Douluo: Qian Xunji's Joyful Life

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

"Elder Yu Xiao, let's head back to the Wuhun Hall."

Qian Xunji no longer cared to watch the Limit Douluo battle. He'd learned all he could about the Clear Sky Hammer for now; staying any longer would be a waste. What he needed most was to increase his own strength.

Without sufficient power, he couldn't even stand on the sidelines as a spectator. Besides, he had already achieved his aim of steering Qian Daoliu and Tang Chen toward Sea God Island. Now Tang Chen would likely follow the original plot and proceed to the Slaughter City, never to return.

"Your Holiness, this is a clash between rank-99 Titled Douluo," Elder Yu Xiao said anxiously. His own spiritual power was about the same as Qian Xunji's after he obtained a head soul bone, so all he saw was a slideshow. Even so, the glimpse of two Limit Douluo fighting filled him with immense satisfaction.

"If you wish to stay, go ahead."

But Qian Xunji had lost interest. With a flap of his four wings, he flew off in the direction of the Wuhun Hall.

Elder Yu Xiao hesitated. As a Hall-Guardian Douluo, his duty was to protect Qian Xunji. If anything happened to the Pope, Qian Daoliu would probably dismember him on the spot. He gritted his teeth and followed Qian Xunji back to the Wuhun Hall.

Once there, Qian Xunji took a large batch of cultivation resources and announced he was going into seclusion—vowing not to emerge until he broke through to Titled Douluo.

Meanwhile, back on Sea God Island, Qian Daoliu, Tang Chen, and Bo Saixi changed battlefields several times. Their fight lasted for days and nights, eventually yielding a verdict of who was invincible at sea, who was invincible on land, and who was invincible in the sky.

Both Qian Daoliu and Tang Chen ended up as guests on Sea God Island. Since both had lost their wives years ago, they pursued Bo Saixi with great ardor. She was not only a breathtaking beauty, but also a rank-99 Titled Douluo like them. Out at sea, she had beaten them so thoroughly that they couldn't muster the slightest resistance.

Women may admire strength, but the same could be said of men.

Early one morning, before the Sea God Palace, Tang Chen and Qian Daoliu waited at the door. Tang Chen wore a trench coat made from brown cowhide—though not exactly stylish, it was sturdy and comfortable. He'd shaved his beard clean.

Qian Daoliu was clad in a white-gold robe trimmed in gold, with his long hair meticulously combed and draped behind him, swaying in the ocean breeze.

Every so often, they exchanged glances. Sparks flew invisibly when their gazes met. Both had dressed and composed themselves to look their absolute best today because, on the previous day, they had each confessed their feelings to Bo Saixi. She had promised them an answer this morning.

Shortly, the main doors of the Sea God Palace swung open and Bo Saixi walked out. Unlike usual, she wasn't wearing the crimson gown of the High Priest. Instead, she wore a short dress of pale grayish-white, with a long train trailing behind, revealing her slender, fair calves.

She'd even applied light makeup—soft pink lips, faintly rosy lashes. Though her countenance remained as serene as ever, the two older men were momentarily stunned, hearts pounding so hard they seemed lodged in their throats.

Stopping about two meters away from Tang Chen and Qian Daoliu, Bo Saixi spoke: "I know how you both feel, but you are each too extraordinary. I truly can't choose. Therefore, I've decided that whoever can break through rank 100 first—I will accept his feelings."

At these words, Qian Daoliu's golden eyes briefly dimmed. Bo Saixi well knew he was the Great Consecration of the Angel God and thus incapable of becoming a god. Clearly, she was indicating she intended to accept Tang Chen; this was simply a polite way to save face.

As Qian Daoliu prepared to congratulate Tang Chen, Tang Chen spoke with confidence, "I, Tang Chen, will definitely become a god, then come back to marry you! Bo Saixi, wait for me!"

With that, he soared into the sky, launching himself back toward the continent like a cannonball.

Qian Daoliu: "??!"

Bo Saixi: "???"

Bo Saixi whirled around, wanting to call Tang Chen back, but her pride as both a woman and a Limit Douluo intervened, and the words never left her lips.

"What a brute," Qian Daoliu muttered, half-pitying Tang Chen yet feeling a hint of relief. "Rank 100 was just your way of turning me down, but he believed it wholeheartedly."

Bo Saixi's face betrayed no emotion. "He doesn't understand our destiny as Great Consecrations to a god. Standing closer to a deity than anyone else, protected by divine grace, naturally obligates us to give something in return. The Angel God means more to you than anything, does it not? Though we'll never truly become gods, we both know how lonely and difficult that path would be."

"You're right. I cannot forsake my responsibility. But if, one day, my chosen successor also sets foot on that path to godhood, I hope he'll see it not as suffering, but face it with the sense of duty and vision for change I couldn't let go. I hope he'll walk forward with resilience."

Having said that, Qian Daoliu turned and left the Sea God Palace. He would return to the Wuhun Hall. He could have stayed to court Bo Saixi, but he was too proud to pester her endlessly. Besides, his love for Bo Saixi paled before his devotion to the Angel God.

Upon arriving back at the Wuhun Hall, Qian Daoliu learned that Qian Xunji had sealed himself in a secret chamber, vowing not to emerge until reaching Titled Douluo. This actually pleased Qian Daoliu—not because Qian Xunji was diligently cultivating, but because he wouldn't be wreaking further havoc on the Hall.

Between trading the peerless genius Bibi Dong to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan and wasting time hunting soul beasts for aphrodisiac whale gelatin, Qian Daoliu had lost all hope for him. At least now Qian Xunji wouldn't be harming the Wuhun Hall. If he stayed in isolation for a few years, maybe he'd grow up a bit. Qian Daoliu had already passed down the Papal throne, so he couldn't take it back. While Qian Xunji remained in seclusion, the extended family would handle the daily affairs.

Though Qian Daoliu intended to return to his retirement, a letter arrived two days later—Tang Chen had issued him a challenge, demanding they meet in three days on a mountain three hundred li east of Heaven Dou City.

Qian Daoliu readily agreed. Especially since Tang Chen's letter concluded with a taunt—"If you have no guts, then don't show up." He certainly wasn't about to let himself look like a coward.

Three days later, on a thousand-meter snowy peak three hundred li east of Heaven Dou City, the chill was so severe that breathing felt like ice crystals scraping the nostrils.

From afar, Qian Daoliu spotted Tang Chen sitting cross-legged at the summit, quietly forming a soul power barrier to fend off the wind and snow. Tang Chen opened his eyes and stood, saying, "Qian Daoliu, this peak was once my place of seclusion. Today, let's finish our final battle here."

"So you're planning to embark on that uncertain journey to become a god?" Qian Daoliu asked, surprised. Was this brute actually serious?

"Of course." Tang Chen's hearty laugh brimmed with confidence. From the day he awakened his martial soul until now, having reached rank 99, he'd faced few bottlenecks, steadily forging ahead. He was convinced he could achieve godhood, too.

"Qian Daoliu, ever since the day we met, we've been rivals. Over the years, we've clashed countless times without determining a true victor. Who knows if we'll settle it today? So let's make an agreement: we'll see which of us reaches rank 100 first, and the one who does may challenge the other—deal?"

This time was different. Qian Daoliu stayed silent, a flicker of bitterness passing across his face. He was the Angel God's Great Consecration. The Angel's divine power had already altered his body, meaning he was doomed never to reach rank 100.

Tang Chen didn't notice the shift in Qian Daoliu's mood. Seeing him remain quiet, Tang Chen couldn't help feeling a twinge of scorn. He had always viewed Qian Daoliu as an equal, but if Qian Daoliu lacked the courage even to speak of godhood, how could he qualify as Tang Chen's rival?

He didn't say it aloud, but Tang Chen still worried about how Qian Daoliu would treat the Clear Sky Clan if he was away seeking godhood for too long. After a bit of thought, he gazed at the mountains below him and formulated a plan.

"Qian Daoliu, you and I each claim unmatched strength in the sky and on land. This mountain range is sizeable, but for cultivators like us, it's still rather limited, which might give me some disadvantage. Therefore, to be fair, you shall not rely on your advantage in the sky, and I won't rely on mine on land. We'll duel once and for all in these mountains!"

"Fine!"

A surge of excitement coursed through Qian Daoliu. The Liangtian Sword materialized in his hand, and two yellow, two purple, and five black rings rose at his feet—nine in total. Battlelust ignited inside him. A fair and decisive battle with Tang Chen was precisely what he desired. He'd waited a long time for this.

Likewise, two yellow, two purple, four black, and one red ring emerged beneath Tang Chen's feet. He clutched the Clear Sky Hammer in his hand.

Both men vanished at once. Explosions rang out ceaselessly wherever crimson and golden light collided, shaking the entire range and sending rocks tumbling.

Since these mountains weren't particularly vast, Tang Chen refrained from using his Martial Soul Avatar. Qian Daoliu, for his part, seeking a fair fight that didn't involve air superiority, also chose not to deploy his Martial Soul Avatar.

They battled for three whole days. Again and again, Tang Chen's hammer struck Qian Daoliu's sword, leaving the terrain around them pocked with countless craters and sword marks. The snow was melted by the Angelic flames, and overhead clouds retreated a kilometer from the mountaintop, driven away by the thunderous clash of soul power.

Sparks flew once more, and both men leaped back, breathing unevenly. Tang Chen's panting was more labored than Qian Daoliu's, because in terms of recovery, the Clear Sky Hammer couldn't compare to the Angel Martial Soul. Ordinarily, opening his Martial Soul Avatar gave Tang Chen an edge, but with neither of them using such abilities, that advantage vanished.

Qian Daoliu chuckled. "Tang Chen, if this goes on, you'll be the one to lose."

Suddenly, Tang Chen burst out laughing. "Qian Daoliu, I've got a move I've never used against you. You know my Great Sumeru Hammer, but do you know the even more terrifying technique that goes with it?"

"What's that?"

Tang Chen's nine soul rings abruptly gleamed golden. The first four of them shattered in a flash, pouring their soul power entirely into the Clear Sky Hammer. A more intense and domineering aura radiated from him.

"Watch closely. This move is called 'Ring Detonation!'"

Qian Daoliu's pupils contracted. His seventh ring glowed at once. "Angelic True Form!"

Ultimately, Tang Chen detonated eight of his rings, defeated Qian Daoliu, and forced him to promise that until he personally felled Tang Chen, the Wuhun Hall would never set foot on this mountain range. Upon returning to the Wuhun Hall, Qian Daoliu recorded the details of Tang Chen's ring-detonation technique in the Hall's annals. Then he initiated his final Angelic Eighth Trial, receiving the ten-thousand-year ring enhancement reward.

In the Clear Sky Clan…

After his grand battle with Qian Daoliu, Tang Chen returned to seclude himself for thirty-six days, as it took three days for each shattered ring to gradually recondense. During that time, he couldn't use any soul skills. By the thirty-sixth day, his soul rings had fully recovered to their original form.

Exiting seclusion, Tang Chen immediately convened a meeting of the Clan Elders and summoned his grandson, Tang Hao.

In the Clear Sky Clan's Main Hall…

Tang Chen sat in the seat of the Clan Master. In front of him were seven chairs. Occupying them were his son, Tang Zhen, who was a Titled Douluo, and the six Elders of the Clear Sky Clan—referred to as the "Six Elders of Clear Sky." These six would eventually appear twenty years after the clan sealed its gates, five of them achieving Titled Douluo. One of them, the Sixth Elder, would die during the Wuhun Hall's assault on the clan after Qian Xunji's death.

Among those seven, only Tang Zhen had reached Titled Douluo. The other six were Soul Douluo. In fact, given their talents, one or two might still have reached Titled Douluo in their lifetimes, but they had no motivation to do so. With Tang Chen—a Limit Douluo—standing over them, their entire lives, the clan would remain unassailable and always be "the world's foremost clan." They'd never get the position of Clan Master. Therefore, instead of devoting themselves to cultivation, they preferred to eat, drink, play, and indulge in using their status for personal gain.

Tang Chen was aware of this but didn't interfere. Deep down, he wanted to keep the Clan Master's seat firmly in his own lineage. Tang Zhen's body wasn't in the best condition. When Tang Zhen was young, Tang Chen had tried passing the Great Sumeru Hammer technique to him, but Tang Zhen's talent fell short, leading to backlash. Reaching rank 95 would be his limit, and his lifespan might also be negatively affected.

"Grandfather, Father, Uncles,"

Tang Hao arrived at the main hall and politely saluted the gathered Elders. He was in his early twenties yet already at rank 50 Soul King, his Clear Sky Hammer awakened with innate full soul power. Known as the greatest genius in a century, he broke clan records in the Disorder Splitting Wind Hammer method and the Clear Sky Nine Strokes. He was shrouded in countless accolades, so much so that even Titan, current chief of the Strength Clan, willingly served him.

"Hao'er, come here."

Tang Chen waved him over, an indulgent smile nearly overflowing from his face. This was his most beloved grandson.

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