders exchanged glances. They had to escape—now.
As long as they lived, there would always be a chance for revenge.
"Trying to run?" Ye Hao smirked. "Do you really think you can?"
With a single step, Ye Hao appeared before them, his speed unmatched. Now that he had reached the ninety-ninth level as a Transcendent Douluo, these three were nothing more than ants in his eyes.
"Letting tigers return to the mountains only invites future trouble."
Ye Hao's arms transformed into black scythes as he swung toward the Seventh Elder.
The Fourth and Fifth Elders rushed forward, their Clear Sky Hammers swelling in size as they clashed with Ye Hao's blades.
They knew there was no escape now.
But at that moment, Ye Hao's right arm reverted to normal. With a flick of his wrist, the two-meter-long Asura Demon Sword materialized in his grip. Channeling the Asura Divine Power within him, he slashed forward with overwhelming force.
In an instant, the Fourth and Fifth Elders' hammers shattered—cleanly split in half.
"What?!" The Fourth Elder was stunned, his half of the hammer slipping from his fingers and clattering to the ground.
"W-What kind of martial soul is this?!" The Fifth Elder staggered back, his face pale with terror.
"Impossible! This can't be! The Clear Sky Hammer is the number one tool-type martial soul—how?!" The Seventh Elder's expression twisted in disbelief. The hammer they had always boasted as unrivaled had been effortlessly cleaved apart by this unassuming blood-red sword.
There was only one explanation...
"This sword surpasses the Clear Sky Hammer. What kind of martial soul is this?!"
The three elders could only watch helplessly as the Asura Demon Sword descended upon them.
"Today, I send you to your graves."
As Ye Hao spoke, the Asura Demon Sword flashed with crimson light.
A crescent-shaped slash swept through the three elders, severing their heads from their bodies before they could even react.
"NO!!!" Tang Yuehua's heart shattered as she watched the three elders die before her eyes.
A crushing sense of powerlessness overwhelmed her. Hatred burned in her gaze as she glared at Ye Hao, her killing intent unrestrained.
The bodies collapsed, blood staining the earth.
With this, the last remnants of the Clear Sky Sect—its three elders and all its disciples—had been wiped out.
"The Clear Sky Sect is now history. The Clear Sky Hammer shall never rise again. The so-called 'Number One Sect Under Heaven'—annihilated!"
Ye Hao withdrew the Shura Demon Sword and deactivated his martial soul fusion. Zhu Zhu and Zhu'er appeared beside him, exhaustion evident on their faces.
"Don't look at me like that." Ye Hao glanced coldly at Tang Yuehua, whose murderous glare was fixed on him.
The three elders were dead. The Clear Sky Sect had lost its last roots.
As the sect's young mistress, Tang Yuehua had witnessed its complete destruction. Now, all she wanted was to kill Ye Hao and avenge her fallen kin.
As for Tang San? He was a lost cause. Reborn into this world, he had never held any loyalty to the Clear Sky Sect. His earlier words had already shattered Tang Yuehua's heart.
"Mission accomplished." Ye Hao exhaled. This operation had been a resounding success—not only had the Clear Sky Sect's remnants been eradicated, but the three great clans had also fallen. Tang San's fate remained unknown, but if the Sea God's divine will had intervened, he might have already fled to Sea God Island.
"I'll have to investigate Sea God Island later. The chances of Tang San being taken there are high."
After confirming no survivors remained, Ye Hao grabbed the unconscious Tang Yuehua and left the battlefield.
The Clear Sky Sect was no more. The three great clans had followed in its footsteps.
With most of the continent's major forces now eliminated, only the Star Luo Empire remained.
---
Two Days Later – Spirit Hall
After a brief reunion with his daughter, Ye Hao brought Tang Yuehua to meet someone.
"Second Sister-in-law?!" Tang Yuehua gasped, rubbing her eyes in disbelief.
Before her stood Ah Yin—alive.
"Second Sister-in-law, weren't you... How are you alive?"
Ah Yin's expression darkened at the question.
"It... was him. He revived me. Back then, I did sacrifice myself, but afterward, Ye Hao took my remains and brought me back to life." She sighed, her every move now under Ye Hao's control.
With Ah Yin as leverage, Tang Hao had never dared to act against Ye Hao.
"Yuehua, why are you at the Spirit Hall? And... how is Hao? Has he been well all these years?" Ah Yin asked urgently.
Tang Yuehua's face fell. Her fists clenched until her nails dug into her palms.
"Second Sister-in-law... let's not talk about that," she muttered.
"What do you mean?" Ah Yin stiffened. "Did something happen to Hao? Or the Clear Sky Sect? Tell me!"
Ah Yin pressed, but Tang Yuehua, the once-proud young mistress of the Clear Sky Sect, could only lower her head in silence.
Her presence here was no coincidence—it was clear she had been captured.
Ah Yin's worst fears were confirmed.
"You're right. Tang Yuehua is now my prisoner—just like you."
Ye Hao's voice cut through the tension as he stepped forward.
Ah Yin immediately shielded Tang Yuehua, her eyes wary.
Ye Hao smiled. "Ah Yin, you were wondering why Tang Yuehua is here, weren't you? Well, let me enlighten you..."
"No, let me say it myself." Tang Yuehua suddenly interrupted Ye Hao, preferring to deliver the painful news personally.
"Second sister-in-law... Second Brother... he..." Her words dissolved into uncontrollable sobs.
Ah Yin's legs gave way as she guessed the truth.
"Second Brother was killed by Ye Hao..." Tang Yuehua wept, the memory of witnessing Tang Hao's death still haunting her.
Ah Yin sat numbly on the ground, tears streaming from vacant eyes as her world collapsed. After a long silence...
"Ye Hao, just kill me."
"Living poorly is better than dying well. Ah Yin, are you certain?" Ye Hao asked calmly.
"I am." Her voice was ice. "You murdered my husband. I know I'm no match for you, and I remain bound by your control - every word and action monitored. This existence is torture. Better to die and become your soul ring."
Ye Hao studied her despair. She'd lost all purpose.
"What about Tang San? Your own son. Surely you still acknowledge him?"
At this, a flicker of life returned to Ah Yin's hollow eyes. She turned desperately to Tang Yuehua. "Yuehua! Where's Little San? How is he?"
"Tang San?" Tang Yuehua's chest heaved with rage. "Second sister-in-law, that thing isn't human!"
Ah Yin recoiled in shock. How could her own flesh and blood be inhuman?
"You don't understand - Tang San is..."
As the truth spilled out, Ah Yin's face went slack with horror.
"Little San... is a reincarnated soul?"
A foreign consciousness that had invaded and replaced her unborn child.
"I saw with my own eyes - he tried to destroy the Clear Sky Sect! Murdered our disciples! That monster isn't my nephew!"
For Tang Yuehua, Tang San's atrocities had extinguished all familial bonds. With the sect gone, she held no hope for him. Let the wretch perish.
"But... this..." Ah Yin stammered, utterly shattered.
"Tang San... was never my son..."
"The real Tang San died in my womb? Replaced by that... thing?"
Ah Yin slumped into silent devastation. Her child gone before birth, her husband murdered. She was truly alone.
"Ye Hao, kill me now."
Ye Hao sighed. "All in due time. Your death will serve my purposes soon."
At level 78, with the Clear Sky Sect eradicated and Tang Hao dead, Ah Yin had outlived her usefulness. The fifth trial of his Death God Nine Trials required precisely one thing - a 100,000-year soul ring.
"You'll make an excellent eighth ring."
As Ye Hao departed, Tang Yuehua clung to Ah Yin.
"Second sister-in-law! The sect is gone - you're all I have left! Don't do this!"
Ah Yin remained unmoved. "Yuehua, I died long ago. Ye Hao revived me only to control Hao. With them both gone... there's nothing left for me here."
No words could pierce her resolve. Death was her only escape from this torment.
---
Later - Spirit Hall
After briefing Bibi Dong on the Clear Sky Sect's annihilation, Ye Hao sipped tea across from her.
"With the three upper sects destroyed and most opposition eliminated, only the Star Luo Empire remains. The four lower sects are already under our control. Isn't it time to establish the Spirit Empire with you as its first empress?"
Bibi Dong nodded thoughtfully. "The time is ripe indeed. Empire-building can't wait much longer." Her gaze turned serious. "Now you can focus on your Death God Trials."
Ye Hao stretched lazily. "Two more levels until 80. Should take about six months. Progress slows to a crawl past level 70."
Bibi Dong chuckled. "Once you reach Titled Douluo, you can absorb your second spirit ring. Then you'll appreciate dual spirits' true advantage."
"Still a ways off." Ye Hao laced fingers behind his head. Titled Douluo status felt simultaneously distant and within reach.
"Oh, about Xue'er - shouldn't her trial be approaching?"
As inheritor of the Angel God's legacy, Qian Renxue's own nine trials should commence soon.
"Grand Worship Qian Daoliu is preparing the ceremony. Likely within days." Bibi Dong's expression darkened. "That Tang San - is he truly alive?"
Ye Hao smirked. "Unfortunately. The Sea God's remnant consciousness snatched him away at the last moment."
"Then he'll be at Sea God Island." Bibi Dong's frown deepened. "That accursed place..."
The Spirit Hall's forbidden territory, where their forces couldn't tread. Seven Titled Douluo, a Limit Douluo, and High Priest Bo Saixi - the strongest beneath the gods themselves - guarded that island where sea soul masters wielded the ocean's power.
Another formidable obstacle awaited.
Ye Hao exhaled heavily. The challenges never ended.